A Story To Tell | Book 2

.23.

:::CHRIS:::

It was all a dream!

    At least I hoped it was. I was sure by the time I closed my eyes and opened them, Vanessa wouldn't be standing here in front of me and India and I wouldn't be at work, I'd be in bed somewhere. This wasn't happening right now. And from the look on Vanessa's face, I'd say she was more furious than what I've ever seen before.

    "Hey, Vanessa." I said, trying to make things light and not seem obvious that something was truly wrong with this picture.

    I look over at my employee, Stacey who was just standing there looking lost to the world like she always was. When India looked up at me, I knew that she could sense something wasn't right, so she turned away from me and stepped up to Stacey.

    "Is this India?" Vanessa asked me, looking at India.

    "Hi, nice to meet you." India said, extending her hand out.

    "Bitch, please!" Vanessa said, folding her arms.

    I was too damn shocked to have just heard Vanessa cuss. She never used profanity. And to admit, it didn't sound right hearing it come from her lips. Obviously, I'd caused some harm. Vanessa was cussing? What the hell?

    "Excuse me?" India said, standing back. I rolled my eyes as I moved to stand in between the two of them. India was ready to fight and I wasn't going to have that. I couldn't have this happening.

    India's intentions are always good, but it doesn't take much to piss her off.

    "India, take Stacey back up front for me, please? I'll be out, shortly." I tell her as I touch her on her shoulder. India didn't break her eye connection with Vanessa at all as heat and anger circled around the two of them. India didn't move.

    "In—India?" Stacey said as if she were afraid.

    India was too busy staring Vanessa up and down to realize that her name was being called. I was afraid that she was going to lash out at me, but I was willing to risk that chance than to have the two of them up in here fighting. We couldn't have any of there in here. If that happened, hell, everyone would lose their job.

    "India...come on." I say to her, gently.

    She still didn't move.

    "Ms. India?" Stacey said her name.

    "Sweetie..." I said to her, hoping that would catch her attention.

    India looked at me, breaking the stare. It amazed me that not neither one of them blinked the whole time. It was creepy as fuck.

    "Can you take Stacey upfront, please? I'll be up there in a minute. Okay?" I repeat myself, this time, slow, for reassurance that she was listening and wasn't thinking of swinging at Vanessa.

    "Come on, Stacey." India said as she pulled Stacey along with her down the hall. As she walked along the hall, she looked back at me and smiled at me a bit before turning away. I was glad that she looked through the situation.

    I knew that I had to explain my situation with Vanessa to her in case of a situation like this happening. I didn't actually think Vanessa had it in her to do a drive-by like this. Vanessa never took me for the confrontational type. But, boy...I was so wrong.

    "So, you don't have the decency to breakup with me before you start fucking around with someone else, Chris?" Vanessa asked me, her eyes welling up with tears. I slowly blinked and took her hand in mine, about to pull her into the office, but she snatched her hand away. "Don't you touch me!" She shouted.