Black Lies White Lies (8 page)

I love you, Candice, don’t be a stranger.” I pulled away from the curb, waving goodbye. As I reached the city limits I said goodbye to Lance once more in a still small voice. I had been on the road a couple of days. I won’t make this drive ever again. Lesson learned.

Chapter 6

Reaching the George Washington Bridge, I thought, I’m home at last. I pulled into the parking garage next to my apartment building. I was so tired. I just wanted to sleep in my own bed. I walked past my neighbor, Mrs. Dunhurst. “Candice, I’m sorry to hear about your mother.”

I didn’t think she knew my name. “Thank you, Mrs. Dunhurst,” I replied as I kept on to the elevators. Mrs. Dunhurst’s husband had died about a year ago. She seemed so sad these days. I wanted to stop and chat but all I could think of was that bed calling to me.

I opened the door to my apartment, dropped my keys and purse on the table and headed for the shower. I felt calmer after showering. I finally noticed the light on my answering machine. Should I check it or not? I lay down on the bed.

I woke to my alarm buzzing in my ear. Should have turned that off and slept a little longer I thought but then I decided to get my day going with a cup of coffee. I put on the coffee and turned on the TV for the morning news. “Football Star, Anthony Long. was injured in his home after a fall. He is listed in critical condition in a Memphis area hospital.” Oh my God! Sabrina must be beside herself. I immediately picked up the phone and called Sandra.

“Sandra, how are you? I heard the news about Anthony. Is he going to be ok?”

“We don’t know yet.”

“What happened?”

“All I know is that he fell. Sabrina and I haven’t talked much, but Bryan is going over to the hospital this morning. As soon as I find out anything I will let you know. You know how private Sabrina can be when it comes to her home life.”

Why isn’t Sandra going to the hospital I wondered, but thought I’d better not ask. We weren’t that close and the tension was always there. We needed to come together on this though. “Yes I know, but we are family.”

“When did you realize that?”

I knew this was leading to an argument, so I just let it drop right there. “Well, please keep me posted.” I hung up the phone, hurting from her remark. The truth does hurt sometimes.

I checked my answering machine. There were three messages from Ashton talking about the flowers he sent. And one from Aunt Sally making sure I had gotten home safely. I sipped my coffee and made a few calls.

First Ashton, just to get his answering service.

Next, Brenda to get the scoop. Brenda answered after the first ring. “Hey Candice! Glad to hear you are back. When did you get in?”

“Late yesterday evening.”

“I know you can’t wait to hear what is going on at the office.”

“That’s mostly what I called you for.”

“You know I told you about all the pink slips that where being handed out? Well it gets better. Randy Willingham, in Accounting, was fired today. It’s being said he was embezzling money. Who would have thought? He’s been with the company for a number of years.”

“I know.”

“Ashton and Mr. Maxwell called him into the office and he was asked to leave the building immediately.”

“No…”

“They had him escorted out by security. It’s getting serious. You don’t know the half of it. All the guys in security are gone. Replaced. Just like that.”

“Brenda, there must be a reason for all of it.”

“And I know what it is. He comes in a silk suit and his name is Ashton Williams.”

“Brenda, I’m sure Ashton is just doing his job. We all knew things were going to change, Brenda.”

“I’m sure he is, and what a superb job at that. Look, I know you have a thing for Ashton, but don’t let that cloud your judgment. Just keep your head about this one, Candice.”

“Thanks for the heads up, Brenda. I will keep it in mind. I better get off here. We’ve got a day ahead of us tomorrow.”

“Ok, but just remember what I said, Candice.”

“Have a lovely day, Brenda.” That was a deep conversation. Brenda could be a little over the top when it came to Ashton. I was up for a promotion tomorrow and I wanted to look and feel the part. I didn’t want to get into a bunch of drama.

My cell phone started ringing Ashton’s tone. “Hey, Sexy.” came that deep voice on the other end. “Did you miss me?”

“Hello Ashton, and yes I did miss you.”

“I got your message from the service. Did you get the flowers I sent?”

“I did.”

“Can I come over?” he asked as I heard the doorbell ring.

“Hold on, someone is at the door.” I opened the door and there stood Ashton, handing me a dozen red roses.

“I just knew your answer would be yes.” Wishful thinking on his part I thought as he began kissing me. “I see you’re still as sweet as I remember.”  

The flowers fell to the floor, forgotten, as Ashton deepened the kiss.

“The flowers, they were just a gesture. I’m going to really show you how much I missed you.” He kissed me until I began to lose control right there. I felt the sofa behind me.

“Ashton, slow down.”

“I can’t. I’ve been waiting on this for a week.” He slid my panties off before I could complain, all the while kissing my neck. By the time his tongue licked my clit I was in a fog. I was so far gone I had missed the in between. He tasted me with his mouth and kept licking until I exploded.

His manhood was at attention. He was out of his clothes in seconds. Superman didn’t have shit on him. He parted my legs with his knee and slid his stiffness inside, quickly working me into a frenzy again. He stroked me over and over. First with gentleness and then with the roughness I loved.

I held on tight as he easily changed our position with catlike reflexes. He gently bit my neck as he took me from behind. This felt so good I could take no more. He grabbed a handful of my hair and rode me into ecstasy.

We were both panting for air. “Candice. Baby. I missed you.” He licked the sweat from my back, sending chills through me. My legs started trembling as he rode me even harder to reach his climax. He moaned, nearing the end, “Candice, I’m cummin.” When he was all spent he laid down with me to catch his breath, kissing my neck. We lay in each other’s arms until we fell asleep.

I woke to Ashton showering in the other room. It was 5:00 in the afternoon. We had slept all day. I was famished. I picked up my clothes from the floor and went into my bedroom to grab my robe. I needed food and a shower.

