The Perfect Mistress (34 page)

“Well, I didn't ask to be scrutinized,” she snapped.

Matthew wasn't dealing with attitude at this point. “Look, I'm not trying to upset you. We just have to get to the bottom of this. My job is on the line here. Not only is the presidency at risk, but I could lose my job altogether because the board isn't going to want any of this bad publicity. There's no telling what this woman has up her sleeve next. I just want us to nip this in the bud before it gets out of control.”

Lauren didn't know why she was snapping at Matthew. It wasn't his fault that she'd messed with the wrong woman's husband and now, someone was out for revenge.

Matthew paced back and forth.

“Look, Lauren. Maybe you shouldn't go to the dinner with me tonight. Maybe you should just stay here and get everything ready for your mother.”

Lauren's feelings were hurt, but she couldn't do anything but say, “Okay.”

Although she wouldn't go to the dinner, she wasn't staying home. Lauren was about to get to the bottom of this because she'd be damned if this woman—whoever she was—would ruin the life she was planning.

J
oyce couldn't believe how much she missed that snaggle-toothed man. She didn't realize it, but Ernest had provided her only joy in this place. If she were to come back and visit anyone, it would've been him.

The memorial service for him today had been beautiful. Joyce loved how the staff had come together to put on a beautiful reception. They even had a slide show featuring Ernest in several of his comical moments. In each picture she didn't see the face of someone dying. She saw the face of someone choosing to live.

“Nice service,” Pearl said. Even though the reception was held at the facility, they all had dressed up in proper mourning attire.

Joyce nodded. “I just wish I'd gotten the chance to say good-bye.”

“We all do,” she replied. “Unfortunately, that's the thing about life. We don't know how to embrace the joy until it's gone.”

Lily, one of the more quiet patients, spoke up. “I'm going to call my sister today. I don't want to die with regrets.”

Pearl said, “That's what Ernest used to always say. Live so you die with no regrets.”

Regrets. Joyce had lots of those. Yet she could spend her last days making things right with Lauren. She didn't want to die with regrets.

Wanda said, “On another note, I saw that mess with your daughter.”

Joyce cut her eyes in Wanda's direction. Only her messy behind would bring up a topic like that at this time of mourning.

“Alienation of affection?” Wanda continued. “Ain't that that thing that woman sued that
American Idol
singer for?”

“I don't know. I don't get in folks' business like that. Maybe you should try it,” Joyce retorted.

“Hmph, and here I was thinking she was an angel for always coming here to see you,” Wanda sneered. So much for them bonding over Ernest's death. She was back to her old ways.

“You don't know anything about my daughter,” Joyce said flatly.

“Seems like I know she screws other folks' husbands,” Wanda replied with a chuckle.

“You must be trying to join Ernest in the afterlife,” Joyce growled. She was using a wheelchair but she wouldn't hesitate to get out of it if necessary.

Wanda waved her off. “How she gon' get mad at me because she raised a loose child,” she told Pearl.

“Wanda, now isn't the time,” Pearl said, also disgusted.

Joyce debated arguing with her, but decided it wasn't worth the effort. “Bye, Pearl,” she said, spinning around and wheeling off. She couldn't wait to get away from this place.

L
auren couldn't believe how in a matter of hours, her life had taken such a drastic detour. Dr. Stephens wasn't playing. Her past had come back with a vengeance, and now the man she loved was going to pay the price.

Lauren wished she were at home with Matthew, working this out, not in Target buying supplies to make her mother comfortable. Lauren still wasn't feeling the idea of settling her mother in Matthew's place, but she knew he was right about it being the best place for her, especially now that she knew everything that was going on with Julian.

Julian.

She was still shocked that her brother—who grew up despising what his father had done—had turned around and done the exact same thing.

Vernon Robinson had really messed his kids up.

But Lauren was determined to stop focusing on the past, and worry about the present.

That's if she still had a present with Matthew.

“Well, if it isn't Raleigh's resident ho.”

Lauren spun around to come face-to-face with Dana, her ex-lover Craig's scorned wife.

Judging from her look of contempt, Dana no longer bought their story. “You know, my gut told me not to believe that cockamamy story you gave me about Craig buying jewelry for me and a spa day,” she continued. “But you were so convincing and I thought surely, this woman wasn't so low to lie for my husband. And yes, I wanted to give my husband the benefit of the doubt,” she said, sneering at that notion. “I guess that's what you were counting on, though. Of course, his other long-term side chick outed him.” She laughed at the expression on Lauren's face. “What, you thought you was the only one? Hmph. Well, the other side chick busted him when she informed me that she was HIV-positive.” She gave Lauren a measuring look. “Have you been tested? I have, since you know we were all screwing each other.”

