The Misunderstood Black Woman

Betrayal I

I looked at myself in the mirror, and I couldn't stand what stared back at me. My caramel brown skin was dull and drained of all emotions. My dull brown eyes looked over my appearance, and I couldn't help but sigh out in agony. Is this what relationships and life do to you? I tied my black curly hair into a low bun and hastily brushed my teeth.

After spitting out my mouth wash and drying my hands, I slowly walked back into my compact bedroom to get dressed for work. It was the same frivolous routine every day. I walked over to the condensed window in my room and looked outside, fixated on life. I couldn't help but sigh in disappointment from looking up at the dull gray sky.

Change, Change is the one thing that fulfills my happiness in life. Change is inevitable, but change can also be hard to find or see. If you do the same routine over and over, don't you reach a breaking point? I've always desired change because I assumed it would eventually bring me happiness. But today, my life would be changed forever, making me fear change.

I snapped out of my trance, then hesitantly glanced over at the gray clock that hung on my dark brown walls. A clock never changes. It's forever ticking, and time will never cease. You see, I'm what they call scatterbrained. I'm brilliant, but I focus on too many things at once. This sudden thought reminded me to get ready before my boss finally pulled the plug on my employment at the real estate firm.

I slid on a black dress that complimented my curves; then, I put on my favorite pair of glossy black heels. After letting my black hair down from my tight bun, I combed my curls until they were down to my shoulders. Finally, I applied some natural-looking makeup then gave myself one last glance before heading out the door.

Courtney. You are a beautiful black woman, and no one can take that from you. You are strong, intelligent, and smart. Go out there and kill it today because we have a light and phone bill due in one week. I thought before grabbing my purse off the coffee table and locking up my apartment.

I took public transportation to work usually since my car went out of commission. I always envied the successful people that drove slick black Lincoln's and Lexus's. My dream car was a Lexus, and I was nowhere near reaching that goal. My walk to the bus stop only took five minutes, and the bus dropped me off a few blocks away from the real estate firm.

The bus finally emerged after a couple of minutes, so I was right on time. I found a seat next to a young woman that had on a pair of expensive headphones. She seemed lost in her world, so I swiftly slid into the seat and faced forward. Morning commuters overcrowded the bus, so someone rarely got a seat to themselves.

Chicago is a bustling city that never sleeps, so public transportation is one of the most practical ways of getting around. I took out my daily planner and my ballpoint pen. In the morning, I liked to clear my mind and plan for my entire day. I'm a woman who admires structure and a clear set of events to follow for guidance. I strive to be honest and to love myself unconditionally. Also, unlike other millennials, I avoided using any forms of social media before the evening to prevent any unwanted distractions.

"Stop 23."

I looked up and saw my usual bus driver glancing back at me. I must've lost track of time because this trip seemed quicker than expected. I quickly gathered my belongings then sprinted off towards the bus. My office was only a five-minute walk from the bus. I worked on South Michigan Ave, so I was near the heart of the city. After work, I had a habit of exploring new places instead of heading straight home. I developed a unique skill of knowing the city like the back of my hand.

I glanced down at my worn-out leather watch and saw that I had exactly two minutes to be seated at my desk. I ran inside the firm then pressed the elevator button for the 5th floor. Right when the doors were about to close, someone abruptly put their arm through the doors to halt it. I glanced down at my watch and saw that I had one minute to run to my desk. The man pressed down the number six, and we rode in silence. I couldn't help but glare daggers into the back of his head while admiring what I saw at the same time.

He had to be at least 6'2, and his muscles bulged through his grey suit. His brown light skin tone was glowing, and from what I briefly saw, he had dark brown eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. I heard the elevator ding, so I rushed out without hesitation. I ran past our receptionist Miranda and straight for my desk in the very back of the office. I signed into my computer then took a deep breath.

"Court, why are you always rushing in here like you're running from a big dog?"

I looked up at my close friend while rolling my dark brown eyes. She was the only person that I trusted her, and we quickly became best friends.

"Hello, Yvette. Nice to see you as well."

"It's not going to be so nice after you hear this," Yvette said while grimacing and looking down at the floor.

I took a deep breath then studied Yvette's face closely. Yvette was beautiful and probably one of the most confident women I knew. She was a little chubby, but I always thought she looked amazing in whatever she wore. Today she wore her blonde box braids in a high bun and a black jumpsuit paired with beige heels. She was a fashionista, so she was big on accessorizing everything that she wore.

I liked how she paired her outfit up with a pair of black dangle earrings that came down to her shoulders. I also noticed that she always wore her emerald green engagement ring on her ring finger. One day she randomly told me that she saw black made her wrists look thinner, so she always had on black bracelets that made obnoxious clanking sounds whenever she gestured her hands.

"Well, I'll start with the good news first. The boss is gone for the week, so his son came in to take over."

I looked at her in confusion. That was already bad news for me. Our boss Mr. Huggins was just another grumpy old man that wanted things done the old-fashioned way. He was very strict and punctual, so I rarely spoke to him. Although he was relentless, he still had days when he would come around the office and interact with us. He would often reward us with additional paid vacation days for extra sales and positive reviews.

His son, on the other hand, was a narcissist that threw the adult version of a temper tantrum when he didn't get his way. I always felt disgusted when he tried to flirt with me and pass lustful glances my way. I shivered in disgust, then looked back at Yvette, who still held the same grim expression on her face. It was like she just took a hard blow to the stomach, and she was afraid to say anything.

"Yvette, is everything ok? Is there something else?" I hesitantly asked.

Yvette took a deep breath then moved closer to me as if she was trying to hold me back. "Court, I heard the typical office gossip today. I wasn't that interested until I heard your name come up in the conversation."

I'm sure that my caramel complexion just turned an impossible color for African Americans. I felt all the blood drain from my face, and I swear my face was probably pale. "What did the ladies say?" I asked slowly while steadily standing up to meet Yvette's gaze.

"One of the girls named Trina said that she was at a bar last night, and Khalil was there. So long story short, they were drinking all night, and I guess they hit it off and slept together."

I was utterly stunned. I couldn't believe it. My boyfriend, for almost a year and a half, did the most unimaginable thing I could've imagined. I snatched my purse off of my desk; then, I roughly pushed Yvette out of the way. I ran over to the elevators and pushed the button I thought read L for the lobby. I couldn't see straight because tears aggressively clouded my vision and continuously ran down my cheeks like an endless rinse cycle on the washer machine. Where do I go? What do I do? Why is my mind so scattered right now?

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The end of Chapter One! So hello, my name is Courtney, and this is my story (Sort of). Not all events are actual because this is fictional, and the main character is fiction. The right part is I did get cheated on and went through a toxic relationship. I have since bounced back and become more vital than ever! (I've been single for two years now, and I'm working on myself so that I can be the best version of myself. And I know that waiting for the right man is worth it.) So please vote and spread the word about my book. I have a passion for writing, and it would be a dream for me to get this story to 1 million views and self-publish. Also, the relationship portrayed in this book isn't centered around "perfect, happy endings" No relationship is perfect, so the couple will go through hardships and face real-life problems. And if you want me to read any of your stories, message me!