by Rose Marie
Contents
Just one of those days
Not so Happy Birthday
Obsession
Put in my Place
It’s Gotten Worse
Love or Hate?
Never Letting Go
Let’s Go Home
Priceless
Bliss
Terrible Suggestions
Office Exposure
Surveillance
Case of an Ex
At First Sight
Rejection
Absent
Present
Shocker
Epilogue
Just one of those days
Angel
“ANGEL!!!”
Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh no. He's here, oh no! I scramble from the break room with a huge mug of black coffee and a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese and make my way to his office. As I scurry through the hall, I notice the mocking looks and gestures of my coworkers. A bunch of rat bastards! The whole lot of them! Ignoring them I pick up my pace only to bump into something solid.
While trying to steady myself by flailing my arms, I stumble backwards. Then my not so high heel twists at an awkward angle, sending my rather rotund body to the floor face first. Then as if I were in a comedy making fun of the pitiful big black girl, the bagel falls on my face, cream cheese side first of course followed by the coffee that comes sloshing down on my arms burning me. Fuck my life!
“Dammit.” I mutter as the on lookers start snickering as in remove the remains of what was supposed to be my boss’s breakfast from my person. “Damn I know you sa-” my voice fades as quick as my head raised and my eyes landed on him. I blink and I pray it's not one of those days, but I know it is. I just KNOW it is
“Angel, I see you've decided to do your job.” Yup I knew it.
“Mr. Stohurst I'm so sorry for my clumsiness I was-”
“- watching were you were going? Late? Flirting in the break room on company hours when you have a job to do? Which of these grievances should I address in your seventh informal warning?” The smug bastard raised a brow in my direction and quirked his lips in a smirk. Mama, today’s the day I become a criminal. I’m finna punch him… well maybe not since he wasn’t wrong. I was in fact getting my mac on in the break room. This morning I did clock in fifteen minutes late and I was running not watching were I was going. Damnit I hate when he’s right. I'll be damned if I admit it to him of all people. Shit ol’ ugly, attractive and sexy bastard.
“N-none of t-that sir.” He twisted his face into a grimace then examined me from head toe. I watch with batted breath already knowing what’s going on all throughout that big apple head of his.
“You stand in my face and lie wearing this ridiculous and unprofessional work attire?” I look around feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand, and sure enough the whole office had all eyes on us. “Will you get up already? Being on all fours like such is highly inappropriate.” Good lord everything I do is a problem. Watch standing up become a problem.
“Office, NOW!!!” Knew it. I suppress the groan and the eye roll that threatened to come forth because this man was working my nerves. I strut in his office wanting to cackle when I hear him mutter profanity under his breath. “Get back to work, I want all reports on my desk forty-five minutes earlier since you all feel it's more important to watch what I have going on than to complete your work.” Next, I hear footsteps coming then I hear the office door slam. Dammit, what crawled up his ass today?
I don’t even turn to look at him. I just wait for him to come around his gargantuan desk and take a seat in his humongous ass chair. He’s so dramatic. “Have a seat Angel.” Wanting to get this write up over with, I do as he says bracing myself for a yell. But instead I see him open his desk and pull out a first aide kit. “Your arm.” When I see him hold out his hand, I’m so stunned I actually give lay my arm on the desk so he can examine it. “You’re too clumsy.” I watch stunned as he gently applied ointment to my burns, bandaging it. “How’s it feel now?” Taken aback I examine and move it around feeling only a slight discomfort compared to the stinging pain I felt earlier.
“It's fine now, thank you Mr. Stohurst.” To my thanks he only stared at me for a long time then sat back with a annoyed expression on his face, and his hands clasped on his arm rest.
“Good. Now you can explain to me why you’re not in compliance with dress code and and why were you were caught fraternizing during business hours? Because I thought I told from the day I brought you on NOT the dress this way or wear shoes like that?” He licked his lips then frown while pointing at my cute yet very professional three inch heels. “It's highly unprofessional and your flirting and fraternizing has become-” he sweeps his eyes over me sneering harder “-a distraction.” Ugh to whom exactly?
