She came back to reality and saw her boss standing in front of her. “I promise I’ll have it to you by lunchtime.”
“I would advise you to stay on planet earth because I expect to have all the files on my desk when I get back. All of them.”
Nikki despised Veronica because she used her title to her advantage and the only reason why she was promoted was because Nikki had decided to go back to school full time. “She must be crazy. This is more than fifty folders.” Nikki opened the first file and the first sheet was blank, not to mention the other ten sheets in the folder with multiple highlighted areas to fill in. She took the phone off the receiver and poked the telephone number. “May I speak to Mrs. Wilson please?” She took the pen into her hand and prepared to write. “I’m calling from Expedia Mortgage and Loans.”
“Special delivery for Nicolette Gray,” her noisy co-worker Lashawn loudly announced.
She covered the phone and shooed her away. How could she know about Mark? Nikki questioned herself. Lashawn set a bouquet of flowers on her desk.
“Mrs. Wilson, I have to place you on a brief hold.” She placed the call on hold and a red light blinked over line one. “What did you just say?”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you got married?” she asked with her hand on her hip.
“I’m not married.”
“Well this card says differently.” Lashawn read the card aloud:
Mrs. Nicolette Gray, these flowers aren’t as beautiful as your smile but it’s the closest thing in comparison.
“You are holding out on me.”
Nikki snatched the card out of her hand. She wasn’t ready to answer questions about Mark or to justify him as her man. As a matter of fact she wasn’t ready to tell anyone about him. Mark seemed like an okay guy but she couldn’t allow herself to let this man into her life. The timing was wrong. She had to focus on studying to pass this test to get into medical school. Passing this test would validate her life and she wasn’t going to let Mark distract her from achieving her goal.
“Nicolette. That call has been on hold for five minutes.” Lashawn scattered to her cubicle when Veronica approached Nikki’s desk.
“Why don’t you make your phone calls your damn self? It’s your job to gather information not mine.” She took her pocketbook and the bouquet of flowers.
Veronica stepped aside and let her pass. “You will get a write up for this!” Veronica shouted at Nikki as she exited the office.
Let someone else do your file, bitch. She strolled down the street and bolted into a coffee shop and got her regular French vanilla. There was an elderly lady sitting by the window. Nikki walked over to her and handed her the bouquet. She turned to walk away but the women got her attention.
“Do you think if you gave it away you can get rid of your feelings?”
“Excuse me?”
“These flowers may not mean much to him but I can tell that they are speaking to your heart.”
“You couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“Come. Sit.” The lady patted the seat next to her. “Let this old woman tell you a thing or two about love.”
Nikki reluctantly sat next to the old lady. But she was still interested in what the woman had to say. “Before you continue to go on and on about love, I have to tell you that I’m not in love with anyone but my books.”
“Yes, I know, my child. You want to make your mother proud. And she is.”
“How do you know about that? Did Keisha put you up to this?” She jumped to her feet, furious.
“I must say she is smiling down from above,” the old lady continued despite Nikki’s outburst.
“Who are you? Are you a psychic or a mind reader?”
“My child, you must be careful of wolves in sheep’s clothes,” she went on to say, disregarding Nikki’s question.
Nikki felt uncomfortable. She grabbed her purse and bolted to the door.
“A lingering lie will fester, but the truth will also cause a wound. Some people are the devil in disguise!” The old lady spoke her last words as Nikki hurried to the door.
Was she talking about someone in my life or someone I’ve yet to meet?
Chapter 12
“You better get the job done! You know what the plan is so you better stick to it, and remember you have more to lose than I do!”
Keisha ended her conversation and opened the door to her uncle’s office. Patrick puffed on a cigar, sitting in his black leather chair with his feet up on his desk. He formed his mouth in the shape of a circle so the smoke would come out looking like halos as it went up over his head. His office was simply decorated. Pictures of Bob Marley hung on each wall. On his desk sat a phone with several magazine scattered on top. There was a wine rack in plain sight and a refrigerator sat in a corner in the back of his office.
“Ummh-ummh.” Keisha stood at his office door and cleared her throat.
He spun around in his chair, facing her direction. She walked inside and he stood up and greeted her with a hug. Patrick was very tall, about six feet four inches. He wasn’t very handsome but he had attractive features. His high cheekbones and luscious lips weren’t enough to overlook his bulging eyeballs. He was dressed in blue jeans and a black blazer with a white shirt inside to match his white sneakers. Patrick looked at his watch, viewing the time. “What brought you here?”
“I was hoping to collect my money.”
“I guess that you are under the assumption that the guys had already signed on the dotted lines.”
She sat at the opposite end of the table, placing her large pocketbook filled with everything you could imagine at her feet. “So they didn’t?”
Patrick poured himself a shot of Hennessy from a bottle that was situated at arm’s length on the desk. “Well, Hype signed but Bling didn’t show.”
“All I had to do was make a few promises to Hype. He even asked me to marry him in our first conversation. His age does show in his conversation. He was a horny puppy. He was such a bore. ”
“Maybe it does take more than a pretty face to reel Bling in.”
