Chapter Nine

“Uh, Can—I mean, Julie, I thought you might want these to fill up your jar.” A hesitant voice spoke from behind her.

Julie finished typing the last line of the marketing strategy for a new project she was working on before turning around to see who had entered her cube. She silently congratulated herself for not immediately dropping what she was doing as she'd done in the past. Had it only been five months—since her life had been so thoroughly flipped upside down?

She was shocked to see Rob Danford holding a bag full of peanut butter cups. Ever since she'd blown up at him, he'd avoided her like the plague, but it made her realize she needed to make some changes in her life. With encouragement from Gabe and Sheridan, she'd signed up for counseling. She'd learned a lot about herself and how she could express herself in a healthy way without going too far.

Her coworkers were slowly changing the way they treated and viewed her. At first there had been a few of them who still called her Candy Girl, the name she now only allowed a certain someone to use. She'd had to set them straight. No longer would she let them relegate her to an unfeeling entity. There were still a couple of people who tried to get under her skin by calling her the forbidden name, but she usually ignored them, and if they wanted something badly enough, they called her Julie.

If she was busy, she told them so, and if she didn't have the time to help them with their work, she was firm in her assertion. It hadn't been easy in the beginning, and there were a couple of people who no longer spoke to her, Doris being one of them, but her days ran so much more smoothly.

Some habits were hard to break, however. Julie still kept her candy dish filled, but no longer took requests. If someone didn't like the sweets she provided, then it was up to them to get it themselves. Surprisingly a handful of people did. For the past couple of weeks she hadn't needed to buy any, because her dish was constantly being refilled. Word must have spread, and people realized Candy Girl was no longer taking anyone's shit.

“Rob, what a surprise. Thank you.” She took the offered candy and put it in her desk, as her dish was already full.

He rubbed the back of his head, shifting on his feet and looking embarrassed. “Well, uh…I just wanted to apologize.”

She raised a brow. “For what?”

“You know, for unloading all my problems on you and calling you Candy Girl. I didn't mean any harm by it. You were so nice and all—I mean, you still are, but I realize now that I took advantage of your good nature.”

Who was the pod person, and what had he done to the real Rob? “Umm, apology accepted. Think nothing of it.”

When he didn't leave, she wondered what he wanted, and she guessed it was to unload more of his issues on her. Glancing at her watch with a sigh, she saw that it was five minutes to lunch, at which time she'd be meeting Sheridan downtown. “If you need something, you'll have to make it quick. I'm leaving for lunch soon.”

“Actually, I wanted to say thank you.”

“For?”

“Well, you indirectly saved my marriage.”

“Oh?” She turned to log off her computer, only half listening.

“Vivian was going to leave me and take the kids with her. She said the only way she'd stay is if we went to counseling. She said I was inconsiderate of her feelings. And the day you blew up at me, I was pissed, but it got me to thinking. Maybe I have been taking advantage of you. If someone as laid-back as you could lose patience with me, maybe there was something to what my wife was saying. I decided to give the therapy a shot, and well…Viv and I still have a long way to go, but things are getting better. And I just wanted to say thanks, Julie.”

“Wow, thank you.” This wasn't a confession she'd expected. Rob was known as the office slacker, but he was basically a good guy. She was happy to see him and his wife working out their issues. “I'm glad to hear that, and I appreciate your apology, and I owe you one of my own. I shouldn't have yelled at you the way I did.”

“Thanks. Well, uh, I'll let you go. Enjoy your lunch.” He ducked out of her cube in a hurry. It was obvious he wasn't used to apologizing, but at least he made the effort, and a little went a long way. As she walked toward the exit, she walked past Doris, who was standing at the reception desk and giving her the most ferocious frown.

Out of all her coworkers, Julie had considered Doris to be the closest thing to a friend she had in the office, but her true colors had come out once Julie started speaking up for herself. It didn't help matters that she and Gabe didn't hide their close relationship. They kept it professional during office hours, but often the two of them would go to lunch together when they could. And there were the times he'd stop by her cubicle to chat for a few minutes. They weren't blatant about their relationship, but it soon became obvious to some that they were on close terms. It seemed to drive Doris insane.

“Hi, Doris,” Julie greeted, for the sake of being polite.

“Hmm. Enjoy your two-hour lunch,” the redhead muttered sarcastically.

Julie halted midstep. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Well, the boss is out today, and you'll do as you please since you're sleeping with him, right?”

Before she'd started counseling, Julie probably would have laughed off a comment like that or rushed off in embarrassment, but instead she looked Doris dead in the eye with a smile. “I take an hour lunch just like everyone else. As for the sleeping with the boss, I do far more than sleep with him. Jealous?” With a wink, she turned on her heel and walked out the door with her head held high. As she made it to her car, she pumped her fist in the air.

Yes!

* * * * *

“I can't believe you said that, girl!” Sheridan threw her head back and laughed.

“She's been acting like a real pain in the ass lately, and why should I be ashamed of my relationship with Gabe? There's no rule against fraternizing at our company, and everything is kept very professional during office hours.”

