“What is your problem?” I said while trying to sip my martini and keep a smile on my face so that no one would around me would know that I was disturbed.
“I just had to see you Pam.” C.J. said as he reached across the table to touch my hand.
I quickly snatched my hand back.
“What’s wrong with you?” C.J. said irritated.
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?” I snapped back.
“What are you talking about Pam?”
I began a sarcastic giggle as I responded “What am I talking about? Ha. I am talking about how you always think you can just pop up and infuse yourself into my life. I keep my personal life and business life very separate. You cannot get on whatever side you choose. It doesn’t work like that.”
“Well how does it work?” C.J. said smiling.
I ignored his comment, finished my martini, and ordered another.
“Oh, I bet if I was old boy I could get an answer.”
“What the hell are you talking about C.J.?” I said.
“You know, the scary dude that was up in your apartment.”
I put my drink down and pointed my finger at him.
“You don’t know a thing about what is going on between Jaden and I. So I suggest you keep his name out your mouth.” I said while picking my drink back up and taking a sip.
“Now if you want to talk business I am all about it.” I said.
“Jaden. That’s his name. Well excuse me. I am sorry for mentioning Jaden” C.J. said sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes and continued sipping.
“Of course business is what I came here to do. There is a package coming in from California I need you to get.”
“Who’s the contact?” I asked.
C.J.s cell phone began ringing. C.J. held up his index finger as if to tell me to hold on. I finished up my martini and ordered another.
C.J. placed the person on hold for a second, looked at me and said “Shouldn’t you slow down a bit?”
“I am grown!” I snapped back. “Besides, don’t worry about me and worry about your phone call.”
C.J. began shaking his head as he continued his phone call.
After 10 minutes of C.J. being on the phone, I became irritated. I was half way through my third martini and he was beginning to disturb the little buzz that I was getting. I quickly finished up my drink and started at C.J. He mouthed the word ‘What’ while he was on the phone.
“I have to go C.J. I have to meet Jaden.” I said quickly.
“Hold on Zay.” C.J. said putting his hand over the phone. “Well go, I will bring you the name of the contact later.”
“No! Did you not hear me say that I have to meet Jaden?” I said.
“Yeah, so? Do you want to make this money or not?” C.J. said sternly.
I exhaled so hard that a napkin that was on the table clear off it onto the floor.
“Huff and puff all you like, like I said. I will drop it off later.” C.J. Said.
“You have until six pm C.J. Not six ten, not six o-five and not even six o-one. You have until six! Do you understand me?” I said standing.
C.J. just nodded his head and waved me off. I gathered my things and hurried out of the establishment. I had fifty million other things to do and didn’t have time to worry about C.J.
This has been a long day
That was my thought as I drug bags into my building. Nothing takes my mind off of my problems faster than a little shopping. As I struggled with my bags one of my neighbors were coming into the building and grabbed the door for me.
“Thank you.” I said with a perplexed look.
“You’re welcome. The door is broken and they are working to fix the electronic lock on it.”
“Oh ok.” I said nodding my head. “Well hopefully maintenance will fix it soon because we don’t pay all this money to live in an unsecured building."
“You know that’s right.” My neighbor replied.
I continued into the building and made my way to my apartment.
I struggled to deal with the bags and unlock the door. I finally made it in my apartment, tried to close the door with my foot, and immediately dropped the bags at the door. I kicked off my Jimmy Choo’s, walked over to my couch, stretched out, and put my forearm over my eyes.
I’m just going to lie here for just a minute… I thought to myself.
Before I knew it, I could feel a kiss on my forehead.
“Ummmm hey baby.” I said slowly.
“Hey sexy.” The voice replied.
I immediately opened my eyes because the voice I heard was not Jaden’s.
“C.J.??” I screamed.
C.J. was straddled over top of me.
“What the hell are you doing? How did you get in here?” I said trying to push him off of me.
“I told you I would drop the contact information off later and when I knocked the door came open. Apparently you didn’t close it all the way when you came in.” C.J. said smiling.
I must have fallen asleep and not even known it. I was supposed to just be closing my eyes for a minute and now I have this fool on me.
“Get off me C.J….”I said struggling to get up. “What time is it?”
“Calm down. I will get off you when you calm down. It is 6:10pm.” C.J. said.
“What?” I screamed.
“No, you will get off me right now! Get off me C.J. this is not a game. I told you earlier that I have to meet….” I said as C.J. abruptly cut me off.
“That nigga Jaden. Yeah I know, I know. You said that. What do you see in him anyway.” C.J. said with a grimace.
“It doesn’t matter C.J. now get off of me!” I said screaming.
“Ok. Ok. Good lord woman you take everything so seriously. I am getting off you.” C.J. said laughing.
“Thank you. Now please get up!” I said.
I could hear a knock at the door as it was opening. Seems as if C.J. didn’t close the door all the way either.
“Baby are you alright I heard….” Jaden said while walking into the door.
Everyone was frozen still. C.J. and I were staring at Jaden and Jaden was staring right back at us.
“What the f*** is this?” Jaden said slamming the door.
I pushed C.J. off me as he was getting up. C.J. sat in the chair next to the couch as I ran over to Jaden.
“Baby, Jaden….it’s not what you think?” I said pleading with him
“Oh it’s not? What it looked like to me was that he was straddling you and things were about to hit another level. Looks like I came in at the right time to break this up this bullsh**. “
“Jaden I swear it was not like that. Oh my God, you have to believe me.” I said while trying to place my hands on his chest.
“Get your got d*** hands off me woman.” Jaden said while smacking my hands down.
C.J. began laughing from the chair.
Jaden walked around me and started toward C.J.
“You find something funny nigga? I ought to…” Jaden said enraged.
C.J. stood up and took out a .22 pistol out from his waist band and pointed it at Jaden.
Jaden halted his steps.
“What you gonna do nigga? Don’t come in here like you are the man of steel before you’re a** gets a piece of Kryptonite, ya dig?” C.J. said angrily. “Now the lady just said it’s not what it looks like and I suggest you listen.”
Jaden just stood there as I ran over and got in between them.
“That’s what I have been trying to tell you baby. It’s not what it looks like” I said.
Jaden continued to give both of us a very blank look as if he was not hearing anything we were saying.
The only move Jaden made was to answer his cell phone that began buzzing in his pocket.
“Yeah?” Jaden said while still just staring at C.J. and I.
“Hey Mo, what’s going on? You got what? Another husband? I’m on my way to meet you” Jaden said while backing up from us.
“Jaden.” I said trying to get his attention.
Jaden continued to walk backward until he hit the door.
“Jaden?” I screamed.
“No. Not at all Mo. This isn’t a bad time. I was just leaving Pam’s. You know we broke up right? When? Just now...” Jaden said into the phone as he opened my door and slammed it as he exited.
I looked back at C.J. as he just shrugged his shoulders and sat back down in the chair.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
As The Negro Turns (Part 9)
“Maurice!”
“Yeah!” I shouted.
“You got a phone call!” said one of the sergeants in the precinct.
“Just transfer it here” I shouted.
My phone rang and I proceeded to answer it.
“52nd Precinct, this is Mo how may I help you maam or sir?” I said answering.
“Detective Jackson?” asked the voice on the other end.
“Yes? And who is this?”
The caller immediately hung up.
Puzzled, I looked at the receiver, placed it down, and continued searching through files on my computer.
Sitting at my desk searching and scrolling through tons and tons of files in the database made my eyes began to cross and my head hurt. I had to take a break. I got up from the metal desk and decided to go and grab me some coffee.
Walking through the precinct, with all of the people talking, perps hollering , and phones ringing was making my head ache even worse. I stopped to the coffee pot and poured me a nice tall cup of it. No sugar, no cream, I just needed the straight caffeine. I decided to take my coffee into the locker room to escape the madness for a while. Jones was in there changing into his uniform when I walked in.
I had gotten Jones and a few other s to help me investigate this on the side. I had a few favors to call on and since Jaden and I go way back, I didn’t mind using them now. I sat down, sipped some of my coffee, took a deep sigh, and started rubbing one of my temples.
“Black Coffee day huh Mo?” Jones said smiling.
“Umm Hmm.” I replied as I took another sip.
“I don’t know how you drink it like that man.”
“This is a grown man drink. Not for young pups like yourself.” I said.
“Ok old dog.” Jones said laughing. “You better be careful with that though. That caffeine will have you operating on full blast.”
“That’s exactly what I need right now.” I said sipping the coffee.
Jones finished up his final touches on getting dressed, closed his locker and began to walk out before he stopped at the door to speak.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Evans has some information for you on that Jacobs woman you told us to look into.”
I turned my head towards him, raised my eyebrow, and nodded my head.
“Make sure you catch him because I believe he goes on leave at the end of the day.”
I held up my left hand with 3 fingers in the air and my index finger touching my thumb to give him the “okay” gesture.
Jones walked out and I sat there finishing my coffee. I could feel my head ache easing up a bit. Just in time too, because the coffee was getting luke warm.
I walked through the station until I came to Evans desk. He was on a call so I sat down on the edge of his desk and waited for him to finish. Evans slammed the phone down and slapped some papers off of his desk.
“Rough day?” I asked.
“You would think people would be more cooperative with us.”
“Come on now, since when have you seen people want to help us. When I was a rookie, I used to wonder if we were viewed as the good guys or the bad guys. At this point in my career, I could care less.” I said shrugging my shoulders.
“So Jones tells me you have something for me?”
“Yeah…” Evans replied as he reached in his desk and pulled out a manila folder.
As he handed me the folder, I opened and said “Tell me what I am looking at?”
“What you are looking at is information on Sheila Ethel Jacobs. Born July 29th, 1960 in Durham North Carolina. “
I started to get agitated as I closed the file abruptly.
“Tell me something I don’t f****n already know!”
Evans stood up, snatched the folder, opened it and pointed to one section of the paperwork.
“Greg Nelson.” Evans said tapping the paper.
I began reading what it had to say.
“What? Sheila had five husbands. So who is this?” I asked.
“Wrong!” Evans said while taking the folder back.
“What? I said standing up.
“Yep, he is alive and well. He has not been heard from in some time, but he has no time and date of death and it even lists his last known address.”
“Wait a minute, so why didn’t he turn up in the database when I did the search the first time?
Evans stood up and put on his suit jacket. As he passed by me he put his hand on my shoulder.
“That is what you need to find out detective. It seems as if someone didn’t want him to be found.”
“So how did you find him?” I said cutting my eye at him.
“You aren’t the only one with tricks up his sleeve in this department”
I nodded as Evans walked away.
“This is starting to run a lot deeper than I expected. I better give Jaden a call.” I thought to myself.
I pulled out my phone and dialed him……
“Yeah!” I shouted.
“You got a phone call!” said one of the sergeants in the precinct.
“Just transfer it here” I shouted.
My phone rang and I proceeded to answer it.
“52nd Precinct, this is Mo how may I help you maam or sir?” I said answering.
“Detective Jackson?” asked the voice on the other end.
“Yes? And who is this?”
The caller immediately hung up.
Puzzled, I looked at the receiver, placed it down, and continued searching through files on my computer.
Sitting at my desk searching and scrolling through tons and tons of files in the database made my eyes began to cross and my head hurt. I had to take a break. I got up from the metal desk and decided to go and grab me some coffee.
Walking through the precinct, with all of the people talking, perps hollering , and phones ringing was making my head ache even worse. I stopped to the coffee pot and poured me a nice tall cup of it. No sugar, no cream, I just needed the straight caffeine. I decided to take my coffee into the locker room to escape the madness for a while. Jones was in there changing into his uniform when I walked in.
I had gotten Jones and a few other s to help me investigate this on the side. I had a few favors to call on and since Jaden and I go way back, I didn’t mind using them now. I sat down, sipped some of my coffee, took a deep sigh, and started rubbing one of my temples.
“Black Coffee day huh Mo?” Jones said smiling.
“Umm Hmm.” I replied as I took another sip.
“I don’t know how you drink it like that man.”
“This is a grown man drink. Not for young pups like yourself.” I said.
“Ok old dog.” Jones said laughing. “You better be careful with that though. That caffeine will have you operating on full blast.”
“That’s exactly what I need right now.” I said sipping the coffee.
Jones finished up his final touches on getting dressed, closed his locker and began to walk out before he stopped at the door to speak.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Evans has some information for you on that Jacobs woman you told us to look into.”
I turned my head towards him, raised my eyebrow, and nodded my head.
“Make sure you catch him because I believe he goes on leave at the end of the day.”
I held up my left hand with 3 fingers in the air and my index finger touching my thumb to give him the “okay” gesture.
Jones walked out and I sat there finishing my coffee. I could feel my head ache easing up a bit. Just in time too, because the coffee was getting luke warm.
I walked through the station until I came to Evans desk. He was on a call so I sat down on the edge of his desk and waited for him to finish. Evans slammed the phone down and slapped some papers off of his desk.
“Rough day?” I asked.
“You would think people would be more cooperative with us.”
“Come on now, since when have you seen people want to help us. When I was a rookie, I used to wonder if we were viewed as the good guys or the bad guys. At this point in my career, I could care less.” I said shrugging my shoulders.
“So Jones tells me you have something for me?”
“Yeah…” Evans replied as he reached in his desk and pulled out a manila folder.
As he handed me the folder, I opened and said “Tell me what I am looking at?”
“What you are looking at is information on Sheila Ethel Jacobs. Born July 29th, 1960 in Durham North Carolina. “
I started to get agitated as I closed the file abruptly.
“Tell me something I don’t f****n already know!”
Evans stood up, snatched the folder, opened it and pointed to one section of the paperwork.
“Greg Nelson.” Evans said tapping the paper.
I began reading what it had to say.
“What? Sheila had five husbands. So who is this?” I asked.
“Wrong!” Evans said while taking the folder back.
“What? I said standing up.
“Yep, he is alive and well. He has not been heard from in some time, but he has no time and date of death and it even lists his last known address.”
“Wait a minute, so why didn’t he turn up in the database when I did the search the first time?
Evans stood up and put on his suit jacket. As he passed by me he put his hand on my shoulder.
“That is what you need to find out detective. It seems as if someone didn’t want him to be found.”
“So how did you find him?” I said cutting my eye at him.
“You aren’t the only one with tricks up his sleeve in this department”
I nodded as Evans walked away.
“This is starting to run a lot deeper than I expected. I better give Jaden a call.” I thought to myself.
I pulled out my phone and dialed him……
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
As The Negro Turns (Part 8)
Bzzzzzz. Bzzzzzz.
Bzzzzzz. Bzzzzzz.
My cell phone kept vibrating in my pocket. I grabbed the steering wheel with my right hand, and used my left hand to get my phone out of my jeans pocket.
It was Maurice.
I quickly hit talk the talk button.
“What up?”
“Jaden where are you?” Maurice said anxiously.
“I’m on the beltway. What’s up? You alright?”
“Yeah I am good. You think you can meet me somewhere? We need to talk.”
“Yeah sure. Where do you want to meet?”
“Meet me in East Potomac Park in 30 mins. Can you do that?”
“Yeah..” I said quickly. “Hains Point, 30 minutes. I got it.”
“Cool. See you there.”
I hung up the phone and immediately began heading towards the park.
The drive to the park seemed to take forever. I don’t know what it is. Traffic was flowing well and it was a beautiful day. Well, I think I do know. I have so much going on in my mind. I have so many thoughts racing 100 miles per hour that I just can’t seem to slow them down. Once I started to focus on all that, I seemed to arrive at the park in no time.
I rolled up to the park to see Maurice leaning on the rail overlooking the water. I parked the car and walked over to where he was standing.
“Man, I used to love coming out here as a child…” I said reminiscing. “My brother and I would just play out here for hours and never get tired of it.”
“Five.” Maurice uttered quietly.
“Excuse me?” I said.
“That’s how many times she has been married. Sheila Jacobs, the lady you told me to look into. She has been married five times.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very…” Maurice Said. “She has been Sheila Pitts, Sheila Winters, Sheila Bryson, Sheila Parks…and now, Sheila Jacobs.”
All I could do is shake my head in disbelief.
“But that’s not the half of it…” Maurice said as he continued rattling off information. “All of her former husbands have ended up dead. “
“What??” I said anxiously. “And you all still allow her to walk the streets? Why is she not locked up?”
“That’s the issue. She has never been linked to any of the deaths. Do I have a suspicion that there has been foul play? Of course I do, but I will say this…If she is involved then she is quite thorough in her clean up.”
I turned from Maurice to take a minute to allow what he just told me to process in my head. I just looked over the water for a minute as I said “What type of woman am I dealing with?”
“I don’t know man…” Maurice said with a sigh. “But if she is has been involved with these past incidents, then you better be careful. “
“I know right? I just wish I could get some more information on her. She seems to always know so much about me and I am left in the dark.”
Maurice went into the inner pocket of his jacket, pulled out a business card, and handed it to me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“A friend of mine named Mason. He is one of the best Private detectives in the game. I can only help you to an extent but he should be able to dig a little deeper and cross a couple of lines I can't...ya dig?”
I simply nodded my head as I accepted the business card.
