𝙲𝙾𝙻𝙳. (completed)

6. thaw me out

Andre stood frozen where his feet had ended up at the sound of Fatima's cold tone. "Somebody care to tell me what the fuck is going on?" she asked, cutting the tension in the room in half. Laila didn't speak as she stood to the right of Andre. "Did she say 8 months Treshawn?" Fatima asked with a hint of disgust in her throat.

Who the hell is Treshawn? Zac thought. Laila chuckled and shook her head finding it odd her boss knew her boyfriend's middle name. "Fatima please. Just let me explain." Andre tried walking a few steps closer to her. "Bad idea" she scoffed and rose her hand to stop him in his tracks. Feeling small and rejected, Andre turns to look at Laila "This was never even supposed happen" he faces front to look at Fatima again "and Laila knows that" Andre said.

Fatima just chuckled and let a high pitched sigh ring out before she spoke. "Now you know me so I'm having a hard time understanding why you're trying me like I'm dumb. How the fuck is something that wasn't supposed to happen continue to happen for what did you say Laila? 8 months?" Fatima smartly spat. "Yeah. 8 almost 9" Laila answered.

Zac cleared his throat, sitting on Fatima's left "Lai.." he nodded towards Andre "So he's the guy you were bragging to me about? The one you said your family loved and you could see yourself marrying? This is him?" he asked Laila. "The delivery dude?" Fatima briefly looked away from the situation, nervously rubbing the back of her neck when she heard her lie resurface.

"Aye man" Andre said looking over at Zac "I don't know who you are or why the fuck you keep popping up but this has nothing to do with you"

"What are you talking about delivery guy Zac?" Laila asked not paying attention to anything Andre had to say since everything out his mouth seemed to be a lie.

"He brought some flowers to Fa-"

"Zac" Fatima interrupted him, slightly shaking her head. Laila crossed her arms and looked up at the ceiling remembering details she had forgotten. "The flowers that were in your backseat the morning you popped up at my door and begged me to let you take me to work? The same flowers that you said were for your mother?" she rested her weight on her left leg with a hand on her hip "I thought you were righting your wrongs with me for standing me up the night before but when you said they were for your mom, I wasn't tripping. Obviously that was a lie too though"

"And let me guess? The night he stood you up was the 8th, wasn't it?" Fatima asked, locking eyes with Andre. "Right, because that was the same night he took me to dinner. You know let's cut this bullshit all the way out" Fatima had gathered more than enough information a while ago. She just enjoyed putting pressure on her ex with his side chick of a girlfriend. Fatima stood up and as soon as she was on her feet, every drink she had that night hit her like a ton of bricks. She stumbled a little but Zac grabbed her, not letting her fall.

"You might as well be a man for once and tell her she's been the side chick to the relationship you had with her boss for a year" Zac sat quietly on the arm of the chair, being sure to watch her incase she took another step. Everybody was so focused on Fatima, they didn't realize Laila getting on the elevator until the door opened. She never said anything before the doors closed and she was gone.

"Fatima listen to me. We can work this out" Andre tried but it didn't work in his favor.

"Work it out? Your girlfriend just left yet here you are, begging your ex for another chance. Nigaa fuck this and fuck you! I don't want to hear shit you have to say" Fatima stumbled forward a little but Zac grabbed the back of her dress to help keep her footing steady. The action caught her off guard and her heart raced when she looked over at Zac. "You good?" he asked loud enough for only her. She nodded and grabbed her purse "I'm ready to go" she searched her surroundings for her keys again.