Chapter 9 (Preston Uncovers Elise's Secret)

It was a job. And it was over. Yet, I couldn’t shake all the weird feelings that being with Mark, well, Preston stirred up inside of me. Twenty-year-old me, the young, dumb, innocent version of me that believed a man could love me despite my imperfections or should I say, accept me with my imperfections. Because according to him, he loved me, but his love for me, didn’t outweigh his need to be accepted by his peers.

Before graduation, he left to go play ball overseas. Mallory walked around campus telling everyone that he had asked her to join him in Spain, which I found out was a lie.

He confessed that he left to get away from her. He had never really had a connection with her. She ended up visiting him in Spain and of course, they had sex and she got pregnant and the rest, as they say, is history.

I sighed as I looked at myself in the mirror, “Get it together Elise.” I said out loud. I needed to give Elise a change as well. I did a short pixie cut with subtle green and purple highlights.

When I met up with Jefferson for our lunch date, he smiled, “You changed your hair.” He hugged and kissed me.

“I did. Do you like it?” I asked.

“You look beautiful.”

I smiled. Even though he and I were still figuring things out, I loved spending time with him. It felt good just being able to be Elise.

We ate at an outside café. He smiled, “So, what’d you do last night?” He asked as he ate a fry.

I smiled, “Met up with an old friend.” I replied, which was technically true. “And you?” I asked.

He had this sexy grin, “I was thinking about you and our last date.”

I chuckled. Our last date consisted of dancing. I was backing it up on him, just trying to see what he was working with and I was pleased. When I turned around, he greeted me with a simple peck on the lips and it was so incredible when he looked into my eyes.

We ended up back at his place, just talking and making out, me in his lap, grinding on him. He called my name, “Elise.” And it sounded so sweet. I hadn’t heard anyone say it since Preston, years ago.

“That was a fun date,” I replied. Suddenly, nature called and I excused myself to the restroom. I had received a message from Gianni, “Can’t wait to see you next weekend.”

I didn’t respond right away. I knew if I told him that I no longer wanted to see him, it would spark a phone call and I couldn’t have that conversation publicly.

I was enjoying being Elise and maybe…it was time for me to put Onyx to rest. I had planned on telling everyone that night. But when I was on my way back to the table, I saw Jefferson all hugged up with some girl.

I walked up and smiled, “Hi.”

She was five feet five with a head full of box braids, she looked cute as she stood there checking me out. “Jefferson, you didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend.”

He hurried and belted out, “She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just hanging out.”

She smiled as if this information pleased her, “Well, Jefferson, I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow at your mom’s thing.” She looked at me, “Will you be there?”

“Perhaps,” I responded, but I didn’t know anything about it. I watched her kiss his cheek.

“Well, you two enjoy.” I watched her walk off.

My insides were on fire, so I folded into myself. I had no kind words. I was upset. The rest of the time I was pretty much quiet.

As we walked to the parking lot, “Are you okay?” he asked.

I shook my head, “I’m not.” I had a knot in my throat and I had to take a breath before I spoke to keep from crying, “I’m not your girlfriend, just someone you’re hanging out with?”

“You were the one that wanted to do this whole trial basis thing, so?”

“Yeah. You’re right, but don’t you think saying, ‘this is Elise, my date.’ Would have sounded way better?”

“Here we go with the semantics.”

“No, that is what I would call a clarification. See it lets other women know, that I’m a woman, that you’re interested in and actively pursuing romantically…the other just says, this is some chick I’m hooking up with.”

He unlocked his door, “You tripping and you know it. You’re the one that’s not being clear about what you want.”

I laughed, “So my sitting in your lap, kissing you with your hands on my breasts is giving you mixed signals like you’re really unclear about what I want.”

“So, what now?”

I shook my head, “I don’t know. Let’s just be friends. I’m okay with that, have fun at your mom’s thing tomorrow.” I said then I walked off to find my car.

Monday morning had arrived and I put in my time off for Friday. Since Elise couldn’t make a normal relationship work, Onyx was back in full effect. And Friday, I had a flight to meet with Gianni in Miami.

