Read Crush Online

Authors: Cydney Michele; Rax Lutishia; Grant Lovely

Crush (12 page)

8
Lois placed the bag of Chinese food on the kitchen counter. She reached for a plate and piled it high with sweet-and-sour chicken, beef with broccoli, vegetable fried rice, and crab rangoon. If not for good genes and a high metabolism, Lois knew she’d weigh two hundred pounds instead of the one hundred and sixty that covered her five-foot-five frame. Food was often her companion, assuaging hungers unrelated to diet. This wasn’t a fact Lois acknowledged. Lois’s lifestyle demanded that certain satisfactions be denied.
Lois placed her plate, glass of tea, and fortune cookie on a tray and walked into the living room. It was a rare moment when she had the house to herself. Her mother had gone to an out-of-town women’s retreat and wouldn’t be back until late tomorrow night. Because of this, Lois had decided to skip the Friday night service that Save Your Soul held every other week, even though she often enjoyed the associate minister’s sermons. Where her mother’s sermons were more “fire and brimstone,” focusing on what not to do, Pastor Mack’s messages were upbeat, often laced with humor, and filled with what was possible when one had faith. But the week had drained Lois’s energy, physically and especially mentally. Lois looked forward to enjoying a delicious meal, a great movie, and a good night’s sleep.
The comedy Lois had selected on Netflix was a good one. Tyler Perry was her favorite actor, one who could usually make her forget anything that troubled her mind. Lois often came home filled with anguish about the plight of the law firm’s clients. Part of the reason she’d purposely chosen comedies tonight was because of Mr. Covington’s last appointment of the day: a mother whose son had been seriously injured when an amusement-park ride had malfunctioned. Her son had been thrown from the roller coaster and had landed on his head. This massive brain injury had left her son in a vegetative state. While Lois felt Mr. Covington was certain to get a substantial settlement for the family, there were some things that money simply could not buy, or replace.
As horrific as this situation was, an injured child wasn’t the main issue Lois was trying to forget. It was the words of the letters she’d finally read when Mr. Covington returned the file to her for safekeeping. Try as she might, for the rest of the afternoon she hadn’t been able to stop the pictures from forming in her head. Ones of Mr. Covington. Naked. And on top of her.
Lois reached for the remote and turned up the volume. She forced herself to focus on Madea and her “big happy family.” For a few moments she succeeded, laughing uproariously as Madea shook her signature gray wig, placed a hand on an ample hip, and read her poor victim the riot act.
He has another hit on his hands,
she concluded. Unfortunately, her joy only lasted as long as the movie, and began dissipating as the credits rolled. Even her fortune cookie’s promise of a silver lining behind every cloud couldn’t lighten her mood.
It was only ten o’clock, but Lois prepared for bed. She walked into the bathroom and, after brushing her teeth, decided to take a shower. She undressed and caught sight of herself just before stepping into the tub. She walked from the bathroom to the full-length mirror hanging on the back of her bedroom door. For the first time in years, Lois viewed herself completely naked.
Her assessment couldn’t have been more clinical had it come from a doctor: small breasts, a pudgy stomach, hips bigger than she would have liked. She turned to the side, her mouth turning down as she viewed her less than ample—okay, flat—behind. Why was it, she wondered, that of all the things she’d inherited from her mother, Reverend Edwards’s butt wasn’t one of them? Granted, few people knew the extent of Beatrice’s treasures. She preached in long robes and, when she wasn’t dressed for ministry, wore loose, earth-toned caftans. But Lois had seen her mother’s assets and now wished she had them.
After taking her shower, Lois sat at the desktop computer in her room. She stared for a long moment at the blank page in front of her. Slowly, almost mechanically, she placed her hands on the keys and began to type:
Dear Mr. Covington . . .
Lois stopped, deleted the salutation, swallowed hard, and began again.
Dear Chaz . . .
9
The weekend passed quickly, and Lois was glad to be back at work. It had been a frenzied Monday, and Chaz was uncharacteristically demanding. Lois didn’t take it personally. She knew her boss was focusing on the final arguments of the Jimenez trial that had gone on for months. If Chaz won the case, it could potentially be one of the largest personal-injury settlements in the nation’s history. So Lois understood why Mr. Covington was on edge. She was nervous, too.
