Pay Day Read online

  “Are you all right?” Angelique stood inside of my cubicle squinting at me with her hands on her hips.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”

  “Well, I called your name three times and you never responded. You look like you were in a daze. I hope you’re not contemplating quitting.” We had wanted to be strategic in our exit since we really weren’t trying to have folks in our business. Raquelle was already gone, but we’d agreed that Terrance would quit today, I would call Monday and quit, and Angelique – since she could tolerate this place more than any of us – would work an extra week and not quit until next Friday. How she would be able to do that was beyond me.

  “No, I’m sticking to the plan,” I said.

  She shook her head and kept her eyes on me as she spoke slowly. “Well then, what’s wrong with you? Is it Tony, are you ready to tell me what happened?” Angelique had asked me about Tony a couple of times but I simply hadn’t been ready to talk about it.

  I sighed, deciding to finally tell her everything. I started from the beginning, and finished with, “I just can’t get over the fact that Tony left me. I have about eight minutes to get myself together so I can start taking phone calls and I can’t even concentrate.”

  Angelique put her hand on my shoulder. “It’s gonna be okay. I know it sucks even more for you knowing that he’s gonna get half of your lottery earnings. That sure would piss me off. I mean just think he -”

  I held my hand up, and didn’t care that I cut her off. “Hold up. Half of my earnings? Oh no he won’t. He left me before I won, so when he left me, he lost his chances to get half of my money.”

  My friend shook her head. “It doesn’t work like that. You are still married and by right he is entitled to fifty percent of everything you guys have accumulated while being married.”

  “The devil is a lie!” I knew I’d have to look into it, but I would fight for every penny of my money if I needed to. I looked at the clock on the corner of my computer and saw that I had three minutes before calls would start rolling in. I slipped my headphones on as a signal to Angelique that I was finished with our conversation. She took the hint and walked away, knowing that she, too, had calls to take.

  I pressed the light to answer the switchboard. I’d gotten written up for that last customer I cussed out, so I’d promised Evelyn I was going to try and have a better attitude. Of course, that promise was made before I became a millionaire. Even still, I plastered on a smile and said, “Good morning, thanks for calling Clearcast, this is Janine. How may I assist you today?”

  “Look, Janet, my cable bill is way too high. I need you to do something about it, ‘cause I’ll starve before I pay two hundred and fifteen dollars for some cable.”

  “My name is Janine. But I would be happy to pull up your account if you can verify some information for me. Who am I speaking with?”

  “This is Beautiful Jakes. Now can you hurry and check my account. I have to go to work in a few minutes and I need to know what my balance is.”

  I paused. “Beautiful?”

  “That’s my name!” she said.

  “Like, that’s what your mother named you?” I couldn’t help but ask, as I envisioned this hideous looking woman.

  “Look, you don’t need to worry about all that. Just hurry your ass up.”

  Woosah… “Yes, ma’am, Ms. Jakes. I’m going to go as fast as I can. Would you mind giving me the last four digits of the account holder’s social security number?”

  She had obviously transitioned from home into her car for her commute to work, because all of a sudden the radio was blasting in my ear. It was so loud I could barely make out the words as she spoke.

  “I apologize, Ms. Jakes, I couldn’t understand the numbers you just called out. Would you mind repeating them?”

  She huffed and said, “Look, I don’t have time to play with you. You people at this company are so incompetent. Every time I call, there’s a problem.”

  This lady was really testing my patience, but I decided to stay calm and use my best customer service skills. “I just couldn’t hear you over the radio. Would you mind turning it down just a little then repeating your response?”

  “Yes, I mind. How dare you ask me to turn down my radio? I want to speak to your manager. You have been rude to me since we began this phone call. If you don’t like what you do, then you should get an education so you don’t have to work in menial positions.”

