by Xyla Turner
That left me squealing inside, but like Satan’s spawns, not even twenty minutes later, I got a notification that I was being sued for almost the same amount that I was paid to produce Skin for Her.
That son of a bitch.
Without thinking, I stepped outside of my apartment door and called the pussy.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I snapped. “How dare you try to take what doesn’t belong to you?”
“I have no idea what you mean?” Sammy said with that fake, pompous attitude he heard somewhere on television or on those British movies.
“You’re a fucking liar,” I hissed in the phone. “You had nothing to do with my product. Nothing. Never did and you know it, you son-of-a-bitch. How dare you?”
Tears pricked my eyes, because I knew that it was my heart, sweat and tears that produced my product. And when someone attempts to take what you’ve created, it’s the most cardinal sin, in my book.
“You’re trifling, and I mean that on every level there could ever be.” I was still yelling and whispering at the same time. “I’ll see your ass in court because I will fight you tooth and nail on this.”
“Don’t be a fool,” he snapped back. “You got a nice lump sum, give me what I’m worth and I’ll leave you alone.”
“You’re delusional,” I barked. “You’re worth nothing, and you know it.”
“Dakota, just give me what you owe me,” he said louder, which let me know that I was probably being recorded. “That’s all I’m asking.”
So, I said a little louder for the recorder, “That’s the thing, Sammy. You were a lackluster boyfriend, even more so in bed. When I thought I was pregnant with your child, you said it was not yours and bailed. Now that you heard I have a deal, you come running back, asking about a child you abandoned and now are suing me for money you never earned. Money won’t correct the rotting of your morals and character.”
On that note, I hung up because I had nothing else to say. I forwarded the email stating that I was being sued to my lawyer that Jonah, provided and went on about my business to make dinner for Ella and Jonah.
Almost forgetting about that interaction with Sammy, it was during dinner that Jonah went stark still.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered as I touched his wrist.
He showed me his phone and if looks could kill, I would have been dead on arrival.
“We’ll talk,” he hissed and continued to chat with Ella through the rest of dinner.
His gift to her, was a pair of Minnie Mouse shoes along with a hat. He said it was a pre-Disney gift and she about tackled him to the ground. My girl almost wanted to go to bed with these items on, but Jonah convinced her…well, convinced me to let her go to school with them.
Once Ella was down, Jonah walked me to my bedroom. We both sat on the bed, next to each other, when he began his inquisition.
“Why haven’t you told me anything about this?” he asked. “Why am I finding this out in some tabloid?”
“Jonah, I didn’t want to worry you. I was taking care of it,” I shared. “I’m handling it.”
“No.” He shook his head. “He is playing with you and me at this point and if we’re not talking, then he’s able to divide and conquer. He is suing you, and me too, for taking you on. He’s a diabolical son of a bitch, but whoever his lawyer is, is just as fucked. He was trying to use Ella as a way to get access to your money, but he got off that and went this route.”
Oh boy.
“Right, well, I figured that out and told him that she would get nothing if he were in her life. I kind of insinuated that she didn’t belong to him, which I think got to him and he began to start this shit.”
“What did you say?” Jonah asked me.
I shrugged and told him, “Well, I told him that my child was never his. The day he forfeited on her; he lost that opportunity.” He nodded his head and began to contemplate his feet that were perfectly flat on the floor. Mine were dangling on the side of the bed, but it was Jonah’s voice that pulled me from my temporary trance.
“Dakota, Angel,” he called. “It’s not just you anymore. When I say I won’t let anything happen to you within my control, I mean that in every way. You’re my responsibility now. You and Ella and I will do everything in my power to make sure that you two are good. That nothing touches you. Do you understand? Even that fucked up ex of yours. This shit, that’s for me. You don’t protect me from his bullshit. You include me. Do you understand? This is shit I need to nail him to the fucking wall for.
No more contacting him. He contacts you; your next call is me. He emails you, you forward it directly to me, then call me. He sends you mail, you take a picture, send it to me and call me. He writes something in the sky, you fucking take a picture, send it and call me. First, because I want to make sure that you are good. He does not get to come in and disrupt our bliss. Nobody does. We’ve worked hard for it and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anyone come and mess that up. Second, because I’ll fight these battles. This ain’t shit you need to worry about. Understand? You worry about Ella’s period and shit, when that comes. I’ll worry about the dudes that want to take our girl out. You figure out her hair, and I’ll figure out how to make sure that her lemonade stand business is branded and marketed around the county. We’ll both make sure she’s a lethal weapon, skilled in armed combat and shit. But this fucking asshole. I handle him. We clear?”
Half of me wanted to laugh and part of me wanted to argue. But there was a nagging feeling within me that reminded me, good men do this. The fucked-up part about it was that I hadn’t had many good ones. I had to figure out everything for Ella and me. When I was pregnant and moving from one state to another, I ain’t have nobody to lean on. I had to figure out everything and honestly, I was tired as fuck. It was safe to rely on me, but Jonah had proven, he was capable and reliable too.
I found my head nodding and wiping away a lone tear.
