Influencing

Eliza and Rafe held hands tightly, as they walked into the gallery. There were cameras everywhere, the gallery looked like paparazzi shots from the 80s—that was the theme of the opening. They had squeezed hands tight even though they had been bickering right before they got to the entrance.

“I don’t care if she is going to be here Rafe, she is your friend. All I am saying is that I do not have to spend time around her. She is your friend and you can do whatever you want.”

“I never treated Oscar like this,” Rafe said.

“Are you saying she is on level to you what Oscar has been to me? To us?

“No–” 

“Then what are you saying Rafe? That you want to fight me about Kelly and she is not even that important to you?”

“What if she could be?”

“You cannot make me like her!”

“She is so intimidated by you Eliza, and you are not—were not such a mean girl before you met Alessa–”

“Don’t you dare mention Alessandra!”

“I tolerate all of your people—including her right now even, another show and you cannot even try with Kelly? 

“I was never with Alessa, we were always just friends. And if you did not want to come with me tonight to her show—“ Eliza saw her face in the reflection of the glass as they walked through the hallway leading to the show. She was more made up than usual with big hair, heavy makeup and a vintage 1980s dress as she thought was fashionable when she was a child. She saw herself as a caricature, and looked at her husband who was still holding her hand so tightly as if he would never let go no matter what.

“Rafe,” she said putting her head on his shoulder. “I am sorry my love.”

She felt his hand soften and envelope hers even more at the same time.

“I do not want you to be sorry. If you do not like her I understand, but did you try? I do not think you have.”

“I will try for you my love, I will try.”

It was right then that Kelly walked toward them in a vintage 80s dress of her own. Of course she would be there, she was an influencer. That was her job.

Her job to influence and it seemed she had influence with her husband.

The 80s music was so loud, the driving bass of a Culture Club song and Kelly looked at her before she lured Rafe into her arms to dance. He squeezed Eliza’s hand before he went off with Kelly, and Eliza wandered into the gallery toward Leon and Alessandra.

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