“We’ll lock the door on our way out,” Trina said. “Check on your mother in a few hours and call me if she doesn’t seem okay.”
“She’ll be fine. She’s like that all the time. By morning, she won’t remember a thing.”
Trina and I looked at each other. It appeared that Kayla was starting to have a serious problem with alcohol. Cedric had mentioned it to me, but I hadn’t taken his claim seriously. But after witnessing her toss back all that alcohol tonight, I knew she had a problem.
We stood at the door, about to leave, but I stopped and asked Jacoby if he would get me a few aspirin. I didn’t have any at home, and I didn’t want Trina to have to stop and get me some. As I waited for Jacoby, Trina told me to meet her in the car. Seconds later, he came out of the bathroom and handed the aspirin to me.
“Thanks,” I said.
He didn’t reply. I could sense that he was still bitter about my actions from the past. He knew all about my affair with Cedric. And I was sure thoughts of my inappropriate advances toward him were fresh in his head. As he looked down at the floor to avoid eye contact with me, I reached out and lifted his chin.
“I know this may seem a little awkward for you, but just so you know, I’m sorry for everything that I did. I never meant to hurt you, but I was stupid, and I did some crazy things just to get money. That’s all in the past, okay? And just as Trina said to you before leaving, if you ever need anything, let us know. We’re like family. A little dysfunctional at times, but we love each other, nonetheless.”
Jacoby nodded. “Thanks for saying that. Take care, and I’ll tell my moms to call you in the morning and let you know she’s okay.”
“Is she really okay? I’m a little worried about her. Should I be?”
He shrugged, then took a hard swallow. “You’ll have to ask her. I don’t know what’s going on in her head.”
I didn’t think that I could get Jacoby to speak up about what was really going on, so I left it there. I walked to the car, thinking about my interesting night with my BFF’s. It had been a long time since we’d kicked it like we did tonight. It had felt good to get turned up. Trina and I laughed about it in the car, but our conversation quickly got serious when we talked about Kayla.
“When is the last time you saw her sober?” I asked. “She’s been working that bottle, and she really did consume a lot of alcohol tonight.”
“Yeah, but so did you. I think tonight was long overdue. Kayla was out to have a good time. She stays cooped up in that condo a lot. Her whole life revolves around Jacoby, and I think it felt good for her to get out tonight. We need to do that more often.”
“I agree. And I do understand what you’re saying about Kayla, but let’s keep our eyes on her. It seems as if she may be going through something, and I don’t think it has anything to do with Cedric.”
Trina tapped her fingers on the steering wheel while driving. “If not, what do you think it is?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping that you’d be able to tell me.”
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know. Out of all of us, Kayla has always been the private one. I hope everything is okay, and if there is something severely wrong, I’m sure she’ll eventually tell us.”
We continued to talk about Kayla, but then our conversation switched to her and Keith. I had a few questions about his father, but I didn’t quite know how to get the information I wanted without seeming too nosy or as if I was up to something.
“I just wish Keith would lighten up and look at things from a different perspective,” Trina said. “He’s so narrow minded, and it drives me crazy sometimes.”
“That’s how most men are, so don’t trip too hard. Keith loves you and you love him. The two of you will be able to work through whatever.”
“I truly hope so. Lord knows, I hope so, ’cause I do not want to lose him.”
Trina was always talking in circles. I could tell she wanted to tell me something, and if not today, she would spill her guts to me at a later date. She wasn’t as private as Kayla was.
“Why do you think you may lose him? Something must be going on, but if you don’t want to share, I’m good with that. I already know how you feel about me knowing your business.”
Trina stopped at a red light, then glanced at herself in the rearview mirror. She moved her short bangs away from her forehead, then wiped her finger across her dry lips.
“There’s nothing going on with us. There’s more going on with me. While we were in New York, we hung out with this chick named Sasha. I’ve been chatting with her over the phone about some of my paintings, and she insists that she can put some money in my pockets and help me make a real name for myself in the industry.”
“And? What’s so wrong with that?”
Trina shrugged. “Nothing, I guess. Except that I’m starting to think about her maybe more than I should be.”
When the light turned green, she drove off. She didn’t dare turn her head to look at me. I totally didn’t get my BFF’s. They both had it all, but they always managed to fuck things up. As far as I could see, Keith was the best man that any woman could hope for. He was fine as fuck, sexy as hell, and God fearing, and he had money. He had his own crib, owned three cars, and had a career. But there Trina was, talking to me about catching feelings for a bitch in New York that she barely knew. I wasn’t sure how to respond. The last thing I wanted to do was come off as being too judgmental and harsh.
“You can think about whomever you wish,” I said. “But I hope you’re not planning on pursuing this chick. Keith would be devastated, and after what happened to him because of that other crazy broad you was dating, Lexi, you may want to rethink those feelings you’re having.”
She had the audacity to catch an attitude with me. Her head snapped to the side, and she tried to pull back on what she’d said.
“It wasn’t like I just told you I was falling in love with someone else. I know that Keith would be devastated, and I will never forget what Lexi did to him. All I said was I’d been thinking about her. A thought never hurt anyone. I have no intentions to pursue a relationship with her, and all I’m doing right now is rambling.”
