Free To Each Her Own (The Swirl Book 1) by Sylvia Sinclair

she’s out of town. Turns out it’s been your hotel address when you’re out of town. And you’ve gotten secret admirer boxes of candy, cookies, and strawberries here at the office. From him?”
    She dared not to address the first part about the out of town flowers. But the second part, she could. “Those were from someone. Actually from Conner from time to time. Not Tyson.”
    “But why is it you never told me who?”
    She had to fix that. “I don’t even know for sure. I recently found out myself.”
    “You’re lying.”
    She looked at the time on the phone and headed to the kitchen door that led to the garage. “I’m about to leave. I’ve got to go.”
    “You always have somewhere to be lately. Why is it that all of a sudden you can’t talk on your phone while you’re driving?”
    “I’ve got calls to make.” Now that wasn’t really a lie.
    “Are you going to see Tyson, or are you going to see Ramón? Which one?”
    Her patience was shuddering as she pressed the alarm code into the keypad and opened the door, then closing it. “Dang, Maya. You know what you sound like. You sound like a jealous lover?”
    Maya had a question, not a reply. “Is all of this why Ramón got transferred?”
    “You work for the head of the company, you should know. Maya, you and I rarely talk about work, and with me being in the position I’m in, I make it a point not to discuss work with anyone. So let’s not start now.” Shasta opened the car door and got in.
    Maya spoke like she did not hear one word. “So bottom line is; the boss, who is the master, is violating his own company policy by fraternizing with you, and with me, the help. I guess it’s cool with you being white, but since I’m black, I guess he’s got himself a field nigga in me.”
    “Maya, oh my goodness. You really sound crazy right about now. I didn’t say anything about you and him fraternizing, nor you being black and me being white.”
    “But the bottom line is that you were in his restroom. You know it, and I know it. I’m disappointed in him, and in you.”
    “Maya, what you need to do is ask yourself why you even care about who I’m seeing. I certainly don’t care about who you’re seeing, and it’s obvious you’re seeing Tyson. But that’s your business, and it’s his wife’s problem.”
    “Yes, it is my business, and it will continue to be from now on. So don’t you dare ask me about my dates, my night, my whatever. Nothing!”
    “Fine. I won’t.”
    “Fine!” Maya mumbled something. “You know what?”
    Shasta stayed calm. “What?”
    “I see you clearly now.”
    “Good. But since you called me with this nonsense, when the truth is, overhearing you today means that I learned something, too, then it’s like living in a glass house and throwing stones. I’m not the one confronting you.”
    “Goodbye.”
    Before Shasta could return the word, the call ended.
    She simply looked at her screen. She said aloud, “Why are you so mad, Baby lump? Oooo, I wanted to say that to her.”

Chapter 9
     
    Dunwoody, GA
     
    It was nearly eleven that night.
    Ramón lived in the beautiful area of Dunwoody, in the Dunwoody Glen apartments, a large community with newly remodeled buildings, a fitness center, playground and pool.
    Shasta pulled past the security gate after Ramón buzzed her in, and by the time she reached his building, he was outside in the darkness of the evening, showing her where to park, escorting her from the car, and walking her up the stairs to his one bedroom bachelor pad, holding her hand, again, obviously shorter.
    She stepped inside first after he opened the door. “Nice place, Ramón. You’ve got very good taste.” The first thing that hit her was the aroma of garlic, shrimp, and butter.
    He closed the door behind himself. “Thanks.”
    She looked around at the blonde hardwood floor, the contemporary abstract oil painting in reds, golds and pale blues, and at his brick colored sectional with ivory