“You want us to be open and honest? Really, Kiara?”
“Yes, now come on and tell me the truth.”
“See, this is why I feel I should manage that particular account. That way, when I have to make certain moves, I won't have you all upset. Remember, I told you that a business owner got all kinds of shit he has to deal with.”
“There you go. I just think I'm better at handling these kinds of things and I expect to be involved. You don't have time to work and oversee the funds. And as long as we have this joint business account, you definitely need to give your wife a heads-up when you do this kind of thing. Now I just pulled up in the parking lot. Do you know how hard it is for me to put a convincing smile on my face like I'm Super Woman before I come into the office?”
“That's the whole issue. Like I said, you do a kick-ass job, but you're not Super Woman.”
“Rashad!” She felt her blood pressure rising. “I would never say something so shitty like that to you. Sometimes . . . I swear to God.”
“Babe, I'm just telling the truth. You can't fly.”
“Now you're acting silly.”
He heard her sniffling. “Hey, I am sorry . . . but damn. Seems like lately . . . you've been over the top . . . with the emotions. You may need a reality check or something.”
She sighed heavily and for the second day in a row didn't have the desire or energy to say her usual, “Bye, babe. Love you. Have a blessed day.”
Instead she muttered, “Mr. Eason, I love you, but you're an ass.”
She hung up.
Then she called the number to her credit union. She wanted to check the balance of a secret money market account that she had opened five years ago.
“Your balance on account number 753142 is twelve thousand four hundred dollars and eleven cents.”
Then she checked on the balance of a CD that she secretly owned. It consisted of thousands of dollars, too.
Growing up, Kiara had heard far too many horror stories of her great aunts who had been born in an era in which the husbands made and controlled all the money. The wives took care of the kids and had to wait to be given an allowance. The men exercised total financial control. And a couple of Kiara's great aunts were stunned when their spouses went through mid-life crises that included running off with younger women and cleaning out the bank accounts. The wives were left penniless and struggled to find work even though they had no transferrable skills. Kiara never wanted to be in that position; she wanted to be prepared for whatever challenges married life could bring.
Kiara felt good inside when she heard the amount. She hung up and believed that one day her husband would realize that she really was Super Woman, but right then he was too blind and stupid to see her strength.
She may not have been able to literally fly, but Kiara Eason was determined to excel at life, and whether her husband was able to agree or understand would remain to be seen.
Chapter 2
A
lexis McNeil expertly decorated the oblong conference table by covering it with a classy purple and gold table cloth. She arranged the breakfast service of doughnuts, bagels, and fresh fruit. Then she set up the containers of chilled fruit juices and pots of hot coffee. It was Hump Day. Although it was only eight-forty-five, the only thing she could think about was lunch. Lunch was her favorite part of Wednesdays. But first she had to get through this freaking staff meeting that her boss insisted on having.
Soon a dozen or so coworkers congregated in the meeting room. They all began filling their plastic white plates with breakfast items and exchanging morning pleasantries.
Alexis knew nobody cared about how she was doing so she made a concentrated effort to focus her eyes on the table. She quietly ignored the animated way her coworkers greeted one another as if they hadn't seen each other twenty-four hours earlier. She worked as the administrative assistant and one of her tasks was to make sure all the food was on par for their monthly meeting in the communications division of their academic department.
On that day Alexis wore a black jacket and matching pencil skirt with a gold silk blouse and massive ruffles that covered her neck. A double strand of white pearls rested on her blouse. And her twenty-two-inch Remi weave made her resemble a woman who could easily earn her money based on her looks.
Alexis had the type of beauty that alienated most women, yet her exotic features caused men of all races to admire her. She looked good from the front and the back.
Right then, Kiara Eason walked in and stood at the front of the room. She too wore a black dress suit and her hair was styled in a cute bob. An engaging smile, spirited personality, and commitment to excellence made Kiara a standout at TSWU.
She waited for her staff to finish drawing cups of coffee, or pouring ice water and juice. Gradually everyone quieted down and gathered in their seats around the table.
Alexis sat in a chair at the rear of the conference room and quietly observed Kiara as she commenced the meeting.
Womp, womp, womp.
Alexis immediately tuned out Kiara. She started daydreaming about other things she'd rather be doing. Then she picked up an ink pen and some paper and drew stick figures of people having sex on the beach. She laughed at her devious ways. She couldn't stand the sound of her boss's voice and she grew annoyed every time she was required to attend these dull staff meetings.
Twenty minutes later, Alexis heard the low chime of a mobile phone, a recognizable ring tone that caused her to smile. Every day she carried two cell phones: One was a BlackBerry that she used only for work. The other was an iPhone, the one her lover gave her three years ago when they first began seeing each other.
