I Want Candy (47 page)

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“Yes, silly! I’ll be leaving in a few minutes. I’m still wrapping your present. Before you even say anything, I know I’m a procrastinator!” Candy laughed.

“Hurry up! I can’t keep this cocoa hot all night. You’re taking too long,” Gabriel said impatiently as he finished off his own mug.

“I’m your hot chocolate. You’ll be OK,” Candy teased.

“Now see, if I would’ve said that, you’d have balled your face up and said I was treating you like some fetish,” Gabriel laughed.

“You’re probably right, but right now you’re wastin’ valuable time,” Candy snapped and laughed.

“I’m watching the clock. Come on, it’s Christmas Eve. I have a great evening and a wonderful day planned for us. I love you.”

“I love you too. I’ll be there before you know it.” Candy hung up the phone and looked around erratically for the cellophane tape she had misplaced. “I know I had it on this desk!” she said out loud as she moved about in a sea of red ribbon and leftover wrapping paper. “What? Is that the damn doorbell? It’s 10:00 at night!” she stammered in the darkness of her foyer, making her way to the front door. She turned on her front yard light and peered through the small diamond-shaped window of her front door. Her mouth became suddenly dry. She snatched the door open, placing one foot onto the threshold and blocking the entrance with her body.

“Why are you here? What do you want?” Candy said, exasperated. “Why can’t you get it through your head that I don’t want you?” she yelled.

Quentin shoved his hands into his black leather jacket pockets. “Girl, it’s cold out here. Can I come in?” he said with a wide grin.

“No,” Candy responded, crossing her arms and grimacing. “What are you still doin’ in town? The party was over days ago.”

“You know I have family here. I was just visitin’. I have a flight out in a couple of hours, but wanted to stop by and chat with you for a second.”

“Well, you’ll be late. You’re at my house instead of the airport on the second busiest day of the travelling season. You’re an intelligent man. Surely you know the meaning of ‘not interested.’ Candy stepped back inside and began to close the door. Quentin squinted, his pupils dilating as he placed his hand firmly on the door.

“I’ve got some very important information for you, Candy. I don’t think you wanna close that door in my face,” he said sternly.

Candy sighed. “What is it? More games?”

“Oh, this is no trick. It concerns Mr. Justice.” A sly smirk formed across his face. Candy stared at him, her heart no longer beat. Time stood still. Every noise in her ear was suddenly amplified. She opened the door wider, allowing him to come inside. She stood at the door, closing it as he slid his jacket off and laid it on her dining room table. Quentin rubbed his dry hands together and smiled. “Aren’t you gonna offer me a seat?”

Candy licked her lips and looked down at her hardwood floor, then back up at him. “Have a seat, Quentin,” she said quietly as she sat across from him.

“What about refreshments?” he asked as he sat down, admiring her new artwork.

“Please, just get to the point,” Candy said as she shook her head in disbelief and crossed her arms.

“Very well.” He looked her up and down slowly before speaking. “I know that you and Mr. Justice are in, shall we say, a relationship.”

Candy swallowed deeply. She tried desperately not to react to his words. “Yes, a business relationship.”

Quentin laughed. “Don’t try to play me. I saw you two kissin’. I followed you over to his house!”

Candy felt like she’d been hit in the gut. “That was one little kiss after a night of drinking,” she stuttered. “That’s not a relationship.”

“Well, I think this picture on my cell phone may prove otherwise,” Quentin said as he held up his cell phone, showing a close up of Candy and Gabriel in a lover’s embrace.

“Yeah,” Quentin grinned. “I followed you that night to talk to you, to try to make you see that I was sorry and wanted a second chance. Next thing I know, you’re pullin’ up into some fancy driveway, so I wait. I wanna see this “gorgeous ocean” that can make a man with swag like me look like a – what did you say? – ‘dirty rain puddle.’ Imagine my surprise when I see none other than Gabriel Justice kissin’ all over you and shit. At first I thought it was just a friendly gesture, you know, the hug – but then when he jammed his tongue down your throat I realized that this man was after my woman. Men are hunters, Candy. We have to eliminate the competition, regardless of the costs.”

Candy stared at Quentin, seeing nothing but evil in his eyes. “With everything you put me through, why do you even care who I’m with? You showed me in more ways than one that I shouldn’t be with you, with all the games you played and the lies, the countless lies, and the constant emotional abuse. I can’t believe you have the nerve to even be here right now and do this to me. You did me a favor by leavin’ me for your ex. I realized I deserved better than what you were doin’ to me. Don’t you have a conscience?”

Quentin rolled his eyes. “Please. If telling you the truth about your damn self is emotional abuse then consider me guilty. You deserved some of the things I had to tell you. You know it’s true. I know I messed up at the end, and that’s why I’m here. I take responsibility.” Quentin raised his hands in the air and smiled. “Anyway, I know that should anyone find out, both of you could lose your jobs. Now, with Mr. Justice being so high-profile and makin’ all that loot, I doubt that he wants to give up his good gig for an ex-chubby little Black girl he tapped a few times. So with that said, I suggest you do what you need to regarding Mr. Justice, or I’m gonna have to make a couple phone calls. Now, I know this may seem harsh to you, but I know that you and I are supposed to be together. One day you’ll thank me for this.” Quentin looked across the table at Candy as he folded his hands and winked.

