For Better or For Worse (7 page)

“
Knock, knock.” Frank
Carnac appeared at my office door. “Can I come in?” “What’s up
Frank?” Frank always was a little off but today for some reason he
was grinning uncontrollably. “Man you wouldn’t believe it if I told
you. We got a new temp in the office working for Gilman, and she is
hot.” He slipped back out of my office and signaled for me to
follow him. Reluctantly against my better judgment I did, we walked
pass the double doors into the main office. There she was, she
stood about five eight, lean figure, long beautiful dark brown
hair, and recognizable Spanish features. She was fine…no more than
fine, she was gorgeous; I figured she was an inspiring model trying
to make ends meet. She was talking with Gilman and Marshall the
leading executives in the corporation.

“
Man if I didn’t have
arthritis in my right knee, the things I would do.” Frank whispered
to me. I gave him a stern look. “And if I was not married with
three kids.” He corrected. Frank and been married since the age of
eighteen, it had been a struggle and a strain at first but he still
held on to his marriage. I guess I couldn’t blame him for looking,
every man on the third floor was trying to sneak a peek. She
glanced over and looked in my direction, Frank and I attempted to
look busy to no avail. She giggled and waved off the executives,
and made her way over. “Hello, are you Grant smith?” she asked in a
voice so sweet it could have been honey. “Uh...Huh…Yes I am.” I
stuttered a little bit…attractive women tend to have that effect on
a brutha. “Good.” She smiled. “I’m Alexia Cruz I’m going to be
assisting you with Project Reach Out.”

She reached for my hand, I
gladly extended it to her, while looking at Frank as if I were in
trouble. “I um thought you were Gilman’s new assistant?” She
smiled, and I noticed how pretty her lips were shaped, just like a
plump upside down W. “I am. He wants me to show off my skills in
assisting you in your business venture. I could take over his part
and help you with this project.” “Oh you’re interested in a
permanent job in the business, I just assumed this was a past time
job.” She looked at me offended. “Well actually I just graduated
with bachelors in business administration, but I have no
experience. I figured working under an executive would give me
enough insight.”

She gave me that typical
woman look;
you know the I just got done
with setting a fool straight look.
Realizing I had just put my foot in my mouth I sincerely
apologized. “Please forgive me, that was very rude.” She nodded and
for a split second it looked like her eyes were wondering me from
head to toe. I shook it off and I thought I imagined it. “It’s ok.
I ‘ve been hearing a lot about you. You have generated a great deal
of business for the company.” I was flattered that people were
aware of the great work I had been doing. Ever since I came over to
the cooperation and got new workers to come in, I’ve tried my best
to build new ideas for the company to create profit and
expansion.

It was amazing how I could
do all that and still find time to spend with my family…Hmmm. “Well
I’m just doing my job.” I agreed. She gave me that smile again.
“Well I look forward to working with you.” “And I’m pretty sure he
looks forward to working with you too.” Frank intervened. How
embarrassing, I can’t believe I forgot he was even there. “Oh this
is Frank Carnac, he also has been making is mark in the industry.”
They shook hands. “Nice to meet you.” “Likewise.” Frank looked from
Alexia back to me. “Well I need to be off I‘ll see you guys later.”
We both nodded our heads and watched attentively as she walked off.
I tried to clear the air. “Well she was nice.” I said to frank
nodding my head. He gave me a very definite look that said I’m in
trouble.

Lucy

“
Awww…..Honey, I feel bad
for him…Sounds like he just wants some attention from you.” Megan
said while chit chatting in my office. Grant had raised pure hell
last night when I told him about the annual end of year ball. He
didn’t understand, by hosting this party I would be getting
exposure to so many of fashions royalty. He just roared on about
how I didn’t care about him or anybody else.
Damn,
I thought.
He could really act like a female sometime
. I shook it off; I had come too far to let him stop me now.
I looked at Meg who seemed so desperate to help me and signed. “I
know, I know, but I’m trying ok. I said I would take a few steps
for him not run miles.” I really was trying; I cut back on work and
spent as much time with him as possible but when the opportunity
came in to plan Elites annual party I just had to take
it.

