She is ...: I Ain’t Ya Mama Collab

by Chelsea Camaron

  The elevator button dings getting my attention. I catch a glimpse of a honey blonde braid just before the doors close. The very same shade of hair on a woman who is just the right height to be Elle. God, I’m losing my mind to think she is here.

  “Sully, fuckin’ go. Take the day off, take the week off, just fuckin’ leave. Hell, quit the job if you need to. Whatever you do, when you return check yourself. You don’t know the shit storm you are stirring up.”

  Another vague response to the reports. It only pisses me off more. Storming to the elevator, I get annoyed waiting so I end up taking the stairs. This office shit is not for me. The suit I’m wearing feels like it’s cutting off my circulation. Everyone in my family begged me to come take over. I do and when I question the mistakes, I’m the ass! How does this shit happen?

  With a slight sheen of sweat covering my skin, I make my way to my truck and head out to meet Roark.

  Walking in to O’Leary’s I immediately spot my friend. His blonde hair is unruly on his head. I used to tell him all the time, he looked like a rocker not a businessman. He has a habit of running is hands through his hair over and over when he gets bored, frustrated, angry, or worried.

  He stands as I approach. We embrace in a quick hug before taking our seats at the pub table. The waitress comes we order quickly.

  “So tell me what’s going on with Asli?”

  “Well, we have hope.”

  “You located her mother?” I ask knowing that while Roark’s mom raised the little girl as her own, she was actually left with Roark’s dad because the mother said she didn’t want to raise her. It was complicated and Roark was angry with his father for years over it.

  He shakes his head. “No, but we found her sister.”

  I lean back in my chair. “Explain this.”

  “Well, when Roan died, he left a letter to me, my mother, Asli, and Danyella. In his letter to my mother, he explained that he knew Asli’s mother for the span of twenty years. In fact, Asli was not their first child. He had another daughter fourteen years before Asli with her named Danyella. She had been given up for adoption to his knowledge.”

  “How did you find her?” I ask taking a drink of iced water.

  “Well, with Asli being so sick, mom needing to be at the hospital, and then trying to handle Dad’s estate, I hired Link.”

  He lifts his glass to drink. “Lincoln Jacoby from college?”

  He nods. “Yes, he has a private investigation firm with his two brothers. Link did some digging. Danyella wasn’t actually put up for adoption through an agency. She was actually adopted by her maternal grandparents. When Courtney found herself pregnant with Asli, her mother had passed away and her father was aging. Since she didn’t want to leave Asli with strangers, she signed over her rights and gave her to us. Then like before Courtney disappeared. In the letter, Roan explained this was normal for her and when she missed him she would return.”

  “That’s some like made for TV shit right there.”

  He smirks, “Tell me about it. At first I was pissed. Like having my mother raise your mistress’s child wasn’t enough, Roan dies and lays out that there is a second child that came before. Except after talking to the doctor’s, she has the best chance of being a match for Asli. So whatever the past is, my mom and I both love Asli regardless of how she came to be. If Danyella can save her life, then she is a blessing we need.”

  “And she’s here?”

  He nods.

  I find myself holding onto hope with my friend. “I truly hope she is a match and is willing to help.”

  “I’ll find out tonight,” he says just as our food arrives.

  “Do whatever you have to in order to get her to help. I know you Roark and you will move mountains for your sister.”

  “I met her. It was brief. But we spoke last night. Tonight when she gets done at her day job she’s supposed to call. If I have to wait outside her house, I will. Although, after the initial shock wore off and I began to tell her about Asli, she seemed to care. I hate to put all my eggs in one basket as the saying goes, but if she can save Asli then I will give her everything.”

  Our food comes and I begin to eat.

  “So how did you manage the first few days in office?”

  I shake my head. I informed him a few weeks ago about my impending employment change. “I’m miserable. The walls I swear move and by the end of the day my office is smaller than my house.”

  “That’s saying something,” he jokes.

  “I don’t know if I can do this, man.”

  His eyes meet mine and I find them to be familiar, not like my best friend, but they make me think of Elle. Damn, I have it bad.

  “Sullivan Marks, you can and you will do this. Family over everything.”

  Family over everything is right. It just might be the only thing I’m left with in the end.

  Twelve

  Elle

  “I’m gone, Mel. Be home later,” I call out as I lock the door to our new trailer behind me.

  It’s only a two-bedroom singlewide, but we can afford it between the two of us. At least I get my own room now.

  My day has been long and stressful. We have a new CEO, Sullivan Marks. He is an entitled prick. I know he was hard on Carla the other day, but she kind of deserves it. She is lazy and uses tight skirts to get away with things. Today, though, Sullivan Marks blew his top. I had just dropped the mail on Carla’s desk and pushed my cart to the elevator when he came out. I didn’t get to look at him because I was adjusting packages. He started snapping at Donovan and before I could even get the mail adjusted Carla was getting fired. The elevator opened just in time and I scurried away without even looking at him.

  He takes intimidation to a whole new level.

  The way he was going I thought for sure if I got within his line of sight I would get fired too. It was crazy.

  I guess that’s what money does to people.

