Scarlett (20 page)

“I’m positive,” she confirmed. “Could we ever go from an open relationship to a committed relationship later?”

“I hope we will. This will give you the opportunity to get to know me as a person, and I can get to know you as well. In time, hopefully you’ll feel comfortable in confiding in me and we can build a trusting relationship together.” Scarlett was pleased that Luke recommended they have an open relationship. She’d heard of people having an open relationship, but she didn’t quite know what the rules were. This meant that she could still see Greg without feeling bad about it and Luke would still be considered her man. Well kind of…

Chapter Eighteen

Scarlett’s alarm clock went off. She leaned over and turned it off immediately. She got out of bed with a smile on her face. No snooze button today. She felt good. It was Monday morning and she was ready for work. She had spent all day Sunday with her new “boyfriend” and enjoyed every single second they were together.

She walked into her bathroom and turned on the shower. She thought about Sheila calling her over and over again the day before, but she wasn’t in the mood to deal with her. Sheila just wanted to be nosey, but she was sure to give her a mouthful when she made it to work.

She stepped inside the hot shower and let the intense water beat down her spine. It relaxed her as she stood there with wonderful thoughts about having a boyfriend for the first time in her life. Since she’d gotten her makeover, she’d had a lot of
first times
in such a short period. She was beginning to think that her makeover was her lifesaver. She washed her body thoroughly and brushed her teeth. She loved brushing her teeth in the shower; everything just felt so clean by the time she got out. She dried her body good and walked out of the bathroom to find something to wear.

She opened her closet and picked out a simple fitted black Michael Kors belted shoulder wrap dress. It had a professional sassy look that spoke volumes about her new attitude. She put on the Michael Kors Zamara open toe leather pumps. She looked chic, and felt very sexy. She stood in the mirror pinning her hair up, but leaving out a swooped bang that kept falling over her right eye. She sprayed on her Chance by Chanel and smiled because it smelled so good. It reminded her of the lovely evening she spent with Luke the day before. She grabbed her black Michael Kors handbag and headed for the door. When she walked out of her room, she noticed Anton lying on the couch sleeping.

He must’ve had a long night
. She walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Ant, I’m heading to work.”

He lifted his head just enough to get a peek at her. “Okay, sis. Have a nice day and you smell good,” he said and closed his eyes back.

“Thanks, Ant.”

__________

Scarlett parked right next to Greg’s white Range Rover. She looked around and saw that everybody had made it to work already. She thought she’d be early, and even though she was, they were there earlier. She didn’t want to get out of the car because “There Goes My Baby” by Usher was playing on her CD player and she couldn’t stop singing the lyrics. Once the song stopped playing, she got out of the car. As soon as she reached to open the door to the office, her phone rang. She walked inside the office while answering her phone.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hey baby or shall I say good morning,” Luke greeted.

“Good morning to you too,” she responded with a huge smile on her face. She looked over at Sheila who was sitting behind her desk.

“Well, hey friend. You’re looking nice today,” Sheila complimented.

“Thanks, girl… I went shopping yesterday, thanks to Luke.”

“So you must’ve worn something I bought you?” Luke asked.

“Yeah, the black dress and I love the way it fits.”

“Is that a Michael Kors dress?” Sheila asked, disturbing Scarlett’s conversation with Luke.

“Yep, it sure is.” Scarlett answered.

“What you know about Michael Kors, girl?” Sheila laughed.

“I didn’t know nothing about him until Luke introduced us yesterday,” she grinned back, making Luke laugh out loud.

“You and your home girl are a trip.”

“I keep telling you that it’s not what it seems, and I’m sure I’ll have to explain it sooner than later.”

“I’m gonna have to talk with Mr. Luke and see what side of town he’s from. It seems to me that we should be from the same neighborhood,” Sheila commented.

“I doubt if you know him like that, Sheila. He definitely didn’t know you when y’all met at Publix.” Scarlett rolled her eyes a little and sat behind her desk.

“Yeah, tell your home girl I don’t know her like that, and I don’t wanna get to know her, either, especially if my baby doesn’t like her.”

Scarlett laughed. “You better not,” she commented.

Sheila noticed that Scarlett was somewhat ignoring her since she was into her conversation with Luke. 

“You don’t have to worry about that, baby. What time is your lunch break?” he asked.

