Color Me Grey

by Michelle Janine Robinson

  Gliding across the floor, the soulful melody of Toni Braxton’s “Un-Break My Heart” playing, Jade’s body pressed against his, Stephen was more than a bit uncomfortable. He wouldn’t have guessed that he would be attracted to Jade, but his body in such close proximity to her seemed to cause a reaction. He could feel his nature rising in response to the closeness of her. Eager to break free, he was just about to make an excuse in order to get away, when Brianna tapped Jade on the shoulder.

  “May I cut in? I haven’t had a dance with my boss yet. You don’t mind, do you, Jade?”

  Jade’s stare was like daggers through Brianna and she made no attempts to conceal it. Neither did Brianna make any attempts to camouflage the fact that she was completely aware of what Jade was up to.

  “Of course I don’t mind,” Jade responded. “I’ve got plenty of time to dance with my sister’s new husband. Don’t I, Stephen?”

  Until now Brianna hadn’t realized how perfect Bridget and Stephen were for one another. They were so very much alike. Standing there with Jade, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Stephen had so easily become Jade’s prey. Brianna had been watching her all night. She was a complete and utter bitch, and the minute she saw her swoop down on Stephen, she had given Jade a moment—only a moment to dance with him—before she came to Stephen’s rescue.

  “Thank you,” Stephen whispered as he took Brianna’s hand and danced.

  “You’re quite welcome, boss man. You looked like you needed rescuing.”

  “We’re gonna have to talk to the real boss man about getting you a raise.” He chuckled.

  “You better! Keeping that she-beast in check is a full-time job. I don’t know why Bridget doesn’t cut her loose.”

  “They’re really good friends. Why do you say that? Don’t you trust her either? She makes me very uncomfortable. There’s some- thing about her that doesn’t ring true. I don’t know. There always seems to be a double meaning in everything she does and says. There always seems to be some sort of game plan; a goal. She’s so unlike Bridget. I can’t understand how they have managed to stay such close friends for so long.”

  “Stephen, you just answered your own question. Jade is as manipulative as they come and, for whatever reason, Bridget doesn’t see it. It may be that Bridget doesn’t want to see it. That would mean having to let go of someone that’s been a big part of her life for a really long time. Keep an eye on her. I don’t trust Jade as far as I can throw her. My cousin knows her really well and, I’m telling you, she’s bad news. Don’t get sucked in by her, whatever you do.”

  “I won’t. What would make you think I could?”

  “You forget, Stephen, I watched the two of you on the dance floor before I made a beeline over here to free you from her grasp. You were seconds from getting caught up.”

  Stephen could feel a heated blush rising to his cheeks at the thought of how he felt between his legs while he had Jade in his arms. He was suddenly very embarrassed.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m the only one that noticed,” Brianna said.

  “Noticed what?” Bridget asked as she walked over and joined them both.

  “Your new husband here was stepping on my feet. We really must get him some dance lessons,” Brianna quickly responded.

  “Stephen is a fantastic dancer,” Bridget offered. “But then again, I didn’t marry you for your dancing, did I, baby?”

  “Ooh, sookie, sookie now!” Brianna screamed. “Somebody’s gonna be in trouble on their honeymoon!”

  “No, you definitely didn’t marry me for my dancing skills. Did you, baby?”

  Stephen looked at Brianna as she walked away and whispered thank you once again, for saving him.

  “I’m going to throw the bouquet now,” Bridget announced as Brianna retreated.

  “Alright!”

  All of the single women gathered as Bridget stood poised and ready to throw the coveted bouquet. Just as Brianna was about to catch the bouquet, Jade reached her foot out, tripping Brianna and grabbed the bouquet for herself. It was subtle enough that most of the guests missed the deliberate maneuver; but not so subtle it didn’t go unnoticed by either Bridget or Brianna, or any of the other women attempting to catch the bouquet. Jade, in true sociopath fashion, raised the bouquet in triumph. Despite Brianna’s initial instinct to slap her across the face, she didn’t want to ruin Bridget’s day; so instead, she walked away quietly without saying a word.

