Authors: Rebecca K. Watts
He crossed his arms as he read. She watched on while flipped through the pages.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Olivia went on high alert. She was ready to pounce. “What?”
The green eyes of her nine-year-old neighbor looked up at her. “Hi, Mrs. Taylor, are the twins here? Can they come out?”
She checked her attitude. “No, Lil’ Tony, they’re gone for the weekend.”
Without another word, the boy took off running back to his yard. She turned around and saw Travis scowling at her.
“See, that is why I signed this. You snatched open the door, dead set on acting out. This is not the ghetto, and you should behave better.”
“Well, thanks,” she said, taking the papers. He could bring his side piece to her house, but she was the one with a problem. Olivia shook her head as she shut the door behind him.
She hoped he didn’t think they were going to have to wait the usual ninety days and have a court date. Her lawyer had a petition in the package to waive the final hearing, as long as they both agreed. His signature wasn’t required on that page, and she felt no need to let Travis see it.
Olivia picked up the house phone to call her lawyer’s office to leave a message. Much to her surprise, someone answered.
“Peterson and Sims,” the receptionist said.
“Hello, this is Olivia Parker. My husband signed the divorce papers. I wanted to know when would be a good time to drop them off.”
“Hello, Mrs. Parker. I will be here until two this afternoon, or you can drop them off on Monday.”
She looked at the time. It was 1:15, enough time for her to make it downtown.
“Thank you. I’ll be there shortly.” She hung up the phone, found her purse and car keys, and hit the highway.
Chapter Eleven
Olivia’s attorney was efficient. After she dropped the papers of on Saturday, the judge had them on Monday. By Wednesday, Olivia had a certified copy of her divorce decree in her hands. Ever since she’d received the notice, Travis had started to blow up her cell and work phone. Knowing he was upset, Olivia wasn’t about to answer his calls. He’d already called her after signing the papers stating he changed his mind and would fight it with his own lawyer when they went to court.
Tough break, sucka.
She let another call go to voicemail.
Anita stepped into Olivia’s office. “What’s the focused look for?”
“I’m trying to get these reports together before this next meeting in Washington D.C. I got another forwarded email from Richard Lawson.”
“Aren’t you sick of those boring things? I mean, how much more can the bigwigs complain about the new health care changes? Anything is better than the policies we have now.”
“Yeah, try telling that to the bigwigs. It isn’t affecting them, so why do they care? It really isn’t an issue for me right now either, but for my other family members, this health care bill is a very big deal. Wish I could chat more, but I have to get these done. I don’t plan on having anybody call me every ten minutes,” she said, never raising her head up from the spreadsheet she was working on.
“I’m sure John will call no matter what, but I’ll leave you to it.” Anita walked off.
Earlier in the week, Angela put up a fuss, but she agreed to keep the boys for the trip to D.C. Unlike the other times, Olivia would only be gone four days instead of a full week. Her flight was leaving at seven that night. She worked until four, got her reports emailed, then zipped home to get the boys. Olivia half-expected Travis to be waiting at her doorstep. Some tension eased out of her shoulders when she saw he wasn’t.
She found the boys in the dining room finishing up their school projects. The dining room was the study room, because it had been over two years since they sat down together and ate as a family. Olivia would still cook fancy meals, but with Travis always working late, his plate used to just sit in the microwave. There was no need for just her and the boys sit at the table, not for them to gobble it down in ten minutes.
“Hey, babies,” she said.
“Ew, Mom, we are not babies anymore,” Jaylen said.
“Yeah, Mom, we are almost in double digits now,” added Jayden.
“You’re my babies, and you’ll always be.” She kissed them both on the cheek. If their friends were around, they would have wiped it off.
To her surprise the boys were taking their father not being around fairly well. She chalked it up the time he spent away on business. When she told them about the divorce their only question was could they bring their video games to their dad’s when they went to visit.
She left them to their project and went upstairs to change. Olivia loved that the summer camp gave the boys projec
ts to work on. They kept the twins’ minds busy during the long break. Next year, she wouldn’t need the camp, because their school was changing from traditional into year round.
Ditching the business suit, she changed into a blouse, slacks, and flats. By the time she came out of her room, the boys were done with their project.
“Don’t worry about a snack. I’ll stop by Subway. Go get your bags and come on.” She had double-checked their bags and put her luggage in the car before leaving for work that morning.
In less than an hour she dropped the boys off and arrived at the airport. Olivia made it to the gate right before they started making boarding calls. Sending up a silent prayer, she hoped to not get stuck next to another elderly lady. One the last trip, she had sat next to one who had talked her ear off. She didn’t care about her six cats or her ailments; Olivia needed a nap. She did feel bad about her kids not coming to visit her anymore, though.
It was Olivia’s lucky day, because the flight wasn’t full, and the seat next to her remained empty. She put up her bag and took the window seat. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she dozed off before the plane took to the air.
The jarring of the plane landed woke her. She navigated her way through the airport and hailed a cab. Courtesy of People’s Insurance, she was staying at the Four Seasons, the same hotel where the meetings were being held. The rooms were almost four hundred dollars a night. Nothing she’d ever pay for.
After getting settled in, she called Devon. It felt good to actually call her best friend whenever she wanted to again. She despised having to instant message him all the time.
“What’s up, baby girl?” he answered the phone.
“I’m letting you know I made it safe and sound.”
