She opened her office door and got back to work. Olivia needed to get the statistics together before their 1:00 meeting. She loathed the end of the month meetings. The higher-ups’ major complaint would be overly paid hourly employees. Then, he would go right into talking about having a business retreat. Of course, the retreat would be held in an exotic five star resort. Everyone going would fly business class with all expensed paid by the company.
The harder she tried to focus on work, the more thoughts of Richard popped into her mind. Was he serious? Did they really have a chance? How would long distance work? What would people in her office say if they ever found out?
“Earth to Olivia.” Anita stood in front of her desk waving her arms.
Olivia blinked, pulling herself out of thought.
“You have lunch plans?”
“Not at all. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“I’m ready.” Anita smiled.
“Crap, it’s lunch time already? Give me a second. Let me input this last item.” Olivia finished the report and clicked send.
“Is it the date, or this mystery white guy? You never take this long to do the reports.”
“This is exactly why I don’t tell you anything.” Olivia grabbed her purse, and they headed out.
“Geez, I’ll stay quiet. Mum’s the word.” She moved her fingers across her mouth in a zipping motion.
The humidity started depriving them of air the moment they came out the revolving doors. It was so hot Olivia felt as if the devil himself was sticking a pitchfork in her back, checking to see if she was done. This had been one crazy summer for weather. June had record highs, July felt like spring, and now August was tipping the heat index once again. They walked a few blocks over to Champs Bar and Grill and found relief in the air conditioning.
“I have a VIP invitation to the new club opening up, Desire. You want to come with me?” Olivia asked after they were served their drinks and meals.
“You talking about the club that the ex-porn star is opening?”
“She’s not a porn star.” She laughed. “She was a dancer.”
“I would ask how you know but I know how you like your secrets.”
“Do you want to go or not, smarty pants?” She took a long swallow of her iced tea.
“Heck yeah, I wanna go. The lady has style. Did you see the outfit she had on when they showed her on the news?”
Olivia nodded. “Yeah, she looked good.”
“How did you get an invitation?” Anita’s eyes narrowed.
“Must you be an inquiring mind about everything?” Olivia pointed a fork full of pasta at Anita before eating it.
“Yes, but I’ll leave it alone. I have to figure out what I’m going to wear.”
“You have time. The party’s two weeks away.”
She finished up her food, hoping that asking Anita to come with her was the right thing to do. Olivia wasn’t ready to let Anita in on her working for Mercedes. On the way back to the office, Anita changed the subject.
“When are you going to finally start your own company and get away from People’s Insurance?”
The question caught her off guard. Olivia had to remind herself that she’d let the idea slip a few years back, right before she landed the management position. “What makes you think it’s still an option?”
“Come on, Liv, you’re way more than what you’re allowed to do for this company. Give me something to be proud of.”
They made their way into the building and to Olivia’s office.
“Sorry to disappoint you. I’m a slave to this desk. Now, can I please get back to work? I have some things I plan on doing this evening and would like to leave on time.” Olivia shooed her off. If word got out she’d even dreamed of her own business, it would cause problems for her. She’d learned long ago how the higher-ups didn’t like independent thinking. They’d surely find a reason to let her go.
Anita shook her head but dropped the conversation and went back to her desk. Olivia logged into her computer and returned to work. She was in a zone and not about to be sidetracked. Though the end of month report was finished she still had plenty to do. She ignored the forwarded office email jokes and concentrated.
There was a tap at her open door.
“Olivia, I am going to need you to stay late. I have a conference call and need your input.”
My input? More like me feeding you the answers.
“Sure thing, Mr. Hanley.”
Well, there goes my evening with the boys. So much for her plan to take them to see a new kiddie movie. She’d have to make it up them on the weekend.
“It starts at six. Meet me in my office ten minutes prior.”
She nodded as he turned and walked away.
It had been the same routine for years. When he was her floor manager, he had her doing all of his work while he left early to play golf. The next day, she’d have to sit in the meetings to feed him the information because he neglected to even read her notes. Olivia wasn’t the least bit surprised when he got the assistant regional director position, but she was shocked when he thanked everyone else on the team but her.
At the appropriate time, she slow dragged herself to Mr. Hanley’s office.
“I wasn’t expecting you until exactly six,” Olivia heard Mr. Hanley saying as she walked in the door. He fumbled through a stack of files on his desk.
“Well, time is money. It is only ten minute early,” the person replied.
Olivia’s heart warmed. She knew that voice anywhere. It was Richard. Resisting the urge to stay in the doorway and watch Mr. Hanley squirm, she walked over and handed him the compiled reports from the conference—the ones he should have been at.
A wave of relief washed over his face. “Mr. Lawson, I have the report in front of me. I’m ready.”
“Tell me something, Steve. Who was the person who compiled those reports?”
Olivia held in a laugh. Mr. Hanley hated being called by his first name since he’d taken the new position. He made it a point to rub his status in his subordinates face. The day he’d gotten the promotion, and Olivia had said, “Congratulations, Steve.”
