Scandal: Crossing Boundaries (Scandal Series #1 INTERRACIAL ROMANCE) by Jean St. Claire Read Free Book Online Page A

Though the woman had a smile on her face, her whole body language suggested that she was about to tell Davonte something he would not like.
    "How are you doing?"
    Yep. I ain't gone like this shit. The boss always be sending this bitch to tell me the bad news, instead of telling me himself. Davonte shook his head. Punk ass bitch.
    Trying his best to be graceful about it all, Davonte said, "I'm good."
    Stepping forward, Cindy placed a hand on his wood desk, balancing herself. "You aren't going to like what I am about to say Davonte," Cindy told him.
    I knew it.
    "Sales are down with the company. Profits are falling. In order to combat this, Biotech has to scale back, cut down on costs." Cindy let out a counterfeit sigh. "Unfortunately, this means that some of our employees will feel the sting of our losses."
    Bitch, get the fuck up out my face with that shit.
    It was hard for Davonte to hold back what he really wanted to say. Of course he would be the one to be told that he was about to be out of a job, simply because he was one of the few black men working for the high-tech company.
    Trying to keep his voice level, Davonte asked, "What I don't understand is, is how does it go from that I am getting a raise, to that I'm getting fired?"
    He had been told over two weeks ago by Cindy that there had been an error with his performance sheet and he had in fact been performing just below his usual level.
    In other words, he had been told in a nice way that he was was not getting a raise.
    Instead of telling Keisha about it, he continued to act as if it was still going to go down, because he had made such a big deal about it when he first found out that he would be getting one. Then Keisha's ass had forced him to end the front by telling him she had quit her job.
    It was just Davonte's luck.
    "You're not getting fired Davonte," Cindy assured him.
    Confusion washed over Davonte's face. "I ain't? I mean, I'm not?"
    Shaking her head, Cindy replied, "No. Your hours are being cut, that's all."  She gave him a look of pity. "Don't be sad, it's only temporary."
    Tell that to my damn bills I got piled up at home.
    While he was relieved he would be retaining some semblance of a job, their mounting debt would not survive a cut in income.
    It was a struggle trying to live the good life with kids, living in a nice area with a high as hell mortgage, nice cars, and hot, young babysitters. It was a good thing Keisha had found a job quick.
    "How long is this shit going to last?" Davonte might really wound up fired if he kept making slip ups.
    The woman stood straight up, fixing a direct look on his face, "Maybe only a month or two."
    A month or two? he thought in despair. God damn.
    The truth of the matter was; it would probably be much longer than that.
    "Look on the bright side Davonte," she told him.  "There is a silver lining in all of this."
    Yeah right, hoe.
    "What's that?" Davonte asked, still trying to act unfazed.
    Tossing a strand of long hair over her shoulder, Cindy said, "You will get to spend more time with your children or work on whatever it is that you've been neglecting." She smiled, making him want to punch her in the face. "You also get to choose when to work your lighter work schedule. Come on in any day you like."
    Davonte held back a derisive snort. That ain't no damn silver lining. A silver lining is getting my dick sucked along with a damn raise.
    Crossing over to the door, Cindy paused to turn around with her phony smile. "Just keep performing well and everything will be back to normal in no time. You're one of our best employees. We would not know what to do without ya."
    With that, the woman left the room, leaving the scent of her stankin ass perfume to clog Davonte's nostrils.
    "God damn it," Davonte muttered, filled with worry about the future of his family.
    Keisha did not know it, since Davonte handled all their finances, but they were barely getting by as it was. Most of their credit cards were damn near maxed out and