Page 6

TARAJI

T araji step into the elevator Friday morning. Her stomach is in knots. The weekend is almost here and all she wants is a big fat glass of wine and to spend the weekend with Keisha. That always provide a temporary escape. But right now reality smacks her in the face.

The doors open. Conversations halt. All she sees is eyes that turn towards her.

Bloody hell. Something has been said for sure. There's no doubt in my mind that the rumor mill is running today!

They will not bring me down so I bring my head up and walk like I don’t notice them. But the whispers follow her and she couldn’t help but catch fragments of their conversations.

"...slept with the boss..."

"...after her boyfriend..."

"...desperate move..."

Mary-Anne stands by the copy machine. Her smirk widens as she passes her by.

"Good morning." Mary-Anne's voice drips false sweetness. "Have a nice night?"

Taraji completely ignore her as she refuse to smack her into the same copy machine that she is standing by .

Lord give me strength.

As soon as Taraji reached her office, she shuts the door. Her hands shake as she puts down her bag.

Just take a deep breathe.

Before she can think of something else, there’s a knock on her office door. She steps away from the door and move closer into her office.

"Come in." Expecting Nikolai to walk in, but Jerome enters instead. "We need to talk."

"Get out." She points to the door.

"Be reasonable." He steps closer. "People are talking."

"Let them." She turns away.

Jerome grabs her arm. "This affects me too."

"Remove your hand." Her voice stays calm.

I really do not want to deal with this. My heart is palpitating and it feels like my chest is about to burst.

"Not until you listen." His fingers dig into her flesh. "You're making us both look bad."

"Us?" She laughs. "There is no us."

"You're sleeping with Volkov to get back at me." He hisses. "It's pathetic."

Something snaps inside her. "You cheated on me with that skinny bitch then blamed my weight."

Her voice rises. Heads turn outside her glass door.

"Lower your voice." Jerome tightens his grip.

"No." She yanks her arm free. "You humiliated me."

"You're making a scene." His eyes dart nervously.

"Good." She steps closer. "Let everyone hear how you fucked your assistant on company time."

Mary-Anne appears in the doorway. Her face pales.

"How you told me I was too fat to satisfy you." Taraji continues. "How you lied for months."

Staff gather outside. Jerome's face reddens.

"You crazy bitch." He raises his hand.

The crowd gasps. Before he can strike Nikolai appears. He grabs Jerome's wrist and twists .

"Touch her and I'll break your arm." His voice remains deadly calm.

Jerome winces. "This is a private conversation."

"Not anymore." Nikolai releases him with a shove. "You're fired."

Jerome's mouth drops open. "You can't—"

"I just did." Nikolai turns to the crowd. "Show's over."

People scatter. Mary-Anne disappears. Nikolai faces Taraji.

"My office." He doesn't wait for her response.

Without hesitation she follows him. Her anger is still boiling inside within her.

How dare he. That snake, after everything we’ve been through.

They enter his office and he locks the door.

"Sit." He points to the couch.

"I don't need—"

"Sit." His tone brooks no argument.

She sat down but part of her wants to drop to the ground and let it eat her up.

I'm so angry. Why me?

She closes her eyes and take a deep breathe before she combust. Her chest is feeling too tight, but then she feels a presences before her. When she opens her eyes, Nikolai is kneeling before her.

"Let it out." He takes my hands. "No one can see you here."

As soon as the words leave his lips, her face crumples. Tears flow. Sobs wrack her body and she could not hold them back. Nikolai pulls her against his chest.

"That's it." At the same time, she felt him stroking her hair. "Let go."

Tears fall from her eyes constantly. Even when she tries to stop herself, more just comes and her emotions are haywire.

She does not want to think as it's too much.

Instead she cries until her throat hurts.

Her mind fuzzes around the edges and all of a sudden she starts to feel small and safe in his arms. Something cracks inside .

"They all saw." Her voice sounds childlike even to her own ears.

"Saw what?" He wipes her tears.

"Me being ugly." A hiccup escapes her. "Angry and fat and and.."

"Brave." He interrupts. "Strong."

No. No No. I shake my head. No.

Her thoughts feel simplified. The world narrows to just his arms and his voice.

"No cry?" She looked up with wide eyes.

Nikolai's expression shifts. Recognition dawns.

"No more crying sweetheart." His voice softens but deepens. "You're safe with Daddy now."

The word should shock her but instead it feels right. She couldn’t help but curl more smaller against him, his scent soothing her.

I just want to stay here.

"Everyone mean." A pout pushes out of her lips.

