My Married Boyfriend Read online

  “Hey, ladies.” She warmly greeted a couple of female coworkers who entered the room to make themselves coffee. Shyla loaded two bagels into the toaster.

  “There goes the new bride,” said Taylor, one of the communications coordinators.

  “Look at me, because I am a changed woman.” Shyla laughed.

  “I’ll bet you are,” Taylor remarked, being facetious.

  “How was your holiday?” Shyla asked.

  “Mine was good,” said a tall, big-boned woman named Aisha. “My man came by and I cooked and we ate and—”

  “Well, I think it’s a shame that a woman who works at this college tries to pretend like she’s one thing when actually she is another,” Shyla continued. “She acts if her relationship is so intact, yet she’s one of the main people getting her freak on with someone else that works on this campus. And they spent the holidays together.”

  “Wait. What?” Taylor said. “Didn’t you just return from your honeymoon?”

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  “I’d think you’d be giving us details about your own rendezvous instead of spilling the tea about other people.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing,” remarked Alexis, who’d been hovering nearby and decided to pop in and join the conversation.

  “Oh, but what happened on my honeymoon is nothing compared to all the extramarital humping that’s going on at the university.”

  “Shyla, you ought to be ashamed of yourself,” Alexis told her. “Why are you tearing down another woman? Marriage hasn’t changed you at all.”

  Even though Alexis did have an affair with Kiara’s husband, she wasn’t proud of her actions. Not anymore.

  “I’m not tearing down anybody. I’m just telling the truth, something you have always had a problem doing,” Shyla responded. “I’m just saying. I don’t like working in an office where coworkers are fucking work husbands, and folks are getting pregnant by people on the job. That brings way too much drama.”

  “Are you trying to tell us something, and if so what?” Aisha asked

  “What you think?” Shyla smirked. “I’m talking about someone that works in this department, the one who wants everyone to believe she had such a great marriage and a wonderful man. Well, he ain’t that wonderful if she gotta creep behind his back.”

  “Nooo, not Kiara Eason,” said Aisha, reaching out to touch Shyla with her long fingernails. “Who is she screwing?”

  “Oh, I can’t tell you that.”

  “Why not spill all the tea?”

  “Well, it’s like this. I do need my job.”

  “But if she’s humping a man on campus, I’d want to know exactly who it is,” Aisha replied. “Mrs. Eason has it going on. She can hook up with whomever she wants—but I need to make sure she ain’t messing around with my boo.”

  “What? You got a lover on this campus, Aisha?”

  “Mmm hmm. And he’s tied to me like Super Glue, but still, you never know.” Aisha paused. “You don’t know who I’m sleeping with, right?”

  “You’d be surprised whose business I know around here.” Shyla replied. “And I don’t really tell all of it even when it is good and juicy.”

  Like clockwork, Nicole entered the kitchen. Alexis took one look at her and immediately left.

  Nicole gave Shyla the look. She snatched her by the arm and dragged her from the kitchen, down the hallway, to her office.

  Nicole slammed the door before she twirled around.

  “Shyla Perry, are you out of your damned mind?”

  “It’s Shyla Perry-Fallender.”

  “Girl, I don’t care about your hyphenated name. You need to chill on that gossiping.”

  “What gossiping? What you talkin’ about?”

  “I thought you were my girl. But I see how you do a sister when you think her back is turned. I heard everything you said. Your voice carries.”

  “Oops, my bad. I guess I was overly excited.”

  “You need to watch that. I want to know who my friends are around here, as well as my enemies.”

  “Girl, stop! I am Team Nicole. We’re good. We’ll always be good,” she said, even going out of her way to give Nicole a comforting hug. “I know you don’t want everyone in your business. But I just really hate that you got knocked up by the boss’s husband.”

  Last summer, when Nicole had first come on board at the university, Kiara found out she was living in a house with minor contracting issues. In an effort to be hospitable, Kiara recommended that Rashad help Nicole out since she knew his business oversaw renovations. Once he started working at Nicole’s place, they quickly developed a friendly bond that eventually turned into a full-blown affair. Then Nicole became pregnant. And she fell in love.

  “I somewhat hate that it happened, too. My mother had a fit when she found out.”

  Nicole always felt the need to impress her doubtful family. And she was determined to prove them all wrong.

  Nicole continued. “My mom thinks it’s shameful to have sex with men that are already taken.”

  “It is shameful.”

  “Look, Shyla, things happen, okay. I did not go out of my way to be with Rashad. But after we started kicking it, I could tell he was feeling me. And of course, I developed feelings for him, too. I mean, he told me his wife wasn’t satisfying all his needs in his marriage.”

  “He could have been lying.”

  “But what if he was telling the truth?”

  “Even if he was, it wasn’t your job to fulfill his needs. That was between him and Kiara.”

  “Then why would she send him to my house to help me out with my renovations? It’s not all my fault.”

  “You sound like you’re suffering from guilt.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is that you cannot change the past. I’m not trying to sound unsympathetic, but it’s safe to say those two will never get back together again. And if he is free and available and I am, too, why not be with him? We now have history.”