Lauren gasped and almost fell over backward. HIV? She and Craig had used protection, but nothing was foolproof.

The look on Lauren's face made Dana bust out laughing. “Ha. I'm just kidding about the HIV, but it could've happened. And well, you just never know, so you might want to check that out.”

Lauren stared at Dana in disbelief. “Really? Who does that?”

“Yes, really. I should've let you keep wondering, but I'm not low-down like you.”

Lauren shook her head. “That is the most childish thing I've ever heard.”

“Don't try to judge me,” she snapped.

Lauren didn't know what to say. Number one, she wasn't in the mood for this girl. Number two, this was exactly why she only messed with powerful men, because she didn't do ghetto
drama. Craig had wooed her with his rugged good looks and near-perfect body.

“Whatever. I don't know what you're talking about, so excuse me.” She tried to step around Dana.

Dana moved in her way to prevent Lauren from going around. “Nah, I don't think so,” she said. “You know, I saw the press conference.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Alienation of affection, huh? I wonder if we can make that a class-action lawsuit. Maybe we can take an ad out in the Sunday paper.” She motioned in the air. “If Lauren Robinson screwed your man, please call 1-800-KILL-THAT-THOT and join our class action lawsuit.”

Lauren glared at her. “I'm not even going to dignify you.”

Lauren tried to step around again, but this time Dana put a hand on her shoulder.

Lauren glanced down at Dana's hand. “If you don't get those Klingon nails off of me . . .”

Dana stepped in her face. “Then, what?” A momentary silence hung between them. “That's what I thought. How long were you screwing my husband?”

Lauren wanted to tell Dana everything she did that Dana didn't, but she'd left that part of her life behind her. She didn't need another scorned wife in her life right now.

“Look, I don't know what you and Craig have going on. I haven't seen him since you came charging me up that day in the hotel.”

Dana folded her arms. “I don't believe a thing you say.”

“And I don't care what you believe. Your issue shouldn't be with me. It should be with your husband,” Lauren said.

“Hmph, speaking of husband, you still gonna have one? I
went to Carolina State. And I agree with what they're saying on social media. We don't want a president that can't tell his wife is a ho.”

That stung. But Lauren was determined not to show it. “Look, little girl. You have no idea the hell I have been through. And as you know, stuff in my life is already jacked up. What's one more murder charge?”

That made Dana step back. People often mistook her prissy nature for weakness. But she was two seconds from snapping.

“Now, if I were you, I'd go home and check my husband, because I'm sure you didn't put him out. And by the way, tell him to lose my damn number and stop texting and calling me. Now, move your ghetto ass out the way before they have to call for a cleanup on aisle two.”

Dana glared at her hard, but she did step to the side.

Lauren composed herself and strutted to the front to pay for her items. She was so sick of these men and their wives. Someone was out to ruin her, but Lauren doubted that Dana had the brainpower to set her up. Who in the world could it be? As she paid for her purchases, she made a decision. Screw what Matthew said about leaving this alone. She was determined to get to the bottom of things and end her personal drama.

Lauren paced back and forth across the plush carpet of Thomas's downtown office. The receptionist was giving her the side eye, and Lauren could tell the woman couldn't wait for her to leave so that she could get on the phone and gossip with her friends about the raving lunatic who had just demanded to see her boss.

As Lauren wore a hole in the Berber carpet, she couldn't help but think that maybe showing up here wasn't such a great idea. But it was too late for regrets. She was here now and she wasn't leaving until she talked to Thomas.

“Ms. Robinson.” Thomas appeared in his office doorway, wearing a classic Armani suit, which must have cost three thousand dollars. He plastered on a fake smile, no doubt for his secretary. “Come on in.”

The secretary smirked at the two of them. Any other time Lauren would've given her one right back, but today she was on a mission.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Thomas said as soon as the door was closed. “Why are you showing up at my office like this?”

“Alienation of affection? Really?” Lauren waved a copy of the lawsuit in his face.

“You think I want this?” he said, lowering his voice. “This is bad for business. My wife is losing her damn mind. And here you come giving her more ammunition. There is no telling what kind of spies she has around here.”

“I thought you had your wife under control. That's what you always tell me.”

He huffed, his Ivy League education taking a backseat to his hood upbringing. “Look, I got enough drama. I don't need you trippin', too.”

“I don't need this,” she shot back. “I'm about to get married.”

Thomas stared at her. “What?”

“Married.”

“So, what does that mean for us?” His whole tone had changed.

She flung the papers at him. “Are you freaking kidding me? There is no
us
. Your wife is suing me.”