“Just tell him what your situation is and that you are a friend of mine and he should take care of you.”
“Will do. I appreciate this Maurice.”
“No problem. You are like family man.” Maurice said as he gave me a pound.
“I am going to continue to check the database downtown to see if I can uncover anything else. What are you going to do?”
“Well I am supposed to get up with Tammy this afternoon. She has been stressing me about not spending any time with her. I know I need to call your boy though. This takes precedence. “ I said while tapping on the business card.
“How is that situation coming along playa playa?” Maurice said laughing.
“Go ahead with that man. I am slowly but surely making up my mind.”
“Yeah right. You are going to ride that out as long as you possibly can.”
“Naw man, I am getting older and trying to run behind two women is something that those young boys do.”
“Ok, I hear you old man.” Maurice said laughing.
We both laughed at that statement for a second before I said my goodbyes and headed on my way to meet Tammy.
Tammy and I had a little bistro that we ate at when we felt romantic or a special occasion. You know, one of those places that has meaning to you and you don’t eat there everyday. I figured this would be a good place to meet up since she has been barking about us not hanging out.
I arrived to the restaurant a little late, but didn’t see Tammy’s car in the parking lot so I figured she was running a little late too.
As I walked in I saw Latrell at the door. Latrell was a little flamboyant but a good person.
“My oh my, do my eyes deceive me? Is that tall piece of chocolate walking into my Bistro the one and only Jaden Sasser.” Latrell said while placing his hand over his heart.
“What’s going on Latrell.” I said. I always tried to keep it light with Latrell because I don’t want him to misconstrue anything I say as making a pass at him.
“Will we be dining at our usual table this afternoon?”
I simply nodded.
“Excellent.”
Latrell paused for a second as he looked me up and down.
“That suit is fierce! Is that Domenico Vacca?”
I smiled and nodded.
“Well excuse me baller! You have always had exquisite taste. I mean, how many of these commoners would even know who Domenico Vacca is, none the less be able to afford one of his suits! Let me get you to your table with your G.Q. self” Latrell said as he sashayed away.
I sat down at the table, ordered a Malibu and pineapple juice, and waited for Tammy.
Thirty minutes or more had passed by before it clicked that Tammy had still not arrived. I decided to give her a call and see what the problem is. It is not like Tammy to ever be this late.
I tried calling Tammy’s phone multiple times, but she never answered. With all that’s been going on with me the last couple of weeks, I seemed to get paranoid now when someone does not answer the phone.
In the middle of one of my attempts to reach Tammy, Latrell walked by.
“Are you still waiting on your pretty little girlfriend to return?” Latrell said smiling.
My face must have shown that I was disturbed because Latrell immediately reacted.
“What’s wrong? Did you two have a fight?” Latrell said concerned.
“Back up. What did you say?” I said anxiously.
“When?”
“About my girlfriend returning Latrell?” I said raising my voice.
“Excuse Me Mister ‘I need an anger management specialist’. She was in here earlier and I thought you were waiting for her to come back.” Latrell said as he rolled his eyes and began to walk away.
I jumped up and grabbed his arm.
“Wait. Did you say she was in here earlier?”
“She sure was. She left with one of her friends only about 10 minutes before you arrived.”
“What? What friend?” I said releasing his arm.
“Who knows honey but I can tell you this, girlfriend had on a fierce pair of Jimmy Choos and a Hermes bag that was on fire!” Latrell said while snapping his fingers.
“Sh*t!” I said as I brushed past Latrell and ran out of the restaurant in a dash to make it to Tammy’s house.
I got across town to Tammy’s in no time flat all the while still blowing up her cell phone. I drove past her house but didn’t see her car. I even decided to drive past Mr. Jacobs house to see if she was over there, but because his house is gated and the driveway is so far away from the gate, I couldn’t see whose car was there and whose was not.
I had no other recourse but to go home and try to wait it out. I cannot stand waiting on someone to call me. It is one of the most helpless feelings in the world and all it allows your mind to do is wreak havoc on you with a million and one thoughts of what is, what isn’t, or what could be.
Once I was finally able to lie in bed, I tossed and turned for hours. I seemed like I couldn’t get anyone on the phone. I called Pam…no answer. I called Keith…no answer. I even called my mom and still no answer. It was like I was on a deserted island all by myself with no one to hear me scream.
It seems as soon as I started to fall asleep, I could hear a slight buzzing and because I was in the first stages of my sleep, it took me a while to realize it was my phone.
Being half sleep and half awake I fumbled around on my nightstand until I picked up my phone. It took time for my eyes to focus until I recognized that the screen said “Tammy”, however by the time I hit talk and said hello, she had already hung up.
I must have redialed her a million times and no answer. That was frustrating me even more. I mean she just called me and now she is not picking up. After a while I could do nothing but try to wrestle with my thoughts again to calm myself down. At this point in the night, the time is now 4:37am on my clock and I have to be to work by 7am. I decided that I might as well suck it up and stay up. That one hour so of sleep will just be a tease to me and I don’t want to run the risk of oversleeping. I got up, cut the shower on, went into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee, and continue on with the preparation to get a new day underway.
I pulled into the parking lot at work at 6:52 am. I could feel myself in a zombie like state as the coffee was already beginning to wear off. The worst thing was, I couldn’t remember anything about the drive here. It was like I left my apartment and then suddenly, I was pulling into the parking lot here. To drive like that is very dangerous, but thank the good Lord I made it safely.
At my job, 7am is like 2pm at most other jobs, meaning that the office is already alive and buzzing at seven because most people here are morning people. So my office works in the reverse. In the morning, everyone is running around, on calls, doing work, checking emails, laughing and joking, etc. However, when the afternoon comes, this place is silent after all of the coffee and energy drinks are now out of everyone’s system.
I walked in saying my normal hellos to everyone and doing my best to put on my “happy corporate face”. All I wanted to do was just get to my office, close my door, and have a minute or two to myself.
I walked into my office, hung up my sport coat on the back of the door as I closed it, and sat down in my nice leather executive chair.
I threw my hands behind my head, closed my eyes, and let out a small sigh.
At that moment, my office phone rang. I leaned up to see who it was. It was my administrative assistant.
I reached for the phone and answered it with my manufactured corporate voice.
“Good morning, Jacobs International, this is Jaden how may I help you?”
“Good morning Mister Sasser. I was just reminding you that everyone was putting in a monetary donation for Doris’ retirement part.”
“Yeah that’s right, what are we trying to do for her” I asked.
“Well we want to take her to Morton’s and then get her a nice plaque and some other small gifts.”
“Sounds good to me, I have always liked Doris. How much is everyone giving.?”
“I have been asking for at least twenty dollars, but people give what they can. Its rough out here.”
“I hear that…” I said. “Well put me down for fifty.”
“Thank you Mister Sasser. I will stop by after I do my morning tasks and get that from you.”
“No problem, See you then.” I said as I hung up the phone.
I was going to retreat back into my relaxed position until I saw a manila folder on my desk that said “for your records”.
I figured it was some document placed on my desk by the A.A., but that surely was not the case.
As I opened the folder there were glossy high resolution photos of me at the park meeting with Maurice and photos of me sitting at the Bistro waiting for Tammy.
As I continued to look through the photos, the last couple was of Tammy. She was laying in a bed not her own with just a pair of light blue panties on. She looked out of it, as if she was drunk or drugged or something. Then there was a picture of a man licking chocolate sauce off her. The very last picture was a close up of what was spelled out in chocolate across Tammy’s torso.
Across her chest and stomach were the words “Oh Sheila” with the “A” being missing from where the guy had licked it off.
Taped to the inside of the folder was a sticky note that said “I am better than you!”
I screamed as loud as I could while throwing the pictures and flipping my desk over. I grabbed my sport coat off the back of the door and slung my office door open.
The office had come to a standstill and everyone was looking at me. I didn’t even care. I proceeded to walk directly to the elevator, took it to the ground level, hopped in my car, and sped off.
Bzzzzzz. Bzzzzzz.
My cell phone kept vibrating in my pocket. I grabbed the steering wheel with my right hand, and used my left hand to get my phone out of my jeans pocket.
It was Maurice.
I quickly hit talk the talk button.
“What up?”
“Jaden where are you?” Maurice said anxiously.
“I’m on the beltway. What’s up? You alright?”
“Yeah I am good. You think you can meet me somewhere? We need to talk.”
“Yeah sure. Where do you want to meet?”
“Meet me in East Potomac Park in 30 mins. Can you do that?”
“Yeah..” I said quickly. “Hains Point, 30 minutes. I got it.”
“Cool. See you there.”
I hung up the phone and immediately began heading towards the park.
The drive to the park seemed to take forever. I don’t know what it is. Traffic was flowing well and it was a beautiful day. Well, I think I do know. I have so much going on in my mind. I have so many thoughts racing 100 miles per hour that I just can’t seem to slow them down. Once I started to focus on all that, I seemed to arrive at the park in no time.
I rolled up to the park to see Maurice leaning on the rail overlooking the water. I parked the car and walked over to where he was standing.
“Man, I used to love coming out here as a child…” I said reminiscing. “My brother and I would just play out here for hours and never get tired of it.”
“Five.” Maurice uttered quietly.
“Excuse me?” I said.
“That’s how many times she has been married. Sheila Jacobs, the lady you told me to look into. She has been married five times.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very…” Maurice Said. “She has been Sheila Pitts, Sheila Winters, Sheila Bryson, Sheila Parks…and now, Sheila Jacobs.”
All I could do is shake my head in disbelief.
“But that’s not the half of it…” Maurice said as he continued rattling off information. “All of her former husbands have ended up dead. “
“What??” I said anxiously. “And you all still allow her to walk the streets? Why is she not locked up?”
“That’s the issue. She has never been linked to any of the deaths. Do I have a suspicion that there has been foul play? Of course I do, but I will say this…If she is involved then she is quite thorough in her clean up.”
I turned from Maurice to take a minute to allow what he just told me to process in my head. I just looked over the water for a minute as I said “What type of woman am I dealing with?”
“I don’t know man…” Maurice said with a sigh. “But if she is has been involved with these past incidents, then you better be careful. “
“I know right? I just wish I could get some more information on her. She seems to always know so much about me and I am left in the dark.”
Maurice went into the inner pocket of his jacket, pulled out a business card, and handed it to me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“A friend of mine named Mason. He is one of the best Private detectives in the game. I can only help you to an extent but he should be able to dig a little deeper and cross a couple of lines I can't...ya dig?”
I simply nodded my head as I accepted the business card.
“Just tell him what your situation is and that you are a friend of mine and he should take care of you.”
“Will do. I appreciate this Maurice.”
“No problem. You are like family man.” Maurice said as he gave me a pound.
“I am going to continue to check the database downtown to see if I can uncover anything else. What are you going to do?”
“Well I am supposed to get up with Tammy this afternoon. She has been stressing me about not spending any time with her. I know I need to call your boy though. This takes precedence. “ I said while tapping on the business card.
“How is that situation coming along playa playa?” Maurice said laughing.
“Go ahead with that man. I am slowly but surely making up my mind.”
“Yeah right. You are going to ride that out as long as you possibly can.”
“Naw man, I am getting older and trying to run behind two women is something that those young boys do.”
“Ok, I hear you old man.” Maurice said laughing.
We both laughed at that statement for a second before I said my goodbyes and headed on my way to meet Tammy.
Tammy and I had a little bistro that we ate at when we felt romantic or a special occasion. You know, one of those places that has meaning to you and you don’t eat there everyday. I figured this would be a good place to meet up since she has been barking about us not hanging out.
I arrived to the restaurant a little late, but didn’t see Tammy’s car in the parking lot so I figured she was running a little late too.
As I walked in I saw Latrell at the door. Latrell was a little flamboyant but a good person.
“My oh my, do my eyes deceive me? Is that tall piece of chocolate walking into my Bistro the one and only Jaden Sasser.” Latrell said while placing his hand over his heart.
“What’s going on Latrell.” I said. I always tried to keep it light with Latrell because I don’t want him to misconstrue anything I say as making a pass at him.
“Will we be dining at our usual table this afternoon?”
I simply nodded.
“Excellent.”
Latrell paused for a second as he looked me up and down.
“That suit is fierce! Is that Domenico Vacca?”
I smiled and nodded.
“Well excuse me baller! You have always had exquisite taste. I mean, how many of these commoners would even know who Domenico Vacca is, none the less be able to afford one of his suits! Let me get you to your table with your G.Q. self” Latrell said as he sashayed away.
I sat down at the table, ordered a Malibu and pineapple juice, and waited for Tammy.
Thirty minutes or more had passed by before it clicked that Tammy had still not arrived. I decided to give her a call and see what the problem is. It is not like Tammy to ever be this late.
I tried calling Tammy’s phone multiple times, but she never answered. With all that’s been going on with me the last couple of weeks, I seemed to get paranoid now when someone does not answer the phone.
In the middle of one of my attempts to reach Tammy, Latrell walked by.
“Are you still waiting on your pretty little girlfriend to return?” Latrell said smiling.
My face must have shown that I was disturbed because Latrell immediately reacted.
“What’s wrong? Did you two have a fight?” Latrell said concerned.
“Back up. What did you say?” I said anxiously.
“When?”
“About my girlfriend returning Latrell?” I said raising my voice.
“Excuse Me Mister ‘I need an anger management specialist’. She was in here earlier and I thought you were waiting for her to come back.” Latrell said as he rolled his eyes and began to walk away.
I jumped up and grabbed his arm.
“Wait. Did you say she was in here earlier?”
“She sure was. She left with one of her friends only about 10 minutes before you arrived.”
“What? What friend?” I said releasing his arm.
“Who knows honey but I can tell you this, girlfriend had on a fierce pair of Jimmy Choos and a Hermes bag that was on fire!” Latrell said while snapping his fingers.
“Sh*t!” I said as I brushed past Latrell and ran out of the restaurant in a dash to make it to Tammy’s house.
I got across town to Tammy’s in no time flat all the while still blowing up her cell phone. I drove past her house but didn’t see her car. I even decided to drive past Mr. Jacobs house to see if she was over there, but because his house is gated and the driveway is so far away from the gate, I couldn’t see whose car was there and whose was not.
I had no other recourse but to go home and try to wait it out. I cannot stand waiting on someone to call me. It is one of the most helpless feelings in the world and all it allows your mind to do is wreak havoc on you with a million and one thoughts of what is, what isn’t, or what could be.
Once I was finally able to lie in bed, I tossed and turned for hours. I seemed like I couldn’t get anyone on the phone. I called Pam…no answer. I called Keith…no answer. I even called my mom and still no answer. It was like I was on a deserted island all by myself with no one to hear me scream.
It seems as soon as I started to fall asleep, I could hear a slight buzzing and because I was in the first stages of my sleep, it took me a while to realize it was my phone.
Being half sleep and half awake I fumbled around on my nightstand until I picked up my phone. It took time for my eyes to focus until I recognized that the screen said “Tammy”, however by the time I hit talk and said hello, she had already hung up.
I must have redialed her a million times and no answer. That was frustrating me even more. I mean she just called me and now she is not picking up. After a while I could do nothing but try to wrestle with my thoughts again to calm myself down. At this point in the night, the time is now 4:37am on my clock and I have to be to work by 7am. I decided that I might as well suck it up and stay up. That one hour so of sleep will just be a tease to me and I don’t want to run the risk of oversleeping. I got up, cut the shower on, went into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee, and continue on with the preparation to get a new day underway.
I pulled into the parking lot at work at 6:52 am. I could feel myself in a zombie like state as the coffee was already beginning to wear off. The worst thing was, I couldn’t remember anything about the drive here. It was like I left my apartment and then suddenly, I was pulling into the parking lot here. To drive like that is very dangerous, but thank the good Lord I made it safely.
At my job, 7am is like 2pm at most other jobs, meaning that the office is already alive and buzzing at seven because most people here are morning people. So my office works in the reverse. In the morning, everyone is running around, on calls, doing work, checking emails, laughing and joking, etc. However, when the afternoon comes, this place is silent after all of the coffee and energy drinks are now out of everyone’s system.
I walked in saying my normal hellos to everyone and doing my best to put on my “happy corporate face”. All I wanted to do was just get to my office, close my door, and have a minute or two to myself.
I walked into my office, hung up my sport coat on the back of the door as I closed it, and sat down in my nice leather executive chair.
I threw my hands behind my head, closed my eyes, and let out a small sigh.
At that moment, my office phone rang. I leaned up to see who it was. It was my administrative assistant.
I reached for the phone and answered it with my manufactured corporate voice.
“Good morning, Jacobs International, this is Jaden how may I help you?”
“Good morning Mister Sasser. I was just reminding you that everyone was putting in a monetary donation for Doris’ retirement part.”
“Yeah that’s right, what are we trying to do for her” I asked.
“Well we want to take her to Morton’s and then get her a nice plaque and some other small gifts.”
“Sounds good to me, I have always liked Doris. How much is everyone giving.?”
“I have been asking for at least twenty dollars, but people give what they can. Its rough out here.”
“I hear that…” I said. “Well put me down for fifty.”
