Slick (2 page)

 

When Jonathan came in, Jackie, Audrey, and I were sitting around running our mouths. He didn't say good morning or anything, just walked right past us, went into his office and closed the door. That only meant one thing: the brotha was in a shitty mood. All we got on a Monday morning was a whiff of his addictive cologne and a glimpse of his dark brown Brooks Brothers suit that fit his broad, thick shoulders and his fine ass to a capital T. It was a shame that we didn't even get a smile, but I was starting to get used to his behavior. Mondays and Tuesdays were pretty much the same. On Wednesdays, he was somewhat perking up. Thursdays were always up in the air. But Fridays were always good days because it was payday. Usually, I didn't give him much attention on Fridays because I was excited about finally having some money in my pockets.

When the phone rang, we all looked at each other, knowing what time it was. Dana was calling to check up on her man, so Audrey and Jackie glared at me, rolled their eyes then walked away. I sat at my desk and answered the phone.

“He ain't here yet, Dana,” I said.

“Quit lying, Sylvia. You know darn well he is.”

“No, seriously, he's not. But as soon as he comes in, I'll call to let you know.”

“Come on, girl. Why do you be holding back on your best friend like that?”

“Because, you need to stop bringing him so much grief. Must you have his butt walking in here every Monday morning looking like he lost his dog?”

“For your information, Jonathan brings it upon himself. All I did was ask for some money, like I do every Monday morning before he goes to work. I like to plan my week out, and I can't do so if I don't have any money. I told him I'm tired of hearing his lectures about how much money I spend and he got mad.”

“That's why you need your own money. That way you can spend all the money you want to on Lewis's broke ass.”

“F you, okay. I don't spend my money on Lewis, so stop saying that before Jonathan hears you.”

“You're right, it's not your money, but, whatever, that's your business. Anyway, I'll call you around lunch. If my timing is correct, your husband will be opening up his door in about two minutes demanding something from me. If you keep on acting a fool, I might decide to put a smile on his face for the week.”

“Sorry, honey, but he was smiling his behind off last night. By noon, he'll be thinking about what I put on him and I'm sure he'll come to his senses. In the meantime, I won't be around for lunch. I'm meeting Lewis, so I'll call you later tonight.”

“Good-bye, hoochie mama. And tell that nasty-dick Negro to use a condom if y'all decide to skip lunch and shoot for something else. He already spreading enough diseases and he got enough babies he can't take care of as it is.”

“Sylvia, jealousy will get you nowhere. Please tell my husband I love him and I'll see him later.”

“Will do, Miss Trifling. And expect for it to be real late because this pile on my desk ain't going nowhere anytime soon.”

“Good-bye, Miss Hater,” Dana said then hung up.

I shook my head and put the phone down. Dana was playing with fire. I loved her to death, but I was truly worried about the outcome of this mess she'd gotten herself into. She didn't even listen to me anymore, but I still had to come down hard on her because I cared.

I prepared Jonathan's calendar for the week and after twenty minutes into it, I noticed he still hadn't come out of his office. A bit worried, I straightened my navy blue short skirt and walked over to his office door. Before I knocked, I unbuttoned a few buttons on my multicolored silk blouse and rubbed my weaved-in, long hair back with my hands. As I stood trying to get myself together, Jonathan quickly swung the door open.

“I'm sorry. I . . . I was coming to see if you were okay,” I stuttered.

“I'm fine,” he said, putting the doorstopper underneath the door. “Come on in and have a seat.”

“Before we get started, would you like some coffee?”

“Once I tell you what I need from you today, then you can get it.”

I sat down and crossed my healthy legs so he could get a glimpse of them. “So, what is it that you need from me today, Jonathan?”

He let out a deep sigh and tapped his pen on the desk. “First, I need for you not to be lollygagging in front of my office with your coworkers every morning. This is a place of business, not a time to socialize with your lady friends. You get one hour for lunch, two thirty-minute breaks, and that's plenty of time for you all to chat.”

