Page 1

TARAJI

T araji’s voice bounces off the walls of Jerome's office, her mind spinning between disbelief and rage. "How could you?" She shouts, unsure whether to laugh or cry at the scene before her.

"I'm sorry baby," Jerome pleads, his almond eyes wide with panic.

"Baby, don't baby me. How could you do this to me and with her of all people? You knew what was happening and you went and did it." Heart hammering in her chest, betrayal cutting deep.

Two years. Two whole years I gave this man my heart, and this is what I get in return?

The truth is stark because yes she’s not thin like Mary-Anne. She's plus size, and she adores her body. It took her ages to fall in love with herself before sharing that love with Jerome. And what does he do? Takes that love, devours it, and spits it back in her face.

Jerome was supposed to be her forever. The man she'd walk toward at the altar. Six-foot-one of rich chocolate skin, with abs you could bounce quarters off. Always preaching about Black love around the office, but behind closed doors? He's been sampling the white chocolate for who knows how long .

Those brown eyes of his used to make her weak. Now, watching him beg for forgiveness, she wants to claw them out.

Her heart aches.

She should probably stop binging those murder shows since her brain's busy calculating how to dispose of both their bodies.

Girl, calm down.

"So, how long has this been going on?" Her foot taps against the floor. One swift kick between his legs would feel so satisfying right now.

"Baby, please, it only just happened now," he croaks. "She just came onto me, and it was a weak moment."

Taraji flashes him a wide, cutting smile. This fool is lying through his teeth.

"Jerome, don't lie now. We've been sleeping together for 4 months," Mary-Anne interjects with a smirk. "Four months of pure bliss, don't back out now."

Pure bliss?

With that five-inch situation he's working with?

Please.

But damn.

Mary fucking Anne. Taraji's biggest workplace rival.

She doesn't understand Mary-Anne's obsession with competing against her. The woman is stunning, no lies here. Blonde, blue-eyed, the whole cliché, but beautiful nonetheless. Taraji gets why he'd be attracted, she's got the chest Taraji lacks.

While she’s got enough backside for days, her breasts didn't get the memo. You'd think being a bigger woman would mean having something up top, but apparently God decided her bottom half was blessing enough.

Speaking of God, Lord, help me through this. Four months they've been sneaking around behind her back? Now Lord I know you work in mysterious ways, so I'll take this as the blessing in disguise, it must be.

"Four months," she whispers, the betrayal sinking deep.

"She's lying," Jerome protests .

"Well, what a shame because I definitely believe her."

And she does. Looking back, Mary-Anne's been throwing her those smug looks for exactly four months, and Jerome's behavior shifted right around then too. She should've trusted her gut from the beginning.

In a strange way, she's grateful this happened. Yes, she dreamed of marrying him, but the spark wasn't there. No passion. Maybe that's why he sought extracurricular activities at work.

Wait, was she the only one who didn't know? Nope, nah, she refuses to spiral. She'll finish her lunch and continue her day. They won't bring her down.

She turns to walk away.

"Can we talk this over?" Jerome calls after her. "Taraji, I love you, and I want to be with you. This thing with Mary-Anne was just a blip, and it's you that I want."

His words bounce off her. She's done.

"You guys can have each other. Have a nice day."

"Nah, wait a minute, you aren’t going nowhere. This is our problem. You're always working without giving me time, and I said I'm sorry."

She can't believe she fell for this man. The sex wasn't even that good.

"Jerome, please don't try to blame me. You cheated with Mary-Anne, and now you want to play victim?"

"What do you expect? You haven't been giving me any lately, and I need to get it somewhere. Your fat ass should feel lucky I made you my girl." He smirks like he's won something.

Red fills my vision.

"Don't fuck with me. You think you can speak to me this way?" she shouts. Her weight has been a sensitive spot for years, but she built herself up. She won't let him tear her down.

"What's going on here?" A deep bass voice cuts through their argument.

Shit. Nikolai .

Jerome looks down. "Nothing, sir. Me and my old lady are just talking."

The audacity.

"We aren't together anymore. We're finished. Done. Over. Nothing more needs to be said, so continue fucking Mary-Anne all you want."

"That language isn't necessary. Taraji, head to my office. Now." Nikolai's voice rumbles as he strokes his beard.

This man.

"Gladly, sir," she replies.