“That’s good to know. But you were supposed to call before the plane took off,” he said in a fatherly tone.
“Sorry, I was running late and fell asleep before we got off the runway. Anyway, guess what?”
“What?”
“I am officially a divorced woman!” She couldn’t hold back her smile.
“We’re going to celebrate when you get back.”
“That’s fine with me. I’ll hold you to it.” She planned on celebrating a little sooner than that. Olivia started talking online to a few men in the area over a week ago. She used the normal dating site and not
The Playhouse’s
. There was no way in the world she would date any of those men.
“Go ahead and relax. I was riding my bike when you called and had to pull over. I’m on my way downtown.”
“Okay, be careful. Smooches.” She hung up.
Olivia sent a text to her date, Chris, letting him know she made it.
After ordering room service, she grew anxious sitting in the room. She headed downstairs to the bar, figuring a glass of wine would help her sleep better. The morning meeting had her on edge. The outcome could result in big changes within the company. She had a feeling her job would be secure, but with the way the economy was going, who knew what tomorrow would bring. She had more than enough saved to get her by for at least six months, without dipping into her 401K or savings bonds, but she didn’t want to be next in the unemployment line.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.
“Ice wine, please.”
“A woman with taste I see.” He smiled at her and poured a glass.
She winked at him and gave it a taste. The sweet taste was heaven to her throat.
“What’s a beautiful woman like you doing drinking alone?” a voice said from behind her.
Olivia turned to see a handsome, mid-thirties white man with a deep tan, standing behind her.
“What makes you think I’m alone?” she said taking a sip of her drink.
“Because you only ordered for yourself.” He flashed a Colgate smile. His teeth were perfect.
“Point taken.” She smiled.
“You mind if I join you?”
“Sure, why not.”
“I’m Richard, by the way.” He offered his hand.
“I’m Olivia.”
“What brings you to D.C., Olivia?”
You sure are freaking nosey.
“Meetings.”
“You too, huh? I’m here for the same thing,” he said. “Can I get a Heineken?”
The bartender placed Richard’s beer on the counter.
“Well, I hope it’s not as boring as the last few I’ve been too.”
“I hope not either. The bigwigs are always long winded and go on about nothing of importance.” He leaned in a little too close for her comfort.
“Is that right? I’ll know soon enough.” She knew enough about office politics not to get caught up in these types of conversations. Doing so often ended up being detrimental. Changing the conversation, she said, “Where’re you from?”
“New York, and you?”
“Chicago
.” She smiled.
“Chicago
?” He cocked his head to the side. “I’m surprised. You have a bit of a southern accent. Not strong, but it’s definitely there.”
Olivia swallowed before
speaking. “I moved up to Chicago from Mississippi in high school.”
She finished her drink and waved the bartender off from refilling her glass. Olivia wanted to get away from that man. He was too nosey and arrogant for her liking. Richard reminded her of most of the upper management males she ran into. She pulled out her card to pay, but he insisted on covering the tab.
“Thank you.”
Olivia headed back to her room and fell asleep watching TV.
Chapter Twelve
An internal battle waged during the meeting: Olivia versus sleep. Had she not been the only black female, she probably would have lost the fight. Being easy to spot gave her extra will power. There’d already been three speakers—each saying that they wouldn’t be long. Forty-five minutes later, they finally finished. She wasn’t a fan of coffee, but she was going to get a cup on the next break. Olivia had to do something. Otherwise, her forehead was going to smack the table in front of her.
Her body relaxed, and her head tilted forward. She couldn’t stop it. Olivia was almost a goner until they announced the managing director of the New York office. She watched the man from the bar walk up to the front of the room.
“Good morning. Most of you know me, but for those who don’t, I’m Richard Lawson.”
Olivia’s mouth flew open. She’d being drinking with a director, not just any, but the head one. From the first word out his mouth, she couldn’t take couldn’t take her gaze away from him.
Her eyes had to be playing tricks on her. Richard seemed as if he were looking directly at her as he spoke. He was an excellent speaker, very animated, and held her undivided attention.
Bzzzz, bzzzz, bzzzz.
Her cell phone vibrated against her skin, causing her to almost jump out of her chair. She slid it under the table and checked to make sure it wasn’t anything important. A text message was on the screen.
I can’t wait to taste you.
She blushe
d.
It was from Chris, the guy she was meeting up with. There were two more messages behind it:
To lick your inner sweetness
And make you cum all over me.
Heat rose to her cheeks. She fought to hold back a smile. No one had ever spoken to her that way, other than on the internet. Playing around online was one thing. This was another. Olivia grew hot and bothered from reading them.
Richard had mercy and called for a ten minute break. She took off to the bathroom to compose herself. Splashing some water on her face, she gathered herself before heading back out to the hallway.
“Something have your attention?” Richard asked.
Olivia jumped. He’d come up behind her.
“Excuse me?” She turned to face him. He had a mischievous grin on his face.
“During the last part of the meeting, you seemed to be smiling to yourself an awful lot.”
“Is there some sort of law against it?” His close proximity made her nervous.
“No, I just thought it was something you’d like to share. I like a good joke.”
Heat rose to her cheeks as she shook her head.
“Maybe next time. By the way, you look nice today.” He winked at her.
That earned him a huge smile. She’d tried out one of her newer suits. It was similar to the one Mercedes wore on her website. Unlike her, Olivia kept her top buttoned.