“I’m ready.” He put the bill in his pocket.
“Okay now. The black ball is the one you don’t want to hit,” she kidded.
“See, you’ve got jokes now. Don’t mess with a professional.” He got up. “Follow me.”
She stood and said, “Professional comedian, maybe. Pool shark, we’ll see. Anyway, I’m still upset about you having to go to the Alpharetta office.”
“Don’t you worry yourself.” He waved his hand before her so she would go first.
She proceeded. “I’m pretty sure that I might be able to do something about it.”
He paced himself beside her. “We’re good. Trust me.” As they walked together, she looked down at his super clean gray, white, and blue paisley patterned, size twelve Air Max Nikes, and then noticed his dark jeans, and the swag to his walk. She couldn’t help but to sing in a low tone, “I love you in your big jeans, you give me nice dreams, you make me wanna scream, oo-oo-ooo.”
He sang in a low tune, too. “I like what ya do, when ya do, what ya do.”
And they both sang, “You make me wanna Shoop!”
This time he laughed out loud.
She towered over him as they sauntered over to shoot pool, and she did manage to look around. Part of her was curious about whether or not the two black women were nearby. She saw people watching, and quickly grabbed Ramón’s hand so that everyone clearly knew she was with the man who kept her in stitches.
But unbeknownst to her, he was also the man who like her, was about to inherit millions.
As they stepped, a tall, thick Caucasian woman walked by, very close to Shasta, right near the side of her face, and she said the word, clearly, “Wigger.”
Shasta shook out her ears and rolled her eyes, without looking back, then she looked at an oblivious Ramón who didn’t blink nor flinch, and they walked on.
The Shoop had turned to shit.
She knew the journey was going to take a very thick skin.
Chapter 7
Downtown Atlanta
By that Friday, Shasta and Ramón had two more bedroom dates at her place. One of the times was after their dinner at Highlander, after each had won two games of pool. He insisted on no tiebreaker. The second time, last night, she had called him over after one in the morning, and he pleased her along her sofa, just the way she liked it, but she sent him home after.
On this day, the final meeting that was on her calendar for the day was a meeting with Tyson scheduled for seven. She arrived in his office ten minutes early. Her first question, the question she had wanted to ask him for days was, “Why did you transfer him?”
But suddenly, Rochelle, the head of human resources, was also early.
Tyson gave Shasta only a blink, then he stood in his navy blue designer suit when he saw Rochelle. His voice was exuberant for her, though he couldn’t reply to Shasta’s question. “Hello, Rochelle. Thanks for joining us so late in the day.”
“No problem. Hello. Hi, Shasta.”
“Hi, Rochelle.”
Tyson swaggered to his office door and closed it. He went back behind his desk and took a seat. “This will only take a second. As I said in my email, it turns out that we have an issue with calls into our switchboard. Someone is doing some fact-checking, snooping to see if we’re taking over the Pappas stations in Fresno and San Diego. We need to take a look at which individuals have been in on those private discussions, and make sure we send an email confirming that nothing is to be discussed one way or another. It’s all confidential.”
Rochelle explained, holding her iPhone. “Yes, sir. I had a quick conversation with Shasta here earlier. We decided we’ll actually have a meeting with those in this office, and a conference call with the heads of the other offices, if that’s okay. I just think that with an email, it’d be too easy to forward it.”
Shasta nodded, and noticed Tyson wearing the purple and blue striped tie she gave him the previous Christmas. “I agree. I can make sure our communications mention nothing about expanding, or travel to the stations, any meetings or even conversations about recent meetings, FCC inquires, none of that. It’ll all be verbal at this point.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s get right on it.” Tyson adjusted the knot on his tie, looking right at Shasta.
Rochelle said, “Definitely.”
“Thanks.” Tyson stood and headed to the door.
“Is that all?” Rochelle asked, looking surprised, standing too.
He opened the door and stood there. “That’s all. Have a good night.”
“Yes, you as well.” Rochelle stepped to the door.
Tyson moved aside for her to exit. “I will. Thanks.”
Shasta stood, saying loudly. “Good-night, Rochelle.” And then saying, “Good-night, Tyson.” She walked to the door, hearing Rochelle say, “Nite,” but Tyson shut it after Rochelle.
He was two feet from her. “Ms. Gibson. Just a minute. I want to discuss the points of those conversations, about the meeting and the call if you don’t mind.”
“Okay.” She knew better. “But first, I need you to answer my question.”
“He’s using you. You know, the one I transferred. The short black one.”
She frowned. “He’s not.”
Tyson headed to his desk again, saying. “I told you what I would do. I’m not playing with you, Shasta.”
She walked over and faced him. “You can’t just transfer someone who has had no performance issues, make up some bogus staffing reason, and act like you have someone new coming in to replace them when you don’t.”
“Oh, but I do.”
“HR got someone?”
“They did.”
She came closer. “Well Ramón has been gone since Tuesday, and I don’t see anyone new here. But fine. You do what you want.” She wanted to say more, but only sighed.
He stared and reached for her hand, taking hold of it.
She looked up at him. He put his other hand on her shoulder, and began to squeeze. “You’re tense.”
