“I know someone’s there?” Erin persisted. “Who’s this? The slut that thinks she can steal a married man?! You better hope I don’t find out who this is, bitch.”
I hung up the phone and wondered had Theo spent the night at Erin’s home? No, he couldn’t have. Or could he?
He was with her!
Looking at the clock, I saw that it was almost seven-thirty. Earl needed me at the office and if I didn’t get there on time, I knew he’d be mad.
I had to make a choice between my heart and my job. I was in a quandary on which to choose. I knew if I chose wrong, it would change my path completely.
Closing my eyes, I prayed for a sign. After thirty seconds of nothing happening and realizing how ridiculous I looked standing on a porch to a house where no one was home, I decided to get in my car and think a little more in there.
Theo knows he made an appointment with me. We met at 7:30 am the first morning at Cobo Center. I’m positive about that. Plus, he didn’t seem like a man who would break a promise on purpose.
So Erin must have tricked him into missing the appointment and was holding him hostage more or less. I knew she had to report to work and with all the things she was doing, she’d report on time.
Checking my watch, I had five minutes to get to the office. I could make it in seven if I didn’t get pulled over.
I prayed that I was not only making the right decision, but that I wouldn’t get stopped for going seventy-five miles an hour on a residential street as I burned rubber taking off.
Entry Forty-Three
The office was quiet when I entered. I figured whatever Earl had done, he’d done overnight because on the lobby desk was a box with Erin’s personal items and papers.
Being as nosey as I wanted to be, I looked through the papers and saw a divorce decree. It had been signed by Theo, but not by Erin. I also saw the phony doctor’s papers that said she was pregnant. It was a pretty good phony job. I would almost believe it if I had not heard the conversation that she had with Mackeroy.
I took the divorce papers on purpose, hoping I could work on getting Erin to sign this shit. Or I really might have to take Earl’s advice and kick her ass.
Earl was in my office when I arrived, looking just as good as before in another tailored suit. He was whistling, looking just a little too happy with himself.
“When referring to you, other than calling you my father,” I began as I entered the office and went straight to kiss his cheek. “Should I call you Earl or Uncle E?”
“I’ve grown fond of the name Earl and that is what I’ve changed my name to,” he replied. “Although I think your mother will always call me E and I don’t think I want to change that about her.” He smiled thoughtfully.
“You went to see my mother after you left, didn’t you?” I asked.
“You need to stay out of grown folks business,” Earl growled with a teasing light in his eyes. “And I needed something to hold me over for three years.”
I laughed and finally kissed his cheek in good morning.
“You’re also late,” he said in a tender fatherly tone.
It was so wonderful to feel like a daughter when I spoke to him that I didn’t take his tone too seriously. “I know, but there was a personal problem that I still couldn’t handle.”
“I told the guard to page me when she drove in. Are you ready for all this?” he asked.
“More than ready.” I was on seventh heaven because everything I had worked for and done for this company was about to pay off. On top of that, I could rub it all in Erin’s face and watch her crumble.
Earl handed me a list. “These are all her clients. I want you to get started with Peter on taking them away.”
In the bottom of my gut, I didn’t know if I could trust Peter. But since I couldn’t find anything to connect him to Erin’s wicked plan and since Peter really didn’t look like a person that Erin would confide in, I didn’t want to voice my distrust until I was absolutely sure.
“Does Erin suspect anything?” I asked.
“Not a damn thing because she thinks she’s too smart for her own good. I like that.” Earl smirked.
“But taking her clients is a bit underhanded.”
“The majority of those clients were mine!” he said possessively.
I could really understand his anger about the situation. Back stabbing bitch.
“I have to admit that I’m a little angry at you still, because we missed a lot of time together,” I said.
“I know.” There was some sadness in his voice. “But it was hard, like I said last night, trying to convince your mother that I wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head, Sheryl. I couldn’t explain the bruises and I didn’t know what to tell her or say to her to let her know I loved you and your sister more than life itself. So all I could do was wait to be justified and do what I could to make sure you all were taken care of.”
I wanted to beat Lauren’s ass right now for denying me a good father figure in my life. I knew I would have made a lot of better decisions when it came to my personal life had Earl been there with me.
“I wish we had more time together now,” I said remorsefully, thinking of his pending imprisonment. “Is there any way possible you could turn yourself in like next week?”
He sighed. “Unfortunately I can’t, but the offices will still be there in Florida. So when you come down to work, you can always come down to visit, too.”
For the first time in my life, I wanted to really cry, but I didn’t. I promised myself I would do it later though because I really would miss him. “There’s always good behavior and getting out early,” I said thoughtfully as I moved to leaned on the front of my desk.
“Yeah, and I’ll do my best to be good. I was almost thinking ‘bout marrying your mother for congenial visits,” Earl said.
I laughed, now knowing where I got my freaky side from.
Suddenly, the door to my office burst open. In walks Lenecia, Peter’s wife, looking ready to go into labor at any second. I noticed her belly before I noticed her, which was my downfall because she hauled off and slapped me hard across the face.
