Hope Is Love

by Hubbard, Sylvia

  "Oh indeed," Kimberly said playing along with him. "And how you like to tie innocent women down and torture them until they scream for mercy."

  Jaelen turned away from them as if there was something choking him, but gathered himself quickly and sat down across from his wife with a smirk on his lips. "Oh you didn't seem to mind last night."

  Kimberly blushed profusely and had to put a napkin over her mouth because she had been in mid-drinking of the water set out.

  Whatever secret joke they were having obviously caused a great deal of humor and arousal between them.

  Jona wondered if she stayed, would James have sweet private jokes for her?

  "So how is this life off the streets for you, Jona?" Kimberly questioned.

  "Kimber, now you've been around me too much," Jaelen said sourly. "I really wanted to ask that question.

  "I know, love, but I thought it would come better from me than you when you'd be so sarcastic about it."

  They both looked at Jona for an answer to Kimberly's question.

  Being under the spotlight, Jona felt nervous all over. "It's ok."

  "Okay?" Jaelen asked clearly showing his disappointment in her answer.

  "Just ok," she said confidently.

  "You mean the streets were bad and this just moved up a level? Or there's nothing you don't think you'd prefer more than the streets?" Kimberly asked.

  "I don't like the dishonesty some people tend to wear when they don't live on the streets," she admitted.

  "You mean how evil Jaelen is?" Kimberly asked.

  He shot his wife a look of cold warning.

  "At least he shows his dislike for me," Jona said. "I appreciate that. Kinda like my friend, Shadow. She's always honest in how she feels and I don't have to guess, but I feel a lot of people -"

  Kimberly suddenly cut her off. "You're speaking of Monica, aren't you?"

  "How'd you know?"

  "Nicole told me meeting her made you upset. I feel the same way every time I have to be around her."

  "She makes my skin crawl as well," Jaelen grudgingly agreed as if it killed him to agree to anything, but he just had to show his disgust.

  "So why do they allow her to come around? I know Nicole doesn't like her and her husband doesn't either."

  "But she's married to the firm's lawyer and she was James’ close assistant for a while before she got married," Kimberly said.

  “She was?” Jaelen questioned. “I didn’t know that information, Kimber.”

  His wife continued. "Unfortunately they still have her around because of her husband's association with their company."

  "If I said I didn't like someone every time I felt it, I wouldn't have any one around."

  Kimberly laughed at her husband's remark. "Jaelen, hush, you already do that."

  Jaelen crinkled his nose and Jona saw his eyes danced as he seemed mesmerized at his wife's laugh.

  "Plus, it won't be long that her husband will be a lawyer for the Black's business dear," Jaelen said with a mischievous wink.

  Jona sighed at this, but that still didn't change her mind about things. Tonight would be the last time she would see these people.

  Nicole entered and Jaelen stood in politeness and even helped her sit down. "Thank you, Jaelen. How was Ohio?"

  "Successful. Kimberly and I had a wonderful time. We were hosted by William Stone and his wife, Abigail."

  Excitedly, Kimberly said, "I think Ohio is going to be a joy. The children just love everything about the place and Jaelen's even thinking of buying a small home down there."

  "Maybe outside of town, but when I spoke to Ramsey McPherson, he told me getting land outside of Davenport would be difficult since there's a large company and sect down there that bought up almost the size of Rhode Island over two hundred years ago. They hardly sell to any outsiders, except with their organic line of beauty products. I'm interested in having the products at my shops. A large enough purchase should get the yes I want when I ask for land."

  Kimberly whispered loudly, "Jaelen hates no when it's something he really wants."

  "That's because it makes you happy Kimber," he growled.

  Jona was clearly confused by their word play because how can this man sound so angry when he was playing around with his wife.

  Nicole checked her cell phone and said, "The good news is that my husband and brother will be here soon, but the bad news is that Lawton and Monica just pulled in up according to Mitch."

  Bracing herself, Jona felt this was going to be a long evening she would not enjoy in the least.