She angled her shoulder just enough to escape both of his hands, and stepped back.
He again stepped to her, looking down at her face, and then her chest. He even took another step. Uncomfortable. They were nose to nose. He said in a sexy, wanting voice, “Just five minutes. You and me. That’s all I need. Just enough time for me to suck you, you know where. Five little minutes. I know for a fact that’s all the time it takes for me to make you come.” His lustful voice matched his eyes.
She shook out her neck and gave an exhale, looking at him, then speaking in the same sexy, wanting voice as he did. “What I want is for you to forget about this dumb transfer of someone who did nothing to you.”
“I can.”
“You promise?”
“I do.”
Shasta knew just what that meant. She shook out her shoulders and moved to her right, placing her phone on the edge of his desk. She took careful steps, walking back toward the door of Tyson’s private bathroom. She brought her hand up to undo the top button of her black cotton blouse, looked back at him as he watched her, and took a step inside, then turned. She heard Maya’s voice. Just as she did, Tyson said, “Yes, Maya. What is it?” He closed the door behind Shasta.
Shasta heard his office door open, and Maya say, “That was a quick meeting.” She re-buttoned her blouse.
Tyson’s voice was on edge. “I thought I asked you to knock.”
Maya’s voice was soft. “Never this late. Besides, I was just checking to see if you were done. I wasn’t at my desk at seven so I never saw Rochelle or Maya.”
“The meeting was short. I’m about to go the bathroom. You can go home.”
Maya’s voice was even softer. “Oh no. Not yet. I have work to do.”
“It can wait.”
“This can’t.” There was silence.
After a moment, Tyson cleared his throat hard. “Trust me. I need to go in there alone. My late lunch is banging around in my stomach.”
“Jus
t me and you for a minute.”
Shasta’s heart beat fast. She heard a few steps and then the bathroom doorknob turned and it opened a bit. Shasta carefully stepped back. Instantly, the door was pulled to.
“No.” Tyson’s voice had extra depth.
“What?” Maya asked, not sounding mad, but instead, sounding like a purring kitten.
He spoke fast. “Not right now. I told you, I’m not feeling well.”
“What’s wrong with you, Baby lump?”
Shasta grinned inside, saying, Baby lump?
“Maya, not right now.”
“Wow. Okay.” The footsteps went further away. “Did someone leave their phone?” There was silence. “Is that Shasta’s phone?”
Damn that Zebra phone case.
Tyson replied, “I guess one of them did. I’ll let them know.”
“It’s Shasta’s. I’ll give it to her.”
He spoke fast again. “Leave it here.”
“I’ve got it, Tyson.”
Shasta heard two sets of footsteps. It stopped. The office door opened.
Maya asked, “Aren’t you going to the bathroom?”
This time his voice was riled up. “Maya. Give me that phone.”
“Okay, okay. Calm down,” Maya said, no longer purring.
“Go home,” he told her.
“Sure thing.” She sounded calm.
“Goodnight.”
Door closed.
Lock sounded.
Footsteps coming closer.
Bathroom door opened.
Shasta was stunned, saying as she saw his face, “You’re seeing Maya.”
He stepped inside and closed the door, standing right before her. “No.”
“Liar. You’re a mess. You’ve got more nerve than anyone I know.”
“Nerve about what? You know Maya. She’s just like that.”
“No woman would be like that unless there’s something going on.”
“She’s wanted there to be. But first of all. She’s not my type.”
“Oh yeah, right. Obviously you’re hers.” She stepped around him.
He turned to face her. “Shasta. Hold up. Are you jealous?”
“Fix the transfer, Baby lump. Goodbye.” She snatched her phone from him, exited the bathroom and trudged heavily to the door.
As she opened the door, she prayed that Maya would be gone. She was. But as Shasta headed back to her office, her phone vibrated in her hand. She looked down at it.
Maya: How was ur mtg?
Shasta knew, that Maya knew.
Chapter 8
Johns Creek, GA
It was ten that evening. Shasta never replied to Maya’s text. She did not reply to Tyson’s repeated call me text either. All she wanted to do was go home, and be alone to think, just for a couple of hours before she went out.
She had to face the fact that the married man she worked for, who she had been fooling around with for years, now had the nerve to be jealous of her for dating a black man from the mailroom.
She spoke aloud, “This makes no sense that I even care about Ramón getting transferred or not. I can’t allow Tyson to hold this over my head and punish Ramón, or me. I’ve got to ignore him, be firm about rejecting his advances, and get prepared to deal with who surely know something is up with Tyson and me, just like something is definitely up with Tyson and her.”
After her shower, she put on a pair of black leggings and a loose yellow top, slipped her feet into some heels, then grabbed her pink tote bag. She headed to the kitchen.
She took her phone from the island as it vibrated.
She pressed Messages.
Ramón: I’m at my house waiting. Can’t wait 2 c u. Drive safely.
Shasta: Thx. Can’t wait to see u too.
Ring, Ring, Ring.
“Dammit!” The display made her take a deep breath before answering. “Hi, Maya.”
Immediately, with a scolding tone, the first thing out of Maya’s mouth was, “Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing Tyson?”
