After Office Hours

by E Caroline Wilson

  She knew the firm frowned upon romantic relationships among the staff, but they’d manage to get around it. Hell, she’d change jobs if she had to. She wanted David Andrews that badly. He was on the fast track, and she wanted to be the woman at his side.

  When she was satisfied her work contained no errors, she printed out a copy, secured it in a report cover, and walked it over to his office with a spring in her step. To her dismay, just as she reached his office, he emerged from it, a padfolio tucked under his arm. “Melanie, hi.”

  “Hi. I have the results of my background check regarding Judge Asher. I think you’ll be very interested in what I learned.”

  He seemed to be torn, hesitating just a moment. “Damn. Larry wants to see me on another matter. Go ahead and leave it on my desk. I’ll check it out as soon as I get back. Thanks, Melanie.”

  She masked her disappointment. Damn. Why couldn’t I have brought this five minutes earlier? “Sure.”

  She went inside his office, taking a moment to admire his high-backed executive brown leather chair, which appeared comfortably worn. His office was decorated with a few framed abstract prints on the wall, but his desk was devoid of any personal items. Melanie imagined an ornate picture frame—no, make that a modern one, which better suited his taste—containing two photos: a glamor shot of her as his wife, and the two of them in a family portrait, including the son and daughter they would have…in that order, of course. Every girl could use a big brother. And naturally, their son would be named Lamar David Andrews III.

  She decided to leave him a note, even though the contents were clearly stated on the cover page. It would give the report a personal touch. She reached for the pen in a holder on his desk when his cell phone, lying on his desk, made a notification sound. Apparently, someone had sent him a text.

  Might as well get a leg up on the competition, she thought as she turned the phone to face her. She went to the main menu and saw that a new text message had arrived. She swiftly tapped the icon to open the message. Her jaw dropped when she saw the name Devin DaCosta, the janitor’s daughter who was covering the reception desk. She slid her index finger to read previous messages, and was unable to contain her gasp. David and that girl had been carrying on an affair! They’d been spending weekends together, having dinner together during the week…

  She quickly twirled the phone back around to face the other side of the desk, at the same angle where she’d found it. She could hardly believe it! What was with these black chicks, anyway? It seemed as though everywhere she looked, she saw one of them on the arm of eligible white men. They even showed interracial couples on TV commercials—not so much black men and white women, but white men with black women—and in print ads in magazines. It used to be that only black women with money took up with white men, like Iman and Halle Berry. Now any black woman with a pretty face was moving in. Just because all their men were gay or incarcerated…

  Melanie’s hand actually shook as she wrote the Post-it note:

  Think you’ll definitely be interested in the contents. Let me know what you think! — Melanie.

  She tore the note off the pad and affixed it to the front cover of the report, leaving it on his desk next to his phone. She breathed deeply, trying to control the fury she felt in her heart. Just how long had David been involved with Devin? There certainly been no outward signs of an involvement. Or maybe she just hadn’t noticed.

  Her mind spun. To think that he would rather have an affair with Devin while ignoring her subtle hints of wanting to get close to him. It was preposterous. Sure, Devin was pretty, but she not any prettier than her. It had to be the ethnic thing, she decided. David had probably dated dozens and dozens of white girls, and now he wanted to try some color, just to see if it was any different. Some of her girlfriends had confided that they’d like to have sex with a black man to see if the whispers about their prowess were really true, or just a generations-old rumor. Not that she’d ever do such a thing. David Andrews looked like he could get it on as good as any black man out there. Melanie knew he came from a wealthy family, and it seemed ludicrous to her that he would even consider dating a woman whose mother cleaned their offices. A woman who was not only black, but Spanish as well. Melanie couldn’t imagine any two worse things to be.

  I’ll bet Mr. Holt and Mr. Cotten would be interested to hear about this, she thought. Yes, she’d just bet they’d want to know about it. But how could she let them know? It wasn’t as if she could confess that she’d read David’s text messages, which was a violation of his privacy.

  Melanie thought for a few moments. A slow smile formed on her lips as the solution came to her. She hadn’t noticed anything unusual between David and Devin because she hadn’t been looking for it. They were obviously being very careful. But now that she knew they were sleeping together, she’d pay closer attention. They were bound to slip up. From here on in she’d watch them like a hawk. Plus she’d get Pam Sullivan, Marianne Baxter’s assistant who was also the office gossip, on board by confiding that she thought there might be some hanky-panky going on between David and Devin. Nothing happened in the office that Pam didn’t know about, and despite glasses nearly an inch thick, she never missed anything. Yes, all she had to do was drop a few hints to Pam and let her run with it. After all, Pam had been the first to notice that Carla, the receptionist, had a slight protrusion in her lower abdomen, a full two weeks before Carla announced her pregnancy. Yeah, once she got Pam on the case, it would only be a matter of time before she had concrete evidence of an affair between David and Devin.