  I didn’t know where Ms. Jakes got off talking to me like she did, but she had another thing coming if she thought I was going to stand for that. Granted, I hadn’t been to college, but that was beside the point. “You’re right, Ms. Jakes. I think I’ll go ahead and register for my classes as soon as I hang up this phone.” I disconnected the call, removed my headphones, and picked up my purse. I’d tried to hold out and not quit until I had my money in my hands, but I’d had enough of rude customers.

  I marched right over to Evelyn’s office. Angelique was just going to have to be mad. Plan A had just shifted to Plan B. “Yo, Evelyn, this is my last day. I quit.”

  I tossed my headset on her desk, turned around and walked off. I’d never felt more exhilarated.

  When I got into my car, I pulled out my sunglasses and drove out of the parking lot. After discovering that there was a possibility that Tony could get some of my money, it was like everything had become a blur. There was no way I was going to let that man lay so much as a fingernail on my money.

  Chapter 10

  Angelique

  Today was a good day. Everything was all set for us to head to Austin tomorrow and my boyfriend and I had just had what he called our “last homemade meal for a while because we were going to eat out daily now that we were rich.”

  It didn’t bother me that he automatically started talking about “us” being rich. Marcus had moved in with me three years ago to help me with the bills and had ended up taking over my rent altogether. He did everything for me and I couldn’t imagine not sharing in this windfall with him. Marcus and I had an amazing relationship. He was loving, doting, and supportive, so he was right, we were going to have fun spending this money.

  I set his wine glass down on the table in front of him.

  “Now, we’re ready to eat,” I said, smiling at him.

  “Baby, you’re doing such a great job with your clean eating. I know it hasn’t been easy, but we are in this together,” he said as he surveyed the marinated chicken breast and salad that I had prepared. He pulled me down on his lap and snuggled in my bosom. I hated when he did that. I was sure that every time he hugged or squeezed me he was just as disgusted with my weight as I was, but he’d never tell me. Marcus was so sweet; he never acted as if my weight repulsed him. When we made love I always insisted that we do it with the lights off or I’d keep my top on. He knew that was the rule and he never pressured me to do anything different. He complimented me a lot and told me that he didn’t care what I looked like with my clothes off because he loved me unconditionally. While all of that may have been true, it didn’t change the fact that I didn’t like how I looked naked.

  Feeling the need to get him distracted from my rolls and plush body, I released myself from his embrace and sat down across from him.

  “I can’t wait until tomorrow,” I said. “I just can’t believe this time tomorrow, our lives will change so drastically.”

  “Babe, I’m so happy for you. For us. You know how bad I’ve been wanting to go to Aruba. I want that to be one of the first things that we do.”

  I cringed. “Umm, yeah, not so fast. You know I’m not going anywhere near a beach until after my surgery.”

  That wiped the smile off his face. “What?”

  I knew that Marcus was against my surgery, but this wasn’t open for discussion.

  “Yep, it’s amazing what money can do. Dr. Taylor has me scheduled for Thursday after next,” I said. “It’s an outpatient surgery, so I don’t even have to stay overnight.”

  “Are you serious?” he
replied. “I thought you had to go through months of therapy, and nutrition classes.”

  “You have to do all that when you’re trying to get your insurance to cover it. When you’re paying cold, hard cash, you set your date and go.”

  Marcus set his fork down and leaned back in his chair. “I keep telling you, you are beautiful just as you are. You don’t need gastric bypass surgery.”

  “And I keep telling you, not only do I need it, I want it. More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.” I didn’t want to have this serious conversation on the eve of such a life-changing event, but we might as well get it out of the way, because I would be going under the knife come Thursday.

  “Why can’t you see what I see?” he asked.

  I sighed. I wish I could see what Marcus saw. But since he was the only one who did see the beauty, I had to assume it was something wrong with his eyesight.