“I'm sorry Mr. Stohurst I-” he raised his hand cutting off my excuse looking away from me. I swear it’s like this man hates hearing me speak. More like hates me.
“Excuses will not be tolerated Ms. Giles. I have no need for them, nor do I care to hear them.” He rolls eyes and waves his hand dismissing what I was going to say. His ass needs a good ol’ school Houston ass whooping WITH A SWITCH for how rude and dismissive he is. I don’t know how he grew up but my mama, aunts and grandma would NEVA allow me to act like this to people. This type of attitude was pick your own switch behavior. I’d make him skin it and make it nice and wet, so it stung as it hit his bottom.
How dare he tell me about the outfits I spend HOURS picking out due to my 38DD bust and size sixteen dress. With all the hips and ass I’m packing he better leave me alone. He’ll never know the struggle I go through to make myself “in compliance” to the dress code here at Stohurst Investments. I work my ass off to make sure I’m not a distraction, but for fuck’s sake there’s only so much a big girl that has been blessed with all the dangerous curves in the world can do. I’m tired of this same ol’ tirade from his trifling ass mouth. I should just walk out. Yeah get up right now and walk out Angel, you don’t deserve this shit. You’re the shit. You’re beautiful and you also have a right to feel beautiful. Damn!... then logic kicks in girl sit your ass down somewhere you also got bills.
“I’ll do better next time, Mr. Stohurst. Do you mind if I take a thirty-minute break to get myself together? I have a change of clothes in my car and-” again he holds his hand up cutting me off. Bastard.
“No, just go home and change. I’m sure the attire you have with you is just as inappropriate as what you have on now.” Excuse me?
“I’m sorry I don’t think I’ll be able to do that sir. I live over an hour away by the time I get back I’ll have missed half the day.” Is he joking? No way in hell I’m making that drive. I smile to show that I’m not trying to be insubordinate but that does nothing for him. He only frowns gapping his mouth open as if he’s shocked I didn’t simply listen to his request.
“That's not my problem Ms. Giles. You simply cannot walk around my office in what you have on. I won’t allow it.” I wish he’d stop repeating himself and actually listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth.
“Look, Mr. Stohurst I really do apologize but I honestly cannot go home and change. I checked the dress code meticulously when I was brought on your team. I personally don’t understand why I’m being singled out like this. I understand you may not appreciate the fact that I have a tad bit more fat on me than the average woman but listen here Mrs. Stohurst you CANNOT keep this biased behavior up. I’ve done nothing to warrant it and I am the most diligent contractor you have. Please understand that if you keep this up, I WILL file a complaint to Human Resources.” I know my rights asshole. He doesn’t even answer, me he only turns away from me from me facing the wall as if the mere sight of me disgust him.
&nbs
p; “Fine, but I want you at your desk most of the day away from me...” ugh. “What about your shoes can you at least change those? Get some like Gina from downstairs wears.” Gina from downstairs wears flats because she broke her legs while skiing last month. This man can quite simply kiss my ass, though I do have a pair of flats in my car for when I planned to go shopping before going out with Nia tonight for her birthday. Damn he really gonna make me walk around in flats all the damn time? I suppress the urge to roll my eyes at his suggestion and make sure to keep the smile on my face intact.
“Sure Mr. Stohurst, I’ve got a pair of flats in the car with a nice loose burlap sack of a dress to go with it. I wouldn’t want to offend you and any of the other men here with my full figure and thick thighs.” He turned glaring at me as if he was ready to pop off and I shrink back some. He looked mean as hell sometimes especially when his eyes flickered unnaturally like that. Oop did I say to much? With a look of defeat, he lets out a sigh then rubs his temples.
“It’s too early in the morning to be dealing with you. I need coffee and something to eat before I can tackle all that’s wrong right now.” He seemed fed up and at his wits end. That right there was my queue to haul ass because something bad is bound to happen if I stayed in the beast’s presence any longer.