“Clear, Jonah.” I cleared my throat and repeated. “Yes, I understand. However, please note that this is new to me. It’s not intentional, but I will need some patience with this, okay?”
He chuckled, and said, “Your first words to me directly were, Fuck You.”
This caused me to laugh out loud, as I looked up and said, “Yeah.”
With a twist of my lips to the left, I nodded.
“I’m saying that to say, I know you’re strong, independent and can be sassy as fuck. I get it. What I’m saying, is that I love all of that about you, Angel. You’re not out here trying to figure out what I can do for you. Shit, I’m fighting to do shit for you. I appreciate it and fuck, it’s an honor, baby. Can’t figure out no other way to tell you that shit. It’s my fucking honor.”
I nodded my head, then asked, “So are you going to spank my ass for not telling you or will I have to just dream of a red ass?”
His head turned slowly towards me and that was when I chose to leap off the bed.
Too late.
Jonah caught me mid-leap and tossed me back on the bed, right before jumping on me.
“Angel, you want something from me, all you got to do is ask. If it’s a red ass you want, then that’s what you’ll get. My cock is hard just thinking about spanking your big ass and watching it jiggle under my hand. Fuck.”
At that, he began to take off my clothes until I was naked, then he removed his.
“On your knees.”
Oh, yes, honey.
Yes.
17
Jonah West
With each slap to her ass, my cock grew harder and harder. The strain in my balls was as if I hadn’t had sex in a long time, when it was just yesterday I had her riding my dick against the wall in my office.
When she was nice and wet, I pulled her back, so her ass was hanging off of the bed, with her legs tucked under each thigh.
“This is what I want,” I murmured in her ear. “A red ass and this tight cunt squeezing my cock.”
“Fuck, Jonah,” my woman moaned with h
er head buried in the bed. “Just like that. I’m about to cum.”
She was close and I knew it. Between those hard nipples of hers and that taut clit, rubbing against the mattress, making more friction than she could handle without coming hard, I grabbed onto her hips and began to move quickly in and out of her, until she began to come apart and taking me down with her. I came hard, then fell on the bed next to her.
Dakota curled into my body and I pulled her in close. Both of our heartbeats were racing, but it was when they calmed that I fell asleep.
Dakota and I decided that it would be best if Ella didn’t see me staying overnight, so we wouldn’t send the wrong message. Well, it was my idea, because having a little girl, somehow changed a lot of my thinking and what I wanted her to take away from seeing a loving couple, marriage and all that comes with the responsibility.
Therefore, it was almost daybreak when I found myself in an Uber black on my way home and emailing a wedding planner, so we could push the date up. I wanted to be with my family.
Now.
The next day, I had a ton of business that included booking a trip with Dakota, introducing a wedding planner to my lady and having my lawyer draw up adoption papers.
Once the wedding planner left, Dakota turned to me and said, “You do know that the woman is the person that deals with the planning of the wedding, right?”
“Yeah, that’s why she met with you,” I told her as I continued to go through my email.
“Jonah, pay attention to me,” she demanded. “You’re bulldozing, and I’m trying to tell you now.”
This caught my attention as I pinned my eyes on her.
“The woman, Jonah.” She reiterated. “She is the one that deals with the details of the wedding. So, you introducing me to a planner is sort of not okay. It’s like if I find a car dealership and say, hey Jonah, here is a dealer so you can go buy your car. You can only go to the dealership I selected. The issue with that is your styles may not match, they may not have the car you want…know what I mean?”
She made good arguments, so I nodded and stood up.
“Angel, you make a great point,” I acknowledged. “However, my dilemma is, I want to wake up next to my woman every morning, have Ella jumping on the bed, waking us up in the morning, and one or both of us making pancakes while she gets ready for school. That’s what I wanted last night, so therefore I tried to hurry and make sure that happened.”
With a sly smirk, she stood up and took two steps towards me before she said, “Did you know that I don’t need a big wedding? My friends, yours, and co-workers are fine by me. That can’t even be a hundred people. It doesn’t take a year to plan that, and I’m sure you can find us a decent place. I don’t mind working with a planner, but I want someone who understands my vision and yours. I don’t want or need a grand wedding. I just need you.”
Fuck me.
Dropping my head, I kissed her plump lips and pulled her into me.
“Then, that’s what it’ll be. Think we can do it in two months? It’ll be right after Skin for Her is launched.”
“Sold,” She smiled up at me. “Anything else you need to tell me?”
Why did she ask me that?
“I’m heading out of town in a couple of days,” I confessed.
“Where?” she asked.
Looking around, I nodded and told her, “Dakota.”
“Are you calling my name or saying you’re going to one of the states?” she asked me point-blank.
“The state,” I told her as I dared her to combat me about it.
“Jonah, for what?” she gasped.
“I need to meet with Samuel,” I replied. “I’m meeting with him and his lawyers, so we can settle this once and for all.”
“Jonah, I’m not comfortable with you giving that bitch any money. I mean, at all. He’s a leech and if you don’t fight him, he’ll just keep coming back for more.” Dakota was resolute and firm with her delivery.
