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?.....