  “Marcus, I don’t expect you to understand. All my life, I’ve been the big girl. My father made disparaging remarks. My mother made excuses. One time, when I was thirteen, I was at a birthday party, stuffing my face with cake like every other kid there and this woman looked at me with such disgust, my mother stepped in and I just knew she was about to go off on that woman. Instead she said, ‘She has a thyroid problem.’ Do you know how much that hurt me?”

  “I understand that,” Marcus said. “But both of your parents have been deceased for years. You can’t continue to carry the burden they put on you.”

  I struggled not to cry. “Don’t you get it, this isn’t about them. It’s about me. It wasn’t just them. It was friends, family, the person at the store, walking down the street. Everyone looked at me with pity and disgust.”

  “You’re on the right path. You’ve lost four pounds.”

  I swear I wanted to throw my chicken breast at him.

  “I’m sorry,” he said when he saw the glare on my face. “I’m just saying that’s progress. It’s something to be proud of.”

  “Do you want me to stay fat so no one else will want me? That’s what you want, huh?”

  He stared at me, stunned. “I can’t believe you would say that.”

  I glanced at my plate as I stabbed my spinach like it was his head. “I guess the truth hurts.”

  “You know, I would get mad at that,” he finally said, “but I know you know better.” He got up and moved toward me. “If the surgery is what you want to do for you, so you can feel better about yourself, then fine. I’m just saying, I think you’re beautiful just as you are.” He pulled me up and out of my seat.

  I relaxed. I could never stay mad at Marcus. And what did I look like getting mad at someone who was just trying to love me as I was?

  “Admit it, you’d love to see me prance around the bedroom in some itsy bitsy lingerie,” I joked as he took me into his arms.

  “Nah, I prefer to see you prance around the room in your birthday suit.”

  “You know that’s not going to happen.” I kissed him. “Maybe after my surgery.”

  He shook his head as he hugged me tighter. No, Marcus didn’t get it. But he would soon see, when I was a hundred pounds lighter, he’d agree – surgery was the best decision I could have ever made.

  Chapter 11

  Terrance

  I never claimed to be perfect. I never even wanted anyone else to think I was. Making mistakes was a part of life, and getting married was one mistake I could get a do-over for. Don’t get me wrong; being married to Sheray wasn’t torturous because of her. It was all me. I was to blame for my discontent. I’d done something I never should’ve done: Said ‘I do.’ Shoot, I was still working on my willingness to wear my wedding ring for the seven days we’d been married.

  I never understood why wearing a piece of jewelry was so important to some people… especially women. Sheray didn’t waste any time dragging me to a jewelry store in Vegas so I could buy her a ring so we could “properly exchange vows.” We couldn’t afford much more than a solid gold band for both of us. The other option was for her to get a small wedding set and I get nothing. She wasn’t having that. So, we settled for the wedding bands. I know I was buzzing from the liquor because even as we tried on the rings, it didn’t completely register what was about to happen. In fact, I remember leaving the ring store and Sheray saying we were going to a chapel, but everything after that was a blur.

  I still hadn’t told Sheray about the lottery, but since we were going to claim the money tomorrow, I couldn’t put it off any longer. She had come home asking if I’d heard that some people in the building had won. Our building was huge and heavily staffed, so unless people worked in close proximity to one another, it was difficult to know what was going on throughout the entire company. I’d made up some excuse and left the room without answering her.

  From the moment we returned from Vegas, I’d considered getting an annulment. Now the thought of the lifestyle winning the lotto would bring me, made me want my single life back even more. But the good guy inside me won out, and I decided to tell her over dinner tonight. Since the money was won during our marriage, Sheray was entitled to fifty percent of my earnings no matter how quickly our marriage was dissolved.

  I’d told Sheray not to cook because I was taking her out to dinner. She immediately started in about “watching our budget” but I just tuned her out.

  By the time we pulled into Pappadeaux, our favorite seafood restaurant, Sheray was over any budget concerns and seemed thrilled to be going out. She sashayed to the door and smiled as she stood waiting for me to open it.

