Black Female

by Kim J. West

  Together with our security aides and a guide, we traveled through the northern part of Siberia, tracking bears, Siberian tigers, and other rare game in white out conditions. We spent many days fishing and cooking our own food on campfires. Besides the satellite phones of our security, we were totally off the map for several weeks. I’d left Jackson in Atlanta giving him a break from me for a while. I continued my tour through Romania, Czech Republic and went base jumping in the Alps. I finally spent a whole month in northern Finland in a lone log cabin enjoying my solitude; chopping my own wood and cooking my own meals.

  At the end of my long four month break, I headed to Switzerland to work for a month on restructuring my investment company, Strauss Allianz. I wanted to make it more streamlined and efficient, which was long overdue. I flew Mason over to train me and knew I was in great shape due to my hard, challenging trip through Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

  When I got back to Atlanta, I quickly came up to speed with all my added responsibilities and hit the ground running. We had a company function inaugurating me as CEO of Strauss Carter and huge announcements were made in the media.

  My father’s old office had been renovated from the oakwood and leather, Ewings-style old money look, to modern and vibrant; thanks to my personal decorator who understood my taste. She’d successfully integrated elements of my father’s and my grandfather’s legacy into the office and I was very pleased with it. Janice had moved all my work to this office, artfully placing everything exactly where I’d expect to find it.

  After I finished admiring my office and the new view, I came round to stand behind my desk. I noticed the folder that Jackson had given me months before; the one with information on Willis. It had been five months since Lena had left me and I felt strong enough to finally go through the information, so I sat behind my desk and opened the folder.

  Willis Green was worth twenty-three million dollars and currently played for the Kansas Eagles as a wide receiver. He was one year into a five year contract. He owned two properties in California, addresses supplied; and a house in Kansas where he spent most of his time. I wondered if Lena was with him in Kansas; the thought of her being with him anywhere on the planet brought all the hurt and regret flooding back. Why the hell couldn’t I get over her?

  I ran through the file over and over, looking at the pictures of Willis Green. Most were money shots; taken celebrating some type of scoring victory or receiving awards and trophies. They irritated the hell out of me; why Jackson would have chosen these gloating pictures instead of ones of him tackled and lying injured on the ground was beyond me. It was totally unlike me to let another man get one up on me for this long. Just looking at that fucker’s smug face gave me an idea. I picked up the phone and called my accountant Khan.

  “Hey Khan; tell me something. How much does it cost to buy a controlling share of an NFL team?”

  He paused for a moment. “Oh no. Listen Carter, I don’t think--”

  “Fuck off, Khan. Just answer the damn question.”

  “Probably between $500 million and $2 billion dollars.”

  “Find out if shares are available in Kansas Eagles.”

  “Well first I have to find out if the team is profitable before I can consider advising you to buy shares—“

  “Just do it Khan. And be discreet. I might want to be a silent investor if there are options available.”

  “Since when were you interested in being a silent investor in anything?”

  “Let me rephrase, Khan. I want to own enough shares in that team and have the authority to fire or bench players if I feel like it. Got that?”

  Khan paused for a moment. “Personal vendetta?”

  “Perhaps. You have one week.”

  I ended the call before he launched into his usual speech about financial versus emotional investments. I knew there was big money in the NFL; it was time I invested in the sport, I convinced myself. If they can afford to pay the likes of Green millions in contracts, then they are probably worth investing in.

  After I ended the call, I wondered if Lena had moved to live with him in Kansas, or if he commuted to Los Angeles; last I recalled, Lena was working in a job we gave her a reference for back in LA. It was unlikely the agency would supply the name of the company, but if I needed the information, Jackson would easily get it.

  I picked up the phone and called Jackson to my office. He was there within minutes as I contemplated what I wanted done.

  “Jackson, you gave me this file on Willis Green a few months ago; has anything changed?”

  “No, sir.”

  “So Green is still in Kansas?”

  “Yes sir, he is.”

  I had to ask the dreaded question. “I know I told you to back off Lena, but do you know if she’s with him in Kansas?”

  “I would need to confirm that, but last I checked, all her personal banking transactions have always been conducted in Los Angeles and her official home address is still the same as her father’s.”

  Maybe they broke up.

  I spoke quickly without thinking things through. “Can you head up to Kansas and find out what Green is up to concerning Lena?”

  “Sure, sir.”

  He hesitated.

  “When did you want me to go, sir?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “Done.”

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  After Jackson was gone, I spent a restless week waiting for him to return to me with the information I’d requested. Since my new appointment as CEO, I had an additional security team he’d handpicked and trained himself; all his former military buddies.

  Because his role was beyond my personal security and had evolved into a personal assistant of sorts, I found myself getting irritated with my new personal bodyguard, Simpson. He was built like a tank, blond-haired buzz cut and had a serious expression. But he didn’t know how to be discreet. He guarded me like a mob minder, hovering close rather than covertly from the shadows. I knew I’d have to ask Jackson to revise some of his training with this guy.

