Chapter 3
The hustle and bustle of Daizy Dukes Bar and Grill was background noise to Steph as she sat on a barstool watching Charlize charm the other customers. She went there after work looking for a listening ear and a hot meal. The chef dropped a burger and fries in front of Steph before darting back into the kitchen. She dove into the burger but picked at the fries.
“Girl you should really stop playing with that free food and eat it,” Charlize shouted over the music as she walked by.
“I can’t eat. I’m just excited and can’t believe this is happening. I wish you could have seen the look on ole girl’s face when she got called out on her mistakes. It was priceless. And then when he stopped her at the door from coming back in, saying that we were in a private meeting… I could have died,” Steph laughed as she recalled the events of her day. “He said we’re going to be working this case one on one and there could be some late nights.”
“I wonder what’s going to happen on those late nights,” Charlize smirked. She started wiping down the counter to stay near Steph. If her manager came out, she didn’t want it to look like she wasn’t working.
“Ain’t nothing going to happen on those late nights except me kicking ass and taking names! If I can do really good on this project, it will do so much good for my career and my credibility among his clients,” Steph started thinking of the possibilities ahead of her.
“But what about you and how y’all feel about each other?” Charlize teased.
“Girl! If I gotta tell somebody else, one more God damn time, that we ain’t gonna have no funny business going on, I’m going to fucking scream!” Steph snickered still picking at her plate. “I really want this to work out for my career. It’s bad enough people at the office looking at me like I’m already fucking him, but I don’t want to add ammunition to that fire by actually doing it.”
Charlize cocked her head to the side, “Is this about Bobby? I mean, I know you guys broke up like two seconds ago, and I can understand if you’re still hung up on him, but why not get over him with John billionaire? He’s the perfect rebound!”
“That’s what’s wrong with you,” Steph shook her head. “You thinking that a billionaire is a rebound. Even if I was interested, I wouldn’t want to hit and quit that. You have to be around him to get it. There’s just something about him that draws you in and never lets you go. He deserves more than just a one night stand.”
Charlize raised an eyebrow surprised, “Oh I get it. You actually like him. Well I hope you come to your senses and act like the beautiful goddess you are. You could get any man you want Steph, and honestly, I don’t want to see you end up with anybody else like Bobby.”
Steph dwelled on the compliments as Charlize stepped away. Bobby was supposed to be her forever and with all of the shit he’s put her through, she always had a soft spot for him. Thinking about it like that, however, made Steph realize that she pitied him. She didn’t love him. He was just another victim of their neighborhood. She and a few others were smart enough to get out of there.
A random man sat down next to Steph at the bar. He watched her pick at her food and when she looked his way, he smiled his warmest smile. However, there was something off about his aura. His attractive nature didn’t match his essence. Steph wanted him to move but she could smell that would be a waste of time. Fumes of vodka and gin seeped through his pores wafting into Steph’s face. The stench nearly knocked her off the stool.
As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, Charlize came over to give him a glass of water. She wouldn’t leave him alone or get a word out until he drank it down. It made him sick and he took off running toward the bathroom. The two friends cracked up after which Steph thanked her for the rescue.
“Oh girl, you don’t even know the half of it. He spends all his money in here knowing he got six kids by five women and he beats them,” Charlize started wiping glasses down.
“The kids?”
“No! The baby mamas! I gotta pull one of them off of him at least once a week. It’s a three ring circus with him,” Charlize snarled.
“Okay, I’m done here,” Steph chuckled as she threw down some cash for the tip jar. It was time for her to go before she got caught up in the drama of the regulars at the bar. The last thing she needed was a random baby mama to think she was encroaching on her territory. She had enough drama at work to last a lifetime. She blew kisses at Charlize as she exited the bar to head home.
Her mind would not let her rest as pictures of John played over and over again. His long locs hanging low made her want to wrap her hands in them. Imagining his hands rubbing all over her body was more than she could handle. She didn’t want this. At least that’s what she kept telling herself until she fell asleep.
Work the next day wasn’t as entertaining but still progressive. Mrs. Cartwright apologized for being so intrusive and judgmental. Steph went to lunch but when she returned to her office, John was standing behind her desk staring out of the window.
“You know this isn’t doing anything for my reputation around here,” she spoke up announcing her presence.
He turned around with that award winning smile, “Well, if I’m not mistaken, it’s none of your business what other people think about you. I like that one.”
John was growing quite fond of Ms. Allen. He always wanted to be in her presence.
“Where did you hear that?” Steph questioned.
“Rumors about a conversation you and the other paralegal had. I told you the rumors would start. Most of them find their way back to me. I thought it was clever, but I’m not here about gossip,” he thumbed through a few of the papers on her desk. There was a level of comfort and playfulness Steph hadn’t expected. Things were changing between them.