by King, Deja
“That’s fine but, Aaliyah I’ll be calling you tomorrow. There are some things I want to discuss with you. Will you be available to meet with me say tomorrow around seven pm?”
“Of course, I work for you,” I smiled and Dale smiled back. Are we flirting with each other? I think we are and I like it I thought to myself.
“Then tomorrow it is.”
“Thank you both for your time and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hold up, I’ll have security show you out.”
“Thanks but I remember the way out. Both of you have a good night.” When I left out I stood by the door so I could hear what they were saying after they thought I was gone.
“What the hell was that about?”
“Excuse me?”
“Stop the bullshit, Dale. You were coming on to her.”
“No I wasn’t.”
“I know you. And you’ve taken a personal interest in her.”
“What if I have? She’s part of the family.”We don’t mix business and pleasure. Aaliyah works for us, she’s off limits.”
“When did that rule become in affect, unless you’re trying to apply it because you’ve taken your own interest in her. The same way you know me, I know you too. The only difference between us Emory is that when I see something I want I have no problem admitting it and doing whatever necessary to get it. You on the other hand have a tendency to over think certain things. Most of the time it works in your favor but sometimes it doesn’t.”
Before I could hear Emory’s response I heard someone coming and I couldn’t get caught snooping so I jetted. But my mind was racing at what I had heard. I found Emory and Dale attractive; to think both could be interested in me was a powerful feeling. But I wasn’t going to get ahead of myself. They were educated professional drug dealers on the highest level. They were masters at the game of manipulation and no matter which way I preceded I had to always keep that in mind.
When clavon pulled into the driveway of the townhouse I was anxious to get inside, take a hot shower and go to bed. I had been up since six in the morning and I had another early day tomorrow. My enforcer Tony, walked me to the door as he always did, I was so tired I was tempted to tell him to carry me.
“I’ll see you guys here tomorrow about eight,” I told Tony when we were halfway to the door. But without warning the next thing I knew he had pulled out two guns and was pointing them at a tall figure that had popped out of nowhere. Right when Tony was about to pull the trigger the figure stepped out of the shadow and into the light. “Don’t shoot,” I called out. “I know him.”
“Are you sure?” Tony asked. I could tell he was ready to be trigger-happy.
“Yes I am,” I assured him. “Amir, what are you doing here?”
“I had to see you. I’ve stopped by here dozens of time but you’re never home. So today I decided to wait all day and night hoping I would catch you and I did. Please Aaliyah, before you tell me to leave hear me out.”
“I can do that.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll stay and wait until after he leaves,” Tony said playing his enforcer position to the fullest. “That’s okay, Tony, you can go.”
“I can’t do that. You say you know him but he’s not part of the family. He could be up to anything.”
“Actually he is family, so you can go. I’ll see you in the morning.” I could tell Tony didn’t want to leave but I made it clear that was exactly what I wanted him to do.
Amir followed me inside and he remained quiet for several minutes. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to figure out how to begin our conversation or if he was worried about the direction I would take it in. “I was surprised but pleased that you called us family,” Amir finally said.
“If I didn’t say that Tony wouldn’t have ever left.”
“So are you saying you didn’t mean it?”
“I don’t know Amir, so much has changed.”I see that. When did you start walking around with an armed guard and why?”
“My dad hired him for me?” I lied.
“Nico?”
“No, Supreme. He was worried about me now that I’m not living at home.” I knew not to say Nico because that would be too easy for Amir to verify. Nobody in that camp spoke to Supreme so he was the perfect person to put it on and it was very plausible.
“That‘s understandable. I was shocked when your mother told me you had moved out.”
“I needed some space. I had a lot of things on my mind and I didn’t think I could figure them out staying home. I needed a change.”
“So are you enjoying being on your own? This is a nice place.”
“I have a roommate but yes I like it. I’m moving out in a couple weeks though.”
“Are you moving back home?”
“No, I’m moving into a new condo in Edgewater. It’s right on the water and it’s beautiful.”I guess your dad got it for you?”
“Yeah. I told him that it was cool having a roommate but that I preferred to be on my own so he offered to get me a place.” That too was a lie. In the short span of time I had partnered up with Peaches, I had made more than enough money to afford my own place. But again Amir didn’t need to know all that. He would never be accepting of what my new life entailed so it was better I kept him in the dark about it.
“I’m glad I caught up with you before you moved.”
“I’m assuming my mother was the one who gave you my address.”
“Yes. She didn’t want to at first but I basically begged her. I’ve missed you so much that it hurts.”
“It can’t hurt nearly as much as it did for me when you came and told me you were no longer coming to visit me in jail. Or on the first day of my trial when you sat in court holding Justina’s hand.”
“I don’t know how I can ask you to forgive me for that but I’m hoping you will. I was wrong. I was overwhelmed with guilt because Justina almost died and I blamed myself.”
“Blamed yourself for what?”
“For falling in love with you.” I had never heard Amir admit that he was in love with me and I wasn’t sure how to take it.
“I’m not sure what to say.”
