The Only Exception

5

Letoya

It was going on 8 am and I was still standing at the bus stop. My head went from my watch to the bus that was just now pulling up.

When it stopped in front of me, Momma Martha sent me a look. "I'm sorry Sweet Pea, my car wouldn't start this morning."

"Momma Martha, we have to go. LakeShire again." I urged her panicking.

The application for that job clearly stated how Jo didn't like or tolerate lateness. I was already in shallow waters as it was and now I was about to get fired before I even got the chance to get comfortable with the fact that I was hired.

"Okay." She quickly drove off.

I was screwed. Holly Jolly, and Very Merry screwed.

My leg was shaking something terrible as she drove and she asked. "Honey, whats wrong? You back there shaking like a crackhead."

"I got hired at LakeShire, a assistant position. It's better money, but more hectic of a schedule. Today's my first real day, and Jo hates lateness."

"Jo?"

"Jo Jackson, the woman running for Chicago Senator." I replied briefly as Momma Martha stopped to get other people since we were running late. When people began boarding the bus, I kept glancing at my watch getting more frantic than the minute before it.

Soon, we had made at least 6 stops in between getting me to LakeShire, and by time I stepped foot in the building it was 9 am.

Great, two hours late. Just fucking great Letoya.

When I walked to through the lobby everyone watched my movements. I chuckled to myself, it wasn't supposed to be funny, but to me it sure in the hell was.

Walking to the elevator, I hit the 30th floor button and I began rising. It took me straight up thank God, and I quickly walked to the door of Jo's office.

Knocking, her voice called out, and I entered.

When she saw it was me, she chuckled. "Two hours late and she decides to show up? Next time, do us both a favor and just don't come."

"I'm sor-."

"Excuses are like assholes Ms. Luckett, everyone has one."

My voice flatlined for a moment before I simply went and sat down in the chair in front of her desk. Looking up at her, I spoke. "I know I'm late, but it won't happen again. The bus was late coming get me and then we had to go to everyone's stop. It's not an excuse, I'm just saying that my hands were kind of tied."

"You don't have a car?" She questioned as she met eye contact with me.

Shaking my head, I answered. "No, I take the bus."

"So you don't know how to drive?"

"I do know how to drive. Even got my license, cars are just expensive and I don't have that money at arms reach."

She nodded my statement off before pointing to the printer. "Print this on two sides for me, about 18 of them."

Grabbing the paper out of her hand, I went over to the copier machine and realized this was nothing compared to the ones in grade school. "How do I do two sides?"

I heard her sigh before her footsteps approached me. Arms wrapped around my body as her front pressed against my back. That dull aching that I always get around her set full sail and I prayed that I didn't do anything stupid in this moment.

Jo punched the diffrent icons on the screen of the printer and I watched her fingers as she did. Memorizing it for my own benefit, she hit cancel and instructed for me to do it myself that time. Pushing the same icons, I missed a step along the way and she spoke softly. "Missed one, start again."

She had laid her chin on my shoulder so she could watch me and her hands would breeze gently on my side whenever she went to tell me I had done something wrong. Her body was pressed so deeply into mines that I could feel whenever she took a breath. She was doing this on purpose, I think...

"Ya know, you smell amazing. What scent is this?" Her voice was at a whisper and it sent waterfalls rushing south in my body.

Shrugging slightly, I mumbled. "It's not perfume. It's my body wash."

Jo nodded as placed a light kiss on my neck. "Keep using it."

My eyes lowered and I had to catch myself from falling completely into her touch. This woman was full of mind games, but I just couldn't understand what exactly was the reason of this one.

Finally, I got the steps down after doing it 3 times. The papers had now begun printing but I was really beating myself up about it all.

I was a damn screw up and was mentally head butting the nearest wall in this room. Jo sensed it somehow and mumbled. "Calm down, I can tell when you're over thinking something. It's fine, you're fine."

Nodding, I replied. "I usually just catch on quicker than I am right now. It's frustrating."

"I understand." She moved some of my hair out of my face and I had to inhale deeply when I felt her tongue flick against my ear. I listened as she chuckled from my stance. "Letoya, breathe sweetie."

Breaking from the embrace completely, I spoke quickly. "The pa-." I cleared my throat. "The papers are done."

I grabbed the pages off of the printer and she chuckled at me. "You know, one day you'll be on my desk begging for me to screw your brains out and I'll remember this exact moment."

My eyes widened when she spoke like that, she was teasing me on purpose. I didn't have a response so I simply placed the papers on her desk. When I went to turn around, she was standing in front of me.

Body against the desk, I was trapped unless she moved. Her arms laid rested around my body, with her palms flat on the desk. "Don't ignore me Letoya. First you fight in my building. Then you come late today. Now you're ignoring me? You just keep adding on to your list."

"List?" My curiousity made the question come out.

Her finger grazed across my lips and she leaned in to kiss me. I closed my eyes and waited for her lips met mines. When nothing happened, I opened my eyes and saw that she was standing there smirking at me. "Now over there you moved away from me quite quickly, but over here you want me to kiss you? You are a true puzzle, Ms. Luckett."

I began playing with my fingers again as I had a mental battle within my head. Why was she so determined on getting someone like me when I am the exact opposite of her whole existence... aura... social class... etc?

"Head up beautiful." She mumbled to me as her fingers went under my chin and she lifted my head so we could make eye contact. "You might be fighting this right now, but you won't be soon. I have a feeling about that."