Jude stopped by our house that evening. Daniel wasn’t happy to see him.
“I’m not here to start anything,” Jude stated.
“Why are you here then?” Daniel questioned. “Hasn’t your office done enough already?”
“I’m not here on behalf of my boss. I’m here as a friend.”
“Some friend you turned out to be!” Daniel said snidely.
“Daniel!” I interjected. “Jude isn’t the enemy, he’s on our side.”
“I’ve got no proof of that,” Daniel said cooly.
“Believe what you will Mr Brennan,” Jude said courtly. “I know where I stand, Temwani knows where I stand, and that to me is everything.”
Daniel looked from Jude to me then from me to Jude again. “I can’t just trust anyone these days,” Daniel stated. “I trusted Craig and look where that got me.”
After a brief pause, Jude spoke. “I’ll help clear your name,” he offered.
Daniel laughed slightly in response. “I’m sure that’ll come at a price.”
“There’s always a price to pay,” Jude replied. “You’re going to need to name yours one day.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Daniel replied.
“This disbarment is going to happen. Nothing you can do to stop it,” Jude warned. “Nothing personal. You’re just in the way.”
“Yes. Some friend you turned out to be,” Daniel said.
“As I said, nothing personal. Don’t shoot the messenger,” Jude stated, before turning to go. I wanted to ask after him regarding Daniel’s disbarment, but knew he would remain tight-lipped about it all.
I made myself scarce through the day, so as to avoid seeing Daniel and dealing with his crabby mood and animosity towards David. As a result, he got into the habit of of ringing me at work, constantly. I chose to respond to some of his messages, not all, which infuriated him further. After a series of days when I did not return his calls during business hours, he decided to turn up at the office.
Craig was seated across the desk from me - we were reviewing a brief prior to his late morning court appearance. The clock had just struck 9 am.
Daniel came in not long after. He wore a black leather jacket, Pearl Jam t-shirt, stonewashed black jeans and brown loafers. Clearly he’d taken the day off from work. He helped himself to the seat at the table to the right of me.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked of me.
“She’s in the middle of something,” Craig insisted. He’d grown to dislike Daniel with a passion, dismayed by his treatment of David.
“Can I talk to my woman alone,” Daniel asked, his voice slightly raised.
“Like I said, she’s in the middle of something,” Craig repeated.
“I can speak for myself,” I said. “Whatever you have to say Daniel, say it now.”
“I demand to speak with you on your own,” he said, pulling the chair in front of him out, and sitting down.
“Don’t come in here making demands,” Craig warned. “Don’t come here into my offices making demands like that.”
Daniel slammed his fist on the table. “Your offices? It is still my name on that door!”
“Might be your name on the door, but your wife is a partner in this firm now, not you. Therefore, it’s her name on the door. This hasn’t been your place of business for a while now,” Craig replied. “You need to handle your other business. Away from here.”
“You need to stay the heck out of my business,” Daniel retorted.
“I’ll stay out of your business when you start acting right,” Craig replied, adding fuel to the flame. “She doesn’t need your drama,” Craig said firmly.
Daniel then did the thing he was so good at doing lately – he abruptly got up and walked away, slamming the door on his way out.
Craig turned to me with a puzzled expression on his face. “Is this guy for real?”
I sighed in response. “If he doesn’t like the sound of it, he’s out.”
“Seems to me he can’t handle the truth,” Craig said. “Or much of anything else.”
“He’s pretty sensitive,” I explained, knowing him all too well.
“Stubborn as, if you ask me,” Craig commented before switching topic altogether. “Right, now the Petersen file. 10 am tomorrow, conference call. You got this?”
“I sure do,” I told him, admiring how he was able to quickly get back to business and not let the drama affect him.
“I meant what I said,” he started. “About Daniel acting right. He needs to get right with you, or he’ll continue to be a persona non grata around these parts.”
“I hear you,” I replied.
“He needs to cool off and act right,” Craig reiterated.
“That’s up to him,” I mentioned.
“Yep. Just be sure to remember that. Don’t let him make it about you,” he said. “Now back to working on those closing arguments.”
We bumped into Daniel again at the neighbourhood diner. Craig had proposed we get together over dinner with David and Jeremiah to discuss a charity do the hospital was planning on hosting.
I had barely sat down when Daniel turned up, demanding that I leave with him.
“She’s staying,” David said, speaking on my behalf, “She just got here. Give her a chance to get something to eat, to kick back with some mates…”
“Not on my watch,” Daniel stated, standing akimbo.
“Whoa,” Johnny remarked. “Cock block in full effect!”
I tried not to laugh out loud but it was hopeless. Impossible where Johnny was involved. Daniel caught the tail end of my laugh and cast me a dirty look.
“Tell me about it,” David said, getting up to go. “Ain’t nothing wrong with a little friendly get together,” he stated. “Obviously any sort of get together is out of the question, as far as you’re concerned,” he added.
“Great, so you know how I feel,” Daniel said, eyeballing me before turning to go.
“Hold up, Daniel,” Johnny urged. “You need to let loose man. Stop taking it all too seriously.”
