by D. Camille
Carl began to choke.
“Let him go Jordan,” Sean instructed.
Jordan held on tighter. “Move Sean!”
Sean pulled harder at Jordan. “Jordan, let him go! Not like this.”
Jordan looked over at Sean with flashing dark eyes. Finally, he nodded and released Carl whose hands went to his neck.
“You think I'd come here and lie to you after all these years?” Carl choked out. “It's time that you knew the truth about your parents Jordan.”
Jordan ran a hand down his face and tried to calm himself as Sean looked at him in question.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
Jordan looked at him. “Don't ask me that right now!”
“Do you want to hear what he has to say?” Sean asked.
Jordan turned and walked to the door. “Yeah, bring his ass upstairs!” he shouted as he continued walking.
Sean looked to Carl and shook his head. “You even brought your own rope. Let’s go.”
Sean escorted Carl Harrison up to Jordan's office where they found him sitting behind his desk. He gave Carl a hard stare as Sean took the seat across from him.
“I've never had anything against you Jordan,” Carl began then glanced at Sean. “Either of you.” He smiled at them both and they remained silent watching him.
Carl rushed on. “I knew both of your parents. It's true I started having an affair with Joanna while she was still married to Justin. She was a beautiful woman and she was an unhappy woman. At first I wanted to comfort her, but I fell in love with her.”
“Get to the damn point,” Jordan told him.
“I found out later that Joanna was still sleeping with Justin until his death trying to get him to let her see you. Joanna believed that one day he would, but he never relented.”
“Really?” Jordan asked pointedly. “You believe that's the reason Joanna was still sleeping with my father? And that Joanna was trying to see me?”
Carl shook his head. “Yes.”
Sean shook his head. Was this dude serious?
“Why are you here Carl?” Sean asked.
“Milton Martin came to see me asking me to help him find Joanna and Carolyn. He also asked me to help destroy your company.” He looked at Jordan. “I want to help you Jordan.”
“You want to help me?” Jordan repeated slowly glancing at Sean.
“Yes, at one point I considered both of your father's as my best friends. I want to make sure Justin and Xavier's sons are protected.”
“How are you going to protect us Carl?” Jordan asked raising a brow.
Carl shrugged. “I’m here now warning you about Milton.”
“You think I’m concerned about Milton Martin?” Jordan asked incredulously.
“You’re not invincible Jordan,” Carl told him.
Jordan stood. “Let me tell you how this is going to go down Carl. You and Milton Martin are going to go sit your geriatric asses down somewhere and stop wasting my damn time!” He walked around the desk.
Carl looked shocked. “Why are you doing this Jordan? I’m trying to help you.”
Jordan stared at him. “You and Milton actually thought that you, of all people, could come in here and give me some bullshit story about Joanna and I’d trust you? Try again.”
“We're not the villains. Justin is!” Carl shouted standing then Sean stood as well.
Jordan laughed. “Says the man who slept with his wife.” Jordan stepped up to Carl. “See I’m not my father because if you slept with my wife, I would put your ass to sleep permanently.”
“Fine Jordan,” Carl walked towards the door. “Just don't say I didn't warn you.”
“Carl, one more thing?” Jordan called and Carl turned back to face him and Sean.
“If I catch either you or Milton anywhere near this building again, they’re going to find both your asses swimming face down in the Pacific. Understand?”
Carl turned and exited the office.
Sean turned to Jordan. “Do you think we’re going to have to kill them?”
Jordan nodded. “Probably”
“Another day at the office, huh?”
“Yeah,” Jordan turned to him. “You want to get some lunch?”
“Yes. How about Mediterranean?” Sean suggested.
“Cool.”
“What will we tell Izzy?” Sean asked.
Jordan smiled. “We'll tell her Ray did it.” He walked out the door still smiling.
*********
Ray called Trent and Callie along with two agents into the conference room at his office. They all sat around the table listening as Ray spoke.
“We have a lead in the case of the missing women. I'm calling in some additional help from the FBI. He'll be here shortly. Until then all calls regarding the case will come to me.” He glanced over at Callie. “No calls to Trent.”
She nodded and continued to listen while taking notes.
“Trent these two agents will be assigned to you. When you here, they're here. When you leave, they leave,” Ray explained.
Trent nodded and listened.
“Callie, all visitors will be checked by the agents before they get to your desk. No visitors for Trent unless they're family and no packages.”
Ray looked around the table. “Any questions?” he asked.
The room was silent and he nodded.
“I've received a box of files that need to be sorted through so Callie and Trent I'm going to have you two do that today. You might have to stay a couple of hours later than usual to finish.”
Trent glanced at his watch and Ray noticed.
“Is there a problem Little Bruh?” Ray asked him.
Trent shook his head. “Nah, uh...it's cool.”
Callie turned and looked at Trent before turning back to Ray.
“If Trent has something to do, I can do it by myself Ray,” she told him.
Ray turned to Trent. “No Callie, you won't do it by yourself. Will she Trent?”
Trent heard Ray's message loud and clear. “I'll be right here.” He smiled.
