If Your Wife Only Knew by Cydney Rax Read Free Book Online Page A

out how someone as disgusting as Shyla could get engaged when she knew for a fact she was a much better catch than that silly bird.
    Long neck–having, goose-lipped, squawking-mouthed, chicken-legged fool.
    â€œWell, since I wasn’t here, I can’t say why the woman ended up in our building, but you can only imagine,” Kiara replied. “All I know is it sounded scary. People pop off over any and every thing these days. You know the state is debating if we all may carry concealed weapons on college campuses. So the tension is real, active shooters are in the headlines, and workplace violence is on the rise.”
    â€œWe don’t have to worry about anything like that happening here, though,” said Tony. “Just about everyone who works in this department is happily married.”
    â€œTrue that,” said Shyla. She sneered at Alexis and cackled.
    â€œBut, Tony, how would you know how happy they are?” Alexis spoke up. “You really know everything about everybody’s relationship?”
    Tony’s face turned a deep red.
    â€œLeave him alone,” Kiara snapped.
    â€œI’m sorry, Tony,” Alexis apologized. “I’m just saying some people try to act like they’re Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Outwardly that couple looks happy. But nobody knows what goes on behind closed elevators.”
    â€œWomp, womp,” Tony said good-naturedly. “She’s right about that one.”
    â€œWomp, womp. She’s always good for ruining a fun moment,” Shyla hissed in response. Alexis pretended like she didn’t hear and she didn’t care. But she definitely heard.
    Â 
    Later that evening, a couple hours after she’d gotten home from work, Alexis glanced at her watch for the twentieth time. The walls inside her house smelled like fresh pine. She toted around a bucket of hot water as she wiped kitchen counters that were already clean. When she was finished wiping, she got the broom and swept an immaculate floor. And several times she turned on the television in the living room just to turn it off every time a commercial came on that made a doorbell sound.
    When she finally did hear a rapped knock on her door, Alexis took her time opening it. When she finally swung open the door, she stood and placed one hand on her hip.
    Rashad beamed at her and opened his arms as he walked toward her, but she stopped him.
    â€œI don’t know what type of bitch you think I am, but you’re about to find out.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYou’re late. Two hours late. Late Negroes get docked.” She twirled around, walked back through her doorway, then slammed the door in Rashad’s face.
    Rashad buzzed her cell phone but she let it ring without answering. Alexis walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and grabbed a bottle of champagne and a container of orange juice. She calmly fixed herself a mimosa then fired up a cigarette.
    She took her drink and went to open the patio door. She stretched out on the chaise longue, puffed on her cigarette, and waited.
    She let the phone ring another ten times before she answered. “What?”
    â€œBaby, I apologize. I’m wrong. I was late and I should have told you.”
    â€œYou damn right you should have told me. I don’t know what type of fool you take me for but you’re messing with the wrong chick. I could be doing a whole lot more important things besides sucking your dick.”
    â€œAww, sweetness, don’t say that. I told you I’m sorry.”
    â€œSorry won’t fix this. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?”
    â€œCalm down, beautiful. It’s gonna be all right because I’m here now.”
    â€œI needed you earlier, though.”
    â€œWhy? What happened?”
    â€œI had a rough day. I-I just thought you could help make it better.” She caught herself. “But the fact that you didn’t care about my feelings really