Christian flipped onto his back. “They’re still a billion-dollar industry. That girl is under eighteen, dressed in next to nothing and telling a guy—who looks older than me—that he should know how much she wants him.”
“It’s like a schoolgirl fantasy. What’s wrong with that?”
“You’d know a little about schoolgirl fantasies,” he grinned. “It’s been awhile since you’ve seen your sweetheart, hasn’t it?”
Playfully, she smacked him on the chest. Syeesha hadn’t thought romantically about Professor Asher in weeks.
“For your information, KaCee is nineteen. And I don’t see anything wrong with her looking sexy and making millions while she still can. She’s not always going to have that body or that money-making ability.”
“All I’m saying is that I think she’s being exploited. Of course, she doesn’t see anything wrong with it. But the men who run the industry should have better judgment than a nineteen-year-old girl. And if I’m not mistaken, she’s been around for a few years and has always played the sexy ingenue.”
He placed an arm over his eyes.
“You’re definitely a lawyer. You could argue about this all day, couldn’t you?” Syeesha said.
“I’m not a lawyer. And I’m not arguing. I’m just saying.”
“I’ll be ready to go in ten minutes.”
Christian looked at her. “Are you angry with me?”
“No,” she said, slipping on her jeans. “I just have a lot I need to do today and I want to get home.”
“’Cause it kinda seems like you’re annoyed.”
She was annoyed. But what bothered her the most was that she didn’t know exactly why she was annoyed.
“I’m fine, really.”
Christian slept on the train to her house. He should be tired. He worked full-time, went to school, and did far more studying than she did.
When she cracked the door to the apartment, she was pleased at the welcoming silence. She flicked the light switch as she walked inside.
“I can’t stay. I need to get back to my place and sleep,” he said.
“That’s—“
Before she could get the words out she was stunned cold.
“What the fuck?” Christian asked.
They stood frozen, looking around the room.
The totally empty room.
No sofa.
No tables.
No television.
No nothing.
The floor was littered with a few magazines and writing reference books that had been on the coffee table. An empty water glass, a couple of candles, a clock radio, and cheap artificial flowers that had adorned the end tables were dumped on the floor.
She went into Kiki’s bedroom.
Only dust, a few nails, and curtains remained.
Syeesha went back to the front room.
“Your room is intact,” Christian said. “She broke the lock but everything looks in order to me.”
A quiet alarm sounded in her head. Syeesha couldn’t quite put her finger on the cause for that awful nagging. Her eyes shifted through the things on the floor again, and when she spotted her thesaurus her eyes widened.
She ran to her bedroom. Her breath caught.
It wasn’t there.
She looked underneath her bed, knowing that it wouldn’t be there either.
She opened each of her dresser drawers and tossed out the clothing.
“What’re you looking for?”
Her hands instinctively covered her mouth as she looked around her bedroom again.
Everything looked in order.
But she knew it wasn’t.
Kiki had cleaned out the living room, broken the lock off her bedroom door, and taken with her Syeesha’s most prized possession.
Her laptop.
***
Chapter 26
“Do you have the serial number?”
“Huh?” Syeesha looked at the police officer but didn’t really see him.
Christian wrapped his arm tighter around her. “The serial number, babe. From the laptop. Do you have it written down somewhere?”
Syeesha refocused her attention on the young police officer. His thin moustache was an unsuccessful bid to make himself look older, more mature. Instead it just made him look like a desperate teen that had scribbled a permanent marker above his lip. It had taken the officers a tediously long hour to arrive. Now that she was standing in the empty room with them, they looked as if they were the creative muses for the old cop show 21 Jump Street.
“The serial number?” The older-looking teen cop—Officer Rinzo—must have been the senior partner. He asked all the questions and jotted down her useless answers in his notepad. “If you have it, then it’ll be easier for us to track the laptop down if it lands in a pawnshop.”
Syeesha buried her head in Christian’s chest and started crying again. The laptop held so much of her life: her law school homework, her personal journal, her manuscript . . .
She sucked up her tears and tried to pull herself together. “No, I don’t have a serial number. It used to be under warranty but it’s not anymore.”
“Do you have any more information you can provide about your roommate, Kiki?”
Syeesha wiped her eyes. “No. Mrs. Leachum may. Only my name is on the lease, but Mrs. Leachum keeps a record of all roommates and subtenants.”
“Maybe we can track her down when we get her social security number,” the senior teen-cop said to the other.
She heard what the officer was saying, but she couldn’t focus. Besides, she knew it was no use. She’d lost everything.
“It was all mine,” she rambled. “She took everything.”
“Ma’am,” Officer Rinzo’s partner asked, “do you have receipts for any of your furniture? I mean, can you prove these things were yours and not hers? Credit card statement, maybe?”
His words punched her in her gut. She’d have to prove her property was hers? Was this standard operating procedure or just a stupid line of questioning from two cops who barely looked drinking age? What did it matter? It wouldn’t bring anything back. “No, it was mostly secondhand.”