Just then Gabrielle walked
in and knocked on the door. “Hello Natalia, mind if I have a
second.” I soon as I heard Natalia I knew it had to be one of two
people at my office door; my father or my boss. I looked up to see
Gabrielle standing in the doorway looking as divine as ever in
light orange Versace piece. Since Natalia was my birth name she
refused to call me anything else, she figured nick names in the
work place were for adolescent teachers. Megan and I both
straightened up, didn’t want the boss to see us slacking off. “Yes,
sure come in.” I motioned for her to have a seat. “Hi Gabrielle…..
Lucy I’m going to check in with you later.” Meg nodded and
disappeared into the mayhem we called work. Gabrielle took a seat
opposite of me and had her business face on.

“
Well Gabrielle what’s on
your mind?” I asked only imagining why on earth she was in my
office right now. She slicked her hair back before speaking.
Gabrielle Sidis was a former model from Russia back in the early
eighties; she did a lot of behind the scenes work as well which led
her to be the owner of Elite magazine which displayed the latest
fashion wear in runway. She was a very regal woman given her age,
hardly a wrinkle in sight, you could totally tell she used to model
back in her hay day. “I‘ve come to hear some of your ideas for the
annual ball, I hope you have pre pared to excite me.” I gulped a
little bit, Gabrielle being the owner of the prestigious Elite
could be a very intimidating woman. “Well I was thinking since it
was going to be close to December this year, we could go with a
winter theme, also displaying the fall collections from our new
designers.” Gabrielle nodded while in deep thought leaving me to no
clue if she liked my ideas or not. I sat back and silently prayed
as she spoke.

“
Ok….I like it…We will
need to get started with the venue and decorations, also contact
all the designers with their collections we will need to preview
them before the ball...” Gabrielle collected her things and made
her way to the door leaving me sighing in relief. “By the way
Natalia,” she said before exiting. “Good idea.” “Thank you….” I
managed to get out before she left.
Whew
, I thought, thankful for the
positive feedback. I couldn’t explain to you how excited I was to
have this opportunity to show case my talent; I would have to give
this my all no matter what and if Grant couldn’t see what this
opportunity means to me that’s just too damn bad. I managed to get
home a little early to pacify my husband, he was looking over some
paper work why little Greg was watching SpongeBob. “Home early.” He
said with a side smile. I nodded; I couldn’t help but smile at
him.

He always looked so
handsome; there was a difference in him now from back when we first
met. He was less hard edged all the time, and his business apparel
suited him just fine now. To think the man from back then would be
who he is now. “I thought you might like it if I got home a little
early.” I put my bags on the table and leaned over and kissed him.
“Greg you’re not going to give mommy a hug?” I called over to my
son who hadn’t even noticed I came home. “Hi mom, SpongeBob is on.”
He yelled out from the living area. “SpongeBob trumps all mothers.”
Grant laughed. “You haven’t learned that by now.” I shrugged. “So
how was work?” I asked nonchalantly. Grant looked a little
uncomfortable…I noticed that. “It was ok …nothing new.” I nodded,
“Really nothing new at all?” He shifted in his chair…I noticed that
too. “Nope.” He responded. I went to the fridge and grabbed a glass
of water. “So you didn’t get a new coworker who happens to be an
undercover stripper?”

He dropped his pen and
looked at me. “Where did you hear that?” I put on a look of
innocence on. “Not from you.” Grant sighed and rubbed the back of
his head. “Let me guess Frank’s wife called and told you about
Gilman’s new assistant. I swear that woman has access to our
surveillance cameras.” I shrugged knowing that Shana made it her
business to know everything that was going on in that office and
didn’t mind sharing that information…to my benefit. “Look baby,
Gilman got a new assistant in his office everybody met her today,
now I don’t know anything about the undercover stripper thing but
she is nice person.”

