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“Clarity Wellness Center. How may I direct your call?”
The receptionist didn’t introduce herself, but no introduction was needed. Miranda knew this faux serene voice of Clarity’s receptionist very well.
“Hey, Jessica Rabbit, It’s Mimi. Can you transfer me to Myla?”
“Bitttch, I would if she brought her ass to work. I haven’t seen Dr. Pleasant in about a week,” Jessica said animatedly.
Jessica was the daughter of Myla’s former college professor. Jessica had a privileged life, yet she was the queen of code-switching. The way she spoke during business hours was not the same off the clock.
Normally, Miranda would laugh at Jessica’s antics. But this time she didn’t. She was too focused on the gem that she just dropped.
“What do you mean she hasn’t been there in a week?” Miranda asked; she was truly confused.
Myla loved her career more than sex. She had rescheduled family functions just to tend to her patients. Not to mention missing Heaven’s swimming competition because of an early appointment. Missing work was just not something Myla Eileen would do.
“You heard me. I was gonna call you to ask if everything was good when she rescheduled her appointments. And especially when she called out for the week. I figured out what the issue was when she walked in here with a demon. That man was so damn fine. I had to pray that lust demon off me when I saw his fine ass. Girl, my thoughts had taken me straight to hell. He walked in here cloaked in confidence. Tall, dark, and bowlegged. Looked like you could roll a tire in between his U-shaped legs. After seeing him, I instantly understood why Dr. Pleasant needed the time off. Mimi, girl, that man was fine, you hear me. And he smelled good. Mmm mmm mmm,” Jessica moaned and smacked her lips as if she could taste Dante’s fineness.
Normally this type of behavior would be right up Miranda’s alley. But at this moment it made her angry. This was not like Myla. No one had ever made her call out. This man was changing her.
“Thank you, Jessica. I’ll talk to you later,” Miranda said before the call ended. She instantly dialed her best friend.
“Hello?”
Who the fuck? Miranda’s brain nearly short-circuited when she heard the masculine voice. answering her friend’s phone. No one, especially a man, had ever answered Myla’s phone.
“Ummm, where’s Myla?”
“She’s asleep. She had a long night,” Dante chuckled.
Miranda knew that what Dante said was euphemism for something gross. But she didn’t care.
“It’s almost 6 p.m. Please wake her ass up. It’s an emergency,” Miranda said sweetly.
The syrupy-sweet way she spoke let Dante know there was no emergency. Friends like her could be a problem. Without saying a word, he nudged Myla and handed her the phone.
“Hell—”
“Why the fuck weren’t you at work? Why is he answering your phone, and why aren’t you returning anyone’s calls?”
Miranda launched back-to-back questions before Myla could finish saying hello.
“I’m just enjoying some time off. I have eight weeks of vacation. I needed the time off to just rest and relax,” Myla lied.
“And obviously to get fucked since your night was so long,” she said with air quotes around long. “Myla, what are you doing? You are letting a man you barely know dictate your life and livelihood. Are you insane? This nigga must be beating the Mario coins out of your pussy,” Miranda said crudely.
Myla did not answer. But Dante had indeed kept her legs to the ceiling; in addition to that, he kept his face buried between her thighs, sucking on her clitoris so often it was sore. His sex drive was unlike anything she had ever experienced. But there was no need to tell Miranda that.
“Your silence is telling me everything.”
“Mimi, I’m finally relaxing. I took some time off and got some R&R as you’ve suggested. I’m doing exactly what you’ve been telling me to do. So, help me understand why you’re upset, because I’m confused.”
“You’re not doing what I suggested. You’re doing what I assume Dante told you to do.”
“I’ll talk to you later, Mimi.” Myla ended the call.
She had been relaxing and wasn’t in the mood for an argument about nothing at all. Even though she didn’t want to admit it, she knew what Miranda said was true. She took time off because of Dante. He had presented her with an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“Every time we talk, you’re at work. I want you to myself for just one week. I know you’re a workaholic, so in addition to your already paid vacation. I’ll pay you for the days you’re taking off. What’s your hourly rate?”
