Page 73 of Lau Ahi
I battled my laughter still trying to figure out why she was so eager to work on this case. I wondered if she was so desperate for a man that she was going to these lengths to chase after two men who clearly didn’t want her.
“Margo, if you believe that my desire to stay in this country would ever have me beholden to anyone, you don’t know me at all.”
My arrogance was another peek into my background the totality of which still alluded her. I could tell she was hyper-focused on wanting to ask what I meant by that but she didn’t want to do it so close to having pissed me off.
Margo looked around uncomfortably and I knew this wasn’t the outcome she’d expected when she came into my office.
“I don’t even know how we got here.” That helpless look was back on her face. An attempt to get me to feel sympathy for her that would never come.
“You were asking me questions that I felt were too personal and didn’t appreciate the fact that I wasn’t as forthcoming as you wanted me to be.”
“Is it that easy for you to just dismiss me?”
I sat forward as her feelings of entitlement toward me reached a point that I could no longer ignore. “Margo, I’m sure there are things about your life that I don’t know. People are only open books until you reach the chapters they don’t want you to read. Everyone has secrets and while we’re more than coworkers we aren’t best friends.”
“I just thought something like this would be worth sharing.” Her eyes were watering and none of it moved me.
“Who are you dating? Who was the last person you slept with? How much money have you spent this year?”
“Why would you ask me—”
She clamped her lips shut when she realized that her reflex to protect her privacy was no different from my own.
With my point proven I sat back fully satisfied. “Exactly. You share what you want about yourself and I do the same. Just because what I share hasn’t sated your thirst for knowledge about me doesn’t mean I’m wrong. If anything, it proves the point.”
“I just didn’t think you’d have a problem speaking to me about something like this. Am I at least allowed to know the date?”
“It’s not set yet but it’s going to be something private since he’s got the type of position that needs to keep him out of the public eye.”
“You make him sound like a drug dealer.” She laughed off her comment but her words were like a physical strike to the face.
And that was the curtain call on this conversation.
“Get the fuck out of my bloody office you slag.” My voice was dripping with venom and by the way her eyes widened she realized she’d fucked up.
“Asha!”
“I might not be a Black American but the fact that you equated my fiancé’s desire for secrecy to him being a fucking drug dealer is abhorrent. I don’t think I’ve ever been so disappointed and disgusted by someone in my life. Do not call me, do not reach out to me, do not evenbreathein my direction. I promise you, the ramifications of ignoring my boundaries will not be pretty.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Stop being a victim of circumstances you’ve created. You did this. This is all you. Do not pretend that you’re not the architect of this disagreement. You’re just furious that I’m not playing by the rules you’ve set.” It took everything in me to remember I couldn’t murder her in this office and get away with it.
“You are being incredibly sensitive. It was a joke.” When Margo waved me off I had to squeeze my lips together before I cursed her out the way she was demanding I do. I knew if I did she would go rushing out claiming to be the victim and I wasn’t about to give her the ability to rewrite the history of this situation.
“It’s never a joke when it’s harmful and at someone else’s expense. I could joke that you didn’t stand a chance with either of the agents you so happily threw yourself after even trying to get yourself put on the case instead of me. They were appalled at your behavior and I stood up for you. I shouldn’t have. Get out.” I pointed toward the door and she sat in her chair unmoved as if I had no authority to remove her from my space.
She hesitated before standing up and smoothing her hands down the skirt of her dress. Her chin lifted as though she were addressing someone who was beneath her. “I’ll reach out when you’ve calmed down. I’ve still got your class information—”
“I’ll get it from my TAs. Contact with you isn’t something I want moving forward and I will relay that information to the dean immediately.”
Her hazel eyes widened as though she were shocked I was taking it this far. She looked over her shoulder as though someone was spying on our conversation and her cover was blown. “Asha, that’s too far—”
I stood up prompting her to take a step back. “I don’t agree. You’re still here pleading your case instead of leaving like I’ve requested. It’s not far enough.”
I could see the blood dripping from her throat after I cut it in my mind’s eye. I had never had violent thoughts toward a woman but Margo was now testing my theory that only men would ever be on my hit list. I wanted her blood for the way she’d behaved and it was better for her health if she stayed far enough away from me so I couldn’t spill it.
“Like I said, I’ll talk to you when you’ve had a second to calm down.” She backed toward the door keeping her eyes on me as though she were walking away from a vicious animal. My words halted her steps before she made it through the doorway.