“We don’t mean to give you a hard time,” the senior teen-cop said. “It’s just that I know theft happens a lot in this city and if you can’t prove that the stuff is yours, then it just boils down to your word against hers.”
After a few more questions that basically solidified to Syeesha that she’d never get her furniture or laptop back, she gave them Mrs. Leachum’s apartment number, then escorted the men out of the apartment.
“You can stay with me until you get yourself together,” Christian offered, enveloping her in a big hug.
“No, I can’t intrude on you and your roommate. Plus,” she added, “I’ll only be in your way while you study.”
The words ‘while you study’ weren’t a total surprise to her. She was all but officially done with school. Christian pretended not to notice.
“Your sister would take you in, I’m sure.”
“No. I can’t. I won’t.”
“Now’s not the time for pride, Sy.”
“Anyway, she’s gone to Mexico.”
“You don’t have a key?”
“I can’t stay there, Christian. She’s a neat freak. Like OCD level. And I just can’t live with her. Besides, there’s nothing stopping me from staying here. I practically live in my bedroom anyway. At least I’ve still got that.”
Christian held her shoulders firmly.
“You need to be with someone who cares about you right now. You’ve been through enough and you isolate yourself, Sy. Even if it’s just for a little while, stay with someone.”
She chewed her bottom lip.
“If I had money, I wouldn’t have these problems.”
“Well, you don’t have money and you do have these problems.” He put a finger beneath her chin and looked her in the eye. “Babe, get these locks changed if you’re adamant about staying.”
; “I hate the fact that she knows where to find me. I hate feeling so fucking vulnerable.”
Syeesha stomped to her bedroom and plopped on her bed.
All of her writing was gone.
Thanks to her increased salary at her new job, she had enough money to buy a new computer. But the value of the work she’d written was priceless. At least to her.
“I need more money.”
“You keep talking about money. What’s with you? Wait a minute.“ He began to pace. “I get it. You’re seriously thinking of taking Jade up on her offer.”
Syeesha couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Sy. Tell me that you’re not thinking about screwing that guy for money.”
She looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. “It doesn’t mean anything. Sex doesn’t mean anything.”
Christian’s eyes flashed with anger. “What we did doesn’t mean anything?”
“I don’t mean us.”
“I don’t think you know what you mean. It’s crazy to me that you’re even considering this.”
Syeesha wiped a wayward tear. “Maybe if we can think of a way for me to get the money and not–“
“I want no part of this,” he said. Backing away from her. “You do whatever you need to do, but I want no part of it.”
Now her anger flared up. “I need the money! Can’t you see that?”
“No, I can’t. There are people out there in a worse spot than you’re in who’d never do such a thing.”
His temper was cool now, as though exhausted from the conversation.
“I’m in a bad spot, Christian. What choices do I have?” In a swift move, Syeesha stood up and counted her troubles. “I’m broke. I’m dropping out of school. I have debt. I have no other choice!”
“You do, baby,” he said softly. Christian reached out and touched her cheek with his fingertips, as if he were feeling it for the last time. “But Jade is a smart woman if she’s convinced you otherwise.”
And in a few quick steps, he was gone.
***
Chapter 27
Jade held the phone tighter. Was this woman really trying to blow her off? No such luck. They’d come too far for Jade to give up so easily.
“Why not?” she pressed.
“Because I’m having a really shitty day, and I’m just not in the mood to socialize.”
“Good, because this isn’t a social call, Syeesha. Rodney’s home and I think it would be a good time for you to meet him.”
“I haven’t said that I would go along with your scheme.”
“And, quite notably, you haven’t said that you wouldn’t.”
Silence.
“You’re still employed here. And I told you that the hours would be erratic when I hired you.”
“I never thought you’d want me to work on a Sunday.”
“Just a quick dinner and that’s it. I’ll see you at six.”
Jade hung up before Syeesha could try to weasel her way out. For the next few hours, after giving Maria and the cook their respective tasks, Jade spent time in her office, researching business ideas for her cosmetics line. Rodney stayed in his office.
When six o’clock approached, she dressed quickly. Jade surprised herself by humming in the shower. Humming! It felt as though she were going out on a date for the very first time. She could almost anticipate how tongue-tied Syeesha would become when she met Rodney. He could be disarming to star-struck women. And although Syeesha may have her doubts, once she met Rodney, she’d be quickly charmed by his charisma. It’d worked on Jade so many years ago. God only knew how many women in between. It would work on Syeesha, too.
She was on Maria’s heels when the doorbell rang. The hairs on her arms were now at full attention. She should’ve told Syeesha to wear something sexy. It wouldn’t have surprised her if Syeesha had shown up in baggy jeans, an oversized T-shirt, and tennis shoes. And she should’ve told her to wear a nice perfume, delicate yet sensual.
When Maria opened the door, Jade nearly screamed. Syeesha’s clothes were the least of her concerns.
“What happened to your face?”
“Got into a little scuffle.”
Despite the dark purple bruise that crossed her cheek, and the cut on her bottom lip, Syeesha looked satisfied with her herself. Smug even. Her breath smelled faintly of alcohol. Fruity, but strong.
