“True that,” said Tony Fu; he was the department videographer, who liked to lurk around and join in on the office happenings. He also was one of Kiara's favorite employees.
“He should have been the first person she was looking for.”
“In my opinion,” Alexis said, “a man that goes after the side is just pathetic.”
“Alexis,” Shyla responded, “are you actually saying that if you were married, and last time I checked you aren't and never have been, you wouldn't have any anger towards the side piece?”
“Like I said, he is the one who willingly shared his juices with someone else and did the wife dirty. The side never promised her a thing.”
“You act like her husband's infidelity is all her fault.”
“It could be, we don't know that, and we can't assume that the man is always to blame,” Alexis responded. “But one thing I do know is that people cheat because there is a high interest in it or else so many men wouldn't be doing it.”
Shyla heartily laughed. “Men do it 'cause some of them are damned fools that don't appreciate what they got. Or they can't keep that anaconda in its cage.”
“Nope, wrong,” Alexis said. “Think about it. Every market is determined by the law of supply and demand. When it comes to extramarital affairs, the demand for them drives the market. The demand comes from men. And the women handle the supply.”
“Oh, wow, she's breaking it down like a math equation, huh?” Tony said.
“I'm just saying if men didn't want to step out, and if there weren't women that are willing to give these men what they want, there'd be no such thing as cheating. But that's what some people do.” She shrugged. “And other times it's not that he's a no-good cheater. Sometimes he just fell in love. And that's something he can't help.”
“You really believe that?” Shyla asked.
“Sure do.”
“Girl, bye,” Shyla said. “Some people.” She walked away and glanced back at Alexis, giving her a curious stare.
That afternoon, Kiara passed through the hallway and stopped in front of Alexis's workstation. “Hey there. Can you please come to my office when you have a moment?”
“Sure.”
Every time her boss asked her to come to her office, Alexis felt rolls of quivers in her belly.
Does she know about me and Rashad?
Alexis would ask herself. The fact that she was sleeping with her boss's husband made Alexis feel some kind of way. And she still hadn't decided if she was ready to tell Kiara everything. Of course, Rashad begged her not to. And she was the type to play her position. But the way they ended up in an affair required both of them to be knowing participants.
The first time Alexis met Rashad was the day she arrived on the campus of Texas South West University. She was standing on a sidewalk peering down at a campus map kiosk.
“Hey, you look lost,” Rashad told her. “Can I help you find something?”
He had just dropped off a check at Kiara's office, and had made a quick trip to the student union food court to grab some lunch when he noticed this pretty young thing. When a man meets a woman, he knows right away if he wants to smash; Rashad took one look at her body and wondered what she looked like naked. Up until that moment, he never seriously considered cheating on his wife.
“Oh, I think I know where this building is, but I'm not totally positive. But I'm sure it's down that way.”
“What?” he said with a grin. Rashad doubted she knew what she was doing; her pretending ways captivated him.
“I said I know where I'm going.”
“You don't look like it.”
She twirled around and started walking east. But she only took a couple steps before she whirled back around. “Okay, sir. I'm sorry to bother you. Can you please help me? I've been lost ever since I parked my car and I hope I can find it when I leave. I've never been on this side of campus a day in my life.”
Rashad burst out laughing. He was intrigued. She looked so sweet and vulnerable. She seemed like she needed protecting. He wanted to know her and not just have sex with her.
“I'd be glad to help. My line of work has me driving all over the city. So I know how it feels to be somewhere and not know where the hell I am. But don't worry, you're in good hands, young lady.”
Alexis's cheeks flushed red.
“Don't be ashamed. We all need help sometimes.” He winked at her, which made her blush even more.
Even though Alexis assumed Rashad thought she felt foolish, in reality she was attracted to his good looks. His eyes were mesmerizing and filled with excitement. He had the most amazing teeth. He was super friendly and made her feel at ease. And he looked sexy in his clothes. Deep inside she felt she was being rescued. To her, all the buildings on the huge campus looked the same and she'd already wasted twenty minutes. No one else reached out to assist her. So Alexis told Rashad where she needed to go and he personally walked her to MacGregor Hall, the location of the HR department.
“You look like a college student. Smart and stylish.”
She wore a belted coatdress and some black pumps. Rashad loved what he saw.
“Thanks for the compliment. I'm not a student. But my mama sure stays on me so I'll make something out of my life. If I didn't go to college, the next best thing is to get a job at a college.” She gave him a reserved smile, which endeared her to him.
They arrived at MacGregor Hall and he walked her inside the lobby.
“Hey, I hope you get the job.” He winked and reached out to shake her hand. Her skin felt smooth and warm. He wished he could hold her fingers a little longer; he resisted the crazy temptation to kiss them. But she eventually let go. He watched her board the elevator. Though he could have left right then, he decided to linger around on the first floor. He had to see her again. He stood and waited. And he was so happy when he watched Alexis get off the elevator after she was done with her appointment.
“Hey there,” she said. Alexis was glad to see him, too. She thought about him all the while she was upstairs filling out paperwork. She wondered who he was.
“It's you again. I wanted to tell you thanks for helping me.”
“My name is Rashad. What's yours?”
“I'm Alexis.”
“I stuck around to make sure you're okay. And I just had to see if you can find the right parking lot.”
They laughed together.
“Plus you're fine as hell and you also seem like a cool chick. Can we stay in touch?”
“You seem like a cool dude, and I don't mind staying in touch, but aren't you too old for me?”