  Now it was time for the garter.

  “You ready to toss the garter, honey?” Bridget asked Stephen.

  “Most definitely.”

  As all the single men in attendance gathered together, David sat watching and drinking.

  “David, come on,” Bridget coaxed, attempting to pull David to his feet.

  David stood up and wobbled over to where all the men were standing. Stephen aimed right for him and David couldn’t help but catch the lacy garter between his fingers. Jade couldn’t have been more ecstatic, if she had planned it herself.

  She sat in the chair, eager for David to roll the lacy undergarment the full length of her leg. David, more than just a little tipsy, could barely focus on where her leg actually was, but he did manage to wrap it around her foot and roll it up. Jade was so happy she had worn a dress. As he got closer and closer to her thigh, she wondered if such proximity to her was having any effect on him. Just when she thought it might, David fell flat on his ass on the floor. All the champagne he had been drinking proved to be too much. Stephen and a couple of the other attorneys at McDonnell helped David to a back room to rest.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  RESIGNATION

  “Good morning, David.”

  “Where the hell have you been?” David bellowed.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’ve got a business to run here. This isn’t a fuckin’ charity. I can’t run my business sufficiently, if I don’t have an assistant...here...on time to do her goddamned job!”

  “David, I told you I would be a little late this morning. Stephen and I had an appointment with that fertility specialist.”

  The mere mention of Stephen and fertility specialist in the same sentence only served to agitate David even more. Yet, Bridget was even more oblivious of David’s feelings, now that she and Stephen had gotten married. She was helplessly in love and enjoying her new life.

  A few feet away, Brianna listened from her desk, wondering what Stephen would say if he heard the way David was talking to his wife. Stephen was intensely loyal to David and despite his obsession with Bridget, somehow David never took his jealousy out on Stephen. For whatever reasons, he reserved that for Bridget alone. And, over the past several months, their once content working relationship had gone from bad to worse. The whole situation was extremely uncomfortable for all concerned.

  “David, I’m sorry if my appointment this morning somehow put you in a bind, but I will not have you disrespect me. I told you about this appointment weeks ago, and I will not apologize for taking personal time that I am entitled to.”

  “Entitled to?” David chuckled. “Entitled to? If that isn’t the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Bridget asked.

  “Why don’t you save the naïve role for Stephen? You know exactly what I mean.”

  “I’m warning you, David! Don’t push me!”

  Brianna had never seen Bridget so angry, and clearly, her warning didn’t fall on deaf ears. David did back down—slightly. However, Brianna wondered what that heated exchange was all about. There was clearly something hidden beneath each of their words that only the two of them were privy to.

  Bridget stormed off into the bathroom and Brianna followed quickly thereafter. When Brianna entered the bathroom, Bridget was there pacing.

  “What the fuck was all that about?” Brianna asked.

  “I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Ever since Stephen and I got married, he’s been acting like a fuckin’ asshole. He’s miserable and he w
ants everyone else around him to be miserable. Between him and Jade, it’s like I owe them my life or something. I finally have some measure of independence and they both want to feed off me. My relationship with both of them is fuckin’ symbiotic and I can’t take it anymore. I want to live my own life for a change. I’ve earned it!”

  “Of course you’ve earned it, but you first have to face facts. Number one, Jade is jealous of you. She wants to be you, she wants to live your life and if you let her, she will take everything that belongs to you. I’ve known women like her my whole life. She walks around acting like she’s the best thing to happen to you since sliced bread, when in reality, it’s the other way around. You are the best thing to ever happen to her. Now, I don’t claim to know all that much about your relationship with Jade, but I’ve seen her enough times to know exactly what Miss Jade is all about. I know a lot of people look at me with my tight clothes and big boobs and think I’m a boob, but I’m smarter than I look...”

  “No, Brianna...”

