Confessions. Sasha Campbell

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СКАЧАТЬ rolled her chair closer. “Oooh! A new house? Where at?”

      “In Webster Grove.” Maureen reached inside her purse and pulled out not one but two flyers, enough for the both of us. “It’s more than three thousand square feet, five bedrooms, and even has a sunroom,” she announced proudly.

      I stared down at the paper in my hand and the $400k price tag. “Daaayum, girl! What you need this much house for?”

      “I like space.”

      I looked in envy and found myself wishing for a home like that. I used to have one just like that if not better. Now I’m back living in the same three-bedroom condo Leon and I bought the first year we got married. My place didn’t even have enough closet space for all my clothes. Leon had traveled so much, we never stayed in either of the other homes we had bought long enough for me to fully enjoy them. And the second he was transferred due to a merger, we sold it and bought another. The only place we ever kept and used as rental property was the condo. When he was promoted to CFO and announced he would be moving to Richmond, I had returned to St. Louis during the entire transition. But I had long since grown tired of the small condo. I wanted a jetted tub like the one I saw in the picture. I wanted to sit out on a sunporch and watch the sun rise. And dammit, I was going to have it!

      “I sure hope the sellers accept our offer. Michael and I are so excited.”

      My eyes traveled over to the ten-by-thirteen photograph Maureen kept on her desk of her darling Michael. The first time I saw him, I found myself licking my lips. He was a pork chop waiting to be sucked. Michael Morgan was a former NFL player who now owned a large car dealership. I had spotted him Monday while at happy hour with Nikki and would have gotten his attention if Nikki hadn’t been with me. I love my girl, but she doesn’t understand the power of the pussy. That’s why her ass ain’t had none in months, which didn’t make sense to me. She’s a sexy size 10 with a small waist and the prettiest mahogany skin. Her breasts are too small, but she has enough ass to make up for what she’s lacking. Her best feature is her large brown eyes and her locks that are honey blond, long, and gorgeous. Nikki’s pretty, which she’d have to be to hang with me. I’m thick, caramel, and luscious, and she’s slim and sexy. Together we’re a force to be reckoned. Yet instead of hanging with me, Nikki wanted to sit at home, waiting for her husband to call. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love me some Donovan, but he was away, and instead of twiddling her thumbs, Nikki could have been finding another way to pass the time. While he was serving our country overseas, she could have been servicing the needs of some rich men in St. Louis.

      The phones started ringing, and it was time to get to work. Even while I helped my first client, my eyes kept traveling down to that flyer. By the end of the morning, I was calling a realtor and made an appointment to discuss putting my place on the market. All I had to do was convince Leon. And I knew just how to persuade him. As soon as I hung up the phone, my private line rang.

      “DFS, Trinette speaking.”

      “Good morning, boo.”

      Ugh! No, Cory was not calling me. “Didn’t I tell you not to call me no more?” Hell, I’d been telling his ass all that week.

      “I know, but I wanted a chance to show you I’ve changed. I went out and got a new car to prove it.”

      Did he really think getting rid of that gay-ass car was going to make a difference? “I don’t care if you got a chauffeured limousine! There is no more us, and if your cheap ass calls my job again, I’m calling your mama.”

      There was a long pause. The last thing Cory wanted was for me to call Mommy Dearest and tell on him.

      “You don’t mean that,” he finally said.

      “Oh, don’t try me. I’ll even come over and show her those doo-doo-stain draws you left under my bed!” The phone went dead. I looked over at Patricia, who was trying her damnedest not to laugh. “Stanky ass,” I mumbled under my breath.

      She busted out laughing and I joined her. Cory had a lot of nerve calling me after what I found under my bed. I guess his mama had never taught him how to wipe his ass properly. Just thinking about sex with him made my stomach cringe. The things I do for money.

      My nine o’clock appointment arrived. I moved into the conference room, which is separated by partitions, and down to workstation three where a chick was sitting. She could have been cute if it wasn’t for the hoop earring dangling from the corner of her nose.

      “Cimon Clark.”

      A pair of hazel eyes met mine. “Yep,” she mumbled, chewing her gum like it was going out of style. “Where’s Casey?” she asked. The frown on her face indicated she wasn’t too happy to see me. That’s just too damn bad. It was time she learned you can’t always have what you want.

      I gave her a saccharine smile. “Casey transferred to Iowa, so I’m your new worker.”

      Cimon rolled her eyes and put a crumpled piece of paper on the counter. “I got this letter saying I need to renew my food stamps.”

      I nodded. “Yep. You’re required to do so every six months. You bring a copy of your lease and utility bills?”

      “Uh-huh.” She passed the documents to me.

      I looked through the papers, then went through a list of standard questions. “Do you have a phone?”

      She shook her head. “Nope. Can’t afford it.”

      “Anyone else living in your house?”

      “Nope, just me and my three kids. Y’all need to increase my food stamps ’cause three fifty ain’t enough to feed four people.” Cimon sounded disgusted.

      That chick was tripping, because that sounded like enough food to me. I was typing notes in her case file when I heard Ciara’s new song playing. Don’t you know that hoochie reached inside her purse and pulled out a cell phone, then had the nerve to start talking.

      “Whassup? Giiirrrl, I saw that! Yep. I’m running to the mall in a few.”

      No, she didn’t. I stopped typing and stared her ass down. “Excuse me, but are you here to handle business or not?”

      Cimon had the nerve to suck her teeth and roll her eyes. “Velveeta, girl…I’ma have to holla back.” She hung up, then leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. Velveeta? What was her mama thinking naming her after processed cheese?

      I cleared my throat. “I thought you didn’t have a phone?”

      She had the nerve to try to look dumb. “You said a house phone.”

      “I said a phone. I didn’t say what kind. If you don’t have a job, how you pay your cell phone bill?”

      “Why you all up in my business?” She rolled her neck as she spoke.

      Did this bitch not know I had the upper hand? “I’m your caseworker, so you best believe I’m gonna be all in your business.”

      She looked like she had an attitude for a second, but she had sense enough to shut up. I was already sick of her ghetto ass.

      “Do you have a car?” I asked.

      “Uh…yeah.”

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