Something More Than This
(Janaye)
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I remembered running up the stairwell on the worst day of my life. I didn’t have time to wait for the elevator because I was already late. Finally, I reached the fifth floor. Peeking through the door and looking both ways for my boss, I sprinted to my cubicle. I flopped in my chair and dropped my purse on the floor. “Whew, I made it,” I said to myself. As I wiped a trickle of sweat from the back of my neck the phone rang.
“Janaye Perkins, how may I help you?” I said, trying not to sound winded. “Yes, Randy I’ll be right there.” I cursed under my breath after hanging up the phone. Everyone was staring as I walked into the office. I knew they were enjoying this.
“This is the eighth time you’ve been late this month. I don’t want to hear your excuses anymore,” Randy said as he put his hand up when I attempted to speak. I didn’t care that he did not allow me to explain, I was going to lie anyway.
I’ll just save it for next time, I thought to myself.
“Janaye, you’ve been a stellar employee until a few months ago. You aren’t reviewing half the number of applications you used to. The quality of your work has diminished and your errors have increased,” he said.
Randy’s face became flushed as he sighed heavily. “You’re a senior underwriter, but you’re performing like a rookie. I don’t know what’s going on and frankly I don’t care. I do care that we’re running a business, and your personal life is negatively impacting that.” He stood up and leaned over his desk toward me. His breath felt warm on my face and smelled like cigarettes and old coffee. If he continued spitting when he talked, I knew I was going to throw up.
“You’re officially on written warning for tardiness, and if I don’t see improvement in your performance by the end of the month, I’m writing you up for that too!” Randy softened his tone as he sat back down, “You’re a good worker, and I’d hate to fire you over something stupid like coming to work late and careless mistakes.”
I fought back the tears as I walked to my desk. Get it together girl, don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing you cry. I forced a smile on my face. When I turned the corner, I overheard two of my co-workers talking.
“Ms. It was late again. I know Randy just bombed her out. She walks around here like her stuff don’t stink. She knows she has issues like everyone else—especially with that man she be trippin’ over,” one of them whispered loudly.
“Girl,” the other one responded, “I saw him at the club last Saturday all over this chick. When she walked away he had the nerve to try to talk to me. I did let him buy me a drink with his fine self, okay?”
“Be quiet before she hears you.” They erupted in laughter. That was a prime example of why I didn’t fool with any of the females that I worked with. They were always in somebody else’s business. They made me sick.
I sat at my desk and recounted the argument I had with Nigel that morning. He was supposed to come over last night and once again he didn’t show. He wasn’t answering his cell phone, and he wasn’t picking up at home. He’s cheating again, I know it. Against my better judgment, I dropped Myles off at Momma’s and bounced during her fornication speech. Ever since she met Jesus she wouldn’t leave me alone. I drove to his apartment and parked across the street.
There was no answer when I banged on his door. I had all night to wait on Nigel’s cheatin’ behind to come home, so I settled in the front seat of my car and got comfortable. When I woke up it was the next morning, it took a couple of minutes to remember where I was.
“Dang! I know he slipped in while I was asleep. That’s alright, he should be leaving for work soon,” I said while looking at my watch. As I worked a kink out of my shoulder, I wondered if I could sink any lower. This is that fatal attraction mess, I told myself. Twenty minutes later, Nigel walked out of the building.
Something More Than This Copyright © 2008 by Tawnia L. Ramirez. All rights reserved
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