  “It’s okay, Bridget. You don’t have to say anything. You’re my girl and you’ve always treated me with the utmost respect, but I recognize how I come across to people. I’m me and I have no intention of changing for anyone. But getting back to what I was saying, I see more, and am aware of more, than most people realize. And that girl Jade, she ain’t nothin’ but trouble. If you keep her around, you and yours are headed for trouble. And I would definitely keep her away from your husband, if I were you. I know people here at McDonnell were whispering and shit when I got the position working for Stephen and then some more after the two of you got married, but I don’t roll like that. Just because I like to show off my body, don’t mean I don’t have principles. And I don’t mess around with other women’s husbands, especially not women whom I call friends...and Bridget, I do consider you a friend.”

  “I do, too,” Bridget whispered.

  “Now on to point two—Bridget, David McDonnell is in love with you, obsessed with you, whatever the case may be, but he’s got it bad and the longer you fool yourself into believing otherwise, the more difficult things will be. Now, as I see it, you have a couple of alternatives. You can recognize that he has these intense feelings and stick around and deal with it, or you can leave. But, whatever you do, don’t sleep on the fact that this man wants you in a bad way.”

  “I’m probably going to have to leave soon anyway. That is, if everything works out as planned. Stephen and I saw the fertility specialist this morning. We’ve been trying to get pregnant and so far nothing, but I just think both of us are too stressed, what with the job and all. I might be better off, if I just resign now and try getting pregnant without the responsibilities of this job to weigh me down. I was going to wait until I got pregnant to leave, but I’m getting really sick of David’s shit, and truth be told, I don’t really have to work. Stephen has already told me I can quit anytime I like. Although he did mention how lost David is going to be.”

  “David will survive. He will get over his feelings for you and he will find himself another assistant. That is what people do. You’re not an indentured servant girl. You’ve got to live your own life.”

  “You know, Brianna, you’re right. I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet, but whatever my decision, it’s going to be my decision— not everyone else’s. Thank you so much for the ear. I needed someone to bounce all of this off of.”

  “No problem, girl. What are friends for anyway?”

  “You’re always coming through for me. I’d like to reciprocate one of these days.”

  “Your time will come. I’m gonna need and I’m going straight to you when I do.” Brianna chuckled.

  “And I’ll be there,” came Bridget’s response.

  “Well, let me get back to that asshole. I swear he’s trying my patience. I almost quit on the spot.”

  “Don’t let him take you out of your groove. You and Stephen are fuckin’ newlyweds, for Christ’s sake. Enjoy it.”

  “We are. Believe me, we are. I’m not taking this home with me. It’s just when either David or Jade call us at home, I feel like I have no haven. When I leave here at the end of the day, as far as I’m concerned, it’s over, but lately home is not the sanctuary it started out as. Jade and David both call constantly. I know what David’s problem is, he has no life. But Jade has a man. I don’t understand how she has so much time on her hands to keep bugging me.”

  “And I thought David was obsessed. You got two stalkers in your midst, girl,” Jade said.

  “I don’t know if I would call them stalkers, but they are both very annoying, especially lately.”

  “You can dub it whatever you want. But anytime you’re paying that much attention to any one person to such a strong degree, there’s some obsessive shit goin’ on.”

  Bridget knew she was right, but didn’t want to believe it.

  Despite her best efforts to hang in and give David a chance to clean up his act one day, he eventually pushed her much too far.

  “Bridget!”

  “Yes, David,” Bridget managed to reply calmly.

  “Could you get in here? I don’t want to sit here, screaming back and forth.”

  “You could have fooled me,” she whispered under her breath.

  “Did you say something?” David asked.

  Although Bridget thought she had whispered her comment, the look on David’s face told her that he might have actually heard her.

  “Didn’t I ask you to remove these files from my office? I’m gonna trip over them. They’re in the way and they’re a hazard.”

  “I know, David. I called the records department several times but they are so bogged down with that project you have them doing; revamping the file room. It’s taking up most of their time.”

  “Well, then why don’t you remove them?”

  Bridget realized he was purposely pushing her buttons and she was pissed.

  “Can’t you push them to the side until they can come pick them up? Those boxes are heavy.”

