“Why are you both looking at me like that? Angelica? Malik? What are you guilty of, Angelica?”
“Margo, Malik and I were talking about how I let you down as a friend.”
“We’ve talked about it, but I thought we’ve agreed to move ahead with our lives.”
“I plan to do just that, and the only way to do that is to get a real job that pays.”
“Malik, can’t you pay Angelica? I was wondering why she would opt to do it for free.”
“I’m not sure that Angelica wants to be hemmed up around computers all day,” Malik said.
“Right. I don’t think anyone’s going to let me be a buyer for their store, but maybe doing a little retail, which is my love, would better suit me,” Angelica said.
“You can cut the charade. I don’t know what happened between you being excited about working for Malik and this very minute, Angelica, but whatever it is, it’s on you. I was going to ask you both out to lunch-I just sold a four-hundred-thousand-dollar house-but since you’re being so secretive, I’ll take myself to lunch.”
“But…” Angelica tried to say. Margo held her hand up, palm side to Angelica.
“No, no. You and Malik continue your little conversation. You know that everything hidden eventually comes to the light.”
Silence. Margo swung around and looked from Angelica to Malik. “It will come to the light.” Margo turned and left, swinging her purse over her shoulder.
Malik moved to within an inch of Angelica. “You have opened old wounds. Margo is not going to rest until she finds out what we were talking about.”
“If I’m not going to tell her and you’re not going to tell her, how is she going to find out?”
Malik pondered the question for the moment. “You have to leave Fayetteville. You are a constant reminder of the past and, as long as you remain, Margo is going to want to know what we don’t want her to know.”
“So, Mister I’ve Already Got This Figured Out, you’re going to tell me that I have to pack up my belongings and get out of Dodge so you and your girlfriend can live a peaceful life without having to dance around me and worry about me being up in your face? You know you want this, Malik.”
Angelica removed the top button, then the second button on her jacket. “Mighty tempting, don’t you think?” She teased Malik while he stood staring at her breasts, which were encased in a lime-green plunging, push-up bra.
“You’re not going to trap me in your web, Angelica. I kill spiders, especially black widow spiders with the venomous spot on their heart. You can take your spindly legs and try to wrap them around me, but you don’t want to mess with me.”
Angelica looked up into Malik’s eyes. Her movements were sensual and slow as she lifted her mouth to his and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. She removed her lips and saw that Malik’s eyes were closed, his lips poised for another round. She tasted his lips again while slowly pawing her way down the front of his plush knit shirt. Angelica waited for him to open his eyes while she stared, daring him to resist her.
Ashamed, Malik threw his hands out and moved back suddenly. Angelica continued to stare at him with eyes that were like magnets, drawing Malik closer the more he resisted.
“You’re fired.”
“Was never on the payroll. You want me to leave?”
“Yes,” Malik said weakly. “Please put your clothes on and don’t bother to come back.”
“Jefferson also found me irresistible, you know. He fought the urge like you’re doing, but it didn’t take much encouragement to lure him in.”
“I’ll never be one of your victims, Angelica. You can count on that.”
“Oh, on the contrary. You enjoyed the touch of my lips on yours. I was taking you to the brink, and you know you wanted to test the water, brother. But it’s all right.”
They turned when they heard the bell. Angelica’s eyes grew large at the sight of the man in braids. He wore the same tattered jeans but had on a white, loose-fitting, crinkled shirt that buttoned down the front. His feet were curled up in a pair of brown sandals, and he wore a cap that partially covered his hair.
“Hello there, missy. I thought that was you when I passed by a minute ago. Look different all dressed up in a suit and some high heels.”
“Can I help you, sir?” Malik asked.
“No. Just thought I recognized the pretty lady. She and I rode the bus to Fayetteville last week. We have some common interests.”
“Is that right? Well, I think you make the lady nervous.”
“You her man friend?”
“No. I’m looking for a job,” Angelica spoke up. “Are you following me?”
“No, in fact, I was headed to a job interview myself. I guess I better be going. Miss, you should close your jacket before another customer comes in.” The man saluted and walked out the store.
Angelica had all but forgotten that her jacket was unbuttoned. She pulled it together and fumbled with the buttons until she had them all fastened. With a slight tremble in her hand, she held onto Malik’s arm for support and then let go. It could not have been coincidental that Walter, the man in braids, happened to be on the same street at about the same time. Malik may have hit the nail on the head. It was time to go-to leave Fayetteville-because the town gave her very little room to start a brand-new life.