  A week later, I hadn’t heard from Jackson, but Khan called me.

  “I have news,” he began, clearing his throat. “Kansas Eagles is willing to terminate a 20 percent share for $300 million dollars.”

  “Firing rights?” I asked impatiently.

  “The NFL doesn’t work like that—“

  “Not interested. Re-negotiate and get McCoy onto this. They’ve never even made the Super Bowl finals. I’ve seen their balance sheet. They need cash; I have it. Get me my terms, Khan.”

  He responded after a long moment. “Can I ask you something, Carter?”

  “What?”

  “Is a girl involved?”

  “Yes.”

  He let out a loud laugh which irritated me. “Are you done?” I snapped.

  “Are you out of your mind?”

  I couldn’t disagree. “Probably. But I still want that team in my pocket.”

  “Speaking of girls,” he ventured, “there has been no activity on the card you requested for Miss. Lena Williams just over 6 months ago.”

  “Yeah, she gave it back to me a while ago; I have it somewhere. Incidentally, how much did she spend?”

  “Zero. It has never been used.”

  I was a little confused; I’d assumed she’d at least shopped with it before we went off on our trip to the Bahamas. I can’t say I was surprised at the one last ‘fuck you’ from her; that was typical of Lena. But I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.

  “I’ll let you know if I need it terminated. Just focus on getting me my terms with that football team.”

  ***

  A few days later, I got a call from Jackson; he’d be flying in Friday afternoon. I instructed him to head to my apartment that same evening, while I finalized several pertinent business deals. Since taking over from my father, I had become far more astute, though my lawyers thought I’d become far more cut-throat. I’d closed gaps that had been taken advantage of and restruc
tured deals where we’d been bled dry for years. Strauss Carter was posting record profits while freeloaders in arbitrage were forced to narrow their profit margins. Naturally, I was creating a few more enemies in the process, but this was business; nothing personal.

  I headed to my apartment early Friday evening and after settling in, I called Jackson up to my office to hear what he had to say.

  I was already on my second cognac when he entered my office. He sat on the guest chair by my desk while I leaned on the edge.

  “Well?”

  “In summary, Green and Miss. Williams are not in a relationship. The last time Green saw or spoke to her was when he was in Los Angeles for a wedding. They went on a few dates but nothing happened beyond that. Green had been planning to visit Atlanta to get her back, but when he met her in LA he tried everything he could but it didn’t work out. He was pretty distraught over losing her and it affected his game so much, he had to be benched for a couple of weeks.”

  I listen silently, my glass of French brandy forgotten for the moment, wondering how Jackson had gotten this much detail.

  “So Willis and Lena are not together?”

  “Correct, sir.”

  “Is he pursuing her?”

  “He intends to re-establish a relationship with her after the playoffs. He is intent on marrying her, sir. He is working on himself to be a better man. He feels she’s ‘the one that got away’.”

  I thought for a long moment as I considered his information. So Lena and Willis were not in a relationship when I last saw her? It was hard to believe; especially since she told me herself they were in love. I winced at the recollection.

  “How sure are you that they had no relationship? Is your source reliable?”

  “Yes sir. He’s been going for counseling and I managed to access the therapist’s records.”

  I glanced at him sharply. “Maybe I shouldn’t hear this.”

  “Yes, sir,” he replied, a smile threatening to erupt at the corners of his mouth.

  “Anything else?”

  “That’s the summary, sir. I made copies of all the transcripts of the conversations with his therapist.”

  “Keep those,” I replied, rejecting his offer of the notes. “I have heard everything I needed to know.”

  After Jackson left, I walked to my panoramic windows and looked out across the city, watching millions of lights twinkling on the horizon in Downtown Atlanta, third class of cognac in hand. Why would Lena lie to me about Willis? Did she break up with me over the fake engagement pictures with Ashley? I’d explained those to her and where I stood with Ashley. I did recall her being very concerned about the prospect of me leaving Strauss Carter and my family to be with her.. could that be it? I wasn’t sure. But I wouldn’t wait around while Willis made his move. I had to find a way to talk to her. She’d blocked me; I’d ask Jackson to get her number again and call her, I thought to myself. Then I went off to bed with renewed hope that I could bring her back to me again.

  By the next evening, Jackson had given me a photocopy of Lena’s new business card from the company where she worked as a financial analyst. After an early supper ordered from the restaurant, I sat in my kitchen, thinking about the call I was about to make to her, wondering if she’d talk to me at all.

  As I was saving her new number, I scrolled through my contacts to delete the old one and came across a number saved as “Lena’s mother”. Suddenly, a thought struck me. I’d call her mother to find out how Lena was as a fact finding mission first, then determine from there if I should risk calling Lena directly. I was certain she’d remember me and dialed her number before I changed my mind. It rang a few times before a voice similar to Lena’s but richer and more mature answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Mrs. Williams?”

  “Yes?”

  “This is Jonathan Carter; I used to work with Lena and met you several months ago—“

  “Jonathan! How are you?” She recognized me.

