A Heart Full of Lies (6 page)

              Michael fixed his suit. “Did he say why?”

              Sasha shook her head no. “He didn’t say. You need me to call him back?”

              Michael waved her off. “No.” He looked at his watch, “Sasha I’m going to take my lunch. You want anything?”

              She smiled. “No thank you.”

              “You sure?”

              “Yes, I already ate, and I’m stuffed, thanks though.”

              Michael looked disappointed. “Maybe next time?”

              She smiled nervously. “Definitely next time.”

              “Alright, if they get back before me go ahead and let them in my office.”

              Sasha came back from the bathroom to see two men sitting in the waiting area. “Excuse me, did you have an appointment?”

              The older gentleman smiled at her. “Yes I did, I’m a little early.”

              “Mr. Gladstone?”

              He reached out for a handshake. “Sasha, if I’m correct.”

              She shook his hand smiling. “Nice to finally meet you. Michael- I mean Mr. Gladstone stepped out for a late lunch. I told him not to expect you until 4:30, I’m sorry.”

              Mr. Gladstone waved her off. “It’s fine, a prior engagement was canceled. I’ve already called him.”

              “Ok great.”

              He motioned for the man next to him to stand up. “This is my other son Malcolm, he’s Michael’s younger brother.”

              Sasha offered a handshake and he looked at her. “You always abandon your work space for long periods of time?”

              Sasha pulled her arm back slowly. “Um, no. I took a restroom break actually.”

              “We’ve been out here for almost twenty minutes.”

              Sasha frowned.

              Mr. Gladstone stepped in. “Malcolm not today.” Mr. Gladstone laughed, “You’ll have to excuse Malcolm.”

              Malcolm spoke. “No need to excuse me father. I asked a simple question.”

              Sasha slowly took a deep breath. What was his issue? “Mr. Gladstone wanted me to let you into his office.” She led them to Michael’s office door and opened it. Mr. Gladstone entered with Malcolm trailing behind him. “Would you gentleman like anything, water, coffee?”

              Mr. Gladstone shook his head. “No thank you Sasha.”

              Malcolm spoke next. “Bring me a fresh cup of coffee.”

              Sasha smiled. “One cup of coffee coming right up.” Sasha exited the office, and made her way to the breakroom. She cursed quietly to herself. “Asshole.”

              Michael startled her. “You ok?”

              “Oh! Michael, I didn’t know you were there.” She nearly dropped the cup she was holding. Michael always seemed to appear out of nowhere.

              He laughed. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

              “No, I’m just jumpy, you’re fine”

              He flashed a sly grin. “Thank you.”

              Sasha laughed. “I was just getting some coffee for your brother.”

              Michael nodded. “Ok.”

              They stood there in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Sasha broke it. “Um, ok, well let me get to getting.”

              Michael agreed. “Yes, let me see what the old man has up his sleeve.”

              Sasha watched as he walked away. She shook her head in disbelief. “Get to getting … really Sasha?”

              Jeanette took the second shot of the four she had lined across the inn table, just as Kory walked into the room. He turned on the light. “You drinking again?”

              She sighed and wiped the tears from her eyes, “I just needed something to calm my nerves. I had a really bad day.”

              Kory snatched up the bottle and held it in the air. “You need to slow down Nette. Every time I turn around you got a bottle in your hand.”

              Jeanette sucked her teeth, and took the third shot. “All I’m doing is having a couple shots, damn Kory. Can I chill?” He glared at her and she continued, “I been at work all day, all I want is a drink and some alone time. I mean is that ok with you?”

              Kory snatched her up by her collar nearly snapping her neck. “Who the fuck you think you talking to?”

              Jeanette looked up at him frightened. “Let go of me Kory!”

              He held her tighter. “Bitch I will break your fuckin’ neck. Keep playing with me Jeanette.” He shoved her back into the chair.

              Jeanette began bawling like a baby. “What did I ever do to you Kory? Why don’t you love me?” she continued crying.

              Kory took the last shot on the table and ran his hands over his face. “I do love you Nette. I swear I do. You and Jr. mean everything to me.”

              Jeanette hung her head. “I’m so tired of doing everything on my own. I’m working two full time jobs, paying rent, lights, gas, trash, and daycare expenses by myself. I’m so tired Kory, I need help, I need sleep.”

              Kory folded his hands over his head, “You think I like watching you work all these long hours? I been looking for a job, I have.” He was becoming frustrated.

              Jeanette wiped the tears from her face. “Kory, when is the last time you went looking for a job? Honestly?”

              Kory became infuriated. “Ain’t nothing good enough for you! Ever! All you fuckin’ do is complain, I’m getting tired of you. I might as well leave, I’m not appreciated here.” He rushed upstairs with Jeanette following close behind. He continued cursing. “Fuck all this, fuck you, I can’t deal with this no more.” He started packing a bag.

              Jeanette snatched the bag up. “Baby, I don’t want you to go.”

              Kory stared at her. “It’s too late for all that. You don’t really appreciate me.” He switched the argument completely around.

              Jeanette cried. “I do appreciate you baby. It’s you who don’t appreciate me. I’m trying to be understanding, but you’re not even acknowledging that.”

              Kory sighed. “I am, I mean I do. I got a lot on my plate too you’re not the only one. Everything’s going to be alright, you just can’t let your family and your “know it all” ass friends give you negative advice. They really don’t care, they’re just judging us.”

