Say It Ain't So

by La Jill Hunt

  “Good morning.” The woman smiled, showing off her perfect teeth and deeply set dimples. There was something inviting and genuine about her, causing Kenya to feel threatened because not only was she beautiful, she was probably a nice person, something Kenya wasn’t.

  “Good morning, Seymone,” Landon said. “This is Kenya.”

  “Nice to meet you, Kenya. That’s a beautiful name,” Seymone said.

  “Thanks,” Kenya said in an overly nice tone, giving her a half smile.

  “Landon, thanks again for last night,” Seymone told him.

  “No need to thank me,” he said, “it’s all good.”

  “Is Paisley up yet?” Seymone paused before going inside the house.

  “I think I heard her fumbling around upstairs.” Landon nodded. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine,” Seymone said. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Well, I can see why you’re so dedicated to your job here, Landon,” Kenya said when the door closed behind Seymone. “Beautiful women coming in and out of the house all the time.”

  “You’re not funny,” Landon said. “She lives here.”

  Kenya frowned. “What do you mean she lives here? I thought the whole purpose of your being here was because Paisley lived alone and her life was in so much danger, Landon?”

  “Seymone is just staying here temporarily. And I’m here because it’s my job. Paisley is in danger. Why don’t you believe that? Someone just tried to run her off the road last night.”

  “That’s a damn lie!” Kenya hissed. “Paisley snuck her ass out of the club and went to be with Warren Cobb. They got a suite on the top floor. I didn’t want to believe it myself, Landon, but it’s true.”

  “How do you know this? Where is this info coming from?” Landon demanded.

  “I saw it with my own eyes,” Kenya said smugly. She watched as frowns formed across Landon’s forehead and his anger began to rise. It was just the reaction she wanted, and she knew that he would be coming home to her tonight.

  Chapter 19

  “Paisley, we need to talk,” Seymone announced as she walked into Paisley’s room.

  Paisley was sitting in the middle of her bed, staring at the crumpled photo she had gotten from Warren. She stared at it, wondering if someone had indeed sold it to Bad Babes. She tried to decide whether or not to tell Fallon.

  “You leaving?” Paisley murmured, still staring at the picture.

  “What’s wrong?” Seymone walked over and sat beside her. “Paisley? Why are you crying?”

  “Nothing, I’m good. What’s up?” Paisley wiped the tears from her face. “How’s Bobby?”

  “He’s pissed, but he’ll be all right,” Seymone told her.

  “What do you wanna talk to me about?”

  Moments later, Landon was standing in Paisley’s doorway.

  “Landon, what’s wrong?” Seymone asked.

  Paisley looked up and saw the anger in his eyes. “What?”

  “Where did you go last night, Paisley?” he growled.

  “I told you, I was riding with Nick.”

  “You really are a self-centered, conceited piece of work, you know that? You think my being here is some kind of joke? You’re sitting there lying to my face, acting like you’re some kind of victim. You think that’s cute?”

  “What’s going on?” Seymone asked.

  “Your life is in danger, huh, Paisley? Someone is out to get you, huh? Someone is stalking you? This whole thing has been a game between you and that lowlife, Warren. To hell with both of you, I’m outta here!”

  “What the hell is that all about, Paisley? What was he talking about?”

  Paisley stared out of her window and saw that there was a woman parked outside of her house. She frowned as she saw the woman looking up at her, and their eyes met. The woman smiled wickedly and Paisley realized it was the same woman who had tried to run her and Nick off the road.

  Paisley turned and looked at Seymone. The reality of everything that was happening seemed to overwhelm her. Warren, leaving the club, the hotel, the pictures, the woman. It was all too much.

  “I don’t even want to know,” Seymone told her. “This entire time, all I’ve asked you to be was honest with me, Paisley. I’ve been right here with you, put my life on hold to be by your side as your friend. More like a sister, because you know you’re the only family I have, to be honest.”

  “Seymone, I swear, it’s not like it seems,” Paisley cried, walking over to her best friend.

  “It’s never what it seems when it comes to you. It’s all about who you want, what you want, and when you want it.” Seymone shook her head. A car horn blared and Seymone’s cell phone rang at the same time. She looked at it and headed for the door.

  “You’re leaving me, Seymone? By myself?” Paisley sniffed.

  Seymone didn’t say a word as she walked out of Paisley’s room. Paisley listened until she heard the front door slam. She flung herself across the bed and cried. Throwing the crumpled picture she still held on the floor, she knew that she was indeed all alone, and something told her things were about to get worse.

  “Paisley, wake up!”

  Paisley’s eyes fluttered open and she blinked to focus. Chester was standing beside her bed, his arms folded. She could tell by the wrinkles in his forehead that he was angry. She closed her eyes again.

  “Get up, now!” His voice got louder.

  “What do you want, Chester?”

  “I want you to get up and tell me what the hell is going on,” Chester replied.

  “I’m sleeping, that’s what’s going on,” she told him. “I’m tired.”