“Well, if it were me, I would trip that bitch when she was walking by.” Sheridan shoved a forkful of salad in her mouth.

“Violence isn't the answer to everything. Besides, your legs are too short to stretch that far.”

“Ha-ha, smart aleck. It's not like you're that much taller than me. And you're right, violence isn't the answer, but decking someone is a stress reliever. You should try it sometime.”

“Uh, I think I'll pass. I'm going to try using my words instead. They've seemed to work for me so far.”

“Hmm.” Sheridan continued chewing with no real reply.

Julie could only shake her head. She often called Sheridan, Napoleon because of her short fuse and even shorter stature. Despite her propensity for violence, Sheridan's heart was in the right place, and she was loyal to a fault. She was the sister Julie had always wanted. “Things have been working out for me in therapy lately; maybe you should go.”

Sheridan slung a braid over her shoulder. “No, thanks. I'm a woman of action. Not really a talker.”

Her friend had a lot of anger issues stemming from the abandonment by her parents. And unlike Julie's foster care experience, Sheridan had had a rougher time. Being barely five feet tall, Sheridan scrapped quite a bit when they were younger, just to prove she was just as tough as anyone else. Even as an adult now, her friend was still a bit of a hothead, but Julie knew there was no point continuing this line of conversation. Sheridan would seek help when she was ready. Julie tactfully changed the subject. “Corinne still hasn't come back. I guess I've seen the last of her.”

“And good riddance. She was a mooch anyway. I told you not to let her move in with you, but lesson learned, right?”

“Definitely.” It still bothered the hell out of her that Corinne had disappeared the way she had, without so much as a word. She had obviously found another sucker to be with. Out of sight, out of mind. Someone else she hadn't heard from was Henry. He'd made a half-assed attempt to call and apologize, saying he was sorry for the way things had turned out and that he and Corinne were in love. Julie doubted that very much, because the only person Corinne loved was Corinne. Henry, on the other hand, was in the middle of an infatuation and would probably find out soon enough what his new “ladylove” was actually like.

“Sounds like things are going well for you. I'm glad one of us is enjoying life right now. My boss is a mega-asshole, and wouldn't you know it, I have to go away on a trip with him for two weeks next month.”

“It won't be so bad, I'm sure.”

“I'd rather swallow broken glass.”

Julie stifled a giggle. Sheridan referred to her boss only as “the asshole” and always had the most amusing stories about how she'd kill him and dispose of the body. “Are things really that bad?”

Her friend shrugged. “He's just been on my case lately. I don't know what the hell his problem is, but I think it's probably time I start looking for another job. Hopefully something will pop up before I have to go on this stinking trip.”

“Maybe he has a crush on you and doesn't know how to express himself. I remember when you first started your job and you gushed on and on about how sexy and fine he was.”

Sheridan snorted. “That was until I found out he has a new girlfriend every other day. He goes through them like normal folks do with underwear. He probably has hep C or something.” She scrunched up her nose. “No, thanks, girlfriend. And anyway, I didn't know then that he was such a fucking prick to work for. And if that bastard crowds my space one more damn time, I swear I'm going to knee him square in the balls. I don't give a shit if he'd built like a damn Viking. It's absolutely obscene how large that guy is.”

Julie grinned. The way her friend went on about her boss, the more she suspected Sheridan wasn't so averse to his charm after all. “Hmm, maybe he keeps crowding your space, as you put it, because he'd like to get closer to you.”

“Eww. Are you really trying to make me throw up here? I've seen the type of woman he dates: tall, blonde supermodel types. I haven't seen him with a short, curvy black woman before, and thank goodness for that. But enough about me and the asshole. How are things with you and Gabe? Sounds like things are heating up between the two of you.”

Julie couldn't keep the grin off her face. “Gabe is wonderful. Perfect. I have to keep pinching myself to make sure this is real. The sex is off the charts, but it isn't just the sex. He's considerate, passionate, and just an all-around great guy. He wants me to meet his parents the next time they're in town.”

“Are you nervous?”

“Of course. He's assured me they already know I'm black and they don't mind. He says they are just happy he's finally found someone nice—at least I hope they think I am. I talked to his mother on the phone once when she called Gabe while I was visiting. She seemed very sweet. But you never know”—Julie shrugged—“it could be a different story when I actually meet them face-to-face.”

“I'm sure everything will work out just fine, and you and Gabe's parents will get along fine. Ooh. You know what that means, don't you? He's ready to take that next step.”

“But it's only been a few months.”

“So. Do you really need to spend a year with someone to know they're the one?”

Her heart certainly couldn't argue with this point, but her head was full of doubt. Things were going so well for her right now, she was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. “I'm just scared. I've never felt like this about anyone before.”

“Not even Henry?” Sheridan teased.

“Henry wasn't very exciting, and I never loved him. As far as I'm concerned, Corinne did me a favor on that front. That last phone conversation we had made me realize how lucky I truly am.”

“Oh yeah? What's the little weasel up to?”

“It wasn't a really long talk. Gabe answered the phone when he called. I think he was a little surprised to see I'd moved on so quickly.”