“Are you sure about not trying to pursue a relationship with her? If you’re going to allow her to, as you put it, help you with your career, how do you know what that will lead to?”
“It will lead to nothing. Nothing at all, because I love Keith, and that’s all there is to it.”
I wasn’t convinced. And people always saw me as the bad person. Hell, yeah, I was, but I wasn’t about to give Trina a pass on this one. She wanted a bitch like me to come along and steal her man. And while I failed at trying to get him on my team, that didn’t mean another woman would fail. I left well enough alone and tried to change the subject. I was sure she would appreciate me doing so.
“How long have Keith’s parents been married?” I questioned.
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe twenty or thirty years. All I know is for a long time. I think they were high school sweethearts. Why?”
“I was just asking. I had no idea you were dating a man with wealthy parents like that. That’s great, and I often think about what people do to make that kind of money. What kind of work does his father do, or was the money inherited?”
“Some of it was inherited, but very little. I think a lot of his dad’s money comes from investments and business deals that he’s made over the years. He also works for the government, but I can’t really say what he does. All I know is that whatever it is, it’s legal.”
“I would hope so. I mean, does he have an office or anything like that? Or does he work from that beautiful house they live in? And speaking of that house, why haven’t you said anything to me about it? It is off the chain, and talk about somebody who was shocked.”
“I know. I was stunned when I first saw it too. Keith kind of kept it a secret from me. I guess he didn’t want me to know how much money they were sitting on. His father’s office, though, is in Ches
terfield, right across from the mall. It’s a tall white building with mirrorlike windows on it. Keith and I stopped by there a few times to drop him off some things. Like I said, I don’t know exactly what he does, but that office he sits in is sick too.”
I didn’t want Trina to get too suspicious, so I left it right there. I had been thinking about paying Charles a visit. Now that I knew where he worked, maybe I would follow through with my plan. For now, though, Charles had to wait. I had to deal with Cedric, who showed up at my apartment ten minutes after Trina dropped me off. He never called to say he was coming over, and we had to be careful, because I didn’t want Trina or Kayla to know he and I were involved.
I hurried to let him inside, then quickly shut the door.
“What is it, Cedric? It’s late, and I need to get some beauty rest.”
“I stopped by to see if you’ve made any progress with Kayla. Has she told you anything? You stopped by to see her the other day. Y’all had dinner, then went out to kick it. I’m sure she told you something.”
“She was too drunk to say anything. I will say that she mentioned something about you and Jacoby, but she didn’t elaborate on it.”
He didn’t like my response. His face twisted and he winced. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean . . . ? She mentioned something? What did she mention?”
I folded my arms and caught a quick attitude with him too. “First of all, lower your voice. What I meant was, she said that something about you and Jacoby was bothering her. That could have been anything. I tried to get her to say more, but she was so drunk that she changed the subject and started talking about you and her having sex with each other recently. I had no idea you were still fucking her.”
I was sure he didn’t want to have this conversation, and even if he was or wasn’t, I didn’t care. In the past, it had bothered me. I had wanted it over between the two of them, and I had done my best to make sure Cedric kept his sex life with her down to a minimum. Today it was a different ball game for sure.
Cedric waved me off, then went into my bedroom. My thoughts about him not wanting to hear this were confirmed. I followed behind him, only to listen to more of his bullshit.
“Who I fuck is no one’s business,” he said, wiggling his tie away from his neck. “The bottom line is, we had a deal. You got what the fuck you wanted, and I’m still waiting to get what I wanted. What in the hell is taking you so long to find out what she and Jacoby are up to?”
“I told you this will take some time. Kayla doesn’t completely trust me yet. I’m working hard at getting her back on my team. You never gave me a specific time frame to get this information to you, so you just have to wait, unless you want to do some type of investigation of your own.”
He sat on the bed and started to remove his leather shoes. “Investigation, my ass. I took care of you, and now it’s time for you to take care of me. You got two more weeks, Evelyn. Two more weeks or else.”
“Or else what?”
He snatched my arm, then pulled me to him. As I attempted to pull away, he pushed me back on the bed, then lay on top of me. “I can show you better than I can tell you. Just keep that two-week time frame in your head while you open your goddamned legs.”
Cedric attempted to pry my legs open with his, but I resisted. He stopped, then gave me a hard kiss on the mouth. While kissing me, he flipped up my skirt and slipped a few finger underneath my panties. Several of his fingers entered my pussy. A high arch formed in my back, and I squirmed around as he worked his thick fingers in and out of me.
“How was dinner tonight?” he asked while fingering me.
I answered with my eyes shut tight, trying to pretend that I was enjoying this, just so this night wouldn’t turn ugly. “Good, but never better than this.”
“Well, I have something even better. Keep your eyes shut and enjoy.”
He lowered himself and took oral sex to new heights when he fucked me with his tongue. I couldn’t deny that Kayla was so right. He was pretty good at this.