"Daddy will protect you." He kisses my forehead and she feels a zing from the area. "No one will hurt my little girl."

Hmmm. I want to sleep. Warm. Safe. Daddy

…

Time blurs. She floats in warmth and safety. Eventually clarity returns. She blinks up at Nikolai. Horror dawns on her face.

No. Fuck. Noooooooo

"Oh god." Taraji pushes at his chest and climb out of his lap. Theres a twinge of loss from his warmth but the embarrassment overtakes it. "What just happened?"

Nikolai doesn’t say anything at first but then opens his mouth and says "You went into your little space."

"My what?" She stands straighter. Where have she heard that from .

"It's part of who you are." He remains calm. "Nothing to be ashamed of."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Her legs take her from one end the room to the next. Head starts spinning and she hears ringing in her ear.

"I think you do." He rises. "You've felt it before."

Memories flash. Times she felt oddly childlike during stress. Keisha covering for her weird behavior.

"How did you know?" She whispers.

"I've watched you for five years." He steps closer. "I know everything about you."

Fear and excitement war within her the closer he gets. "That's creepy."

"It's devotion." He corrects. "I've waited for you."

"Why?"

"Because you're mine." His declaration rings with certainty. "You always have been."

He stands before her now. His height instantly makes her feel small again. This man. The smell of his cologne surrounds her and for some reason thoughts change to him devouring her.

I need to calm down.

"I can't wait anymore Taraji." His hands cup her face. "Tell me to stop."

She should. She knows she should. But instead what leaves her lips shocks both of them.

"Don't stop."

His mouth captures hers. The kiss starts gentle then turns hungry.

His tongue parts her lips and a whimper leaves her mouth without permission.

He tastes like coffee and desire. His hands slide down to her back.

Slowly and that trail ignites a desire within.

It felt like he was stroking her clit. He reaches her ass and gives a hard squeeze.

A squeezes of appreciation for her curves and she couldn’t help but moan into his mouth.

He breaks the kiss. Both breathe heavily .

"This changes everything." The words barely manage to leave her lips. But her body is ready for more.

"It already changed five years ago." He traces her jawline. "You just didn't know it yet."

…

Later that evening, Taraji curled up on the couch, clutching a wine glass like a life raft.

The city shimmered through the window, but inside, The living room was all cozy warmth and familiar comfort.

Keisha plopped down next to her, tucking her legs beneath her and eyeing Taraji with open curiosity.

Keisha grinned. “Okay, spill. Everything. I want all the details, and don’t you dare leave anything out.”

Taraji blew out a shaky breath. “It was… a day. The second I walked in, people were whispering. Mary-Anne tried to get under my skin at the copier”

Keisha’s eyes flashed. “That snake? I would’ve tripped her on principle.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Honestly, I almost did. But then Jerome barged into my office.”

Keisha’s face darkened. “What did that asshole want?”

Taraji looked down at her wine. “To blame me for everything. He grabbed my arm, started ranting about how I was making us both look bad.”

Keisha sat up straighter. “He put his hands on you?”

“Yeah. Hard. Tried to shut me up when I called him out. I” My voice starts trembling. “I lost it, K. I yelled about everything he did. Everyone heard.”

Keisha’s eyes softened. “Good. About time someone called him out in public. You deserve better, T.”

I blink away tears.

“He almost hit me. In front of everyone.”

Keisha’s mouth dropped open. “He what? Girl, I will key his car and slash his tires. I’ll— ”

Shaking her head, half-laughing. “You won’t have to. Nikolai came in and twisted his arm, literally. Fired him on the spot. In front of the whole office.”

Keisha whooped. “Say less! That’s the best news I’ve heard all month. Did he look like he was about to cry?”

“Honestly? Yeah. And then Nikolai took me to his office, and I just…” Taraji hesitated, searching for the words.

Keisha leaned in, voice gentle. “What happened, T?”

With one swallow. “I broke down. Like... really broke down. He held me. I felt so small and safe. I think I went into that headspace again, the one you called little space?”

Keisha squeezed her knee. “Yeah, honey. That’s your way of coping. There’s nothing wrong with it. PlusI've been covering for your little episodes for years." Keisha laughs.

Her voice was small as she recounted the feeling “I called him Daddy, Keisha. Out loud. And it felt...right.”

Keisha’s eyes widened, then softened. “Girl, if it feels right, it’s right. You know I’ve seen you get like that before, right? Remember that time at my mom’s house after your first breakup? You wanted to color and watch cartoons for hours.”