  It just infuriated her to think that David Andrews, whom she’d managed to subtly inform that she’d love to get up close and personal with, had chosen that uneducated jungle bunny over her. The woman worked as a receptionist, for heaven’s sake.

  Melanie didn’t come from money, but her mother was a schoolteacher, and her father an accountant. They did all right. And of course she was white. The senior Andrewses wouldn’t have a problem with her, the way she was certain they would with Devin…not that he’d ever have the nerve to bring her home to meet them.

  Still, she just didn’t understand how David could be so taken with Devin. His text messages had a very fond tone to them…much fonder than a sex-only relationship should be. Well, little did he know that his affair with that greaseball was going to cost him…and her as well. Melanie didn’t yet know what damage she could do to David, but she was ready to strike out at Devin. She’d start complaining about her work. Devin’s work was flawless, but maybe she could go in and revise documents Devin had corrected and enter mistakes. Her brother was a software expert. He could probably tell her how to make changes to Devin’s documents without it being traced back to her.

  An evil smile formed on Melanie’s lips. Yeah, she’d fix them.

  *****

  David poured himself a cup of coffee while he waited for his breakfast sandwich to cook in the break room microwave. He was adding cream and sugar when Melanie came into the break room.

  “Hey there,” he greeted. “I was going to come see you. I’ve looked at that report you did. It’s wonderful, and I think you uncovered everything I need to prove the judge is on the take. Great job!”

  “Thanks.”

  He smiled at her, and when she returned the gesture he got a strange feeling that she was waiting for him to say something…but he couldn’t imagine what.

  “So, David,” she said, “any plans for the holiday weekend?”

  He took a sip of his coffee, glad the uncomfortable moment had passed. “I’ll probably head out to the Hamptons. For once we’ll be having decent weather for Memorial Day, and since I don’t have court Tuesday, I’ll drive in after rush hour and get to the office in the late morning, early afternoon.”

  “Sounds nice,” she replied. “I’ll be up in Westchester. The parents of one of my girlfriends have a country house, and they’ll be down in Florida, so it’ll be a girl’s weekend.”

  “Well, you enjoy.” The mic
rowave beeped, and he grabbed his breakfast sandwich. “Excuse me, Melanie; I don’t want to be late for court.”

  He returned to his office, glad that he’d made up that story about going to the island. He’d actually be staying in the city this weekend; Devin’s friend was getting married Saturday. It would all work out, since his parents and brother were going to the beach house. David liked to keep his family out of his love life and never brought a woman to Quogue when they were in residence. But he didn’t think it wise to tell Melanie he’d be attending a wedding. She might ask Devin about her weekend plans, and if Devin said she was going to a wedding, Melanie might just put two and two together.

  He and Devin had to be super careful to conceal their relationship. In the office they corresponded mostly by text message, but of course their paths did cross, whether he passed her receptionist cubicle going to and from court, lunch, or the restroom down the hall, or he encountered her in the break room. He couldn’t resist smiling at her, and she at him. Melanie hadn’t been very subtle in expressing her interest in him, and if she noticed any signs of affection between him and Devin, she might try to make trouble for them…and she’d probably have a willing partner in her supervisor, Laura Greco.

  When he talked to Devin tonight, he’d be sure to tell her not to give out too many personal details in her conversations with Melanie, that nosy Pam, or anyone else in the office, for that matter.

  *****

  “So, Devin, are you looking forward to the long weekend?”

  Devin cast Melanie a cautious glance over the stack of photocopied documents she was straightening. A warning bell went off in her head that was louder than the photocopier that was running here in the copy room. Melanie had always been pleasant, but why was she suddenly acting like they were BFFs?

  But no harm in answering a simple question. “Yes, I am.”

  “Any special plans?”

  Uh-oh. “I’m… A bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding. My boyfriend is a groomsman,” she added. She wasn’t one of Glenys’s attendants, and the part about the boyfriend was pure fiction, but it would eliminate any suspicions in case Melanie asked David the same question. If he said he was going to a wedding, Melanie might start to wonder, even though lots of people got married over Memorial Day weekend…

  “Oh. Where’s the wedding?”

  “Jersey,” she truthfully replied, instantly regretting it. She probably should have said the Bronx or Rockland County. What if Melanie had asked David about his weekend plans and he said he was attending a wedding in Jersey as well? At least I told her my boyfriend is in the wedding, too. That would have to be enough to cover her butt.

  “Sounds like fun. Um…can you make a couple of copies of this letter for me?”

  “Sure.” Devin was relieved that Melanie didn’t ask any more questions.

  *****

  Melanie’s friendly smile vanished when she left the copy room. She didn’t believe for one minute that Devin had a boyfriend. She and David had probably discussed what to say if anyone at the office asked about their plans for the weekend. Chances were one of their stories was the truth, she just didn’t know which one.

  They were being very careful.

  But she was on to them.