“Fine, Jonathan. If you want me to sit around cooped up at that desk and not talk to anyone, then I will. This is not the first time you've complained about it; however, I really don't see what the problem is if you're not even in the office yet.”

“The problem, Sylvia, is I'm working late nights because there's so much work to be done. If you get to the office before I do, take the initiative to get started on things early. The time you spend out there running your mouth, you could have had my calendar completed for the week and on my desk when I got here.”

Furious, because I worked harder than anybody in this whole place did, I stood up and went to my desk to get his calendar. I walked back into his office and tossed it on his desk.

“Communication is the key, mister,” I said sharply. “How do you expect me to have things right for you and you barely even say hello when you come through the door? I'm not a mind reader, Jonathan, and I'm not going to allow you to dump on me because you got problems.”

“All right, calm down,” he said, knowing I was upset. “I don't need you getting all emotional and loud up in here so close the door.”

I closed the door and gave Jonathan a quick grin before I sat in the chair, just to let him know that everything was all good between us.

“Go ahead and smile,” he said, smiling at me with his to-die-for smile.

“I am going to smile, but don't be hurting my feelings like that anymore.”

“I'll do my best not to, but you really need to stop all that gossiping out there, woman. What in the hell do y'all be talking about that early in the morning anyway?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I'm sure.”

“Well, I had an amazing sexual experience over the weekend and I couldn't wait to come to work and tell Audrey and Jackie about it. Audrey had oral sex for the first time and Jackie—”

Jonathan's brows rose, and he put up his hand to stop me. “All right, I got your point. But can't y'all talk about that stuff during lunch?”

“When I've had something that good, I usually don't like to wait on telling my girls about it. Ask Dana. She knew about the size of his package, two seconds after my date left.”

“Come on now, Sylvia. Don't be telling my wife about another man's thang. That's kind of disrespectful, isn't it?”

“Nope. What's disrespectful is what she be telling me about you.” I stood up because by the look on Jonathan's face, I was sure he wanted details.

“Where are you going?” he asked, smiling again. “We haven't finished our conversation yet.”

“Yes, we have.” I grinned and walked over by the coffee machine to pour his coffee. “And if you think I'm going to tell you what she said about you, you're sadly mistaken.”

I bent over to pick up a paper cup I'd dropped on the floor. I knew Jonathan's eyes were glued to my curvy hips and apple-bottom booty because it was hard for any man not to notice. He got up and came over by me. He leaned against the counter and folded his arms.

“So, you're really not going to tell me what she said?”

I handed him the coffee mug. “Nope. Dana is my girl, and if I want to keep hearing about y'all's juicy sex life, I'd better keep my mouth shut.”

“Juicy, huh?” He took a sip of his coffee. “On that note, I'm not going to put you on the spot, but, uh, do you have any clue where I'm supposed to meet Britney for lunch today?”

“Yes, Jonathan,” I said, walking over to his desk and picking up his calendar. “If you would look at this darn thing, you're meeting her at Applebee's on Clayton Road around eleven-thirty.”

“Thanks, Sylvia. Now get out of my office so I can get some work done today. And close my door behind you.”

I put Jonathan's calendar back on his desk and smiled at him on my way out. Before I closed the door, he stopped me.

“Hey, Sylvia.”

“What's up?”

“Aside from the juicy sex . . . is Dana at least happy?”

I nodded. “Yeah, she is. I know sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but really, she is.”

He grinned and I closed the door.

I walked over to my desk and plopped down in my chair. I thought hard about Dana. Honestly, I really wasn't sure if she was happy. And Jonathan, it seemed as if he lived for her happiness. According to him, it was all about her and that was what frustrated me more than anything.

I was typing up a thank-you letter for Jonathan when Audrey and Jackie were heading my way. Thinking about what Jonathan said earlier, I tried to keep our conversation short. But when Jackie gave me the scoop about Lewis screwing around with this new chick in accounting, I couldn't help myself.

