Page 18 of Mahogany 2
As soon as I got inside of the restroom, I sat my purse on the sink and leaned over to take a few deep breaths. What in the hell was wrong with him? I wondered if it was me. Wondered if my sexual energy was so potent that it’d gotten on him. That was possible, you know. He didn’t strike me as a man who’d be so… openly flirtatious at a meeting. But he’s been nothing but it since the initial meeting. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle any of this. Trying my damnedest to be a good wife and businesswoman with a man who’d… made me fucking quiver without laying a finger on me. How was I supposed to maneuver around this? Why was it that He was making this so hard for me? God.
Fuck the business side of things.
I was talking about the marriage. It was almost as if He wanted me to leave. As if He wanted me to break my vows. This… it had to be a test. I couldn’t see it any other way. The buzzing ofmy phone pulled me out of my mental rant, just as I was about to give God a piece of my mind.
With a deep sigh, I fished around my bag, pulling my phone out just to be greeted with a message from Judah. I laughed. Looked up to the ceiling and cracked up laughing. This was a joke, wasn’t it? The way things were unfolding for me this year… I had to be in some sort of twilight zone.
Judah Wolfe: Tonight at 6. Parc.
Simple. Right?
Wrong. I was a fucking mother. I couldn’t just… go out for dinner on a school night. I needed something earlier. Something during working hours. Something now.
Me: Too late. ToDAY. Twenty minutes. Hart Plaza.
I was only about ten minutes away from the riverwalk and my meeting with Crescent was wrapping up.
Judah: I can’t. Neither can you. You forgot?
Me: Forgot what?
Judah: About your meeting with Crescent. I know you on a meeting, love.
I tossed my head back with annoyance and paced the tiled floor, vigorously texting.
Me: Mind your business…
Shaking my head, I backspaced. Because…hello… he was minding his business. Judah’s title as Director of Ventures & Partnerships at Skylight Industries kept him in the loop. I hated this shit so much it was ridiculous.
Again, I looked to the ceiling and giggled. “What is this, bro?” I asked, talking to God.
With a heavy eyeroll, I reluctantly told Judah I’d be able to meet with him at six. Needed time to get things situated at home first. He told me okay and I stuffed my phone back into my purse. I’d just have to do what I always did when I lied about what I was up to—use Sienna. She’d hate it. Would complain andfish but I didn’t give a damn. A conversation with Judah was necessary despite how relaxed and accommodating he seemed to be.
After I finished up in the restroom, I rejoined Crescent at the table, and we concluded our meeting with a professional handshake, filled with tingles, and a promise to touch bases tomorrow afternoon. I prayed to God that the next meeting would go as planned. Professional, easy, and with a clear mind.
I ended my workday earlier.As soon as I left the meeting with Crescent, I went home to cook dinner. It was one o’clock in the afternoon, but I had to make sure my babies had a homecooked meal tonight. We’d been eating out a lot, and I wasn’t okay with that. Besides, cooking for them eased the guilt a little. That’s what I had… guilt. I made plans to creep out with a man I’d fucked more times than I could count, unprovoked. I didn’t do unprovoked shit. That’s not what my affair was built on. The shit I did to Duke was done solely because he'd given me a reason to. Lately, he hadn’t given me reason. But there I was… lusting over Crescent, meeting with Judah the same day. I was a mess.
After I finished dinner, I called Duke to let him know I was going out with Sienna for a couple of drinks and that dinner was done. He didn’t complain, ask questions, or anything. Just told me he loved me and to have a good time. Good. I didn’t want to sit on the phone talking, answering questions. He never really gave me a hard time when it came to going out but since I spent the night out on my birthday, he’d been extremely clingy. Or as clingy as I allowed him to be at least.
The kids came home before I could leave, and Ms. Sparkle was not happy about me leaving. Not only had Duke been clingy,but the kids had been too. I understood why and because I understood, I gave them patience and reassurance every time I left the house and picked up whenever they called. Who knew staying out for twenty-four hours would create such a domino effect? It made me sad, honestly. Realizing just how much I was needed when I was literally hanging on by a thread and in need of some time away. But that was my life. Once I became a mother, I stopped living for me. Imagine… eighteen years of living for someone other than yourself.
Before I left the house, I freshened up, changing into something a little more casual. Just a pair of mom jeans, a pair of black Dior pumps, and a jean button up top I had tied in the front. Instead of sporting my Birkin, I opted for a red Chanel and gold accessories. I touched my wand curls up, fixed my lip combo and was out of the door. I looked cute and casual, like I was meeting a friend for dinner. I wanted to make sure I didn’t look ready to fuck because I wasn’t. Regardless of what the relationship between Judah and I was built on, I wasn’t on fuck shit, and I trusted he would honor that.
About an hour later, I was walking through the doors of Parc. Surprisingly, Judah met me there.
“Mahogany—I can call you Mahogany, right?” He asked, with a smile.
“That’s my name, isn’t it?” I countered with a light smirk.
Opening his arms, he asked for a hug that I didn’t hesitate to give. Judah wasn’t the enemy. He felt good. Smelled good too. He was such a manly man, dressed in the usual tailored suit, and designer shoes. His hair was freshly lined up, his curls popping more than usual. More than what I’d noticed at Pandora’s at least. Which didn’t say much, considering we were usually in a dimly lit room. When he hugged me, he hugged me. Wrapped his arms tight around my waist and buried his face into the side of my neck. A little too much for a friendly meeting but I let it slide.Neither of us were used to being ‘like this’ with one another. It would take some getting used to, which was why the link up was necessary.
“The other side of your party is here; great. Can I seat you now?” The hostess asked, with a giggle, hinting at the fact that Judah literally waited for me. How polite.
After we were led to our seats, he held my chair out for me, and I sat. None of what Judah did came as a big surprise. Remember I said he was a selfless lover? Someone that aimed to please. He was a gem, honestly. One of Pandora’s most prized possessions. He honored women. Treated us like queens who deserved nothing but the utmost pleasure. However, because I hadn’t experienced him outside of those walls, I didn’t really know what to expect.
“Wassup with it? You worried?” He questioned the minute he sat down and loosened his tie.
I laughed. “Should I be?”
