Forbidden (Completed) EDITING - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Omniscient
Erica walked into the lecture hall to prepare for her last class before spring break. She loved her job and loved her students just as much but she was glad to get a much needed break. She had already been planning her questions for finals in two months.
A bouquet of red roses were awaiting her on her desk. She smiled. She happily walked over to them. There was a note attached. It simply said, "Just Because." Though it was so simple. It still made her heart full. She hadn't seen much of him lately. He's been M.I.A outside of class. He calls her and text her just to let her know he's thinking of her and that'll she see him soon. She doesn't question it. She's not a warden.
"Erica?" Her coworker Elaine knocked on the door.
She immediately looked up from the card and placed it down. "Yes, Elaine, come on in." She said with a smile.
As Elaine walked in, there was a tall, dark and handsome stranger trailing behind her. Erica had never seen him before.
"I'm glad I caught you before your next class," Elaine looked down at her watch briefly. "There's someone I'd like for you to meet."
The man stepped up.
"Erica, this is David Walker, he's the new head of our department. David, this Erica Ca—," Elaine stopped herself as she remembered Erica urged everybody to call her by her maiden name. "Erica Thomas, who I told you so much about."
Erica gave Elaine a look. A look that implied "Are you trying to set me up?"
"Erica, it's great to finally put a name to a face. Nice to meet you." David's voice was smooth. His smile was absolutely perfect.
Erica was partly in a daze. Until she thought about Demarcus. She didn't shame herself too bad, she was only just looking.
"David, it's nice to meet you always." They traded a handshake. "I guess I will be seeing a lot more of you around here?"
"I hope so."
The conversation was cut short as students started to file in. Erica was grateful for the distraction. Her mind could focus on her work and not her love life. Class went off without a hitch. It was mainly a large group discussion she didn't want to give them to hard of a time, it was the last day before break.
Erica stopped and talked to a few students standing out front of the building. Discussing plans for break and few popular and unpopular opinions about pop culture. She didn't realize how much time had passed as she walking to her car.
"Hey, Erica, you got a minute?" David said short of breath because of the slight jog he did to catch up with her.
"I think I have a few minutes to spare." She readjusted her purse on her arm. She was in a hurry to leave but she was polite. David was just that fine.
"Umm," He nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Elaine, told me you are recently divorced."
Erica shook her head. What good were friends if they told your business?
"Yes, yes I am."
"Well, let me welcome you to the club. I've been divorced for about two years now."
"Oh really?"
"Mhmm." He nodded. "Look, I'm a straight forward kind of guy. I'm just gonna come out and say it. Can I take you out, sometime? Whenever you're free."
Erica felt something in the pit of her stomach. It felt like she had been hit. For one she was happy to be hit on but on the other she felt bad.
"Can I think about it? It's not a no but not a definite yes... will that suffice?"
"I'll take it." He smiled. "Here's my card. Feel free to call me anytime."
Erica took it and placed it in her purse. "I will."
Once she got in her car. Ready to pull off. Her phone text alert went off. It was Demarcus planning to make an appearance tonight at her place. Asking her to cook and he'll make up his absences after. She rested her head against the steering for a moment. Reliving how quickly two moments with two different men happened within the span of five minutes.
Erica paced back and forth in her living room with her glass of wine in hand. This was her third glass. Dinner was now cold as had been sitting on the dining room table for a good forty five minutes now.
She was furious. He promised he was going to be here by a certain. She made the fuss of cooking one of his favorite meals. Also putting on this elaborate robe.She turned up the volume on the R&B music she had playing lowly. She blew out all of the candles, she had lit.
Her thoughts rambled on and on. She stopped them and redirected them into something positive. Before she got herself worked up even more. As she sat for a few minutes more. She heard the door knob turning. She stopped the music. She stood in the middle of the hallway.
"I know, I know." Demarcus pleaded for his fate as he saw the look on her face.
"Where have you been? You told me to have dinner ready and you would be here." Erica said with her arms folded. "This seems to be a reoccurring thing lately."
"I got a little tied up at work. I thought I would be done a little earlier."
"Ever since you've gotten this job." She air quoted. "You've been M.I.A. What is this about? Is this job a cover up for something else? Because I don't have time for the runaround and you should know that by now." She said sternly.
"You think I'm cheating on you?"
"I don't think anything. I'm just making a statement."
"Erica, I'm not cheating you." He got closer to her. He grabbed her hand. "Come on let's talk."
They sat down on the couch.
"My job isn't a regular job." Demarcus confessed. "That's why my hours are all over place. I didn't want to tell you because I don't want you involved in anything." His eyes were serious.
"Then what kind of job is it then?"
"I can't go into great detail but let's just say I handle things for a very important person in office here in the city."
"So I'd take it he's involved in more than politics?" Erica sighed deeply.
"Yeah."
"I'm not surprised... and That explains a lot." Pieces started to come together. The late nights, his car, the way he dresses. All the high end brands of shoes he has in his closet. Also how he had been able to pay for school.
"Why didn't you tell me all this before?" Erica said.
"I couldn't. It's risky and still is. It's just until I finished this go around of school. He's been paying for it in exchange for me doing a few favors."
"I don't even want to know what that entails." she shook her head as a quick shiver sent down her spine. "How long have you been working for him?"
"After I dropped out the first time. I was depressed as fuck even after I healed. I was working at this car dealership part time. One of my friends was working for him. They came into the showroom and brought several cars. My friend talked me up and he told me I could be making way more money if I worked with them. So I did it. I've been saving ever since for my future business."
Erica's anger softens listening to him. She sees he's not necessarily happy about his decision but he had to do what he had to do. Which makes him more of a man than the grown ass boy he seemed to behave like sometimes.
"I'm sorry for coming at you the way I did. I just didn't know what to think." She apologized.
"You don't have to apologize. It's my fault I shouldn't have given you any reasons to think otherwise of what I'm actually doing." He took her hand that rested on her lap. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt you after what you've been through. I told you I got you." He kissed her.
"That makes me feel a lot better. Well I guess I can heat dinner back up. Since you explained yourself."
"Do that." He smirked.
Erica went into the kitchen to reheat dinner. Demarcus relaxed into the couch awaiting her to come back. He leaned up to grab the remote from the coffee table next to it. He couldn't help but notice a calling card. He picked it up.
"Boo?" He called out.
"Yess?"
"Who is David Walker?"
"He's the new head of my department at school. I guess he was making his rounds introducing himself to everyone."
"Oh okay." He held the card in his hand for a moment before he placed it back down on the table.
Erica walked over to the couch with two plates in hand. "Here you go, sir." She handed him his. She got settled and started digging in. She was hungry and only snacked on bits and pieces as she was cooking it.
"Are you okay?" she raised an eyebrow. Usually he would've been almost finished with his plate.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good." He smiled. "I was just taking it all in. That's all. You always cheffing it up."
"I try, I try." She denied coyly. "You wanna watch a movie?"
"Yeah."