As I sat there trying not to think about what happened between Jefferson and me, Henderson walked in all cheerful, “Oh look at you, don’t hurt’em, Elise.”

I chuckled, “I’ll try not to.”

He sat his stuff down on his desk and walked over to me, “So, how are things with you and my brother?”

I gave him the look and he said, “What happened?”

“We decided to be friends.”

“Ummm.”

“We were out this weekend and he referred to me as some girl he’s hanging out with and that didn’t sit well with me.”

“No, he didn’t. I ought to buss his head open. Should I talk to him?”

“No. It’s okay—”

“Hi, what are we talking about?” Heather said as she stopped by our desks. Henderson tried hard not to smirk at the face I made.

“Oh, you know just life and great people,” I replied.

“Speaking of great people, I met Preston’s wife earlier. She dropped off donuts in the break room, you should get one. Their kids are so adorable.”

“That’s nice, glad you were able to meet his family.”

“Did you two hear about the available overtime for Friday and Saturday. I think I’m going to sign up.”

“You should do that,” I replied.

“Well, I suppose I should go get started.” She said before she shuffled off.

Henderson laughed, “You are a mess, I don’t know how she can’t feel the sarcasm oozing from you.”

I laughed.

“So, you’re not going to do that OT?”

I shook my head, “You know I don’t do nobody’s overtime.” As soon as I said that, I received an email notification that my requested time off was denied.

Immediately my neck got hot and I wanted to fight. I had never been denied time off. I played it cool, stood up, and stomped to Preston’s office.

I knocked. He looked up, “Come in.” I walked in. “Close the door if you don’t mind.”

I closed it and looked at him strangely, “Is there a reason you denied my time off?”

“We have OT available Friday and Saturday.”

“Okay. Let the people that want to work it, have at it.”

He rummaged through some papers, “I looked through these reports and it looks like you’ve never worked overtime.”

I huffed, “If I can do my work in eight hours, why would I work overtime? I literally produce more work in eight than most people do when they work OT.”

“Just think of how much we can get done if you worked OT.” He smiled. I wanted to push my thumbs through his eye sockets at that moment.

“Pick a day, Friday would be great,” he said.

I nodded and turned to leave.

I heard him say, “Since I know your Saturdays are busy with being Onyx.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. I felt his hand on my hip, “You didn’t think I would know that it was you? At first, I wasn’t sure, but then I realized. What are the odds of another woman having the same birthmark on her right inner thigh shaped like a heart? I even kissed it remember?”

I turned to him, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Come on Elise. Onyx is you and you are Onyx. I knew it when I tasted you, God, all weekend I kept thinking about that night.”

“So, what is this? Are you going to make working here unbearable?”

“No. That would be foolish. You’re the best we have. I just want to be on your list, it doesn’t have to be often, once or twice a month.”

“Onyx can’t accept any new clients.”

“Can’t or won’t?” He looked into my eyes, “You enjoyed me that night, just as much as I enjoyed you. Friday night and I promise I won’t ask again.”

I scoffed, “Fine. It’s the last time.”

The door opened and in walked his wonderful wife, Mallory, “Hey babe,” she said cheerfully.

“Yes, Mallory,” he said as he walked back to his desk.

“I forgot the paperwork for the house on your desk.” She walked over to the desk and looked into my face and nearly shit a brick, “What are you doing here?”

“It appears, I work here.” I smiled.

“You didn’t tell me she worked here.”

“Mallory, we’ll discuss this at home.” He said sternly.

Me, I left him there to deal with that. I hurried to find a quiet spot to call Gianni, his voice sounded, “Hey baby, can’t wait to see you Friday night. I’ve been saving my energy just for you.”

I chuckled, “Sounds sweet babe, there’s been a slight change—”

“Don’t tell me you’re not going to make it, you promised.”

“I’ll be there, just, I’ll have to leave out Saturday instead of Friday night.”

“Alright. I have your room ready and I’ll see you when you get in.”

“Thanks, babe.”