Indulgence

Eight

Fighting an intensive headache and the urge not to scream, Fatima's French tips frustratedly raked through her loosened curls that had been flowing freely in her face, pushing them back off of her forehead. She rubbed her temples in agony before pressing the intercom button. Seconds later, Ashley rushed through her doorframe with a pen and pad in hand

"Yes ma'am."

Fatima released a silent breath and squeezed her eyes shut "I have a headache." Ashley stood quietly in the room. Her lack of response forced Fatima to open one eye "Did you hear me?" She formulated her words at a slower pace to match the blank stare of the woman staring back at her

"Yes ma'am. I'll get you something for your headache. Would you like some tea as well?"

"Preferably the tea that I like, not the tea you think I would like this time. Yes?"

"Yes ma'am"

Fatima closed her eyes the moment the door closed behind her, shaking her head in an attempt to rid the pain. It was just something about having to review monthly budgets and fiscal reports that always brought on an uncomfortable amount of stress. Nor did it help that Mother Nature was likely headed in her direction making her stomach double in knots.

As much as she wanted to be in her bed this morning, she needed to be in her office signing off on reports and overseeing next the current and next months budget reports.

She momentarily lifted her eyes from her screen to glance at the incoming call. She declined the call and continued to scroll through the cost report for all of her facilities. When the second call came through, her irritation had set in.

"Most of the time when someone declines the call, that means they will call you back. Or they don't want to talk."

"Hello?"

"What?"

"Yo, is that how you answer the phone?"

Fatima lowered her head in annoyance "Zachary...what do you want?"

He grinned on the other end at her question. "Whatchu mean what I want? I called you cause I wanted to hear your voice."

"Okay. Bye"

His smile faded quickly "—Wait hold on a second. Yo, don't hang up this phone Ti."

"Zachary, I am at work. What is it?"

"What's wrong baby."

She groaned "Oh god, please don't start that.It's nothing, I have a headache that you aren't helping and a ton of work to get through."

"You need some help?"

"I don't. What I do need is to figure out what you want so I can get back to my day."

"Did you eat something today?"

Fatima tilted her head back lightly massaging her throbbing temples "I ordered my lunch for the day. When it arrives, I will eat. Does that satisfy you sir?"

He weighed her response in his head and shrugged " For now."

"Wonderful. I need to get out of here. I have a meeting that requires my presence. So if there's nothing else..." Her words hung in the air waiting to close out their conversation but he was determined to get her attention

"One more question."

"I'm listening"

"Can I take you to dinner tonight?" He waited patiently for her answer, frowning when he was met with silence. Pulling the phone back slightly, he watched as the photo of his Lock Screen came into view. He sucked his teeth when he realized she had hung up on him.