All Shasta could say was, “What?” She went into play it off mode.
“You were in his bathroom tonight, weren’t you?”
She remembered her ex, Conner, always saying that if you don’t want to answer a question, reply with a question. And so she did. “What are you talking about?”
“You know.” Her two words were impatient.
“Maya, I am not seeing Tyson. That’s just crazy.” Just as she did before, she used the word seeing loosely.
“You are.”
“No, I’m not.”
“How long has it been, Shasta? Tell me. Is that how you’ve gotten as far as you have within the company? After all, you are the only female senior executive at Bain.”
Ouch. Question. “What?”
“The flowers he calls to order on his own, that he charges on his company American Express that I thought he’s been sending to his wife when she’s out of town. Turns out it’s been your hotel address when you’re out of town. And you’ve gotten secret admirer boxes of candy, cookies, and strawberries here at the office. From him?”
She dared not to address the first part about the out of town flowers. But the second part, she could. “Those were from someone. Actually from Conner from time to time. Not Tyson.”
“But why is it you never told me who?”
She had to fix that. “I don’t even know for sure. I recently found out myself.”
“You’re lying.”
She looked at the time on the phone and headed to the kitchen door that led to the garage. “I’m about to leave. I’ve got to go.”
“You always have somewhere to be lately. Why is it that all of a sudden you can’t talk on your phone while you’re driving?”
“I’ve got calls to make.” Now that wasn’t really a lie.
“Are you going to see Tyson, or are you going to see Ramón? Which one?”
Her patience was shuddering as she pressed the alarm code into the keypad and opened the door, then closing it. “Dang, Maya. You know what you sound like. You sound like a jealous lover?”
Maya had a question, not a reply. “Is all of this why Ramón got transferred?”
“You work for the head of the company, you should know. Maya, you and I rarely talk about work, and with me being in the position I’m in, I make it a point not to discuss work with anyone. So let’s not start now.” Shasta opened the car door and got in.
Maya spoke like she did not hear one word. “So bottom line is; the boss, who is the master, is violating his own company policy by fraternizing with you, and with me, the help. I guess it’s cool with you being white, but since I’m black, I guess he’s got himself a field nigga in me.”
“Maya, oh my goodness. You really sound crazy right about now. I didn’t say anything about you and him fraternizing, nor you being black and me being white.”
“But the bottom line is that you were in his restroom. You know it, and I know it. I’m disappointed in him, and in you.”
“Maya, what you need to do is ask yourself why you even care about who I’m seeing. I certainly don’t care about who you’re seeing, and it’s obvious you’re seeing Tyson. But that’s your business, and it’s his wife’s problem.”
“Yes, it is my business, and it will continue to be from now on. So don’t you dare ask me about my dates, my night, my whatever. Nothing!”
“Fine. I won’t.”
“Fine!” Maya mumbled something. “You know what?”
Shasta stayed calm. “What?”
“I see you clearly now.”
“Good. But since you called me with this nonsense, when the truth is, overhearing you today means that I learned something, too, then it’s like living in a glass house and throwing stones. I’m not the one confronting you.”
“Goodbye.”
Before Shasta could return the word, the call ended.
She simply looked at her screen. She said aloud, “Why are you so mad, Baby lump? Oooo, I
wanted to say that to her.”
Chapter 9
Dunwoody, GA
It was nearly eleven that night.
Ramón lived in the beautiful area of Dunwoody, in the Dunwoody Glen apartments, a large community with newly remodeled buildings, a fitness center, playground and pool.
Shasta pulled past the security gate after Ramón buzzed her in, and by the time she reached his building, he was outside in the darkness of the evening, showing her where to park, escorting her from the car, and walking her up the stairs to his one bedroom bachelor pad, holding her hand, again, obviously shorter.
She stepped inside first after he opened the door. “Nice place, Ramón. You’ve got very good taste.” The first thing that hit her was the aroma of garlic, shrimp, and butter.
He closed the door behind himself. “Thanks.”
She looked around at the blonde hardwood floor, the contemporary abstract oil painting in reds, golds and pale blues, and at his brick colored sectional with ivory accents and brown pillows. He had a sixty-five inch HDTV, and a Bose music system with acoustic speakers along an eight foot shelf. He played smooth jazz. The song was “Save Yourself For Me” by Hiroshima.
He told her, “At times, I think these colors are battling against each other. It’s a rainbow collation in here. All I need are black-light posters with Angela Davis and Huey P. Newton pumping black-power fists.”
“No you don’t. This is far from that, Ramón. It’s classy. I’m very impressed.” She put her handbag on the end of the sofa and sat down, pointing to a large framed picture along the wall. “Is that your mom and dad?”
“Yes. That’s Luis and Gloria Vaz.”
“Great looking couple.”
“Thanks. I don’t know about him, but she is a looker, I know that much.”
“Yes, she is.”
He went into the kitchen.
“Sorry I’m so late. Did you eat yet?”
“Oh no. Waited for you. I’m good.
“Good. It smells great in here.”
“Well come on over here and we’ll see if it taste as great as it smells.”
She stood and went to the dining room table.
He walked up and pulled out her chair.
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