Chapter 14 #2
I went back to eating my salad while Susanna continued with her dos and don'ts of the conference.
I wasn't taking her advice on mingling or trying to find a friend in the mixed crowd of eligible bachelors that would be in attendance.
Suddenly, Susanna stopped speaking when the front door of the office opened.
Susanna sucked her teeth as a caramel-skinned woman, with long curly hair and a skintight lime green two-piece skirt set, walked through the door.
She wore tall nude heels that made my feet ache.
She wore big black shades and red lipstick.
I could tell she was beautiful behind the makeup.
I stood from my chair and wiped my mouth to greet her.
"Good afternoon. How can we help you today?" I asked, making my way over to her.
"Where is Trey?"
Her tone took me aback. I was even more shocked when she referred to him as Trey. Usually, all his clients called him Mr. Houston. I looked back at Susanna, who looked beyond annoyed. She stood from her seat and walked over toward us.
"Do you have an appointment, Ari?"
I tried to contain my shock. This was the Ari. I took in her appearance more. She had the perfect BBL and breast job I had ever seen. It made sense that she was someone Tremaine dealt with. She was stunning and the ideal woman of what most men wanted.
Ari rolled her eyes and removed her shades. "Hey, to you, too, Susanna. Do you think I would be here if I didn't?"
"Um... yeah. That's why I asked."
Ari sucked her teeth. "Girl, where is Trey?"
"If you had an appointment with him, shouldn't he be with you?" Susanna spat.
I could tell things were getting intense, and I stepped in between the two.
"If you can have a seat, I'll let Mr. Houston know you're here."
"Thanks," she stated in a dry tone while rolling her eyes at Susanna.
I immediately walked to Trey's office, knocked, and waited for him to invite me in. Once he did, I slowly opened the door.
"Hey," I said. "Um, did you have an appointment with Ari? I didn't see it on your calendar, and she's in the lobby right now."
"Oh yeah! We're headed to lunch. Tell her to give me a second. I'll be out shortly."
"Lunch?" I asked. "You and she are going to lunch?"
He nodded. "Correct."
"Sure, it's just lunch? The way she looks, it's giving more than just a lunch date."
Tremaine stood up and grabbed his suit coat.
"Mila, we're just having a conversation."
Jealousy filled my body. If Tremaine wanted to have a conversation with Ari, it didn't require going out to lunch. It could have been a phone call or a Zoom meeting, not him spending an afternoon with each other, sharing an appetizer.
"Whatever, Trey. I'll let your lunch date know you're coming."
I spun on my heels before he could reply. Ari sat in the lobby scrolling on her phone when I returned.
"He's coming," was all I said when I walked over to my desk.
Susanna stood there still mugging Ari. "I can't stand her. What is she doing here?"
"Apparently, the two are going out to lunch."
"What? I thought he wasn't dealing with her anymore. I knew he was lying."
Seconds later, Tremaine walked into the lobby. Ari jumped to her feet and wrapped her arms around his neck, squealing. My skin crawled from the interaction. Memories and flashbacks of what Kyle put me through flooded through me.
"Ladies," Tremaine said, walking over to my desk.
I didn't bother to look up at him. I kept my focus on my computer screen.
"I'll be back shortly. Mila, can you forward all my calls?"
I didn't immediately answer him. I wasn't sure what would come out of my mouth because of the way I felt.
"Um, Mila, did you hear me?" he asked.
"Yes, Mr. Houston. Loud and clear."
I could feel him staring at me, but I didn't break. I kept my focus on the computer screen in front of me.
"Trey," Ari called. "Ready?"
"Um, yeah, let's go. I'll be back, y'all."
"Hmm...have fun, Mr. Houston," Susanna said.
I didn't unseal my lips. Tremaine had really outdone himself by having Ari pop up here and then going to lunch with her. His actions were loud and clear.
It was closing time, and Tremaine still wasn't back yet.
I had already called my Uber and was preparing to head home.
