Curved (17 page)

“Yeah,” I mumbled. “I expected as much. Are you sure I won’t be… Under fire?”

“They have no reason to entangle you in their business,” Joseph said. “The last assaults will be on you though. They’ll go through Antonio first, and all of his subordinates, his colleagues, the C-level executives next to him.”

“It’s amazing that someone so high up would get so corrupted,” I said.

“People do whatever they must when they’re desperate,” Joseph said, “I don’t think it necessarily makes him… A bad person.”

“I’m surprised you’re willing to say that,” I said. “Especially after that screaming session I saw you performing.”

“It’s all performance,” Joseph said. “Investment banking, that is. It’s all performance—you want to make sure everyone around you believes in the illusion of your expertise, mastery, and utmost confidence. In reality, I drive this ship up into the markets, as far and as high as it can go, but I can’t predict the future readily. If my business were to crash, but it crashes. And so it goes.”

“I see.” Yawning, I glanced back at Joseph. Rolling my hands over his shoulders, I kissed him on the cheek, his breath mingling over my nose.

“Yes,” Joseph said, dreams washing over his eyes. “Yes… Yes…”

Chapter 20

The court date was set for after graduation. About two days before I had to walk the stage, I picked up my cap and gown, and took the train over to Joseph’s place. He bought me flowers for the event, regaling me with his stories. “When I was graduating,” he said, “I had a massive party. This big affair.”

He helped me into my gown, me trying it on for the first time. Swirling in place, I spread my arms before a mirror, looking at myself up and down.

“It’s very nice on you,” Joseph said. “Are you excited?”

“Somewhat,” I said. “I’ll be graduating summa cum laude.”

Since I passed all my finals with flying colors, I had no more reason to see or talk to Lindsay. Angela was getting her stuff ready, but she had to go back to her hometown in New Jersey for family. Zena and Ricarda? Manhattan’s Concern? I wasn’t even thinking about them anymore. Surely they had heard the gossip pertaining to my nonprofit, but I wouldn’t be ashamed if I ever saw them.

Homeless United graced the covers of local newspapers and had already made a splash. People from all over the country knew me now as the woman who would save the homeless. Thanks to Joseph’s contacts, Homeless United had set up a food bank near the Lower East Side. Many of the homeless congregated there every night.

The grand opening was going to be in only two hours

“You’re climbing up the ranks,” Joseph said. “Really making yourself the Queen of… I don’t know, the downtrodden? Those who need help? It’s very noble of you.”

In the mirror, I groped for Joseph’s cock, feeling down his pants, the seams of his trousers. He wore his usual suit, since he had just come home from work. Holding my gown, Joseph danced with me, spacing himself at arm’s length when we had to dip low. I yanked on his tie when we were close, savoring the taste of his lips. Minty fresh. Honey and the faintest twist of a rose.

“I’ll be so proud when I see you walk the stage,” he said, biting my tongue. “Not that I’m not already.”

I took off my gown and we booked it for Homeless United’s grand food bank opening. The streets were crowded and bustling, people everywhere pushing and pulling. Joseph held my hand, a tether between us that linked our bodies in space and time. I could see the banners wavering in the air, flapping loudly. The name Homeless United in bold, gold letters.

Newscasters and anchors bandying their microphones at people’s faces. There was a platform stage where the mayor stood, and when he saw Joseph and me, he waved.

“Welcome,” he said, extending his arm out to us. We shook his hand, waiting at the crowd. The camera flashes at our faces made me nearly blind for a moment. I kissed Joseph for a picturesque slice of life—and then it was all over. My heart pump. My blood heated up. The interview started. Everyone knew about my upcoming trial, but I blew it off, knowing that it would fall over to the dogs.

“I have nothing to worry about,” I said to the crowd. “My name is not tarnished. Antonio’s name is, but not mine.”

Afterwards, we climbed down from the stage, the journalists surrounding us in a mob. I gave a few pieces of info to them, feeding them like a pack of wolves. And still they chased us, until we hit the curb, entering a limousine.

“What’ll the trial be like?” I said, my hand over my face. Rubbing my forehead, I turned to Joseph, leaning my shoulder into him. “When we have to deal with all these people, it’s going to be a whirlwind of disaster.”

Negative thoughts were flowing into my brain again. How could I stop them?

“Don’t worry about it,” Joseph said, tightening his grip around my wrists. Kissing my head, I felt much better with him at my side and giving me assurance. My demons would have to be fought and vanquished one at a time.

“You can’t spend all your life lording over me,” I said, smiling. “You still have your own business to attend to. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Joseph said.

***

When the day of my court trial arrived, I could not stop thinking about it. During breakfast, I had the television on. Watching the news, scanning online sources. During my lunch, an hour before I had to show up, I sweat and felt a burn in my heart.

This would make me… Or break me. If they locked me up behind bars, I could say goodbye to my charity dreams. No longer in control of my future, an imprisoned self would be hampered and forevermore desecrated. I knew what the media would say about me—and I also knew what the court of public opinion would think.

Guilty. Bad. Horrible.

There would be no room for skepticism. Because everyone would think me dishonest and untruthful. It would be incredibly—impossibly—difficult to fathom ulterior options for myself if I were considered guilty by the jury.

That day, I had been staying with Joseph. Deciding to move in permanently, I left all of my belongings at the apartment with Lindsay. I couldn’t stand to see her anymore. Even the thought of her name made me groan in pain.

