She was paid well. Rupert ordered her to stay with him for the week that he was there. Her funds in her bank account began to add up. Rupert came to Georgia regularly on business with her as one of his main objectives.
The day came when he asked her to move to Lake Murray. He had purchased a home on the lake that she could occupy. She didn’t have to worry about driving because he had limo service to carry her around. She went along with his program as long as he was good to her.
Aniyah lived there until he became tired of her, as other men had. The day came when he sent Clark, his driver, to tell her that she had to move out. She was handed two thousand dollars.
“Wow, tell Rupert, I mean Mr. Houston, that I said thanks,” she said as happy as ever.
“Mr. Houston said you have to leave immediately. You can stay at an apartment he has for no longer than two weeks,” Clark said sternly.
Aniyah’s happiness turned into outrage. “Damn it, just like that he’s kicking me out?”
“I guess so. I’ll wait for you outside.”
The driver drove her to a small apartment. “I feel sorry for you girls who think Mr. Houston is going to keep you forever. He has a wife and a family he loves.”
That was all he said and left. Aniyah furiously vowed to get even with Rupert. She put her plans into motion. Now was the time for her to use what she knew about him to her advantage.
How would he feel if he thought he had slept with his own daughter?
Aniyah could not wait to see his face. She also aimed to find any dirt on his family to use against him.
Aniyah discovered Noelle’s attraction to Baron. She had spotted them at a local café having coffee. They exited the café and Noelle reached up to put her arms around his neck. She kissed him. There was no obvious attraction on Baron’s part. Aniyah could tell by the way he kept his hands by his sides. Noelle placed his arms around her.
Aniyah snapped a photo and had someone alter the photo—to strip them of their clothes. The alteration made them seem as though they were having passionate sex. The word was out that Rupert never wanted his daughters to have contact with his workers or helpers.
Aniyah vowed to be a part of his empire. He owed it to her for what he had done to the Sanchez family.
After several weeks, she contacted Houston. She demanded that he come to see her. She threatened to cause trouble for him.
“You’re crazy,” Rupert said as he entered her apartment.
“You dumped me like I was trash.”
“You are trash!” he yelled. “Look at what kind of work you do.”
“I’m going to move up in the world,” she said as if she had a top-tier corporate position. She was only living off the money she had saved. With Rupert’s help, she would give up the escort business. This was the man that had destroyed her family, so her goals had shifted.
Rupert laughed.
“Don’t laugh too fast. I have info on one of your daughters,” Aniyah said.
“You know nothing about my girls.”
Aniyah laughed as he got serious. “The half-Mexican one.”
Rupert rushed at her. He squeezed her shoulders to shake her. “How did you find out about her?” he wondered.
“Let go of me!” Aniyah fought back, having no fear of him. Danny had trained her well for physical abuse. “I want money.”
Rupert shoved her. “I’m not giving you a damn cent. You better keep your mouth shut.”
“Let me move back to the Houston Villa. I’ll keep very quiet,” she begged.
“Hell no! I’m finished with you.”
Aniyah saw that revealing what she knew about his daughter wasn’t working so she began to dance.
Rupert watched as she danced erotically. “You’re a crazy bitch, but you’re sexy.”
Aniyah said nothing. She kept moving her body as she slipped out of her dress. Playing in her hair, she hummed an unrecognizable song.
Aniyah flagged for him to come to her. Rupert realized that he was playing with a hot candle. But he was going to take his chance and put the flame out. He moved closer to her.
Aniyah ducked under his arm and continued to dance. He discarded his suit jacket and pulled her into his arms. She unzipped his pants and released his manhood. She let him take her.
Rupert was exhausted. “You still are not getting a cent from me.”
“Yes, I will, Papa.”
Rupert almost choked on his words. “What the hell?” He jumped up.
“I’m your daughter.” She laughed.
He rapidly put on his clothes. He wiped the sweat off of his face. He thought of how many times he had been to bed with Aniyah. He could not believe that he had fallen into a trap. He adjusted his tie. “How do I know you’re not lying?”