“Thank you Mister Sasser. I will stop by after I do my morning tasks and get that from you.”
“No problem, See you then.” I said as I hung up the phone.
I was going to retreat back into my relaxed position until I saw a manila folder on my desk that said “for your records”.
I figured it was some document placed on my desk by the A.A., but that surely was not the case.
As I opened the folder there were glossy high resolution photos of me at the park meeting with Maurice and photos of me sitting at the Bistro waiting for Tammy.
As I continued to look through the photos, the last couple was of Tammy. She was laying in a bed not her own with just a pair of light blue panties on. She looked out of it, as if she was drunk or drugged or something. Then there was a picture of a man licking chocolate sauce off her. The very last picture was a close up of what was spelled out in chocolate across Tammy’s torso.
Across her chest and stomach were the words “Oh Sheila” with the “A” being missing from where the guy had licked it off.
Taped to the inside of the folder was a sticky note that said “I am better than you!”
I screamed as loud as I could while throwing the pictures and flipping my desk over. I grabbed my sport coat off the back of the door and slung my office door open.
The office had come to a standstill and everyone was looking at me. I didn’t even care. I proceeded to walk directly to the elevator, took it to the ground level, hopped in my car, and sped off.
As The Negro Turns (Part 7)
I walked up three flights of stairs while constantly looking over my shoulder. I dug through my purse until I pulled out the piece of paper that simply said 317. Nervously I approached the door, gathering my composure and pulling down my dress. Standing in front of the door I took a deep breath and knocked. No one answered or spoke but I could hear footsteps walking across a hard wood floor. When the door opened I saw a man standing in a fine tailored suit.
“Not bad.” I thought as I looked the man over.
“You James?” I said firmly.
“The one and only…”James responded. “You Pam?”
“I am.”
“You are prettier than I expected” James said looking her over.
“Are we going to do this or not?” I snapped back.
“Aggressive.” James replied.
“Assertive.” I answered.
“Either way, I like that in a woman.” James said smiling. “Please come in.”
I entered the apartment cautiously noticing how extravagant this apartment is. I wouldn’t go too far into the apartment. I didn’t know this man from Adam. I had to be on my guard. My mission was to get in, get what I need to get, and get out.
I hung back in the hallway just before the apartment opened up into the living room. James proceeded to walk into the kitchen and pour a glass of wine.
“Might I interest you in a glass of Merlot?” James asked.
“No thank you.”
“You don’t drink?” James questioned.
“I don’t think my personal affairs, habits, or pleasures are any of your business.” I replied.
James simply threw his hands up in submission.
“Well since that is the case, lets get down to business shall we?” James said while pointing to a briefcase he had laying on the table.
“I believe you have something for me.” James said while sipping his wine.
I went into my purse and pulled out an envelope. I walked over to the table where the briefcase was and laid the envelope down. I popped open the briefcase to check to see if everything was in order. It was.
“I take it that everything is to your liking.” James stated.
I merely cut my eye at him, closed the briefcase, picked it up, and proceeded to the door.
As I walked away I could feel James watching me. When I reached the door, he called out to me.
“It was a pleasure miss Pam.”
“Likewise. We will be in touch.” I said while exiting the apartment.
I decided to meet up with Kizzy for a while at Starbucks. I just had to have a Grande caramel macchiato. I walked into the Starbucks , ordered my drink, and sat down sipping my little bit of heaven in a cup while I waited for Kizzy. I could hear the song “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige ringing from my purse. I dug through my purse until I felt my blackberry. I smiled as I answered because I already knew who it was.
“Hello?”
“Girl I’m in Starbucks, where are you?” Kizzy asked.
“If I was I snake I would have bitten you!” I said laughing.
Kizzy began looking around so I began waiving my hand in the air. She smiled and pointed as she saw me. As she was getting her drink, I laid my blackberry on the table and placed it on vibrate so that I could have some time to spend with my girl.
“Hey Girl!” Kizzy said as she came over to the table.
“Hey Kizzy.” I said smiling.
“I have had a long day and Lord knows I need this cup of coffee.”
“You and me both!” I replied. “So how was work?”
“The folks at my job are crazy girl! Since when did executive assistant mean maid or nanny? The things these folks have the nerve to come out of their mouth with amazes me every day. How’s your job?”
I was so excited to see Kizzy and chat with a friend, that I almost spilled the beans. She has no clue about what I really do. No one does. I had to gather myself and remember what it was that she thought I did.
“I completely understand your situation. People at my office somehow translate the words Project Manager to mean babysitter or psychiatrist. “
I could feel the table vibrating due to an incoming text message on my blackberry. I picked up the phone and checked the message. It was a text from C.J. simply asking “Completed?”
“Yes” I typed back.
A few seconds went by before I received another text saying “Problems?”
“No. Drop-off?” I replied.
I waited for a response but I got none. Apparently during the time I was texting, Kizzy was attempting to ask me a question.
“Pam!” she screamed out while laughing.
“Huh?”
“You are so wrapped up in that little Crackberry of yours. Did you hear what I said?”
“No girl, I sure didn’t. You know how business can be.” I said while putting my phone away in my purse.
“I asked how is Jaden.”
“Oh Jaden is fine. We have been going round and round a little lately, but overall everything has been going well.”
“You think he is the one?” She said sipping her coffee.
“I don’t know about all that. Let’s just say though that he has potential.”
I began staring at this woman I saw in line. Kizzy saw me staring off and commented.
“What are you looking at?”
“That woman, with the Dolce sunglasses in line, I think that’s the wife of Jaden’s boss. Sheila I believe her name is.”
Kizzy turned around to take a look.
“I don’t know if that is her or not, but those glasses are fierce!” Kizzy said.
While Sheila was getting her coffee, she glanced over in our direction. She lowered her glasses a bit as if to get a better look at us. She smiled and raised her coffee. I waved back. She pushed her sunglasses back up on her face, turned and walked out.
“Looks like she remembers you too.” Kizzy said.
“Seems as if she does.” I replied.
“Well girl I have to get going. I have to go get these kids of mine.” Kizzy said while gathering her things.
“Me too girl, I have so many errands to run before I go home that it isn’t funny.”
“We should make this a weekly thing.” Kizzy said.
“Sounds good to me missy. See you next week, same time and same place?” I said.
“Great!” Kizzy said while standing up. “I will see you then.”
Kizzy gave me a hug and walked out. I picked up my phone and immediately dialed C.J. It rang multiple times but I got no answer.
I proceeded with running my errands. It felt like I had been all over hell and a half acre before I finally got done. I had been calling C.J. all evening and he hasn’t answered once. I have left multiple messages for him and still no call back.
I finally got to the parking garage of my condo. As I was pulling into the garage, I could see an all black Bentley coupe pulling past me exiting the garage with mirror tent on the windows. I could see the license plate as it passed me and it said “Don Diva”.
“That’s what I am talking about!” I said laughing. I pulled into my assigned parking space, got my things out of the car, and took the elevator up to my condo.
I could barely get my coat off, place the briefcase down, and drop my keys on the table before I heard a knock at the door.
“Who could that be?” I thought. To get in my building, unless you have a key, you have to be buzzed up. I know I didn’t hear my buzzer in my condo, so I am figuring it is one of my neighbors.
I opened the door to get a much unexpected visitor.
“C.J.?” I said startled.
“The one and only.” He said smiling.
Looking around the hall I asked him “What are you doing here?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“No it isn’t. I called you well over ten times today and you didn’t see fit to call me back?” I said angrily.
“One, take the base out of your voice Pamela. Two, I didn’t think I worked for you. As a matter of fact, I could have sworn it was the other way around.” C.J. said firmly.
I simply sucked my teeth and rolled my eyes.
“May I come in?” C.J. asked
I sighed as I stepped back out of the doorway to let him in. C.J came in admiring my condo.
“Looks like I pay you well Pam. Ha…maybe too well.” C.J. said smiling.
“Look C.J. the briefcase is here by the door. You can grab it on your way out.“ I said pointing.
“Why don’t you bring it over here and let me check it out.” He said while taking a seat on my couch.
I brought him the briefcase and set it on the table. C.J. scooted up to the edge of the couch, popped open the briefcase, and smiled.
“I’m done C.J.”
“You are what?” he said closing the briefcase.
“I’m done. I think I want out.”
“No maam. You are done when I say you are done remember?”
“How long are you going to hold this over my head C.J.?”
“Until you pay your debt! You owe me!” C.J. said forcefully.
I couldn’t be more upset if I wanted to be. I was quickly snapped from my haze of anger by the sound of the buzzer. I walked over to the wall to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Baby it’s me. Let me in, it’s an emergency. I need to come in now. Please, buzz me up.”
“Jaden?” I said startled.
“Yes. Let me in Pam. Please, you have to let me in.”
“Okay, Okay.” I said while buzzing him in.
I immediately turned to C.J.
“You have to go.”
“Not yet I’m not. We are not done yet.”
“C.J. Please!”
“What? You don’t want your little boyfriend to see me here? Wait, he doesn’t know does he?” C.J. said laughing.
“Oh this is classic.” C.J. said smiling.
I could hear Jaden banging at the door and calling my name.
“C.J. Please. I am begging you.”
“Where am I supposed to go? The nigga is here now.” C.J. inquired.
I quickly looked around.
“The bathroom. “ I said.
I went over to C.J., took him by the arm and led him to the bathroom. C.J. found this situation to be amusing.
“Please be quiet. I want to tell him in my own time.”
Laughing, C.J. simply replied “Whatever.”
I ran over to the door and snatched it open.
“Jaden what’s wrong?”
Jaden barged in and begin storming around my apartment. He went to the balcony, then to my bedroom and he was headed to the bathroom before I stopped him.
“What in the hell is wrong with you?” I said.
Jaden was sweating and breathing hard.
“Jaden!” I screamed out while shaking him.
Jaden snapped out of it, looked at me, and hugged me hard and long.
Looking over his shoulder I could see C.J. peeping from the bathroom smiling.
I just rubbed Jaden’s back trying to comfort him and figure out why he was so frantic.
“Not bad.” I thought as I looked the man over.
“You James?” I said firmly.
“The one and only…”James responded. “You Pam?”
“I am.”
“You are prettier than I expected” James said looking her over.
“Are we going to do this or not?” I snapped back.
“Aggressive.” James replied.
“Assertive.” I answered.
“Either way, I like that in a woman.” James said smiling. “Please come in.”
I entered the apartment cautiously noticing how extravagant this apartment is. I wouldn’t go too far into the apartment. I didn’t know this man from Adam. I had to be on my guard. My mission was to get in, get what I need to get, and get out.
I hung back in the hallway just before the apartment opened up into the living room. James proceeded to walk into the kitchen and pour a glass of wine.
“Might I interest you in a glass of Merlot?” James asked.
“No thank you.”
“You don’t drink?” James questioned.
“I don’t think my personal affairs, habits, or pleasures are any of your business.” I replied.
James simply threw his hands up in submission.
“Well since that is the case, lets get down to business shall we?” James said while pointing to a briefcase he had laying on the table.
“I believe you have something for me.” James said while sipping his wine.
I went into my purse and pulled out an envelope. I walked over to the table where the briefcase was and laid the envelope down. I popped open the briefcase to check to see if everything was in order. It was.
“I take it that everything is to your liking.” James stated.
I merely cut my eye at him, closed the briefcase, picked it up, and proceeded to the door.
As I walked away I could feel James watching me. When I reached the door, he called out to me.
“It was a pleasure miss Pam.”
“Likewise. We will be in touch.” I said while exiting the apartment.
I decided to meet up with Kizzy for a while at Starbucks. I just had to have a Grande caramel macchiato. I walked into the Starbucks , ordered my drink, and sat down sipping my little bit of heaven in a cup while I waited for Kizzy. I could hear the song “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige ringing from my purse. I dug through my purse until I felt my blackberry. I smiled as I answered because I already knew who it was.
“Hello?”
“Girl I’m in Starbucks, where are you?” Kizzy asked.
“If I was I snake I would have bitten you!” I said laughing.
Kizzy began looking around so I began waiving my hand in the air. She smiled and pointed as she saw me. As she was getting her drink, I laid my blackberry on the table and placed it on vibrate so that I could have some time to spend with my girl.
“Hey Girl!” Kizzy said as she came over to the table.
“Hey Kizzy.” I said smiling.
“I have had a long day and Lord knows I need this cup of coffee.”
“You and me both!” I replied. “So how was work?”
“The folks at my job are crazy girl! Since when did executive assistant mean maid or nanny? The things these folks have the nerve to come out of their mouth with amazes me every day. How’s your job?”
I was so excited to see Kizzy and chat with a friend, that I almost spilled the beans. She has no clue about what I really do. No one does. I had to gather myself and remember what it was that she thought I did.
“I completely understand your situation. People at my office somehow translate the words Project Manager to mean babysitter or psychiatrist. “
I could feel the table vibrating due to an incoming text message on my blackberry. I picked up the phone and checked the message. It was a text from C.J. simply asking “Completed?”
“Yes” I typed back.
A few seconds went by before I received another text saying “Problems?”
“No. Drop-off?” I replied.
I waited for a response but I got none. Apparently during the time I was texting, Kizzy was attempting to ask me a question.
“Pam!” she screamed out while laughing.
“Huh?”
“You are so wrapped up in that little Crackberry of yours. Did you hear what I said?”
“No girl, I sure didn’t. You know how business can be.” I said while putting my phone away in my purse.
“I asked how is Jaden.”
“Oh Jaden is fine. We have been going round and round a little lately, but overall everything has been going well.”
“You think he is the one?” She said sipping her coffee.
“I don’t know about all that. Let’s just say though that he has potential.”
I began staring at this woman I saw in line. Kizzy saw me staring off and commented.
“What are you looking at?”
“That woman, with the Dolce sunglasses in line, I think that’s the wife of Jaden’s boss. Sheila I believe her name is.”
Kizzy turned around to take a look.
“I don’t know if that is her or not, but those glasses are fierce!” Kizzy said.
While Sheila was getting her coffee, she glanced over in our direction. She lowered her glasses a bit as if to get a better look at us. She smiled and raised her coffee. I waved back. She pushed her sunglasses back up on her face, turned and walked out.
“Looks like she remembers you too.” Kizzy said.
“Seems as if she does.” I replied.
“Well girl I have to get going. I have to go get these kids of mine.” Kizzy said while gathering her things.
“Me too girl, I have so many errands to run before I go home that it isn’t funny.”
“We should make this a weekly thing.” Kizzy said.
“Sounds good to me missy. See you next week, same time and same place?” I said.
“Great!” Kizzy said while standing up. “I will see you then.”
Kizzy gave me a hug and walked out. I picked up my phone and immediately dialed C.J. It rang multiple times but I got no answer.
I proceeded with running my errands. It felt like I had been all over hell and a half acre before I finally got done. I had been calling C.J. all evening and he hasn’t answered once. I have left multiple messages for him and still no call back.
I finally got to the parking garage of my condo. As I was pulling into the garage, I could see an all black Bentley coupe pulling past me exiting the garage with mirror tent on the windows. I could see the license plate as it passed me and it said “Don Diva”.
“That’s what I am talking about!” I said laughing. I pulled into my assigned parking space, got my things out of the car, and took the elevator up to my condo.
I could barely get my coat off, place the briefcase down, and drop my keys on the table before I heard a knock at the door.
“Who could that be?” I thought. To get in my building, unless you have a key, you have to be buzzed up. I know I didn’t hear my buzzer in my condo, so I am figuring it is one of my neighbors.
I opened the door to get a much unexpected visitor.
“C.J.?” I said startled.
“The one and only.” He said smiling.
Looking around the hall I asked him “What are you doing here?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“No it isn’t. I called you well over ten times today and you didn’t see fit to call me back?” I said angrily.
“One, take the base out of your voice Pamela. Two, I didn’t think I worked for you. As a matter of fact, I could have sworn it was the other way around.” C.J. said firmly.
I simply sucked my teeth and rolled my eyes.
“May I come in?” C.J. asked
I sighed as I stepped back out of the doorway to let him in. C.J came in admiring my condo.
“Looks like I pay you well Pam. Ha…maybe too well.” C.J. said smiling.
“Look C.J. the briefcase is here by the door. You can grab it on your way out.“ I said pointing.
“Why don’t you bring it over here and let me check it out.” He said while taking a seat on my couch.
I brought him the briefcase and set it on the table. C.J. scooted up to the edge of the couch, popped open the briefcase, and smiled.
“I’m done C.J.”
“You are what?” he said closing the briefcase.
“I’m done. I think I want out.”
“No maam. You are done when I say you are done remember?”
“How long are you going to hold this over my head C.J.?”
“Until you pay your debt! You owe me!” C.J. said forcefully.
I couldn’t be more upset if I wanted to be. I was quickly snapped from my haze of anger by the sound of the buzzer. I walked over to the wall to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Baby it’s me. Let me in, it’s an emergency. I need to come in now. Please, buzz me up.”
“Jaden?” I said startled.
“Yes. Let me in Pam. Please, you have to let me in.”
“Okay, Okay.” I said while buzzing him in.
I immediately turned to C.J.