Ray nodded and stood from the table before leaving the room followed by the two agents. Callie gathered her notes before turning to Trent.
“Look it doesn't matter what Ray said, I can go through the files alone. You look like whatever you have to do is important to you.” She walked out of the room and back to her desk.
Trent sat at the table alone. Tonight was his dinner with Isis and he didn't want to cancel on her but he sure as hell wasn't going to go against Ray. He pulled out his phone and called her. The call went to her voicemail and he asked her to call him. He didn't want to cancel via phone message that just wasn't cool.
When Trent made it to Callie's desk, she had already gone to the file room. He proceeded to follow her there. Callie was unpacking the box when he entered. She took a stack of files and sat in a chair at the table.
Trent took a stack and sat on the opposite end from her. “I'm not leaving you Callie,” he told her.
She didn't look up. “Doesn't matter to me Trent. I told you I could do it.”
They worked for the next hour in silence until the sounds of Trey Songz's Wonder Woman filled the room. Callie looked up at him and lifted an eyebrow. Trent grabbed his phone and quickly stepped into the hall.
“Hello?”
“Hey Trent, you wanted me to call you?” Isis asked.
“Uh yeah, I need to reschedule for dinner. I have to work late.”
“How late do you have to work?” she asked.
“Probably a few more hours.”
“Well call me when you're done and maybe we can still have a late dinner, how's that?”
Trent smiled. “Cool. Thanks Isis.”
“Okay, I'll talk to you later then.”
“Okay.”
Trent disconnected the call and went back into the room taking his seat as Callie continued to work on her files. Soon the silence became too much for Trent.
“Callie?”
She looked up and raised a brow at him.
“You're still going to give me time right?”
Callie smiled. “I may not have to wait much longer after tonight huh?”
Trent threw his hands in the air. “Why do I feel like I'm cheating on you or something?”
“I don't know. Maybe you should ask yourself why that is.”
Trent watched her for a moment. “I don't want you to change your mind.”
She looked at him again. “Then you need to make up your mind soon or I'll have to make it up for you."
He turned and stared out of the window.
“Have fun with your Wonder Woman, maybe you two will un-complicate things.”
Trent turned back to her. “Isis was my Wonder Woman, but you're my real life shero, Callie.”
Callie flexed her arm showing her muscle. “I've got superpowers.”
“You do, for real,” he said quietly.
Callie laughed before going back to her files. The next couple of hours flew by and before they knew it, they'd gone through all of the files earlier than expected. Callie returned the last file to the box and turned to Trent.
“All done.” She looked at her watch. “With time to spare.”
Trent came to stand in front of her. “Thanks Callie. I know you were working really hard so we'd get done.”
Callie shrugged and went to gather her things to leave for the evening. She shut down her computer and grabbed her purse.
“Let me walk you to your car,” Trent told her joining her at the desk.
She nodded and walked out of the building with Trent along with the two security agents following. At her car, Trent opened the door for her and she smiled up at him.
“Really, have a good time Trent,” she said sincerely.
He stared down at her and shrugged.
“Just don't make her wash your car,” she teased.
He smiled. “I don't think anybody can wash a car like you Callie.” Trent remembered watching Callie wash his car and she'd made sure he watched. If he’d put that on YouTube it would have gone viral.
“You liked it.”
He shook his head. “Nah, I more than liked it. I'm still having dreams about it.”
She pursed her lips. “Are they wet?”
Trent laughed. “You like to play.”
Callie shook her head. “No games baby.”
“You're making this really hard,” he told her.
She smiled. “Now you're just being nasty.”
Trent tilted his head at her. “I'm talking about having dinner with Isis,” he corrected her.
She laughed. “I'm not worried about that.”
“You're really not,” he said amazed.
“I'm going home to cry my eyes out, if that makes you feel better,” she teased.
Trent smirked. “You're going home to sleep.”
“Damn right. I'm tired as hell from hanging out with you all weekend, working two jobs, going to class and washing your car,” she said pointedly.
Trent laughed. “Goodnight Callie. Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow.”
She smiled up at him. “Goodnight Trent.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for finishing the files early.”
She nodded and got into her car. Trent waited until Callie was out of the parking lot before he called Isis back to tell her he could still meet for dinner. He ended the call and looked in the direction Callie had driven and shook his head. Callie... Damn.
Trent drove to the restaurant and met Isis. She was already seated when he arrived and he joined her at the table smiling and giving her a look over.
“Hey Isis”.
She smiled at him. “Hi Trent, you look nice.” Isis looked over his dark slacks, beige dress shirt and tie.
He smiled in return checking her out some more. “You look hot,” he said looking at her burnt orange sundress with her hair down around her shoulders.
She handed him a card. “This is for you. Congratulations!”
Trent took it slowly. “Thanks Isis.” He opened the card and smiled at the Tamale that was on the inside. After reading the note, he placed the card back inside the envelope he looked over at her.
“That's really cool Isis. Thank you.” He smiled.
“You're welcome. I'm so proud of you. I knew you would do great things at USC.