Her ego was shattered. Her bright eyes now became dim. He had promised her that he would. She replayed the words he said over and over in her head to see if she had missed any inclination that she had been misled. Did he use me for his satisfaction the way I was using him?
“He will show.”
Patrick took the shot to his head and rubbed his chest after he swallowed. She filled her uncle in on the details on how the night went, sparing the details of how the night ended; but when she told him about her Oscar-winning performance about her dead brother he chuckled and puffed on his cigar. The simultaneous beeps from his phone told him his receptionist was calling and he put it on speaker.
“Bling is here to see you, Mr. Burkett.”
“Send him in.”
Keisha stood on her feet in a panic. “He can’t see me here.”
He indicated for her to hide in the closet. She picked up her pocketbook and ran to the closet, nesting there with the door ajar. Patrick took his seat in his big black leather recliner chair, puffing on his cigar, acting nonchalant. Bling entered his office but Patrick didn’t get up to greet him. He sat rocking in his chair.
“Have a seat.”
Bling sat like an obedient schoolboy because even though he had the upper hand, Patrick was still the big man in charge.
“I don’t accept an unscheduled meeting but I’m interested to know what brought you here.”
“Word on the street is that you the big man.”
“I’m just a man with a plan.”
Bling expressed his interest in signing with Top Dot Records. Keisha’s smile widened from ear to ear. She hadn’t gotten her money as yet but she had already spent it. Her palm itched as she pictured her uncle placing the $5,000 cash in her hand. She was going to pamper herself because it was well deserved. She listened attentively as Patrick highlighted the accomplishments of his company and the success rate of his artis
ts. He went on and on about how he would launch Bling’s career. Keisha drifted off into sleep. The signing took longer than she had anticipated. She knew nothing about the music business, the same way she was naïve to the reality of life.
Patrick knocked on the closet door and Keisha held her head up with her eyes open wide. “The coast is clear!” She ran out of the closet like a frolicking pony. Patrick removed a picture from the wall, exposing a safe. He gave her $5,000 cash.
“Thanks, Uncle, we should do business again.”
“Well, it’s funny that you should say that because I do have another job for you.”
“I will do it. But this time my rate is double.”
Keisha’s phone made a peep indicating that she had a text message. She located the phone and saw that it was Martin. She retrieved the message.
I would love to take you out to dinner tonight. I miss your beautiful smile. Meet me at our favorite restaurant around 8:00 p.m. You know our secret hideaway. Keisha’s finger massaged the keys as she replied,
I accept.
Besides, tonight was her only free time because she was going to have her hands full for a while.
“Well, Uncle, we have a deal so text me his information so I can get the ball rolling. You are going to have to make me a business partner soon.”
“Yes, but a silent one.”
They both laughed and Keisha left the office. After running some errands she got home a little after six. She entered the house to the sound of a whistling kettle and she went to the kitchen. Nikki was sitting at the table with her head in a book, sleeping. This bitch is trying to burn my damn house down. She turned the knob to off. She didn’t bother to wake Nikki.
She went straight to her bedroom. Mr. Money wanted to meet up at eight and that didn’t leave her with much time. She knew exactly what she would wear on the date. It was a chic little black dress with the back cut out. She took a quick shower, which left her with not enough time to get dressed.
When she got to the restaurant Mr. Money was already there waiting for her outside. She was late as usual and he was a little irritable because time was of the essence with him. She walked up to him with a radiant smile. He had no choice but to replace his frown because her beauty was tantalizing. Mr. Money extended his arm and greeted her with a tight hug.
“You look exquisite as usual.”
“You bought me this dress, don’t you remember?”
They held hands as they strolled into the restaurant. They were escorted to their table and he pulled out her chair, unlike David. The burning candle situated in the center of the table added a romantic accent to the atmosphere. Mr. Money complimented her look and took her hand, greeting it with a kiss. He was a quite the gentleman but also very arrogant. Mr. Money was an entrepreneur, the CEO of a magazine company, and he was also a radio personality. He was a little cocky because he was his own boss.
His phone rang and he excused himself, leaving Keisha at the table. Keisha occupied herself by scrolling through the menu, not quite sure if she wanted seafood or steak. A sudden outburst of excitement made her drop the menu and brought her attention to the table straight ahead but slightly to her left. A woman’s eyes widened as if she had seen the biggest diamond ever found in Africa. The woman was now reading a document and every word out her mouth was “Oh my God.” The man’s back was turned to Keisha so she couldn’t see his face.
It can’t be divorce papers because she is way too happy. Keisha brought her attention back to the menu. Filet mignon it is. She closed the menu and witnessed the couple sharing a hug. Keisha tried to get a better look at the man’s face but Mr. Money blocked her view as the man turned to get the waiter’s attention.
“It seems as if you’re more interested in what’s going on over there.”