  “Thank you, Baby.” She walked in and slid her arm in mine. The one deep dimple she had appeared in her left cheek.

  “My pleasure.” My wife was beautiful and carried herself like a lady and I actually hoped her half of the money could bring her some joy. I took a deep breath as we walked up to the hostess to put our name on the waiting list.

  “There’s a thirty minute wait,” the young hostess said as she handed me a buzzer.

  Sheray and I headed to the bar and ordered some drinks.

  All of a sudden I felt a strong tug on my shoulder. “What’s up, Terrance? How’s it goin’?” It was Owen.

  “Everything’s going well. I can’t complain.”

  “Hey, Owen,” Sheray said. Her cheerful personality could warm up the coldest room.

  “Hey, Pretty Lady.”

  They hugged, and then Owen said something that changed my whole night. “Word is, our lotto pool hit.”

  My mouth dropped open in disbelief. How in the world did he know? I couldn’t believe Janine or Angelique had said anything. I hadn’t talked to Raquelle, but I couldn’t believe she’d say anything either.

  “Wh-what? Where did you hear that?” I stammered as Sheray’s eyes bore into me.

  “Lorna from the office said she overheard Angelique and Janine talking. Then Janine quit on Friday.”

  Janine quitting had thrown Angelique into a tizzy. She’d texted me telling me I couldn’t quit yet, so as far as anyone knew, I was still a Clearcast employee.

  Owen narrowed his eyes, like he was studying me. “So what’s up? Did we win?”

  If my wife hadn’t been there throwing daggers at me, I would’ve busted out laughing.

  “You need to check your sources, dude,” I managed to say just as our buzzer went off. “That’s our table.” I took Sheray’s arm. “See you at work tomorrow.”

  I know I was trembling as I walked away, but I tried my best to play it cool.

  The hostess directed us to our booth and as soon as we both were seated, Sheray folded her arms. “Did you win?” she asked me point-blank.

  I sighed heavily. I was in a no-win situation now. “Actually, that’s why I brought you to dinner. To tell you the good news.”

  She cocked her head. “So please help me understand how the office gossip pool knows about this win before your wife?”

  “I have no idea,” I confessed. “Me, Angelique and Raquelle hadn’t told anyone.”

&
nbsp; She shook her head in disbelief. “Including me.” She grabbed her purse and scooted out of the booth. “I’ve suddenly lost my appetite,” she said, heading toward the door.

  I followed Sheray out to the car. I could barely keep up. By the time I got to the driver’s side, she was sitting in the passenger seat with her arms folded, her gaze fixated straight ahead of her. “Start explaining now.”

  “You don’t want to come in and discuss this over dinner?”

  She glared at me so hard, I was momentarily speechless. “I know what you’re thinking…” I finally began.

  “I doubt that.” Her lips were clinched tight.

  “I was gonna tell you that we won over dinner.”

  “There is no way you didn’t know you won. The word has been buzzing around the office all day Friday. I even mentioned it to you and you didn’t say a word. I just never put it all together.”

  I swallowed hard as I thought of a good enough reason to tell my wife why I hadn’t told her we were millionaires. “I was gonna surprise you.”

  “What a bunch of crap, Terrance. You are such a liar. Why did I have to find out from someone that heard it through the grapevine?” When she finally looked at me with tear-filled eyes, I could see the hurt and betrayal she felt. “Take me home.”

  I reached over and touched her lap.

  She moved my hand. “Don’t. You. Touch. Me.”

  I knew she meant business when I saw her elevated right eyebrow. Then, she folded her arms.

  “I was gonna tell you, but…”

  “You have yet to see what you have in me as a woman,” she said. “You don’t appreciate me. I try to make things between us great. I have ignored so many of your flaws and your rude actions. What did you think I would do if I found out about the money? Spend it all on myself? Go out and buy a yacht? What?” She held her hands out as she waited for my response.