“I know, Angel.” I kissed her lips, so she would calm down. “I know. That’s why my lawyers and I are meeting with them. My plan is not to give money, but to ensure that he stays on the opposite end of the earth from you and Ella. He’s a toxic pussy and I don’t want him in our lives. I told you, I’d handle it and I meant it.”
She nodded and tucked her head under my chin, resting on my chest.
“Mmkay,” she murmured. “Okay.”
Wrapping her in my arms, I kissed her head and said, “Thanks, Angel.”
My flight was uneventful, as I paid for it to be. First-class never had issues, unless someone had an issue with first class. On occasion, someone would see a famous person and want to make a big deal of it, but again, we paid for others to take care of that. Those airline attendants would usher them away quickly and quietly. I needed a quiet trip because my meeting with Samuel would not be.
First and foremost, he lost his fucking mind, contacting and then visiting Dakota. Second, how dare he miss out on everything that is Ella? Third, he tried to posture himself for my business. Well, that would not work.
Ever.
I had two lawyers and he had one. It was set up in a neutral place, so there would be no upper hand. Except, I had an extra lawyer, but he’d find out about that later.
Samuel sat down, smug as expected, with some notion that this would be something he would profit from. That would not be the case. I sent a quick text to Dakota, telling her that I loved her, and I couldn’t wait to grow with her and Ella.
She sent me back an emoji with hearts in the eyes. Oddly enough, the emoji looked just like her. Cute, funny, and sexy. Hearts in her eyes were just an honor on my part.
Samuel’s lawyer began the meeting, asking for his part in the profits of Skin for Her. There was a threat of going public with this claim and bringing the courts into the battle.
We let them finish and my lawyer said, “No.”
They looked around as if they were expecting a different answer. So, the lawyer then began to play the beginning of the taping of the show. It was Dakota’s voice talking about how the idea came about, how she developed it from one stage to another. She talked about how it started in high school with her science teacher, then transitioned to the technology teacher. She was at different stages even as a youth, so the only touches she needed to do were some of the codings for the robotics element. Then my lawyers interviewed and played the different teachers that she had, and their accounts were in direct contradiction to Samuel.
Samuel said he was at the beginning stages. That was a bonafide lie. Even for her to be on the show, we had to verify that the idea was hers from beginning to end, so his claims were unfounded, even then.
“This is bullshit,” Samuel said as he jumped up with a red face, that l was closely growing to purple.
He was a fair-skinned man, but Dakota said he was black. She told me that one drop black meant you were black. I would come to understand these things more and more, I was certain, as my life with her would continue. All I knew was that she was beautiful internally and externally.
“Actually, what the bullshit is, is you,” I finally spoke. “You tried to get at her through her daughter and now through this?”
His lawyer looked at him as if he wasn’t aware of the daughter's aspect.
Yup, bullshit.
“He wanted a paternity test, then he wanted to be in her life. Now, he’d forgotten about the daughter and was claiming that he wanted his due in money, for something he never earned. Then he came after my company and tried to extort us. When will it end?” I asked.
Samuel looked as if he wanted to jump over the table and choke me. I’d like him to try because I would beat the absolute shit out of him.
“What’s in it for you? You already got the product?” He sneered. “You want the money you invested going down the tube because I will drag her name all through the mud. Her entire campaign. If she even thinks about going public, I will be there with my protest, demanding what’s mine. I spent a long
time with her. I have proof.”
His lawyer had already grabbed his arm to get him to sit down, but the maniac was acting like he was unhinged.
“You’ll do no such thing,” I told him as I remained seated. “You’ll sign this NDA for the product and then you’ll sign over your rights.”
Both Samuel and the lawyer turned to look at me.
“Rights to what?” his lawyer asked, with his plaid vest. It must be a South Dakota thing.
“The child he helped to conceive,” my other lawyer spoke up. “You are the child’s father and if you claim to be so, you’ll owe six years in back child support. If you sign over your rights, you’ll owe nothing.”
To my surprise, the son of a bitch scoffed and said, “I don’t have any kids.”
That was when I jumped up because he was a bigger bitch than I originally thought. Ella was amazing, smart, intelligent, and so loving. This churlish, ignorant, piece of shit didn’t deserve her.
My paternity lawyer grabbed my arm to signal to calm my ass down. So, I just glared at the asshole and shook my head. He slid both papers to him, and Samuel asked, “I’ll sign the second one, but I’m not signing an NDA, nor am I signing that fucking letter saying she doesn’t owe me. She does.”
“You will sign it, you dumb shit,” I said through clenched teeth. “You’ll sign it, because not only will my company sue you for slander and extortion, I will make sure that Dakota sues you for the same. If you think the tens of thousands in back child support is a lot. Count on half-a-million or a cool mil to make it even, between the two of us, which we will collect.”
As I rattled off his social security number, his eyes grew wide as he jerked to look at his lawyer. The balding man might have had on a plaid shirt, but he knew the fucking law. He gave him a single nod and packed up his suitcase.
“Sign them both,” he said as he walked out.
Samuel looked at both of us, scribbled on both sheets and threw them at us. They slid across the table instead. Then his stupid ass stormed out of the hotel conference room.