Page 21 of Fraudulent Beauty

It took two glasses of wine for my mood to brighten. If I had to choose between being sad about Khalif or being happy about my social media payout, I was going to choose to be happy. I needed money more than I needed love. Khalif was busy with his job and his daughter. Maybe it was all for the best. He had to get his life in order, and I had to do the same. The money I had left from the counterfeit check was going to go toward my move as soon as I got approved for a place.

Working at the bank wasn’t bad, but if I had to be honest, I’d rather be a full-time content creator than to work five days a week. But content creation didn’t have the benefits like healthcare and 401k that the bank had.

My phone rang, and I saw that my mother was calling. I hadn’t spoken to her since the day I left her house, and I wasn’t in the mood. Something told me if I answered, the conversation wouldn’t go well, but I bit the bullet and answered anyway.

“Hello.”

“Tahli, where have you been staying?”

“With a friend,” I responded dryly.

“So, I guess you’re so upset with me that you don’t even care to ask how I’ve been or where I’ve been staying.”

“Not really. I tried to make sure you had somewhere to stay which is why I gave you the money for the mortgage and the taxes on the house. I did my part.”

“You going to keep bringing that up?”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure I am.”

“I have to pay $375 by Sunday to keep my hotel room for another week, and I don’t have that. Can you please loan me $500. I’ll get the money from Earl to pay you back. His truck is fixed now, and he’s back working.”

“No. You’ve given him everything you had. You shouldn’t have to wait for any money from him. And if he doesn’t have any money for you, he could let you stay with him. I’m not sure what you got going on, but I’m only looking out for me this time around. I need to do what everyone else does.”

My mother hung up on me without saying another word. I was pissed, but the moment she ended the call, guilt began to set in. Was I wrong for not giving her the money? I needed another glass of wine because the slight buzz I had was gone just that fast.

Two days later, I was at the mall. When I got off work, I had a message that I had been approved for the apartment I applied for, and I was in a great mood. I wanted my favorite candles and wall plug-ins from one of my favorite stores. I was almost there, when I saw Mack walking in my direction with two bags in his hands.

“What up, Tahli? Hold these for me while I go to the bathroom. Swear to God it’ll only be two seconds.” He shoved the bags in my hands before I could even protest, and he walked around the corner.

I looked over my shoulder with a frown before looking down at the bags. They were both from Sak’s, and I was pretty sure there was some expensive shit inside. Looking up, I saw a red-faced security guard walking my way speaking into a walkie talkie. His gaze was set on me, and my heart fell into my ass. I know the fuck Mack didn’t. The security officer approached me.

“Ma’am where is the man that passed you those bags?”

“Um, he asked me to hold them while he went to the bathroom.”

Another mall cop appeared out of nowhere. The first guy went to the bathroom, while the person that had just arrived asked for the bags.

“These items were purchased with a stolen credit card, and I’m going to need to confiscate them.”

I wasn’t about to put up a fight to protect what was inside the bags, so I handed them over with no issues.

“What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Why?” I asked in defense mode.

“Because you’re in possession of stolen merchandise.”

“You just saw that man give me these bags. I didn’t know what was going on. He shoved them in my arms and asked me to hold them while he was going to the bathroom.”

“And most times, thieves don’t work alone.”

“What?!” I shrieked. People were walking by looking, so not only was the entire ordeal embarrassing, but I was pissed. I hadn’t even done shit, and I was being harassed by mall cops. Mack was a dirty ass dog, and I was done with him forever. I wouldn’t piss on that nigga if he was on fire.

I saw two very real police officers walking toward us, and I kissed my teeth. This couldn’t be happening. The white men advancing my way had their lips set in hard lines, and they looked like rednecks that didn’t play. I never would have gotten arrested for something I actually did and snitched on anyone else, but I was thinking real hard about telling them everything I knew about Mack’s ass just off the strength of him being a bitch ass fuck boy.

“Miss, I’m going to need you to follow us to the security office. I need to ask you some questions,” the tallest officer stated. Him being the tallest wasn’t exactly anything to brag about because he had to be about 5’9 while his partner stood about 5’7. I wondered why the police department didn’t have a height requirement.

Looking at the floor, I followed the men through the mall and to a small office. I was so embarrassed; I was afraid to make eye contact with anyone inside the mall. If I saw anyone that I knew I would be absolutely mortified. Inside the office, I sat down in a hard chair and kissed my teeth.