You Think You Know...But (pt. 9)

Nikki’s revenge on her husband was swift, harsh and down, right evil. Ricardo had gotten off work just in time for him, as well as, many of his co-workers to see his luxury sport utility vehicle being towed away. After waving down the tow truck, the driver informed him that the car had been called in for a voluntarily repossession by the owner, who just so happened to be his wife.  He was steaming mad when he had to go back inside to get security to call a taxi to take him home, which was something he would have normally used his cell phone to do had it not been turned off by his wife. He had never been so embarrassed.  To be served with divorce papers at his workplace was embarrassing enough, but to have his car repossessed in front of co-workers, upper management, not to mention his potential female admires was taking things to extremes.

His anger escalated once his taxi pulled in front of his house and he saw boxes of what looked like his personal belongings being packed into his old car by two movers.  That car was more than ten years old and he doubted if it would still even run. Not to mention the fact that the movers were slamming his stuff on the ground and packing it in any ole kind of way. He also saw his witch of a wife standing at the entrance to their driveway. He couldn’t pay the driver fast enough so that he could get out and give her piece of his mind.

He slammed the door of the taxi and marched over to Nikki who was standing in the entrance to their driveway, with his temper through the roof he yelled, “What the hell is wrong with your stupid ass? What’s all this about? Huh? I mean you sending your little divorce papers to the job trying to embarrass me in front of co-workers and shit!  Towing my damn truck like you gone crazy! Now, I got to hear about this mess all day tomorrow. I mean, what were you thinking? Were you even thinking? You want our business in the street! That’s what you want! Huh? This shit need to be handled at home not at my damn job, Nikki!”

Nikki just stood at the entrance smiling, amazed by the frenzy her husband had worked himself into even though Ricardo didn’t see any humor in the events of the day. Nikki took extreme pleasure in knowing that she was about to push this man to what many would consider a breaking point.  Confident that he had completely ruffled his feathers she said in as calm a voice as she could muster, “If you are quite finished-“

“Hell no, I ain’t finished!” Ricardo interrupted, “You all the time gotta act like a damn fool!” Just then one of the movers brought out another box filled with Ricardo’s belongings and placed it on the hood of his old car. This was indeed the last straw and Ricardo exploded shouting, “Who the hell is this and why is he putting my shit in this old ass car! Nicole you better open your big ass mouth and start doing some dagdamn explaining ‘round here and I mean it! Right dammit now, Nikki! Right dammit now!”

The mover ignored Ricardo’s comment and looked at Nikki and said, “that’s everything mam’. We can stay around for a little bit if you want us too.” He then looked at Ricardo with his brow arched and mean mug on his face, and continued, “You know, make sure you’re alright.”

“Yeah, stay around for a little bit.” She replied smiling knowing that the mover’s comments would set Ricardo’s blood boiling. She continued, “I might need you to kick his ass if he get out of line.” She giggled at her own joke, another thing she was known for.

“Yes, mam’ “ the mover replied and walked a little ways up the driveway so that he was just far enough to give them some privacy, but close enough to assist Nikki if she needed help.

“Kick my ass? Pssst please. It’s gon’ take more than yo’ papa smurf looking ass to kick my ass.” Ricardo declared loud enough for the mover to hear him as he walked up the driveway.  Ricardo was glad the guy didn’t respond because as mad as he was he didn’t think that he had what it took to beat this guy nearly twice his size. He returned his attentions to Nikki, who found his response to the day’s events hilarious. “What the hell are you laughing at? You need to stop all that damn laughing and start doing some explaining around here.”

“Well Ricardo,” Nikki said and she walked over to him so that she could look him in the face as she delivered her last devastating blow. She inhaled deeply and let it out as she unfolded some papers she had been holding in her hands when he arrived.  She continued, “It’s like this. I want a divorce, which you know because you have already been served the papers.  You also know that I had the truck that I bought you repossessed and even a blind man could see your shit piled up here in the same old beat car you had when we first met.  What you don’t know yet is that, you no longer live here.  This house belongs to me. I had it before I met you and I will have it long after you’re gone.  I also cancelled all of your credit cards, store cards and any other kind card you may have. I also removed all of the money from our joint accounts, as well as, the emergency fund, so I hope you have stashed away something on the side, which you probably didn’t because you live for today and not tomorrow. I gave that motorcycle I bought you for your birthday to my brother…he did so admire it and I may as well give it to a man who really loves me.  I even auctioned off that silly game console I got you last month on Ebay.”

“Nikki you better not have got rid of my damn Play Station 3 and I mean that shit.” Ricardo said his voice as serious and as calm as he could be. “You done lost you damn mind.  You think I ‘m going let you do me like this. You really have lost your mind if you think you’re going put me out with no car…no money…nowhere to go. I’ll see your ass in court before you leave me like this!”

“I can…and might I add “did” do you like this or should I say you did it to yourself. You and your whore living it up on my dime. Big ballin’ off my good name. I am so glad I listened to my Auntie and had you sign that prenup, which means I don’t have to pay you any spousal support or alimony.” she replied and as in an afterthought she said, “I would have been mad as hell if I had to pay you spousal support and you laying up with that skank.  Oh and I got proof of that too!”

“You ain’t got proof of nothing.” Ricardo said his temper calming, as Nikki’s seemed to rise. He started to realize that his wife might know more than he thought she knew about his little indiscretions.

