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.