Angelica was up early. She was like a schoolgirl in love. The thought of being with Malik for eight or nine hours excited her. Maybe Fayetteville had something to offer after all.
She picked out a lime-green, lightweight suit. The skirt hit an inch above the knees, and the jacket had a fly-away collar that buttoned just below her cleavage. She found a pair of two-anda-half-inch heels so she could look up into Malik’s eyes. It was going to be a good day. She could feel it.
Malik smiled when he saw Angelica standing at the front door, waiting to be let in. She smiled back and moved away from the door so he could let her inside. His cologne was intoxicating, and she fought the urge to run her hands through the curls in his hair.
“I am so ready to get started,” Angelica said, trying to cut through the slight strain or whatever it was that settled over the office.
“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll show you where you’ll be working after I put on a pot of coffee.”
“Let me make it, Malik. That’s one thing I’m good at.”
“Okay, help yourself.”
Angelica felt Malik watching her. She made sure her best side was in view at all times. Although Malik was turning on computers and setting up for the day’s business, his eyes were trained on Angelica.
The morning passed quickly since business was a little slow. All receipts were filed and inventory entered into the system. Angelica waited for Malik to give her further instructions.
“Lunch time,” Angelica said heartily.
“I brought my lunch. I rarely get a chance to get away from the shop, except to deliver computers and help with setups. We can share a sandwich, if you like.”
“No, that’s all right. I’ll go out and get something.”
Malik walked to where Angelica was sitting, took a chair and sat down. He ignored the smile on Angelica’s face or the legs that extended beyond the short skirt she chose to wear.
“I’m not sure what your agenda is, Angelica, but I hope it doesn’t include hurting Margo.”
“Why would you say that? Of course not,” Angelica said with a frown.
“I want to believe you. Margo has been through enough without having to look over her shoulder every moment to make sure that she hasn’t made a mistake by letting you back into her life.”
“Are you and Margo seeing each other?” Malik’s eyes widened. “You were always friends, more Jefferson’s than Margo’s,” Angelica continued, “but I’m wondering if all the preoccupation with Margo is because you are more than a big brother.”
Malik got up out of his seat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Angelica. Margo loves Jefferson, and that’s where her heart is.”
“What about yours? I see how you look at her.”
“You’ve got it all wrong. There’s nothing between Margo and me except friendship. She’s my best friend’s wife and I happen to care about her and want to make sure she’s all right.”
“Whatever. You can tell me what you want, but I know what I see.”
“Draw your own conclusions. Fact is fact.”
“Look, I appreciate you letting me help you out, Malik. While I’d rather get paid, this will do for the moment. I’m going to be real with you. I want to get on with life, and hurting Margo is the last thing I want to do. I missed her very much. If I was half the woman…” Angelica stopped, lowered her head and then raised it. “If I was half the woman Margo has been, my life wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
“I appreciate hearing that, Angelica. You are beautiful.”
Surprise registered on Angelica’s face. “Thank you. Where did that come from?”
“Just stating what is.”
“I’m a little confused. All the times I’ve tried to get you to notice me, you’ve never given me a moment’s glance.”
“How do you know?”
“I’m stating what is.”
“Let’s say I thought about taking you on a road test.”
“A road test? You say that as if I was a piece of meat that you take out of the freezer if you get a little hungry.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Angelica. I apologize if it sounded harsh.”
Angelica got up from her seat and stood directly in front of Malik. “What is it that you don’t like about me? I know you think that Jefferson and I were together when he had the accident. We weren’t together the way you think; I had gone to warn him about the hit on his life.”
“So you’ve never been with Jefferson?”
“No,” Angelica said too quickly.
“Well, Ms. Angelica Barnes the Beautiful, my frat and best friend Jefferson must be a liar.”
“What are you talking about, Malik?”
“Why don’t you tell me? You’re turning over a new leaf. The truth might set your soul free.”
“Okay, Malik, this is over. I’m going to get some lunch, finish out my day, and decide whether I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Malik gently grabbed Angelica by both wrists. “Look into my eyes and tell me you and Jefferson haven’t been together.”
“Let go of me. Now. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Jefferson and I have not been together.”
Malik released her arms. “You haven’t learned your lesson yet, and you’ll never be the woman Margo is.”
“Funny, Jefferson said the same words to me.” Tears formed in Angelica’s eyes.
“See, I know all about how you seduced Jefferson while you were married to Hamilton. I know all the sordid details. Jefferson didn’t leave a seedy detail to chance. That’s what frats do. They share everything-their joys, their toys, and their conquests. Yes, it even got me to thinking about hitting on you, but I’m not the dog Jefferson is. He’s my boy, but I didn’t agree with half the things he did, especially where it concerned Margo. Margo has been his whole life, and I hate that I hold the kind of secrets that would hurt her to the core.”
“I believe my day here is done.”
“I will never tell Margo, you know. She never needs to know that her best friend is a pole-dancing ho who laid with her husband.”
“I hate you, Malik.” Angelica pointed her finger at herself. “You will never get to road test this because you’re not good enough. It takes a real man to handle Angelica Barnes. Ask Jefferson.”
Angelica turned on her heels and started out the door. She turned around and looked back at Malik with tears in her eyes. “Thank you for nothing. I expected you to be more of a man than Jefferson. I guess I was wrong.”
Malik watched her walk out, stop, and then run back into the shop.
“What is it?” Malik asked with concern written on his face.
Angelica’s chest heaved in and out. “Oh my God!”
“What is it, Angelica? What happened out there?”
“I saw the guy who was on the bus with me when I left prison.”
“It’s probably a coincidence. Anyway, why would he be after you?”
“No, Malik. It was the way he stared at me. He was in jail for armed robbery and attempted murder. He told me things about Hamilton-some terrible crap that these guys are doing to him in prison, things only someone on the inside would know. But the frightening thing is he doesn’t even know me. And then he mentioned Ms. Macy.”
“Who’s Ms. Macy?”
“One of the corrections officers at the women’s prison. I have a weird feeling about that man. I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t feel good about it. If you don’t mind, I’d like to sit here a minute, and if you’re still offering half of your sandwich, I’ll accept.”
“Sure. You can have the whole sandwich; I’m not that hungry.”
“Malik, whatever you think of me, I’m not the same person you once knew. Yes, I am guilty of the things you accuse me of, but that was then and this is now.”
“What things?” said the familiar voice. “You need to get a bell in this place, Malik, so nobody walks in on you.”
“Margo, what are you doing here?” Malik blurted.