“You have to go.”
“Not yet I’m not. We are not done yet.”
“C.J. Please!”
“What? You don’t want your little boyfriend to see me here? Wait, he doesn’t know does he?” C.J. said laughing.
“Oh this is classic.” C.J. said smiling.
I could hear Jaden banging at the door and calling my name.
“C.J. Please. I am begging you.”
“Where am I supposed to go? The nigga is here now.” C.J. inquired.
I quickly looked around.
“The bathroom. “ I said.
I went over to C.J., took him by the arm and led him to the bathroom. C.J. found this situation to be amusing.
“Please be quiet. I want to tell him in my own time.”
Laughing, C.J. simply replied “Whatever.”
I ran over to the door and snatched it open.
“Jaden what’s wrong?”
Jaden barged in and begin storming around my apartment. He went to the balcony, then to my bedroom and he was headed to the bathroom before I stopped him.
“What in the hell is wrong with you?” I said.
Jaden was sweating and breathing hard.
“Jaden!” I screamed out while shaking him.
Jaden snapped out of it, looked at me, and hugged me hard and long.
Looking over his shoulder I could see C.J. peeping from the bathroom smiling.
I just rubbed Jaden’s back trying to comfort him and figure out why he was so frantic.
As The Negro Turns (Part 6)
“In your bedroom dog?” Keith said as he finished pouring me a vodka and orange juice.
“Yes! Can you believe that sh*t? I mean, who does that? Here I am thinking I am having some type of bad dream, and this chick is sitting in my bedroom with her legs crossed smoking a jack.”
Keith poured himself some cognac and sat at his dining room table with me.
“I just can’t believe that man. I know Sheila is crazy, but man, I didn’t think she was doing it like that.” Keith said while sipping his drink.
“Yeah well she is…” I said abruptly. “Also, are you going to finally tell me how you got involved with Sheila?”
Keith got up from the table and went into the kitchen.
“Keith? Don’t ignore me dude.”
Keith reappeared from the kitchen, and sat back at the table. He just stared at me as he took another sip of his drink.
“Keith?” I said cautiously.
Keith took one more sip of his drink before he started to speak.
“I was at a party. I had gone to this lounge with my boy Dave. You remember Dave right?”
I simply nodded as Keith continued.
“Well we were at the party kickin’ it with a few honies but there was this one woman, one that stood above the rest. I remember how elegant she seemed. Flawless. She had such a swagger about her that was leaps and bounds above all the other women in there. “
I watched my brother as it seemed he was taking a delightful trip down memory lane. That was soon to end as I saw his facial expressions beginning to change.
“So here and I talked. I was doing some drinking but nothing more than usual. However, somehow, it seemed I had a little too much. I can remember getting in Dave’s car and him dropping me home. “
Keith suddenly stopped and stared off.
“Okay?” I said inquisitively.
“Well, the next morning I woke up with a nasty hangover. I thought I was alone until…”
“Until what?” I asked.
Keith took another sip of his cognac and answered “Until I heard the shower cut on.”
I was frozen. I cannot believe that she had gotten us both the exact same way. So much so, that it is way too much to be coincidental." Keith continued explaining.
“So when I went to investigate, I found Sheila in my shower. Seems as if she and I had spent the night together, but I certainly didn’t remember the incident.”
“Did you know that was…” I asked.
“I had no clue! So imagine my surprise the first time that she takes me home to meet her parents and I see Sheila. So after that, Sheila told me that unless I do what she tells me to do, she would tell Janice about the incident in detail.”
“You think we were drugged Keith? I mean, we have similar stories and I too don’t remember being with her. I woke up in the same fashion you did.”
“It’s a possibility man. All I know, is I want this woman gone from my life.”
I took a final sip of my vodka and OJ, grabbed my keys, and jumped up from the table.
“Where are you going?” Keith asked.
“To someone who I think can help remove this woman from both of our lives. It’s time we got on the offensive my brother. I will hit you up later and let you know what I find out.”
I quickly left my brother’s apartment, jumped in my car, and headed downtown to the police station.
I had made a call to the station to see if Maurice was on duty. I had arranged to meet him when I got there. Pulling up to the station, I happened to see Maurice standing outside talking with another officer. I got out the car as Maurice smiled and greeted me.
“What’s up J-Money? What’s good with you family? Hey Dozier, this is my man from college. Boy, we did so many things dude that we should have never graduated.” Maurice said pointing to me and laughing.
“Mo! Long time no see man. Yeah, I must say, I don’t know how we made it out man, but we did. Is it possible that I could have a word with you for a minute?”
“Sure man. Hey Dozier, I will get up with you later.” Maurice said.
We walked over to my car and took a seat on my hood.
“So what’s on your mind Jay?” Maurice asked.
“Well Mo here is the issue….”
I proceeded to tell Maurice and the whole situation about Sheila and what was going down between her, my brother, and I. Maurice told me that it wasn’t a problem and that I should give him as much of a run down on Sheila’s information as I could. I gave him all I knew about her, her daughter and her husband. Maurice assured me that he would look into it and get back to me as soon as he found something.
I left the police station feeling better now that I had someone on the right side of the law on my team. I am just upset that I didn’t think of Maurice before now. I proceeded to drive home and then figured I should call Pam since I haven’t talked to her in a while. I called but got her answering machine. Pam is so old school. I mean really, who still has an answering machine instead of voicemail. I decided not to leave a message and just call her back later.
I finally arrived home and was so glad to be there. First thing was first however, I did a thorough inspection of my entire apartment. I definitely don’t need any pop ups, surprises, or disturbances today. I just want to have a normal ending to a fairly normal day.
I made myself some dinner, got me a nice glass of Riesling, and relaxed to smooth sounds of Maxwell coming out of the Bose system in my living room. I picked up my cell phone and decided to try Pam again and again, no answer. This time I decided to leave a message.
“Hey baby it’s me, I haven’t talked to you in a day or two so I just wanted to check on you and make sure you were ok. I miss you and want to see you soon. Call me back when you get this message. Ok, I love you. Bye.”
I continued eating my dinner and sipping on my wine. As it began to get late, I decided that it was time to turn in and get ready for tomorrow. I even opted to take a bath to relax my muscles instead of my normal shower.
The bath was so warm and felt so good that I started dozing off. The only thing that woke me up was that I could hear my phone ringing. I got out of the tub, dried myself off, and went into the bedroom to get my phone. I had just missed the call. I checked my phone to see who it was. It was Pam.
I laid down on my bed with my towel wrapped around me and called Pam back. The phone just rang.
“Now she just called me. Where did she go that fast?” I said frustrated.
Again, I got her answering machine.
“Hey baby, I just saw you called. Where did….” I said as I was cut off due to someone picking up the phone.
“Pam!” I said excited.
“Awww I’m sorry, Pam isn’t here right now.”
“Who is this?” I asked curiously.
“Why don’t you take a guess?” The voice said seductively.
I was infuriated immediately and yet, worried about Pam at the same time.
“Why are you there?” I asked.
“Tisk, Tisk, Tisk. You still have not learned any manners my dear Jaden. Where is my hello?” She asked.
“Hello.” I replied.
“Hello. How are you?” Sheila asked.
“I’m fine.” I said through clinched teeth.
There was a silence on the phone.
“Hello?” I said.
“What? Are you not going to ask me how I am doing?”
“I don’t have time for these f***ing games Sheila! Where is Pam?” I screamed
“Yessssssss. That is what I like. I like your passion, your true expression of your feelings. Why have you been holding out on me?” She asked.
“Where is Pam? Sheila, I swear on everything good, if you….”
“If I what? Say it; I dare you to say it. If I what Jaden?” Sheila said angrily.
I sighed and tried to compose myself.
“I just want to know where Pam is and if she is ok.”
“Oh now you want to talk like you have some f***ing sense huh? Well let me tell you this, how ok Pam is will solely determine how you act now wont it? Now like I said, Pam isn’t here right now however when she returns, I will be sure to tell her you called.” Pam said.
“Sheila! Stop with all these games. What do you want from me?” I screamed.
“You have a great day now. Oh, and put some clothes on. Bye Bye now.” Sheila said as she hung up the phone.
I threw the phone across the room and it shattered against the wall. I jumped off the bed, threw on some clothes, ran into the living room, grabbed my keys, and rushed out of the apartment to head over to Pam’s.
“Yes! Can you believe that sh*t? I mean, who does that? Here I am thinking I am having some type of bad dream, and this chick is sitting in my bedroom with her legs crossed smoking a jack.”
Keith poured himself some cognac and sat at his dining room table with me.
“I just can’t believe that man. I know Sheila is crazy, but man, I didn’t think she was doing it like that.” Keith said while sipping his drink.
“Yeah well she is…” I said abruptly. “Also, are you going to finally tell me how you got involved with Sheila?”
Keith got up from the table and went into the kitchen.
“Keith? Don’t ignore me dude.”
Keith reappeared from the kitchen, and sat back at the table. He just stared at me as he took another sip of his drink.
“Keith?” I said cautiously.
Keith took one more sip of his drink before he started to speak.
“I was at a party. I had gone to this lounge with my boy Dave. You remember Dave right?”
I simply nodded as Keith continued.
“Well we were at the party kickin’ it with a few honies but there was this one woman, one that stood above the rest. I remember how elegant she seemed. Flawless. She had such a swagger about her that was leaps and bounds above all the other women in there. “
I watched my brother as it seemed he was taking a delightful trip down memory lane. That was soon to end as I saw his facial expressions beginning to change.
“So here and I talked. I was doing some drinking but nothing more than usual. However, somehow, it seemed I had a little too much. I can remember getting in Dave’s car and him dropping me home. “
Keith suddenly stopped and stared off.
“Okay?” I said inquisitively.
“Well, the next morning I woke up with a nasty hangover. I thought I was alone until…”
“Until what?” I asked.
Keith took another sip of his cognac and answered “Until I heard the shower cut on.”
I was frozen. I cannot believe that she had gotten us both the exact same way. So much so, that it is way too much to be coincidental." Keith continued explaining.
“So when I went to investigate, I found Sheila in my shower. Seems as if she and I had spent the night together, but I certainly didn’t remember the incident.”
“Did you know that was…” I asked.
“I had no clue! So imagine my surprise the first time that she takes me home to meet her parents and I see Sheila. So after that, Sheila told me that unless I do what she tells me to do, she would tell Janice about the incident in detail.”
“You think we were drugged Keith? I mean, we have similar stories and I too don’t remember being with her. I woke up in the same fashion you did.”
“It’s a possibility man. All I know, is I want this woman gone from my life.”
I took a final sip of my vodka and OJ, grabbed my keys, and jumped up from the table.
“Where are you going?” Keith asked.
“To someone who I think can help remove this woman from both of our lives. It’s time we got on the offensive my brother. I will hit you up later and let you know what I find out.”
I quickly left my brother’s apartment, jumped in my car, and headed downtown to the police station.
I had made a call to the station to see if Maurice was on duty. I had arranged to meet him when I got there. Pulling up to the station, I happened to see Maurice standing outside talking with another officer. I got out the car as Maurice smiled and greeted me.
“What’s up J-Money? What’s good with you family? Hey Dozier, this is my man from college. Boy, we did so many things dude that we should have never graduated.” Maurice said pointing to me and laughing.
“Mo! Long time no see man. Yeah, I must say, I don’t know how we made it out man, but we did. Is it possible that I could have a word with you for a minute?”
“Sure man. Hey Dozier, I will get up with you later.” Maurice said.
We walked over to my car and took a seat on my hood.
“So what’s on your mind Jay?” Maurice asked.
“Well Mo here is the issue….”
I proceeded to tell Maurice and the whole situation about Sheila and what was going down between her, my brother, and I. Maurice told me that it wasn’t a problem and that I should give him as much of a run down on Sheila’s information as I could. I gave him all I knew about her, her daughter and her husband. Maurice assured me that he would look into it and get back to me as soon as he found something.
I left the police station feeling better now that I had someone on the right side of the law on my team. I am just upset that I didn’t think of Maurice before now. I proceeded to drive home and then figured I should call Pam since I haven’t talked to her in a while. I called but got her answering machine. Pam is so old school. I mean really, who still has an answering machine instead of voicemail. I decided not to leave a message and just call her back later.
I finally arrived home and was so glad to be there. First thing was first however, I did a thorough inspection of my entire apartment. I definitely don’t need any pop ups, surprises, or disturbances today. I just want to have a normal ending to a fairly normal day.
I made myself some dinner, got me a nice glass of Riesling, and relaxed to smooth sounds of Maxwell coming out of the Bose system in my living room. I picked up my cell phone and decided to try Pam again and again, no answer. This time I decided to leave a message.
“Hey baby it’s me, I haven’t talked to you in a day or two so I just wanted to check on you and make sure you were ok. I miss you and want to see you soon. Call me back when you get this message. Ok, I love you. Bye.”
I continued eating my dinner and sipping on my wine. As it began to get late, I decided that it was time to turn in and get ready for tomorrow. I even opted to take a bath to relax my muscles instead of my normal shower.
The bath was so warm and felt so good that I started dozing off. The only thing that woke me up was that I could hear my phone ringing. I got out of the tub, dried myself off, and went into the bedroom to get my phone. I had just missed the call. I checked my phone to see who it was. It was Pam.
I laid down on my bed with my towel wrapped around me and called Pam back. The phone just rang.
“Now she just called me. Where did she go that fast?” I said frustrated.
Again, I got her answering machine.
“Hey baby, I just saw you called. Where did….” I said as I was cut off due to someone picking up the phone.
“Pam!” I said excited.
“Awww I’m sorry, Pam isn’t here right now.”
“Who is this?” I asked curiously.
“Why don’t you take a guess?” The voice said seductively.
I was infuriated immediately and yet, worried about Pam at the same time.
“Why are you there?” I asked.
“Tisk, Tisk, Tisk. You still have not learned any manners my dear Jaden. Where is my hello?” She asked.
“Hello.” I replied.
“Hello. How are you?” Sheila asked.
“I’m fine.” I said through clinched teeth.
There was a silence on the phone.
“Hello?” I said.
“What? Are you not going to ask me how I am doing?”
“I don’t have time for these f***ing games Sheila! Where is Pam?” I screamed
“Yessssssss. That is what I like. I like your passion, your true expression of your feelings. Why have you been holding out on me?” She asked.
“Where is Pam? Sheila, I swear on everything good, if you….”
“If I what? Say it; I dare you to say it. If I what Jaden?” Sheila said angrily.
I sighed and tried to compose myself.
“I just want to know where Pam is and if she is ok.”
“Oh now you want to talk like you have some f***ing sense huh? Well let me tell you this, how ok Pam is will solely determine how you act now wont it? Now like I said, Pam isn’t here right now however when she returns, I will be sure to tell her you called.” Pam said.
“Sheila! Stop with all these games. What do you want from me?” I screamed.
“You have a great day now. Oh, and put some clothes on. Bye Bye now.” Sheila said as she hung up the phone.
I threw the phone across the room and it shattered against the wall. I jumped off the bed, threw on some clothes, ran into the living room, grabbed my keys, and rushed out of the apartment to head over to Pam’s.
Monday, May 04, 2009
As The Negro Turns (Part 5)
“In conclusion, I think if we make these changes to how we serve our clients, we will see a 30-40% growth in profits. This, ladies and gentleman, can bring a whole new meaning to the term customer service. I am now open to questions if anyone has them.” I said proudly as I finished up my presentation. It is good to know that with all of the drama going on in my personal life that my work is still on point.
I surveyed the conference room to see if anyone had any questions. Everyone seemed to be pleased with what I presented. I simply smiled and proceeded to wrap things up.
“Well, if there are no questions, I thank you all for your time and have a wonderful day.”
My co-workers all began exiting the conference room all while shaking my hand and congratulating me on the job I had done. As I gathered my things, I noticed that there was still one person sitting at the conference table…Mr. Jacobs. There he was sitting at the head of the table, biting on his pen, looking out the window. I nervously addressed him to see if he liked what he heard.
“So what did you think about the presentation Mr. Jacobs” I said softly.
He continued to stare out the window.
“Mr. Jacobs?”
Mr. Jacobs turned his head from looking out the window to staring directly at me. The pen that was once in his mouth, was now tapping on the cherry conference table.
“You know Jaden, you are just the type of man I could use on a special project that I have.”
“Special Project sir?” I said inquisitively.
“Yes, Special Project. “ he said as he rose from his chair and walked over to the window. He raised the blinds and began looking down on the street
“Where were you born and raised Jaden?”
I couldn’t help but wonder where the hell this conversation was going but I answered him swiftly and honestly.
“Well I was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. However I was raised in the suburbs of DC“
“I see…” he said placing his hands behind his back. “Jaden, have you ever seen a beehive? “
“A beehive sir?” I asked.
“Yes a beehive.”
“Not up close and personal sir no I have not.”
“In a beehive there are thousands of worker bees. There are thousands of bees who all look alike working for the greater good of the hive. All day long, day in and day out, they produce. They make the hive run. They produce the honey.”