  “Oh, now, all of a sudden, you’re a snowflake,” he said sarcastically.

  “No, I’m not a snowflake, but I’m also not going to move those boxes. That is not my job.”

  “Not your job! Not your job,” he bellowed. “Your fucking job is to do whatever I tell you to do and I told you to move the goddamn files and move them now.”

  “You know what, David? Why don’t you move them? Because, if you’re waiting for me to do it, it’ll be a cold day in hell!”

  Bridget stomped out of his office and went back to her desk. Angry that she was standing up to him, and in his eyes usurping his authority, David began removing the files from the boxes. One by one he went over to her desk and tossed them directly in front of her, spilling her coffee all over the desk after which he demanded she clean up her mess.

  “Fuck you!” Bridget yelled. “I quit!”

  By the time Bridget left her desk in a huff, everyone in the office had witnessed the display, including Stephen. He left his office and rushed to Bridget to find out what could have possibly happened. Bridget had only touched on a few of the disagreements she and David had had over the past few months. She knew that Stephen liked David and she didn’t want to drag him into their issues with one another.

  “Bridget,” Stephen asked, “what the heck is going on? I could hear you all the way in my office.”

  “I’m sick of this, Stephen. He treats me like crap and I’ve had enough of it. I won’t work for anyone who treats me like that, including David.”

  “You’re having a bad day; that’s all. Why don’t you go home and cool off and come back tomorrow?”

  “I won’t be coming back. I’ve had enough of this. I’ve tried to make allowances for his miserable life and his loneliness, or whatever it is that’s going on with him. But he’s not the only person in the world with problems. None of it gives him the right to treat people like shit.”

  “Don’t forget, baby; it takes two for an argument to continue.�
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  Bridget was outraged. It almost seemed as though he were taking David’s side, sight unseen.

  “You didn’t hear the way he was talking to me a few minutes ago. Cursing and yelling.”

  “You mean like you were just doing?”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t start it. He did.”

  “Bridget, listen to yourself. You sound like a two-year-old. He started it.”

  “Well, he did. And, it’s not the first time. Ever since we got married, he’s been behaving this way and quite frankly, I’ve had enough.”

  “Maybe you’re distracted, honey. We’ve been trying so hard to get pregnant. Maybe you’re missing some things because of it.”

  “No, Stephen. I’m not missing anything. I’m doing the same job I’ve always done. He’s just jealous because his life is so fucking miserable. That’s all. And, why are you taking his side?”

  “I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m just trying to give an impartial perspective.”

  “It doesn’t sound impartial to me. It sounds like you’re taking the side of the asshole who just cursed at your wife. You know what...I’m not even going to discuss this anymore. I’m going home. Did you mean what you said about me staying at home and being a mom or not? I can’t think of a better time than now. Maybe, without all the stress of this place, I’ll finally be able to get pregnant.”

  “You know I meant it, Bridget. I don’t want you leaving for the wrong reasons. You and David are more than just employer and employee. You are, and have been, friends for years. I would hate to see you spoil that.”

  “I didn’t spoil a thing. He did. I will not be a doormat. I won’t. I’ve tried to be understanding. I’ve tried to reason with him, but enough is enough.”

  “Are you going to be okay?” Stephen asked as Bridget stormed from the office.

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll be just fine.”

  David suddenly realized how completely unglued he had become. But, it was too late.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  A NEW EMPLOYEE

  Sitting by his mother’s hospital bed at Sloan Kettering Hospital, the shell of a woman that lay there reminded him little of the stunning woman he remembered as a child. His mother had always been beautiful. At eight-two pounds and in such obvious pain, even the morphine drip the hospital had provided wasn’t quite enough. He prayed for an end to her existence. After so many years of unhappiness with his father, she had finally achieved some level of contentment. Despite the fact that his father had left her nothing when he died, David had seen to it that his mother wanted for nothing. He had also ensured that she maintained her dignity. He hadn’t provided her with an “allowance” as his father had done.