“I’m Tessa Sanchez’s daughter.”
Aniyah explained his situation with her aunt in detail. Rupert had no choice but to believe that she was telling the truth because she looked so much like Tessa.
Aniyah blackmailed him. She was determined that he owed her dearly and insisted that she be listed in his will as the owner of the Houston Estate upon his death. Rupert told her that he would leave her the Houston Villa.
“You put me out of the villa. So I want the estate,” she demanded. “Leave that place to your other daughters.”
At that time, she didn’t tell him of the photo she had altered of Noelle and Baron. She kept that secret to seal the deal with his lawyer—making sure Baron didn’t mess her up with getting what the Sanchez family was owed.
Aniyah got her wish. She met with Rupert at Chavis Law Firm. She witnessed as he handed his new will over to Baron. Rupert gave her enough money to live comfortably. She took the money and stayed in the apartment for the time being, until she thought of the life that she wanted to live. Her next thought was to figure out who she would hire to get rid of him, but his heart attack had saved her the dirty work.
• • •
Aniyah fell off to sleep. Sex with Baron and Pete had worn her out.
Chapter 16
Tessa sat in darkness for two days before she decided to let any sunlight shine into her hotel room. She squinted as she opened the blinds to protect her eyes from the sunrays.
In a few days, she would have to check out of the extended stay hotel. She didn’t know whether to pay more money for another week or head back to Mexico without seeing Baron.
She plugged in an iron that rested on an ironing board. Before she turned the iron on, she poured water into the spout for steam.
The room was silent—no sound from any radio or television. Tessa avoided listening to or watching the news. The reporters were fascinated with the Houstons’ family saga as if they were the Kennedys.
Tessa carried on and pressed her blouse. Too quiet, she decided to turn on the television. She hoped that the media had found a new story to harp over.
The newswoman reported the weather before a newsman announced the top headline story.
The man reported: “The Houston Estate has been turned over to the illegitimate daughter of Rupert Houston. It’s believed that the daughter is the child of one of his former Mexican housekeepers. We are in the midst of trying to gather more information. At this time, we do know that Mr. Houston’s three other daughters, by his wife, Alana, were forced to move out of the estate—the home that they were raised in. It is believed that they are now living in one of his other properties, The Houston Villa.”
Tessa clicked the television remote off and hurried to get her purse. She scrambled for Elsa’s number. “Here it is.” Tessa took out the slip of paper and called her.
“Good morning,” Elsa answered.
“Elsa, it’s me, Tessa. You didn’t tell me Mr. Houston had another baby by a Mexican.”
“Gracious Lord, you should know. It’s your daughter.”
Tessa confessed as she slipped her blouse on. “I have no daughter anymore. I lost my baby not long after I got back to Mexico.”
“Well, rumor
is, it’s your daughter.”
“No way; my daughter is long dead.”
“But you made me think that she was all grown up.”
Tessa calmed down. “I said that because all these years Mr. Houston sent me money to keep me quiet. He never knew I had no baby. I lied. I made him think my baby was alive. I sent him a picture of my niece.”
Elsa grinned. “Good for the bastard. I didn’t think this hot thing living in here could be yours. She’s a mess.”
“Stupid, like her father.”
“A whore like him.” Elsa laughed.
“Oh, she’s that bad?”
“Girl, it’s gossip city up in this place,” Elsa said as she thought of Baron. “By the way, did you call Mr. Chavis?”
“I’ve been trying to think over whether I should call him or not.”
“I’m glad you didn’t follow my advice and call him. I was dead wrong for that. Don’t bother to call him; he’s messing with Aniyah. That’s Mr. Houston’s new daughter’s name.”
Tessa sat down in shock. Her deceased daughter’s name rang in her ears. “You say her name is Aniyah. What does she look like?” Tessa wondered.
“I hate to say it, but she sure looks like you. They say we black folks all look alike, but I guess it goes for Mexicans, too. She’s got the long dark hair and features like you—those pretty dark brown eyes.”