“Easy for you to say, you haven’t got anything to lose,” Daniel said.
“We’ve all got something to lose, mate. I’m no exception,” Johnny said. “Come with me out back,” he requested.
“Now why on God’s green earth would I wanna do that!” Daniel exclaimed, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Just come with me out back now, will you?” Johnny requested.
Daniel stayed put, assessing the situation.
“Alright,” Johnny stated, reaching into his suit pocket for his keys. “Here,” he said, placing the keys in Daniel’s hand. “The keys to my ’76 Shelby Cobra,” he declared. “Let loose. Take her for a spin. I’ll ride shotgun.”
Clearly tempted, Daniel fiddled with the keys in his fingers. Looking over at David, Craig, Shania and myself, he asked, “And leave you all here? No thanks.”
“Give it a rest will you?” Johnny demanded. “The best way to lose someone is to hold on to them too tightly.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Craig stated, as Daniel still stood there, unconvinced.
David stood up to speak with Daniel. “Look, it’s a public place. We’ll be here when you get back,” he promised. “I give you my word.”
For a moment, Daniel stood there, torn. Eventually, Johnny’s proposition won him over. “A spin in the Shelby Cobra it is then,” Johnny announced. “See you all in a bit,” he said to us all, winking at me as he walked away.
11
THREATS AND PROMISES
“Did you know his brother was loaded?” Shania asked as we sat chatting over a cup of coffee and iced chocolate across the road from her beauty salon.
I gave her a dirty look. “Shania, what are you on about?”
“Okay, well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He is a doctor and a dentist after all. Therefore, he is loaded.”
“I’m sure he manages alright,” I replied casually. David lived modestly and wasn’t one to flaunt what he
had.
“Don’t know why he walks around acting like he ain’t got nothing, when he’s got enough to put down for his own place,” she stated, puzzled. “Guess he doesn’t want to draw attention to himself?”
“Don’t know, maybe,” I replied, distracted by the text message I’d just received from Daniel.
Where are you? he asked.
Out. I replied.
“I hear he’s looking for a place to live now?” Shania asked.
“Well, you know more than I do,” I replied.
Out where? Daniel texted.
Out. I replied again. I could tell he was getting impatient.
“Tell him to come by my place sometime,” Shania stated. “Or better yet, how about we do a double date night at mine?”
“Not sure Daniel will be interested - he seems to want to cut David out of his life completely,” I replied.
Am I going to have to physically come and find you in order for me to know where you are? Daniel texted.
“What’s up girl? Obviously someone’s blowing up your cell and it’s putting you on edge,” Shania noticed.
“Daniel,” I stated, showing her the text messages he’d sent.
She giggled, throwing her head back in laughter. “Girl! What’s up with that!”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” I replied. “He’s been carrying on like this since his brother turned up.”
“Understandably,” she stated. “The King’s afraid of losing his crown,” she said, half laughing. “Are you going to tell him where you are?”
“Why should I? There’ll be more questions when I do. It won’t stop there,” I said, from experience.
“You need to put him in check,” she suggested. “Don’t let it get outta hand,” she stated. “Not wanting another Duayne in your life now are you?”
“That’s different,” I argued.
“Really? The way I see it, his behavior is on that continuum of controlling behaviour,” she reminded me.
“I suppose,” I stated. “He’s just a little insecure, now his brother’s around.”
“Not surprisingly,” Shania asserted. “David’s giving him a run for his money – you being the figurative green.”
“You’re shocking, Shania.” Another text came through.
Why do you have to be so difficult? Daniel asked.
I couldn’t resist replying, Why do you have to be so insecure?
A further text came through. Early dinner? This text was from David.
“What’s he saying now!” Shania queried. I showed her Daniel’s text and my reply. She laughed heartily in response. “You’re not helping things, Teme.”
“Daniel needs to learn to trust me more,” I replied. To David’s message, I texted back, I’m with Shania at the moment. Can she come with?
Sure, he replied. The Bayou on 23rd Street, 20 mins?
K, see you there I replied.
When we arrived, David was out front, sitting at one of the outdoor tables. He stood up quickly when we approached, and greeted Shania with a kiss on the cheek, and I with an embrace and kiss on either cheek.
“So, you girls up for an early dinner?” he asked, cheerily.
“I’m famished,” Shania stated. I nodded to the affirmative.
“Good. Best vegan Texan grill I’ve ever had is here,” he noted.
“I see,” I said. The Texan sun shone on his wavy locks giving his hair a golden brown hue. His perfect lips and mouth formed a wide, dimpled and welcoming smile. “Good to see you,” he said softly. The baby blue cotton shirt he wore brought out his deep blue eyes which glistened ever so slightly as he smiled at me.
“Would you rather we sit inside or outside?” he asked.
“Either is fine,” I said.
“Inside it is then,” he replied. The brown khaki pants he wore hugged his body tightly enough. David’s body was Daniel’s body, enhanced. I tried not to stare.
He noticed me staring and winked knowingly. I quickly diverted my eyes away from him.
