Twisted

by Imari Jade

  ****

  “What is this?” Tina asked Erik the next morning when he walked into her office. He’d snuck back into the house around three in the morning smelling like a woman’s cologne, and had eased into the shower before slipping back out to sleep in the guest bedroom.

  “Plans,” he told her. He pushed a folder toward her.

  Tina opened the folder. It contained business plans for some sort of clothing store. She began to read. Erik wanted her to invest in a men’s suit store. She sighed. This man was incorrigible. If she didn’t want to buy him a car, why did he think she would invest in something like this? “Is this for you?” Tina asked, playing along with the game. She’d funded other ventures for him before and it had ended up with her just throwing money down the drain. Erik never stuck to anything, always giving up for one reason or another. That’s when she decided to give him a job at The Design Factory so she could keep an eye on him and keep her contributions to his ideas to a minimum.

  “Yes, I thought it was about time I strike out on my own again.”

  “You don’t like it here?”

  “It’s not that,” he said, coming around the back of her seat and gently massaging her shoulders. “I just think it’s time for me to be the boss.”

  “I understand,” she said. Maybe he thought she’d fall for this and help him buy the car. She continued to look over the paperwork. It looked like he had put some thought into it. Maybe he was serious this time. “I didn’t know you had an interest in men’s clothing?”

  “Well, you know how I like good suits.”

  Boy, did she ever. Erik never bought anything off the rack and he ran up quite a tailor and dry-cleaning bill.

  “I don’t want to sell any of that hip-hop fashion crap. Hopefully, that type of dressing will go out of style soon. I want to create a store that the well-dressed man will want to visit….you know, businessmen.”

  It sounded like he had put a lot of thought into it, except he hadn’t done his homework on demographics and trends. That hip-hop crap, as he called it, wasn’t going out of style anytime soon. If he had any sense, he’d incorporate some of that fashion into his store. The current plan would eliminate rap and pop stars from spending their money with him. And if he thought she was just going to sign off on this, he was very much mistaken. Not after what he did to her last night. She’d be a fool to reward him for cheating.

  “So what do you think?” he asked.

  “It’s a very good business plan,” she lied. “But I’ll have to get back with you after I have my attorney and accountants take a look at it.”

  Erik stopped the massage. “How long do you think they will take? I have to jump on this before the realtors sell the shop to someone else.”

  “I don’t know, maybe a couple of days. I should have an answer for you when you return from the Bahamas with your friends.” Every year, Erik and his friends got together and went on a vacation to get away from the womenfolk. Well, that’s what she’d thought up until yesterday. No wonder he never asked her to go with him on vacation. He just needed her to pay for it. She smirked. For the first time, she was glad to get him out of the house for a couple of days so she could have some face time with herself so she could get her life in order.

  “Okay,” he said, walking back around to the front of her desk. “I’ll see you on Sunday when I get back.” He walked out of the office without a kiss or a goodbye.

  Alexis entered shortly after he left. “Are you okay?”

  Tina nodded. Alexis was such a worrier.

  “What did you say to him last night after you went home from the beauty salon?”

  “Was I supposed to say something to him?” Tina asked, feigning ignorant.

  Alexis put her hand on her hips. “Tina, not even you are this blind. Don’t tell me you didn’t hear that blonde woman talking about Erik.”

  Tina shook her head. “No, Alexis, I’m not blind or deaf. Yes, I heard her.”

  Alexis relaxed. “Girl, for a moment I thought I would have to do an intervention on your ass. So you confronted him about her?”

  “I asked him,” Tina said. “But of course you know he denied it.”

  “So what did he come in for then?”

  Tina pushed the folder toward her. “He wanted me to look over this.”

  Alexis opened the folder and started reading. “You’re not seriously considering doing that?”

  Tina shook her head. “Hell no. I’m just letting him think I am.”

  Alexis knew all about Erik’s little past indiscretions and inability to run a business.