“Oh, Elsa, what has my niece done?”
“Your niece?”
“Yes. Her first name is Rosie. Aniyah is her middle name, the same name I named my baby girl.”
“Hush your mouth,” Elsa said.
“Yes, Rosie ran away at sixteen. My family hasn’t heard from her. Her mother almost died from a broken heart. She had a heart attack a few years back.”
“Well, now that I know it might be your niece, I didn’t mean to talk about her the way I did. But I saw her and Mr. Chavis with my own eyes.” Elsa was eager to tell the story. “He showed Aniyah, Rosie, whatever her name is, to her bedroom. I tried to be nice and welcomed her with a glass of sweet iced tea. I got to the room door and it was slightly opened. I peeped in and there they were, sloping all over each other.”
Tessa was hurt from the news. “My niece made love to Mr. Chavis?”
“Honey, I’m sorry to say, but yes. I don’t think it’s love on her part because there’s more to the story.”
“What else?” Tessa called as she took an aspirin out of her purse. She had a headache just that fast.
“Lord as my witness, as fast as Mr. Chavis left, I went back up to the room to check on her. Lord, God, strike me if I’m wrong. The girl had Pete, the new young helper, under her covers. I rest my case.”
Tessa was upset with how her niece had turned out, but surprised at Baron’s actions.
“I must come and see her for myself. In my heart I know this is my Rosie. I must stop her before she winds up in jail. Mr. Chavis—I never expected him to be this way.”
“I didn’t either but, you know the strange thing is,” Elsa recalled, “he asked me to escort her to the room. She demanded that he take her. Now that I think about it, she might be holding something over his head. Lord, Tessa, I don’t know. Folks is nuts these days.”
Tessa cried, “Please, Elsa, I beg you not to say anything about my Rosie not being Mr. Houston’s daughter. I’ll get her out of there. I’ll make her give back the house to the girls. Nothing good ever comes to those who steal from other’s fortune. I’ll call Mr. Chavis. I hope he won’t lie to me. Tell me the truth. You know, I thought his heart was with me. I guess too many years have gone by and his heart faded away from mine.”
“Maybe it didn’t. He may see you in your niece. That might be the attraction.”
“See you soon, Elsa. Thanks for telling me all this. I don’t want Rosie to be put in jail. Please keep quiet.”
“Girl, don’t you worry. Just like I know how to spread gossip, I sure know how to hold on to it, too.” Elsa laughed.
• • •
Tessa found the number to the Chavis Law Firm. Sara, the receptionist, answered, “Baron Chavis’ office, may I help you?”
“Yes, my name is Tessa Sanchez. May I speak to Mr. Chavis?”
The receptionist assumed by her name that she was Aniyah Sanchez’s mother. “Hold on for a minute.”
Sara came back in a second. “I’ll connect you.”
“Baron Chavis,” he said.
Her legs weakened as she said, “Hello, Mr. Chavis. This is Tessa Sanchez.”
“It’s so sweet to hear your voice. You sound the same as the day I first met you.”
“I wish, at times, I looked the same.”
“I saw you at the funeral,” he said. “You’re as pretty as ever.”
She smiled from the compliment he gave her.
“I didn’t see you. I guess I was so busy talking to the Houstons.”
“You disappeared the same way you did years ago—just broke a man’s heart.” He flirted with her.
She couldn’t believe he would flirt with her after being intimate with her niece.
“I need desperately to talk with you alone. Could you come see me at my hotel room?”
This is the invitation I’ve wanted for years—to be alone with you, not held hostage by your daughter, he thought.
“I can stop what I’m doing now and come.”
“Thank you so much,” she said.
“Tell me where you’re staying?”
She explained to him her whereabouts. Baron never mentioned Aniyah to her. He wanted to keep her name out of their conversation for now. After all, he probably had lost any chance of having a relationship with Tessa, but his hopes were to keep her close to him as a friend.