              Jeanette shook her head. “They’re just-“

              Kory cut her off. “If we are going to be together and make it, you need to stop letting them get in your head. The only thing that should matter is me and Jr. All that other shit is irrelevant. your jealous ass friends are irrelevant. Don’t let them feed you negative bullshit.”

              Jeanette looked down at the floor. “You’re right.”

Chapter Five: What About Your Friends

              Erin had taken a quick shower and was now putting lotion on. She’d invited the girls and her little sister over for a girls’ night/slumber party. Everybody had been so busy lately including herself, so it had been a while since they’d all been in the same room. Erin had ordered Chinese, and went to the store and picked up snacks and of course drinks to get the night sailing smoothly. Just as she pulled her oversized pajama shirt over her head, there was a knock on the front door. She grabbed the money off her night stand and rushed downstairs.

              After setting everything up nicely on her dining room table, she grabbed her phone and called Skyy.

              She answered almost immediately. “Hello.”

              “Skyy where are you?”

              “Girl my babysitter flaked, I can come but I can’t stay that long.”

              Erin frowned. “My sister’s coming, she can watch her, I know Erica won’t care.” Skyy didn’t reply right away. “Hello? Did you hear me?”

              Skyy finally replied. “Yea, I’ma just come for a second, alright?”

              Erin rolled her eyes. “Alright.” They ended their conversation and Erin called Jeanette, but didn’t get an answer. She was calling Sasha when there was another knock on the door. Before she could get to it to open it, the door swung open, and her sister waltzed in with Sasha right behind her. Erin hung up and smiled. “Good! I was about to go off.”

              Sasha closed the door behind her, “Why?”

              “I thought everybody flaked on me.” Erica gave her a side hug and continued upstairs with her bag.

              Sasha sat down on the sectional and crossed her arms, “So it’s just us three?”

              Erin pulled up Jeanette’s number and called her again. When she didn’t answer she shot her a text. “Skyy said she was coming but she’s not staying for long, because her babysitter bailed. Jeanette is just not answering, you talk to her?”

              Sasha shook her head, “She’s been acting weird lately.”

              Erin sighed. “Well I ordered Chinese and got some snacks and drinks, help yourself.” She went to the bottom of the stairs. “Erica! It’s food down here!”

              “Ok!” she yelled back.

              Sasha made her way to the table. “She’s on the phone probably. She was on that damn thing the whole ride over here.”

              Erin laughed. “Ain’t she always? She would probably die without it.”

              Sasha grabbed a plate. “So miss thang, what’s up with you? I haven’t been seeing you as much. What’s new?”

              Erin grinned. “Oh nothing, just work ya’ know.”

              Sasha laughed. “Work got you grinning like that? Last time we talked about work you hated that shit.”

              Erin began rolling her blunt shaking her head. “Girl no, it’s this new guy I kind of been conversing with.”

              Sasha’s eyes widened. “Ooooh, a new guy, I knew it. You don’t even be at the house for real no more. Y’all kicking it like that? How new is he?”

              “Ummm, like a month now.”

              Sasha pushed her playfully. “A month? And you’re just now telling me?”

              Erin reached for the lighter. “It’s not anything serious, and we’re cool that’s all. It’s nothing like that.”

              Sasha squinted her eyes. “Umhm, don’t down play it for me.”

              Erin sparked the cigarillo up and laughed. “For real. We haven’t even hung out it’s just been phone conversation. He’s been trying to cook me dinner for the longest. I keep telling him no, but he still calls me every morning and every night. He’s so damn persistent it’s a little overwhelming I can’t even lie. But what’s up with you?”

              Sasha wiped her hands. “Well, you know I’m working now.”

              “I know!” Erin exclaimed. “I’m so happy for you, do you like it?”

              Sasha grinned. “Yea, it’s cool.”

              Erin laughed. “Mmmmhmm.” It was a knock on the door. “Come in!” Erin yelled as she took another hit.

              Skyy entered the house. “Wassup bitches!”

              Sasha smiled. “Hey! Bout time, you bring Nette with you?”

              Skyy closed the door and took her jacket off. “No, she said she doesn’t feel good.”

              Erin put her blunt out. “I mean she could’ve answered the phone and told me that. I’ve been blowing her phone up.”

              Skyy joined them at the table and poured her a drink. “She’s probably sleep. You know she works two jobs now.”

              Erin sighed. “Yea, probably.”

              Sasha felt the awkward tension. “Where’s lil’ mama? E said you didn’t have a babysitter.”

              “I dropped her off at Nette’s to play with little Kory.” She took a sip of her drink.

              Sasha gave a confused look, and Erin chuckled. “So she’s too sick to answer the phone, but well enough to handle two kids.”

              Skyy rolled her eyes. “Erin what’s your problem.”

              Erin relit her cigarillo. “I don’t have a problem. I’m just calling out bullshit.”

              Skyy scoffed. “Ain’t no bullshit, people don’t have to answer to you Erin.”             

              “Answer to me? How-“

              Sasha cut her off. “Come on y’all don’t start that. Not tonight.”

              Skyy ignored her. “Naw, that’s why nobody comes around yo’ ass.”

              Erin laughed. “Whatever, I haven’t said or done anything to you or Nette. But I see you came in drunk already, and you’re feeling yourself.”

              Skyy guzzled down her drink. “You need to learn how to be supportive Erin, quit being so judgmental all the damn time.” She poured another drink and started drinking it.

              Erin took another puff. “You might want to put that liquid courage down.”