  “I don’t care. Hell, I’m tired too. I would love to be home in my three-thousand-dollar Ethan Allen California king bed with my eight-hundred-dollar duvet where I was happily curled up after leaving here this morning at four-thirty. But, I can’t, no, I can’t. Why not? Because your best friend is calling me at nine this morning, in tears, mind you, telling me how someone needs to come and be here with you, because both she and your personal security guard left after finding out that you caused all that damn drama in the club because you wanted to sneak off and be with Warren Cobb!” Chester said in one breath.

  Paisley swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I don’t know . . . Landon . . . This woman . . . Last night—”

  “Yeah, let’s talk about last night,” Chester said. “What the hell happened? Did you really leave the club to go and be with him, Paisley?”

  Paisley simply nodded. Just tell the truth. Get it over with. It’s time. She sat up and wiped her face, preparing to open up to her cousin. Just as she was about to speak, the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it.” Chester shook his head.

  Paisley walked into the bathroom and washed her face. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and for a moment, she didn’t recognize herself. What are you doing, Paisley? Why are you putting your family and friends through all this drama? For Warren?

  Chester returned a few moments later, wearing a strange look on her face. “Paisley.”

  “Who is it? What’s wrong?” Paisley asked.

  “It’s Bishop Arnold,” he told her. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Paisley frowned. “I don’t want to talk to him. For what?”

  “I don’t know.” Chester shrugged.

  “I don’t have anything to talk to him about,” Paisley said.

  “He’s a bishop, Paisley. What do you want me to do, tell him no?” Chester asked.

  “Tell him I’m not home. Tell him I’m asleep.” Paisley shrugged.

  “I’m not lying to a man of God! Are you crazy?” Chester shook his head. “I’m gonna be right here with you. I will be a witness to anything that is said.”

  Paisley stared at her cousin, and then said, “Fine.”

  As she walked down the steps, she became nervous. Whatever this is, it can’t be good.

  “Ms. Lawrence, I’m Bishop Julian Arnold. This is my armor bearer, Neil.” He gestured to
ward the man with him. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine, thank you,” Paisley replied.

  “I won’t take up too much of your time. I just wanted to stop by and see and talk to you for a few minutes.”

  “About?” Paisley asked, wanting to get to the bottom of his being there.

  The bishop smiled at her. He was a handsome man, in his mid-sixties. He was a bit taller than Paisley thought he would be, with a nice build. Dressed in a gray pinstriped suit and yellow tie, he looked very much like the prestigious man he was on television. Paisley couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated by his presence.

  “About the unfortunate situation you and the leader of my music ministry are involved in,” he said.

  “The accident?” Paisley stared at him. “Is that what you’re referring to?”

  “Yes, the accident,” the Bishop answered, “among other things.”

  “What other things are you referring to, Bishop Arnold,” Paisley asked him.

  “It’s my understanding that you and Warren ran into each other last night at the Marriott.”

  Paisley slowly nodded. “We did.”

  “Ms. Lawrence, can you explain the nature of your friendship with Warren?”

  Paisley glanced over at Chester, who was beginning to look uncomfortable, and cleared her throat. “I’m not trying to be funny, Bishop. But I believe these are questions you should be asking Warren.”

  “I did ask him,” the Bishop told her. “As a matter of fact, I just had a conversation with him regarding you.”

  Paisley was surprised to hear that. “Then why are you questioning me, Bishop?”

  “Let me be honest with you, Ms. Lawrence, there are really only two reasons I’m questioning you. The first is that I love my niece, Kollette, very much, and I refuse to see her hurt by a man who wouldn’t be anything if it weren’t for her. The second is that I love my ministry very much, and I refuse to have its reputation tarnished by anyone, be it the Prince of Praise or whomever he’s chosen to become involved with. I’ve worked too hard and achieved too much. So, you take this any way you wish.”

  “Oh, really?” Paisley looked the bishop in the eye. “Well, Bishop Arnold, I appreciate your concern regarding the situation, but I feel the need to tell you that as far as your niece is concerned, I don’t have anything to do with her insecurities. She’s Mrs. Warren Cobb, and she needs to realize that fact herself, instead of trying to prove to everyone that she is. Warren Cobb has what he has and is a successful musician because of God’s favor, not because of you or Kollette. I would think you, of all people, would realize that. And regarding your ministry, I have nothing but the utmost respect for it and what you’re doing. That’s why I’ve been a faithful tither and supporter for the past four years. Check your books.”

  The tension between them was so thick that Paisley thought they were about to square off and start taking blows at each other.

  “I see,” the bishop said. He continued to stare at her as if he was trying to detect some gesture of deception from her.

  “I don’t have a need to lie to you, Bishop Arnold. I have too much respect for you as a man of God to lie to your face,” Paisley told him. “Warren and I are just friends, nothing more, nothing less. I have nothing to hide regarding our relationship. He is the one who feels the need to be dishonest with you, not me.”

  “I appreciate your honesty, if that’s what it truly is.” The bishop nodded.

  “That’s what it is,” Paisley replied.

  “Bishop, I can see you to the door.” Chester’s voice finally broke the silence.

  “Well, thank you for your time.” The bishop extended his hand and Paisley shook it.

  “Have a blessed day.” She smiled at him.

  As they were leaving, Neil, who had remained quiet the entire time she and the bishop were talking, stared back at her.

