warned.
“Please don’t flatter yourself,” Scott shot back.
“If I don’t get what I want, I’ll promise to break you up and I’ll make sure Mari will have nothing to do with you ever again.” Sarah smirked.
“Go ahead,” Scott let Sarah go, “and consider this a promise: you do that and I will make your life such a living hell even your great-grandchildren will still be feeling the effects.”
Mariana came out of her bedroom. “I couldn’t find the coupon so we don’t have to go to the store today.” She stated. She looked at Scott and Sarah. “Is everything okay between you two?”
“Oh, everything’s fine,” Scott looked over at Sarah, “Isn’t it?”
Sarah was heated. She hated Scott. He was disgusting, smug, and despicable. He was hot, sexy, and got her wet without even trying. And he will be hers even if it meant giving up Mariana in the process. “Everything is fine,” she smiled.
Chapter Fifteen
Holiday time in Los Angeles was extraordinary. It did get cold during the winter, though most people in colder climates would scoff at 50 degrees being considered cold. During the daytime, the climate ranged from 80-degree weather to sometimes 90 degrees. It wasn’t unusual to hear locals talk about spending the day at the beach in the middle of December.
Thanksgiving was the following week and Mariana still debated whether bringing Scott home to meet her parents was a good idea, despite the pair officially dating for almost six months. Her parents and brother knew of Scott but they didn’t know anything about him. For all they knew, Scott was a legend like the Loch-Ness monster or Big Foot. Mariana didn’t have a problem with that. The less her family knew, the better Mariana was off.
Still, Mariana prepared herself to be rejected by Scott. She may have been in love with him but with the way he acted, she wasn’t so sure if the feeling was reciprocated. Scott occasionally showered her with gifts and would even hold her hand in public but after dating for so long, neither one had whispered The Three Little Words to another.
Mariana had tried to tell him several times over but she kept getting the words caught in her throat. She made a half-assed attempt at sign language and Scott thought she was giving him the signal to hang loose.
Every month, the employees at McCormick and Sheppard had a birthday brunch, celebrating the birthdays of that particular month and a group potluck. After everyone had gotten their share of food, Mariana approached Scott at the buffet table. She knew the protocol of approaching him at work. She never called him Scott or hinted at a personal relationship outside work. Scott didn’t tell her to do that; she did it on her own accordance. She appreciated her privacy just as much – if not more – than Scott did. “Mr. Reed, can I see you for a moment?”
“Sure thing, Ms. Harlow,” Scott put down his small plate of food, “let’s talk in my office.” He walked with Mariana to his office and closed the door behind them. “What’s going on, Mari?”
“I’m going home to visit my parents in Highland Hills for Thanksgiving.” Mariana began. “I’m sure you have plans so I can see you after the holiday.”
“I didn’t have any plans, Mari. But if you’re uncomfortable with me meeting your family, I understand.” Scott said.
“No, it’s not that…” Mariana shyly began. “I just didn’t know if you wanted to join me. I know it could be uncomfortable.”
“You’re not the first Black girl I’ve dated if that’s what you’re implying,” Scott replied, “and yes, I’ve had soul food.”
Mariana felt like a class-A idiot. “Forget I even mentioned anything.” She started to walk out of his office.
“Stop.” Scott instructed. “Come back here.” Mariana walked over to Scott and he wrapped his hands around her waist. “What’s really the
“Please don’t flatter yourself,” Scott shot back.
“If I don’t get what I want, I’ll promise to break you up and I’ll make sure Mari will have nothing to do with you ever again.” Sarah smirked.
“Go ahead,” Scott let Sarah go, “and consider this a promise: you do that and I will make your life such a living hell even your great-grandchildren will still be feeling the effects.”
Mariana came out of her bedroom. “I couldn’t find the coupon so we don’t have to go to the store today.” She stated. She looked at Scott and Sarah. “Is everything okay between you two?”
“Oh, everything’s fine,” Scott looked over at Sarah, “Isn’t it?”
Sarah was heated. She hated Scott. He was disgusting, smug, and despicable. He was hot, sexy, and got her wet without even trying. And he will be hers even if it meant giving up Mariana in the process. “Everything is fine,” she smiled.
Chapter Fifteen
Holiday time in Los Angeles was extraordinary. It did get cold during the winter, though most people in colder climates would scoff at 50 degrees being considered cold. During the daytime, the climate ranged from 80-degree weather to sometimes 90 degrees. It wasn’t unusual to hear locals talk about spending the day at the beach in the middle of December.
Thanksgiving was the following week and Mariana still debated whether bringing Scott home to meet her parents was a good idea, despite the pair officially dating for almost six months. Her parents and brother knew of Scott but they didn’t know anything about him. For all they knew, Scott was a legend like the Loch-Ness monster or Big Foot. Mariana didn’t have a problem with that. The less her family knew, the better Mariana was off.
Still, Mariana prepared herself to be rejected by Scott. She may have been in love with him but with the way he acted, she wasn’t so sure if the feeling was reciprocated. Scott occasionally showered her with gifts and would even hold her hand in public but after dating for so long, neither one had whispered The Three Little Words to another.
Mariana had tried to tell him several times over but she kept getting the words caught in her throat. She made a half-assed attempt at sign language and Scott thought she was giving him the signal to hang loose.
Every month, the employees at McCormick and Sheppard had a birthday brunch, celebrating the birthdays of that particular month and a group potluck. After everyone had gotten their share of food, Mariana approached Scott at the buffet table. She knew the protocol of approaching him at work. She never called him Scott or hinted at a personal relationship outside work. Scott didn’t tell her to do that; she did it on her own accordance. She appreciated her privacy just as much – if not more – than Scott did. “Mr. Reed, can I see you for a moment?”
“Sure thing, Ms. Harlow,” Scott put down his small plate of food, “let’s talk in my office.” He walked with Mariana to his office and closed the door behind them. “What’s going on, Mari?”
“I’m going home to visit my parents in Highland Hills for Thanksgiving.” Mariana began. “I’m sure you have plans so I can see you after the holiday.”
“I didn’t have any plans, Mari. But if you’re uncomfortable with me meeting your family, I understand.” Scott said.
“No, it’s not that…” Mariana shyly began. “I just didn’t know if you wanted to join me. I know it could be uncomfortable.”
“You’re not the first Black girl I’ve dated if that’s what you’re implying,” Scott replied, “and yes, I’ve had soul food.”
Mariana felt like a class-A idiot. “Forget I even mentioned anything.” She started to walk out of his office.
“Stop.” Scott instructed. “Come back here.” Mariana walked over to Scott and he wrapped his hands around her waist. “What’s really the
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