  “I’m very well, thank you,” I lied politely. “And how are you?”

  “I’m still living,” she quipped, then laughed at her little joke. I smiled and decided to get to the point.

  “How is Lena?” I held my breath for the answer.

  “Oh she’s doing just fine,” she replied, “I’m just so excited about being a grandma in a few weeks.”

  I was confused. “A grandma? In a few weeks?”

  “Yes! Don’t you know that Lena is having a baby?”

  My heart began an erratic thud in my chest and I felt my knees give out. I sank to the floor.

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  She was gone. I’d lost her. This was a nightmare I’d never imagined.

  “Err.. congratulations,” I managed weakly.

  “Thank you,” she said politely.

  There was an awkward silence on the line for a moment.

  “I… I’m sorry, I had no idea Lena was seeing someone.”

  “Oh no, she’s single now. Her relationship didn’t work out. But we will support her as best we can.”

  Shit. Jackson had missed this information about Willis.

  “So is the father of her child helping her out too?” I knew I was being nosy but I really wanted to confirm that Willis was the culprit.

  “Sadly, he’s not. I’m not even sure he knows she’s pregnant. After they broke up in Atlanta due to his family not liking her, I believe she says he visited her in California and they didn’t manage to work things out. So she’s chosen to go it alone, I guess.”

  Instantly, my heart skipped and my breathing was barely perceptible. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “How far along is she?” I was speaking on auto-pilot; intent on collecting the facts.

  “She was silent for a moment as she rifled through a few pages.

  “I’m keeping track; today she’s seven months and 2 days. She’s due May 10th.” A cold drop of sweat ran down the centre of my back. That pregnancy is mine.

  “Did she ever say his name?”

  “No; but I think he worked at Strauss Carter. My poor baby; she really doesn’t want to talk to him. Did you know him?”

  How could I answer that? I had to end the call. “Ma’am something has come up, I have to go. It’s been a pleasure.”

  “Err… okay. Well, thank you for calling, Jonathan,” she replied.

  I ended the call.

  I don’t know how long I sat on my kitchen floor, repeating that conversation over and over in my mind. Lena was pregnant?

  I got up and headed to my office, powering up my laptop. In my internet search engine, I entered “how to calculate conception date”. A pregnancy calculator came up. One of the options was to enter the due date so it calculates the conception date. Within milliseconds, dates of August 12th to 16th came up. I’d had sex with Lena on August the 14th, when I went to California. She’d said she was not on the pill. Although I’d tried to pull out, I clearly recall I may have been too late.

  Thinking of that day when we made love had me distracted for a brief moment, before I refocused on this potential crisis unfolding before me. Lena was pregnant. The idea could not compute; because if it was mine, why the hell wouldn’t she tell me? Why would she be over seven months along and say nothing? Was there a possibility there was another man involved? Willis or a third party? That’s the only explanation I could think of on why she’d have my baby and not tell me. I called Jackson.

  “There’ve been new developments,” I began. “I need a visual of Lena. Photographs, video clip; anything. As recent as possible.”

  “Will have something by tomorrow evening sir.”

  After I ended the call, I thought more about the situation. If this was my baby and Lena was trying to hide this from me, I had a strong feeling this was going to end badly. It was as good as theft. Yes, this was her body, but once she had that baby, then surely I had rights too? And didn’t this baby have a right to know their father? From the date her mother supplied, she w
as about two months away from having the baby. I leaned back in my chair, struggling to process this new information. This had changed everything. If this was my baby, then I needed to talk to Lena as soon as possible.

  The next day, I spent the day drifting through my scheduled meetings trying to focus on work, waiting for the images I’d requested. That evening, Jackson handed me a memory stick, the usual unreadable expression on his face. If Jackson thought I was a useless fucker, he never let on; always professional in his demeanor.

  I switched on my laptop and loaded the stick. First shots had been taken the previous day near sunset. There she was, looking very pregnant and beautiful walking in gym clothes with a two pound dumbbell in each hand. The shock I felt was indescribable. The next was a video clip which must have been taken that morning as she was leaving the house dressed in work clothes. She was as breathtaking as ever; an absolute beauty. She was on the phone talking to someone and laughing. Who the fuck was she talking to? Willis? Someone else? My anger at the situation began to rise. Here she was happy and getting on with her life, while I was miserable without her? And now she was pregnant with what was most likely my child. How dare she do something like this? Why would she keep this a secret? This time, she had gone too far. There was no chance in hell I’d agree to walk away if this was my child. She’d have to deal with me whether she liked it or not.

  I called my long time personal lawyer McCoy.

  “Tell me something,” I began, looking intently at the image of a pregnant Lena on my computer screen, “I've just discovered my former girlfriend is pregnant and I’m ninety-nine percent sure it’s mine. Tell me what to do.”

  “How much is she suing for? A man of your wealth should expect to fork out twenty to fifty grand a month.”

  “She hasn’t asked for anything yet. She doesn’t know that I know.”