“I should be taking my lunch break around noon.” She responded while turning on her desktop computer.

“Well, be ready, because I’m gonna come through and take you somewhere nice to eat.”

“You’re spoiling me,” she said, catching Sheila out of the corner of her eye, turning her nose up.

“I’m supposed to. I’m like the boyfriend you never had, but wished you had.” They laughed again.

“Yes, you are. I’ll be ready when you get here.”

“Okay, well have a nice day. I’ll see you ‘round twelve.”

“Okay, bye.” she said, ending their call.

“Somebody is acting like they all in love,” Sheila commented, sounding jealous.

“Sheila, please… It’s not that serious. He’s a very nice guy who I happen to like a lot.”

“Yeah, a very, very nice guy who spends lots of money on shopping sprees, I see. Not to mention, he is very good looking.”

“I should take that as a compliment?” Scarlett asked.

“Take it for whatever you want, friend. I was just saying.” Scarlett looked over at her as Sheila stood up to walk in the lobby area to turn on the TV. Scarlett still couldn’t figure out why a person as pretty as Sheila would hate on someone like her. She was dressed in a beautiful fitted red Blac Label dress. She had on the red matching pumps and her wavy hair swayed back and forth from side to side as she walked.

“You look nice yourself,” Scarlett complimented.

“Yeah, thanks girl, but I’ll have to step it up if you’re gonna be walking in here in
Michael Kors
every day.”

“Come on, Sheila, it’s not that serious. I only wore this because Luke bought me some things yesterday while we were in Atlanta.”

“Atlanta, huh? No wonder you didn’t wanna answer your phone.”

“Hush girl, you’re tripping now. I was enjoying my time with him and I didn’t want to be bothered with no one else. You of all people should understand,” she said, lying through her teeth, because every time Anton or Nina called, she answered. 

“Oh trust me, I understand. I just don’t want you to kick me to the curb just because you’ve finally gotten yourself a boyfriend.”

Finally
? Scarlett thought. She had to bite her tongue before she responded. She cleared her throat.

“Sheila, no one ever comes between true friends. And if you’re a true friend of mine, then you should be happy for me, and it should make you feel good to see that I’m happy and doing well for myself.”

Sheila thought about it quickly. “You’re right, Scarlett. Maybe I was a little jealous and feeling like this Luke dude was taking my place. You’ve dealt with me, and my relationship with Mike. You’ve even dealt with me talking your head off about me and Jay. I’m sorry if I made you think otherwise about how I feel about you and your new relationship. I am happy for you and proud to call you my best friend.” She leaned down and hugged Scarlett lightly. Scarlett hugged her back, but knew not to fall weak to Sheila’s speech, because something about her just wasn’t right.

“Now we can go shopping together since you’ve picked up a style that I like. You have a man with money, girl! Give me high five on that shit.” They laughed out loud, giving each other high five, but Scarlett really didn’t think that it was that funny. She just played along with her.

“Yeah, I can’t wait,” Scarlett responded dryly.

Scarlett looked over at the wall clock. It was only ten o’clock and time seemed to be going by so slowly. She had just finished calling Mrs. Anne Jones to tell her that her car was ready. Mrs. Jones came in at least two times a month to get something fixed or checked on her brand new Mercedes Benz E350 or one of her other vehicles.
Who does that?
Everyone in the shop knew that Mrs. Jones had a thing for Greg and Sheila hated her with a passion.

Mrs. Jones was an older woman who happened to be a widower. Her husband left her lots of money when he died, and she lived it up. She was much prettier and classier than Mrs. Grand, Scarlett felt. Sheila had long since recognized what Mrs. Jones was up to and always talked about her like a dog when she’d come in to pick up her car. Scarlett thought it was rather funny, and had always thought that Sheila was an undercover hater, but after finding out how Sheila really was, it was no wonder why she talked about Mrs. Jones the way she did.

Sheila looked over at Scarlett. “Was that Mrs. Jones?”

“Yeah, that was her.” 

“I get tired of her old ass tryna hit on my daddy.” Sheila smacked her lips. “I told my mama that she be tryna get at daddy too.”

“Now why would you try to start something like that, Sheila? That lady is very nice and don’t need that unnecessary heat on her back from your mama.”

