Still Wifey Material by Kiki Swinson Page A

by and let us out. We knew Carmen’s fiancé wouldn’t be stopping by because she had not spoken to him all day. Normally when he did that, she said, he was out taking care of business, so the only other people that would have a remote interest in stopping by would be Kira or Peter, Rachael’s husband. We hoped that one of them came soon, because I didn’t think we’d last long in there.

New Love
(Kira Speaks)
    T he Aquarium restaurant was so nice and cozy! Fatu and I were seated around an elaborate aquarium filled with over one hundred species of colorful fish and marine life. It was truly unbelievable. What really stood out for me was the array of seafood entrees. Fatu had the sixteen-spice tuna with pan-fried green beans, and I had a filet mignon with Thai pepper shrimp and a vegetable medley. To wash everything down, we sipped on a bottle of white Zinfandel and talked ourselves to death. Once again, I could say that I truly enjoyed myself in his company.
    After our lunch date ended, he whipped out his titanium American Express card to pay for our food and then he invited me to come back to his nightclub with him to share a bottle of champagne. I declined his offer because I wasn’t dressed appropriately, but when he assured me that I would be hanging out with him in his back office, I conceded.
    The ambiance at the club was pleasant. It was around five o’clock, so there weren’t any partygoers there as of yet. A couple of his employees ran around rearranging and setting up things before the crowd started pouring in. On our way to his office, Fatu made a few small requests to several other employees, but there was one particular chick he felt the need to put on blast. I heard him call her Shelby. Shelby was an average-looking, brown-skinned woman with dreadlocks pulled back into a ponytail. She was voluptuous in size, but she wore it well. Her attitude needed a makeover, though, and Fatu felt the need to give it to her. I stood by the bar and watched those two go at it.
    “Why do I have to always play these games with you?” Fatu asked her. “Just do your job, and I’ll start taking you a little more seriously.”
    “If you would live up to your word, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation!” Shelby roared back.
    “Do you like working here?” he snapped.
    “What kind of question is that? You know I love my job. I just can’t stand working for the pennies you give me. Now, if you go ahead and give me that raise you promised me some time ago, we’d all be able to get along again.”
    Fatu stood there for a second as if he was running a few numbers through his mind, and then suddenly said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t accommodate that request right now. Business has been really slow this quarter. However, if things pick up between now and next quarter, then I’ll gladly give you that raise.”
    Not at all happy by Fatu’s response, Shelby lashed out at him and said, “Fatu, that’s bullshit and you know it! Business is fine! But let’s just say that it wasn’t.” Her voice got more agitated. “A two-dollar-an-hour raise wouldn’t hurt you, especially with all that illegal shit y’all are doing in here! I’m not stupid! I know y’all selling more than alcohol around here.”
    “All right, Shelby, that’s enough,” Fatu warned her. “If I hear another word from you, then I’m going to have you escorted out of here.”
    “Fatu, do you think I really care? Escort me out of here, because I quit!” She stormed away to the bar where she went to retrieve her handbag. Right before she opened the front door to leave, she turned around and said, “You better watch your back, you cheap-ass immigrant!”
    Fatu stood there in disbelief after Shelby bailed on him. I sat there on the bar stool in complete silence. I knew he probably felt awkward since I witnessed one of his employees embarrass the hell out of him, so I tried to force myself to say something to break the tension barrier, but I