My Little Secret (10 page)

 

I hear glass smash and the car alarm go off and die down after a few minutes, but for whatever reason, I don't move. In fact, I roll back over and fluff my pillow before dozing back to sleep. I haven't heard from Nevaeh in a couple days, and Midori for over a week, so I don't think that whatever drama is going on outside has anything to do with me. My dream picks right back up from where it left off, and it is starting to get good too. But my gut keeps telling me to get up and look out the window.

My condo is on ice, despite the cold weather outside, but that's the way I like it. I'd rather throw on some nightclothes and pull out an extra blanket to keep warm before opting to turn up the heat. Dragging myself from under the covers and out into the freezing cold, I decide that since I am up I might as well use the bathroom, since I had been holding my bladder for the past four hours because I was too lazy to get up.

As it is freezing cold in there, I handle my business as quickly as possible, so I can wash my hands and look out the window. My gut starts getting tight, and I just know something is wrong. I just hope it isn't my shit.

I go over to the window and pull the shades back, temporarily blinded by the sunlight streaming in. Jogging my memory to remember where I had parked a few days ago, my mouth drops open when I make eye contact with my car. A tear involuntarily slips from my eye as I look at what used to be a hot whip parked in the same spot as my car.

“I'm losing my mind. I must have parked somewhere else.” I talk out loud to myself as I rush into my bedroom to look for a pair of shoes to put on. I don't want to believe that my car is fucked up like that, and I have to go take a closer look just to be sure. I try to be rational at first, hoping that maybe I had parked closer to the building where my car was out of view, and that the car I saw belonged to someone else in the building.

I rush outside, and to my disappointment I didn't park my car next to the building like I wanted to believe, but I'm not ready to believe that's my car sitting there looking a mess. Even when I get up on it, my mind won't accept it. I walk around the car, checking out the slashed tires and scratched paint that reads BITCH on the door and hood. The brick that sits in the window caused the glass to spider out and crumble where it lies.

This is some bullshit,
I say to myself as I run my finger across the black permanent marker that graces my back window. It is a drawing of a stick-figure woman in tears and a huge broken heart next to that, but I still don't want to believe this is my car. When I get to the back of my car, what I've tried to deny for the past few minutes rings true. Sure enough, that's my license plate staring back at me.

I keep my cool, surprisingly, and take the walk back to my condo like I have it all together. I pull out my insurance information so I can make a claim and call the police, so I can have a report before I do so.

As I sit and wait for them to arrive, I toss the thought back and forth in my head on whose ass I am going to put my foot in. Let me retract that, I already know that I'll be heading up to South Jersey to visit Nevaeh, because Midori definitely has more class than this.

By the time the cops get here I am already dressed, have eaten, and am watching an old episode of
Martin
on TV One, getting my laugh on. I still can't believe how calm I am, but I know I won't be able to maintain my cool for long.

The cops badger me like I wrecked my own car, which makes me want to fuck Nevaeh up even more. I give them all of the information they need, and once they are done, I call the insurance company to report my claim. By the time they get done playing “a thousand questions,” I am mentally exhausted.

They set it up so I can have a rental car, and Enterprise was nice enough to come and get me, so I can fill out my paperwork and drive off the same day.

When I leave there, I head home to pick up a few things and then point the car toward the New Jersey Turnpike and make my way to Nevaeh's house with a bat in the backseat, and my mind set to beat her ass. I flip through my CD's for some riding music, but all that comes to mind is Biggie's
Ready to Die
, but on the flip, I am ready to kill.

About an hour and some change later I pull in front of her house, disappointed that this simple bitch was bold enough to park her car in the driveway. I would have had my shit hidden if I had done some crazy shit like what she did, but it's cool. I'm here to teach her a lesson.

Now, my first instinct is to wreck her shit like she wrecked mine, but I have bigger fish to fry. Taking the key she gave me from my back pocket, I let myself in after grabbing the metal bat from the backseat of my rental car. Her place is unusually quiet, and I think maybe she skipped town on me and shit.

I am prepared to wreck her place, but when I hear a noise come from her bedroom, I creep my way over there to listen more closely. I can hear Dr. Phil on the television telling someone how they needed to get their shit together, and I laugh. Nevaeh will need more than the good doctor's advice by the time I'm finished with her.

I grab hold of the doorknob, deciding to make a quick entrance and catch her off guard. Let's just say, the look on her face is priceless when she sees me standing in the doorway. This simple heifer has the nerve to be dressed in lingerie, like she is expecting me to come and shit. Too bad I have to beat her ass for what she did.