"Is there anything else that you want to give me to congratulate me?" he smiled at her wickedly.
Before she could answer, the waitress appeared to take their orders. Trent ordered his regular abundance of food while Isis listened. The waitress left to fill their orders and Isis turned to him.
“Are we expecting someone else?” she asked.
Trent shook his head. “Nah, why?”
“You ordered enough food for another person,” she teased.
Trent laughed. “I like to eat.”
“I see.” She laughed.
They stared across the table at each other.
“How's the play going?” Trent asked.
“Good. The performances have been sold out.”
“Well I know that you're great. I've seen you on stage," he complimented her.
She smiled at him. "Thank you Trent. That's very sweet."
"Are you still coming to my party?" he asked.
"Yeah, I have it marked on my calendar."
He grinned at her. "And you're still bringing my gift?" he asked.
"I'm still thinking about that."
Trent nodded and stared at her.
Isis studied him. “Did you ask those other girls for the same gift?" she asked.
“You jealous?” he asked.
“Don't flatter yourself,” she countered.
Trent sat back. “What's up Isis?”
“Why don't you tell me Trent?" she asked.
Trent remained silent.
“You asked me to wait for you. You said you'd be worth it, but every time I turn around you're with a new girl.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Are you serious right now Isis?” he asked incredulously.
“Yeah Trent, I am.”
He leaned forward. “Okay. Yeah, I asked you to wait for me, but every time I turn around you're telling me how you don't want me and don't flatter myself."
“So you think I'm going to fall all over you like those other girls?” she questioned.
“I think you shouldn't play games Isis.”
Isis lifted her brow. “You think I'm playing games?”
“Yeah, I do.”
She looked at him.
“If you're not playing games then just tell me now Isis. Tell me that you want to be with me and that it doesn't matter how old I am,” he challenged her.
Isis' eyes narrowed. “Maybe if you knew what you wanted, I could.”
Their food arrived and they waited until the waitress had placed all the plates before continuing.
“You don't know what you want either Isis,” he said quietly.
“If you've changed your mind, just say so Trent,” she told him.
“How can I change my mind when you've never given me a chance?”
Dark brown eyes met dark black ones. “What if I'm giving you one now?”
“What does that mean?”
Isis shrugged. “That maybe we can spend some time together and see what happens.”
“Is that what you want?” he asked.
She smiled at him. “Yeah, I think so.”
Trent smiled back at her. “Cool. We can do that.”
They finished their meals and Trent walked Isis to her car. At the vehicle, she turned to him.
“Is she your girlfriend?” she asked him.
“Who?”
“The girl you were with on campus the last time I saw you.”
“Callie?”
Isis nodded.
“Nah, Callie's not my girlfriend.”
“Who is she then?”
Trent shrugged. “She's someone I like
hanging out with,” he answered.
Isis looked up at him. “Well you'll be hanging out with me now.” She smiled and Trent frowned.
“You want me to stop hanging out with Callie?” he asked confused.
“Why would you need to hang out with another girl Trent?”
“Because Callie's cool and I like kicking it with her.”
Isis tilted her head. “So you want to hang out with both of us?” she questioned pointedly.
“Yeah, what's wrong with that?”
“So you think you're going to bounce back and forth between the two of us?” she demanded.
Trent lifted his head to the sky and let out a breath before looking back down at her. “I'm not bouncing between you two Isis. We're hanging out, not getting married.”
“Why do you even want to hang out with her if we're spending time together? I don't understand.” She crossed her arms.
Trent shrugged. “I'm not going to say I won't chill with anybody else because you've decided that we can maybe spend some time together."
“Oh, what happened to, 'Just say you want me Isis and I'm yours', huh?” Isis questioned.
Trent stepped closer. “Is that what you're saying? Because I heard, maybe we could spend time together. I didn't hear I want you to be my man Trent. 'Cause if you want me to be your man I'm right here Tamale."
“You're not ready for that," she told him.
Trent lowered his head. “You have no idea what I'm ready for Isis. You're the one who's not ready,” he whispered above her mouth.
Isis lowered her head away from him. “Goodnight Trent.”
Trent straightened and laughed. “Goodnight Isis. Let me know when you want to maybe spend some time together.”
He helped her into her car and closed the door. Trent winked at her as she took off.
He turned and got into his car pulling out his phone. He quickly typed a text.
Goodnight Shero. Sweet dreams.
Trent started his car and began to drive home. As beautiful as Isis was there was no way in hell he was going to say he wasn't going to see Callie. That was definitely a deal breaker. He couldn't imagine not being able to chill with Callie. That was almost akin to asking him not to breathe. His phone buzzed with a text and he glanced at the screen.
Goodnight baby. Wet dreams.
Trent laughed and licked his lips. Callie... Damn.
*********
That night Jordan lay in bed next to a sleeping Sage. His mind wandered back to his confrontation with Carl Harrison earlier in the day. Carl and Milton thought they were slick. Carl had said that Jordan didn't know everything, but in reality, Carl didn't know anything. He didn't know how Sean and Jordan had overhead Justin and Joanna.