  When no one else bothered to get up to greet their guest, Jona was relieved, but her hearing clearly heard the sharp clacking of Monica's expensive heels and then she heard the trudge gimp of a heavy step and as each trudge came closer, she felt her heart beat harder and harder.

  Putting her hand to her chest, she knew she didn't have to turn around to know behind her was the man who had tried to kill James Black.

  Chapter 26

  Jona looked straight ahead and noticed Jaelen's eyes intently on her. Forcing herself to calm herself, she closed her eyes just briefly and in that second gathered her wits about her and placed both hands on each side of the plate in front of her.

  "This is an odd place to greet your guest, Nicole, but what should I expect in respect from Ethan's wife," Lawton grumbled. His voice was thick just like that day as if he had congestion all throughout his chest.

  "Dinner is being served late due to your eating schedule, Lawton," Nicole said with a stiff smile on her face. "We're all pretty much famished and decided to make our way in here. My husband should arrive in just a moment. Please take a seat."

  Monica plopped herself in the chair beside where James would be sitting, while Lawton pulled out his seat and slowly sat next to Jona. She kept her eyes straight terrified of who she would see.

  Yet, she noticed, Lawton was overweight and he had a sweaty smell about him. Jona's skin began to crawl at the proximity of this man.

  Nicole said, "You're familiar with family friends, Mr. Jaelen Gates and his wife, Kimberly, aren't you Lawton?"

  Lawton grumbled something and Jaelen twitched his nose, but he was intently watching Jona.

  "And I'd like to you to meet James' savior, Jona. We're so happy to have her here with us," Nicole said excitedly.

  "This is the one I should thank," Lawton said, but Jona could clearly hear his disgruntle. Yet, he outstretched his hand for her to shake.

  Reluctantly, she placed her hand in his cold clammy hand, but made no effort to grasp his thick palm. He couldn't have been more than about five ten, but his girth made him look bigger than what he was.

  Keeping her composure as she looked into the eyes of the same man who told her she was no relation to her father made her want to scream and run out of there, but she didn’t. He narrowed his dark brown beady eyes at her for a quick second, but that was all he showed towards her as he turned away.

  She had lost her appetite. How could she be dealt this awful card in life and she had a feeling with Monica sitting next to James and across from Jona, this evening was not going to get any better.

  Mitch started to bring out of the appetizers and Jona picked up her fork to only pick at her food keeping her eyes down so she wouldn't have to make eye contact with Monica, Lawton or Jaelen.

  "You know," Jaelen said to break up the sudden uncomfortable silence that layered the room. "I would like to ask you some questions, Jona about when you saved James."

  "I answered enough questions with the police," Jona said stiffly.

  "I saw the police report," Jaelen said casually. "But I must inquire about the ring James always wore. I would love to know what happened to that ring. It was very valuable. His mother gave him that ring and James would die before he let someone have that ring."

  The room seemed to spin as Jona couldn't think of a thing to say.

  "Maybe that's why he got shot?" Monica suggested. "Over a ring. A stupid ring he wouldn’t
give up."

  Nicole grunted. "James maybe be slightly disliked for his choice of women and lifestyle, but I've never known anything about James for him to make a foolish decision about anything like that. He's always been careful."

  "You didn't answer my question," Jaelen said to Jona.

  "I didn't see any ring on his finger," she said confidently, hoping he didn't ask for more.

  Kimberly put a comforting hand over Jona's and winked.

  "And do you think someone could have stolen it off his person?" Jaelen inquired.

  "I just found him in the dumpster," she said with irritation. Despite Kimberly’s reassuring touch, Jona could feel herself getting upset with the subject at hand.

  "I heard you might be expanding, Jaelen," Monica said.

  Jona didn't want to be grateful at all the subject had been changed, but she was glad Monica had gotten Jaelen's cold cruel glare to move away from Jona to her.

  "What's it to you?" Jaelen sneered.

