“With his not-even-a-dollar-ninety-nine ass!” Raina shouted.
I spun around to continue my work of art while Raina and Nikki encouraged my shenanigans in the background. I took another deep breath and swung. Small pieces of the television screen fell to the floor. “Stupid, lyin’ piece of crap . . . liar!”
“Damn right he is,” Nikki agreed. “Keith lies more than a possum in the road.”
“Guys, you’re not helping!” Kara screeched, but I noticed there was a thread of laughter in her voice.
“Fine,” Nikki sighed. “I suppose we aren’t helpful.” She cleared her throat. “Sienna, honey?”
“What!” I was tired of my friends interrupting my anger fest. Especially Kara. She should understand and support me, not be a freaking wet blanket. “Let me guess. You’re gonna say this isn’t me. That I’m above this and shouldn’t stoop to his level. Well, you know what? I’m tired of being the nice one. Nice girls finish last.” I marched over to a vase, swung, and destroyed it. My body shook with rage. “And this isn’t the second time he’s cheated on me. This is the third, well, to my knowledge.” I wiggled three fingers in the air. “I didn’t tell y’all about the second time because I knew you guys would think I was stupid. Well, I’m not stupid, and I’m going to break every piece of breakable stuff in this house.” I pointed the bat at Nikki. “And I’m gonna run against him for city council. I’m going to destroy his stuff and his career!” I lifted the bat in the air as if wielding a sword on the battlefield.
“Oh, shit!” Raina whispered. Kara looked at me with wide eyes and slowly walked back to the couch.
Nikki shook her head. “Nice speech, but I was just gonna tell you to put your hips into it. You don’t want to throw out your back. Shoot, we aren’t in our twenties anymore.” Nikki nodded to the TV. “Please, continue.”
And I did.
APRIL
CHAPTER 9
Judgment Day—Raina
The prison sentence was over. I slid on my stunner shades, hopped into my car, and hightailed it to my morning meeting at the radio station. I was so damn ready to work. Scratch that, I was so damn ready to make money. I’d written my book proposal, and in a few weeks, I expected to hear back from the publishers I’d pitched.
But writing proposals and pitching nonexistent books didn’t pay the bills. So, as much as I’d enjoyed being creative, being broke wasn’t cute. Sure, Cam and I had a great time since my schedule was much more normal. We hung out with friends and family, and frequented festivals in Atlanta, but I was living on a stipend and at the mercy of my boyfriend.
I swiped my parking deck pass and released a breath when the bar lifted. After I did a happy dance in my seat, I tried, but failed, to park in my reserved space.
What in the hell?
If looks could kill, the blue Nissan Sentra, owned by Jamie’s just-got-out-of-college ass, would explode. She must be feeling herself.
During my forced semi retirement, I listened in on a few of her shows, and they were solid. She was genuine, and gave great advice. I was proud of her, but I still wanted my damn space back. No worries, I’d kindly let her know to move once things were back to normal. Until then, I had to park in the back of the deck. Way, way back—absent light and people and heat. After I activated the alarm, I rubbed my hands together for warmth and from excitement as I thought through how I would spend my next check.
Don’t be stupid, Raina. Save for the first few months, then you can get those Louboutin sandals this summer.
Plan in place, I strolled into the lobby of the building.
“Hey, Raina!” the security guy greeted me.
“Hey, Greg. How’s it going?” I pointed to his polyester pants. “How are your knees?”
“Oh, I can’t complain.” He patted his leg. “Got my replacement coming up soon.”
“I hope that knee replacement doesn’t make you lose your weatherman power,” I teased, as he often predicted rain when his knees ached.
“Ha-ha. We’ll see.”
“All right, Greg. Talk to you later. Gotta go grovel to the big bosses!” I made a sad face that I knew would bring a smile to his face.
“You’ll be fine. You’ve been missed.”
I rushed to the elevator, my skirt swishing around my ankles. Once the doors slid open to the office, I strode to the front desk. “Hey, Sheila!”
A grin spilled across the receptionist’s chestnut-brown face. “Hey, lady! It’s been so boring without you around. Glad you’re back.”
“Girl, I’m happy to be back! A sista has bills to pay.”
“Right!” Sheila laughed and then leaned over to grab the phone. She cleared her throat and transitioned from homegirl to professional. “Mr. Rossi, Raina just arrived.”
My heart petered at the name. I knew I’d be meeting with Rhonda and Franklin, the pain-in-the-ass GM, but I didn’t realize the station owner would make an appearance.
Sheila gave me a smile and wink. “I’ll send her back.” She replaced the phone on the cradle. “Go on back to conference room F.”
Nodding, I concentrated on walking to my destination and breathing. The breathing part was difficult. It felt like someone had pricked a small hole in my lungs and slowly let the air seep out, giving way to quick, panicked breaths. Rounding the corner, I finally arrived. The pristine glass doors gave me a glimpse of my sentencers. Seated on the same side of a rectangular table were Rhonda, Franklin, and Tony Rossi, the owner.
Pushing open the door, I walked into the room and put on my warrior face. “Hello, everyone.” I sat on the opposite side of the table. Bottles of water and cups as well as bags of my favorite green tea were placed in the middle of the table.
Has to be a good sign, right?
Hands shaking, I grabbed the hot water decanter, poured the liquid into the plastic cup, and then settled into my seat.
“Good evening, Ms. Williams,” Tony greeted me. Tony’s slicked-back hair brushed the collar of his gray sharkskin suit. A small round emblem pinned to his tie matched his glinting pinkie ring. All he needed was a cigar and two broad-shouldered guards to complete his made-man persona. But instead of hardened soldiers, he had soft civilians.
Franklin, the GM, had on his usual uniform—a blue button-up shirt with a lanyard that held his employee ID. He looked like an asshole assistant manager at Kmart. Franklin, who never liked me, cleared his throat and simply said, “Raina.”
Rhonda fidgeted with the antique-looking bracelet on her wrist. Her face spasmed between drug-induced happy and drug-raid nervous.
I dunked my green tea bag into the water.
“Let’s get right to it, shall we?” Tony smoothed his tie. “While we appreciate your hard work, we,” he gestured to Rhonda and Franklin, “feel it’s best that you part ways with the station. You have to understand that you put us all in a tight spot when you verbally attacked a loyal listener.”
My cheeks blazed. “He cheated on his wife and gave her an STD.”
“It’s not for us to judge.” Franklin’s voice was hard. “You had a job to do, and you screwed the pooch, girlie.”