  Chapter 14

  Devin brushed a tear from the outer corner of her eye. Glenys looked so lovely…would she one day be floating down the aisle? And would it be David waiting for her at the altar?

  I want it to be him, she thought. I’m in love with him.

  A poke in her side made her look up. “I know what you’re thinking,” Mercy whispered. “All of us dream of our wedding day. But be careful, Dev. Even though I just met David, I have to say he doesn’t look like the marrying type to me. And when rich guys like him do settle down, it’s not with Latinas from the projects. It’ll probably be some blue blood who can trace her lineage back to the Mayflower.”

  Devin’s heart sank. She remembered how noncommittal David had been when they talked about their hopes for their respective futures. He seemed to have his professional life all mapped out, but seemed devil-may-care regarding his personal life. Could Mercy be right?”

  *****

  After the ceremony, David went to use the restroom, leaving Devin alone, since Mercy and her fiancé, Chris Quinones, had already departed for the reception at a nearby veteran’s hall. She waited in the church vestibule. When she spotted Joe approaching, she immediately tensed. She hadn’t seen him in the church, but once she was seated, she made it a point not to look around.

  “Hey, Dev,” he greeted cheerfully, as if he’d never violated her privacy, to say nothing of her trust. “My date’s in the restroom. You, um, here alone?” His broad grin clearly showed his expectation for her to say yes.

  “No, I’m not alone,” she said. “Here’s my date now.” She smiled David’s way. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect, and he looked so handsome in a light blue poplin suit that looked like it had been tailored for him, pink tie with dark dots, and white shirt with pink and blue stripes, a pink silk handkerchief neatly folded in his breast pocket. His suit complemented her navy dress, solid at the top and hem with a splash of pink, white, and yellow flowers from under her breasts to her hips. He’d actually asked her what color her dress was in advance.

  He generally wore darker colored suits to work: black, navy, brown. Today he looked like spring personified. It wasn’t every man who could pull off a light blue suit. Joe, on the other hand, wore his standard all-purpose navy suit and white shirt that he’d worn to weddings and funerals as long as Devin had known him, this time with the brighter tie reserved for weddings and other happy occasions.

  Joe turned to look, and even with just one side of his face visible to her, Devin saw surprise register on his features. She knew he expected her escort to be Latino, African-American, or both, and the blond-haired, blue-eyed David clearly was neither.

  David stopped at her side. “Guess we’d better get over to the reception.” He offered Joe a smile and extended his hand. “Hi. David Andrews.”

  Devin took in Joe’s rapidly changing facial expressions. His being shaken up at seeing David changed to confusion when he heard David’s name, and finally took on a smirk when the name registered.

  In a languid action, Joe shook David’s hand. “Joe Serrano. If my name sounds familiar, it’s because you wrote me a letter on behalf of your client, here.” He nodded at Devin with that same smirk on his face.

  David, not cowed by Joe’s sarcasm, coolly replied, “I’m just glad you complied. It kept things from getting too unpleasant.” He turned to Devin, who’d been struggling to conceal the anxiety she felt. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” She managed to keep her relief out of the one syllable.

  “Excuse us,” David said to Joe. He took her arm and steered her away. “You okay?” he asked once they stepped outside, looking at her with concern in his beautiful blue eyes.

  “I’m all right. You showed up right on time.”

  David’s eyes narrowed. “Did he say something out of line?”

  “He just let me know his date was in the restroom and that he thought I was here alone.”

  David’s mouth twisted. “Trying to embarrass you. He seems to like doing that.”

  “And then you showed up, looking like a million dollars,” Devin said, beaming. “You sure gave him a shock.”

  “Well, we figured we’d encounter him at some point today.” David opened the car door for her. “We just did, and it’s over. Let’s go enjoy the reception.”

  *****

  At the reception, held at a local lodge, Devin and David sat at a table with Mercy and her fiancé. Christopher Quinones, handsome, bespectacled, and well-spoken, got on well with David. When the two of them got up to go to the bar, Devin and Mercy moved to sit next to each other and spoke in low voices, not wanting to be overheard by the two middle-aged couples who shared their table for eight.

  “Okay, you’ve already told me tha
t David doesn’t strike you as the marrying kind,” Devin said. “But what else do you think?”

  “He seems to be very fond of you, and he only looks a little bit nervous.” Mercy chuckled. “I’m sure he’s never been around this many Latinos in his life.”

  Devin recounted seeing Joe at the church, telling Mercy about his obvious surprise to see her with David and carefully leaving out the reference he made to receiving a letter from him, since she never told anyone other than David about the sex video Joe had covertly made and posted online.

  Mercy responded with a toothy grin. “Good for you. I only wish I’d been there to see the look on his face when he saw your escort was such a well-dressed, handsome white guy.”

  Devin was anxious about David’s impressions of the wedding. “Are you okay?” she repeatedly asked him.