“You couldn’t tell me that earlier?”
“Told you it wasn’t a good day for me but you insisted.” She smiled. “So here I am. Made sure to bring my appetite.”
“I want you to go home right now.”
“Shall I tell Mr. McCann dinner’s off?” Maria asked.
“No one told me there was a party out here.”
They all looked down the hall to see Rodney approaching.
“You must be the new assistant.” Rodney held his hand out to Syeesha. “Rodney McCann.”
“Well, I do declare, sir. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
She’s as good as fired, Jade thought.
If anyone had looked at Jade, they would have noticed her chest heaving from her building anger.
“Scarlett O’Hara,” Rodney said with a laugh. “That was pretty good. We might need to book you for a party.”
“That’s me, Syeesha Green. Girl for hire.”
“Maria, set the table,” Jade said.
“It’s already set, but I thought you were going to have drinks first.”
“I think someone’s already been drinking,” Jade said. “We’ll just eat.”
Syeesha’s eyes were playful, her lips turned up into a mocking sneer. She brushed by Jade and Rodney. She called to Maria, “Girlfriend, can you bring me a rum and Coke? I’ll have white Zin with dinner.” She turned back to Jade. “Lord, I sure hope that’s fried chicken I’m smelling!”
Jade’s bottom jaw dropped as she watched Syeesha disappear around the corner.
Rodney burst into laughter.
“That’s your new assistant? Are you kidding me?”
“She’s not herself.”
“Let’s hope not.”
In the dining room, Syeesha was holding an asparagus with her finger, chewing like a grazing cow.
“This green bean is too crunchy.”
“You could’ve waited on us, Syeesha.” Jade sat across from her. Rodney sat at the head of the table. “I didn’t think I’d need to teach you manners.”
“Oh, sorry,” Syeesha replied. She put the half-eaten asparagus back into the serving dish.
“Syeesha.”
“Yes, Jade?”
“Take that out of the dish and put it on your plate.”
“Oh, geez. Right.”
Syeesha dipped her fingers into the dish, knocked a few veggies aside, and plucked up the offending culprit.
“Don’t worry. My hands are clean. Pretty much.”
“Who are you?” Rodney asked. He cocked his head to the side, looking genuinely mystified.
“I thought we already covered that part.”
“No, I meant . . .” Rodney looked intrigued yet horrified, as though he were watching a Lamborghini fly off the Brooklyn Bridge. “I meant, where did you come from? What’s your background?”
“I’m a law student. Kinda. Dropping out, though.”
“Why?” Rodney asked.
Jade began slapping food onto the plates. Her thoughts were far from the table. She’d fire Syeesha after dinner. First thing tomorrow she’d call another agency.
Shit! If Rodney files papers, I’m screwed.
Syeesha leaned over to stage whisper. “Why? Isn’t it obvious? I’m not too bright.”
“I think if that were true you wouldn’t have gotten into law school in the first place.”
“It’s rude to argue with a guest, honey,” Jade remarked.
Rodney’s eyes darted between Jade and Syeesha.
Syeesha knocked back the rum and Coke and said, “Being smart is overrated. It’s not what makes people successful. You of all
people should know that.”
“Excuse me,” he said, his fork halfway to his lips. “Have you looked around this house? I didn’t earn this by being stupid.”
“Y’see, that’s just it. People like to give themselves so much credit, but how much of your success was built on luck? Not smarts. I mean, really? Let’s think about this for a second. Sure, you got yourself a few good movie roles, but if you didn’t have that handsome face of yours, would it have happened? Probably not. And if you hadn’t been in those movies, would you ever have been the spokesman for that God-awful beer? Nope. Don’t think so.” Syeesha took another sip of her drink. “Let’s look at your political career. If you weren’t a semi-handsome movie star . . .”
“Semi?”
“Like I said. If you weren’t a semi-handsome movie star”— her fingers made air quotes around ‘movie star’—“but instead just another college dropout looking for a career change, then you probably wouldn’t have the career that you have. And if you didn’t have all those things, then you probably wouldn’t have the gorgeous wife that you have or this amazing crib. You see. Not smarts, luck.”
Rodney glared at Syeesha, stunned by her audacity.
The heat of Jade’s anger rose to a fever pitch. She wanted to choke Syeesha until her eyes bulged. Then the damnedest thing happened. Rodney erupted in laughter.
“Well said! But either way you look at it, rich is rich. Can we at least agree on that?”
“Totally.” Syeesha picked up another asparagus. She slid the stalk in and out between her lips while watching him. “And rich is a very sexy aphrodisiac.”
Rodney jumped in his seat and coughed.
Syeesha giggled. “I think I’m gonna like this job.”
***
Chapter 28
“What the hell do you call what you were doing?”
Jade paced in the kitchen. She’d sent Maria and the cook home. Now she and Syeesha were getting dessert.
“I call that the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The same question could be asked of this cake.”
They looked down at the brown Bundt cake.
“It’s a sugar-free, gluten-free raisin cake.”
“Sounds delish.”
Jaded Page 13