Mr. Make-Believe (An Urban, Chic-lit Novel)

Chapter 21: Uncovering Secrets

"How did you find out about me?" Audrey asked. The rest of the girls had already left giving the two privacy to talk about Corey. Of course, Naomi wanted to stay since she was the only one out of the group who wasn't up to par with Audrey's issues. After much coaxing and Naomi threatening that she tell her later or else, they eventually left, putting Audrey in even a more foul mood.

Anita flagged down a waitress asking for a latte before explaining. She crossed her legs under the table, smoothed out her skirt and took a sip. She herself had developed feelings for him and was more than hurt when she found out he had others on the side. She was find being the side chick but finding out she wasn't the only one had done something to her. 

"It was maybe a week or two ago when he was at my place. He had called earlier saying that he needed to take his mind of some things. When we were done...you know...doing it, he couldn't put his phone down. He looked out of it and bothered so I asked him if it was dealing with his wife he told me "something like that." 

Audrey took in her words and something told her what Anita was explaining to her was the day she found out about his wife. She scoffed to herself. It was funny how instead of feeling like a fuck up, he felt the need to fuck away her problems instead. She slightly chuckled, baffled that she couldn't see it before. 

"He excused him self and stayed out in the living room for at least an hour. I didn't know what was going on but whatever it was, deeply troubled him. So, that night i went through his phone, found the text messages, pictures and figured out he was messing around on me and his wife. My original plan was to confront him about it and threaten to tell his wife, but running into you here is just as good." 

"Just as good?" 

"Yeah, I figured...going straight to his wife isn't going to be nearly as satisfying."

Anita's crypted words had Audrey's attention. "What were you thinking to do?"

Anita smiled wickedly making Audrey second guess even asking. "I want to expose him, put his business out there so that others can see what kind of man he is."

Audrey sat back in her seat and truly contemplated what Anita said. She wasn't really the kind of person to air out other people's dirty laundry. She was a firm believer that people like Corey would gt exactly what he deserved sooner or later. Could she really shame him publicly? 

"I don''t know," Audrey said unsure.

Anita tried to refrain herself from rolling her eyes. She would have expected her to jump on the wagon with no hesitation unless...

"You love him don't you?"

Audrey, wouldn't necessarily call it love but she couldn't even look the woman in the eyes. But silence was all Anita needed. 

Anita sighed heavily and reached across the table to place her hand on top of Audrey's. "Oh sweetie, now i get it, but you can't let a man like him continue to run the streets. He's a liar and a manipulator and I can't even think to imagine if there are more girls trailing along." Ainta gently squeezed her hand. 

"Help me and you'll feel alot better knowing he no longer has the power."

Audrey looked at this woman, a complete stranger and wondered...what would she be? 

"Let me think about it." Anita nodded her head and brushed her curls back over her shoulder.

 "Alright, but here's my number. I hope to hear from you very soon." She asked for Audrey's number punching in her digits and giving it back to Audrey to save. She rose from the table and out the coffee shop.

It had been a few days since the unusual...well awkward...encounter with Anita and Audrey was still pissed. At first she couldn't believe that he was that type of guy. He showed no signs of disinterest but she guessed a man of like that had to have build up skill to juggle more than one girl. She had half a mind to call up Corey so she can cuss him out. Maybe call him out his name a few times, threaten to expose him herself, tell his wife...but then that all made her realize if she did any of that, she would have had to admit her involvement.

And that wasn't a conversation she was ready to have. 

But most of what Anita told her had put things in perspective for her. She couldn't put her self in a situation to trust any man ever again. They were all low down dirty ass dogs. She in the end made up her mind to join Anita, but how would she expose him of his infidelities? 

She took a seat on her couch, curled up under a blanket in her PJs and turned on the tv. Honestly, she was willing to do anything to keep her mind from wandering. But her constant phone buzzing wasn't going to allow her to. Since she'd been home it was almost as if Corey had a sixth sense that something was brewing. Non-stop texts, call voice mails and she couldn't take. She had half a mind to throw it against the wall and change her number.

But, her body was telling her something completely different. On the next incoming call from him, without realizing it, she had answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Audrey! Thank God you picked up...I was getting worried." 

Audrey rolled her eyes and rested the phone on her shoulder so she could lay down on her side. 

"What do you want Corey. You're ten seconds away from being hung up on."

"Okay, I think we need to talk. How things went down at the park wasn't cool and I realize I was being selfish. Let me come over so i Can properly apologize." 

Audrey raised her eyebrows. "Why can't you just do it now?"

"Because it would be nearly as genuine as in person. Please Audrey, I can't sleep knowing I've done you wrong." Audrey wanted to laugh, just laugh at him for being so damn stupid. Shit, he thought she  was stupid enough to fall for it. 

"You've destroyed that right to come anywhere near me, let alone my apartment. Please if you're going to continue to play these games, I'm hanging up the phone. I don't need this right now." 

"Wait!" but she had already ended the call. Him calling had put her right back in a foul mood. She even wanted to cry. This whole situation was fucked up and what she really needed was a distraction. So, she figured she would right in her book. She hadn't written anything for a few weeks now and figured she should.

She rose from the couch, letting the blanket fall to the floor. In the bedroom, sitting at her laptop she re-read through the last chapter. Soon she realized that her fictional crush was way to much like Corey, in every way. 

She threw her head back in frustration and covered her eyes because now, she even despised her book. 

This was when she realized being careful what you wish for wasn't just an expression. It was a fair warning and she didn't head to it.

Wallowing in her thoughts, She was unable to hear someone banging on her door till it got louder. On the third round of knocks, she scrunched her eyebrows together completely unsure who it could be. She swung open her front door and immediately wanted to close it, but his presence just had her completely rooted in her spot.

He stood in the door way and looked steadily into her eyes, careful not to make any sudden moves to make her slam the door in his face. "Audrey, we really need to talk."

***This fool had the nerve to show up at her door...smh. what do you think of the chapter? Anita? Corey's suddenly showing up at her door?