by Nia Arthurs
When Kelly finally entered the office, Rene sprung from her chair and launched at her. “I started another rumor about the messenger getting married to the cafeteria lady downstairs.”
Kelly frowned. “Is he?”
“I don’t know, but at least it will cut the whispers about you and Clayton in half.”
“Thanks… I guess?”
“So what happened?”
“I ended it,” Kelly said simply, not quite prepared to divulge how far she’d gone with their boss yesterday.
“Good for you!” She added beneath her breath. “But not for me. Now I owe Randal fifty bucks.”
“You bet that I’d go back to Clayton?”
“You have to admit. You’ve done so before.”
“I’m over it… or at least I’m trying to be. Now, it’s time for someone who’s actually single.”
“And normal.” Renesha reminded, slanting her a look. “No sex on a stick, rich C.E.O.’s allowed.”
Kelly giggled nervously. “Okay.”
Rene stared at her with narrowed eyes, but she paid her friend little heed as she spotted Benjamin in the distance. He was walking down the hall with a file in hand—probably on his way to Errol’s office when Harley sidled up to him and wiggled a wrapped package under his nose.
The snake
Rene sighed, reclaiming Kelly’s attention. “Is it really over between you and Clayton?”
“Yes. How many times do I have to say so?” She walked to her office and sat down. “Now you’re the only one left. Cut the dead weight or accept it and marry Randal.”
“On that note, I’ll get back to my desk.”
Kelly waved her friend away and worked until it was time to return home. As usual, Benjamin stayed at the office later than anyone else. Kelly was waiting by her door to hear his footsteps when he came home.
Her heart leapt when she realized that he’d stopped on the landing near her door. Expecting him to knock, she let her hair loose from its ponytail and shrugged off her blouse so only her loose, cotton undershirt showed.
She wore no bra. Easy access.
To her disappointment, Benjamin’s footsteps continued up the stairs. Her smartphone beeped and she picked up to find a text from him.
BEN: Sleep well
She clutched the phone to her chest and let out a little squeal. At least he’d been thinking of her. That was something.
Kelly waited all week for Benjamin to cave in and crawl downstairs so that they could bypass the romantic fluff and slide straight into spending a torrid, passionate night together.
He held firm and, instead, picked her up for work every morning, bought her breakfast, and spent a few minutes chatting about their day, their pasts, and their random thoughts while facing the Caribbean Sea.
Kelly found herself getting up earlier and earlier so that they could spend more time in the mornings together. She began waiting for Benjamin’s nightly text so that they could talk until she fell asleep.
The sneaking suspicion that he was dating her without her permission slipped into her head, but Kelly didn’t have a good enough reason to protest. She enjoyed spending time with him. His conversations were intelligent and engaging, his attention always respectful and sincere.
When they were together, they simply… fit.
Without the dressings of the club or mind-blowing sex (or any sex at all), Kelly had expected such a friendship to be repetitive and tedious. On the contrary, she craved every moment together.
Early Saturday morning, Kelly prepared for any surprises that Benjamin would spring on her. She gripped the hem of her blue lace dress, flinging it around like a little girl at a dance. She looked especially pretty today. Benjamin would appreciate the effort.
Like clockwork, a knock came at her door. Her heart leapt and Kelly pranced to turn the knob.
“Hi!” she said her voice extra-cheerful. “Where are we…?” The words got stuck in her throat when she saw the brood standing outside her doorway. “L-Leshawna?”
“Hello, Ms. Banner,” Clayton’s wife said, her expression unreadable. The infant in her arms gazed at Kelly with big brown eyes—a similar shade and shape to Clayton’s.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, wondering if she should slam the door shut and call the police. No, Leshawna wouldn’t murder her in front of her kids. She wasn’t that angry. Right?
Shuffling backward, Kelly invited the mother in. Sweat broke out on her forehead and she wiped her damp palms on the fabric of her dress. As the children settled easily into her sofa, she scrambled to put on the fan and aim it at them.
Their precious faces, so much like Clayton’s, stabbed her in the gut. The clouds over her eyes parted completely and she felt intense regret at playing a part in ruining these innocent lives.
In her most oblivious moments, Kelly had considered storming over to Clayton’s house and insisting that Leshawna quit trapping her man and stealing their happiness. The sentiment now filled her with shame.
She could never apologize enough to this woman. Not in a million years.
When He Was Your Man
The sound of a bunny singing the alphabet was a bizarre backdrop to the tense meeting that ensued in the kitchen. Leshawna folded her arms across her chest and stared Kelly down, while the younger woman squirmed.
“Hannah and Trisha have grown so quickly,” she said in an attempt to start the conversation. She craned her neck to look at the children who were staring, slack-jawed, at the television screen.
Leshawna sneered, her teeth slightly yellow and twisted at the bottom. “Don’t pretend to be my friend or care about my children. You make me sick.”
Kelly swallowed, clasping her hands together to hide their nervous tremors. “Then why are you here?”
“Because I need to ask a favor.”
“Anything.”
“Take Clayton back.”