Sheila looked at Scarlett and frowned. “I can’t believe you’re taking up for her. Daddy is a married man, not to mention he’s still married to my mama. So, yes, it pisses me off when she comes in here tryna get her groove back. He’s taken and I don’t care if it was her or anybody else. It’s fucking disrespectful and I don’t like it.” Scarlett could tell that Sheila had gotten really upset about it.

“I’m not saying that its right, but they aren’t messing around. It’s just a little harmless flirting on her part. Your daddy doesn’t even pay much attention to it, so you shouldn’t be tripping about it.”

“Whatever, Scarlett… You’re not making any sense right now. I have my rights to like whomever I want and I can dislike whomever I please. She is a person that I strongly dislike. So, what you’re saying is irrelevant.”

“You’re right, Sheila. I’m done with this irrelevant ass conversation.” No sooner than she could get those words out of her mouth, Mrs. Jones walked in. 

“Hi ladies,” Mrs. Jones said.

“Hello Mrs. Jones,” Scarlett spoke. Sheila looked up and didn’t part her lips. “I have your receipt right here. Your oil change and tire rotation has been taken care of for you.”

“For the ump-tenth time this month,” Sheila murmured.

Scarlett quickly cleared her throat, trying to block out Sheila’s comment. “We charged your credit card as we always do,” she said.

“Thanks, sweetie,” Mrs. Jones replied, putting her receipt inside her limited edition black patent leather Dooney and Bourke handbag. She was dressed fly, as usual, with her curvy linen white wide leg pants, white and black draped Ann Taylor blouse, and a pair of BCB Girls black patent leather high heel pumps.

“You look nice today, Mrs. Jones.” Scarlett complimented.

“Thanks sweetie,” she responded. Mrs. Jones looked around the shop as if she was expecting Greg to step inside the office. She stalled a little. “Did Greg need to tell me anything about my car before I leave?”

“I don’t think so,” Scarlett stated. “But, I do know they had to put a new tire on your car.”

“Maybe you should call him inside so I can ask him what was wrong.” Scarlett glanced back at Sheila and saw her rolling her eyes. She knew it wasn’t wise to ask Sheila to call Greg inside the office.

“Okay, I’ll go get him for you,” Scarlett offered.

“Thanks, sweetie, and I’ll have a seat until he comes.” Mrs. Jones turned to walk over by the sofa to sit down. Scarlett liked her style, but she did nothing for those white linen wide legs pants. Her ass was flatter than a pancake.

No wonder Greg don’t wanna get with her,
Scarlett thought. Anybody who knew Greg knew that he was an ass man, and Mrs. Jones didn’t have any to attract him with.

Sheila looked over at Mrs. Jones in disgust. “You know Mrs. Jones, you have a brand new car. You’ve not had it a whole year yet. So, it’s not necessary to bring it in so much to get it checked or your other cars for that matter. I’m sure you can’t possibly drive four vehicles at the same time,” Sheila nonchalantly stated.

Scarlett turned and rolled her eyes at her. She was a little ticked off that Sheila would have the nerve to tell Mrs. Jones that. Mrs. Jones looked hurt. She was somewhat embarrassed that she had been called out in such a manner. She looked over at Scarlett who looked just as embarrassed as she did.

“Are my keys inside my car, sweetie?”

“Uh, yes ma’am,” Scarlett responded.

“Okay, well I guess I’ll be going, and tell Greg I’ll call back later to find out what was wrong,” Mrs. Jones said, looking over at Sheila.

As she turned to walk out of the office, Greg walked in and stopped her. “Hey Anne, how are you doing today?”

“Oh, hi Greg, I’m doing good and yourself?” 

“I’m great, no complaining over this way. Your car is in tip-top shape. Your tire light had come on because you had a nail in it and the air was slowly leaking out, but I put a new tire on it for you.”

“I’m glad I did bring it on in.” Mrs. Jones laughed in a flirtatious manner.

“I’m sure you did,” Sheila commented.

Greg looked at his daughter strangely. Mrs. Jones knew that Sheila was already tripping on her before Greg walked in, so she decided to hurry along.

“Uh, well thanks Greg and I’ll try not to come so often. I know y’all probably get tired of me bringing my cars here.”

“Nonsense,” Greg stated. “If it wasn’t for people like you, then I wouldn’t have a business.” They both laughed. “Let me walk you out.”