  "I think that's wonderful. Minority businesses are so needed in Detroit and to see your success in this hard time Jaelen is good," Monica said trying to sound so angelic.

  Jona felt sick to her stomach knowing this woman was an evil bitch behind closed doors.

  "Like I said, what's it to you?" Jaelen said. "I'm not helping your wallet, Monica."

  Monica shifted uncomfortably. "Like I said, I think that's a great venture, Jaelen."

  Jaelen put down his silverware and turned to her and started to speak, but Kimberly spoke up. "Monica, what Jaelen means is that he doesn't think it's really any of your business that his business is thriving."

  "I'm not trying to get in his personal business, but his spas are one the best in Detroit," Monica retorted. "Everyone knows that."

  "And this opportunity is a blessing for us," Kimberly agreed. Jaelen cut his wife a look, but he picked up his silverware bristling with attitude.

  The moment was ripe for James and Ethan to enter. Jona felt James warm lips on her cheek before he sat down across from her, giving Monica a disheartened look before digging into the appetizers.

  Neither brother even greeted Lawton in any kind of way and Jona could tell this perturbed the fat lawyer immensely by the way his thick hands gripped the fork he was holding.

  "I heard you just returned from Ohio, Kimberly, "Ethan said after greeting his wife and sitting down at the other end of the table.

  "Yes, Ethan. We went down there on business to met William and Abigail Stone," Kimberly answered.

  Sourly, Jaelen said, "She didn't go by herself, Ethan."

  "I figured that, but I know if I'd ask you directly, you'd have given me a hard time trying to get the information I wanted to know," Ethan snipped, but there was humor in his eyes and Jona didn't know if their wicked banter was serious or not.

  Yet, knowing Jaelen’s grumpy mood - according to Kimberly, he was not to be taken seriously and his "bark" was worse than his "bite."

  Jaelen must have known she was thinking about him because he turned those cold cruel cinnamon brown eyes on her and she quickly looked away.

  "Wait a minute. Are we talking about William Stone the serial killer?" Monica asked incredulously.

  Jona thought the conversation became really interesting at that point.

  Jaelen turned his all knowing glare on Monica and this relaxed Jona much more. He sucked his upper teeth in annoyance and didn't shield his venomous dislike from Monica.

  Kimberly took the liberty of answering. "You must be referring to his father. It's no secret his father was one of Ohio's worst serial killers."

  "But there were rumors William killed someone down in Florida before returning to Davenport," Monica pointed out as her hand crept under the table and Jona could clearly see it moving over in James space, most likely his thigh.

  "And you were down there on business with him?" James asked concerned to Jaelen, calmly moving Monica’s hand away from him and shooting her a daggerish look of warning.

  Jona didn’t know how she should take that gesture, but she had wanted to ask the same question James had just asked to Jaelen.

  "What the man does in his free time has nothing to do with business," Jaelen said.

  Jona snorted into her napkin appalled. Glancing towards Kimberly, Jona could see the woman also held a napkin to her mouth, but she didn't look shock. The napkin was covering up a smile from Kimberly and Jona was confused as to what Kimberly found funny about Jaelen’s statement.

  “Well at least we know he didn’t kill anyone while we were there,” Kimberly corrected now.

  “Stop fucking around,” Ethan growled. “Jona’s about to pass out.”

  Mitch found that time to enter with the main course, but Jona was still not hungry no matter how much delicious the food looked. She also saw Monica’s hand creep over to James’ thigh yet again.

  At the same time, Lawton's heavy breathing was getting on Jona's last nerve. His harsh intake and release of breath was becoming like nails on a chalkboard and Jona just wanted to get out of there. Knowing she was sitting next to the same disgusting lawyer who had told her she had no rights to her father's assets was just too much, along with all that was going on around her.

  “We need to get to matters of business,” Ethan said.

  James agreed as he pressed Monica’s hand away from him under the table this time increasing the pressure just enough to make her wince.

  Abruptly, Jona stood not being able to take sitting there anymore.