  “I told him I was going to run this past my lawyers and I’d get back with him when he returned from the Bahamas.”

  Alexis handed her back the folder. “You’re still going to let him go even though you know he’s not going with his friends?”

  Tina nodded. “The damage is already done. Let him have his little fun. I’m just giving him enough rope to hang himself with.”

  Alexis smirked. “You’d think he’d have learned by now. I’m sorry, Tina, but you don’t need him.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Tina said.

  “So what are you doing for the weekend?”

  “I thought I’d just sit around the house and relax,” Tina said.

  “You sure you’re not going to sit around the house and cry because your man is cheating on you?”

  Tina smirked. “He’s cheated for so long the tears have dried up. No, I won’t be mourning.”

  “Let’s go out. We haven’t done the girls thing in a long time.”

  “That’s because we have significant others in our lives. What is Jerome supposed to do if you go out clubbing with me?”

  “He left this morning for a medical convention and won’t be back until Sunday,” Alexis said.

  “I guess I’m free,” Tina said.

  “Good,” Alexis said. “I’ll call Clarice and see if she’s free.”

  Clarice Tate was one of their childhood friends, recently divorced and enjoying every minute of it. Clarice was a lawyer for a prestigious law firm in Manhattan.

  “Okay, I haven’t talked to her in a while.”

  Alexis pulled out her cell phone and dialed. “Hello, Reece, this is Alexis. What are you doing tonight? Tina and I are thinking about going out and painting the town red around nine,” Alexis said. “I’ve heard of this new place called the Lotus Garden that caters to us older broads.” She paused and listened to Clarice’s response. “Yeah, lover boy is out of town. He took his girlfriend to the Bahamas and Tina knows all about it.” She laughed. “Yes, he’s a fool. Only an ass would cheat on a billionaires.”

  Tina made a face, smiled, and then shook her head.

  “Yes,” Alexis told her.

  Alexis pressed the red button on her cell phone to turn it off. “She’s meeting us at nine.”

  “Good, but I don’t want the two of you feeling sorry for me this time. We’re going out to have fun,” Tina replied.

  “Okay, you need some fun. You’ve been under a lot of pressure lately.”

  “Not more than usual,” Tina said. “But you’re right. Every now and then it is good to go out and have fun with friends.”

  Alexis nodded. She only had a few minutes to plan the best night of Tina’s life. She smirked. What were girlfriends for?

  ****

  The club was already crowded when they arrived. Tina felt a little uncomfortable because she never liked crowds, but Alexis’ enthusiasm spurred her into staying. They found Clarice seated at the bar deep in conversation with a black man around their age. He appeared to be a professional businessman, which was right up Clarice’s alley since that’s the only type she ever dated. She waved at them, said something to the man, and then left him to join them.

  Clarice looked good dressed in a pair of black slacks and a black and white symmetrical print blouse that came down to her full hips. Tina liked Clarice’s new haircut. It was short and black with brown highlights that made her brown
eyes look bigger.

  “I can’t believe you came,” Clarice said, hugging her.

  “Alexis said I needed an outing,” Tina replied once her shorter, stockier friend released her.

  “And look how skinny and toned you are. Alexis told me that the two of you are taking Kung Fu. Maybe I should sign up for a few classes. I can stand to lose a pound or two.”

  “Kevin is a great teacher,” Alexis said, leading them over to an empty table. “And he’s cute.”

  “Yeah?” Clarice asked. “How cute?”

  “Imagine a guy six feet tall with milky white skin and sexy, almond-shaped eyes. Then throw in a slim, muscular build, a nice butt and long black hair with bangs. And he’s single.”

  Tina smirked. Alexis made Kevin sound too good to be true and very appealing.

  “I’ve never dated anyone of the Asian persuasion,” Clarice said as a young Asian waiter appeared at their table. She looked him over. “But I am game for something new.”

  The young waiter took their order, unaware that the three of them were checking him out.