Kelly picked her jaw off the floor. “Excuse me? I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Do you really think I didn’t know about you?” Leshawna rolled her eyes and plucked the collar of her solid pink blouse. “When my husband started sneaking around, making secret phone calls and disappearing days at a time for ‘business trips’, I got the gist pretty quickly.”
“Leshawna, there’s nothing I can say—”
“Exactly.” She held up a hand. “You’re younger than me. You have a sexier body and a prettier face than I ever did in my twenties. I’m sure your stamina is closer to Clayton’s than mine. I bet it wasn’t an intelligent conversation that got his attention.”
Leshawna’s mention of her sexual stamina along with her equally perturbing request to rekindle the relationship with Clayton made Kelly very uncomfortable. She found herself glancing longingly at the door.
“I put up with you for four years because I understand that men have needs. It could have been worse. At least Clayton was sticking to one woman and not bringing a whole bunch of diseases home. I figured I could tolerate you since he’ll never leave me anyway.”
“But… didn’t Clayton present you with a petition for divorce?”
“A what?” The wrinkles around Leshawna’s eyes deepened and her nose flared. “Where did you hear such nonsense? From Clayton?” She laughed darkly. “That man will say anything to put his hands up a girl’s skirt.”
Feeling particularly foolish, Kelly tried to get the conversation back on course. “I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you and your family. I see that I did a lot of damage and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, but I can’t go back to Clayton.”
“Forgiveness?” Leshawna huffed. “You don’t deserve that and I don’t intend to give it.”
“I understand.” They were two women tangled together and trapped in a bad situation. All Kelly could do was make the best of it.
Leshawna, however, did not appreciate her levelheaded approach.
“You understand?” Her fingers trembled and her face reddened. “You und
erstand? Do you think I like being here, begging my husband’s mistress to continue sneaking around behind my back? Do you think I like dragging my kids to this whorehouse where their father disrespected me every time he put himself inside you?”
Kelly winced. “I—”
“No! You shut up and listen!” Leshawna tapped her chest. “I’m barely keeping it together as it is. I want to kill you. I want to kill him. My sanity’s being stretched to its limits.”
Kelly drew back and eyed the cupboard where she kept her knives. Should Leshawna suddenly dive for a weapon hidden on her person, she would leap to the drawer and defend herself.
Clayton’s wife took in a calming breath. “My man is acting out like I’ve never seen before—spending all night drinking, passing out in front of the TV, and living at the strip club with his friends. He’s getting himself into all kinds of trouble and our family is struggling financially to support his tantrum.”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
“That has everything to do with you.” Leshawna choked. “For some reason, Clayton’s convinced that he’s in love with his side thing. And I hate to admit it, but our home is the happiest after he lets off some steam with you. This is your mess. So fix it.”
Silence filled the space between them as Leshawna sat back—indicating that she had said her piece. Kelly’s mind raced, but nothing coherent sprang from her lips.
She wasn’t the most upstanding person, but something about the conversation struck her as very twisted. Perhaps it was Benjamin’s insistence that all women were valuable and deserved to be treated with respect. Perhaps it was her own slow realization that her actions had affected far more people than just her and Clayton.
When she looked at Leshawna, she saw someone being neglected and hurt. Someone willing to offer the morsels of her crumbling marriage to the woman who had helped blow her world to pieces.
Believe it or not, Kelly had imagined a moment like this many times. In it, she had always painted herself as the victor, the deserving winner of Clayton’s love and attention. And Leshawna had been the melting witch who would no longer trap Clayton in the prison of marriage.
In reality, the moment felt nothing close to triumphant. It was dirty and cheap.
Even if Kelly hadn’t been slowly destroying her feelings for Clayton, she would never want to be a part of this mother’s heartache. Not anymore. Not with everything she knew now.
“I’m sorry,” she cried, unable to say anything else. “I can promise you that if Clayton tries to come at me, I’ll send him right back. That’s it.”
Leshawna jerked her chin down in a stiff nod. “I’ve already been around you more than I can stomach. I’m not going to beg again.”
Kelly rose and awkwardly followed Clayton’s wife as she collected her infant daughter and held her eldest child by the hand. She hung back, wondering if she should offer them something to drink before they left.
Leshawna marched toward the door and Kelly had no choice but to abandon her idea. The baby cooed at her as they passed by and waved her little hands. Kelly waved back, delighting in her tiny fingers and toes.
Both little girls were oblivious to the ugly underbelly of the real world. Their father was a star in their eyes—capable of doing no wrong. He spoiled them and loved them, showing more affection to the ones he created than to the one who had helped him create them.
Kelly knew that age and understanding would change their starry gaze, but she hoped—for their sake—that the truth didn’t come out for a good while. Innocence was such a fragile, beautiful thing.
A memory nudged her, something showered in the fuzzy haze of her childhood, but Kelly brushed it away and opened the door for the little family to pass through.
When Leshawna stopped in her tracks, Kelly poked her head out to see what the holdup was. She gasped when her gaze locked with Benjamin’s baby blues. He held a bouquet of flowers and looked gorgeously casual in a grey T-shirt, khakis and black and white tennis shoes.
“Hey, Kel,” he said warmly, his eyes beaming at Trisha who cooed at him from Leshawna’s arms. “I didn’t know you were with friends.”
