Lateisha released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Being around Bryce was taxing on her mind and body. Fanning herself with her hand, Lateisha heated up her soup, contemplating how she would break the news about wanting custody of the baby. Bryce was a reasonable man and she had no doubt that he wouldn’t agree. But he would be angry with her and any chance they may have had at being a couple would be destroyed. Lateisha was well aware of that and she was willing to risk it, for her baby. The door to the kitchen area creaked opened again and Lateisha thought Bryce had come back to try to convince her again. Smiling she turned around. The smile left her face when she realized it was Rachel who had entered the kitchen.
“Hello,” Lateisha said in what she thought was her best ‘leave me alone bitch’ voice.
“Hello there, Lateisha.” Rachel circled around her like she was eyeing up her prey.
“What do you need?” Lateisha asked, looking at Rachel warily. She was clearly up to something.
“Oh nothing. Just checking up on Bryce and seeing how his lunch is going. We do that you know; Bryce and I. He doesn’t like to talk about it because we work together, but,” Rachel leaned in towards Lateisha as if she was telling her a secret, “we are kind of together.”
Lateisha stepped back as if Rachel slapped her. She was lying. She had to be lying. The sound of the microwave beeping filled the small room and Lateisha turned to get her soup. She was mostly hiding her reaction from Rachel. If Rachel and Bryce were together it would explain her animosity towards Lateisha. Maybe she knew about the surrogacy and she despised the idea. But if they were together, why wasn’t Bryce having a baby with her instead? More confused than ever, Lateisha turned back around, ready to question Rachel about the situation a little bit more.
“Oh. Bryce never mentioned that to me.” Lateisha wanted to make sure that Rachel knew they also had something of a relationship, to see what she would claim to know. Something about the story seemed fishy, but Lateisha didn’t have ownership of Bryce so she wasn’t exactly sure it was false either.
“Hmmm, well he told me all about you. How he helped you out with a job because you were broke and how you’ve been a great help to him otherwise.” When Rachel said otherwise she lowered her voice and raised her eyebrows.
Lateisha gasped, putting her hand over her mouth. She knew about the surrogacy which meant she must be telling the truth.
“I, uh, I don’t know what you mean,” Lateisha stumbled over her words.
Her lunch forgotten, she began to back towards the door. She had to get out of there. Off of the sixteenth floor and possibly out of the building. What was she going to do?
“You know what I mean, Lateisha. I saw you in your cheap polyester pants when you came in that day. The whole office knows. You’re a whore and a liar. He’ll never love you like he loves me. You don’t fit in here and you never will. You’re trash and he only wants you for one thing and when that’s over he’ll toss you aside.” Rachel backed Lateisha against the wall closest to the door and spit the venomous words at her, little drops of spittle flinging in her face as Rachel spoke.
Shaking with anger, Lateisha put her hands up, to force Rachel away. Before either of them could say another word the doors burst opened and Bryce came in. Lateisha looked away from him, afraid to see pity, or anger in his eyes. She also didn’t want him to see the hurt and shame in hers.
“What the hell is going on here!?!” Bryce exclaimed, stopping in front of the women.
“Bryce, darling, I’m so glad you showed up. This, woman, was verbally abusing me and was about to become physical until you burst in.” Rachel began to fake sob and threw herself at Bryce.
Stunned, Lateisha took a minute to move. Finally she found her voice. “I guess I was just a naïve imbecile for falling for you and your lies, Bryce Henderson. I quit. I never want to see you again. You’ll hear from my lawyer regarding the baby.”
A strange look appeared on Rachel’s face, almost like the mention of a baby was news to her. But she said she knew? Not wanting to wait around to find out, Lateisha pushed past them and stormed out to the elevators, tears streaming down her face. What had she been thinking falling in love with the lying bastard?
Chapter 9
Bryce could only stare as Lateisha stormed out of the room. What was happening? What had Rachel said? Determined to put an end to this, Bryce pushed the woman off of him and looked down at her, fake tears drying on her face.
“What the hell is going on, Rachel?” He watched her demeanor change from sobbing to defensive.
“She threatened me, Bryce. She told me that you would fire me because she was your mistress and you had to do what she told you. I just saved you. She wants your money, I can tell, I know women like her. I…”
“You are women like her,” Bryce barked.
Rachel jumped back, her tears suddenly dry and her back ramrod straight. “What are you implying?”
“Rachel, I’ve told you countless times that I’m not interested in you and that you need to remain professional and do your job. You are to call me Mr. Henderson at all times and never put your hands on me. Is that clear?” Bryce had enough of her antics and was going to speak with human resources first thing tomorrow to see what he could do to get rid of her.
“Bryce, what do you mean? I thought you felt what I feel? That woman, she was only trying to use sex as a way to get what she wanted from you. But I love you. I always have.” Rachel moved towards him again trying to embrace him.
“Don’t touch me or I will have you led out of here in handcuffs.” Bryce stepped towards the door but Rachel moved with him.
“Bryce, please. Where is this coming from?” Rachel grabbed his arm and Bryce stepped back again, putting his hands in the air.
&n
bsp; “I’m calling security,” he said turning and snagging the phone on the wall.
The security guard at the front answered on the first ring and said he would be right up.