“I hear you’re homeless?” Shania chimed in.
He laughed unexpectedly. “Is that what you’re being told?”
“Yep, though you don’t have to be. My door is always open,” she stated, openly flirting with him.
He raised a brow in response, before saying coyly, “I’m a bit of a rolling stone, so I won’t be needing a home. For now, anyway.”
“Plans to move on?” Shania asked.
“That’s for me to know and you all to find out,” he replied. Changing topic, he asked, “What can I get you two to drink?”
“A sweet tea for her and a long island ice-tea for me,” Shania interjected.
“Okay,” David said cooly. Shania was playing a game she thought she could win, while I was annoyed at Daniel’s possessiveness.
“I’ll be back,” Shania stated. “Just a quick trip to the Ladies to powder my nose,” she said, winking at David as she got up to go.
David humoured her and gave her back a wink. Shameless flirts.
The moment she was gone, he turned to me. “We didn’t get to talk properly at the diner. Firstly, I want to apologise for walking out the way I did that other day at the café. Daniel said some pretty hurtful things, and I just thought a bit of space would do us all some good.”
“Okay,” I replied. “You did leave in a bit of a rush, and when you came by later to get your phone you didn’t even say hello.”
“Daniel didn’t let me. I had no choice.”
“Oh,” I said. “There I was thinking you were avoiding me.”
“That’s partly true. But you know me. I’d be around you all the time if I could,” he confessed.
Hi statement made me flushed in the cheek.
He smiled at the effect. My brown skin was fair, and I must’ve been visibly blushing.
After a brief pause he stated, “I have a confession to make. I haven’t been completely honest with you. I came here to locate and connect with my brother, but I also came here to connect with you.”
“Okay, that’s no secret David. Is there anything else you’ve been holding off on telling me?” I asked. “It sounds like there’s more.”
He nodded to the affirmative, looking somewhat ashamed. “I’ve been monitoring you from a distance,” he stated, trying to avert my gaze.
I nearly chocked on my drink. “Excuse me?”
“I work for an Australian intelligence group, and I’ve been monitoring you from a distance. Not because you’re a person of interest, but because I felt the need to look out for you and protect you,” he said.
“Okay, did I hear you correctly when you said you’ve been spying on me?”
He nodded sheepishly to the affirmative. “I wouldn’t call it spying, that’s too strong of a word to describe what I’ve been doing,” he said.
Shania returned, but he held my gaze for a while longer than he should have. “I had no choice but to do it at the time,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s always a choice,” I replied. “Hope you enjoyed the view,” I stated sarcastically.
“Come on now, it wasn’t like that,” he said quickly.
“What wasn’t like what? What was it like, then?” Shania asked, curious. “Fill me in on what I missed out on!”
David, whose gaze had not left me since we started talking gave me an apologetic look before turning to Shania. “Nothing for you to be concerned about,” he stated. “So, are we ordering now?” he asked, changing topic, his manicured hands gracing the laminated restaurant menu.
“I’ve suddenly lost my appetite,” I said, livid at his confession. I knew he had sought me out but I didn’t know the extent to which he had been prepared to go to locate me.
“Don’t be like that Teme,” he urged.
Impatient, I asked under my breath, “How long? For how long was I under surveillance?”
“Can’t we talk about this later?” he asked, motioning towards Shania.
“You started this.”<
br />
Shania raised a brow and browsed her mobile.
“I’d rather talk about it later,” he said loudly, grimacing slightly.
“Fine,” I retorted.
“Whatever it is you need to say, don’t mind me!” Shania announced, taking a big swig of the drink she’d just received. An even bigger swig followed.
“You planning on going easy on your drink?” David asked bluntly.
“I won’t be going easy on my drink,” she replied. “Though I can go easy in another way,” she stated, batting her eyelashes at him.
He laughed at her forwardness. “I appreciate your candour Shania. Honesty can be hard to come by these days,” he said, as though in a slight dig to me.
“Yep,” I replied. “Honesty is a loaded word. Some people are only honest when it suits their purposes.”
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. I could tell that my words had hit a nerve. Avoiding eye contact with me, he turned his attention to Shania. She was all too happy to oblige.
“I’ve got a bone to pick with you Shania,” he started.
“Oh, do you now?” she questioned, giving him a sly look, and raising an eyebrow.
“You can stop spreading those insidious rumours about me being a man about town,” he requested, a little under a whisper.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied.
“Oh, don’t you now,” he stated sounding slightly peeved.
“It’s not a rumour if it’s true, is it?” she challenged.
“And you would know all about the truth, right?” he asked, staring her dead in the eye.
Shania kissed her teeth and dropped her glare.
David smirked in response. Not long after, a tall, handsome, dark haired and well-coifed waiter breezed past our table. David raised a hand, signaling for him to return. Tray in hand, he spun around on cue. “Whatever she’s having next,” David requested, motioning towards Shania who was trying her level best to pretend she wasn’t into David. “Make it two,” he said. Casually glancing over at me, he added, “And a mineral water for the lady. With a slice of lemon. Hold the ice.”
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