I heard the shower stop. The door opened and he appeared with only a towel. Man, he looked sensational standing there. “Hey, Babe. How was your rest?”

“It was just what the doctor ordered.”

“Yes it was. Are you as famished as I am?”

“Maybe even more.”

“I called my service and had them call Giorgio’s to bring something over.”

“That sounds good. I’ll take a shower while we wait.” I showered and slipped into the pink sundress I had bought while in Jackson. I brushed my hair into a twist and sprayed myself with a little Chanel before rejoining Ashton.

I lay my head on his chest. I could live in his arms forever. “You smell fantastic and you look even better,” Ashton told me with a smile. “The food should be here soon. I wanted to shoot something by you.”

“What’s that Ashton?”

“I’m going to my folks this weekend and wondered if you would like to go.” I sat there, stunned for a minute. “I’ve told them about you and they’re dying to meet you.”

What? He wanted me to meet his parents? I just didn’t know what to do with this information. “Sure, why not.”

“We will be in meetings all day tomorrow. So we can leave after that, if that’s ok? I know your assistant has filled you in on the details.”

“Yes.”

“And what is your take on the whole thing? Candice, everyone knew there were going to be changes. You know how the business goes. It’s not personal.”

“Maybe not to you, but some people need their jobs.”

“Candice, you’re overreacting. The people that lost their jobs, needed to. You still have your job.”

“That’s beside the point.”

“Let’s not spoil a delightful evening talking about things that don’t matter.”

Just then the doorbell rang. “Saved by the bell. We must finish this conversation.”

“It is finished.” That’s what he thought. I opened the door for the delivery guy.

“I have an order for Mr. Williams.”

“Right this way.” He placed the food on the table in the kitchen. Ashton had left his card on the counter to pay. I gave the delivery guy an enormous tip. I’ll teach him to walk away from a conversation.

Ashton strolled in wearing the black silk pajamas bottoms he always wore when he slept over. “The food smells delicious. You wouldn’t happen to have a bottle of wine to go with it?”

“You’re in luck.” I happened to have a bottle left over from a party I’d had. He opened the bottle and I dished up the food. “Ashton, tell me about your folks.”

“What would you like to know?”

“What would you like to tell?”

“Well, it was just my mother and me for a long time. Then she married my stepfather when I was maybe eight. I have only one brother, Victor, and he lives in Seattle. He has a wife named Susan and two kids, Steven and Maximus. I see him maybe twice a year and on holidays at Mother’s. We will be spending time at my Mother’s summer home in the Hamptons.”

“Your family has a summer house in the Hampton’s?”

“Yes, but it’s nothing much really. My mother is actually very down to earth. She loves to have people over. She’s just like that. I honestly think she’s lonely sometimes. My stepfather is always gone on some business trip or another.” He hadn’t talked much about his family until now. Maybe we were too busy with other things.

“Well what about your family?”

“There is not much to tell. I have two sisters and you know my mother just died.”

“What about your father, is he around?”

I didn’t want to talk about family, so I changed the subject. “I can’t wait to get to work and see all the changes.”

“Let’s not talk about work, Candice. We don’t see eye to eye, so leave it at that. Anyway, I asked about your father.”

“My father is sick and going through some stuff right now but he’s a genuine person.”

“I guess that’s more than I can say about my old man. He always left us alone. He was a captain in the Navy, so we moved around a lot in my early years. Now he’s retired and living in San Diego. Those are my family dynamics.”

“Candice, I won’t be staying over tonight. There is so much going on in the morning.” We finished up and I cleaned up the dishes. We took the wine into the living room and watched a little TV while snuggling.

I wondered what Ashton’s mother was like and if she would like me. I must have dozed because next thing I knew, Ashton was shaking me awake. “Babe, I’m leaving now so come lock your door.” I kissed him and closed the door.

I went into the bedroom and scanned my closet for tomorrow’s work clothes; a pink Chanel suit with beige pumps. That was easy. I needed to make a hair appointment. My hair was a mess from all the humidity back home.

I pushed speed dial on my phone, hoping for a noon appointment tomorrow. Her assistant picked up, “Thank you for calling Total Beauty, Ginger speaking, how can I help you?”

“Ginger, this is Candice. I would like to make an appointment with Sydney.”

“When and what time?”

“Noon tomorrow, if possible”

“I’m sorry, Candice, she is booked all day, but let me ask and see. Hold on one moment, please.”

“Alright Candice, she said she can see you, but you must be on time.”

“Tell her she’s a Godsend and I will be there on time. Thank you.”

I needed some more sleep. It had been an emotionally and physically exhausting few days and I needed to get an early start tomorrow. I got into bed, turned on my alarm, and the next thing I knew, it was morning.

~~~

After showering, I brushed my hair straight enough to put hot rollers in and then started my makeup. As I slipped on my camisole and panties I thought if I picked up coffee from downstairs I could be uptown by 8:00.

Now for this hair, I brushed some of the curl loose. My hair could be a pain in the butt sometimes but it could have been worse. I remembered how Momma used to hot comb Sandra’s and Sabrina’s hair. They would always cry and whine. Momma would yell at them to be still. My hair was unruly and the color of rubies, Grandmother used to say, with the temper to match.

I finished dressing and checked myself in the mirror. I did clean up well. I grabbed my keys and headed down stairs, stopping in the coffee shop. Vivian, the owner, was putting out her homemade coffeecake. “Good morning, Candice. I heard about your mother. Sorry about your loss.”

“Thank you. I didn’t know anyone knew.”

“You would be surprised how these walls talk. Would you like some of this coffeecake? I made it fresh this morning.”