He’d said, “It’s Mr. Hanley.”
She had been shocked; two seconds prior, he was Steve
How does it feel now?
“Um, I have to check.” He pretended to sort through the file, like she hadn’t just personally handed it to him. “Olivia Parker.”
“Ms. Parker? That’s the same representative you sent to all the conferences, correct?”
“Yes, but she’s very efficient.”
“I have no doubt in her abilities. As a matter of fact, maybe I should be speaking with her.”
His face turned red. “That is not necessary. Besides, she’s gone for the day.”
Oh really? When did I leave?
“In that case, I would like to reschedule. It’s best if she took the lead. It will be very hard to cover the materials being that you do not have firsthand knowledge. Call me back when she’s available.”
Olivia heard the dial tone. Steve sat with his mouth wide open. She didn’t wait to be excused. Gathering her materials, she took off faster than a thief in the night.
Chapter Twenty-four
“Are you going to call the man back, or not?” Angela stood in the kitchen with her arms crossed.
Rolling her eyes, Olivia ignored her and put the croissants in the oven. She was starting to regret telling Angela anything, but Richard was being very persistent. After the rescheduled meeting, he’d called her for a week straight. Olivia wasn’t ready to talk to him. Angela had just caught her looking at the phone display and was on her soon as she set it down.
“Not. He dropped me lot a hot potato when he saw his ex.”
“You said they were in a relationship for a while. Now it’s over.” She picked up her class of wine, taking a sip.
“What if he’s lying?”
“What if he’s telling the truth?”
Poking out her bottom lip
, Olivia sulked.
“Well?” Angela glared at her. “Call the man before I hold you down and call him myself.”
Olivia wasn’t about to call her bluff. It wouldn’t be the first time Angela held her down until she had her way. Several times in high school, Angela had begged Olivia to cover for her when she claimed she was spending the night at her friend’s house. Their mom used to say she could only stay if Olivia did. When she protested, Angela would sit on her until she gave in. And Olivia was supposed to be the big sister.
“I’ll call him tonight. I promise. Quit looking at me like you’re in the Mafia or something.” Olivia topped off her sister’s glass.
“I am going to call you and check. Don’t make me drive back over here.”
“I said I was. Now help me take this food into the dining room. I know the twins are driving Devon crazy.”
Angela dropped the subject and helped Olivia set the table. She was glad she invited them over. After promising Devon she’d cook, she decided to make an evening of it. Olivia walked into the family room to tell them it was time to eat and thought she was watching WWE. Devon was play fighting with the boys. He had Jayden pinned down on the floor, while Jaylen was on the sideline, trying to stretch out his hand in an effort to tap in.
“The Enforcer has one of the Blaster Boys pinned down. He’s trying to get the three count…” her niece, Denise, said watching on from the sideline.
“Do you guys want to eat, or should I let you continue?” she asked, interrupting the show.
“If it tastes as good as it smells, then let’s eat!” Devon said, releasing Jayden.
“Aw, man,” the twins complained.
“Go wash your hands and then come to the table,” Olivia said.
She went back to the kitchen and pulled out the croissant rolls. By the time she put them in a basket and brought them to the table, everyone was seated.
“It looks delicious. I’m so glad I came over. To think, I almost went to the movies with someone I’m really not interested in.”
“That bus driver still hounding you, Devon?” Angela asked sarcastically.
“Come on now. That was years ago. Can you give a brotha a break? I was being nice.”
“Can we please pray?” Olivia had to cut them off. Angela could go on for hours about Devon and a blind date he went on three years earlier. The woman showed up to the movies dressed in a sweat outfit she’d squeezed her two hundred fifty pounds into. He didn’t have the heart to just leave her there, so he stayed for the movie. Devon cringed when describing how she was tried to lick and kiss on him the whole hour and thirty minutes. After the movie, Devon told Rasputia that he would call but didn’t. Two days later, she caught him going into work. She saw him and whipped the city bus around and almost drove up the curb trying to get his attention. If a police car hadn’t intervened, it was a sure bet the woman would’ve driven up in the building.
“…for our family and friends, Amen.”
Thinking about Rasputia had caused her to miss the beginning of Devon’s prayer. Keeping her eyes closed, she sent up a condensed version for herself. When she opened them, everyone gave her the death stare. It was the look that people give when your mama invites the pastor over and he does grace. He starts going on praying for everyone in the congregation. It was the shut the heck up death stare.
“Sorry, let’s eat.”
She was forgiven as they started filling up their plates with food. For a while, all that could be heard was the clacking and clanking of silverware against plates. After taking a bite herself, Olivia knew why they were so quiet. It was the new marinate. The meat melted in her mouth with each bite. The garlic roasted potatoes were well buttered and flavored to perfection.
Breaking the silence, Jayden said, “Can we play video games when we’re finished?”
She nodded and relaxed in her chair. Olivia was stuffed. From the looks of Angela and Devon, they were too.
“I guess it would be a no for a slice of my strawberry-kiwi cheese cake?” she asked them.
