This Could Have Been Our Song!: A coulda woulda shoulda ballad by Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba

me. “So, how was your Friday night? Did you use the passes?”
    Marcus and I exchange a quick look. I shrug. I ’m too shocked to walk down memory lane right now. “Thank you for them by the way.” I force a smile.
    “ You should thank Marcus,” Lloyd says. “As soon as he heard from Jenny that it was your birthday, he suggested that those passes to be sent to you.”
    “ Oh really… Jenny,” I mutter. That bitch, always gossiping about me; I thanked him plenty. That was cheesy. Wait a minute. “How long have you been in Toronto, Marcus?” I turn around to ask.
    “ About ten days now,” he answers, shifting uncomfortably.
    “ Yes, that’s about right. We had met a few times to discuss and resolve the ‘situation’ before the launch date and your return,” Lloyd adds.
    Something is just not adding up. Registering Lloyd and Marcus’ words and their implications, I start to wonder; did Marcus know who I was last Friday when we met? No… No one could be that devious. I look at Marcus silently, asking him to prove me wrong – the coward. He lowers his stare, completely avoiding mine.
    “ You knew who I was?” I whisper to him. No response. “You knew who I was!” I say now louder. Breathe, Lucia, breathe. That’s just too much bad news in such a short time.
    “ Luce, it’s not what you think,” Marcus responds.
    Luce? No, really! Who does he think he is? “Don’t call me Luce! Don’t you ever call me Luce again, you piece of…” I stop. I remember Lloyd is still in my office and is now staring at us.
    “ What’s going on here?” he asks.
    Well, Lloyd, your boy wonder here is a sociopath – platinum albums and all. But Marcus has a different version.
    “ I met Lucia last Friday and didn’t really tell who I was.”
    “ Well that’s an understatement, Just Marcus .” I’m forcing another smile. We can’t have this conversation with Lloyd in the room. He’s still holding the songs I gave him earlier. Oh my god! “Infatuation”, the song about Marcus. I feel like the biggest idiot. This is turning out to be a terrible day. I’m being punked on April’s fools.
    “ So, Lloyd,” I finally let out, long enough to keep my temper in check. “You said that there is more on Second Coming to discuss?” That was pitiful!
    “ Yes. Beesly and Matt are coming down this afternoon.”
    They ’re not supposed to be back for another couple of weeks. But I’m sure Marcus knew that too. I can’t breathe; I need to get out of this room. Now. But Lloyd beats me to it.
    “ I have a meeting in ten minutes.” He looks at his watch, then shoots us one last look before leaving the room. “Play nice, you two.”
    “ Right,” Marcus says.
    “ Sure,” I say and I close the door behind him. “What the fuck, Marcus!” I scream and turn around to face him. “You came to me…danced with me…slept with me!”
    “ It wasn’t like that.” He nervously passes his hand through his silky hair. “I just wanted to see what the fuss was all about – Lucia the baker, Lucia the soul sister, Lucia the bosses’ favorite and the list goes on.”
    “ So, you sought me out? Even built me a nice trap?” I ask, referring to the passes. “Well, we’re meeting now; this couldn’t have waited until today?” My hands are shaking a little. I walk past him, to the back of my office, putting my desk between us. “So why?”
    “ I was curious.” He doesn’t even look a little guilty for his actions. “I heard it was your birthday and so went to check you out. That was all.”
    “Have you been in my office before?” I say, looking at collection of guitar frames on my wall. “What were you even doing here, Marcus? Taking measurements of your possible new office?” I’m this close to break into tears, but not in front of this man; he might take it as another invitation.
    “ I just stumbled into it…with Jenny,” he tells me.
    Jenny – of course – who else? I’ll give her a peace of my mind.
    “