Cassie and Walter exited the courtroom exhausted. They had been there since ten that morning and the proceedings didn't go well. As they headed down the corridor Cassie slipped in her heels. Walter caught her by the arm so that she didn't fall. "You look great all cleaned up in that dress but it's not you."
She forced a smile. "I'll assume that's supposed to be a compliment."
"It's your assumptions and bad judgment that got us into this mess," he snapped.
"Look Walter, I don't want to argue here in public."
"I can top that...I don't want to talk to you at all."
Cassie stood there while her husband walked out of the building and out of sight. She dug in her purse for her cell phone but her friend startled her before she reached it.
"I think your case is going well." Janell said, optimistically. "Where's Walter?"
"He went home."
Janell sucked on her teeth, "And left you here?"
"What were you expecting?" Cassie sighed.
"Nothing I guess...Once a bastard, always a bastard."
"Don't say that. We both know he is a good man. I am just as tired and stressed out from this legal mess so I probably would have left him too."
Even though Janell accepted that explanation, Cassie knew it was more then that. There was no hiding the fact that her and her husband had grown apart.
Janell looped her arm under her friends and headed for the door. "Let's get some dinner, and then I will drop you home."
"What about Walter's dinner?"
"Excuse me ladies," a striking man interrupted as he approached, "Does either one of you know where a bookstore is in this neighborhood?"
He and Cassie stared at each other as if in a time warp. It was as if they had an instantaneous bond.
Janell stopped in her tracks and focused on his clothes. She had always been a sucker for superficial things. The stranger was wearing a pinstriped business suit and was put together from head to toe. In her line of work as a shampoo girl, she never had opportunities to meet professional men. Cassie on the other hand focused on his hands and the way he used them as he conversed with them. She was usually a good judge of people, and this soft spoken man seemed like a nice one. She thought he could use a manicure though.
The gentleman stood there confused. He had just asked these two women for directions and gotten no response. He was also feeling uncomfortable, like a gazelle alone with two lionesses. He decided to cut his losses and ask at the information desk.
"Hey..." Cassie called after him desperately, "...I'm sorry I spaced out. There is a Waldenbooks in the mall about three blocks north and there is a Barnes and Noble near the freeway."
"Does this city have anything less commercial? I was thinking more along the lines of a mom and pop store."
Janell finally spoke up, "Then you should look up near the campus."
"Where is the campus?"
"A couple of miles past downtown."
"And where is downtown?" he chuckled, flashing a perfect set of white teeth.
"It's hard to explain but we are going that way if you want to follow us." Janell offered, hoping he was available.
"That would be great." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, "Maybe I can help you too. I am here renewing my business license." He scratched out the printed number and replaced it with his cell and then handed it back to Janell. "When was the last time either of you sat down and evaluated your financial situations?"
"Nicholas Green, Financial Advisor," she read it aloud and then handed it to Cassie so she could look at it.
"You can call me Nick."
"I am Cassie Parks and this is my girlfriend Janell Rivers."
"Ladies, I can help you achieve your financial goals and dreams." He glanced at the business card she was still clutching, "Feel free to call."
When Nick shook Cassie's hand, he held it for a long time and then left a caressing touch down her finger-tips as he pulled away. Cassie felt an immediate energy and eased forward.
Janell must have sensed something because she effectively ended the flirting before it turned serious. Her jealousy burst out as she shook Nick's hand with a smirk on her face. "Cassie, what time is your husband expecting us?"
Nick's bright eyes dimmed at the mention of another man. He was really attracted to Cassie and was saddened by the turn of events.
"Where are you from?" Cassie changed the subject before he had the chance to verbalize his disappointment.
"I just moved here from Omaha."
Janell laughed, "There is beef like you in Omaha, Nebraska?"
"Beef?" Like everyone, he had heard the dating scene being compared to a meat market but this was ridiculous.
"Black, Educated, Enticing and Fine...
B.E.E.F.
" Janell clarified.