Alexis excused herself from the meeting. She scooped her tiny phone in her hand and rushed down the hallway to the women's room. There were a total of four stalls. Even though she knew all her female coworkers were in the conference room, she quickly checked first to make sure she had complete privacy.
“Hey there,” she answered.
“What up, sexy? How is the meeting?”
“Same ole same ole. How is your day going? You gonna make it for lunch today?”
“You miss me, huh?”
She ignored him.
“Anyway, we still on. Can't wait.”
Alexis returned to the meeting with a satisfied grin on her face. A couple hours later, she was on her way to her house to meet her lover for her weekly “nooner.” She lived only ten minutes from the job.
Alexis pulled onto the gravel driveway and quickly let herself inside the house. She and her mother, Mona Hooker, resided in a cozy one-and-a-half-story bungalow that was built in the fifties. Although there was plenty of living space in the charming home, her mother was usually tucked away in her first-floor bedroom at the rear of the house. Alexis quickly checked on her mother. Mona was spread out in bed, covered by a quilt, and peacefully sleeping while her television was tuned to the TV Land channel.
When Rashad Eason knocked on the door minutes later, Alexis opened it and pulled him right inside the doorway by his shirt. He laughed and winked. They smiled at each other. She watched him; he moved with a confident, bouncy walk as he quickly slipped past her into the house. She kicked the door shut with her foot, and turned around to give him kisses on his mouth, his cheeks and forehead.
“Whoa, whoa. So you do miss me.” He laughed as he kissed her back. “What up, Skillet?” That was the nickname Rashad gave Alexis. To him it meant she was “skilled at it,” as in her bedroom skills.
“Come on, baby.”
Alexis McNeil was every man's dream; she was lean and willowy. Her long legs looked fabulous in high heels. She had dark, penetrating eyes, thick eyebrows, a gorgeous smile, and a calm exterior. She resembled a younger Paula Patton and drew stares wherever she went.
She and Rashad's Hump Day scenario had been going on for two years. And no matter how many times they did it, she seldom got tired of seeing Rashad show up at her door. Alexis grabbed Rashad's hand and led him up the stairs which creaked with every step. Since she paid a decent share of the household expenses, Mona allowed her to occupy the entire second floor for extra privacy.
Alexis immediately locked her bedroom door and pulled Rashad's shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. His ripped chest felt good when she brushed her fingers across his skin.
She peppered his neck with sweet kisses.
“Tastes salty,” she joked. “Like nuts.”
“Ohh, baby,” he moaned. “That feels so good.”
Alexis carefully unzipped his pants and chuckled when she saw the bulge in his briefs. They caressed each other while standing up. She got hotter and hotter. Rashad unzipped her skirt and slid it over her hips. He unbuttoned her blouse and she didn't care where he tossed it. She let him remove her panties and tried to keep from laughing when he attempted to twist her nipples between his fingers. Usually when he stopped by, he was dirty from having worked in dusty buildings. Alexis demanded that he be clean before they made love. So they took a quick shower and then sprawled out naked on a sheepskin rug.
When Rashad kissed Alexis on her thighs, toes, fingers, and lips, she quivered from the feeling he gave her. And all she could think about how she wished she could have this man . . . just like this . . . every day . . . except for the few times a week she got to see him. She wanted to cling to these moments, to her baby Rashad, and never let him go.
“You miss me?” he asked as he tenderly gazed down and inserted himself inside her.
His plump dick was erect and smoking hot. It felt good.
She squeezed his back and held him close, enjoying the warmth of his nakedness. “Why you keep asking me that?”
“'Cause you never answer me.”
“Jesus. Yes, Rashad. You already know. Stevie Wonder could see that I do.”
“Okay, cool. What you miss?”
“Stop playing.”
“How was work?”
“Boy, if you don't quit.”
“Boy?” He threw back his head and chuckled again. “You're so cute when you're mad.”
“I'm glad you think that. Now go down on me.”
She closed her eyes and spread her legs. She raised her hips and thrust her pussy at him. He leaned down and started licking her, teasing her with his tongue. His tongue flicked across her clit. She gasped and squirmed and cupped her breasts. Rashad licked her toes, moved up her thigh, and sucked her nipples. She squirmed and moaned as he sucked. She enjoyed him in every way.
He hummed as he ate her. She thought she was going to die and loved every minute of him.
I'm much too in love with this man and that's a dangerous thing. How would I survive if we couldn't stay together?
Alexis McNeil knew she was a single woman dating a married man, but she felt she had the best of both worlds. She got to enjoy mind-blowing sex on a weekly basis. Her lover brought her nice gifts. And she never had to deal with the unpleasant stuff: washing his funky underwear, fussing at him for being a slob, dealing with his unbearable family members, or having to bury him if he passed away. That's what wives had to deal with. Rashad was her good-looking, well-endowed sexual healer, and that's what she preferred, or so she thought.