I am doing my best not to let my mind drift, but I can’t see what the point of this is. Besides, I have way too much on my mind to be thinking of worker bees. My thoughts however cannot and did not deter him in the slightest. He continued on while still looking out the window.
“There is one bee however out of the thousands of bees that is different, one bee that sits above the drones. That, my dear Jaden, is the Queen Bee. The hive doesn’t move, produce, or function unless the queen is happy. Do you follow me Jaden?”
Puzzled and half way drifting off in my own thoughts, I answered “I don’t think so sir.”
“What I am saying is that you have a bright future here with this company Jaden. However you, and even I, are merely worker bees trying to make the Queen happy.”
Ah hell. How could I not see this coming? This is going to take a hard left turn. I just know it.
“So what are you saying sir?” I asked.
“I pride myself in being honest Jaden. Are you aware of our junior executive program we have here?” he said while turning away from the window
“I am sir.” I replied.
Mr. Jacobs then returned to his seat and motioned for me to sit down. I complied.
“Well, are you aware that every year we choose one employee to participate in the program and I invite them to a formal dinner at my home?”
“Yes sir I am.”
“Well Jaden, like I said, I am all about being honest. You were not initially chosen to be in this program. However, I discuss all major decisions with my wife and after reviewing the candidates, she convinced me that you were the man to go with this year. Congrats Jaden, you’re in.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I have been trying to get into the junior executive program since I started with this company. I’m not stupid though. If Sheila has her hands in this, it is bound to be dirty at some point. I can’t turn this opportunity down though. However, it seems if I take this, I will certainly be making a deal with the devil.
As Mr. Jacobs rose from his seat and headed to the door, he paused before he left the conference room.
“My house. Saturday at eight.”
“I will be there sir.”I said as I followed him to the door.
“Oh, and bring that girlfriend of yours.”
“Well sir, I don’t think that…”
“Its settled…” he said as he exited. “We will see you Saturday at eight.”
I guess I need to make preparations to attend. It’s time to put my game face on and make it through this. I definitely am not taking Tammy to this function. No need to through any more variables into this already complex equation.
I arrived at the door of the Jacobs estate ready to get the evening over with. I rang the doorbell as I have myself a look over to make sure I was all together. I was all set to get the royal treatment when their butler opened the door; however I got an unexpected surprise.
I had my head down as the door opened. As I raised my head I got a view of Prada shoes, smooth caramel legs with perfectly shaped calves, nice thighs, a tight waist, and breast that were quite ample. I would have been in my own fantasy land had I not known who all these wonderful body parts belonged to.
“Jaden” she said grinning.
I simply stared at her.
“What? No hello?”
“What is going on here Sheila?”
“What is going on here? I thought my husband explained all that to you at the office?”
“He did, but I am sure there is more to it.”I said smirking.
“Maybe, but the night is just beginning. Where is your girlfriend? What’s her name again?”
Frustrated I slightly raised my voice in my response.
“You know very well what her name is!”
“Shhh. Keep your voice down. We wouldn’t want your boss to over here this conversation now would we? How would he feel about you raising your voice at his loving and devoted wife?” She said smiling.
I entered the door way on fire. The night had just begun and Sheila had already managed to get under my skin. I have to pull it together. All I have to do is make it through this dinner and everything should be fine.Sheila escorted me into the dining room where Mr. Jacobs was already in there enjoying a drink.
“Jaden my boy! Please come in, come in. Would you like a drink?” He said while motioning towards his glass.
“No thank you sir, I am driving tonight.”
“Responsibility, an excellent quality. See baby, I told you Jaden was the right man for this job.” Sheila said as she took her seat at the table.
I simply cut my eyes at her as she smiled, batted her eyes, and took a sip of her drink.
“Please Jaden, have a seat.” Mr. Jacobs said.
I took my seat across from Sheila.
“So, Jaden…” Mr. Jacobs said while taking another drink. “Let’s get started here shall we?”
Mr. Jacobs was just getting into his spiel about the program when the doorbell rang.
“Who in the hell could that be?” Mr. Jacobs said to Sheila.
Sheila simply took another drink of her martini and looked at me.
“Ms. Jacobs...” The housekeeper called out. “You have a visitor.”
“You expecting someone?” Mr. Jacobs asked.
“I am.” Sheila replied as she got up from the table and went to the doorway.
I could hear her greeting someone at the door before she returned within sight.
“Right this way.” She said to the lady following her.
As the woman turned the corner, my face almost hit the floor. I was speechless. Well, almost speechless. All I could seem to get out was “Tammy?”
“Yes Tammy.” Sheila said smiling as she walked to the table.
“Hey baby!” Tammy said entering the room. “Why didn’t you tell me about this? This is a big deal! I am so proud of you.”
“Her sweetie…” I said nervously. “I was going to tell you after this meeting. How did you know about it though?”
“I can answer that,” Sheila said taking her seat while Tammy sat down next to me. “I know how you corporate busy bees can be. Sometimes you boys get so caught up into business that you forget the small details or to share what’s going on with the important people in your life. So, I saw Tammy as your emergency contact and figured she was the one closest to you and that she should share in the moment with you.”
“Baby isn’t that just sweet of her?” Tammy said excited.
“Yes sweet heart, sweet.” I said through clinched teeth.
I took a look across the table at Sheila and she loved it. I could see that she was incredibly pleased with herself. I still couldn’t quite figure out her angle. What did having Tammy here prove? I have come to know that anything that this woman is up to is never good and always designed to benefit her. I know that I have to be protective of Tammy because I do not want her involved in this mess. My biggest fear is that due to my actions, she may already be in it.
The night actually turned out decent. There were no curve balls thrown by Sheila, except for a few intrusive questions about our relationship. Thank God I have the type of woman who isn’t big on telling all of our details. Mr. Jacobs described the program, what’s expected of me, and gave me the intricate details of how it all works.
I left their house feeling pretty good. Tammy came over; we had a very intimate night with each other and then fell asleep. I was in heaven as I drifted off to sleep. I had the dream job and a beautiful and loving woman. My problems from before didn’t seem to matter that much now.
I woke up in the middle of the night coughing. I could smell smoke. I sat up in the bed and just knew what I was seeing couldn’t be true. I saw the image of a woman sitting in the shadows, smoking a cigarette. I continued to gather myself as I sat on the edge of the bed.
“I must be tripping.” I said aloud.
“What makes you think that?” I heard from across the room.
I quickly jumped up to my feet and ended up backing into a wall.
“Why my dear Jaden, you act as if you have seen a ghost?”
“Sheila?” I said whispering. “What the f*** are you doing in my home, none the less my bedroom?”
Sheila took a long pull from her cigarette.
“And put out that damn cigarette in my house. You have to go! Now!”
Sheila dropped the cigarette on my hard wood floor, stood up, and stepped on the butt with her shoe.
“You know…” She said walking closer to the bed. “I had to see if what you and she had was real. Look at her, lying in your bed all comfortable, trusting, and stupid. Stupid because she believes in your sorry a**! “
“You obviously liked it.” I said while stepping towards her.
“You think so? Maybe I should wake Tammy up and tell her just how much I loved it?” Sheila said while walking closer to the side of the bed where Tammy was lying.
As Sheila reached down to touch her, I quickly made my way around to her, grabbed her by the arm, and forcefully pulled her out of the bedroom closing the bedroom door behind me. I slammed Sheila against the living room wall and put my finger in her face.
“Let me tell you one f****ing thing right now. I am not to be f***ed with! Do you understand me? I am not Keith. I don’t know who you think you are but I am not the one. You break into my home while my woman and I are sleeping? What the hell is wrong with you?"
All the time I was talking, she was just staring at me with a distant look in her eyes and a partial smile on her face.
“Do you hear me?” I said forcefully.
Sheila nodded and then quickly leaned in and kissed me. In an instant I grabbed her shoulders and slammed her on the wall again.
“Are you insane? You must me crazy!” I said wiping my mouth.
Sheila simply smiled.
“That’s it! You have to go!”
I grabbed Sheila, walked her over to the door, opened it, and tossed her out. I pushed her so hard that she took a few steps to regain her composure.
“Don’t ever come back here Sheila!” I said.
She turned back to face me and simply smiled.
I was so furious I slammed the door. I went into the kitchen to get me a glass of water to calm down. Tammy then appeared staggering into the kitchen still half asleep.
“Baby what’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” I said. “Go back to bed.”
“What’s all the noise? I thought I heard something slam or fall?”
“It was just me messing around in this kitchen. You go back to bed baby.”
“You coming with me?”
“Yes, in a minute, as soon as I finish this glass of water. “
“Ok baby…” she said walking away. “But don’t take too long.”
“I won’t.”
As she began to make her way back to bed, she called to me from the living room.
“Jaden?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Do you smell smoke?”
I simply sighed as I took my last gulp of water.
I surveyed the conference room to see if anyone had any questions. Everyone seemed to be pleased with what I presented. I simply smiled and proceeded to wrap things up.
“Well, if there are no questions, I thank you all for your time and have a wonderful day.”
My co-workers all began exiting the conference room all while shaking my hand and congratulating me on the job I had done. As I gathered my things, I noticed that there was still one person sitting at the conference table…Mr. Jacobs. There he was sitting at the head of the table, biting on his pen, looking out the window. I nervously addressed him to see if he liked what he heard.
“So what did you think about the presentation Mr. Jacobs” I said softly.
He continued to stare out the window.
“Mr. Jacobs?”
Mr. Jacobs turned his head from looking out the window to staring directly at me. The pen that was once in his mouth, was now tapping on the cherry conference table.
“You know Jaden, you are just the type of man I could use on a special project that I have.”
“Special Project sir?” I said inquisitively.
“Yes, Special Project. “ he said as he rose from his chair and walked over to the window. He raised the blinds and began looking down on the street
“Where were you born and raised Jaden?”
I couldn’t help but wonder where the hell this conversation was going but I answered him swiftly and honestly.
“Well I was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. However I was raised in the suburbs of DC“
“I see…” he said placing his hands behind his back. “Jaden, have you ever seen a beehive? “
“A beehive sir?” I asked.
“Yes a beehive.”
“Not up close and personal sir no I have not.”
“In a beehive there are thousands of worker bees. There are thousands of bees who all look alike working for the greater good of the hive. All day long, day in and day out, they produce. They make the hive run. They produce the honey.”
I am doing my best not to let my mind drift, but I can’t see what the point of this is. Besides, I have way too much on my mind to be thinking of worker bees. My thoughts however cannot and did not deter him in the slightest. He continued on while still looking out the window.
“There is one bee however out of the thousands of bees that is different, one bee that sits above the drones. That, my dear Jaden, is the Queen Bee. The hive doesn’t move, produce, or function unless the queen is happy. Do you follow me Jaden?”
Puzzled and half way drifting off in my own thoughts, I answered “I don’t think so sir.”
“What I am saying is that you have a bright future here with this company Jaden. However you, and even I, are merely worker bees trying to make the Queen happy.”
Ah hell. How could I not see this coming? This is going to take a hard left turn. I just know it.
“So what are you saying sir?” I asked.
“I pride myself in being honest Jaden. Are you aware of our junior executive program we have here?” he said while turning away from the window
“I am sir.” I replied.
Mr. Jacobs then returned to his seat and motioned for me to sit down. I complied.
“Well, are you aware that every year we choose one employee to participate in the program and I invite them to a formal dinner at my home?”
“Yes sir I am.”
“Well Jaden, like I said, I am all about being honest. You were not initially chosen to be in this program. However, I discuss all major decisions with my wife and after reviewing the candidates, she convinced me that you were the man to go with this year. Congrats Jaden, you’re in.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I have been trying to get into the junior executive program since I started with this company. I’m not stupid though. If Sheila has her hands in this, it is bound to be dirty at some point. I can’t turn this opportunity down though. However, it seems if I take this, I will certainly be making a deal with the devil.
As Mr. Jacobs rose from his seat and headed to the door, he paused before he left the conference room.
“My house. Saturday at eight.”
“I will be there sir.”I said as I followed him to the door.
“Oh, and bring that girlfriend of yours.”
“Well sir, I don’t think that…”
“Its settled…” he said as he exited. “We will see you Saturday at eight.”
I guess I need to make preparations to attend. It’s time to put my game face on and make it through this. I definitely am not taking Tammy to this function. No need to through any more variables into this already complex equation.
I arrived at the door of the Jacobs estate ready to get the evening over with. I rang the doorbell as I have myself a look over to make sure I was all together. I was all set to get the royal treatment when their butler opened the door; however I got an unexpected surprise.
I had my head down as the door opened. As I raised my head I got a view of Prada shoes, smooth caramel legs with perfectly shaped calves, nice thighs, a tight waist, and breast that were quite ample. I would have been in my own fantasy land had I not known who all these wonderful body parts belonged to.
“Jaden” she said grinning.
I simply stared at her.
“What? No hello?”
“What is going on here Sheila?”
“What is going on here? I thought my husband explained all that to you at the office?”
“He did, but I am sure there is more to it.”I said smirking.
“Maybe, but the night is just beginning. Where is your girlfriend? What’s her name again?”
Frustrated I slightly raised my voice in my response.
“You know very well what her name is!”
“Shhh. Keep your voice down. We wouldn’t want your boss to over here this conversation now would we? How would he feel about you raising your voice at his loving and devoted wife?” She said smiling.
I entered the door way on fire. The night had just begun and Sheila had already managed to get under my skin. I have to pull it together. All I have to do is make it through this dinner and everything should be fine.Sheila escorted me into the dining room where Mr. Jacobs was already in there enjoying a drink.
“Jaden my boy! Please come in, come in. Would you like a drink?” He said while motioning towards his glass.
“No thank you sir, I am driving tonight.”
“Responsibility, an excellent quality. See baby, I told you Jaden was the right man for this job.” Sheila said as she took her seat at the table.
I simply cut my eyes at her as she smiled, batted her eyes, and took a sip of her drink.
“Please Jaden, have a seat.” Mr. Jacobs said.
I took my seat across from Sheila.
“So, Jaden…” Mr. Jacobs said while taking another drink. “Let’s get started here shall we?”
Mr. Jacobs was just getting into his spiel about the program when the doorbell rang.
“Who in the hell could that be?” Mr. Jacobs said to Sheila.
Sheila simply took another drink of her martini and looked at me.
“Ms. Jacobs...” The housekeeper called out. “You have a visitor.”
“You expecting someone?” Mr. Jacobs asked.
“I am.” Sheila replied as she got up from the table and went to the doorway.
I could hear her greeting someone at the door before she returned within sight.
“Right this way.” She said to the lady following her.
As the woman turned the corner, my face almost hit the floor. I was speechless. Well, almost speechless. All I could seem to get out was “Tammy?”
“Yes Tammy.” Sheila said smiling as she walked to the table.
“Hey baby!” Tammy said entering the room. “Why didn’t you tell me about this? This is a big deal! I am so proud of you.”
“Her sweetie…” I said nervously. “I was going to tell you after this meeting. How did you know about it though?”
“I can answer that,” Sheila said taking her seat while Tammy sat down next to me. “I know how you corporate busy bees can be. Sometimes you boys get so caught up into business that you forget the small details or to share what’s going on with the important people in your life. So, I saw Tammy as your emergency contact and figured she was the one closest to you and that she should share in the moment with you.”
“Baby isn’t that just sweet of her?” Tammy said excited.
“Yes sweet heart, sweet.” I said through clinched teeth.
I took a look across the table at Sheila and she loved it. I could see that she was incredibly pleased with herself. I still couldn’t quite figure out her angle. What did having Tammy here prove? I have come to know that anything that this woman is up to is never good and always designed to benefit her. I know that I have to be protective of Tammy because I do not want her involved in this mess. My biggest fear is that due to my actions, she may already be in it.
The night actually turned out decent. There were no curve balls thrown by Sheila, except for a few intrusive questions about our relationship. Thank God I have the type of woman who isn’t big on telling all of our details. Mr. Jacobs described the program, what’s expected of me, and gave me the intricate details of how it all works.
I left their house feeling pretty good. Tammy came over; we had a very intimate night with each other and then fell asleep. I was in heaven as I drifted off to sleep. I had the dream job and a beautiful and loving woman. My problems from before didn’t seem to matter that much now.
I woke up in the middle of the night coughing. I could smell smoke. I sat up in the bed and just knew what I was seeing couldn’t be true. I saw the image of a woman sitting in the shadows, smoking a cigarette. I continued to gather myself as I sat on the edge of the bed.
“I must be tripping.” I said aloud.
“What makes you think that?” I heard from across the room.
I quickly jumped up to my feet and ended up backing into a wall.
“Why my dear Jaden, you act as if you have seen a ghost?”
“Sheila?” I said whispering. “What the f*** are you doing in my home, none the less my bedroom?”
Sheila took a long pull from her cigarette.
“And put out that damn cigarette in my house. You have to go! Now!”
Sheila dropped the cigarette on my hard wood floor, stood up, and stepped on the butt with her shoe.
“You know…” She said walking closer to the bed. “I had to see if what you and she had was real. Look at her, lying in your bed all comfortable, trusting, and stupid. Stupid because she believes in your sorry a**! “
“You obviously liked it.” I said while stepping towards her.