Cassandra came in behind her and I think I heard her gasp. The slap had knocked my hearing off a bit and I couldn’t see straight for a second.
“You fucking bitch!” Lenecia screamed. Tears were running down her cheek and she looked like she wanted to slap me again.
“For all intents and purposes I probably deserved that,” I said as I focused on her. I knew I deserved whatever Lenecia wanted to do to me for making her husband do what he did.
Cassandra looked liked she had no idea what to do.
“You deserve a lot more for what you did,” Lenecia retorted.
Earl cleared his throat, causing her to look over at him briefly. Although Lenecia probably didn’t know who he was, he was large and important looking enough for her to compose herself immediately and remember that she was in a business environment.
“I want to hit you again, but…” Lenecia took a deep breath and held her stomach. “I also want to thank you.”
I was shocked as well as Cassandra.
Lenecia smiled shyly. “Since your punishment to my husband, he has been … voraciously responsive in that particular department.” She rolled her eyes up in her head as if Peter was eating her snatch as we spoke. “And if you hadn’t forced it, I think I wouldn’t be back in love with him all over again.”
“I don’t know if I should be thanked,” I said. “It was a horrible thing for me to do and for that I apologize. I swear it won’t happen again.”
“Good,” she said satisfied. Then Lenecia actually hugged me. Although I was almost knocked down by her large belly, it was definitely a hug.
Before I could think if I should hug her back, she released me, kissed my cheek and left.
“Should I ask what that was about?” Earl asked sourly.
“No,” I said.
“Is that matter resolved?”
“Oh m
ost definitely.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
It looked as if Earl wanted to ask more questions, but the bell saved me as his pager went off to indicate that Erin was coming up. He checked the screen of the pager. “She’s on her way up and she has a guest with her.”
To keep the subject off of what had happened between Lenecia and me, I said, “Earl Howard, I’d like you to meet my assistant, Cassandra, while we are waiting.”
Earl turned to Cassandra, who looked in awe at him. “Sheryl has told me about all the help you’ve been to her and I want to personally thank you for everything you’ve done for this company.”
“Thank you, Mr. Howard,” Cassandra replied nervously. “It’s an honor to work for a man who’s worked so hard. And Ms. Banks has been a wonderful inspiration to me.”
“What the fuck is going on?!” a woman suddenly screamed out in the hall.
Entry Forty-Four
I braced myself as I coolly rested against the front of my desk and folded my arms. Earl had chosen to stand more or less out the way, so when anyone entered, they would not see him at first.
When my door was thrown open once again, Erin came charging up to me screaming, “Have you lost your motherfucking mind, locking my door?!”
Theo was right behind her. Our eyes met. He looked embarrassed, but I only looked at him briefly and was only a little disturbed by the fact that he had been with her all this time.
“I didn’t lock your door,” I said calmly.
Erin was so mad her eyes had actually started to turn red. She looked as if at any moment smoke was going to pop from her ears.
“I locked your door,” Earl said, just as calmly.
Erin whirled around discombobulated out of her anger. “E-Earl? I thought you were in Florida just last night.”
“Why? Were you worried? Or is that what your spies were telling you?” he asked cruelly.
“This is him?” Theo asked. “The boss you cheated with?”
Erin turned to Theo to purr, “I’m sorry, honey. We’ll be out of here in just a few minutes and then we can finish enjoying our day.”
I wanted to pop this bitch in the nose and kick Theo in the nuts. But I suppressed my jealous rage because maybe Theo did have a perfectly good excuse to be with her.
“Cut the sugar talk, Erin, and quit trying to pacify that man when you could care less about him,” Earl sneered.
Erin whirled on him. “What sick joke are you playing, Earl Howard?”
“It won’t be a joke when security escorts your ass out to the sidewalk,” Earl replied.
“What the hell is going on? What did this bitch tell you?” Erin pointed to me accusingly.
“You want to know what I told him,” I said disgustedly.
“Yes!” she exclaimed.
“Just one word, Erin. Sroban. Does that ring any bells?” I said.
Erin was quiet for a second and shifted her weight uncomfortably. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh really?” I asked, not believing her load of crap. “Well, then I’m sure your husband can explain why his name is on Sroban’s company papers, right?”
“He has nothing to do with this!” she sneered.
“What is going on here, Erin?” Theo asked.
I continued, “And you’ve tried to ruin Earl’s business.”
“Shut the fuck up, bitch,” Erin sneered.
“Come over here and make me,” I challenged, ready to throw off my heels and smack her around. “You were trying to destroy this entire company. You thought you could use Mackeroy to keep me busy, so I wouldn’t know. Was that the plan?”
Erin drew up like a proud peacock. “And by tomorrow, I’ll be better than this piece of trash Earl built. I don’t need this shit.”
“I wouldn’t count my chickens before they hatched,” Earl said in a deceptively calm tone.
Turning to him, Erin said, “You think you can fuck me and not give me something for it in return? Ha! I made this company! I made you rich.”