If Tremaine weren't my boss, I would block his number.
Susanna had already left for the day, and I was left to lock up the office.
By the time I had locked everything in the office and headed out front, the sun was setting.
As soon as I stepped out of the door, I ran directly into a hard body, damn near dropping all my items.
"So, this is where you work?"
I recognized Kyle's voice anywhere. What I didn't understand was why he was at my job. I thought I made it clear that if it didn't involve our lawyers, he should not be communicating with me personally, let alone this closely.
"Kyle, why the fuck are you here?"
"Damn, when did you become so feisty? I just wanted to see you."
I let out an exhausted breath. "It's been a long day. You see me, now, so can you leave? We shouldn't even be talking."
"I miss you, Mila. For real."
"Bye, Kyle."
I went to walk past him, but he stepped in the way.
"Mila, I'm for real. I fucked up. I just want my family back."
My face heated, and I became hot. Kyle had his family, but he threw it all away by stepping out on me and having a baby with another woman. He didn't care about his family then, and he damn sure doesn't care now.
"You must be high right now to think that because you're saying some shit like that matters to me.
You ruined your family. I was willing to fight and make shit right.
I even recommended counseling, but you embarrassed me.
You made me out to be some goddamn fool.
I dealt with a lot of bullshit from you.
I limited myself and stayed in a bubble just to accommodate you, when you didn't appreciate that. "
I felt myself tearing up, and the anger in my heart spewed out. I had never spoken to Kyle this way while we were married, because I always believed a woman should never talk to her man in that way, but that belief had gone out the window.
"I hate what you did to our family, but I'm thankful that you did. I'm finding myself after I lost it in you many years ago. I'm back to being Mila now, and there ain't no damn space here for you."
"Mila."
"Stop saying my goddamn name. When I wanted this, you didn't have the time or energy for me, so guess what? Mila doesn't have the time or energy for you. Get back in your car and go to your baby mama."
"You don't mean that," he said.
"She does."
I looked past Kyle and saw Tremaine standing there. Kyle had turned around and faced him as well. Tremaine looked angry as his eyes bounced between Kyle and me.
"Mila, are you good?" he asked.
I wanted to roll my eyes. Not only had Kyle annoyed me, but now, here was Tremaine popping up after being gone all lunch with Ari, doing God knows what.
"I'm good. My Uber is here, and I don't have time for this. Goodbye, Kyle."
He went to reach for me, but I backed away in time. Tremaine quickly moved, stepping in between us.
"Oh, right, this is your boss. He was the nigga at the restaurant taking up for you?"
"She asked you to leave. So, I need you to get out from in front of my property and go back to where you came from."
Kyle looked Tremaine up and down and then back at me. He scoffed.
"Man, whatever. Mila, baby, I know you're mad but think about what I said. Please."
I rolled my eyes and walked to the parking lot where my Uber was parked, waiting.
"Mila!" Tremaine called just as I was opening the door.
I turned around, exhausted from the day I just had. I just wanted to get in the Uber, get KJ, and go home.
"Let me take you home."
I shook my head.
"Mila."
I held my hand up, cutting him off.
"You left here at noon. It is now five thirty. You've been gone for hours with a bitch you were just recently fucking, not to mention you did it in my face."
"It wasn't like that."
"I don't care what it was like. I don't care to know, but what I do know is that I've had enough of everyone today. I'm going home."
"Can we talk?" Tremaine asked.
Moments when Kyle would play the same manipulation tactic crossed my mind. He would try to spin his actions to make them something they weren't, when in reality, they were what I said they were. I would no longer be a woman who swept everything under the rug.
"No, we cannot talk. Have a good night."
I opened the door and slid in, closing it shut.
I didn't look out the window at Tremaine because I knew he was still standing there.
As soon as the driver pulled off, I let the tears I had been holding silently fall down my face.
Today had drained me, but I was proud of myself for standing on business and putting my feelings first.