“Lois.”
That one word spoken through her phone’s intercom brought Lois scurrying into Chaz’s office. “Yes, Mr. Covington.”
“Sit down. I need to dictate a letter that then needs to be sent across town by messenger.”
Chaz had just begun verbalizing his thoughts, when there was a knock at the door. “Yes?”
“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Covington,” Gina said softly, as both she and the subtly provocative perfume she wore approached his desk. “But this FedEx came with special instructions to be delivered immediately.”
Lois begrudgingly admitted that Gina smelled good and looked even better, taking in her fire-red suit—the short skirt and high heels emphasizing long, well-shaped legs. In that moment, Lois decided to stop by the mall on the way home and purchase some perfume.
“Thanks, Gina,” Chaz curtly replied. The tone of his voice clearly indicated that now was not the time for flirtation.
Gina got the memo. “You’re welcome,” she said and quickly walked out of the room.
“This is probably the evidence I requested,” Chaz said, quickly opening the envelope. He pulled out the single sheet of paper. Only then did he notice that a pair of wispy-thin lace thongs was stapled to the bottom.
“Geez, not today,” he groaned, rolling his eyes. He placed the unread letter and scented panties back inside the envelope and handed it to Lois. “You know what to do with this.”
“Yes, of course.” Lois’s hands shook as she took the envelope, remembering her miserable attempt over the weekend to write a sexy letter to Chaz. She hadn’t even been able to mentally form the words, much less type out a message. As much as she despised the nasty-gram culprit, she begrudgingly acknowledged the writer’s imagination, and guts. Lois now knew for sure that she could never do such a thing.
Once Chaz finished dictating the letter, he left the office to spend the rest of the day in court. The law firm’s receptionist had called in sick, so on top of her other responsibilities, Lois was splitting phone-answering duties with Gina and two other secretaries. She didn’t mind the extra work. It kept her focused on other people’s problems instead of her own. She was almost at the end of her last phone shift when two disturbing calls came in.
The first call was Jennifer Covington, Chaz’s ex-wife. “He’s in court,” Lois responded when Jennifer asked to be put through to his line. She wished she could be nonbiased where Jennifer was concerned, but the fact that this woman had committed adultery, and that she’d cheated on a stellar man like Chaz, put her below the bottom of Lois’s loser list.
“Which court is he in? I need to talk to him ASAP.”
“I’m not sure,” Lois lied, a rare occurrence. “You can call the courthouse and speak with the docket secretary. Would you like the number?”
“Do I come off as stupid to you?” Jennifer asked, her voice full of attitude. “When it comes to his work, Chaz doesn’t make a move without you knowing about it, and you’re probably pretty up on his personal calendar, too. Whatever you think about me, you’re talking to Chaz’s ex-wife and the mother of his children. Don’t think I can’t get your pitiful butt fired, and don’t think I don’t know that you could reach Chaz if you really tried. I don’t know what you think you’re doing, withholding information that I have a right to know, but please believe me when I tell you that you do
not
want me for an enemy!”
Lois had barely recovered from this verbal thrashing when the second call came in.
“Elizabeth Stein’s office for Mr. Covington,” Melanie said. The cheeriness that usually accompanied her greeting was noticeably absent.
“He’s in court, Melanie. May I take a message for Mrs. Stein?”
After writing down the message inviting Chaz to a weekend fund-raising dinner for an influential politician seeking a second office bid, Lois changed the topic. “Are you okay, Melanie? Your voice is missing its usual smile.”
“Hold on a minute, okay?”
“Sure.”
After a brief pause, Melanie came back on the line. She spoke softly. “I think The Ogre just left for a meeting, thank God. She’s about to drive me bonkers.”
“Is that why you’re upset?”
“That’s part of it.” Melanie paused. “The other part is that my boyfriend and I broke up last night.”
“Oh no, Melanie. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. He just called and said he needed space.”
Lois heard the tears that Melanie barely held at bay. She thought of the call with Jennifer Covington she’d just ended, and the reason that woman was Chaz’s ex-wife. “Do you think there’s someone else?”
“I don’t know what to think. I—”
“Are you on a personal call?” Lois heard a shrill voice in the background. The same voice soon boomed in her ear. “Who is this?”
