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.