  “And a future,” Shyla said, and stared at Nicole’s belly.

  “What’s done is done. More importantly, I can’t forget that I made an agreement with Kiara not to tell her secret.”

  Nicole wanted to run and tell everyone the news after she overheard Kiara and Eddison discussing her pregnancy. So after Nicole found out about Kiara’s dirty deeds, she didn’t feel so bad about the sex she was having with Rashad

  “Shyla, you know that Ms. Perfect agreed not to fire me if I swore not to tell anyone about her and light skin,” she said, referring to Eddison.

  “I know, but at this point, even if I didn’t spread Kiara’s business, it’s obvious she can’t front anymore. She’s just making herself look like a fool.”

  “Check this out. And you better not tell a soul.”

  “I swear to God.”

  “Anyway, Rashad filed on her. I know it sounds crazy, but once this is over, we could potentially have a divorce party, an engagement party, and a baby shower, all at the same time.”

  Shyla began laughing. It did sound crazy. “Are you serious? That’s so scandalous. Yet you’re the type who’d do something over-the-top like that.”

  Shyla didn’t realize it, but she was right. Because little Nicole from Alabama always wanted more out of life than just going to school, getting a job, and visiting her cousins every other weekend. No, Nicole wanted to drive a car that drew envious stares and she wanted to have cute babies that she could dress in the latest designer fashions. She knew that by capturing Rashad’s heart, she was one step closer to fulfilling her dream.

  “I want what I want and I know just how to get it.”

  “Whoa, girl. Your life is more amazing than mine.” Shyla eagerly listened as Nicole spilled more details about what had been going on over the Thanksgiving holiday.

  “And I know you’re dying to tell the world about these amazing events,” Nicole said, “but it’s me we’re talking about. I am not Kim Kardashian, so you cannot try to break the Inter
net with my business, you hear me?”

  “Okay. I’ll keep my mouth shut from now on. But you know that people are talking.”

  “Let ’em talk.”

  Shyla was referring to how the whole office was gossiping about the identity of the father of Nicole’s baby. Starting a few weeks ago, every time Nicole left the building for lunch, a few women would discreetly follow her to the parking lot to see if a man was picking her up in his car. But they never witnessed any such thing.

  “Think of how they’re going to react once I get that ring on my finger,” Nicole replied. “After Rashad is officially divorced, we’ll give it a little bit of time. But then I am going to want to shout it to the world. I will be so happy and I won’t care who knows it. Whether folks can handle it or not doesn’t matter. I plan on having the baddest wedding Houston has ever seen.”

  “Oh, really? That costs a lot of money.”

  “Money won’t be a problem.” Nicole squealed and hugged herself. “Shyla, I shouldn’t be telling you all this, but I’ve hit the jackpot. This man is loaded.”

  “Shut the fuck up!”

  “But see, I can’t help it. I’m finally getting to be happy . . . just like in a Terry McMillan novel.”

  “Baby, rich man, and nuptials worthy of a reality show. You’re living the dream, Nicole. Make sure and invite me.”

  “You are invited. Just keep your damned mouth closed until I tell you when it’s okay to pour that gasoline and strike that match.”

  After they both laughed, Shyla told Nicole she’d talk to her later. They’d been chatting for a good twenty minutes and both needed to do some work.

  A little while later, Nicole was in her office typing a press release. Their department had recently been awarded a two-million-dollar endowment and her job was to spread the good news. Nicole was concentrating on her document when she heard a rapped knock on her door. She glanced up from her computer.

  Two uniformed officers stood there. The young cop had freckles and bright red hair; the older gentleman wore a nametag that read “Sims.”

  “May I help you?”

  “Do you have a Nicole Greene that works here?” asked the freckle-faced cop.

  “Who wants to know?”

  “Ma’am,” he continued, “we are looking for Nicole Greene. We’ve been given a photo and need to positively verify your identity.

  “I, um,”—her voice quivered—“I’m her.”

  “What’s your date of birth?” asked Sims.

  She replied August second and handed over her driver’s license when requested.

  “This isn’t the same address as your current residence,” said the younger cop. He and his partner both closely inspected her license.

  “No, it is not.”

  “You will have to take time to update your license, ma’am.” That was Sims.

  “I could go to the DMV right now if—”

  “Later for that; first things first,” snapped Sims. He returned her ID. “Nicole Kelly Greene, you are under arrest for disorderly conduct and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.”

  She tried to not make any sudden moves while she got patted down and then handcuffed.

  “Ouch, that hurts.”

  “Have you ever been cuffed before?” asked freckle-face.

  “Never,” she said. “I’m not a criminal.”

  “If I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I could retire,” remarked Sims.

  “This is nuts! I don’t believe this. That stupid gun wasn’t even loaded. I was just—”

  Sims continued his spiel. “You have the right to remain silent.”

  Silence.

  Nicole felt that was exactly what was happening to her. She thought Alexis would do anything to silence her, shame her, and get revenge—only because Rashad was with her now. Nicole fumed as she was escorted out of her office, down the hallway, past Alexis’s empty desk, and through the exit doors of her work facility.