“Serves him right. I bet he probably thought he could worm his way back into your life once you got over your anger. I assume he and your cousin aren't together anymore?”

She shrugged. “Don't know. Didn't ask. He should have known I'd moved on when I didn't return any of his previous calls. Anyway, enough about him. Gabe is returning from his business trip today, and I wanted to surprise him with something special. I'm supposed to pick him up from the airport around eight. It's our five-month anniversary. What do you think I should do?”

“Do you have a key to his house?”

“Yes.”

“How about you fix him a romantic dinner for two?”

“But that's so predictable.”

“Not if you make yourself the dessert.”

Julie leaned forward, intrigued. “I'm listening.”

Sheridan grinned. “There's a little shop I visit sometimes that sells exactly what you need.”

Good Lord, what was she getting herself into?

* * * * *

Julie pulled up in her driveway and was surprised to see a car already parked there. Henry's. What the hell? Why was he coming by after all this time? She'd come back home to change, let Rufus out, and pick up her overnight bag before heading to the airport. She didn't need the aggravation of dealing with Henry before her romantic evening.

As she got of her car, she noticed Henry's car was empty. Was he already in her house, and how had he gotten a key? Annoyed beyond belief, she strode to her door, only to find it unlocked. That son of a bitch had a lot of damn nerve.

When she walked in, she was surprised to find Corinne lying on the couch, stuffing her mouth with bonbons, and randomly flipping through channels. She looked quite comfortable, as if she'd been there all afternoon. What the hell?

Seeing her cousin looking so at home after what she'd done made Julie's blood boil. She slammed the door shut to get Corinne's attention, but the other woman didn't so much as flinch. Storming over to the couch, Julie yanked the remote control out of her cousin's hand and flipped off the television.

Corinne shot up to a sitting position. “Hey, what the hell is your problem?”

Julie knew her cousin had no shame, but this took the cake and the candles. “You can ask me that after what you've done?”

Corinne shrugged. “You didn't want Harvey anyway. He told me you'd moved on.”

“His name is Henry. Or have you forgotten already? You shouldn't have, considering you're driving his car.”

A smile curved Corinne's lips. “Actually it's my car now. He gifted it to me. It's a older model, but I'm sure I can trade up when I meet someone in a better financial position.”

“He gave you his car?” Julie asked incredulously.

“Of course.” Corinne fondled her breasts. “These babies can get me anything I want. Best investment I've ever made.”

“Has it gotten you a job?”

“Haven't you been listening? Why should I work when I have these?” She shook her breasts.

“Why aren't you still with Henry? I assume that's where you've been.”

Corinne rolled her eyes. “He thought I actually wanted to be exclusive with him. He was so pathetic. Poor thing. Besides, like I said, I'll find something better with the help of the girls.”

Julie had had enough. “Well, that's a good thing, because you and your fake tits can leave and find a place of your own. I'm going to take my dog out for a walk, and when I get back I want you out of here. And if any of my stuff is missing this time around, you'll be sorry.”

Corinne rolled her eyes. “You wouldn't kick me out. You don't have the guts.”

“I wouldn't test me, if I were you.”

Corinne glared. “Don't be an ungrateful bitch. My mother took you into her home when no one wanted your lame ass.”

“If I'm so lame, then you'll have no problem getting the hell out of my lame house, will you? And don't ever throw your mother taking me into her home in my face again. She only took me in because of the monthly check she received, which I saw not a dime of. Like I said, I'm taking Rufus for a walk. If you're still here when I get back, you'll find out exactly what kind of guts I have.”

Julie took her dog for a walk, making sure to take the longer route in order to give Corinne enough time to clear out. She was angry with herself for not changing her locks, but things had been going so well, it had completely slipped her mind. Just when she thought her cousin couldn't be any ballsier, she outdid herself. When she got back to see the car still parked in the same spot, something within her snapped. She patted Rufus on the head. “You're about to see Mommy get very angry.”

She walked into the house to see Corinne lying in the same spot she'd been in earlier. Julie calmly took Rufus to her bedroom and closed him in, grabbed a rubber band to pull her hair into a ponytail, and rolled up her sleeves. She walked into the kitchen and pulled out a pasta pot and filled it with cold tap water, humming all the while.

After carrying the pot to the couch, she tipped it over and poured the contents on her cousin. Corinne shot up with a scream. “You fucking cunt! What the fuck is your problem?” Corinne raised her hand as if to strike, but Julie was ready. Julie took the pot and whacked the bitch in the face with it. When Corinne crumpled to the floor screaming, Julie took her by the weave and dragged her to the door with Corinne screaming obscenities the entire way.

She opened the door and shoved her cousin out. “If you ever come back, you'll get more of the same. If you see me on the street, pretend you don't know me, because as far as I'm concerned, you no longer exist!” And with that, she slammed the door. Julie sagged against the door for support, feeling emotionally drained. She couldn't believe she'd just done that. And it felt good. Damn good.

Glancing at her watch, she realized she only had a few minutes to get ready before heading off to the airport. There was one last thing she needed to do tonight.