“Um, hello, Mrs. Stein. It’s Lois Edwards.”
“Is he in?”
“No. He’s in court.”
“Is that why you think you can sit here shooting the breeze during office hours? While the cat is away the mouse plays? Well, I won’t stand for Melanie goofing off on my dime, and you’d better believe Chaz will hear about your unprofessional dallying as well!”
By the time Gina relieved Lois from phone duty, Lois had a mammoth headache. She’d just swallowed two aspirin when the phone rang at her desk.
“Chaz Covington’s office, Lois speaking.”
“May I speak with him, please?”
The hairs on Lois’s neck stood up, and her hands went clammy. She knew this voice; had hoped she’d never have to hear it again. It was the one person in life she actually feared. Not for herself. For her boss. It was the one person Lois felt could bring down Chaz’s empire with a whisper.
“May I ask who’s calling?” Lois asked, feigning ignorance.
“Naomi Stone,” was the nonplussed reply.
Even through her envy, Lois couldn’t help but admire the woman’s poise. They both knew Naomi’s identity was no secret to Lois, that her voice would be recognized anytime, anywhere. Lois shut her eyes against the memory.
“What do you mean he’s in a meeting? It’s seven o’clock!”
“He’s not available, Mrs. Covington. May I help you?”
“I don’t care if he’s in a meeting. I need to speak to him right now!” Jennifer fairly snarled into the phone.
“Seriously, Mrs. Covington, he insisted he not be interrupted for any reason.”
“When Chaz finds out his son was injured and you didn’t tell him—”
“Oh my goodness, forgive me. I didn’t know this involved his child. One moment.”
Lois walked briskly to Chaz’s office door, opened it, and became paralyzed by what she saw: Chaz’s body moving between the upturned legs of the woman laying on his desk. Fortunately for Lois, who’d never seen a man’s behind, his was covered by an unbuttoned designer shirt. But the pants around his ankles, the rhythmic thrusts of his hips, and the low grunts told even this sexual novice what time it was.
“Ooh, baby, yes, right there,” the female voice loudly whispered. “You feel so good, baby, I love your . . . ooh yes, right there . . . yes!”
Lois squeezed shut her eyes and turned her head. “Your son’s hurt!” she eked out, her voice an octave higher than normal. “Jennifer’s on line one.” Then she hurriedly slammed the door and ran out of the building.
The next morning, Chaz summoned her into his office shortly after he arrived. “Please accept my most profound apologies,” he said when Lois stepped into his office and then plastered herself against the office door. “There’s nothing I can say to convey how embarrassed I am. I thought you’d gone home.”
“I-I left, but came back for my cell phone. I’d accidentally left it on the desk.”
An awkward silence filled the room.
“I got caught up in a moment of... unrestraint,” Chaz said, as if each word brought pain. “If I’d had any idea you were still here . . .” Chaz stopped, and wearily sat behind his desk. “I miss my family, but that’s no excuse.”
“Please, Mr. Covington. There’s no need to explain. It will be as if it didn’t happen, I promise. I won’t say a word.”
That incident happened a year after Chaz had separated from Jennifer and one month after Lois began working for one of the most prestigious attorneys in the city. Seeing the anguish mixed with embarrassment on Chaz Covington’s face had pierced Lois’s heart. In that moment, she’d realized that behind the strong, confident, charismatic persona that graced televisions nationwide was a sensitive, even vulnerable human being who could probably benefit from a good, sound hug. That’s when Lois fell in love with Chaz Covington. It was also the first and only time Lois had heard Naomi’s voice. But both women knew it was a voice she’d never forget.
“Be sure and tell your boss that I called and wish to speak to him,” Naomi politely requested.
“Yes, Ms. Stone. May I have your phone number?”
After taking down the information and ending the call, Lois sat back in her chair as if sucker-punched. Her mind immediately went to the overnight envelope that had been added to the Miscellaneous—N file.
I wouldn’t put it past a woman like you to send letters like those,
Lois concluded. From what she remembered, Naomi could wear the thong that had been sent with what Lois felt was the nastiest letter yet. Naomi had taken off her panties at least once for Chaz Covington. Lois was convinced that she was ready to do it again.

Other books

Kidnap by Lisa Esparza
Emily's Vow by Betty Bolte
Eco: Foucalt's Pendulum by eco umberto foucault
Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard
Prisoner Mine by Megan Mitcham
El asesino hipocondríaco by Juan Jacinto Muñoz Rengel
Dark Powers by Rebecca York