  Tina tried to look around the dimly lit room and ignore her two goofy friends. She saw very few romantic looking couples, just a bunch of singles getting to know each other. She sighed, knowing that she had given up this type of scene a long time ago. Either the guys were too short or too boring or were into other guys. She couldn’t imagine doing this on a regular basis.

  The waiter returned with their drinks. He handed Clarice a margarita, Alexis a glass of red wine, and a Pina Colada to her. Tina paid the waiter and sent him off so Clarice and Alexis could check out his butt again.

  “Tight,” Clarice replied as she picked up and sipped her drink. “But I don’t think he’s into girls.”

  Alexis chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know. He did gaze over at Tina when he put her drink down on the table.”

  “Huh?” Tina asked, removing the straw from her mouth. “He did not.”

  “Yes, he did,” Alexis argued. “I was checking him out the whole while and he was looking at you.”

  The guy from the bar came over and asked Clarice to dance.

  “See you ladies in a few,” Clarice said, and followed him to the dance floor. Moments later, another guy came over and asked Alexis to dance. This one was tall and slender and had a bald head.

  Alexis rewarded him with a smile and then left Tina alone to guard the drinks and their purses. Tina didn’t mind because she enjoyed the alone time.

  “You are the last person I expected to find in a bar,” a familiar voice said behind her.

  Tina turned around. Kevin? He nursed a drink in his hand. “What are you doing here?” she asked as he sat down next to her.

  “This is my hangout,” he told her. “And the owner is a friend of mine.” He lifted his glass to her.

  “That doesn’t look like tea,” Tina replied.

  “Sometimes, I do enjoy a grown up drink,” he told her. “What are you doing here?” You’re like a fish out of water.”

  Tina smiled weakly. “I let Alexis talk me into coming.” She pointed. “She’s over there dancing with the fine black man with the bald head, and our other friend Clarice is the short woman in the black and white outfit next to her.”

  “You have another friend? Please tell me that she’s nothing like Alexis?”

  “Worse,” Tina replied. “Clarice is a lawyer and recently divorced.”

  “So I can tell,” Kevin teased. “She’s pulling out the good dance moves on that guy. That’s a sign that she’s available.”

  Tina chuckled. “You’re so silly. Clarice is a good dancer and the three of us used to go dancing when we were young and single.”

  “You’re still young,” Kevin said, taking her left hand into his. “And single. See, no ring.”

  Technically, he was right. She wasn’t married legally to Erik, but they did live together and used to share a bed.

  Clarice and Alexis left their dance partners and walked to the table. She could hear Alexis squeal with delight the moment she saw Kevin.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, hugging him around the neck.

  “Trying to breathe,” Kevin said.

  Alexis released her grip on him. “I’m doing the same thing as you.”

  “Who is this, Tina?” Clarice asked, giving Kevin the once-over with her eyes.

  “Kevin Chen, this is my friend, Clarice. Clarice, this is Kevin, my new partner.”

  “Partner? Or do you mean lover?”

  Tina shook her head. “See, what did I tell you? She’s worse than Alexis. He’s my business partner, you dingbat. He’s a designer, as well as my Kung Fu teacher.”

  Alexis and Clarice sat down.

  “Alexis was right. You are cute,” Clarice told him.

  Kevin blushed. “Thanks, and it’s nice to meet you, Clarice.”

  “I hope you got room in your class for one more student. I have some mad moves I’d like to show you.”

  Kevin laughed. “Yes, I have room for one more beautiful student. Alexis will fill you in on what you need and what nights I teach.”

  “Do you give private lessons?” Clarice asked, batting her long, fake eyelashes at him.

  “Only to gifted students,” he replied, looking at Tina.

  “Don’t pay any attention to the two of them. They were checking out a waiter before you arrived.”

  “Which one?” Kevin asked.

  Tina looked around, found him, and pointed him out.