He’s the type to make everything I did a big deal. Channing Stohurst is just a bully and a beast and the moment my contract is up at this firm I’m going to go elsewhere. I’m tired of being put through the ringer for the smallest things. It’s exhausting working him with him. If he wasn’t paying me big money to work for him there is no way I’d remain here doing shit that’s not even in my contract. With his nasty attitude, disgusted glances and constant criticism about my clothes, my ego is at an all-time low.
If it wasn't for the constant attention from my male coworkers and the hateful looks I got from women, I'd think I'd lost my touch. Not many men went for big girls like me, but the men here had no issue with flirting with me. There has been many a times I thought I that I’d be fired by the way he’d burst in the break room a couple times while I was flirting. But hell, everyone in this damn building is either hitting on or fucking someone. I don’t understand how it was never an issue when others did it but if it was me all hell would break loose.
“Go get my coffee and collect my morning workload. Change your shoes and do your best to minimize contact with me today.” I go to get up from my seat, but his voice stops me. “One more thing. If I catch you fraternizing with the males in my building during work hours, your job will be terminated. Do I make myself clear Ms. Giles?”
Wow! Just when I thought he couldn’t get any lower. He'd never threatened my job before, write up and informal warning yes, but this? This is ridiculous. If he’s going to go through this much just to get rid of me then I think I really need to be seeing myself out.
“Yes sir Mr. Stohurst your point has been made clear as day.” Quickly, I make my way out and to my car so I can grab my dress and flats, groaning when I see that it’s not my comfortable clothes but my tight-fitting club outfit for tonight. The black bodycon dress is within the dress code but the bottom tended to ride up my ass too much if I bent down due to the scrunchy material. Shit I just know he’s going to say something. I can’t help but mutter curse words at him the whole time I change knowing I’m probably going to be asked to leave early. As I leave the stall from changing, I make my rounds not missing the workplace “baddies” gossiping, laughing and pointing at me.
Yeah, this is exhausting, being one of the two black girls in this building is a pain in the ass. Myself and my friend Nia, secretary to the CFO who had it as bad as I did. The Stohurst men are just terrible people who use the fact that they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths as grounds to mistreat people they deem insignificant. It’s a wonder they grew the business this much having such nasty attitudes. After picking up his workload, I grab his coffee and bagel, trying to balance everything as best I could, then head back to his office. When I notice the door closed, I roll my eye’s in frustration. All this shit in my hand and he couldn’t think to leave the door open as common curtsey? Sighing, I knock and wait for the okay to enter.
“Come in.” Doing the best I can to open the door without spilling anything, I place his workload at the corner of his desk before going around the desk to put his food on his side. You don’t have to lean away you ass, I don’t have the cooties. Just as I’m about to leave my hips bump into his desk accidentally knocking a flash drive to the floor. Dammit. I bend down to pick it up before he notices and I only groan when I see it fell under his desk. Damn it. No choice but to go down on all fours to reach on under the desk, I grab it going to stand but I grab his chair instead of his desk for support. “Can you mo-” I feel him pull the chair from my grip and turn and I don't know how but somehow I lose my balance and end up sprawled in his lap… with my skirt bunched at waist and thong clad ass sitting in lap.
So, shocked we both sit there unable to comprehend what happened. When I hear a knock on his office door that’s when I’m shaken and realize that I’m sitting on my bosses lap The CEO and founder for God’s fucking sake woman get the hell up!... hold up is that? I know I’m not crazy is that a hard on? Noooo! It’s my imagination. Embarrassed, I jump up and swoop down to grab the flash drive that fell again when I hear him start choking.
I look back and see my ass DIRECTLY in his beet red face. OH MY GOD! Standing straight I shimmy the dress skirt over my ass which is no small feat. I'm so damn embarrassed as my ass jiggles in this man’s face. I don't even bother to look at Mr. Stohurst because I don’t want to see the disgust in his eyes at my less than ideal body. I just simply throw his USB drive on his desk and haul ass out of his office practically in tears.
