Chapter 481: The Empire City
Tuesday, February 14th, Late Evening
They stood in the vestibule of the bar and grill that they had dinner and drinks at. She leaned against the wall, looking at him, then turned to look out the windows. He leaned against the opposite wall and watched her.
"So, we're heading to your place?" Zav asked.
"Yes," Trin said.
"Okay," Zav said.
Trin cracked her neck. After a minute, Trin exhaled and held her mouth tight. She looked at Zav and wasn't sure she wanted to talk. It's been a long day, and Trin wanted to get to the main event.
Finally, the UBER pulled up. Trin led Zav out to it, and they were off. Looking out the window, Trin enjoyed the tall buildings and how several of them were colorfully lit up. Trin reflected on the blue and yellow colors and nodded. The city always held this magical allure for Trin. She left the city when she had just turned fourteen.
Trin looked forward to going to high school in New York. She envied her older sisters; they got to experience the life Trin felt she was born to. Only now, after becoming a single mom, did she understand how screwed up her sisters had become.
Tree Hill had been good for her, to some extent. Trin learned to value simple things and got to be a kid where her sisters hadn't. She met Ellie, who is still her best friend, and no matter what, she still knows her as the spunky southern girl Trin met.
Trin looked over to Zav as he watched the building go by. She nodded and turned away, not wanting to watch him.
They finally arrived at Trin's building. Getting out of the UBER; Trin settled up and led Zav into the building. Passing through the lobby, Trin and Zav went to the elevator to her floor.
Once they arrived, Trin quietly led Zav down the hallway. At the Legrand's door, Trin held a finger to her lips. Once they got past the door, Trin looked around them unlocked it. Trin pulled Zav into her apartment.
Inside the apartment, Trin sat Zav at the breakfast bar. Trin walked into the kitchenette; she pulled out two glasses and put them on the breakfast bar. Zav looked at the glasses, then at Trin went into one of the upper cabinets. She pulled out of the cabinet a bottle and placed it next to the glasses.
"It's not much, but I like it," Trin said.
"Do you drink a lot?" Zav asked.
"Not normally, but it's part of doing business," Trin said.
"What business?" Zav asked.
"My job, a lot of networking, so it means drinking," Trin said, picked up the bottle, opened it, and poured a little in each glass. Once she finished, she put the bottle down and closed the bottle.
Trin picked up one of the glasses and held it in her hand; she studied the liquid and swished it around a bit. Trin looked up over the rim of her glass to see Zav pick up his glass.
"This is a nice place," Zav said.
"I got lucky with it," Trin said.
"I'd say you did," Zav said.
"You should see the view in the morning," Trin said matter-of-factly.
"I bet," Zav said, "How'd you get it?"
"It was my mom's; I'm buying it from her," Trin said, "She wanted my son and me in a good place."
"She bought this place for you?" Zav asked.
Trin shook her head, "No, she owned it already but decided to sell it to me," she said.
"Where is she now?" Zav asked.
Trin chuckled, "The Mandarin Oriental, right now," she said.
"Really?" Zav asked.
"Only for fashion week, normally she's in Tree Hill, North Carolina," Trin said.
"What is she doing there?" Zav asked.
"That's where her compound is," Trin said.
"Why are you here?" Zav asked.
"This is where I went to college, had my son, and my job, in short Manhattan is my home," Trin said.
"Where is your son?" Zav asked.
"At friends," Trin said.
"How about is dad?" Zav asked.
"Never really in the picture," Trin said.
"That's crazy," Zav said.
"Crazy, but typical, he wasn't much of a man," Trin said.
"What made you stop following Mental Lapse?" Zav asked.
Trin signed, "It was time to grow up," she said.
Zav nodded and looked around the apartment. Trin brought her glass up to her lips and took a sip of the drink. The sudden warmth of the liquid went down to her stomach and eventually throughout her body. The liquid bit back, but Trin took it. Trin personally believed if you drink, the alcohol should bite back. A little pain with the pleasure and a reminder not to drink herself numb.
Trin watched as Zav pulled up his glass to his lips. She closed her eyes and took another long sip of her drink. Putting down her glass, she took up the bottle and refreshed her drink. Putting the bottle down, she picked up the drink.
"How do you like working for a fashion house?" Zav asked.
"Clothes or cans, it's all the same; I'm on the business side, it's all about the product," Trin said.
"I see," Zav said, "Even with models?"
"I just make sure they get paid," Trin said, and she took a sip of her drink.
"Kind of takes the shine off everything," Zav said.
"It's not as romantic as one would think," Trin said, "A lot of meetings; meetings are boring."
Zav nodded in agreement. Trin picked up the bottle and put it away; she returned to the counter and finished her drink. Putting down her glass, Trin studied it, noting she left lipstick prints on the glass. She looked up to see Zav still drinking his drink.
"Finish your drink," Trin said.
"Why?" Zav asked.
Trin smiled and looked, "The longer you take on your drink, you'll delay the main event," she said.
Zav nodded, "Really?" he asked.
"Really," Trin said.
Zav took a long pull of his drink, finishing it. He put the glass down and stood up, shaking his head. Trin came around the counter and looked Zav in the eyes.
Trin took Zav by the hand. Zav smiled a bit as Trin led him down the hallway to her bedroom. Trin pushed Zav into the room; she looked down the hallway one last time, stepped into her bedroom, and closed the door behind her.