  Out of politeness all the men, except Lawton, they stood as well and she was overwhelmed at the most chivalrous gesture on top of the dread welling up in her stomach.

  “Is there something wrong, love?” James asked concern.

  “Bathroom,” she said, holding her stomach and walked briskly out of the room.

  Jona barely made it to the downstairs guest bathroom. After locking the door to the toilet she was able to hold on before her whole stomach decided to unleash everything consumed in the past twelve hours. Chills of deceit and stabs of jealously enveloped her and she rolled up in a ball to cry her misery quietly on the cold floor.

  * * *

  James looked at Nicole for help, but she only gave him an assured nod to stay calm. He wanted to tear after Jona, but he knew this discussion was very important.

  “James and I have decided not to use your services for our company anymore, Lawton,” Ethan stated diplomatically.

  Lawton looked from Ethan’s green eyes to James’ and said, “James isn’t in his right mind to make any decisions about the company.”

  “You’re right,” James agreed. “Which is why I signed over my control of the company to my brother this afternoon with our new lawyer, Bellini and Bianchi Associates. Since you failed to bring the papers, we found someone who would gladly assist in this matter.”

  “How do you know this brother, who has hated everything your father has ever done to you, will look out for what’s best for you or what’s best for your father’s company?” Lawton disputed to James.

  “The decision is final, Lawton,” James said sternly. “Ethan has suspected for a long time we needed to change and I am in full agreement on that matter.”

  “You don’t even remember anything to make that kind of decision!” Lawton protested. “I can clearly get any judge to take that paper of ownership and shove it where the sun don’t fucking shine.”

  “Oh hell, wait one damn minute,” Jaelen interjected. “If any one's going to be the King of Fucking Crude around our wives then I will. Watch your manners, Lawton because the only thing keeping me from shoving my fist down your disrespectable mouth is the fact that Ethan and I are friends and Nicole would kill me if I got blood on her brand new carpet.”

  “You can’t talk to my husband like that,” Monica sneered.

  “Shut your mouth, slut because if I see your hand up James’ thigh one more time, I’m going to throw up over this delicious food Nicole took so much time to make herself,” Jaelen sneered. “D
on't think because my wife sits across from me, I won’t lay hands on a female.”

  Monica gasped. “You’re going to let him talk to me like that? To disrespect me, Lawton?!” Her husband was looking down at his plate. “Lawton!” When her husband didn't answer, she shot out of her chair.

  None of the other men stood for her and she huffed in insult. “I’m going to get a smoke.”

  After she stormed out of the room, Lawton threw his napkin down on his plate and stood up. “I don’t have to take this.”

  “Oh you’ll take this and more,” Ethan sneered. “I’m doing an audit of every thing you touched for all the years you’ve been with this company to make sure you were doing your job and any indiscretions will be brought up against you to the point that I will make sure you never practice law for the rest of your life and I will sue you for every penny you ever made.”

  James flinched at his brother’s cruel words but made no attempt to interrupt. His mind was completely on Jona and he wanted to just bolt over the table to find out where she had gone.

  * * *

  When Jona washed out her mouth and cleaned up her face, she decided to sneak upstairs. It was so many people, she was sure they’d understand and with her being new at the table, leaving and not coming back wouldn’t be questioned.

  Just as she opened the door, she was greeted by the dark brown beaded eyes of Monica glaring at her.

  “You stupid bitch, what did you say to him?” Monica hissed so no one would hear their voices.

  “I didn’t say anything," Jona defended herself.

  “You convinced him to sign those papers, didn’t you?” Monica accused.

  “I didn’t know where he was going. Ethan doesn’t trust me and if he convinced his brother to sign those papers it was because they were alone together,” Jona kept her voice low as well. When she tried to go around Monica, the witch blocked her path. “What do you want now, Monica? I’m leaving tonight.”

  “Before you leave you better convince James to tear those papers up or you'll never see that case again for the rest of your life.”