Leshawna snorted and Kelly winced. Should she introduce them? How would she go about doing that?
“Benjamin, this is my ex-lover’s wife and her two adorable children Trisha and Hannah. See how Trisha has Clayton’s eyes?”
Before Kelly could find a polite way to say that, Leshawna spoke. “I hope you know what kind of woman you’re messing with. She’ll destroy your life and leave you without regrets.”
“Uh…” Clearly confused, Benjamin forced a smile. “Thanks for the warning.”
Leshawna growled low in her throat and hauled her kids down the stairs. When the trio disappeared from sight, Kelly invited Benjamin into her apartment. They sank into the sofa. The scent of baby powder lingered on the fabric and the bunny on the television sang about the colors of the rainbow.
She turned off the set and let the silence soak into her like a gentle rain.
“You look stressed,” he said.
“That was Clayton’s wife.”
“Oh?” She glanced over and found his expression carefully neutral. “What did she want?”
“Something crazy.” Kelly pointed to the flowers in his hands. “I’m sorry, but after that conversation, after everything I’ve done, I don’t think I deserve those.”
“They’re yours anyway.” He offered the bouquet to her and then slid his hands along her shoulders to turn her into his side.
Kelly leaned into his strength. The scent of him—along with the scent of the petals—embraced her, soothing in its fragrance. She was struck by the thought that Benjamin Levy was a good man—a man willing to stay faithful to and love only one woman for the rest of his life, a man too rare for words, and too good for her.
She sighed and mumbled, mostly to herself. “I don’t deserve you either.”
Benjamin tenderly kissed her forehead and ran his thumb along her shoulder. “Too bad. I’m yours anyway.”
What Are We?
A week later, Kelly stood in the middle of the hallway and watched Harley throw her hands over Benjamin’s neck. Something dark burned in her stomach and she strode forward just as Benjamin tugged Harley’s arms off.
She’d remained silent and boiled for days as Harley threw herself at Benjamin incessantly. The architect seemed determined to touch or speak to their C.E.O. in as intimate a manner as possible.
Kelly would no longer stand for it.
“Harley!” Kelly screeched. “What’s the occasion?”
“Oh.” Harley blinked, her long lashes brushing her tan cheeks. “Mr. Levy and I were just celebrating our partnership with Lorde Industries. They specifically asked for me to design their next project.” She grinned. “Isn’t it great?”
“It’s lovely.” Kelly waved her arms and widened her eyes. “But this is the office. Let’s try to conduct ourselves in a professional manner, hm?”
Harley sneered, but when Benjamin glanced at her, she fixed her expression. A beautiful smile bloomed and she giggled. “I have so much to do. I’ll see you later to discuss the details, sir.”
Kelly glowered at her co-worker’s back and then gave Benjamin a side-eye. “Good afternoon, Mr. Levy.”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Banner.” Benjamin leaned against the wall and slightly bit on his bottom lip. “You look beautiful today.”
Kelly folded her arms across her chest. “Did you tell that to Harley too?”
“Should I have?”
“Only if you wanted a beating.”
He chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
“I am not jealous.”
“When will you stop being stubborn and admit that you like dating me?”
“We’re not dating. You’re my boss and I’m your employee. That’s all this is.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I don’t care what you think,” she whispered, thrusting a hand
between them. “This is… friendship.”
“Is it?” He grinned and walked toward her, forcing her to back up against the wall. His gaze dipped to her lips before they returned to her eyes.
She arched toward him, her heart beating out of time. Kelly had enjoyed getting to know Benjamin during their extended conversations, but the prospect of doing something naughtier than talking was enough to send her pulse through the roof.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Benjamin said, his voice a low rumble. “That expression is too dangerous for the office, Ms. Banner. Let’s try to conduct ourselves like professionals, hm?” He tapped the tip of her nose and laughed evilly as he backed off.
“How dare you use my own words against me?” she mumbled and watched him stride to his office.
Dragging in a deep breath, Kelly brushed her skirt and regained her composure. When she stepped into the main foyer, Renesha eyed her expression and bounced out of her chair.
“Tell me the truth. Are you and the C.E.O. visiting each other at night?”
“You mean…?” Kelly gestured with her hands. “No. We’re not.”
“Then why do you keep glaring at Harley whenever she tries to make a move on him? You told her that you’d step out of the way so she could have her turn.”
“Yeah, well. I changed my mind.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve gone and fallen for him?” Rene hissed. “Does he at least feel the same way?”
“He’s… curious about me.”
“Curious?” Rene made a face, but Kelly had already walked off, her head in the clouds and her heart fluttering.
~~~~~~
Later that night, Benjamin took her to the bowling alley so they could have their long-awaited rematch. The battle was fierce, and Kelly gave her all, but Benjamin still won. She treated him to ice cream as they’d agreed upon before the match and sulked about her loss.
“Come on, Kel,” Benjamin said as they strolled the brightly lit sidewalk at the Baron Bliss Park. The Caribbean Sea reflected the darkness of the horizon and thrashed against the rocky wall that ran the length of the field. “You did your best.”
