"A cortado to go, please," Dani ordered.
She ran a hand through her long, dark blonde hair when she heard someone clear their throat behind her.
"Excuse me," a woman said.
The voice sounded timid. Dani turned around and settled her honey brown eyes on the woman standing there. She was pretty. A bit too skinny for Dani's liking but still pretty.
"Are you Dani Beitris?" The woman asked.
"I'll be anyone you want me to be, sweetheart," Dani smirked. "Who's asking?"
The woman blushed and cleared her throat again out of nervousness.
"I'm Carmella," the woman said.
"I don't know anyone by that name. I would have remembered. It's a lovely name," Dani said.
"I'm Corey's fiance," Carmella said.
Dani's smile faded. As far as she new, Corey was single. She hadn't looked into it since she had no interest in anything deeper with Corey but she never messed around with taken men.
"Do you want a cortado?" Dani asked.
"I..." Carmella started.
"Let me buy you a cortado," Dani looked at the barista. "Make it two."
Dani looked at Carmella again. The woman seemed so sad and scared at the same time.
"We'll talk in a minute," Dani said.
They stood in awkward silence for a couple of minutes until the coffees were placed in front of Dani. She paid, picked up both, and nodded her head at Carmella.
"Let's go for a walk," Dani said.
They walked outside and Dani handed Carmella one of the cups.
"Please, accept this as my poor apology for messing with your man," Dani said.
"Thanks, I guess," Carmella said.
"I seriously had no idea he had a fiance. He told me he was single," Dani said.
"Well, he's not," Carmella said.
"No shit," Dani chuckled sadly.
"I wish he was," Carmella said. "Or I wish I was, I mean."
Dani glanced over at Carmella who sighed and kept her eyes down on the pavement in front of her as they continued forward.
"So leave him," Dani said.
"I can't," Carmella said.
"Can't or won't?" Dani asked.
Carmella stopped walking and looked directly into Dani's eyes.
"When did it start with you and him?" Carmella asked.
"A year and a half ago," Dani answered.
"That's when he got me pregnant," Carmella said.
Dani choked on her coffee and started coughing. It was one thing that Corey had lied about being single and a whole other thing that he had a family at home. She never messed with taken men and most certainly not men like this.
"I wanted an abortion but he wouldn't let me," Carmella said.
"Oh, sweetheart," Dani sighed.
"He made me have a shared bank account with him but only he gets to have a card to withdraw money. I have to ask him for money if I need any and I have to detail exactly what I need them for," Carmella said. "I hate my life. I'm stuck. He trapped me. I wish I could just get up and leave."
"What about the kid?" Dani asked.
"What about him?" Carmella shrugged. "Corey is a good father but he's a shitty partner. The kid will be fine with him, and I'll be a whole lot better far away from both of them."
Dani drummed her fingers on her coffee cup. She wasn't responsible for Carmella's life being fucked up but for some reason Carmella had chosen to come to her. Normally women would do that to size up the other woman but it looked more like Carmella had no other place to turn.
"What if I help you?" Dani asked.
"I can't ask that of you," Carmella said.
"Sure you can. Why else did you come find me? You clearly don't care about Corey so what is it to you if I keep fucking him behind your back? You came to me for a reason. Maybe you don't have anyone else, or maybe you don't trust the people in your life. I don't know but I'm getting a bit of a kick out of this already. I'm probably the only person in the world Corey won't suspect you talking to. You're not supposed to know about me. How did you find out about me?" Dani asked.
"I saw you one day when I was picking up lunch for the office. You were holding hands and kissing. After that I went into his phone and computer without him knowing. He doesn't know that I know his password," Carmella said.
"Look at you," Dani chuckled. "I like you, Carmella."
"Thank you," Carmella managed to smile. "So far you seem pretty cool too. I can see why he likes you."
Dani walked to the nearest bench and sat down. Carmella followed right after and sat down next to Dani.
"I'll help you. I can keep pretending to be interested in him while you get out," Dani said.
"Are you okay having sex with him still?" Carmella asked.
"It's a good dick," Dani said.
Dani smirked at Carmella and both of them started laughing. Carmella kept the smile on her face and took another sip of her coffee.
"I'm aromantic," Dani said.
"What does that mean?" Carmella asked.
"It means I have no romantic attraction to other people," Dani explained. "Sex on the other hand, that I like. I have a few casual sex buddies I can choose between. All of them know the deal. Sex and friendship. Nothing else."
"Wait, I heard about that somewhere before. You're the first one I meet though," Carmella said.
"We only make up like 1% of the total population so we are unicorns in the wild," Dani said.
Carmella laughed and her eyes lit up. She seemed to become more and more happy around Dani.
"Open an account in another bank. It doesn't matter where as long as it's another bank. Make sure your next paycheck goes there instead," Dani said.
"He'll know right away," Carmella said.
"I don't care. You'll be gone by that time," Dani said.
"I will?" Carmella asked.
"Leave it to me. I think I owe you some help since I'm the reason your fiance cheated on you. That bastard. I don't fucking mess around with taken men but maybe there was a reason for all this. Maybe I'm meant to help you," Dani said.
Dani found her phone and handed it to Carmella.
"Put your number in there," Dani said. "When can I call?"
"Anywhere between 8 AM and 3 PM on week days. I don't think weekends are safe at all," Carmella said.
"I'll be in touch," Dani took her phone back. "You hang in there for now, Carmella. I know it seems hard right now, but trust me, this is going to be so damn easy."
"How can you be so sure?" Carmella asked.
"Do you know what I do for a living?" Dani asked.
Carmella shook her head no. She hadn't looked that deep into Dani after discovering that Corey was cheating on her.
"I own several businesses. Around town, in other places, and online. I'm a hardcore business woman. I have no interest in a partner and the so called life script but I go hard when it comes to running all of my businesses. Not only am I rich but I am also well connected. I know a lot of useful people. Getting you out is no trouble at all," Dani said.
Dani stood up and put her hand forward.
"Trust me," Dani said.
Carmella nodded and shook Dani's hand.
"I do," Carmella said.
"Good," Dani smiled. "I'll be in contact, sweetheart. Next month you'll be sipping a mojito with the biggest smile on your face."