“You made dessert too? I’m barely keeping my pants buttoned now.” Devon patted his stomach for emphases.
Angela shook her head when Olivia looked in her direction.
“Auntie Liv, I want some.” Her niece slid her plate toward Olivia
As skinny as she was, Olivia was surprised by her eating what was on her plate, let alone a piece of cheesecake. She had been a preemie baby and was small for her age of seven, but she did not let that stop her. The girl had picked up a toy and knocked the twins upside the head on more than one occasion when they teased her.
“Sure, baby.”
Olivia headed to the kitchen to fix her a piece. Devon came up behind, causing her to jump.
“From the outside, you look like you’re really doing okay, but I have to ask anyway. You doing okay?”
“Yeah, I am at peace. I am enjoying my space and not walking on egg shells in my own house.”
“So, what’s up with this new man? Is he treating you okay?”
“New man?” Olivia cut the cake and set it on a plate.
“Angela told me.”
She rolled her eyes. “He’s not my man.”
“Does he know about… you know?” He lowered his voice. “Your wild side.”
“Actually, he does.” She smiled. “You haven’t been back on there, have you?” The thought made her uncomfortable.
“Hell no, that’s not my thing. I need a woman next to me, not on the computer screen. Besides, I was scared I would run across a picture of you or something. Not something I really want to see on someone I view as a sister.” Embarrassment showed on his face.
“Good.” She breathed a sigh of relief.
“When do I get to meet him?”
“We’re not a couple.”
“Not yet, but no man calls that much unless he really wants you. I finally get the chance to give someone a hard time, and you’re going to deny me? How many women have you scared away from me?” He smiled.
She nudged him. “Whatever, they weren’t about anything.”
“You’re right, but still.”
Angela walked in the kitchen and put her hands on her hips. “You going to give my baby the cake or what? As long as you been in here, I want a piece now too. I’ll take it to go, though. I do have a hot date tonight.”
“A date? With who?” Devon asked.
“Denise, I promised I’ll take her to the movies.” She laughed. “It’s starting in twenty minutes so we are about to head out. The meal was wonderful.”
“You’re welcome,” Olivia said.
She handed Angela the cheesecake in a Tupperware dish and walked them to the door. Devon and she hung out for another hour before he took off.
It was now or never. She picked up the phone and called Richard.
“I was wondering when you were going to call me.”
His deep voice soothed her nerves.
“I figured you heard my voice enough on the conference calls,” she joked.
“It is nice, but that’s business. I was serious about it being easier to talk with you about the information. Your boss has no clue. Enough about work. How’s my favorite girl?”
“I’m your girl now. What about your ex?”
“Olivia, we’ve already covered this.”
“I know.” She softened. “The horse is dead. I’ll leave it alone.”
“Thank you.”
“If, and this is hypothetical, if I were to say let’s give it a try, how would it work? The distance, we work for the same company, the interracial dating…”
“Slow down. It’ll work because we want it to work.”
He sounded so sure of himself that Olivia believed him. “Okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Richard let out a breath of air. “That’s music to my ears.”
They stayed on the phone talking until Olivia grew tired. Not once did she have the urge to login to The Playhouse.
Chapter Twenty-five
Mercedes sure knew how to throw a party. Olivia felt like she was waiting for a celebrity to arrive. Instead of a red carpet out front, there was a pink, black, and red one. Security was out front with the ropes holding the crowd back until a Hummer limo pulled up. Anita and she were already told they could go right ahead in because they had VIP passes, but Olivia wanted to see who was in the limo just like everyone else. When the doors opened, out stepped three women—dressed to kill. A few seconds later, a pink stiletto could be seen. Out came Mercedes behind them, and a frenzy ensued. The crowd screamed, and people pushed in closer.
Olivia thought she was going to go blind from all the people taking pictures. Reporters and bloggers swarmed Mercedes. A few shoved microphones in her face, but all they got was a smile before she disappeared in the building.
“Hey, ladies, if you’re going in, you better go in now. I can’t keep this crowd waiting,” one of the security guards said to Olivia after Mercedes and her entourage cleared the doorway.
He didn’t have to tell her twice. She stepped on the carpet and strutted down it like a supermodel. The club was unlike any other she’d seen. The pink, red, and black theme was everywhere, from the barstools to the tiles on the dance floor. There were red leather benches along the walls, with square tables in front of them.
“Looks like the VIP area is upstairs. This place is nice. She sure put a lot of money into it,” Olivia said to Anita.
“The woman has taste. She even hired professional dancers.” Anita motioned towards the dancers on the stage.
“Check out the ones coming from the back. Those must be the girls for the private rooms.” Olivia watched as scantily clad women walked out the door in the rear of the building.
“I wonder what really goes on back there.”
“Me too, but right now, I want to find out what that delicious smell is.”
Flashing security their passes, they were led to a table. She and Anita were greeted with Champaign and a full course meal. With a choice between steak, chicken, or lobster, Olivia felt like a celebrity being catered to. After ordering their food, they mingled with the rest of the people in VIP.
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