When I get to my desk, I wipe the tears that had fallen. When I sit, I place my hands on my head trying not to cry. That has to have been one of the most embarrassing things to have ever happened to me. Am I going to be fired? Will he spread it around the office? What’s going to happen to me? I was in full panic mode when I hear the phone at my desk ring pulling me from my dilemma. When I pick up the CFO, Landen Stohurst’s voice comes through sounding bored yet silky smooth.
“Angel I plan to have lunch with my brother today, would you be a dear and place an order at D’s Diner for takeout?”
“Sure Mr. Stohurst, will do.” I hang up frowning. Why is he asking me to do it when he has Nia there? When I feel a tap on my shoulder, I look up stunned to see Nia standing there holding my lunch.
“Angel? Girl, you ok? I've been standing here calling your name for the longest. Come on.” Confused I look up at the wall clock to see she's right, it's 12. No wonder Landen called me to order lunch, Nia was already on her way down here.
“Sorry Nia, I completely lost track of time. Let me order the boss men their food then I’ll be right there.” She nods walking off without me. I order their food and, in the process, wonder where the time hell the time went? I did absolutely nothing today beside get yelled at, have food spilled on me, and be embarrassed to no end. Today has been one of those days that leave you wondering if you were living a nightmare. After all is done, I call Landen to let him know that the order for food was placed. One of the better parts of the job is that they never made us go out of way to leave the office and run errands for them when we were busy or on lunch.
Putting my things away I send a quick message to Channing letting him know I'm at lunch and away from desk. Just like me he hasn't left his office, which is rare because he's ALWAYS on the floor dictating shit. He, unlike his brother Landen worked on the floor with the team because he likes to keep tabs on everyone. It’s also how I got stuck playing the secretary for him even though I’m overqualified for the job, but my pay was doubled for doing the job so I didn’t complain too much. When I walk past his office, I notice it’s dark with not even his computer on. I must have really grossed him out.
I head to the break room and grab my lunch from Nia, si
tting with a heavy sigh. She looks at me biting into the whole wheat turkey sandwich I made her. When we met during the interviewing process, we became fast friends though honestly, we were more like sisters than anything. We just had so much in common. We were both from Texas, she was from Austin and I from Houston. We had the same major in college, pledged the same sorority and we are both the only black girls in the building.
“What's up with you?”
“Ugh, don’t ask. I don’t want to talk about it.” I groan opening the lunch she made me. It’s baked chicken and egg salad and she even made homemade vinaigrette. About a year ago we both promised to do more self-care after failed long-term relationships due to cheating. During that time, we were both in bad places emotionally and decided to change our lives and losing weight was something we both decided was necessary. In that time, being disciplined and holding each other accountable we were able to reach our goals.
One of the ways we were able to do that was never driving to the gym alone. We made it so the other was responsible to pick the other up, alternating driving days and make lunches for each other. That way we are completely obligated to do it because if we didn’t we’d be holding the other person back. It’s an awesome system that has worked for us. In the beginning it was tough but today we are both down ten dress sizes. I want to drop two more to a size fourteen and I’ll stop there. The goal was never to be skinny just more comfortable in our own skin.
“That bad huh? Kinda figured since Thing One and Thing Two were on a call this morning talking about something that happened with you today. I only know because I’m nosy and was ear hustling all up in their conversation. But you know Liam’s ass can whisper low as hell, so I just barely caught your name. I didn't hear much but I did catch the mention of your name, ass and lap, and death.” She looked at me pointedly.
Jesus take the wheel. Now his brother might know? I might as well resign now. I chose to plead the fifth and not to comment. I just eat my food in silence. I can't believe he told his brother I almost killed him with my ass. I mean, I know I got a fat ass but it’s nowhere near big enough to smother him with. Seriously, this is why I have to get up out of here. Channing is a stocky guy with a tall frame, about six foot three inches, with wide shoulders. He can’t weigh no less than two hundred and thirty to fifty pounds.