“Yes darling, I do have proof.” Nikki sighed handing her soon to be Ex-husband the papers she had been holding the entire time. She continued, “See, that’s the problem with men. You so worried about sneaking around that you forget to cover your tracks. You used the credit card I gave you…the same one I pay the bill on every month to pay for the hotel rooms for you and your little whore.”

“Hotel rooms?” Ricardo laughed and continued, “Hotel rooms don’t mean nothing. I’m a network administrator. I have to travel. My job requires it. I use “our” credit card to pay for rooms all over America. You better have more than that if you trying to put me out.”

“First of all Dummy, you have a company credit card solely for that purpose, which you use for all of your rooms all over America. I have a copy of your company credit charges to attest to that fact. These charges on my card include room charges for champagne, dinner for two, spa treatments for two…oh and then there was the honeymoon suite. Not to mention flowers sent to that tramp’s shop. Lingerie bought and not in my size I might add. Dinner’s for two at restaurants you can’t even pronounce, let alone afford. You must be in love all this money you were spending. Let’s see if this whore is willing to pay your way, when she found out that without me you ain’t got none of the baller crap.” Nikki vented her frustrations.

Ricardo stood there silent for a second, chewing his gum as though it were giving him the thinking power he needed to come up with the lie to get him out of this conversation looking like the victim. Willing to admit nothing he replied nonchalantly, “So what. That don’t mean nothing. How you know I didn’t get a room for my brother and his wife. They did just get married. How you know I won’t just trying to do something special for them. How you don’t know I didn’t let him use my card to send his wife some flowers. Surprise her at the shop of something.  You know maybe he wanted to get her some sexy lingerie…a fancy dinner.”

Nikki rolled her eyes. She couldn’t believe he would try to lie his way out of this situation with such an obvious fabrication.  Still she played along just to see how far he would take it saying, “For your brother and his wife, huh?”

“Yeah,” he said and to himself he hoped that this answer would buy him a little time to come up with a better excuse. “That’s right. Everybody ain’t got money. They young and need a little help so I helped them out every now and then.”

“Well,” Nikki started to speak as she crossed her arms and shifted her weight from one side to the other, “I would believe you if,” she started then paused to shake her head at her husbands stupidity. She continued, “if these charges were for June and not May.  You know because your brother got married in June and we paid for their Honeymoon trip to the Bahamas…remember?  Dumbass, his wife works at a lingerie store. What does she need you to buy her lingerie for? Not to mention the fact that she keeps her hair braided up, which she does herself. She doesn’t go to the salon?”

“Oh,” he managed to respond after a few seconds of silence. Nikki shook her head again and started to turn to go into the house, but Ricardo grabbed her by her arm turning her towards him and pulling her close into his chest in a warm loving embrace. He looked into her expressionless eyes and said, “You evil cold hearted witch, you. Why you trying to leave me like this?  If you would quit holding out on me I wouldn’t have to mess with these hoes in the street. You make me do this shit.”

“Really?” Nikki replied trying to remain as limp and void of emotion as humanly possible.

“Hell yeah,” he continued and since he had nothing to lose he decided he’d let Nikki know exactly how she was the cause of his extramarital affairs. He went on, “If you treated me like you want me. Stop being so damn evil and cold, not to mention mean, all the time.” Ricardo said softly kissing Nikki on her cheeks and forehead, “Baby, we can work this out. Just give me another chance.” Standing there in the moment Nikki was amazed by just how smooth Ricardo really was. His words were like butter and his touch was like drugs…and Nikki was addicted. He rubbed his hand over the small of her back and whispered in her ear, “You know I love you.”

“You slick bastard,” she thought to herself as she enjoyed the pleasure of his touch. She inhaled his glorious scent and relished in the warmth of his embrace.  She stared into his eyes seeing the man that had swept her off her feet with his quick wit and boyish charm. He leaned in and kissed her passionately and wasn’t met by any resistance from her, as they shared the passion of what once was their love. In that moment, lost in a kiss their love felt real to both of them. The pain and pleasure they had endured throughout the years was all wrapped up in one sensual kiss. His lips were soft and inviting, as were hers, and for a second memories of better times between them made Nikki forget about his betrayal and gave forgiveness a sliver of hope. She slowly pulled away looking longingly into his eyes, she softly said, “I love you too…but you must think I’m a fool.” She pushed him away completely and continued,” Now get this shit off my curb and get away from my house.”  Just then, as if on queue, two police officers in uniform pulled up in a police car and got out. “Right on time, officers.” Nikki said as the pair got out of the patrol car. She spoke politely to the officers saying, “Gentlemen, please escort Mr. Williams of the property. I want him and the rest of his trash off the premises in fifteen minutes.”

The officers nodded in compliance and started to direct Ricardo to remove his items from the lawn. “Wait man, I live here.” He responded as the officers approached him.

“Come on buddy, let’s not cause a scene.” One of the officers replied walking closer toward Ricardo and his disgauarded items, “The lady wants you off the property. Let’s just get moving.”

Ignoring the officer, Ricardo called out to Nikki as she walked up the steps leading to the walkway leading to the front door. He made his last plea saying, “Nikki baby, why you gotta do me like this?”

In true Nikki fashion, she spun around on her heels and shouted back “You gotta learn, baby. You gotta learn.” And with that she continued her strut towards the house with an irate Ricardo calling her every dirty word in the book, while he loaded his old car with the rest of his possessions.