“You think so? Maybe I should wake Tammy up and tell her just how much I loved it?” Sheila said while walking closer to the side of the bed where Tammy was lying.
As Sheila reached down to touch her, I quickly made my way around to her, grabbed her by the arm, and forcefully pulled her out of the bedroom closing the bedroom door behind me. I slammed Sheila against the living room wall and put my finger in her face.
“Let me tell you one f****ing thing right now. I am not to be f***ed with! Do you understand me? I am not Keith. I don’t know who you think you are but I am not the one. You break into my home while my woman and I are sleeping? What the hell is wrong with you?"
All the time I was talking, she was just staring at me with a distant look in her eyes and a partial smile on her face.
“Do you hear me?” I said forcefully.
Sheila nodded and then quickly leaned in and kissed me. In an instant I grabbed her shoulders and slammed her on the wall again.
“Are you insane? You must me crazy!” I said wiping my mouth.
Sheila simply smiled.
“That’s it! You have to go!”
I grabbed Sheila, walked her over to the door, opened it, and tossed her out. I pushed her so hard that she took a few steps to regain her composure.
“Don’t ever come back here Sheila!” I said.
She turned back to face me and simply smiled.
I was so furious I slammed the door. I went into the kitchen to get me a glass of water to calm down. Tammy then appeared staggering into the kitchen still half asleep.
“Baby what’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” I said. “Go back to bed.”
“What’s all the noise? I thought I heard something slam or fall?”
“It was just me messing around in this kitchen. You go back to bed baby.”
“You coming with me?”
“Yes, in a minute, as soon as I finish this glass of water. “
“Ok baby…” she said walking away. “But don’t take too long.”
“I won’t.”
As she began to make her way back to bed, she called to me from the living room.
“Jaden?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Do you smell smoke?”
I simply sighed as I took my last gulp of water.
As The Negro Turns (Part 4)
“You have 17 new messages. First message received yesterday at 10:15pm. Yo Jaden. I know you are there. I need to talk to you man. Call me back ASAP.”
I sighed as I continued to listen to my messages.
“Next message, received at 11:17pm. Hey baby it’s me. I just wanted to check on you. Your brother called me looking for you. He said he really needed to talk to you so when you get this message please give him a call so that he can stop blowing up my phone. Ok sweetie, I love you. Bye.”
Nothing about this situation is good. I know the longer I go without speaking to Keith, the more he is going to call. What am I supposed to say to him though? Hey man, sorry about the misunderstanding. Oh yeah, so how did YOU start sleeping with Sheila? What conversation is that to have?
I haven’t answered my phone in almost a full 24 hours because I didn’t know what to say to anyone anymore. I went downtown, got a nice hotel room, ordered room service, and decided to just take a day to myself. I know my approach is selfish, but I need time to sort all this out in my own head.
I continued listening to my messages as I laid back on the nice king sized bed in the room.
“Next message, received at 1:42am. Jaden, my dear Jaden...”
I quickly sat up in the bed. This message has my full attention. Why is she calling me? We haven’t even spoken since she left my apartment.
“Jaden, it would behoove you NOT to ignore me when I call. I do not like to be ignored. As a matter of fact my dear boy, it pisses me off. You would NOT want to see what I am capable of when I am pissed off. So I suggest you return my call, and let’s get together so that we can play nice.”
As I was going to hit the button to erase the message, I could hear a little more to her message.
“Oh, and by the way. I hear you met my daughter. Beautiful isn’t she? I wonder if your brother thinks of me when he is with her.” Sheila said while laughing.
I quickly hit the button on my keypad to erase the message, slam my phone shut, and tossed it on the table. I got up from the bed, went into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. I figured that maybe a hot shower could help me relieve some of the stress from this situation. Besides, I couldn’t stay in this hotel room forever. Eventually I did have to go back to my place and face the real world with open arms no matter how brutal it may be.
As I climbed the stairs to my apartment, I was feeling pretty good. I forced myself to put it all out of my head for a while. I was doing well, until I seen that my apartment door was cracked open. I paused in the hallway for a minute looking for something I could use as a weapon. The only thing I saw was the fire extinguisher.
“This will have to work.” I said as I went and grabbed the tank from its case.
I entered the door slowly, making sure to look left and right. Here I am creeping through my own place like a cat-burglar making sure to notice every little detail about the apartment. It seemed as if nothing was out of place. That is, until I saw the bathroom light on and the door closed.
What is it about people and my bathroom?
I crept closer to the door. When I got right up the door, I could hear the toilet flush. My plan was to stand beside this door, and as soon as the person emerged, I was going to give them every bit of this fire extinguisher right in there head. As the door opened, I moved quickly and bam! I struck them right in the head.
“Yo Jaden man what the f*** is wrong with you?”
“Keith?” I said surprised.
“Well it aint Santa Clause nigga. Man, now you have my head ringing.”
“What are you doing here?” I said as I put the fire extinguisher down.
Keith was still trying to shake off the effects of just being pummeled with a fire extinguisher. He stumbled over to a chair while still holding his head.
“I came by here because you won’t answer your phone. “
“How did you even get in?”
“You gave me a key a while back. Dag baby bruh, what’s going on with you man? Also, since we are playing twenty questions, what the hell was that at mom’s house the other day?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about” I said as I took a seat across from Keith.
“How come I am the one who got hit in the head, but you are the one who has amnesia?”
I cut my eye at Keith, curled up my lips, and shrugged my shoulders.
Keith leaned up in his chair. “Look man, I don’t know what your dealings are with Sheila or how you know her, but I am telling you, leave her alone man. She is nothing but trouble.”
“How would you know that?” I asked.
“Let’s just say we have dealt on some personal matters”
“Very personal it seems” I said with a smirk.
“What are you talking about?”
“Come on Keith, I know man.”
“You know what?” Keith said sounding defensive.
“You really are trying to play me. I am your younger brother man, not your little brother. There is a difference.”
“Jaden what the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you sleeping with Sheila. Yes, I know.”
Keith just gave me a puzzled look.
“Oh, I see. I can see it in your face. You are wondering how I know right?”
Keith simply shook his head yes.
Sighing I said “I know because she told me, the night she was over here.”
“She was over here? What was she doing over here?” Keith said excited.
I simply sighed and dropped my head.
“Jaden, you didn’t. Tell me you didn’t.”
I simply raised my eyes slowly to meet his and just stared at him.
“No, No, No. Jaden No! You have no idea what this woman is capable of.”
“Well how the hell did you get mixed up with her? That’s your fiancés mother!” I asked.
“Well…” Keith said as he began his explanation but then there was a knock at the door.
“You expecting company?” Keith asked.
“Hell no! Nigga I wasn’t even expecting you!” I replied.
I got up and walked cautiously to the door.
“Who is it?” I screamed.
“Fed Ex sir.” The man replied.
I opened the door and there standing before me was a fed ex employee.
“I have a delivery for a Jaden Sasser.”
“I’m him.”
“Could you sign here please sir?” he said as he handed me the signature pad.
I signed my name, received the package, and told the gentleman to have a nice day.
As I closed the door I came back to the chair, sat down, and opened the package. Inside was an Ipod with a note that said “Play me”. I held it up to my brother so that he could see.
“What the hell?” Keith said puzzled.
Since I didn’t have any earphones around, I decided to hook it straight into my computer speakers. What Keith and I heard after I pressed play had us both shocked.
“Hello Jaden. My, my, my, you have gone through great lengths to avoid me. I mean you don’t answer your phone, you haven’t been at home, and you haven’t even been over that pretty little girlfriend’s house of yours. What’s her name again? That’s right…Pam. Pamela Patterson”
Keith and I looked at each other.
“What? You surprised? Jaden listen to me, I have to be one of the most powerful women on the eastern seaboard and you don’t think I know what you are up to? I make it my business to know what all my special little projects are up to.”
“Projects?” I said aloud as I continued to listen.
“But I say this. I tell you that I am a patient woman and my patience is beginning to wear thin. I always get what I want Jaden. Always remember that. If you don’t believe me, just ask your brother Keith. No, literally, turn to him now and ask him. I mean, he is sitting right in front of you as you hear this right?”
Sheila began to laugh as I got up, grabbed the Ipod, and snatched the speaker cords out of it. I went over to my windows and looked through the blinds to see if I could see anything. I didn’t see anything out of the usual.
Keith got up and came over to the window.
“Seems like we are both in the game now baby brother.”
“So it seems.” I replied with clinched teeth.
How in the hell did I ever get here?
I sighed as I continued to listen to my messages.
“Next message, received at 11:17pm. Hey baby it’s me. I just wanted to check on you. Your brother called me looking for you. He said he really needed to talk to you so when you get this message please give him a call so that he can stop blowing up my phone. Ok sweetie, I love you. Bye.”
Nothing about this situation is good. I know the longer I go without speaking to Keith, the more he is going to call. What am I supposed to say to him though? Hey man, sorry about the misunderstanding. Oh yeah, so how did YOU start sleeping with Sheila? What conversation is that to have?
I haven’t answered my phone in almost a full 24 hours because I didn’t know what to say to anyone anymore. I went downtown, got a nice hotel room, ordered room service, and decided to just take a day to myself. I know my approach is selfish, but I need time to sort all this out in my own head.
I continued listening to my messages as I laid back on the nice king sized bed in the room.
“Next message, received at 1:42am. Jaden, my dear Jaden...”
I quickly sat up in the bed. This message has my full attention. Why is she calling me? We haven’t even spoken since she left my apartment.
“Jaden, it would behoove you NOT to ignore me when I call. I do not like to be ignored. As a matter of fact my dear boy, it pisses me off. You would NOT want to see what I am capable of when I am pissed off. So I suggest you return my call, and let’s get together so that we can play nice.”
As I was going to hit the button to erase the message, I could hear a little more to her message.
“Oh, and by the way. I hear you met my daughter. Beautiful isn’t she? I wonder if your brother thinks of me when he is with her.” Sheila said while laughing.
I quickly hit the button on my keypad to erase the message, slam my phone shut, and tossed it on the table. I got up from the bed, went into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. I figured that maybe a hot shower could help me relieve some of the stress from this situation. Besides, I couldn’t stay in this hotel room forever. Eventually I did have to go back to my place and face the real world with open arms no matter how brutal it may be.
As I climbed the stairs to my apartment, I was feeling pretty good. I forced myself to put it all out of my head for a while. I was doing well, until I seen that my apartment door was cracked open. I paused in the hallway for a minute looking for something I could use as a weapon. The only thing I saw was the fire extinguisher.
“This will have to work.” I said as I went and grabbed the tank from its case.
I entered the door slowly, making sure to look left and right. Here I am creeping through my own place like a cat-burglar making sure to notice every little detail about the apartment. It seemed as if nothing was out of place. That is, until I saw the bathroom light on and the door closed.
What is it about people and my bathroom?
I crept closer to the door. When I got right up the door, I could hear the toilet flush. My plan was to stand beside this door, and as soon as the person emerged, I was going to give them every bit of this fire extinguisher right in there head. As the door opened, I moved quickly and bam! I struck them right in the head.
“Yo Jaden man what the f*** is wrong with you?”
“Keith?” I said surprised.
“Well it aint Santa Clause nigga. Man, now you have my head ringing.”
“What are you doing here?” I said as I put the fire extinguisher down.
Keith was still trying to shake off the effects of just being pummeled with a fire extinguisher. He stumbled over to a chair while still holding his head.
“I came by here because you won’t answer your phone. “
“How did you even get in?”
“You gave me a key a while back. Dag baby bruh, what’s going on with you man? Also, since we are playing twenty questions, what the hell was that at mom’s house the other day?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about” I said as I took a seat across from Keith.
“How come I am the one who got hit in the head, but you are the one who has amnesia?”
I cut my eye at Keith, curled up my lips, and shrugged my shoulders.
Keith leaned up in his chair. “Look man, I don’t know what your dealings are with Sheila or how you know her, but I am telling you, leave her alone man. She is nothing but trouble.”
“How would you know that?” I asked.
“Let’s just say we have dealt on some personal matters”
“Very personal it seems” I said with a smirk.
“What are you talking about?”
“Come on Keith, I know man.”
“You know what?” Keith said sounding defensive.
“You really are trying to play me. I am your younger brother man, not your little brother. There is a difference.”
“Jaden what the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you sleeping with Sheila. Yes, I know.”
Keith just gave me a puzzled look.
“Oh, I see. I can see it in your face. You are wondering how I know right?”
Keith simply shook his head yes.
Sighing I said “I know because she told me, the night she was over here.”
“She was over here? What was she doing over here?” Keith said excited.
I simply sighed and dropped my head.
“Jaden, you didn’t. Tell me you didn’t.”
I simply raised my eyes slowly to meet his and just stared at him.
“No, No, No. Jaden No! You have no idea what this woman is capable of.”
“Well how the hell did you get mixed up with her? That’s your fiancés mother!” I asked.
“Well…” Keith said as he began his explanation but then there was a knock at the door.
“You expecting company?” Keith asked.
“Hell no! Nigga I wasn’t even expecting you!” I replied.
I got up and walked cautiously to the door.
“Who is it?” I screamed.
“Fed Ex sir.” The man replied.
I opened the door and there standing before me was a fed ex employee.
“I have a delivery for a Jaden Sasser.”
“I’m him.”
“Could you sign here please sir?” he said as he handed me the signature pad.
I signed my name, received the package, and told the gentleman to have a nice day.
As I closed the door I came back to the chair, sat down, and opened the package. Inside was an Ipod with a note that said “Play me”. I held it up to my brother so that he could see.
“What the hell?” Keith said puzzled.
Since I didn’t have any earphones around, I decided to hook it straight into my computer speakers. What Keith and I heard after I pressed play had us both shocked.
“Hello Jaden. My, my, my, you have gone through great lengths to avoid me. I mean you don’t answer your phone, you haven’t been at home, and you haven’t even been over that pretty little girlfriend’s house of yours. What’s her name again? That’s right…Pam. Pamela Patterson”
Keith and I looked at each other.
“What? You surprised? Jaden listen to me, I have to be one of the most powerful women on the eastern seaboard and you don’t think I know what you are up to? I make it my business to know what all my special little projects are up to.”
“Projects?” I said aloud as I continued to listen.
“But I say this. I tell you that I am a patient woman and my patience is beginning to wear thin. I always get what I want Jaden. Always remember that. If you don’t believe me, just ask your brother Keith. No, literally, turn to him now and ask him. I mean, he is sitting right in front of you as you hear this right?”
Sheila began to laugh as I got up, grabbed the Ipod, and snatched the speaker cords out of it. I went over to my windows and looked through the blinds to see if I could see anything. I didn’t see anything out of the usual.
Keith got up and came over to the window.
“Seems like we are both in the game now baby brother.”
“So it seems.” I replied with clinched teeth.
How in the hell did I ever get here?
As The Negro Turns (Part 3)
"So nigga are you going to say something or just stand there and look stupid?"
The condom was staring at me, mocking me even. Looking at me as if to say "Yeah boy, we got your a** now!"
I immediately went into battle cat mode. If I was going to go down, I was going to go down with one hell of a fight. I leaned my back against the wall, crossed my arms, and began chuckling to myself.
"Is something funny?" Pam said while throwing the condom to the ground.
"Yes it is actually," I said with all the swagger I could muster.
"What is funny is I would love to know where it came from too! I mean, there are only two people with keys to my apartment, my brother and you. Now, my grandfather used to say that he may not be able to read the writing or write the reading….but daggonit, he could add! With this situation, two plus two does not equal four!"
What in the hell are you talking about Jaden? Man, talk about just babbling. I am trying to buy myself sometime but with these words I am spitting out, hell, I wouldn't believe me! Well I am in too deep now, might as well play this out.
"Just what are you trying to say to me Jaden?" Pam said with what seemed to be a signature black woman head roll.
"What I am saying is this," I said as I began to take small steps walking around her in a circle.
"I am saying that I know what I have or have not been doing, and that my brother hasn't been over here; however you stayed here the entire week before I got back in town on Friday. It's only Monday, how do I know it's not yours?"
"What? Nigga you must have lost your mind!" Pam said outraged.
Whispering in her ear from behind her I said "Oh no woman, I very well know where my mind is. What I don't know is, is where was my woman or who she had up in here when I was gone!"
Lord you are trippin' now. We know it is ours and you have went into accusation mode of this innocent woman. You should be ashamed of yourself.
My personal version of Jiminy Cricket, my conscious, was eating me up about what I was doing to Pam. I know its foul, but right now, it's either get down or lay down. Trust me when I tell you, that I am not about to lay down.
Pam stood in silence.
"Answer me Pam!" I said with a little more bass to my voice.
"I mean I had some friends over but it was nothing like that?"
"Male friends?" I said in an accusatory tone.
"No baby, not at all. It was just some of the girls. You know Tee-Tee, Maria, and Tay." Pam said turning around to face me in an attempt to calm me down.
"Woman you had Tay in my house? You know I can not stand that girl!" I said with my fake attitude. I will say this, if the Academy Award committee could see this performance, I would get the Best Actor in an urban drama award hands down!