“Hey, I wasn't expecting you,” Nevaeh says, looking at me then back at the television.

I can't believe she's going to act like she doesn't know why I'm here. I don't even respond. I just lunge at her from the door and commence to beat the shit out of her. I take every frustration that I've had with her and whoever else and use that energy to beat the life out of her. I have her by her hair, so I can get a good swing at her face, and I am suddenly glad that I dropped the bat in the living room before I came in because, otherwise, I'd be locked up for a murder one rap.

She doesn't even have a chance. She tries to swing back, but the blows are going so fast that she doesn't know whether to run, or stay and try to fight back. I must have banged her head up against her headboard a million times, and not in a loving way like when I'm over here twisting her back all crazy. I don't know how much time has elapsed, but by the time I get done, there is a bloody mess on the bed and Nevaeh is crying uncontrollably.

“Now, the next time you decide you want to fuck up my car know who you're fucking with. Forget you even know me.”

I don't even bother to look back; I simply toss her key over my shoulder and scoop up the bat from the floor so as not to leave evidence. When I leave I feel a lot better, but I feel horrible at the same time. I'm not even the abusive type, but what she did was unacceptable.

During the drive home I feel like shit, and almost call her a few times, but decide against it. She deserved that ass-whipping, and I'll do it again if provoked. You don't just take it upon yourself to mess up someone's property. I think about reporting her ass, but care a little too much to fuck up her career. I know I am done with her for sure, though. I won't even miss the pussy, because she's a damn nag and I am tired of her anyway.

I drive past Midori and Ray's spot before I go home, using my binoculars to see if I can peep them from the road, but when I don't see anyone's car in the driveway I pull off, thinking that maybe she is a waste of time as well. “I just need to be single,” I say to myself as I drive. Honestly, when I don't have anyone occupying my time, I get a lot more accomplished.

I pull up to my house a little while later, noticing that my car is still sitting there. I almost shed a tear as I take a tour around the damage one more time. If the bitch is going to slash my tires, she should have slashed all of them. Who the fuck only slashes three tires, like I could drive off on one? I remember that I didn't bother to get my key back from her, and she has keys to my house and my whip. I'm changing the locks on the crib anyway just because, but I doubt after the beating that I gave her that she'll show up around here again. Besides, I'll be getting another fat royalty check in a few weeks, so once I get my car back, I'll be right at the dealership, trading it in for something better.

Walking back to the rental to grab my bag, I walk up to my place. I immediately strip and run some hot water in my Jacuzzi tub. I soak in a nice hot bath to relax my sore muscles. My shoulder is extremely sore—I guess from all the swinging I did—and my knuckles hurt from punching her ass all hard. The more I think about it, the more I regret it and the more I want to call, but you don't do that kind of shit to someone then call back to apologize.

I think about Midori and what I'm missing with her. It's been a while since I've had my body pressed about against someone soft, and my hands lead a trail that I know Midori's tongue would have easily followed. I slip two fingers into my softness and use my other hand to caress my nipples as I try to bring myself to an orgasm. I think I may have to call her and see what's up.

Just as I was getting into it, a loud, persistent knock echoes through my condo from the front door, and it pisses me off instantly.

“Who is it?” I yell from the bathroom in frustration, knowing I wouldn't be able to hear them if they answer back. Damn I'm pissed, and it shows as I climb out of the tub and track water around my apartment because I can't find my bathrobe. I finally see it hanging on a chair in my bedroom and rush over to put it on.

“Who is it?” I yell again as I get closer to the door.

Whoever it was, was knocking like they were going to take the damn door off the hinges.

“It's the police,” a masculine voice came from the other side.

I wonder briefly what they are doing here, then think maybe they are coming to get more information on who wrecked my car. I don't see the need to bring up Nevaeh's name because I already dealt with her, so I'll just tell them I don't know who did it.

“Yes?” I say with a slight attitude once I open the door. The wind rushing in makes my bare nipples rock-hard and strained against the soft terry cloth of my bathrobe, and my clit pulsates from the wind touching me there, because I have no hair there to protect it.

“Are you Jaydah B. Wells?” the officer asks, once he finally picks his tongue up off the floor.

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“I am here to place you under arrest for assault and battery on a Nevaeh Thompson. You need to go with us to the police station.”

“Assault? Are you serious?” I ask, not believing this bitch had the audacity to call the law on me after what she did to my car.