• • •
Baron sped down I-20 to get to her. His phone rang off the hook. Between Aniyah and Noelle, he felt like he was in a tug of war. Noelle was no problem, but Aniyah might show up on his doorstep.
He knocked on the door. Tessa appeared at the door dressed in a mid-length floral skirt to match her yellow blouse.
“Good to see you, Mr. Chavis. Come in.”
“Please call me Baron,” he said as he made his way into the room.
She smiled. “Baron, it is. Have a seat.”
“I’ll stay standing. I’ve been sitting at my desk most of the day.” He admired her. “Tessa, you haven’t changed in looks either.”
“A few gray strands.”
“Join the family,” he said as he patted his head.
Baron took his chances and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She blushed, but kept looking down at the floor.
“Hold your head up. Let the world see your beauty,” he said as he lifted her face up.
“You always knew how to make a lady feel great.”
“Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Aniyah!”
Baron knew this conversation had to surface. “What about your daughter? You want to move in with her?”
Tessa dropped her head and shook it from side to side. “If this girl is the girl I truly think she is, she’s not my daughter. She’s my niece. Her real name is Rosie. Aniyah is her middle name and the name of my baby girl I had by Mr. Houston. But my Aniyah, born two months premature, only lived for a week after birth.”
Baron couldn’t believe what he had heard. All the time he thought he was sleeping with her daughter.
Tears flowed down Tessa’s face. Baron took her in his arms for a few seconds, then he let go of her. He grabbed a chair and sat down.
“Mr. Houston changed his will for your niece. Everyone thinks she’s his and your daughter. She looks just like you.”
“Everyone in Mexico always thought I was the mother of my niece instead of my sister, Julia. Rosie was a troubled girl.”
“I have a picture of her at my office in Mr. Houston’s file. I wish I had brought the picture with me.”
“What am I thinking?” Tessa said as she ran over and searched her purse. She pulled out a photo of her niece at age
sixteen. She held the photo in front of him.
He studied the photo. The girl in the photo had on a long, wide floral skirt. She dressed so innocently, but her face looked the same, just without lots of makeup.
“That’s Aniyah,” he said.
Tessa cried. “I must go and see her for myself. I’m going to try to make her give back what doesn’t belong to her. I need your help. I don’t want her to go to jail.”
As an attorney, Baron knew that Aniyah could spend time in jail for fraud. But he had his own reasons as to why he could not go after her.
“I’ll have to see how I can handle this,” he said, puzzled.
Tessa went over to him. She put her hand on his shoulder. “I’ve heard the news about you and Rosie.”
He jumped up and blabbed off at the mouth. “It’s not what you think. She came after me. She’s crazy. She has this picture of Noelle and me making out. I mean, she fixed the picture to make it look like we were having a thing, but we never had sex. I promise you, just a peck on the lips—no sex. I only did that to get back at Houston for having what I really wanted, and that’s you.”
“Is that all there is to the story?”
Baron stared in her eyes. He couldn’t lie to her. “Okay, your niece and I had sex, but it’s because she has the picture. I don’t want her to embarrass Noelle or send the picture to the press. I need to get it from her.”
“You’re a grown man, Baron. You owe me no explanation. I could see the fire in your eyes that night when you saw Mr. Houston and me. We hurt you.”
The attorney stood up. He brushed her hair with his hands. “Houston did what he did to spite me. I could never hold that against you.”
“All is forgiven,” she said as tears flowed down her face again.
“Don’t cry, my love.” Baron pulled her into his arms and kissed her, allowing his hands to gently caress the small of her back. As the kiss intensified, his heart hammered as he wrapped his arms around her tighter, drawing her deeper into his chest. He circulated his tongue inside her mouth before letting up, giving her pecks of kisses on her lips.
When the kiss ended, an overwhelmed Tessa touched her bottom lip with the tips of her finger. He grabbed her from behind and nibbled on her neck, caressing her full, ripened breasts.
We Didn’t See it Coming Page 12