How could she have betrayed me? Still I couldn’t understand. I spent so much time working with her, in class, trying to help her, after class. Giving her advice, of course, arguing with her, but I thought I might change her…

“Some people are always horrible,” Joseph said, as we rolled over to the courthouse in Midtown. He put on a gray suit, with a red tie, me in a matching A-line skirt and houndstooth jacket. Adjusting my hair with a compact, I padded my cheeks with blush.

“I’m just not totally there,” I said, looking out the window. “When people see me in court, they’re going to sketch me, talk about me. I’m not sure.”

“People will have their opinions about you,” Joseph said, “but don’t let them sleep and poison your mind. You’re a wonderful woman, a good woman, Ophelia. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise or try to corrupt your thoughts in the opposite direction.”

“Yeah,” I said, “you keep saying that.”

Angela was going to show up to support me. Texting her, we traded sweet words to one another. She had her own busy life to fix up.

“The best friends are those who you can stay away from and still be buddies,” I said.

“Is she coming?”

“Yes,” I said, nodding. “She’ll be here in only a few seconds.”

The limousine began pulling up to the courthouse. There on the streets, and a red sundress, I saw Angela, her glasses askew, arms inside a purse, digging around. When she glanced up, she started walking for us, her heels clapping against the ground.

“There you are,” she said, journalists nearby. The camera flashes made a glare in the center of my eyes. Shielding my face, and underneath Joseph’s suit jacket, I managed to hide my face.

Together, the three of us crawled closer to the courthouse doors. Eventually, Joseph opened them up, and we snuck on in.

There were quite a few men and women lined up outside the courtroom itself. A bustling murmur wended its way through the air, silently kissing in my ears. A stream of voices. A clamor.

“We have to make a turn right over here,” Joseph said, guiding me. When we hit the courtroom, we met with my lawyer. He smiled at us, walking us towards a debriefing office. There, he gave me all the information I needed to know, and what would happen in the following hours.

Antonio had already been late multiple times for prior hearings. Today, he was running extremely behind schedule.

“Any moment now,” the lawyer said, “and we should have him in our sight.”

As usual, Antonio show up to the courthouse blustering and with a sense of confidence. His lawyers—his entire team—didn’t seem very inept.

“They’re the best in New York City,” Joseph said, dropping his voice to a whisper in my ears.

We entered the courtroom, sitting down on one side, opposite of Antonio’s crew. Then I caught Lindsay, walking behind and with Antonio. She couldn’t even look at me.

“Disgusting,” I said to myself. “You’re evil.”

When finally the preliminaries were done and fully disposed of, court was in session and started.

Antonio’s team argued that his multiple charges were nothing more than a misunderstanding. The defense made several attempts at hiding his ass, although there were clear safeguards and breaches in protocol that highlighted him as a crook.

Then came the topic of my programs. The ones I had given Lindsay. They called me up as a witness, having me stand to take my oath, speak about my experiences.

Looking out into the crowd, I scanned for Joseph. He nodded at me, smiling.

“I’m here to just say to everyone,” I mumbled, “that I gave my calculations and programs to Lindsay in good faith. Nothing more. Nothing less. They were created with the intent purpose of helping people finish their macro creations faster…”

I finished up my talk. Gave the honest truth. Told everyone what I knew. Once they disposed of me, I went to my seat, and tuned out the court discussions. I had very little interest in seeing what what happened to Antonio and Lindsay.

Tired and feeling empathy for them, I didn’t want their embarrassments to be known to me.

Better to stay ignorant than up in their business.

When court finished, Joseph held my hand, and walked me over to our ride, yet another limousine. He kissed me once we were sitting down, the two of us together, his shoulder against my own. Angela sat with us, because we offered to give her a chauffer back to her place.

Angela: I’m sure you’ll be sanctified by the courts. They’ll keep you safe.

Me: Not so sure…

When we got home to Joseph’s place, we collapsed together, and said not a word. We were too tired. Too much had happened. The tides could easily change against us.

***

Within about five or so weeks, the verdict was clear: Antonio was guilty.

He managed to reduce the terms of his sentence by 96% though. I calculated it. Thanks to his flawless lawyers, they struck off most of his harsher indictments. Out of ninety-seven charges, only one of them were considered valid and true. And it was the least dreadful one. A misdemeanor.

Wanting to forget about school, Antonio, and Lindsay, I cut off my connections to everyone I had known prior to meeting Joseph. Everyone except Angela. I went out with her one time to celebrate my win in court.

“See?” She had said. “You’re not going to jail. You worry way too much.”

***

In the end, whatever came my way, Joseph simply brushed off. His company had so much power and strength, could leverage more connections than I had in my phone book 20 times over.

The strength of his people were more than mine.

And I loved him for it. He gave me an extension into a new world I had never even known about except in movies and books. Dreaming about his strength at night, I felt safe in his embrace, and knew that my future looked bright and starry… All because of him.

Epilogue

I can’t believe I thought Joseph and I could never be a couple. With my degree from Columbia in tow, and our relationship soaring to new heights, neither of us could imagine being single. We had to stay together no matter what the cause, no matter where we would go. I followed Joseph around the planet, across the earth, even if it meant going to strange places I had never even heard about. His loyal companion, I remembered to stick by his side, supporting him as his loyal girlfriend. Until he popped the question. That I became his wife.

I remember the very day he knelt down to ask me. He looked up at my face, the ring glittering in a small box—$20,000 per carat. In total, his just to me had to be more than $600,000.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, slipping it onto my ring finger. “Absolutely gorgeous.”