  “Oh, that one. His name is Shin. He’s eighteen years old and the owner of this club’s son.”

  Alexis and Clarice squealed.

  “They’re into robbing cradles,” Tina explained.

  “I know Alexis better than that,” Kevin said. “Where is Jerome?”

  “Working,” Alexis answered over the music. “And before you ask, yes, he does know I’m here.”

  He turned his attention back to Tina. “How did you escape?”

  “You sound like I have to ask permission to leave the house.”

  Both Alexis and Clarice mumbled something behind their drinks.

  Tina rolled her eyes at them.

  “I bet he’s not home,” Kevin replied.

  Clarice and Alexis laughed.

  Tina threw them a murderous look. “No,” she answered honestly. “But that doesn’t mean a thing. I am a big girl and I can do what I want.”

  “Then dance with me,” Kevin said to her. He rose, took her hand, and led her to the floor to dance to Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie.”

  Damn, she thought as Kevin got his hips moving to the beat. She liked the song and actually exercised and worked her abs to it. Tina had the hip rolling down to a science and before long, the two of them were dancing like the floor belonged only to them.

  Kevin, she discovered, was a real good dancer. He was light on his feet and graceful. She didn’t know why that surprised her since he was that way with everything he did. Toward the end of the song, he moved closer to her and held her hand and did the salsa dance with her, moving her around so she could only dance for him. Tina was tired and sweaty by the time the song ended, but she felt good as she laughed with Kevin.

  He followed her back over to the table. “It was nice to meet you, Clarice,” he said, bowing to her. “You ladies enjoy yourselves and don’t keep Tina out too late.”

  “You’re leaving?” Tina asked as she fanned herself from the exertion of dancing.

  “Yes,” Kevin answered. “I have another stop to make and then I’m heading for home. It’s been a long day.” He bent down and kissed her on the head. “Have fun,” he whispered to her, and then he walked away.

  Tina turned and watched him walk to the bar, noting how good he looked in jeans. He slapped hands with an older Asian man leaning against the bar. Tina had noticed him earlier, watching them as they danced. He must be the club owner and father of the jailbait waiter. Kevin put his glass on the bar and then left. She found Clarice and Alexis staring at her
when he turned around. “What?”

  “Girl, Erik is going to have a fit.”

  “Why?” Tina asked, lifting her glass and pretending she didn’t know what Clarice was talking about.”

  “Mr. Kung Fu likes you.”

  “Nonsense,” Tina said. “Kevin is a dear friend.”

  “Sure,” Clarice replied. “Alexis, how many dear friends do you have who give you a tender kiss on the head?”

  “None,” Alexis answered, nursing her drink and not making the situation any better. “And did you check out their dancing? They were in sync, like they were doing a mating dance.” She put her drink down. “Did you tell him we were going to be here tonight?”

  “No,” Tina answered. “I don’t know anything about this place. I never heard of it until you mentioned it. And besides, I haven’t seen him all evening. It was just a coincidence.”

  “Sure,” Clarice said.

  “He’s Asian, and we’re in an Asian bar. There’s nothing sinister about it,” Tina insisted.

  “Uh huh,” Clarice said. “Honey, wake up. He is definitely into you.”

  Tina finished her drink, ignoring Clarice. Kevin was just a friend. Two hours and two Pina Colada’s later, Tina went home to bed, dreaming about that kiss.

  Chapter Three

  “Your muscles are pretty tense,” Kevin told Tina after their class ended. “Sit down and let me see if I can work it out.”

  She and Kevin had had a very strenuous workout and he didn’t hold back on her like he did for those in the beginner’s class. She was glad for this since she had some issues to work out. Tina sat down lotus style on the floor with her long legs folded beneath her.

  “You’re very flexible,” he replied as he got down on his knees and came up behind her.

  “I took gymnastics as a child at the local YWCA. I wanted to compete in the Olympics, but then I kept right on growing and my dreams flew right out of the window.”