  Like this man, Roark. He thinks he can hand me some papers telling me I have an inheritance all for me to be a lab rat.

  If what he says is true, I will get my bone marrow tested. Not for him, but for the little girl. It won’t kill me to give her some of my bone marrow if I’m a match. It will give her a chance to be a little kid again and that’s why I’ll do it.

  I don’t need his bribe or his lies.

  Last night, I came home and I was so overwhelmed but also very tired that I didn’t get to read the papers all the way through. What I did read, well, if it’s true, I’m in trouble.

  Change is not always good.

  For example, one line stated that I owned thirty percent of Frazier Textiles. Roark owned thirty percent, Asli Frazier also had thirty, and Joanna Frazier had the final ten. This was so that each of his children had an equal partnership, but never a controlling vote. It made sense on paper, but I still don’t see how I fit into this.

  There is a letter from Roan Frazier with the paperwork. I spent an hour in the dark staring at it. Somehow I couldn’t bring myself to open it. Just like the many, and there were many, messages from Van—I didn’t open those either.

  The drive to the restaurant is a blur. I chose this place because if this is all a farce, I can afford to cover the cost of my own meal. Roark stood at the door to the entrance waiting for me.

  “Hi Danyella, I appreciate you giving me this time.”

  I shrug my shoulders like it’s no big deal even if this changes everything. “Call me Elle.”

  He gives me a smile displaying his perfectly straight, white teeth. We enter the restaurant and take our seats. After we order, Roark looks at me.

  “What do you want to know? I’m sure you have questions.”

  I give him a soft smile. “I have a million of them, but mostly, what do you need me to do for your sister?”

  “She’s our sister. Ideally, I would like for you to return to North Carolina with me. She has a team of doctors at Duke Medical Center that specialize in her rare bone marrow disease. Things are progre
ssing rapidly so time is not our friend. While you can do the tests here, I have concerns about results and things being shipped and handled properly.”

  I nod my head. “I understand. The problem is I have bills. I have to work two jobs just to get by.”

  “Not anymore you don’t.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  He pulls out his wallet and slides a black credit card over to me. “This is yours. It’s got a hundred-thousand-dollar credit limit. You will find your name on the card. Our company will cover the bill when it comes in. Whatever you need, use this card until you get to Raleigh. Then I will take you to the bank and transfer your trust fund over. Our family attorney is in the process of paying off your student loans and any other debts you may have.”

  I stare at him in disbelief.

  “I know it sounds crazy, unreal even. Our father, he loved you, but he thought you were adopted to a family, not with your grandparents. He didn’t want to disturb the life you had if you were happy, plus he didn’t know how to tell my mother about the affair.”

  My curiosity gets to me before I can stop myself the question tumbles out, “so how did your mother find out about me?”

  “You, she didn’t learn about you until just before he passed away when Asli became sick and none of us were a match.”

  “And you think I will be a match?”

  He nods. “She’s only my half sister. But Asli is your full biological sister. She doesn’t know that and my mother and I hope that you don’t tell her all the details until she is older.”

  “How is that possible? My mother left and never came back when I was a toddler. Really, I she called and told me she was travelling with the circus.”

  I see him fight back the smile. I get it, if someone sat across from me saying their mother left to join the circus I would laugh too. Except I know it’s my truth.

  Or maybe it isn’t.

  “Your mother did disappear regularly. We don’t know what she did and I don’t know where she is now. What I do know is Asli was four days old when your mother dropped her off in our father’s office. She had notarized papers relinquishing all rights. Dad hadn’t seen her in months so he didn’t even know she was pregnant. He brought Asli home, told my mom she could leave him, but he couldn’t deny his daughter. Mom and Dad tried for years after me to have more children and couldn’t. So Asli was a light in her darkest of storms. I was away at college so they simply told me they had empty nest syndrome and adopted a baby. I didn’t think twice about it.”

  “Until Asli got sick?”

  He nods and our food arrives. We take a quick break in talking to eat and drink.

  “Asli is so sweet. She’s truly an angel. You are our best chance to save her. While it kills me to know the pain our father caused my mother, most likely your mother, and even you, Asli has been the best gift.”

  “You love your sister.”

  “I hope to get to know you and I hope you meet Asli and love her too. We are family. Through good, bad, hard times, and everything in between.”

  “Is it that simple? We are family?”

  He nods. “If you let it be, then yes it is. I don’t overthink things. I take people as they come. I know you were given a loving home by your grandparents. I know you busted your ass for your MBA. I know you will be an asset to our company. And more than anything I just feel it that you will be the saving grace for the only angel I’ve ever loved, Asli. I’ll give you every dollar if that’s what it takes. I’ll forever be in your debt.”

  I think on everything he’s said. “I don’t want your money. I don’t want your company. I want a family.”

  “Then please let me cover things at your job for the next month. Let me carry the costs of your house, car, whatever, and come to North Carolina to meet Asli and get tested.”

  Granny always said, “birds do not fear flying because they understand they simply must spread their wings wider and push a little harder. Elle, don’t ever be afraid to spread your wings wider and always be the woman who pushes a littler harder.”

  “Okay,” the word falls from my mouth before I can second guess it.

