Chapter 7

Shaquille POV

"I am not afraid," she twisted out of my grip, staring up at me, "I am fine... You can never be too careful, can you?"

Throwing the bug killer aside,

"I guess so," I mumbled, giving her the cash "Thank," she whispered,

"Yeah,"

We stood in silence, tension filling the room as we both avoid each other stares, I have had many women, women who threw themselves at me and women I took only minutes to pursue, to get in my bed, so why was I feeling nervous about Lynn and our friendship, I don't even know if it's a friendship... But I felt nervous around her, the type of nervous that makes me feel as if I was about to piss my pants.

"Are you ready to leave? Because I am about to close up and run down to the bank, probably grab a bite later on,"

"About that... Can you take me with you? I wanted to go by the bank as well... Only if that's okay with you... I can grab a cab..."

"No... That's okay. I can take you. It's no big deal. Let me go grab a few things in the office; I will be right back." I nodded before walking away.

In my office, I gathered the documents I needed, my phone, my car keys, and a few more things.

"Ready?" I closed the door behind me,

"Yea," she nodded,

Closing up the store, Lynn stood behind me, looking at the busy streets, biting her fingernail,

"Hey, you okay?" I broke the silence, hoping I didn't just make this weird between us,

"Yeah, I am fine; just a little tired that's all."

"Okay, whatever you say Richmond," I chuckled,

"So, it's no longer Lynn... It's now Richmond?"

"Oh, I am sorry... Did I offend you?" I turned to face her, shoving my hands in my pockets,

"No... Not at all, sorry if it came off that way,"

"Right. Shall we," I gestured my hand in front of me, "Car is around the back," I mumbled.

The car ride was silent, I didn't know what to say to her, and she wasn't a conversation starter herself, in fact, she kept her face pressed against the windows, staring at passing buildings, and I know this because I kept stealing a glance or two off the road to look at her,

"How are you feeling about that bonus..."

"Happy... Happy that Mr. B didn't take as he did with the rest,"

"Oh," I muttered, tighten my grip on the staring wheel, I swallowed back the chuckles down my throat, I didn't want to laugh but it was funny, but I didn't want her to think I had anything to do with it, I am her boss, and it's my job to remain in control, always,

"I am sorry," she added, taking a deep breath, "I should have said that... But you just don't get it,"

"Try me..." I mumbled, stopping at the red traffic lights "What Mr. B did was fucked—I mean, messed up. All that time we have been working our asses off and he let us work ourselves to death, and he sits in his office... All day, taking what's ours."

Pressing down the gas pedal, I sighed, I could hear the frustration in her voice, she must really need the money, and maybe because she taught Mr. B was such a good guy, damn...

"Did you get yourself a new phone," I changed the subject, hoping she doesn't realize that's what I am doing,

"Yeah... Can't wait to get home and try it out,"

"You should take tomorrow off," I suggested, pulling up in the bank parking lot, she is too emotional about Mr. B and this situation and I could have her spilling to her coworkers,

"Don't worry, I know how to keep a promise. Thanks for the ride." She slid her backside across the leather interior.

"Wait... That's not what I meant..." She slammed the car door, ambling off into the building,

Well done Shaquille, you should keep your mouth shut and you would have been in this situation, now Lynn hates you again, I thought. Stepping out of the vehicle, I marched up the bank's steps, and pass the security guards who nodded at me, acknowledging my presence,

"Mr. Jensen," a bank agent called me over to an opened window, as I walked over, I was busy looking over searching the crowd for Lynn,

Mr. Jensen... Is everything alright?" The agent questioned,

"Yeah," I turned to face her, "I am here with a friend... Looks like she dodged me,"

"Friend?" The agent typed away on her computer, "That’s what you're calling them now Shaquille?"

"Excuse me?" I raised my eyebrow, staring at her through the thin sheet of glass that stood between us,

"Do I... Do I know you?"

"You're still funny Mr. Jensen," she chuckled, "You honestly don't remember fucking a cute bartender in the back of a club one night?"

"Um," I cleared my throat, of course, I didn't remember, I have fucked so many women at the back of buildings when I don't want to take them back to my place, "This is what I look like with smudged makeup and drunk," she held her hair in a high ponytail,

"Wait," I muttered I know her, I thought, she's the girl with the beautiful tattoo,

"I remember you; you were working part-time at Kefferry's... I can't remember your name..." I rubbed my forehead, feeling like a total moron,

"It's Shelly... No... No... Sherine... She—"

"Sherry," she smiled, turning back to her computer, "And the fact that I was wearing a name tag and sat there playing 'guess the word' says a lot about you," she managed to keep a straight face, but I could see the sides of her mouth twitching, she wanted to laugh and honestly who blames her, I am an idiot.

Staring at the golden brooch attached to her brown vest, I smiled, she looked different than the first time I saw her, she sported blonde hair with green ends, heavy, dark, 'Gothic type' of make-up, and a leather jacket. I remember sliding my hands underneath her short skirt, she wore no undies and moaned as I dug deep into her core from behind, we both were stoned and horny. But now she was looking different, dark brown hair with a fresh face, she is pretty.

"Are you done, Jensen?"

"What?" I cleared my throat.

"Staring at me... Are you done?" She gave the keyboard on final tap, before leaning back in her chair, staring at me,

"I wasn't..."

She turned away from me, pulling documents from the printer,

"Come back in a week, if you unable to make it send an email to the bank and we will take it from there," she gathers my documents, along with a few extra copies,

"Sherry... I want to apolo—"

"Have a nice day Mr. Jensen," she shifted her gaze behind me,

Over my shoulders stood a man, wearing a dark suit with a golden brooch similar to Sherry's, acting manager

"Mr. Jensen," he chirped, what a surprise to see you here, "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, love the service here. Thanks for asking. Have to run."

Ambling towards my car, I opened the door and slid across the seat, still worried about Lynn, that girl was a mess and unfortunately, I like cleaning up messes, I thought. Going the papers, Sherry gave me, I smiled when I saw the last one, it was her number, printed in bold. Chuckling lowly, I took out my phone, to save her contact, but on my home screen was two missed calls from my father's doctor,

Clicking on radial, I brought the phone to my ears, listening to the line ring out,

"Hello, Mr. Jensen,"

"Doc. Is everything alright, I received—"

"I am by the house, there has been an incident,"

Pulling the phone from my ear, I brought the engine to life, not caring about the speeding tickets I might get later, I needed to see my dad.

Rushing inside the house, I looked around, seeing Lilith with her hands on her cheek,

"What are you doing here?" She whispered, "You shouldn't be here,"

"I was the one who called him," Doctor Ferguson approached,

"I am his wife for god's sake!"

"And Mr. Jensen here is still listed as his emergency contact,"

"Where is he... Where is he!" I yelled,

"What's all the yelling about?" My father ambled in, a tube trailing under his skin to a hospital drip,

"Dad," I whispered, pulling him into a hug,

"I am okay... I am okay," he pulled away,

"I am afraid not," the doctor spoke, "Your condition is worsening Mr. Jensen... And I am afraid that it might fatal sooner or later. I can only tell you this much, but... prepare for the worst."

Fatal... That word kept replaying in the back of my head like a scratched record, my father is going to die,

"Doc... I thought you said he was doing better,"

"He is doing better Shaquille, but not getting better,"

Another moment of silence.

"Well," my father spoke, "At least now you will take it serious about finding a woman to settle down with,"

"Actually," I uttered, regretting the next few words that were going to come out of my mouth,

"I do have a girlfriend,"

"Oh really, that's a shocker," my father kept narrow eyes fixed on me, "What's her name?"

"Her name... Her name is Lynn."