“And you think you can fucking screw me because I wouldn’t make your silly ass president?” Earl hissed, his true anger coming out. I thought for sure he was about to jump across the room and choke her.
I think Theo thought so, too, because he looked prepared to protect Erin from Earl’s mighty strength.
“You said you were retiring and you didn’t even consider me!” Erin said angrily.
“That position was never even designed for me,” Earl responded, still very angry. “It was for Sheryl this whole time.”
“Her?!” Erin asked incredulously, pointing at me again as if there were another Sheryl in the room. “You’re making her stupid ass the president?”
“Stupid ass?” I asked insulted. “Look, bitch, you better watch your mouth.”
“All the hard work! All the time I gave! All the sacrifices I made for this company and you’re going to let her run it?” Erin said incensed.
“And you know I’ll do a damn good job at it, too,” I said triumphantly, loving how she looked so mad that she was trembling. “A better job than you ever could!”
“If you think your company’s going in the ground now, when I leave, it’ll really be shit,” Erin said arrogantly.
“The only place you’re going, Erin,” Earl said – back to calm, “Is to jail.”
“Ha! Jail? You don’t have shit on me,” Erin said.
“Oh really?” Earl asked, raising a brow of deceit.
Erin looked guilty for a moment, but gathered her composure and started to leave the room.
“Erin, you’re forgetting something,” I said, walking up to her.
“What?!” she snapped.
“Since you’re confessing your sins, why don’t you tell your husband you’re not really pregnant?”
Really upset that I knew that information, Erin stuttered. “H-How…I-I am!”
I looked up at Theo. “She hired a doctor to give her false test results Friday!”
“She’s lying!”
I kept talking, because Theo had not broken eye contact with me. “When I came to the office on Sunday, I heard her talking about that with Mackeroy and about how she had been trying to contact you several times Friday and Saturday, but she couldn’t reach you.”
Theo knew I was telling the truth. There was no way I could have known all that if I had not overheard a conversation. Especially since at no point had I ever seen a cell phone lying around the cabin when we were there to see that Erin had called him several times.
“She’s lying!” Erin said again. “Lowe, I would never lie to you about the baby! I swear.”
Theo still didn’t stop looking at me. “How’d she know you got results from a doctor Friday?” he questioned.
Erin stuttered some more.
Theo finally looked away from me and back to Erin angrily. “And what the hell does this man have on you that you’re scared he’s going to send you to jail?” Theo demanded to know from her.
“Give it up because you’re the lying bitch,” I said triumphantly, taking out the divorce papers I had picked up. I handed them to her, but I looked at Theo. “Do you still want that divorce?” I asked him.
Theo looked surprised and grateful at the same time. “Yes!”
“How’d you get those?!” Erin seethed at me, but then looked at Theo. “You know her?”
“She’s the one I told you about,” Theo said.
“Theo!” Erin cried. “No! You can’t leave me and the baby.”
“Sign the papers,” Theo ordered.
Angrily, Erin said, “NO! If I can’t be happy with you, then you’ll never be happy at all and you’ll never get what you really want.”
Earl walked up to me. “Is this what you want? You want him?”
Finally breaking eye contact with Theo to look at my father, I said with a lot of pleasure, “Yes.”
Earl took a pen out his jacket and handed it to Erin. “Sign the damn thing or I’ll place a call to the FBI to
let them know things I’m sure you don’t want me to tell them about.”
Erin looked terrified and snatched the pen and paper. Using the door of the office, she reluctantly signed the divorce decree, but instead of handing them to anyone, she just let the papers fall and walked out the door a defeated woman.
I nodded at Cassandra to follow her.
Taking his phone out, Earl made a call to someone. “She’s coming back down right now, Agent Farris.”
“I thought you weren’t calling the FBI,” I said.
“I didn’t,” Earl replied. “That was the DEA,” he explained.
“What does the DEA want with Erin?” Theo asked.
Entry Forty-Five
I had been about to ask the same question as Theo because any dealings with the DEA sounded very serious.
Earl took a deep disappointing breath. “Your ex-wife cajoled you into setting up the company because she didn’t want it to link to her on purpose. She used money from a drug dealer for start up and was laundering the money through her company. That’s the reason she became successful so fast. She was able to use the money to market her company better and do large scale projects for companies that would have drowned a start up company in debt. I’m sure when it’s all said and done; they’ll be contacting you, as well. But for now they feel you had no idea from all the surveillance they’ve done.”
I really wanted to ask Earl how he knew all this and how he’d gotten involved, but I had a feeling some of this DEA business also had to do with him going to jail and serving time. Maybe he turned Erin in to get an early release? It wouldn’t be so bad because that would really get Erin out of my hair. But I still wished Earl could have worked it out – if he had done that – for no time served at all.
“I didn’t know anything,” Theo said innocently appalled. “Where did she get these friends?”
“Shit eventually floats to the top of the water and I’m sure in a month’s time all of Erin’s dealings will start to stink to high heaven.” Earl winked at me, but then turned a serious look upon Theo. “You like Sheryl?” he asked suspiciously.
Diary of A. . . Page 19