“Aaliyah, I made so many mistakes and I used poor judgment in a lot of ways but please believe I love you more than anything. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
“Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear you say those words to me? I feel like I’ve loved you all my life. But you hurt me and I don’t ever want to feel that sort of pain again.”
“Baby, please don’t cry,” Amir said, wiping away the tears that escaped my eyes. “I love you more than you know,” he said, gently kissing me on my lips.
“I love you too,” I admitted, kissing him back. One kiss led to another and then another. Soon our hands were interlocked and I was kissing Amir and leading him to my bedroom at the same time.
“I thought about this moment so many times,” he said undressing me before laying me down on the bed. “I just want to look at you for a moment. You’re so beautiful, Aaliyah.
“I need you to be gentle . . . I’m still a virgin.”
“Are you serious!” Amir’s voice echoed so loudly he couldn’t even hide his astonishment. “I had already convinced myself you had been with someone else by now and it didn’t matter to me because I knew if we ever had a chance to be together we would share something extraordinary.
But to hear you tell me you’re still a virgin, after everything I put you through I don’t even feel worthy to take something so special.”
“I want you to. I’ve always wanted you to be my first and even when I felt betrayed by you that desire never changed I only suppressed it. There is no other man in this world I would want to take my virginity but you.”
“Aaliyah, I don’t know when you’ll be ready but on everything one day you will be my wife. I won’t have it any other way.”
That night with Amir was the most beautiful day of my life. Each kiss was gentle but meaningful
. He made sure his tongue made love to my insides until it was so wet that my sugar walls was ready to take all of him. My body was shivering with anticipation. Each touch made me want Amir more, but he didn’t rush Amir took his time. He seduced my body by treating it like the perfect picture he was painting, each stoke was precise and without a mistake.
“I’ll love you forever,” Amir whispered in my ear before entering inside of me as our mind and body became one.
Precious
“SUPREME, HI.” I WASN’T expecting to see him as I was leaving out the house. “Is everything ok . . . nothing happened to Xavier did it?” I caught myself becoming panicked.
“Xavier is fine. He’s at my parent’s house. I came by to see you but it looks like I caught you at a bad time.”
“I have to go meet with Quentin’s attorney. Maya will be there so I’m not in any rush. Come on in. They can get started without me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” When Supreme came inside I noticed that his energy wasn’t harsh towards me. It had been a very long time since that was the case. “So what did you want to discuss with me?”
“I have to get back to LA and I wanted Xavier to come live with me there.” I felt like the wind had just been knocked out of me. Of all the things I was expecting Supreme to say, that wasn’t it.”
“You want to take my son away from me?”
“I would never try to take Xavier from you but LA has been where we resided for years. This only became our primary residence because of what happened to Aaliyah. That’s behind us now and I need to be able to tend to my business in LA.”
“Then you go and leave Xavier here with me.”
“Precious, our son has been staying with me for over a month now and you said it would be for the best due to some business dealings Nico was involved in that could possibly put both of your lives in jeopardy. Now you’re asking me to leave my son with you when those circumstances haven’t changed?”
“I’m not asking you to leave. I want you to stay but I can’t make you.”
“What do I need to stay here for?”
“If you leave it makes everything so final, as if it’s over and we’re never getting back together.”
“It is over. That’s why we’re getting a divorce. But we still have to work together and do what’s best for our son.”
“You’re so calm and cordial. I never thought I would like it better when you were disgusted with me. At least then I knew you cared and there was some sort of emotion. You’re talking to me now as if I’m just the mother of your children.”
“Don’t do this, Precious. I have to go but think about what I said. If you agree you can come see Xavier anytime you like and I’ll bring him here also. But LA is our home and Xavier wants to go back too. He misses his friends. Think about what will be best for him.”
“I’ll let you know,” I said turning away from Supreme. I couldn’t let him see the tears fall down. I wanted him to remember me being strong not broken. When I heard the doors close behind him I cried and didn’t stop crying until I had no more tears left.
When i arrived at the attorney’s office I was still shaken up from my conversation with Supreme. It took all my strength and a couple glasses of wine for me to make it to this meeting. After Supreme left all I wanted to do was crawl back in bed and be alone. Having to deal with others especially someone that I despised as much as Maya was testing my very last nerve. But Quentin’s attorney was adamant that I come so here I was.
“Hello, I’m here to see Mr. Polansky.”And you?”
“Precious Mills,” I said to the receptionist then immediately thinking that I wouldn’t be Mrs. Mills much longer. I glanced down at my wedding ring, dreading the day I would have to take it off.
“Yes, Mrs. Mills,” the receptionist smiled. “Mr.
Polansky is waiting for you in the big conference room. I’ll show you the way. We walked down the hall and the room was to the right. From the entrance I could see the frown on Maya’s face, as I was an hour late. At first I wasn’t going to apologize but I decided to do so out of respect for Quentin’s attorney.
“I apologize for being so late, Mr. Polansky but a family emergency came up.”
“I hope everything is fine?” he questioned with what seemed like genuine concern.
“Yes, all is well now.”