I took a sip of my water.
“I guess you didn’t want to share this information with me.” He
lowered his head for a moment and then made his way over to me. “I
didn’t share it with you because it wasn’t important and I didn’t
want you to catch an attitude for no reason.” Grant placed his
hands on my shoulders. “Now why would I catch an attitude, just
because she is working for Gilman? It’s not like she is going to be
working with you.” I said with a big phony Miss America smile. He
chuckled. “See there is another reason I don’t tell you anything,
you already seem to know, but what you should know is that there is
nothing to worry about.” I looked at him, seriously this time.
“Should I know that?” He looked strongly back at me, “Yes you
should.” I laughed to break the tension. “I guess a little
reassurance never hurt.” With that he leaned down and kissed deeply
to the point that I was finding it hard to stand. When he finally
released, I was in desperate need of air. “How is that for
reassurance?” “Great...” I barely got out.

Grant

To my surprise I was a
little shocked at how close Alexia and I got over the course of a
couple months being that we had to work together. She was a hard
worker and quick on her feet. It amazed me how she could take
control like a natural born leader when necessary. We actually had
a lot in common, we both liked psychology, scrabble, and Chinese
food. We would sit around the office talking the day away. “Ugh.
That was gruesome, fifty exports of tools and assignments. Damn, I
feel like an overworked mule. Whew.” I laid back in my chair
reflecting on the work schedule of today. “Well you handled
everything pretty well.” Alexia watched as I took the load off, she
smiled at me.

I looked away trying to
avoid that smile it was too tempting. “Well that came from years of
practice, I’m pretty much adjusted here.” She giggled a little.
“Nice” I chuckled too, mainly because I was partly confused.
“What’s nice?” Her eyes flickered at me. “A man with modesty,
that’s rare now a day, especially in the corporate world.” Just as
I was getting pulled in, my cell phone rang….thank God. “Hello…oh
hi baby….what….what do you mean you can’t go? I’ve been talking
about this for months you can’t just….so that’s more
important…….fine do what you want.” I slammed the phone down on the
shelf near my desk shaking the foundation.

Got damn it. I thought. I
couldn’t believe this, how could she do this to me?
“Is everything ok?” I turned and looked at
Alexia, I forgot she was there. “Yeah…. It’s fine.” I lied and
calmly sat down at my desk, she was still watching me in suspicion.
“Is there trouble with the wife?” I must have given her a pretty
stern look because she quickly apologized for the statement. “Sorry
I was completely out of line, so do you want me to email you some
more resources for Project Reach Out?” She asked while taking her
foot out of her mouth. I nodded in my dower mood. Alexia grabbed
her files and began to walk away. “For what it’s worth, you’re much
more attractive when you smile.” I watched her walk off and smiled
slightly. My God I was so pissed, how Lucy could do this to me, she
knows how important this dinner is and now she not even coming. I
rubbed my hands down my face, I have had it; I have had it trying
to get her attention something’s got to give.

Chapter 8

Don’t
forget me

Grant/1996

It was our last week
together before Lucy went off to college and I wanted us to spend
some time with each other. I knew that life for us was about to get
hectic with us being so far away from one another. Now that she was
actually in the car I was regretting the decision to take her
ungrateful ass anywhere. Lucy had been fussing about everything
ever since I picked her up from her house. “I don’t want to go to
no cheap ass burger joint, why can’t we go to a nice sit down
restaurant.” I glanced over at her while driving and looked at her
like she was crazy. “You better sit yo ass down at this burger
place and be happy. Shit, I aint puff daddy.” She cut her eyes at
me. “I just said could we go, I’m not asking you to pay for
anything...”

She slouched back into the
seat and muttered. “Cheap ass” “What?” I said catching her comment.
Lucy rolled her eyes and folded her arms. “Nothing... Absolutely
noth-thing.”
Damn
, I thought.
For someone who grew up
in a high end neighborhood she sure new how to act like one of
these low class hood rats and if it wasn’t working my nerve.
I just shook my head and fought the urge to smack
the hell out of her. As we pulled into the parking lot of the
Burger Joint things didn’t get any better. Lucy got out of the car
slamming the car door (that alone almost got her killed), didn’t
even wait for me when she entered the place, and then stomped her
feet all the way to the table.
What a damn
child,
thought. I watched her ass as she
walked over and took a seat. “Girl you better be glad you fine”, I
muttered.