  “Do I know you?” Paisley frowned at him. He didn’t respond as he followed the bishop out of her front door.

  Paisley inhaled deeply, her heart pounding in her chest as the aroma of the stale cologne filled her nostrils. It was a scent she had become familiar with, causing chills to form on her arms. It was the same scent she smelled every time the stalker had been in her house. Flustered, Paisley rushed over to the window just in time to see the two men climb into a black Jaguar.

  Chapter 20

  “I’m not crazy.” Paisley began pacing back and forth. “No one said you’re crazy,” Chester replied. “You need to calm down.”

  “How the hell can I calm down? Look at all the stuff this man had done to me! He’s been in my house, stood over me while I was asleep, and invaded my privacy! It’s him, Chester, I know it is! It’s the same damn Jaguar that’s been following me!”

  “Okay, I’m not saying it’s not him, Paisley. I’m just saying we have to be a little rational and think all this through.”

  “I’ve thought it through.” Paisley snatched the phone off the nearby coffee table. “I’m calling the police and I’m having him picked up.”

  “Put the phone down,” Chester told her. “What do you think the police are gonna say when you call them and tell them that Bishop Julian Arnold has been stalking you? Do you have any solid proof of it?”

  “I know that scent, Chester! Don’t you smell it? It’s the same one that was in my hospital room, in my bedroom. Every time he’s been near me, I could smell it! It’s the same scent that’s on the notes he leaves.” Paisley was becoming frustrated. She knew it had to be Bishop Arnold.

  “It’s just cologne, Paisley, that’s it.” Chester sniffed the air. “Cheap cologne, no doubt, but a million men wear it.”

  “Okay, explain this then, how the hell did he know where I lived? How did he get my address?” Paisley asked.

  “I don’t know. He’s a bishop. He probably has access to a whole lot of information. His church has what, a billion members. I’m sure he called someone who knows someone that works somewhere that has access to classified information and they gave it to him,” Chester told her.

  Feeling hopeless, Paisley said, “You’re right, the police are probably on the board of deacons.”

  “I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that we are gonna have to come up with something a little more concrete than his popping up at your house and wearing the same cologne that crazy man does.”

  “So, now what?” Paisley asked, putting the phone back down on the table and flopping back on the sofa.

  “If he comes back—”

  “If? What’s stopping him from coming back? Landon?” Paisley faked a laugh. “Hell, Landon was hired by the Ministry, remember? He’s probably been reporting my whereabouts to the bishop this entire time. God, please help me. You said in your Word that anything done in the dark will come to light!”

  “That ain’t nowhere in the Bible, Paisley. Oh my gosh, you may be a tithing member of the Bishop’s church, but you certainly don’t attend.” Chester shook his head at her.

  “Shut up,” Paisley told him. “God knows my heart and you can’t critique someone while they’re praying!”

  Again, the doorbell rang, causing Paisley to jump. She looked over at Chester. “He’s back. He’s coming back to kill me.”

  “Shut up, Paisley,” Chester told her. He walked over and looked out the window. “It’s the police.”

  “The police?” Paisley asked. “They caught him. I knew God wouldn’t fail me.”

  “Whatever.” Chester went and opened the door. “Can I help you?”

  “We’re looking for Paisley Lawrence,” the officer said.

  “Right this way.” Chester lead them into the living room. Paisley immediately recognized Officers Bell and Jenson, and she was relieved.

  “Thank God you’re here. I know who my stalker is. I figured it out,” she told them. “He was just here in my living room. I was just about to call you. Wait, why are you here?”

  “Ms. Lawrence, we’re here to give you this.” Officer Bell passed her a set of
folded papers. “It’s a restraining order.”

  “A restraining order?” Paisley and Chester spoke at the same time.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Officer Jenson nodded.

  “From who?” Chester asked.

  Paisley scanned the papers and her mouth fell open. She couldn’t believe she was reading correctly, and she felt her anger rising. “That bitch!”

  Chester reached over and took the papers from her. Soon, he wore the same shocked look as his cousin. “How can she take a restraining order out?”

  “Well, it’s for both of them. Mr. and Mrs. Cobb,” Officer Bell sighed.

  “And Warren let her?” Paisley asked, becoming upset because she knew Warren wouldn’t stand for Kollette’s craziness. “How? Why?”

  “Have you made any type of threats against them? In person or by phone?” Officer Jenson asked.

  “No, I haven’t.” Paisley shook her head. “This is crazy! I’m the one being stalked!”

  “We know, Ms. Lawrence. And believe me, we pointed that out when we were told to serve you,” Officer Bell told her. “I’m actually stunned because in this state, usually a restraining order isn’t even issued without an arrest warrant being issued. I don’t understand it either.”

  “This is some straight bull,” Chester said.

  “Listen, just stay as far away from both of them as possible. Don’t contact either one of them in any fashion,” Officer Jenson suggested. “This is probably just her way of getting back at you. You know how the jealous wife can be.”

  Paisley glared at Officer Jenson, but before she could say what she was thinking, Officer Bell asked, “Now, what were you talking about when we first got here? You believe you know who your stalker is?”