"I'm sorry baby and I apologize for having her here." Pam said while trying to reach out for me.
I gently pushed her hands back from me and began pacing the floor.
"That still does not explain where the condom came from because it damn sure ain't mine, and I take it that you are standing here claiming it isn't yours?"
"That's right baby. It isn't mine. I wouldn't do anything like that to you Jay. You know that. Wait, are you sure your brother didn't come by here? He has been known to bring women in here before."
I stopped pacing as if to ponder her statement before I appeared to have an epiphany.
"You know what, you are right! I bet he did because I was working late on Saturday and I bet that's when he came in here. I am going to curse him out."
"Now baby don't take it that far, he is still your brother." Pam said while walking up behind me and rubbing my shoulders.
"Naw baby I am sick of this. I mean look at what his actions almost caused? He almost caused a whole bunch of unnecessary confusion between me and you and I am not having that!" I said as I marched over to my bed and sat down forcefully.
Pam made her way to the bed, sat beside me, and put her hands on my face.
"Baby I am so sorry. I shouldn't have even come at you like that. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I have just been lonely, I have been stressed at work, and I guess everything just came to a head."
Pam then leaned in and gave me a slow, sensual kiss.
"You forgive me?" She said smiling.
"Depends…" I said looking her up and down. "How well do you think you can dance in those heels?"
Pam slightly smiled, nodded her head, stood up, and walked over to the stereo. She turned on some random slow song and began moving her body slowly and sensually.
Watching her dance, I could see the condom on the floor behind her and I never have felt as low as I did right then.
Driving in my car the next day, all I could do was think about the night before. I mean good Lord, Pam has never put it down like that before. I guess that was her way of saying she was sorry and boy did I get the message. My pleasant thoughts of Pam and the many wonderful things she did to my body were soon interrupted by my cell phone vibrating in my lap. It was Keith, my brother. I looked down at it, rolled my eyes, and answered the phone.
"Yeah?"
"Yo, how long before you get to mom's house?"
"I will be there in less than 5 minutes why?"
"Because this will be the first time Janice has had a chance to actually sit down with our family since we have been engaged and you know mom hasn't really had a chance to grill her yet. I need you there to play wingman, for support ya know?"
I haven't heard my brother this nervous in a long time.
"Jaden you there?"
"Yeah I'm here. Look don't worry, I got you."
"Cool, I will see you when I get there. I should get there right after you. See you in a few."
I hung up with my brother as soon as I turned into the driveway. I got out the car and knocked on the door. My mom came to door the irritated.
"Why didn't you just use your key?" She said as she scurried off back into the kitchen.
"Because its not my house mom and hello to you too!" I said laughing.
"I'm sorry Jaden." My mom hollered from the kitchen. "It's just that I am trying to finish up this dinner before your brother and that woman get here."
"That woman is now his fiancé so it seems like you should try to make nice with her. "
"Well I have only met the girl a couple of times and every time she was around, she acted like she didn't have anything to say. Jaden you know I don't trust those sneaky quiet ones."
I laughed at my mom as I sat down in the living room. I grabbed the remote, turned on the tv, and continued our conversation yelling back and forth between living room and kitchen.
"So because this girl is not chatty Kathy, she is now plotting on your son?"
My mother exited the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron.
"Exactly!" She said pointing at me. "I just don't trust that girl Jaden. Now if she was more like Pam…"
I instantly sunk down into the chair because I knew where this was headed. Every chance my mother got, she berated me about why I haven't made an honest woman of Pam yet and how I wouldn't find another woman like Pam in a million years.
The only thing that stopped my mother's little tirade was the sound of Keith's horn as he pulled up. My mother instantly dashed to the window.
"Oh Lord the pies still aren't done yet. Jaden let them in as I try to finish up in here." She said as she scurried back into the kitchen.
I got up from my comfortable spot on the couch to open the door for Keith and Janice. When they entered, Janice came in first followed by her soon to be husband.
"Hey Jay. It's good to see you" Janice said as she gave me a hug.
"Good to see you to Mrs. Sasser." I said jokingly.
"Where is mom?" Keith said anxiously.
"Calm down negro she is in the kitchen. Why are you trippin? You alright?"
Keith was obviously sweating how this dinner was going to turn out. Keith was always the type of person where other people's opinion of him mattered. Not me. I was never on that time. I always thought that what you thought about me was your business….not mine.
As Keith, Janice, and I made our way into the living room, I screamed out to the kitchen "Mom, they're here!"
My mother came to the edge of the doorway and stood. Keith stepped around Janice to re introduce her to my mother.
Grabbing Janice by the hand Keith smiled and said "Mom, you remember Janice right?"
"How can I forget her Keith, you are engaged to her aren't you?" my mother snapped.
"Hi Mrs. Sasser, it is a pleasure as always" Janice said as she stuck out her hand to my mom. My mother however, being extremely catty, did not shake her hand.
"Forgive me if I don't shake your hand. Cooking and all. You understand don't you?"
"Sure" Janice said quietly. I gave my mother a look as if to say "stop it!" She shrugged her shoulders like a child who did nothing wrong.
"Yall go ahead and sit to the table, dinner is ready."
We all sat down to the table and were joined by my mother's on again – off again boyfriend Rufus. I decided to check some of my work emails from my blackberry before dinner, but my mother caught me and slightly hit me in the back of the head.
"What did I tell you about having that thing at the dinner table? No work here. Give me that thing."
"No way mom, do you know what happened the last time you held one of my phones? You accidentally dumped it out of your apron into the gravy. This is a $400 phone. No maam."
My mother put her hands on her hip and instantly had an attitude.
"Jaden you are going to give me that phone!"
"I can hold it for him Mrs. Sasser." Janice interjected.
My mother looked at her as if she had lost all good sense for interrupting a conversation between her and I. I decided I should say something before my mother read this girl the riot act.
"Great. Cool. Janice can hold the phone. Is that better?"
My mother gave me a look as if to say "don't play with me boy" and continued to sit down and began to say the blessing over the food.
While saying the blessing, we could hear my phone vibrating on the mahogany table. My mother continued the grace in a stern tone, a clear sign that she was irritated by the phone vibrating. When the grace was said and done, my phone was still vibrating.
"Janice can you tell that boy who it is calling him so he can get that phone to stop making all that damn noise!" My mother said angrily.
"Sure. Jaden the number is 976-1772."
Janice paused for a second and then looked back down at the phone.
"I know that number." Janice said with a confused look. "That's my mom's cell phone number. How do you know my mother?"
I was sipping on some of my mother's famous Lemonade/Ice Tea mix when I jokingly answered Janice.
"I don't know, who is your mom? Mrs. Jackson?" I said laughing referring to Janice's last name.
"Well it used to be Jackson until she got remarried, it is Jacobs now. Sheila Jacobs."
I spit that drink out as far as I could.
"What?" I said surprised.
My brother instantly turned to me, leaned in with a puzzled look and asked "How in the hell do you know Sheila, Jaden?"
As I looked around the table, everyone was giving me the exact same look. It seemed to be a mixture of confusion and disgust.
I just sort of smiled, shrugged my shoulders, and let out a nervous chuckle.
"Turkey anyone?" I said trying to ease the tension, but alas, it didn't work.
"We're waiting..." My mother said sternly.
Ahhhhh hell. I knew I should have just wrapped up some food and gone the hell on home!
The condom was staring at me, mocking me even. Looking at me as if to say "Yeah boy, we got your a** now!"
I immediately went into battle cat mode. If I was going to go down, I was going to go down with one hell of a fight. I leaned my back against the wall, crossed my arms, and began chuckling to myself.
"Is something funny?" Pam said while throwing the condom to the ground.
"Yes it is actually," I said with all the swagger I could muster.
"What is funny is I would love to know where it came from too! I mean, there are only two people with keys to my apartment, my brother and you. Now, my grandfather used to say that he may not be able to read the writing or write the reading….but daggonit, he could add! With this situation, two plus two does not equal four!"
What in the hell are you talking about Jaden? Man, talk about just babbling. I am trying to buy myself sometime but with these words I am spitting out, hell, I wouldn't believe me! Well I am in too deep now, might as well play this out.
"Just what are you trying to say to me Jaden?" Pam said with what seemed to be a signature black woman head roll.
"What I am saying is this," I said as I began to take small steps walking around her in a circle.
"I am saying that I know what I have or have not been doing, and that my brother hasn't been over here; however you stayed here the entire week before I got back in town on Friday. It's only Monday, how do I know it's not yours?"
"What? Nigga you must have lost your mind!" Pam said outraged.
Whispering in her ear from behind her I said "Oh no woman, I very well know where my mind is. What I don't know is, is where was my woman or who she had up in here when I was gone!"
Lord you are trippin' now. We know it is ours and you have went into accusation mode of this innocent woman. You should be ashamed of yourself.
My personal version of Jiminy Cricket, my conscious, was eating me up about what I was doing to Pam. I know its foul, but right now, it's either get down or lay down. Trust me when I tell you, that I am not about to lay down.
Pam stood in silence.
"Answer me Pam!" I said with a little more bass to my voice.
"I mean I had some friends over but it was nothing like that?"
"Male friends?" I said in an accusatory tone.
"No baby, not at all. It was just some of the girls. You know Tee-Tee, Maria, and Tay." Pam said turning around to face me in an attempt to calm me down.
"Woman you had Tay in my house? You know I can not stand that girl!" I said with my fake attitude. I will say this, if the Academy Award committee could see this performance, I would get the Best Actor in an urban drama award hands down!
"I'm sorry baby and I apologize for having her here." Pam said while trying to reach out for me.
I gently pushed her hands back from me and began pacing the floor.
"That still does not explain where the condom came from because it damn sure ain't mine, and I take it that you are standing here claiming it isn't yours?"
"That's right baby. It isn't mine. I wouldn't do anything like that to you Jay. You know that. Wait, are you sure your brother didn't come by here? He has been known to bring women in here before."
I stopped pacing as if to ponder her statement before I appeared to have an epiphany.
"You know what, you are right! I bet he did because I was working late on Saturday and I bet that's when he came in here. I am going to curse him out."
"Now baby don't take it that far, he is still your brother." Pam said while walking up behind me and rubbing my shoulders.
"Naw baby I am sick of this. I mean look at what his actions almost caused? He almost caused a whole bunch of unnecessary confusion between me and you and I am not having that!" I said as I marched over to my bed and sat down forcefully.
Pam made her way to the bed, sat beside me, and put her hands on my face.
"Baby I am so sorry. I shouldn't have even come at you like that. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I have just been lonely, I have been stressed at work, and I guess everything just came to a head."
Pam then leaned in and gave me a slow, sensual kiss.
"You forgive me?" She said smiling.
"Depends…" I said looking her up and down. "How well do you think you can dance in those heels?"
Pam slightly smiled, nodded her head, stood up, and walked over to the stereo. She turned on some random slow song and began moving her body slowly and sensually.
Watching her dance, I could see the condom on the floor behind her and I never have felt as low as I did right then.
Driving in my car the next day, all I could do was think about the night before. I mean good Lord, Pam has never put it down like that before. I guess that was her way of saying she was sorry and boy did I get the message. My pleasant thoughts of Pam and the many wonderful things she did to my body were soon interrupted by my cell phone vibrating in my lap. It was Keith, my brother. I looked down at it, rolled my eyes, and answered the phone.
"Yeah?"
"Yo, how long before you get to mom's house?"
"I will be there in less than 5 minutes why?"
"Because this will be the first time Janice has had a chance to actually sit down with our family since we have been engaged and you know mom hasn't really had a chance to grill her yet. I need you there to play wingman, for support ya know?"
I haven't heard my brother this nervous in a long time.
"Jaden you there?"
"Yeah I'm here. Look don't worry, I got you."
"Cool, I will see you when I get there. I should get there right after you. See you in a few."
I hung up with my brother as soon as I turned into the driveway. I got out the car and knocked on the door. My mom came to door the irritated.
"Why didn't you just use your key?" She said as she scurried off back into the kitchen.
"Because its not my house mom and hello to you too!" I said laughing.
"I'm sorry Jaden." My mom hollered from the kitchen. "It's just that I am trying to finish up this dinner before your brother and that woman get here."
"That woman is now his fiancé so it seems like you should try to make nice with her. "
"Well I have only met the girl a couple of times and every time she was around, she acted like she didn't have anything to say. Jaden you know I don't trust those sneaky quiet ones."
I laughed at my mom as I sat down in the living room. I grabbed the remote, turned on the tv, and continued our conversation yelling back and forth between living room and kitchen.
"So because this girl is not chatty Kathy, she is now plotting on your son?"
My mother exited the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron.
"Exactly!" She said pointing at me. "I just don't trust that girl Jaden. Now if she was more like Pam…"
I instantly sunk down into the chair because I knew where this was headed. Every chance my mother got, she berated me about why I haven't made an honest woman of Pam yet and how I wouldn't find another woman like Pam in a million years.
The only thing that stopped my mother's little tirade was the sound of Keith's horn as he pulled up. My mother instantly dashed to the window.
"Oh Lord the pies still aren't done yet. Jaden let them in as I try to finish up in here." She said as she scurried back into the kitchen.
I got up from my comfortable spot on the couch to open the door for Keith and Janice. When they entered, Janice came in first followed by her soon to be husband.
"Hey Jay. It's good to see you" Janice said as she gave me a hug.
"Good to see you to Mrs. Sasser." I said jokingly.
"Where is mom?" Keith said anxiously.
"Calm down negro she is in the kitchen. Why are you trippin? You alright?"
Keith was obviously sweating how this dinner was going to turn out. Keith was always the type of person where other people's opinion of him mattered. Not me. I was never on that time. I always thought that what you thought about me was your business….not mine.
As Keith, Janice, and I made our way into the living room, I screamed out to the kitchen "Mom, they're here!"
My mother came to the edge of the doorway and stood. Keith stepped around Janice to re introduce her to my mother.
Grabbing Janice by the hand Keith smiled and said "Mom, you remember Janice right?"
"How can I forget her Keith, you are engaged to her aren't you?" my mother snapped.
"Hi Mrs. Sasser, it is a pleasure as always" Janice said as she stuck out her hand to my mom. My mother however, being extremely catty, did not shake her hand.
"Forgive me if I don't shake your hand. Cooking and all. You understand don't you?"
"Sure" Janice said quietly. I gave my mother a look as if to say "stop it!" She shrugged her shoulders like a child who did nothing wrong.
"Yall go ahead and sit to the table, dinner is ready."
We all sat down to the table and were joined by my mother's on again – off again boyfriend Rufus. I decided to check some of my work emails from my blackberry before dinner, but my mother caught me and slightly hit me in the back of the head.
"What did I tell you about having that thing at the dinner table? No work here. Give me that thing."
"No way mom, do you know what happened the last time you held one of my phones? You accidentally dumped it out of your apron into the gravy. This is a $400 phone. No maam."
My mother put her hands on her hip and instantly had an attitude.
"Jaden you are going to give me that phone!"
"I can hold it for him Mrs. Sasser." Janice interjected.
My mother looked at her as if she had lost all good sense for interrupting a conversation between her and I. I decided I should say something before my mother read this girl the riot act.
"Great. Cool. Janice can hold the phone. Is that better?"
My mother gave me a look as if to say "don't play with me boy" and continued to sit down and began to say the blessing over the food.
While saying the blessing, we could hear my phone vibrating on the mahogany table. My mother continued the grace in a stern tone, a clear sign that she was irritated by the phone vibrating. When the grace was said and done, my phone was still vibrating.
"Janice can you tell that boy who it is calling him so he can get that phone to stop making all that damn noise!" My mother said angrily.
"Sure. Jaden the number is 976-1772."
Janice paused for a second and then looked back down at the phone.
"I know that number." Janice said with a confused look. "That's my mom's cell phone number. How do you know my mother?"
I was sipping on some of my mother's famous Lemonade/Ice Tea mix when I jokingly answered Janice.
"I don't know, who is your mom? Mrs. Jackson?" I said laughing referring to Janice's last name.
"Well it used to be Jackson until she got remarried, it is Jacobs now. Sheila Jacobs."
I spit that drink out as far as I could.
"What?" I said surprised.
My brother instantly turned to me, leaned in with a puzzled look and asked "How in the hell do you know Sheila, Jaden?"
As I looked around the table, everyone was giving me the exact same look. It seemed to be a mixture of confusion and disgust.
I just sort of smiled, shrugged my shoulders, and let out a nervous chuckle.
"Turkey anyone?" I said trying to ease the tension, but alas, it didn't work.
"We're waiting..." My mother said sternly.
Ahhhhh hell. I knew I should have just wrapped up some food and gone the hell on home!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
As The Negro Turns (This Can’t Be Life)
I'm here, but Lord knows my mind isn't. Here I am in a presentation with a multi million dollar account on the line and I am sitting here thinking about this morning when I should be paying attention to Jason's part of the presentation. My mind just could not seem to stay focused. I probably should have taken the call from my brother. I always talk to him every morning so I am sure he is soon to be suspicious of why I haven't spoke to him. Then again, maybe not. He will just think that I am with Pam.