“Wonderful and feel free to call me Robert, ladies now let’s get started.”
“That would be nice as we do have things to do,” Maya snarled.
“I know the two of you might be wondering what this meeting is about,” we both nodded our head because I didn’t have a clue.
“Two years ago your father had me draw a living will on his behalf. It stipulated what should happen if for some reason he was unable to handle his day-to-day business operations longer than a six-month span. The allotted time has passed and Quentin’s living will now be honored.”
“I believe Quentin will come out of his coma. Why can’t we wait?” Moving forward with his wishes in a living will didn’t feel right to me, it was like we were giving up on him.
“Precious, I too hope Quentin regains consciousness and is able to go back to life as he once knew it. But the reason your father created this living will is because there are certain aspects to his business that requires someone overseeing it. If no one is maintaining the day-to-day operations then the business entities can suffer a severe financial backlash.”
“It makes perfect sense to me. Besides we don’t know what is going to happen to our father, he may never wake up. So let’s get to it, what did he say?” Maya cracked as she slit her eyes at me.
“Your father owns a company called QT Holdings. It’s comprised of several different businesses, some are much more profitable than others. Your father left strict instructions on who should run it and how.”
“Father always discussed business dealings with me so it’s a given that he would want me to run his company and I have no problem with that,” Maya said with so much arrogance I wanted to smack the snootiness right out of her.
“Maya, your father did leave a business for you to run. He owns an upscale nail and beauty salon on 64th and Madison Ave. that he would like for you to oversee. Here are the keys to the building and some paperwork you need,” Mr. Polanksy said handing the materials over to Maya.
“Are you serious?” The smug look on Maya’s face had now turned to complete anger and disbelief.
“Yes,” Mr. Polansky made clear before turning to me. “Precious, your father has left you in control of QT Holdings. He wanted me to give you this envelope and here are your keys.” What Mr. Polansky said stunned me. Based on my relationship with Quentin never did I think he would want me to run his company. Unlike what Maya said, Quentin never discussed his business with me, our conversations primarily centered around Aaliyah and Xavier. This news threw me for a loop.
“This has to be a mistake. My father would never leave his business in her hands. Precious never treated him right. She’s the reason he’s in a coma in the first place. She’s the reason he’s gonna die. And you want to give me some keys to some damn beauty salon . . . please!” Maya spit throwing the keys in my direction.”
“Ouch!” She threw them so fast I didn’t have time to move and they hit me right in the middle of my forehead. “You can’t possibly be this crazy. Oh, I get it. You think because we’re in an attorney’s office that you’re somehow protected? Wrong bitch!”
“Ladies calm down,” Mr. Polansky advised, keeping a diplomatic tone. But it was too late. I crawled across that table so motherfuckin’ fast and snatched Maya up by her neck that I had the heifa gasping for air. “You wasn’t expecting this when you threw those keys, you stupid hoe!” I roared. Although she could hardly breathe Maya was shaking furiously in her chair trying to escape my grasp. From her erratic movement I lost my balance and fell off the table landing on top of Maya. I no longer had my hands wrapped around her neck and she was fighting to c
atch her breath. But I wasn’t done with her. I yanked her up by the front of her hair and made sure I had a firm hold before using my free hand to swing on her. I kept punching until I saw blood. All this rage I had built up inside for so long was now being unleashed on Maya. I blanked out the only thing occupying my mind was flashes of all the havoc she caused my family. From Aaliyah’s kidnapping when she was a baby, being held captive and beaten, her having sex with Supreme and leaving with my husband and child. This bitch was the nightmare that kept on giving and would never go away. All I wanted to do was beat her out of our lives for good. But once again Maya would escape death, because before I could make it lights out for the snake there were like four men pulling me off of her.
While my legs were free and within reach I stomped Maya trying to get in as many licks as possible. “This ain’t over, I ain’t done wit’ you yet,” I screamed still in murder mode as the men dragged me out of the room.
“Precious, what are you doing? It would break your father’s heart to see his two daughters go at it like this.”
“Quentin knows the history between the two of us. I don’t know why he would ever have us in the same room anyway. She’s poison.”
“I had no idea the bad blood ran this deep. Whatever business needs to be discussed in the future I will make sure I schedule the meetings separately. You can use the bathroom down the hall to straighten up. Here is the keys and envelope. I will call you later to go over some other things. After you go to the bathroom, please leave the building. It’s for your own protection and your sister. Now please excuse me I want to make sure everything is being handled correctly in the conference room.”
I understood why Mr. Polansky was distressed by what happened but Maya caught me on the wrong day. I came to the meeting in a fucked up mood then she had the audacity to have a temper tantrum like a three-year-old and throw some keys at my head. Given the way I feel about her it was only divine intervention she didn’t leave out of here in a body bag. Lord knew the last thing my family needed was for me to spend the rest of my life behind bars fucking around with Maya’s dumbass. That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to put that bitch six feet under it just meant the shit had to be carefully planned out so after her death I could keep living my life. If anything happened to Maya now all eyes would be on me after our altercation today. So patience would now become my best friend.