  When she bumped into Shyla, who was trying to come into the building the same time that she was going out, Nicole yelled, “Follow us.”

  “Girl, what happened? Why are you in handcuffs?”

  “I need you now more than ever. Please follow us.”

  “I got you,” Shyla promised and she raced for her vehicle.

  The officers placed Nicole in the back of a squad car. They made some notes and eventually drove off with Shyla right behind them.

  Nicole’s mind raced in several directions. Would they make her stay overnight? How could Alexis be petty enough to actually call the cops? Was Nicole about to follow in her ex-boyfriend’s footsteps and experience the isolation he felt when he was put away?

  Karma is a bitch, she heard her mother’s haunting voice whisper in her ear.

  And for the first time since she’d been in Texas, Nicole felt genuine fear.

  After she was brought into the station for questioning, the cops gave her more information. Alexis McNeil had filed a police report the day before. She came into a local police station and said a woman pulled a gun on her and she felt her life was threatened. Alexis gave a sworn statement of what happened and when she was asked if she wanted to file charges, she said she had no other choice.

  Sims continued to question her. “How do you know this woman Alexis?”

  “Through a case of very bad luck,” Nicole said.

  “We’d appreciate straightforward, factual answers please.”

  The officers got her statement. The more she thought about Alexis, the more she hated the woman. She felt she should have shot her when she had the chance. But then if that would’ve happened, she’d have forfeited all her dreams. And nothing could come between Nicole and everything she wanted.

  “So I’m really being charged?” Nicole finally asked as she went through the booking process. This time she was alone with Sims and although being with him scared her she couldn’t stay silent.

  “Yes, Ms. Greene, you’re being charged.”

  “I now have a case?”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “But what if I lose my job behind this crap?”

  “Sometimes that happens.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Life isn’t fair when you choose to wave loaded weapons at people.”

  “That’s the thing. It wasn’t even loaded. So this is all a big mistake.”

  “We will investigate that claim, too.”

  “That’s bullshit.”

  “Watch your language, ma’am. And get a good lawyer.”

  Nicole stopped bumping her gums, knowing that opening her mouth could add fuel to the fire and possibly end her life in more ways than one. She was petrified when she was placed in a holding cell. It felt like the end of the world. Flashbacks shattered her mind and squashed her faith. Even though she was in Houston, she felt like she was still in Birmingham. Legal issues, dread, people in authority who could tell her what to do. No freedom.

  By the time Nicole was released and bonded out by Shyla, it was several hours later. The first person she called was Rashad. She had tried to phone him from jail but her calls went straight to voice mail.

  Shyla drove while Nicole tried him one more time. She wanted to cry when he finally picked up.

  “Hi, babe,” she said. “I-I’m so glad to hear your voice. You’ll never guess what just happened to me!”

  “What?”

  “Does your attorney, Lily, handle criminal cases?”

  Nicole proceeded to tell Rashad everything that Alexis had done to her and everything she wished she could do to Alexis.

  “You think that I hate her, but I’ve never done anything to the chick except talk shit. That’s not a felony. The woman can’t even take a joke. She’s more trouble than I am and now there’s no telling what I will to do to her when I see her at work again. I know one thing. She can’t come to our house anymore, and I mean it.”

  “Y’all gonna have to stop with the pettiness and act like you have some sense. Work out yo
ur differences and act like adults. Maybe you can even be friends one day.”

  “Rashad, who the hell are you kidding?” Nicole said. “How can I be friends with someone I don’t even trust?”

  When Nicole and Shyla returned to work, Aisha, who’d seen what happened, informed Kiara that Nicole was back. Kiara requested that Nicole come to her office right away.

  Nicole got butterflies in her stomach whenever Kiara wanted to see her but she went down to her boss’s office and shut the door.

  “Nicole, I want to hear from your own mouth what happened today. I’ve heard many rumors around here from other people.”

  “All I can say is that it was a mistake.”

  “A mistake in that they arrested the wrong person?”

  “No.”

  “So what was the mistake? The fact that you pulled a gun on my administrative assistant in front of my fucking son?”

  Nicole gasped.

  “Don’t look surprised. Do you really think I’m going to be happy about what you’ve done? And that I had to hear about this ridiculous and reckless behavior through Taylor and Aisha?”

  “How did they find out?”

  “They looked up the arrest record.”

  “Oh, I’m shocked that they told you. So even your precious Alexis McNeil left you out of the loop?” Nicole hated that Alexis and Kiara got along fairly well, considering the woman had a baby with her husband.

  Kiara quietly studied Nicole. “Actually, Alexis was wise enough to give me a heads-up earlier this morning. She told me she thought it was very possible that the police would arrive today since you probably wouldn’t be home when they came to get you. Alexis told me everything. She showed me a copy of her statement. I was so livid I couldn’t think straight.”

  Nicole bowed her head.

  “Well, let’s hear your side of the story.”

  “You already know I’ve had problems with this woman in the past and she came over to my house unannounced. She can be unpredictable. I felt I needed to protect myself. And I was scared.”

  “You were scared?”