PLAGUE

Since her last altercation with Mark, he disappeared. Xenia was surprised to see her phone buzz showing a number she had erased but knew of by heart. It was The Homewrecker, aka Sophia.

The message said she waited outside entrance B of Astoria. It was Xenia's lunchtime, and as usual, Niki picked her up.

"What is it?"

Xenia grimaced, "It's Sophia; she's here."

"Are you serious?"

"Yep," Xenia said as they stepped out of the lift to walk to the entrance.

Primed and perfect as always Sophia stood in Louboutin heels, Loewe bag, Carven dress. She didn't come in peace; the two women thought as they walked towards her. "Xenia, hi," she said with enthusiasm.

No one knew how to fake it better than Sophia. No surprise, the woman landed the job as executive PR for a big cosmetic brand. And speaking of aesthetic, her face was radiant like a L'oreal advert.

Sophia's gaze traveled up and down, "Niki, you are here too."

"Eh, is someone talking to me?" Niki asked Xenia before tilting her head to the side.

Sophia sneered, "you are so childish," she shifted her gaze to Xenia; I came to see you," she pursued.

"Why?"

"Listen, Mark was upset the last time. I mean, Sia is his child too."

Xenia pointed at herself and tapped, "no, Sophia, you are wrong. My daughter's name is N'Diaye; she is mine."

"Pleaasse," Niki added.

"He was depressed back then. You put a lot of pressure on him, Xenia."

Xenia wrinkled her nose in disgust, "weird depression, guess your bed was the remedy."

"Nasty, dirty people," Niki added, eyes glaring laser beams while she made a bridge of disapproval with her lips.

"Let's not go over that again. The man is heartbroken about the time he is missing with Sia."

"Sophia, please leave. You are talking so much bull my mind can't take it. I'm going to hurt you," Xenia stepped closer to Sophia, who backed away.

"Smash her face two," Niki added like a homie on yo mama while banging her fists together.

"You haven't changed, Xenia. That's why Markㅡ."

"Oh, shut up, Sophia, you two should be ashamed of playing victims trying to make me seem like some crazy bitch when it's you people played some Greek tragedy on me."

"Shut your friggin mouth," Niki said from behind Xenia's shoulders.

"Niki, how juvenile are you? Xenia, please can you shut down your echo."

"I'm gonna kill the bitch," Niki stepped forward and held back by Xenia.

"Can you stop waving your hand at me? I saw it, okay. I got the message. You didn't come to plea Mark's cause you came to show off that rock on your finger," Xenia said.

Niki sighed, "Oh, my lord, Sophia, you are such a bitch." Both women were shocked at the sight of the ring on the woman's finger.

Xenia understood what Mark tried to say when he explained he needed to talk and why he was eager to take Sia's legal action. Everything made sense. A wealthy married couple always looked better than the struggling single parent.

XY XX

In the meantime, Gregory, Wendon, and Jaila, who were heading to lunch, found themselves spectators of the odd show.

"What you think is going on over there, in your opinion?" Wendon asked.

"Looks like a fight to me," Jaila answered.

"That woman, wherever she is, there's drama," Gregory added, shaking his head in disapproval.

Xenia pulled in trouble like a magnet. She wasn't someone to get involved with, thought Gregory, but she reeled in all those dilemmas the same way she attracted people.

"Perhaps we should call security," Wendon suggested.

"No, leave it. She'll wiggle out of it. Xenia always does," Gregory said as he walked. They only had 45minutes left to eat because of the brawl.

XX XY

"Oh, yes, Mark proposed, we're engaged, and that's why we have to make it work, Xenia."

"Piss off, Sophia."

"Xenia, try to be the bigger and better person for once," Sophia said, flicking back her hair.

"No, Sophia, I don't give a friggin shitty fuck about being a fucking bigger person in this situation, okay," Xenia said. She took a few steps and came back.

"You know what, Sophia, I always thought you were smart. Hasn't it occurred to you that Mark could do the same thing to you? The man left me six months pregnant; trust me, leaving you a the altar wouldn't be too hard for him. Do you think that carat whatever rock on your finger is a guarantee? The guy doesn't even have the cojones to tell the mother of his child he's getting married to her ex-best friend, and you persuaded you've found THE MAN. I thought it too. I believed I tamed the bad boy, I was wrong, and soon you'll see your error too."

Sophia crossed her arms, "ahem, it's 18 carats."

"You are a b-witch, Sophia. What did I ever do to you? You've always had everything. Why did you push me to date him if you wanted him for yourself?"

Sophia feigned a sad expression, "Xenia, I didn't decide it happened. We just fell in love."

"Bitch, please," Niki added.

Xenia giggled nervously, "okay, Sophia, I'm listening; what do you want from me?"

"Mark wants to see Sia more often and have her at home on weekends."

"Sophia, my daughter, will not sleep in your house."

"A day out isn't enough; Xenia, come on."

"I don't give a damn; you want a child, have your own and leave me alone," Xenia said, flicking her hands in a get lost motion.

"Mark might take legal action, Xe."

"Don't Xe, me, as if we're friends, and go ahead, go legal, I don't give a shit. I do because it's my baby who will suffer. Tell Mark he goes there; I will burn you two alive in that duplex you just bought."

"Burn your fucking house down," Niki added, snapping her fingers in Sophia's face.

"You are sure immature for grown women. I thought we could have an adult conversation, but I guess I had high expectations."

"You can shove your expectations where I'm thinking," Xenia returned as she walked away.

Niki sneered and kissed her teeth at Sophia.

Sophia watched the two women leave; she smirked and crossed her arms. She knew how Xenia reacted. It was just a matter of minutes before the flood.

"How did I do? I think I busted my swearing record," Xenia asked with eyes full of tears she had been holding back.

Niki locked her in her arms, "you did well."

"I can't believe Mark is marrying her," Xenia said, crying. "It's unfair, Niki; it's so unfair; why am I the eternal loser?"

"I know, Xe, your not a loser. Something good will come your way. I bet my little pinky finger on it. I hope God hears me because I love my pinky."

Niki didn't know what to say or how to console her friend, who broke down in her arms, far from Sophia's gaze. All she could do was hug Xenia while tears flowed down her cheeks too.

"You see how I sucked my teeth at her," Niki said, pulling away from Xenia.

"Like a pro."

"Yeah, ten years of hard training," Niki said and smiled, hoping the little interlude would brighten her friend's humor a little.