“I can’t believe this,” Candy uttered. Her body began to tremble.

“Are you cold?” Quentin teased. “You’re shakin’ like a leaf. I guess Mr. Justice isn’t keepin’ you warm enough at night.” He licked his lips. “I remember when I kept you warm. You liked it too. I can still hear you callin’ my name.”

“Shut up!” Candy looked across at him, fighting tears of anger. “What do I have to do for you not to mess up his life?”

Quentin smiled. “Now you’re talkin’. Finally, some cooperation. Well, like I said, for starters, you need to end your relationship with him. After you take care of that within twenty-four hours, you’re gonna agree to go out with me so I can woo you back. You have to gimme a second chance. It’s sad that I have to resort to this, but…”

“Yes, it is sad. It’s very sad that you’d blackmail someone to date you and then threaten to ruin her life as well as another person’s if she doesn’t. You don’t care that I don’t love you, that I don’t want you. You’re a very, very sad man indeed!” Candy screamed as she stood up.

“I suggest you lower your goddamn voice! Who the fuck are you talkin’ to like that?” Quentin said as he rushed over to her. He stood over her with his finger in her face. “Don’t yell at me, Candy. You did this to your own damn self. You’re the one fuckin’ the boss, not me. That shit’s extra. I mean, I’m not racist, but he’s a cracker too! Ain’t no way he’s handlin’ that right. He doesn’t even have the equipment unless you’re lookin’ at his checkbook. I saw you two kissin’ ’n shit at his house. It made me sick you fuckin’ sellout, white man’s whore.”

Candy’s face froze. “So now, on top of being a liar, a cheater, a harasser, and hearing impaired, you’re a stalker? I’d never go out with you!” Candy leapt out of her chair.

“Fine.” Quentin smiled and pulled out his cell phone. “Hello, I’m sorry it’s so late. This is Quentin Evans, Director of IT for Blue Sun. May I speak to Mr. Carpenter?”

“OK!” Candy blurted, hearing the Vice President’s name.

Quentin smiled. “Oh, never mind, I’m sorry to have disturbed you. I was calling about a service outage, but it appears it’s back up and running. Sorry again for the disturbance.” Quentin hung up the phone.

Candy quickly wiped a tear from her eye before it had the chance to fall. “If you love me so much, you wouldn’t do this. This isn’t love. This is wrong.”

“We can argue over the definition of love for an eternity. I know that with time, you’ll come around, but I have to get that investment from you. Now, I’m gonna go ahead and leave and let you enjoy the rest of your evenin’. I want you to think about what you need to do. I’ll follow up with you this time tomorrow night. I’m going to fly back home, but I’ll be back in a few days. I have to be in town for a meeting, and I’d like to spend New Year’s Eve with you, so don’t make any plans.” Quentin stood up and grabbed his jacket. As he slid it on, he looked Candy up and down again, slowly.

“I can’t wait to get into those panties again,” he added.

“You can forget that!” Candy yelled, trying to resist the urge to smack him across his face.

 “Oh, I will. Funny how you let a damn slave master fuck you, but you wanna give a brotha a hard time. I should be the one not wantin’ to touch
you
! You’re a damn disgrace! Time for some big Black dick again to restore what was almost ruined.” He laughed as he headed towards the door. “Have a good night.” He waved cheerfully as he left, back into the cold. Candy watched as he got into his rental car and drove away. The temperature in her house seemed to drop 20 degrees. Her whole body shook from head to toe, her teeth chattering. Her cell phone vibrated. She looked at the text message and rubbed more tears from her eyes.

Baby, where the heck r u? Forget the present 4 me, just cum  xoxoxoxo

Candy hesitated, then replied:

Sorry for the delay. Had 2 take care of something. I’m on my way.

* * *

Candy’s hands shook like hula dancer hips. Barely able to keep herself together, she punched in Gabriel’s security code and waited for what felt like an eternity for his wrought-iron gates to open. She drove up the winding driveway and parked. Walking briskly to the door, she quickly pulled out her key and let herself inside. Sighing with relief, she stepped into the foyer. She felt something crunch under her foot. Looking down, she noticed hundreds of white rose petals lying atop a burgundy runner that led into Gabriel’s grandiose office. Tears rolled down her face as she heard music playing. Listening closer, she recognized the song was “My First Love” by Keke Wyatt. She smiled as the tears continued to roll down her face. Her winter-white pant suit flowed with each step she took until she reached Gabriel’s office. She stood in front of the large, mahogany door, then slowly turned the knob. She stood by the door, looking at Gabriel. He sat at his massive desk, partially blocked by a black and golden globe custom made from Paris. Placing his fingers together in a steeple position, he smiled at her, his eyes glowing.

“It’s dark in here,” Candy uttered nervously. “I can’t see you well.”

“You’re standing too far away. Come closer and have a seat.” Gabriel pointed to the chair in front of him. She walked slowly over and slid down into the chair. The smell of Balsam fir filled the room.

“Why are you acting as if you’ve never seen me before,” he joked. Candy gave a half smile and looked away.

“I’m glad you’re here. I was worried about you. It’s not like you to be late. I wouldn’t have been so impatient if I hadn’t had a nice night planned for us. I hope you took your caffeine because you’re gonna be up late,” he laughed. Candy continued to look away and remained silent.