“I am serious, ma'am. We need you to come down to discuss the situation, but it's only gonna take an hour or so and you'll be out.”

“Okay, can I at least put some clothes on? I can't go down there like this.”

“Sure, you can put on something, but we have to come inside to ensure you won't try to escape from the window or something.”

I don't even bother to respond because I am too upset. How in hell am I going to escape through the window from the tenth floor? I go into the room and grab a thong and a pair of socks, and walk down the hallway. I stand right in front of the officers half-naked while I dress in the clothes I had on earlier. Both of them try not to look directly at me. I grab my purse off the couch and put on my coat, preparing to walk out with them.

“Ma'am, it's procedure that we have to cuff you, but we will do so after you secure the premises, and I will put them on in the front so that it's more comfortable for you.”

I can't believe what I am hearing, but I comply, so I could get this shit over as soon as possible. The ride over is only about ten minutes, and once they place me in the cell, I know my stay will be going downhill from here. Nevaeh is going to pay for this shit, and she's going to wish I had killed her ass instead.

 

I pull up to Ray's job delighted to find a parking space right next to his car. That way, if one of his workers says he isn't there, I'll know they're lying. I am in battle mode, and I just hope he did the right thing. I'd hate to have to wild out up in this camp. I check my lips to make sure they are nice and glossy and that my hair looks good before I get out and go inside.

The waiting room is packed with patients waiting to get to the back to see the doctor. I am surprised, because Ray's office normally runs pretty smoothly, so the current chaos is more than likely the result of getting rid of Barbara. The two medical assistants at the front look like they are just about at their wits end, having to deal with all of these disgruntled patients by themselves. I hear one of the workers tell a patient that she has to reschedule because they are so far behind. Frankly, it is all hilarious to me, but that's what you get when you step out on your marriage with a bitch who works with you on the job.

Now, I'm not going to lie to you. That little meeting I had with Nevaeh has my head spinning, but I have more pressing issues to deal with than some jealous ho who is sweating over a chick that I'm not even sure I want. Surprisingly I haven't heard from her in a while, so I guess she finally decided to do what I asked. That's a first.

I don't even bother to ask of my husband's whereabouts, because he had better be in the conference room handling his business. The two medical assistants look at me strange when I walk behind the desk and to the back, but if they value their jobs they will shut the hell up and do what they have to do up front.

It's like everything is a blur as I approach the door. Putting my ear to the door to listen for what's happening before I go inside, I can hear someone crying and two other people talking, so I know they'd gotten around to doing what I said. I don't bother to knock. I walk right in on the meeting and over to where they are.

“This bitch has the audacity to show her face after trying to sabotage me? How dare you come here!” Barbara screams at the top of her lungs, afterward attempting to lunge at me from her seat.

I don't even flinch because I've been itching to beat her ass since forever. Just to let her know I'm not intimidated, I take my time taking off my coat and taking a seat not too far from her. I hope she'll give me a reason to bash her skull in today.

“Midori, what are you doing here? I told you I would handle it,” Ray says to me through clenched teeth, like he is ready to strike me as well.

“I came to make sure that you would,” I say, looking at both Ray and Barbara, daring them to try and make me leave. I smirk at Barbara because she looks a mess from crying, her makeup running all over her face.

“You never liked me,” Barbara screams at me from her seat, breaking down even further.

“Why should I? How long have you been fucking my husband, Barbara? How long have you been smiling in my face and eating at my table like you weren't enjoying my husband in my bedroom when I was gone?”

“I'm not like that,” she cries, looking around the room desperately as she tries to make eye contact with Ray and his office manager.

I am the only one who maintains eye contact, enjoying watching her lose her mind. “Oh, you're not like that? Do you really believe what you just said?”

“Fuck you, Midori! You've always been jealous of me and Ray's relationship.”

“And rightfully so, since you've used our bed for marital duties more than he and I, but it's cool. Y'all can have each other,” I reply, cool as a cucumber as I take my coat from the chair to put it on so I can leave. This is getting to be too much, and I don't feel like the drama anymore.

“I didn't sleep with your husband—how many times do I have to tell you that? He and my husband are friends. Why would I do that?” Barbara cries hysterically, hiccupping and trying to catch her breath.

I'm not moved by her act at all, because we both know what the truth is, and I don't want to have to go there on her, but what choice do I have?

“So, you're going to stand in my face and lie? You're going to stand here and deny the truth, like I'm slow to what's been going on with y'all? Why did you think you were being fired, Barbara?”

