Chapter 18 Spring Festivals and Shady Ho’s #2
A small lump formed in my throat as I nodded my head.
I was so used to running and managing the store by myself that I couldn't remember the last time I had genuine help.
Hell, when I was working with Lawrence at L I had a great staff and people around me who were supportive. There was no need to dwell on the past.
Opening my office door, the smell of something delicious filled my nose, making my stomach growl. On my desk was a to-go order from Mya's restaurant with a note on top.
Natalie, I hope you don't mind, but I grabbed you some lunch since I figured you wouldn't have too much time to grab some.
Your friend Mya said this was your favorite, but she also told me you're controlling and forget to slow down enough to eat.
So, make sure you eat today and take a break. –Dexter
A wide smile spread across my face as I took out the food and sat at my desk.
I bit down on my bottom lip as the idea of Dexter not only having my feelings tied up in confusing knots, but he was going out of his way to feed me.
I don't know about other women he may have encountered, but food was definitely a one-way ticket to my heart.
It wasn't the food, but the fact that he thought and cared enough that I was eating.
The more I spent time around him, the more I realized Dexter had to be one of the sweetest, most thoughtful men I knew, besides my family.
Maybe we could have a deeper platonic relationship.
After eating my lunch, I decided to go out the back door to get some fresh air. Lifting my head towards the sky, I took the time to marvel at God's beauty and to thank him for the blessing he had granted me and the ones he was sending my way.
“Your shop must be tanking for you to be sitting out here sulking.”
Snapping my head forward, I saw the last person I wanted to see walking up towards me.
“What are you doing over here, Sandra?”
“I wanted to see how you and your little shop were holding up.”
I scoffed. “More like, you wanted to see if I was struggling or closed. Well, I hate to break the wonderful news, sweetheart, but today I'm doing great.”
Sandra clapped her hands dramatically. “Look at you finally doing something with your pathetic self.”
My hands balled into fists as I glared down at Sandra. This heffa was really asking for me to knock the brakes off her ass. The only reason I didn't was because she was at my business, saying whatever she could to start a scene, but I would not give her the satisfaction.
“Bye, Sandra.”
“You're right, I need to go. Besides, the baby is getting hungry.”
My eyebrows dipped. “What baby?”
She cracked open her coat, showing off her swollen stomach.
My eyes widened as I stared at her protruding stomach through her shirt.
To any other eye, she looked a little bloated, but I knew all too well that wasn’t the case.
A part of me was pissed off because I remembered a time Lawrence told me he never wanted kids, and that it was a major deal breaker.
Granted, I wasn't ready for kids yet, but I wanted some in the future.
He spent the years that we were together reminding me that kids were a no-go for him.
Now, his mistress was standing here, at least three months pregnant, letting me know Lawrence had impregnated her while we were still together.
Anger and confusion washed over me as Sandra giggled with glee.
“Aww, does this hurt your little feelings?
Here I was thinking you'd be a miserable, lonely woman with a business that was going under, but I guess I was partially wrong.
I mean, you're still miserable and lonely, but at least your little shop is doing okay.
Too bad you weren't good enough or woman enough for Lawrence to have his heart and his baby.”
I pressed my lips together to stop them from trembling because there was no way that I was about to let this trick see me cry, but that didn't stop the lump forming in my throat.
Sandra's words were not true, and I knew that, but they still hurt.
He hurt and betrayed me without a second thought and that fact alone had tears trying to brim in my eyes.
Maybe I wasn't good enough for him. If I were, then none of this would have happened.
“I think it's time for you to go,” a deep voice said behind me.
Dexter walked up and stood next to me as he looked down at Sandra.
His face was masked into a scowl, and I could see his jaw tick with aggravation.
He glanced down at me, and I could see the fury dancing in his eyes.
I may not have known Dexter for a long time, but I haven't seen him this angry.
When the occasional irate customer came in and yelled at everybody, he still never showed his frustration.
The Dexter that was looking at me now was not the same Dexter I've gotten to know over the past few weeks.
The man before me was intimidating, furious, primal, and, dare I say, territorial.
His eyes left mine, but not before he placed a gentle hand on my lower back.
“Wow,” Sandra purred, licking her lips. “Who is this sexy looking bookworm?”
Her eyes trailed down Dexter's body, and I could see the desire written all over her face.
This hoe was unbelievable. Not only did she fuck my ex-fiancé, but now she was trying to throw herself at Dexter.
A snort flew from Dexter as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.
The absence of his touch made my heart sink a little.
“There is nothing about you that makes you remotely attractive.
The foul shit spewing from your mouth made you the ugliest person I've ever encountered.
Natalie is loving, thoughtful, and has an entire crew behind her.
She's more than enough, and anybody who doesn't think so is a fool. Any man willing to betray this beautiful woman is a dumbass. Now you can leave because Natalie has a successful business to run.”
Sandra’s face scrunched up like she tasted a lemon, and I tried to hold back the laughter bubbling in my throat. Dexter read her to filth without a second thought. No one has ever stood up for me like that. She threw us the middle finger before stomping back to her car.
“Isn't she a piece of work?” Dexter stated, shaking his head.
Looking up at Dexter, I saw he was still glaring at Sandra's car as she sped out of the parking lot.
He kept his focus straight ahead and didn't dare to look down at me.
Disappointment ran through my body, causing me to rub my arm to comfort myself.
He was still upset with me, but I had no one to blame but myself.
“Yeah,” I said, turning to head back inside. I stopped and turned around to look at Dexter. “Look, you didn't have to–”
He looked over his shoulder and briefly raised his hand. “Don't mention it. I'll be back inside in a moment, just needed some air.”
With that, he turned back around. I opened my mouth to thank him and hurried back inside.
I could tell from how stiff his back was that the situation still irritated him, and who could blame him?
Sandra had a way of bringing out the ugly in people, and I hated that he heard her talking to me like that.
I have been trying to keep my distance from Dexter, and what happened today was another reason why he should steer clear.
Besides the friendship he and my brother had, I still had another web of lies that I was hiding from my family.
How could I explain myself if I wanted to be bold and cross that line with him?
The last thing I wanted was to drag him into my mess.
I was making the right decision. I think.