21
Victor slammed his fist on the desk and flopped down into his chair. Mimi had pushed the envelope. She had been warned, and now she had the audacity to involve someone else in their affairs. What did John know? Had Mimi confided in John that he had fathered Afrika?
Victor picked up the telephone and dialed Mimi’s number. It rang without an answer. He slammed the receiver down, pushed back in his chair, got up and exited the office, stopping at Sheila’s desk.
“Sheila, I’ve got to make a quick run off campus. I’m not sure how long I’ll be. Clear my schedule for the rest of the afternoon. If anyone should ask, tell them I had a personal matter I had to take care of.”
“Will do, Victor.”
“Don’t ever call me by my first name in public,” Victor hissed. “Crazy broad,” he said as he walked away.
“Uhm,” Sheila retorted under her breath. “We’ll see who’s crazy.”
THE WIND BEGAN TO WHIP, OFFERING A NICE BREEZE. FALLEN LEAVES rattled along the sidewalk along with other debris that wasn’t nailed down. Victor brushed back his hair with his hand and moved swiftly toward the parking lot. He stopped abruptly as he caught a glimpse of them out of the corner of his eye. Right in front of him in the parking lot were Mimi and John in an animated conversation.
In an effort not to be seen, Victor moved out of sight, sure that the conversation was about him. Then joining them was Afrika. Mimi seemed to be introducing her to John by the way she was moving her hands. Victor turned and went back to his office; this wasn’t the time to confront Mimi, but he would. There was urgency in what he needed to do. His sins of the past were threatening to be exposed, but if he could help it, and he would, this was one secret he was going to keep from Brenda and the rest of the world. Mimi be damned.
A surprised look registered on Sheila’s face at Victor’s abrupt return. He dismissed her and went into his office, slamming the door behind him. Sheila looked at the closed door with puzzlement in her eyes. She puckered her lips and then picked up the telephone.
“Phyllis,” Sheila whispered into the phone.
“Hey, girl, what’s up? And why are you whispering?”
“My boss is up to something. He’s been acting strange ever since that visitor came in here this afternoon.”
“You mean that fine, bald-headed hunk?”
“Yeah, yeah, him. Anyway, Victor has been banging doors and everything else since that guy left. But not only that, he left work to take care of some personal business. It’s like he’s being secretive about it. In fact, five minutes ago, he said he was going out and to clear his calendar. Then he shows back up two minutes after he left and slams the door.”
“Like you don’t have secrets. You don’t think he’s cheating on you, do you?” Phyllis laughed.
“This is not funny, Phyllis. I tell you, something strange is going on with that man. Anyway, how can he cheat on me with his wife?” Sheila and Phyllis laughed. “You know Victor isn’t the only one sharing my bed.”
“That’s what I mean by secrets. When are you going to tell him you’re getting married to what’s his name?” Phyllis snapped her fingers, trying to remember.
“Jamal Billops.”
“And how are you going to manage that? You better hope Mr. Christianson never finds out that someone else has been sleeping in the condo he put the down payment on, and you might as well say he’s paying for.”
“Who’s going to tell him? I don’t plan on telling him anything… at least not right away. Not until after Jamal and I are married. We’re thinking about getting married soon…like next weekend.”
“Shut up, girl. Go on now—you and Jamal. I don’t know why you’re attracted to that old-ass wannabe player Christianson. Yeah, he still looks good and all, but he’s played out, Sheila, and you know he’s sticking it to more than you.”
“Shut up, Phyllis. I’m using him like he’s using me. I like being kept. No strings.”
“Uhm hmm. I’m telling you, Sheila, he’s still a snake in the grass and you better watch your back. But back to the subject, what makes you suspect he’s up to something?”
“I just know Victor is up to something. Call it intuition. It’s the way…”
“Sheila, come into my office,” Victor said as he stood over Sheila with the phone in her ear.
“May I get your number, please?” Sheila asked into the phone, scribbling down some imaginary numbers.
“Busted, huh?” Phyllis shot back.
“Yes, thank you.” Sheila hung up the phone.
Sheila drew in her breath and let out a deep sigh. She followed Victor into his office and stood a few feet from his desk.
“Close the door,” Victor said, his face void of expression. “Have a seat.”
Sheila sat down in the chair in front of Victor’s desk. Nerves replaced her usual confident self, and she laced her fingers and looked down into her hand. Her head bobbed up at the sound of Victor’s voice.
“So…you think something is going on with me.”
“What are you talking about, Mr. Christianson?” Sheila said, worry lines now drawn across her face.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about. Who were you talking to and why were you sharing contrived information about me? Keeping tabs on one’s boss could be dangerous.”
Her veneer changed…the fear gone. Sheila looked directly into Victor’s eyes without batting an eyelash. “I’m not the one keeping secrets. It’s very apparent that you’re distracted and something has your mind on lock down. Yesterday, I wore a sculptured short dress that grabbed my hips and breasts the way you like it, but you failed to notice.”
“I noticed,” Victor said snidely.
“See, that’s what I mean. Flippant. Downright flippant you’ve been. It’s none of my business anyway what’s going on in your life…as long as you don’t forget who’s been giving you all the good loving you’ve been blessed to receive the past six months.”
“And you’ve been paid well.”
“I’m not your whore, Victor. I’m sure your wife doesn’t know that you’ve dipped into this honey pot and promised me that you’d leave her one day.” Sheila smirked, pleased that she seemed to have the upper hand and glad to know that Victor hadn’t heard all of her conversation with Phyllis.
Victor fidgeted in his seat and took a good look at Sheila. “I’m not sure whether that was a threat or not, but I’m not worried about you. Newsflash. You’ll never be the woman my wife is, Sheila. In fact, you couldn’t touch her with the tip of your finger. She could run a hundred circles around you before you blinked once. And, for your information…please hear me well, I’ll never leave Brenda.”
Sheila jumped from her seat and threw her arm across the large desk and pointed at Victor. But before her tongue was able to catch up with her anger, he caught her by her wrist and squeezed tight.
“You’ll do what I tell you to do. And, you’re not even that good of a secretary. If you hadn’t been able to satisfy me like you do, and you do that well, I’ll admit, your ass would’ve been in the unemployment line a long time ago.”
In vain, Sheila tried to pull free of Victor’s grasp. “I’m not through,” Victor said. “I have an assignment that I want you to complete. If you do it well, there will be a reward.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You don’t want to suffer the consequence of saying no to me.”
Victor pushed Sheila back and released her arm. She rubbed her wrist and stood, watching Victor with a scowl on her face.
“What’s the assignment?”