The minutes flew by. Alexis knew that their rendezvous would soon end. She held onto his neck, giving him tight hugs while he worked hard to get his orgasm. He thrust his penis inside her and she enjoyed how tight it felt. They created friction as they moved together. He stroked her with a nice rhythm. She gritted her teeth and cried out.
Rashad moaned then collapsed on top of her. She stroked the back of his head, believing that he loved her as much as she loved him.
Rashad handed Alexis a little cash, something he did once a month to help her out with any expenses she may have. Then he kissed her good-bye. He promised he'd be back and she knew he would. Alexis went to the bathroom, cleaned herself off with a hot wet cloth, and drove back to the office. She found a parking space in the staff lot and turned off the ignition. She ran her fingers through the long wavy strands of her sew-in and examined herself in the mirror before getting out of her car.
Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she headed inside her building and returned to her desk. Her workstation was centered in the hallway of the first floor so that she would be the first employee visitors saw once they entered the department.
Alexis was so busy having sex she didn't have time to eat her lunch at her house. So she sat at her desk and removed a deluxe turkey sandwich and a fruit cup from her lunch bag. She nibbled on her meal and resumed processing scholarship applications. She had only been sitting in her seat for ten minutes when she heard loud shouts coming from the hallway a few yards down.
“Where is that thot? If I see her, I'm going to beat her nasty whorish ass.”
“What the hell?” Shyla Perry, the social network coordinator, came and stood by Alexis's desk where she could safely view the action. Shyla was a tall, short-haired, opinionated woman who loved to know what was going on with everyone in the office.
“Oh my God. Who is that crazy woman?” Shyla asked Alexis.
“Hell if I know.”
The woman whooped and hollered at the top of her voice. “Show me that skank's office. Right now.”
Beads of sweat formed on Shyla's forehead. She craned her neck to see.
Alexis busily tapped her fingers across her keyboard, but she couldn't help but hear the woman.
“I don't give a rat's ass that you think I should take this elsewhere. If a bitch got the nerve to fuck my husband, then I will come up to the job, beat
her
ass and shut this down. Shee-it. I don't play that.” The woman kicked the wall with her heels and started going off again.
“Oh, my goodness,” Shyla said. “This is nuts. I hope she don't have a gun. Call 911.” Shyla frantically waved her hands at Alexis. But Alexis continued typing away with her eyes steadfastly on her computer monitor.
“Alexis, you hear me? Girl, what's wrong with you? Call the police.”
“What's wrong with your fingers?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“No. And why you losing yours? That's not your business. They grown.”
“Do you hear how loud that lady is screaming? She's yelling at our graphic artist! This is a matter for security. Pick up that phone and call for help.”
“Just because I'm the admin doesn't mean I have to do anything y'all tell me to do.”
“Oh, my God. This isn't about you!”
“Then why put me in the middle of it?”
The wife yelled, “Heads are about to fucking roll around here like a bowling alley. Where is that shitty piece of ass?”
Shyla pleaded with Alexis. “See what I mean? She could be packing. Aren't you scared?”
“Why should I be? I'm not fucking
her
husband.”
“Girl, something's wrong with you. The hell with it. I'll call the police from my office. You must be wearing a bulletproof vest or something.”
Shyla ran down the hall yelling, “Fix it, Jesus.”
Alexis rolled her eyes like she couldn't be bothered. She waited for the drama to fizzle to nothing. She and Shyla had never clicked. Shyla was one of those messy, annoying, know-it-all women that Alexis could not stand.
After a while, the irate wife finally stopped shouting and calmed down when campus police showed up. Come to find out, the lady was in the wrong building. Neither her husband nor his lover worked in their facility.
“Woo, how much you wanna bet that wife feels like the town idiot?” Alexis was talking to the coworkers who had stood in front of her desk after the campus police escorted the woman outside. Shyla walked up and listened in on the conversation.
“Yeah, you see how crazy she looked? I felt sorry for her,” remarked one lady.
“Her no-good husband probably driving her so crazy she doesn't know her left hand from her right foot. Poor thing,” Shyla commented. “Some men will do that to you.”
“And that's what side pieces do to you,” replied the good-looking male custodian. “If the side didn't open her legs, he couldn't dip his stick in that big ole hole.”
“Shut the hell up,” Shyla snapped at the custodian. “That husband is a cheater. And that woman is one, too. I hope his wife finds the right building and beats the hell out of that woman.”
“Even if he is cheating, the main chick handled it all wrong,” Alexis replied. “If the man is messing around, why is she trying to run up on the other woman?”