CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

TORI

THE CAT DRAMA

M y long-sleeved maxi dress, the color of cognac, cascaded down my body and stopped just above my feet. The back was open, revealing my best feature: my curvy ass. I wore nude stilettos to complete my look.

Ritchie’s hand strangled the steering wheel as he barreled down the road. The bulge in his slacks was impossible to miss.

I placed my hand on his lap. “Is something wrong, Ritchie?”

He let out a frustrated groan. “Yes, Tori. I have to go to work. And all I can think about is bending you over the hood of this SUV and fucking you.”

My fingers twisted in my blonde locks as I teased him. “Well, at least I know this cute dress is doing its job. Keeping my husband hot and bothered for me.” I winked playfully.

I had no intention of letting him have his way before work; he would just have to suffer with that massive hard-on all day. This was payback for last night when he denied me my release.

With one hand still resting on his lap, I smiled confidently as I gazed out the window.

A few minutes later, we rode the elevator to the fifth floor.

The silence on this floor was deafening; you could hear a pin drop. It was ten o’clock. I guessed just about everyone was at work.

Ritchie came to a stop and gestured to the door. “This is my condo. Before I knock on her door, I just want to make sure we’re on the same page. There’s no reason to say anything that will start an argument. I’ll explain to Gloria that I’m in a relationship. However, I can’t reveal that I am married because if my enemies find out about my beautiful wife, it could put you in danger. I can’t have that.” He looked down at me with determination in his eyes.

She wouldn’t live long enough to tell anyone about me.

“Understood. Ritchie, I’ll wait here.”

His eyes narrowed at me in disbelief. “What?”

“Get your cat,” I pushed.

I wanted to watch the bitch from a distance.

Ritchie shook his head because he knew who he married. There was no way I’d be subtle.

He walked next door. His heavy knuckles rattled against the steel door.

The door swung open seconds later. “Ritchie,” she cooed. Her hand slipped down his abs.

What the fuck?

I couldn’t see her face from this angle.

“Come in,” she suggested.

“No, I can’t. I have to work. Is Mr. Chaos ready?”

“Let me put him in his Kennel.”

Ritchie nodded.

She returned, placing the kennel in his grip.

He peeked at his cat. I guess to make sure he was all right.

Gloria smiled up at him, leaning against the doorframe as she spoke. “I’m about to do laundry and take my dresses to the dry cleaners. I can wash your clothes too and bring your suits with me,” she offered, twirling her red ponytail with her fingers.

“Gloria, thanks for taking care of my cat. And thanks for the extra things you’ve done for me.”

She reached for his arm and stepped closer to him. “It’s no problem at all, Ritchie.”

I finally saw her side profile. She had radiant, gorgeous milky skin. A full face of make-up. And her lavender yoga pants were molded to her skin.

Ritchie removed her hand from his abs. “Gloria, I’m in a relationship. The flirting stops now.”

“Relationship?” she gasped, placing her hand over her heart.

“Yes.” He gestured for me to join him.

I walked over with a confident stride.

Gloria’s eyes scanned my body, and she seemed repulsed by me.

“She looks like a toddler,” Gloria grumbled under her breath.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Gloria. You know what they say. Black don’t crack.” I threaded my fingers with Ritchie’s.

“Gloria, I want you to meet Tori.”

Her stunned gaze shifted back to Ritchie. “You’ve been gone a short while; I had no idea you were actively looking for a woman. I’ve done everything for you, Ritchie. I thought we were finally moving toward something.”

“Gloria, you couldn’t have thought there would be anything between us. I’m always cordial to you. Most times I tell you I don’t need anything.”

“You don’t want to acknowledge me, that’s fine.” I stepped into her space.

“Know that he’s mine. You’ll never ride his dick,” I snickered.

“Tori,” Ritchie growled.

“I get it now. I wasn’t young enough...” Her blue eyes moved to my tight dress again. “...Or slutty.”

The way she ignored me revealed two things: she was prejudiced and obsessed with my husband.

My anger had elevated to ten.

“I’m twenty-three, you dumb bitch,” I snapped.

“Tori,” Ritchie warned.

I placed my hands on my hips. “Are you unable to accept that he didn’t want you or are you pissed he fell in love with a black woman?”

Her teeth bared as our eyes finally met. “You are merely a fetish. When he’s worn out your pussy, he’ll settle down with a more established woman who has her own. Like me.”

“That’s enough,” Ritchie bit out, placing me behind his back.

“Don’t ever fucking disrespect her. She’s my woman. I’m in love with her cinnamon skin. I’m not attracted to you, Gloria.”

She smirked. “That’s not true. Remember that night when you were drunk? You let me into your condo and I took care of you. You were so distraught.”

Shit, that must’ve been after Lexis ran on his watch.

Gloria continued, “I put you to bed and even climbed in with you. You wrapped your arms around me.”

“I don’t remember that,” Ritchie stated.

“I left before you woke up. We were getting close to becoming a couple. How could you turn away from that and come back with this... this miniature size fairy?”

My fist connected with her mouth, causing her to stumble back and cover it with her hands. “Ow!” she shrieked.

“You can make assumptions about me, but you don’t know me. Stay the fuck away from my man. I promise you won’t want to see my face again. I won’t be so nice next time.”

She held her hand over her mouth as blood flowed down her chin.

“Toddler, you don’t want to see mine either. I remind you too much of the kind of woman you’ll never be,” Gloria sneered.

“If you think I want to be a delusional trust fund baby, you’re mistaken.”

She chuckled. “Right, because you have your hands deep in my man’s pockets.”

My eyes widened.

Before I could lunge at her, Ritchie intervened and picked me up.

“Don’t even speak to me or my woman, Gloria,” Ritchie stated firmly as he carried me next door.

Time to have a talk with Bianca. We had to devise a plan to get rid of this bitch.