As The Negro Turns (Part 10)

“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.