“Girl, quit lying,” I whispered to Jackie. “He was just with a friend of mine last weekend.”

“Sylvia, who is this friend of yours?” Jackie asked. “He's been with her for a while hasn't he?”

“I told you her name is Nora,” I said, lying. “She works at the post office with my sister. And yes, they've been together for some time now.”

“And you've told her about Lewis and his other women?” Audrey asked.

“Yes, I have, but she's trifling like that. She's got herself about four or five different men anyway.”

“So sad,” Audrey said, shaking her head.

We all looked and saw Lewis coming our way with the mail cart. Audrey and Jackie stood there lusting for his ass. Disgusted, because I knew what time it was, I rolled my eyes and told them to get away from me. They flirted with Lewis, and he had the nerve to rub hands with Jackie. She whispered something in his ear and he laughed out loud, and then headed my way with the mail.

I tapped my fingernails on the desk and waited for him to give the mail to me as he fumbled through it. “Isn't it your job to have the mail ready before you bring it to me?” I asked with attitude.

He ignored me, and then placed the mail in the mail trays on my desk. “There you go, Miss Lady. And I'll be up again around three this afternoon with the rest of it. Naw, I take that back,” he said, looking up as if he were in deep thought. “I'll probably be fucking your friend around that time so I'll ask Jeff to bring the mail to you.”

I shooed him away. “Lewis, get away from my desk. I hope your dick run away from you one day, then what are you gonna do? Who or what are you going to get to provide for you then?”

“Don't be so angry, baby. In due time, you'll get some of this. Just be patient, all right?”

“Nigga, get your—”

I paused when Jonathan opened the door and walked out with his briefcase in his hand. He closed the door behind him and stood in front of my desk, next to Lewis.

“Hey, man,” he said, shaking Lewis's hand. “How's everything in the mailroom going?”

“Just fine, Mr. Taylor,” Lewis said with a fake-ass smile. “Couldn't be better.”

“Well, that's good. But we need to talk about how we can get you out of the mailroom and into a better position.”

“Hey, that sounds like a great idea to me. I mean, I'm digging the mailroom, but it sure would be nice to have one of these offices, Mr. T.”

“One day at a time, Lewis. But, uh, why don't you make an appointment with Sylvia to come by and talk to me. I'd like to know a little bit more about your experience and we can go from there.”

“Will do, sir, and thanks.”

“Anytime,” Jonathan said, patting him on the back. Jonathan put his briefcase on my desk and looked at me. “I'm meeting Britney for lunch, then I have to go to court for the Dickerson case. If I'm not back by five, lock my door. I have a long night ahead of me so I don't expect for you to stay.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I'll at least stay until six,” I said. “If you're not back by then, then I'll leave.”

“Five o'clock is fine, Sylvia. Thanks, but I don't want to keep tying up your nights.”

“Take your time. If you're not back by six, I promise you I'll leave. Anyway, I need to catch up on my filing.”

He removed his briefcase from my desk. “Woman, I don't know what I'd do without you. If Dana calls, tell her she can reach me by cell phone.”

“Will do,” I said, watching as Jonathan walked off.

Lewis stood there looking at me like he wanted something.

“Can I help you?” I asked in a nasty tone.

“Yes, you can. Mr. T told me to make an appointment to see him.”

“And I'm telling you that Mr. Taylor's appointment book is full. Stop by sometime next year; he might have an opening then.”

Lewis snickered, leaned down, and put his face in front of mine. He then licked his lips. “Umm, I can taste you now. If you'd like, we can go ahead and get this over with tonight. That way I can stop by tomorrow and you'll figure out a way to pencil me in.”

Before I knew it, I placed my hand on Lewis's face and pushed it back. “Lewis, I'm warning you. Gone now, before you get your feelings hurt.”