“Raymond said it was creating a conflict of interest in the office, and I was voted out by the staff.”

I look at Ray to confirm, and when he turns his head the other way, I know what she said was true. He didn't even have the heart to tell her that I knew. I feel bad for a second, but her husband and I were the true victims, and I am going to make it my business to tell him what's up before more lies are spread.

“Barbara, you and Ray deserve each other, and as I mentioned, you can have him. The reason you are being let go is because you are creating a conflict of interest between him and I by having an affair. That's the whole situation in a nutshell.”

“I'm not sleeping with your damn husband!” she shouts at me again, and at that point I know I have to take it there.

“Barbara, I hope you get your situation together soon. When you're at the point when you believe your own lies, it's a sickness.”

“But I didn't—”

I hold my hand up to stop her mid-sentence because I am just tired of everything. I take the time to zip up my coat and grab my purse from the chair. I start to walk away, but when I feel the photos in my pocket, I know I have to put it out there. Turning back around, I take the pictures and the copies that I made from my pocket and scatter them across the table. I found more pictures of Barbara and Ray, both together and by themselves, in Ray's closet. I can't take it anymore.

Barbara almost passes out, and the office manager has to catch her before she hit the floor.

“Like I said, you've been fucking my husband. Ray, I want a divorce.”

I don't even bother to wait for a response. I simply turn and exit the room, closing the door behind me so they can have some privacy. As I walk down the hallway I see everyone looking at me strangely, but I don't care. I have my own heart to deal with, and I have to hold my own on this one.

On my way back to my office, I wrestle with the idea of telling Barbara's husband what transpired between us, but I have to because I had already FedEx-ed him an envelope with the pictures in it to his office, due to arrive tomorrow. I have to tell him, and feel it's only right to give him a heads-up on the situation.

I have two patients who were just sent back and are waiting for me, so I go in to them first before I make it back to my office. I don't want to make the call, but if it was me, wouldn't I have wanted someone to let me know what was going on? I dial the number before I decide against it and resist the urge to hang up the phone before someone has the chance to answer. I was doing the right thing, right?

“Thank you for calling the Corrective Surgery Center of Philadelphia, where looking your best is our number one goal. This is Audrey. How may I direct your call?”

“Hi, Audrey. This is Midori Hunter, Ray Hunter's wife. Is Dr. Evans in?”

“Hello, Mrs. Hunter. Yes, he is, can I place you on hold for a second to see if he's available?”

“Sure, you can.”

“Okay, please hold.”

Instantly the lyrics to Anita Baker's “Fairy Tales” starts playing while she has me on hold, and I find myself singing along. My life used to be a fairy tale, but not in a good way. All the lies and deceit . . . it's just too much. I briefly wonder if I should just let it go, but in reality I have to say something. I try to get it in my head what I am going to say to him, but the truth is all I have. No sugarcoating it.

“Mrs. Hunter, I'll be transferring you now.”

Before I have a chance to respond, I hear Mike's booming voice on the other end, and he sounds like he is in a good mood. That only means that Barbara hasn't told him what happened at Ray's practice yet, and in a way, that gives me an advantage, because I need to let him know what's really going on before any more lies are told.

“Hey, Midori. How are you today?” he asks in his usually cheerful voice that always makes me smile. That was before today.

“I've had better days.” I sigh into the phone, trying to mentally prepare myself for what I'm about to do.

“A hectic day at the office, huh?” He chuckles into the phone, oblivious to the news I'm about to share with him.

“Mike, I need to tell you something, and I hope you forgive me for what I have to say.”

“Sure, Midori. Is everything okay with you and Ray? What do you need to talk about?”

I take a deep breath and begin to spill my guts about everything I found out about Ray and Barbara and what they'd been doing behind our backs.

We are on the phone for a good hour, and I spill everything to him. It was only my hearing him breathe on the other line that I know he's still listening. I feel horrible about what I did, but we both deserve better.

“Midori, is all of what you are saying true?” he asks in a choked-up voice, like he's trying to get it together. “That's everything I witnessed with my own eyes.”

“Listen, I hope you're still sitting down, because I have something to tell you as well.”

My heart begins to beat faster than it ever has, and I know I'm not prepared for what I'm about to hear. I can hear Mike take a deep breath before he begins to talk, and as life as I know it begins to spiral downward, I know by the end of the day I'll need to be taken to a crazy hospital to be checked in.