“I'm thirty-one. That ain't old,” he told her. “Watch this.” In a moment of spontaneity, Rashad ran up toward the side of a nearby wall, jumped off of it, and did a handstand. He balanced his weight and with great agility walked around on his hands, yelling, “I'm the king of the world.” Alexis was flabbergasted. This guy was something else. She giggled and shook her head.
“You sure are energetic . . . for an old man.”
He got back on his feet and dusted off his hands. “Hey, baby, I would love to show you what an old man can do!”
Alexis felt breathless.
“I'd love to see that. Here's my number, cutie. Use it. Don't lose it.”
Even though Alexis was nineteen, and she felt a little nervous about how she flirted back, she loved Rashad's energetic and confident air. She could already tell that he liked her, and that they shared great chemistry.
They talked on the phone every day. He made her laugh and gave her all kinds of compliments. She soon started working in an office on campus. They saw each other once a week and she snuck him into her mother's house to have sex. He continued to charm her and she loved the surprise gifts he brought to her. But a year later, when there was a reduction in force, Alexis got relocated to the communications division. That's when she found herself working for Kiara Eason. Right away, Alexis realized that her boss shared a last name with the man she'd been sleeping with. That's when she put two and two together. She asked Rashad if he was still married. He said yes, but “it isn't a happy marriage so please don't hold that against me.” She got angry at him but he begged for her forgiveness. By then Alexis was sprung. She couldn't let him go.
Ever since then, working for Kiara kept Alexis on edge. She needed her job, but she loved and needed Rashad even more.
And now her boss wanted to meet with Alexis. She took her time and combed her hair, reapplied her hot pink lipstick, and curled her eyelashes. She grabbed her BlackBerry then walked into Mrs. Eason's spacious corner office, which was well lit by the sparkling afternoon sun.
“Yes.”
“Close the door and have a seat.”
Alexis wrestled with the fear within her belly, but she calmly sat down and crossed her legs.
“Um, while I was gone from the office, I heard about a disturbing event that took place. From what I was told, you were a witness, as well as Shyla and some of the other staff.”
“Yes, that's true. But what does the alleged âdisturbing event' have to do with me?”
Kiara was taken aback by her tone.
“I wasn't finished yet.”
“Sorry.”
“Anyway, what it has to do with you, as well as the others, is that I think we should schedule a brief staff meeting to talk about it.”
This heifer loves meetings.
“That sounds like a personal issue that the campus police department has already handled. The lady's husband didn't even work here. The only disturbing thing that happened is a woman made a big fool of herself. Couldn't be me.”
“Well, Alexis, you definitely have a lot to say for someone who thinks the incident has nothing whatsoever to do with you.”
“It's just my opinion.”
“That's fine, but my concern is for everyone here to feel safe,” Kiara continued. “In fact, it's my duty to create a secure environment. And while it is somewhat true that what people do on their own time is their own businessâ”
“At least we agree on that.”
“Alexis, I beg your pardon. Is there something going on that you're not telling me? You've been snapping at me ever since you came in my office.”
Alexis frowned and her eyes rested on an eight-by-ten silver picture frame that was prominently displayed by Kiara's office telephone. She stared at the black-and-white photo of her lover, Rashad, snuggling cheek to cheek with Kiara. Their six-year-old son, Myles, was sitting on his mother's lap. Kiara was grinning and her eyes sparkled with joy. Rashad's lips curled into a proud grin. This must have been a new photo.
Alexis felt teary-eyed. The handsome boy greatly favored Rashad.
“This is some crap,” Alexis said out loud and rose to her feet.
“What did you say? Why are you getting up? The meeting isn't done yet.”
Alexis clapped her hands over her mouth.
“I think I have food poisoning. Excuse me.”
Alexis stumbled out of Kiara's office and hurried to the restroom. She burst into an empty stall and fell to her knees. She flung up the toilet seat and placed her face over the white porcelain commode. It was cold and sterile. And the thought of her face being so close to where people emptied their bowels made her more nauseated.
“Oh, God,” she said just before her stomach unloaded. Her mouth spread open wider and wider as she vomited. Her forehead beaded with sweat and she wished she could remove her jacket.
Once her stomach settled, she went back to her desk, opened a drawer with her key, and removed a clear plastic bag in which she stored toothpaste, a toothbrush, mouth rinse, and dental floss. She called it her “Freakum Bag” because she also kept two extra pairs of black thongs in it just in case.
Alexis returned to the restroom, thoroughly cleaned out her mouth, and got freshened up.
As much as she hated to do it, she walked back into Kiara's office and closed the door.
“Sorry about that. I feel better now that I've gotten rid of something that wasn't making me feel good.”
“Where'd you go for lunch?”
“Where'd I go for lunch?”
“Yes, you said you experienced food poisoning. Maybe you should call that restaurant and let them know.”
“Um, that won't be necessary.”
Kiara gave Alexis a quizzical look. “Have you eaten there before?”
“Have I eaten there before? Look, don't worry about it. It's not even that serious.”
“Just say the word and I'll call wherever you ate lunch today.”
Alexis gulped. “Please. Don't.”
“I won't. But if I were you, I would never go back to that place again. Now will you please send out an invite for a thirty-minute meeting? It can start at three.”
“If you say so; I don't think this is needed. But you're the boss.”
“I'm sure everyone is going to feel differently about this but, as a married woman, it's a topic that's close to the chest. It's never good when couples put their business out on the street. And from what I hear, this situation was completely out of control. I especially hate when married women lower themselves to the level of aâ”