  I’m going to spread my wings wider and hope I can help Asli to push a little harder to overcome her illness.

  After all, we are family.

  Thirteen

  Sullivan

  One Month Later

  “Donovan, listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth,” I snap at my brother. “Uncle Willoughby has been shaving off money for years.”

  “No fuckin’ way he would do that to mom.”

  “Yes fuckin’ way he did it to all of us. Do you realize you look like an incompetent fool to the board because these numbers haven’t added up for years? He’s set you up.”

  “Clara,” he barks into the intercom, “get Willoughby Carter to my office now!”

  “Yes, Mr. Marks, sir,” Clara replies professionally.

  So last month I fired her in a fit of rage. It wasn’t my brightest moment but the first forty-eight hours in charge I was truly cracking under the pressure. It took some digging but I was able to get to the bottom of the report discrepancies. After my visit with Roark, I came back to the office realizing I had been an epic asshole and personally apologized to Miss Jacobs. What has bothered me about taking the job is the way people view my brother.

  Donovan Willoughby Marks is wild, but he’s intelligent. He’s a free spirit that shouldn’t be tamed. He wasn’t running the company in the ground like they assumed. No, he was simply listening when our mother told him to sign because he trusted her with everything.

  We all did.

  She didn’t trust us though.

  “Miss Jacobs,” I say after pressing the call button on the intercom, “also please send our mother to Donovan’s office as well.”

  “Yes, Mr. Marks, sir.”

  Donovan and I make our way to his office which is beside mine and identical in space and set up. I look out the window. Immediately my mind goes to Elle.

  This has been a frequent problem in the last month too.

  Elle.

  I can’t get her out of my mind or out of my system.

  Hooch even whines for her.

  What’s worse is, I’ve even tried to chase her down like some lovesick fool and I can’t seem to even run into her. I called and text multiple times, all of which went unanswered. I got one reply a week ago that said:

  Thank you, Van for being a shining star in a dark sky. I will never forget you. I have relocated, but will always treasure the memories.

  Not even a phone call. While I want to be bitter, I find myself more wishing to reconnect. I’m like some hopeless idiot hoping that one day she’s going to return.

  Uncle Will enters Donovan’s office with our mother on his heels. Donovan moves toward them. As our Uncle opens his arms wide for an embrace, Donovan balls up his fist, swings, and connects right with Uncle Will’s nose.

  “You fuckin’ bastard. How could you steal from us? I’m disgusted by you.”

  Our mother gasps but she isn’t in shock which confirms my suspicions.

  “You knew?” I say to her. She hangs her head in shame.

  Donovan’s nostrils flare as rage consumes him. “Where is the money?”

  “Uncle Will is sick,” our mother tries to explain. “He has an addiction.”

  Donovan is quickly spiraling out of control as he steps up into our mother’s space. “Addiction my ass, where’s the fuckin’ money?”

  “Gambling,” Uncle Will croaks out weakly. “I have a problem betting.”

  Donovan grabs our Uncle by his shirt and presses him to the wall. “This is our family business, this is our legacy, the Marks’ family name, and you shit on all of it. I’m your fuckin’ namesake and you absolutely sicken me.”

  “I’m sorry,” our mother whispers.

  “You’re sorry. You let the board think Donovan wasn’t competent or capable of running this company to protect your brother. You are fuck
ed in the head mom. All these games you played about why there was a board just to protect your brother.”

  “No!” She snaps back. “Your grandfather had an affair and his mistress is the reason we have the board. She blackmailed your grandfather into doing it. And who paid the price? Me. Your father wasn’t the next in line to gain one hundred percent of the profits. No, now everything had to be split. That man treats me like nothing more than a trophy. So what my brother needed some extra money, if your grandfather would have been a good man who was loyal to his wife, I would have had the money without a board in my business to help my brother. It’s all Marks’ family money, I don’t care what the board says.”

  “You two are fired. Turn in every key, every badge, every credit card, everything you have tied to the company goes on Clara’s desk today,” Donovan commands.

  Our mother looks to me, “Sully, he can’t do this.”

  “He can and I back it. Like you stood by your brother I stand by mine.”

  A tear falls down her cheek. “What am I supposed to do? Your father will divorce me and I’ll have nothing.”

  “If I were you,” I tell her, “I would get my shit turned in and I would call my attorney. Donovan and I have submitted the documentation to the board. I’m sure our attorney will be reaching out to law enforcement soon.”

  Her hand shoots out and I feel the sting of her smack before I can even register she has done it.

  “You’re a disgrace Sullivan Tobias Marks. You are not the man I raised you to be.”

  I smirk as the anger builds inside me. “No, I’m the man my father raised me to be. One with honesty, loyalty, and truth.”

  Watching her tremble hurts. It goes against everything we were raised to do. In the end, she stands by Uncle Will and he betrayed us all so they have to go.

  After they leave, Donovan looks at me, “thanks Sully.”

  “I told you I didn’t want to take the company from you. I just wanted to do what was necessary until the board could see you are the man to run this place. Everything is good except the reports you let mom tell you to sign. Don’t trust anyone, Don. Look everything over yourself and this will never happen again.”