"Sh*t!" I screamed aloud.
Suddenly my boss turned around and said "Excuse me Mr. Robinson? Do you take issue with Jason's part of the presentation?"
"No sir Mr. Jacobs." I said while trying to shuffle some papers around to make it look like I was following along.
"Hmmm..." said Mr. Jacobs as he slowly turned around in his chair all the while giving me a look that said "yeah...whatever."
It didn't take me long to get lost in my thoughts again.
Pam! Oh my God. I didn't even think of her.
It was then that it hit me that I hadn't checked my cell phone or my caller id on the house phone. I had my blackberry in the top pocket of my shirt. I was wondering why I hadn't felt it vibrate. After pulling it out, I then found out why. It was turned off.
Oh great. This is just what I need. I know I have to have a million messages by now.
I quietly excused myself from the presentation and made my way out into the hallway while turning on my blackberry. When it powered up, I instantly saw that I had 22 emails, and who knows how many voicemails. I looked at my blackberry, sighed for a minute, and then dialed my voicemail.
"You have 44 new messages and 2 saved messages. New Message from....Pamela....received at...."
I continued to play through them one by one as I could hear Pam going from a "Baby I miss you" tone to a "Nigga where in the hell are you?" rant.
I thought I was only in the hallway a few minutes, but apparently it was longer than that. Before I could get myself together to head back into the conference room, the meeting was letting out. Trying to ease my way back in I ran into Mr. Jacobs.
"I need a minute with you Jaden."
"Greeeeaaaaat!" I thought. Just something else to add to this already messed up day.
"Yes sir Mr. Jacobs. Anything you need" I said enthusiastically as if to be like "Yessir boss. I'ssss do anything fo you boss". I sounded like I was straight out of a minstrel show.
Mr. Jacobs brought me back into the conference room. I sat down and as he began pacing back and forth behind me staring out of our conference room window, he began to ask me those stupid little life questions.
"So Jaden, where do you see yourself with this company in 5 years?"
"Well Mr. Jacobs I see..." I was quickly interrupted.
"You know what I see Jaden? Nothing. That's right Jaden. Absolutely nothing. Why you say?" That's when he turned and faced me.
"Because if you keep up this up you won't be here in 5 weeks none the less 5 years. Am I making myself clear?"
"Yes Sir." That was the only answer I could mumble through clenched teeth.
"Great then! I am glad we understand each other. On to other issues, listen Jaden; you are one of my brightest employees here. However, you lack focus. You have the drive but not the direction. Again, I digress. I am having a little get together at my house tonight for some prospective clients. I think it would be good for you to be there to see how I deal with them. And by I think....I really mean you have no choice. Capisce??"
"Yes Sir" I said sternly.
"Get with the new secretary to find out the time and my address." he said as he walked toward the door. "Oh and Jaden...I can not stand tardiness. If you are late, don't even bother coming in tomorrow." He said as he flipped open his cell phone, began dialing, and walked out of the room.
Standing in front of the door to this baby mansion was exciting yet intimidating. The plan was to just go in here, schmooze a bit, and then be out. Bing, bang, boom. I had already told Pam to meet me at my house. I told her the spare key was under the mat and to let herself in. I had no intention of not being home by 10pm. This plan was perfect. I get to please Mr. Jacobs, save my job, and my relationship all in about a 4 hour period. Thank you Lord!
As the butler opened the door, I was escorted in and announced.
"Mr. Jaden L. Robinson, esquire"
Esquire? Where the hell did he get that from? I have never been anyone's esquire. Oh well, it makes me sound important so I will go with it.
I walked into the main foyer to be greeted my Mr. Jacobs.
"Jaden my boy. See...that is a sign of greatness. Right on time. That my boy is how you get on the right track. I guess our little talk did wonders for you?" He said smiling and patting me on my left shoulder.
Yeah right. Your talk did as much for me as a root canal would. At any rate, I needed to smile and nod to calm the natives and get everything right with my boss.
"It certainly did and I am definitely focused." I said with a Kool-Aid grin.
"Great. Then let me introduce you to a few folks. I wanted to introduce you to my wife but she is off around here somewhere. Probably spending my money and I don't know about it."
We both chuckled and we began the night as mentor and mentee while laughing, joking, and bs'ing our way through a wave of prospective clients.
As the night went on, I noticed the clock slowly creeping towards ten. I had to get out of here and get home to Pam. She was not going to take any excuses. I immediately excused myself from the conversation I was having and went to find Mr. Jacobs. I had seen him playfully talking to a woman as they were laughing and giggling. This had to be his wife or should I say, I hope so the way he is flirting with her. From behind, the woman certainly has a nice figure. With the type of money Mr. Jacobs has, I know she is a product of all of his riches. I know he couldn't get a woman with a body like that if he was broke.
I signaled to Mr. Jacobs that I was leaving and he waived me to come over to him.
"Jaden my boy, I want to introduce you to my lovely and radiant wife......Sheila"
Oh God No. No....No....Please Lord No....It can't be.
The woman, who I was admiring just a minute ago, was beginning to make me nauseous. As she slowly turned around, she had on the most devilish grin I had ever seen. I did my best to play it off as I extended my hand.
"Very nice to meet you Mrs. Jacobs."
"Charmed I'm sure" she said as she extended her perfectly manicured hand. "Oh and Jaden is it? Please call me Sheila, Mrs. Jacobs is my mother-in-law."
She was making me so mad being so smug. At the same time though, I was sick, literally sick to my stomach. All this time I am walking around with the guilt of thinking I am sleeping with one of my brother's side women behind his back....and she is also the wife of my boss? This just can't get any worse. I mean really. Come on now God. The joke is over.
"Jaden, do you mind keeping an eye on my lovely wife while I go check on something. I know you have to leave so I won't be long. And hey....hands off. This one is mine!" He said laughing and slapping me on the back.
As soon as he got out of sight, Sheila begin walking around me in circles.
"Umm umm umm, now what a tangled web we do weave." She said smiling.
"How dare you come out of your mouth with that? You are the most scandalous of us all."
"Really now? Am I?" She stopped walking and approached me to whisper in my ear. "I wasn't so scandalous when I was in your bed now was I? By the way, have you even mentioned to your brother about our little escapade?"
"Have you told your husband yet?" I said while snatching my ear away from her mouth.
"Awww now don't act like that Jaden. Should I tell him? Somehow I think it would make your life quite interesting at work."
"What do you want from me Sheila?"
"Now now, calm down. Slow down, take your time…just like you did the other night."
"Enough of games Sheila!!! What do you want from me?"
"Oh that will make itself known soon enough. You just sit tight and hold on because baby....it is going to be a very bumpy ride." She said seductively as she kissed me on my cheek and walked away.
Looking down at my watch I noticed that it was twenty minutes until ten. I had to leave now.
Arriving at my apartment, I could hear slow music playing as I approached the door. I stuck my key in and as I walked in, I was greeted with the scent of vanilla and lavender filling my apartment. There were candles lit and the Isley Brothers were singing one of their most melodic tunes on my stereo.
I could hear the click clacking of heels coming down my hallway into my living room. When she got to the entrance of the living room, she paused and posed. There she was standing in 5 inch clear stiletto heels, with a pair of pink boy shorts on with the word "Tasty" on the backside, a pink bra, and her hair in pigtails with glasses on. She looked like the world's sexiest and naughtiest school girl.
I immediately took my coat off, threw it to the floor, and began unbuttoning my shirt when I noticed she motioned for me to stop.
She began walking over to me slowly and seductively with her hands behind her back as if she had a treat for me. Licking her lips slowly and looking me up and down as she got closer. I closed my eyes in anticipation. I was excited and ready to explode. Pam hadn't looked this good in a long time. She was always sexy but she just didn't show it often. Pam has a body that could rival Beyonce's and yes, the butt to match.
I could hear her heels stop in front of me. As I stood there awaiting her next move, instantly my face began tingling and my left cheek felt like it was on fire. My eyes shot open as I grabbed my jaw.
"What the hell did you just slap me for? Woman are you crazy???"
"No mother f****...you must be the one who is crazy!" she said with all the anger her eyes could hold. She slowly brought her other hand from behind her back to show a used condom in tissue paper.
"What the f*** is this Jaden?"
Aww hell.
I know exactly where I messed up....by saying "This can't get any worse." The devil said "Word? It can't? Well watch this!"
What in the world do I say now?.....
Monday, January 07, 2008
As The Negro Turns (Between A Rock and a Hard Place)
I awoke to the sound of my alarm clock repeatedly buzzing in my ear. Like every morning at 8:30am I blindly slapped away at my nightstand looking for the snooze button that could provide me exactly 9 minutes of relief. I eventually gave up looking for the button that eluded me, grabbed the entire alarm clock, and snatched it from the wall. Dropping the alarm clock to the floor, I immediately grabbed my head. The sound of the clock hitting the ground sounded like someone just hit me in the head with a sledge hammer. I tried to sit up in the bed but my body just wouldn't cooperate. The room was still spinning. This hang over was crucial.
"God Please....if you allow me to get past this I will never, ever drink again!"
I think I have made that confession a million times over and still have not lived up to my word to God. I know he is so pissed with me. I so need his help. I have a presentation this morning at 10am and I don't know how I am going to make it.
"Come on Jaden, get it together!" I said aloud while trying to verbally encourage myself to move. Slowly I began to sit up in my bed.
I gathered myself, pulled the covers back, and placed both feet firmly on the floor while sitting on the edge of the bed. I then stood up, took a second to get my equilibrium right, and then walked over to my closet to see what I was going to wear into work. I picked a nice black suit, with an electric blue shirt to go with it. I was wondering if I was going to wear a tie or not, but at this point, I don't even care. I pulled the suit down from the closet and threw it on the bed.
Wait...why is the other side of my bed messed up?
That was my thought as I stood there motionless. If I was trying to fully sober up I definitely has my wits about me now. The hangover didn't even seem to worry me as much at this point. Maybe I rolled over there in my sleep?
Naw...can't be.
I NEVER move in my sleep and I always sleep on the left side of the bed. I instantly started looking around for signs of someone being there. Shoes, clothes, make up, something. Alas, there was one thing, and empty condom wrapper on the ground.
"Where is the condom?" This situation just went from bad to worse. Obviously I had slept with someone and I couldn't tell you who in the world it was. I went into panic mode trying to find the missing condom........that is.......until I heard my shower cut on.
"What in the hell...?"
Somebody obviously was in here but the good Lord knows I have no idea who it is. All I remember was being at our company Christmas party, me having one too many, and catching a cab home. I don't remember anything after getting in the cab. At this point, my hangover seems to be the least of my worries.
I slowly began creeping around the corner into my master bathroom. I could hear singing coming from inside.As I made my way closer to the shower curtain I just stood there for a minute pondering what in the world I was going to say to the woman on the other side. Obviously at the bare minimum we had slept together, so I am trying to muster some sense of 'cool' before opening the curtain.
At the point where I thought I was calm, cool, and collected, I gently eased the curtain back.
"Hey cutie" she said to me smiling while continuing to wash up.
"Sheila???" I screamed.I backed up so fast that I hit my back on the towel bar against the wall.
"No No No No No....this can NOT be. Please, oh PLEASE tell me that we did not do anything last night!" Cutting the water off she slowly stepped out of the shower with water dripping off every curve of her 5'11, 170 pound frame and just stood in front of me.
"Are you just going to stare, or are you going to hand me a towel?"
Handing her at towel I screamed out "Answer me Sheila! Tell me that we didn't do anything!"Wrapping the towel around her she leaned in to whisper in my ear and I immediately jumped.
"We certainly did and it was ever so good. Who says you are the 'little' brother?" she said as she walked away laughing.
Still in complete awe, I sat down on the edge of the tub and put my head in my hands.
"Dag, what have I done?"All I could think of was my brother, my family, and what they would say if they found out.
As I raised my head I glanced at the clock. Dag...it's almost 9. I have my presentation. I can't even begin to deal with this now.Right then I could hear my phone ringing and Sheila, who was now fully dressed, brought me my cordless.
"It's your brother" she said with a smirk as she walked out of the bathroom.
"Aww hell...." I thought as I just looked at the phone.
"God Please....if you allow me to get past this I will never, ever drink again!"
I think I have made that confession a million times over and still have not lived up to my word to God. I know he is so pissed with me. I so need his help. I have a presentation this morning at 10am and I don't know how I am going to make it.
"Come on Jaden, get it together!" I said aloud while trying to verbally encourage myself to move. Slowly I began to sit up in my bed.
I gathered myself, pulled the covers back, and placed both feet firmly on the floor while sitting on the edge of the bed. I then stood up, took a second to get my equilibrium right, and then walked over to my closet to see what I was going to wear into work. I picked a nice black suit, with an electric blue shirt to go with it. I was wondering if I was going to wear a tie or not, but at this point, I don't even care. I pulled the suit down from the closet and threw it on the bed.
Wait...why is the other side of my bed messed up?
That was my thought as I stood there motionless. If I was trying to fully sober up I definitely has my wits about me now. The hangover didn't even seem to worry me as much at this point. Maybe I rolled over there in my sleep?
Naw...can't be.
I NEVER move in my sleep and I always sleep on the left side of the bed. I instantly started looking around for signs of someone being there. Shoes, clothes, make up, something. Alas, there was one thing, and empty condom wrapper on the ground.
"Where is the condom?" This situation just went from bad to worse. Obviously I had slept with someone and I couldn't tell you who in the world it was. I went into panic mode trying to find the missing condom........that is.......until I heard my shower cut on.
"What in the hell...?"
Somebody obviously was in here but the good Lord knows I have no idea who it is. All I remember was being at our company Christmas party, me having one too many, and catching a cab home. I don't remember anything after getting in the cab. At this point, my hangover seems to be the least of my worries.
I slowly began creeping around the corner into my master bathroom. I could hear singing coming from inside.As I made my way closer to the shower curtain I just stood there for a minute pondering what in the world I was going to say to the woman on the other side. Obviously at the bare minimum we had slept together, so I am trying to muster some sense of 'cool' before opening the curtain.
At the point where I thought I was calm, cool, and collected, I gently eased the curtain back.
"Hey cutie" she said to me smiling while continuing to wash up.
"Sheila???" I screamed.I backed up so fast that I hit my back on the towel bar against the wall.
"No No No No No....this can NOT be. Please, oh PLEASE tell me that we did not do anything last night!" Cutting the water off she slowly stepped out of the shower with water dripping off every curve of her 5'11, 170 pound frame and just stood in front of me.
"Are you just going to stare, or are you going to hand me a towel?"
Handing her at towel I screamed out "Answer me Sheila! Tell me that we didn't do anything!"Wrapping the towel around her she leaned in to whisper in my ear and I immediately jumped.
"We certainly did and it was ever so good. Who says you are the 'little' brother?" she said as she walked away laughing.
Still in complete awe, I sat down on the edge of the tub and put my head in my hands.
"Dag, what have I done?"All I could think of was my brother, my family, and what they would say if they found out.
As I raised my head I glanced at the clock. Dag...it's almost 9. I have my presentation. I can't even begin to deal with this now.Right then I could hear my phone ringing and Sheila, who was now fully dressed, brought me my cordless.
"It's your brother" she said with a smirk as she walked out of the bathroom.
"Aww hell...." I thought as I just looked at the phone.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Introduction
Greetings and salutations to all of you. I am J.R. Robinson and welcome to "As The Negro Turns". As The Negro Turns (A.T.N.T.) is a mini drama about the exploits of Jaden Sasser. A young, intelligent, career driven, African American male in his late twenties. I created this story to give you an example of my writing, for I have a book that I have written that I am trying to have released.
A little about me. I am 30 year old, single parent of one incredible little boy, hard working black man in the Washington DC area. I have been writing for a little over 15 years for various things, and I figured it was time to step out and try to walk out my dreams though it can be hard between trying to help within my church, my son, my family, and friends. However, thank the Lord that he gave me the ability to explore my creativity through writing, so I will make my best effort to do just that and provide you the reader with quality fiction.
You will soon see a "PayPal Donate" button appearing on this page. If you like what you are reading please feel free to make a donation so that I may continue to bring you quality material and more stories that involve the black community.
Again, this A.T.N.T. series is completely separate from my book. I will post a blurb about my book in the days to come. Thank you all for taking the time out to read and feel free to leave feedback. May you all have a wonderful and blessed day!
J.R. Robinson
A little about me. I am 30 year old, single parent of one incredible little boy, hard working black man in the Washington DC area. I have been writing for a little over 15 years for various things, and I figured it was time to step out and try to walk out my dreams though it can be hard between trying to help within my church, my son, my family, and friends. However, thank the Lord that he gave me the ability to explore my creativity through writing, so I will make my best effort to do just that and provide you the reader with quality fiction.
You will soon see a "PayPal Donate" button appearing on this page. If you like what you are reading please feel free to make a donation so that I may continue to bring you quality material and more stories that involve the black community.
Again, this A.T.N.T. series is completely separate from my book. I will post a blurb about my book in the days to come. Thank you all for taking the time out to read and feel free to leave feedback. May you all have a wonderful and blessed day!
J.R. Robinson
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