* * *
The next day, I put the thoughts of what had happened between Cedric and me behind me. I was excited about going to pay Charles a visit. I had a burgundy, V-neck, fitted dress on that showed a healthy portion of my cleavage. A thin black belt was secured around my waist, and I had topped it all off with red-bottom shoes. My straightened hair fell past my shoulders and was parted down the middle.
As I strutted into his office building, I worked my curvy hips from side to side, causing both men and women to turn their heads in my direction. I wasn’t sure if Charles would take time from his busy schedule to see me, but the second I got off the elevator, I spotted him conversing with two men, who were standing close to him. When they turned their heads, so did he. The expression on his face turned flat. He squinted to make sure I was the same woman who had come to his house. I confirmed who I was when I walked up to him and asked if we could go somewhere private to talk.
“Sure,” he said, then excused himself from the other conversation.
As we walked past the receptionist’s desk, he stopped to address her. “Hold my calls for about fifteen or twenty minutes. I’m going into a meeting.”
“Yes, sir,” the receptionist said. “Will do.”
He motioned for me to follow him, and I had no problem doing so. I checked him out as we went. He was wearing black leather shoes and black slacks with suspenders that looked like they were straight off the rack at Armani. His well-pressed burgundy shirt showcased his muscles, and his coal-black waves, which showed a hint of gray, had sharp lines. I had no words for his trimmed goatee, and I loved men with rich black skin. His whole persona turned me on. Today he looked more like Keith, without all the muscles and tattoos, than like Bryson. I knew that I had to have my shit together when confronting Charles, and knowing that time wasn’t on my side, I decided it was in my best interests to get straight to the point.
“Have a seat,” he said as we stepped into his spacious office. To the right of his mahogany desk sat a sofa and two chairs. A glass table stood in the middle of the seating arrangement, and on top of it was an array of business magazines. Many plaques covered his walls, and pictures of him and his wife, as well as their family, were propped up here and there. His entire office was surrounded by windows that afforded a view of Highway 40 and part of the city of Chesterfield.
We both sat on the sofa, but before he actually took a seat, he asked if I wanted a beverage. “I can ask my secretary to get whatever you’d like,” he said politely.
His secretary couldn’t give me what I wanted. Only he could. But instead of saying that, I crossed my legs, then cleared my throat. “No, thank you. I already had lunch, and the cranberry juice I had with it was fine.”
“Okay. Now, tell me why you’re here. I hope your visit doesn’t have anything else to do with Bryson, and I also hope that it has nothing to do with you asking for more money. My wife and I aren’t prepared to give you more than we’ve already given you. The agreement was very clear. You did understand it, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did. And I wouldn’t dare come here to ask you for any more money. You’ve already given me enough. I’m very appreciative of your generous gift. It has changed my life in many ways.”
Seeming relieved, he released a deep sigh. He rubbed his hands together and then wiped one across his forehead.
“I also didn’t come here to discuss Bryson,” I continued. “I haven’t heard one word from him, and I’m very pleased about that.”
“Let’s just say that he’s on an extended vacation. You won’t be hearing from him anytime soon. His mother and I have made sure of that.”
That pleased me. I hoped he was somewhere burning in hell. But after speaking to his mother, I was sure that Bryson was somewhere on an island, relaxing and stirring up more trouble.
“The reason that I’m here goes a little something like this,” I said. “I honestly cannot stop thinking about you. From the second I laid my eyes on you, I
have felt something strange. Something I’ve never felt before, and I refuse to ignore what I’m feeling inside. I had to come here and share this with you. I’m a very confident woman, and I was always taught to pursue my dreams. Like the one I had about us the other night. I would love to tell you all about it, but only if you want to hear how things went down.”
Charles remained silent as he sat next to me. I had a difficult time reading him. There was no expression on his face whatsoever, and he damn near looked like he wasn’t even breathing. He was still. Calm. Cool and very collected. I figured he was pondering what to say, and while he was in deep thought, I continued.
“I don’t know how things are with you and your wife, and quite frankly, I don’t care. All I would like to do is spend one day with you. Just one, and if you demand more time with me, you’re more than welcome to it. If not, so be it. I’ll move on and pretend that this conversation between us never took place.”
Charles still hadn’t said anything. He did, however, get up and strut over to his desk. He opened a drawer, then pulled out something that looked like a plaque. He observed the plaque while sitting on the edge of his desk.
“I just got this the other day,” he said, still looking at it. “The inscription reads, ‘Charles Vincent Washington, MVP.’ This is, like, my tenth award, and as you look around my office, you can see for yourself that I’m quite a successful man. I am saying that to you because I need a few minutes to gather myself before responding to what you just said. I’m searching for the right words, just so I don’t, you know, hurt your feelings.
“While I think you’re one sexy-ass woman, I have to ask if you are out of your goddamned mind. I didn’t get this far in life by fucking around with tricks like you. I’ve always had a very supportive woman by my side, one whom I love and one whom I would never betray. My family means everything to me, and I’ve raised my sons to be outstanding men who make smart decisions and who don’t need side hoes like you to make them feel good. That’s why I’m highly disappointed with Bryson, and you—”
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