What the hell? I can’t catch a break. This is probably good gossip. Could be the husband of someone I know. Maybe I should just be outright nosy and go to the lady’s room; it’s in that direction.
“Okay, point taken. Now you have my undivided attention.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m doing a column in my magazine about curvaceous women and I want you to be one of the featured women.”
From sideways his facial feature looks familiar to her. She could see a waiter walking to their table with a bottle of champagne.
Keisha didn’t hear a single word that Mr. Money had said. She wanted so badly to solve this mystery. But once again her view was blocked as the waiter approached Keisha’s table.
“Are you ready to order?”
“What are you in the mood for?” her date irritably asked.
“Go ahead and order for me.”
Keisha leaned her head sideways, still in investigative mood. Mr. Money already knew what he wanted so he ordered the same for her. He turned his head, following Keisha’s stare to see what was distracting her. The man turned his head, acknowledging the waiter, and Keisha gasped.
“Bling!” she blurted out. “It can’t be,” she said out loud, and Mr. Money looked at her questioningly.
“Is there a problem?”
She was incognizant of Mr. Money’s question.
“Do you know him?”
The waiter came back with the tequila just in time to intercept Mr. Money’s question. She had no idea what he had ordered but she drank it so fast you would have thought she was in the Sahara Desert dying of thirst.
“So tell me about the work you are doing on your house.” She quickly changed the subject. She didn’t want to explain or answer any questions about Bling.
“I’m just going green that’s all.”
Keisha was making small talk but she was no longer interested in him or what he had to say. The man who was in her bed last night was a few feet away from her with his wife. She now knew what she was so exited about. He should be celebrating with me. I’m the reason why he signed the damn contract. She was pleasantly surprised when the waiter returned with the main course it was filet mignon and sweet potato. It was just what her palate needed because the sight of Bling’s wife left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Bling’s wife was the quintessential true beauty. You could tell she was in love with her husband. She gazed at him and the happiness from her heart reflected in her eyes. Keisha was still in the middle of her meal but Keisha wanted out. Seeing Bling with his wife made her nauseous.
“I don’t feel too good.”
“Is there any thing I can do?” Mr. Money inquired.
“I just need to get some rest, that’s all.” She wiped her mouth with the napkin and stood to her feet. Mr. Money also rose to his feet. “Please finish your meal. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” He kissed her cheek and he watched her walked away.
The drive home was confusing to Keisha. She wasn’t sure what she was upset about. Yes, she had spent the night with Bling, but it was just for business. She had no reason to be upset or even jealous. All she knew was that her blood was boiling. Deep down inside she felt insecure. Keisha was threatened by Bling’s wife’s beauty. For the first time in a long time she wanted to be loved. She wanted to be touched by him. His kisses had sent shivers up her spine. His touches were magical. She had an icebox where her heart used to be but he had managed to melt it. Seeing how her father had treated her mother, not to mention that her first love had broken her heart many years ago, made her vow never to let a man close to her heart again. Seeing Bling sharing laughs and celebrating with his wife made her jealous. Even though Bling had cheated on his wife she was willing to make an exception to the rule. Even though it was a one-night stand her body wanted him and she wasn’t going to deprive herself. She wanted him even if she was going to share him with his wife.
She finally made it home and pulled into the driveway. The outside light came on, giving her a clear view. She stepped out of her car with her shoes in her hand because even though her shoes cost more than an average person’s weekly paycheck they still hurt her feet. There was an envelope pasted to h
er door, addressed to her from her father. She wanted to rip it to shreds and watch the torn pieces fall to the ground like snow. She reluctantly opened the envelope.
I’m disappointed in the woman you have become. But you are still my daughter. I’ve made mistakes but I also learned from them. I’m asking for your forgiveness because I am a better man.
Not wanting to read her father’s apology she ripped the note to shreds. She noticed Johnny’s car parked on the opposite side of the street. He was watching her every move. She noticed his car following her today but she knew Johnny was harmless. She opened the door, stripping off her clothes as she entered the house. She remained in her pink lace bra and panties as she strolled to the kitchen to pour a glass of her favorite red wine. Drinking red wine was a ritual that she preformed to calm her nerves. She gulped one glass and poured another for the walk back to the bedroom.
She couldn’t get the image of Bling and his wife out of her head. Why is it upsetting me? I can’t possibly have feelings for Bling. I did my job and that’s it. She took a sip of wine, trying to rid her mind of the thoughts. On her way back from the kitchen she almost has a heart attack when she saw Bling standing at the door. “How did you get in?”
“Here I was thinking that you left the door open for me.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Well you need to get that lock fixed. It seems to be tampered with.”
“What are you doing here?”
Bling took the contract out of his pocket and gave it to her. She viewed the document and passed it back to him. “Did I have something to do with your hasty decision?”
“Yes, you did. And that’s the reason why I’m here.”
“So you can thank me in person?”
“That too but—”
“If you are here to take me on tour with you I would have to turn down your offer because you are married and I wouldn’t want to break up a happy home.”
Kiss Me on the Inside Page 9