Chapter 23

On Monday, I took off from work. I was so mad, that I could not even look at Preston without feeling as if I could punch him in the throat. I went to the spa for a massage and when I checked in for my appointment, I saw Mallory, “Elise, hey how are you?”

This is strange, I thought. Why is she being cordial to me if her husband told her that he was still in love with me? “Hey, I’m well ... I thought—”

“Thanks for the pep talk the other night. Preston and I started taking couples therapy last week, it’s been so good and we’re learning a lot.”

“That’s awesome. So happy for you two.”

I turned to leave, the receptionist called out to me, “Ma’am your appointment.” I kept right out the door. I no longer wanted to be relaxed, I wanted to fuck some shit up.

I called Preston and told him to meet me at a hotel where we used to meet. As soon as he walked in the door, he was all smiley and tried to kiss me. I grabbed his face and pushed him back.

“You are an asshole, Preston,” I wagged my finger at him, “I wondered why Bill referred you to me, especially since I told him, I wasn’t taking any new clients. How did you know it was me?”

He shrugged, “You mean that night when we—”

“No. I mean, when you saw me with him at his party. He said you were there and that you had to meet me.”

He hesitated then burst into a sinister laugh, “At first, I wasn’t sure, but it was just something about how you moved and I took a picture of you that night while you were looking all sexy in that tight-ass dress. I took it home and played with it and I said to myself, this is a striking coincidence. So, I called in my favor and had him convince you to meet me, that’s why I used another name. I knew you wouldn’t if I gave my real name.”

“And all that shit about loving me and leaving your wife?” I scolded, “you’re still playing the same fucking games. You want to parade around Mallory, while you get your rocks off behind the scenes with me.”

He shrugged, “People do it all the time. Admit it, you enjoyed being with me.”

“So, you wanted to fuck up my life just to continue having access to me?”

“I was never going to tell ole dude or that white guy. I just didn’t want to lose you.”

I walked up real close and kneed him in the balls, “Fuck you, Preston. My resignation papers will be on your desk tomorrow.”

“Wait, Elise. Elise--” He ran out the door after me, but I hurried onto the elevator and let it close.

I went home and sat on my sofa with a bottle of wine. My phone rang. It was Henderson. I answered, “Hey.”

“Okay, sis, what the hell is going on?” he asked filled with concern in his voice.

“Come over after work and I’ll explain it to you.”

“Okay.”

The call ended and I heard Onyx’s line ring. It was so tempting to retreat into her, but I refrained. Alessandro called, but I couldn’t talk to him. I didn’t have the words and didn’t want to be rejected twice.

When Henderson came by, my cousin Iyanna was there. I needed to tell this story to them at the same time. He plopped down on the sofa next to Iyanna. I took a deep breath.

“Okay, spill it already,” said Iyanna impatiently.

“As you know, I resigned today.”

“Did he do something to you?” asked Iyanna.

Henderson asked, “Who Preston?”

“We dated in college for a while. He played me and Mallory. Obviously, he ended up married to her, but he still wants to fuck me.”

“But you told him to fuck off right?” said Iyanna.

“I fucked him,” I said plainly and pointed at her as she gave me the side-eye, “and don’t give me that look because you even suggested that I fuck him to get back at Mallory.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d do it.”

“I did.”

“Wow, my mind is blown. So, what about you and Jefferson?”

“That got fucked up when I told him about Onyx.”

Their faces morphed into question marks, “Who the hell is Onyx?” they both asked. I pulled out the phone and showed them pictures of me at upscale parties with rich men, on vacation, in fancy hotels.

“This is you cuz?” asked Iyanna in disbelief.

“Yeah. I become her. Jefferson says I’m a prostitute, but I don’t know it’s not like that ... I mean to some degree maybe.”

“Bitch!!! How can I be down with some shit like this? I was wondering how you could afford all this stuff. I knew you were good with ya money, but now it’s all making sense.”