JAYLIN
14
When Nokea came through the door, I had just ended my call with Frick. He said that Glasgow had convinced Felicia to settle, and that we'd meet to discuss it at 10:00
A.M.
tomorrow. I was surprised to see Nokea back so early. And when I asked what happened to her dinner plans with Pat, she said they decided to cancel them until tomorrow.
“Why? You and her still cool, ain't y'all?”
“Yes, we're very cool. It was me who canceled. I just felt like coming here and spending the rest of my day with you. I know you have to be back in court on Thursday, but I miss our children. I spoke to Nanny B, and she said that LJ's been asking for us. I talked to him, and I promised him I would be home on Thursday. I hope we can wrap this up soon so things can go back to the way they were.”
I lay in the bed and held my arms out for Nokea. She really seemed as if all she needed was a hug. She kicked off her shoes and got in the bed with me. “Baby, I talked to Nanny B and the kids today, too. I know they miss us, and I apologize for keeping us away from them like this. If this thing drags on beyond Thursday, go back home. I just can't see it taking up weeks at a time, but LJ and Jaylene need you as well.”
Nokea agreed and laid her head on my chest. Within minutes, she was asleep. Thinking about tomorrow, I gently moved Nokea over, then sat up for a while and messed around on my laptop beside me.
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The next morning, I was the first one to wake up. Nokea still had on her clothes from yesterday, and I kissed her forehead numerous times to wake her. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at me.
“Is it morning already?” She yawned.
“Six o'clock, to be exact. And it's time for both of us to get up.”
Nokea took a deep breath. “It's too early, Jaylin. What do we have to do this early in the morning?”
“Hey, a deal is a deal. If my calculations are correct, sex between us could take about two hours, we'll most likely spend one hour cleaning up, and then we'll spend one hour getting dressed for my meeting with Frick today.”
“No thanks to all of the above. I'm too tired for sex, and I don't feel like putting up with Frick's arrogance today. And besides, Pat took the day off so we could spend some time together. I told her I would meet her at her house by nine. We'll have lunch by noon, shop until three, four, or five, and then you can have me all to yourself. I promise.”
“All right. That's cool. But don't be too late getting your fine self back to me. If things don't work out for me tomorrow in court, you might not have me next to you forâ”
“I'm going to remain optimistic. And so should you. Just remember what this terrible mistake of yours has cost us, and never, ever do anything this stupid again, okay?”
“Never,” I agreed.
By 9:00
A.M.
, Nokea was heading out to her adventurous day with Pat.
“See you later, baby,” I said. “Have a superb day, and call me if you need me.”
“Same here,” she said, rising up on the tips of her toes to give me a kiss. We smacked lips for a long while, and afterward, she left.
After searching for my sock, I sat on the edge of the bed to put it on. I heard a cell phone ring, and knowing that mine was in my pocket, I knew it had to be Nokea's. Apparently, she'd left it. I followed the sound of the ringing phone and realized it was coming from the purse she carried yesterday. I opened her purse and reached for her phone.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Jaylin, this is Pat. How are you, darling?”
“I'm fine. How about you?”
“Just dandy. Where's my girl at? I told her to be here at nine and not to be late.”
“She left not too long ago. Give her another fifteen or twenty minutes. She should be there soon.”
“Okay. And I hate that I didn't get a chance to see you. Why don't you catch up with us later? We're having lunch at Café Lapadero around noon.”
“Pat, I have too much on my plate. I'm not sure how long my meeting with Frick will be, but if I don't get a chance to see you this time, you can always come visit us in Florida. Nokea really misses you, and I wish you could visit more often.”
“Me, too, but money is tight. Now, if you send for me, that's a different story.”
I laughed. “I just might have to do that, especially if it makes my baby happy.”
“Well, let me know. In the meantime, take care, and if I don't see you today, I'll see you soon.”
Pat hung up, and I reached for Nokea's purse to put her phone back inside. When I did, I pulled out a parking ticket she'd gotten yesterday. The jurisdiction said Clayton, Missouri, and when I looked at the nearest address, it was very familiar to me. I rubbed my goatee and was in deep thought. Soon after, a thought kind of hit me. Jefferson & Associates was in the same vicinity. I rushed over to grab the yellow pages, and when I compared Jefferson & Associates' address to the address on the ticket, they were exactly the same.
What the fuck?
I thought. What the hell did she go see Collins for? I replayed yesterday and this morning in my mind and realized Nokea had been acting real strange. Yesterday I called her three times, and she never called me. When she came in, she didn't even take off her clothes. And then, when I wanted to make love to her, of course, she declined. Knowing how important my appointment was to me, she showed no interest in going. And most of all, now, all of a sudden, she was anxious to get back home.
I looked at my watch and quickly called Pat back to speak with Nokea. I got no answer and closed my phone. Seeing that it was almost 10:00
A.M.
, I knew how important it was for me to get to Frick's office, but I needed some answers.
I left the hotel in a hurry. Slowpokes got cursed out by me, especially the valet, who moved like a turtle. I almost ran his ass over as I quickly drove off the parking lot. Frick's office wasn't too far away, but Collins's office put me well out of my way. I waited at the light and tried to decide.
Frick, Collins, Frick, Collins?
By the time my decision was made, I was already in the parking garage to Frick's office. I was fifteen minutes late, so I rushed upstairs to get this shit resolvedâfast.
As soon as I got off the elevator, Frick's receptionist stood up.
“They're waiting for you, Mr. Rogers. Mr. Frick wants me to show you where the boardroom is.”
“I already know where it is, so thanks.”
I headed to the boardroom, and as soon as I stepped in the doorway, I saw Felicia, Stephon, Frick, and Glasgow sitting at a circular table with leather chairs around it. Frick stood up and told me to come right in. My eyes stayed locked with Stephon's, as I couldn't believe that he was so close to Felicia's side. This was almost like the shock of my life, but for the moment, I remained calm and took my seat next to Frick.
“Jaylin, I'm sure you already know Stephon and Felicia. She asked that he be here on her behalf, and if you don't have a problem with it, then we can proceed,” said Frick.
I sat back, placing one leg on top of the other. “Of course I don't have no problem with it.” I eyed Stephon again. “Stephon is free to do whatever he wishes.”
“Good,” Frick said, looking across the table. “Now, I called this meeting because I would like to see this entire case go away. The only way that's going to happen is if we can settle this right here and right now. I spoke to my client yesterday, and he's prepared to offer you, Ms. Davenport, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for your trouble. If you acceptâ”
Felicia quickly spoke up. “And I don't. If that's all
your
client can come up with, then there's no need for us to sit here and try to work this out.” Her voice rose to a higher pitch. “I was batteredâ”
“Calm down, Felicia,” Glasgow said, placing his hand on top of hers. Stephon had the nerve to place his hand on her back and rub it.
What a fucking joke,
I thought. However, I still remained calm.
Frick spoke up. “Felicia, considering the fact that you contributed to the events that took place on the night in question, I'm not sure if my client is prepared to offer you any more. If this case goes to trialâ”
Glasgow cut in. “If it goes to trial, Frick, the jury would chew your client up and spit him out.” He tossed several pictures on the table. “After getting a look at those, it would prove that your client maliciously and irresponsibly came to St. Louis and torturedâ”
Frick fired back. “That's bullshit, and you know it! I have tapes and evidence that your client harassed, stalked, andâ”
“What?” Felicia yelled. “If you have that much damn evidence, then let's take it to trial. I'd rather see Jaylin behind barsâ”
“Watch your mouth, Felicia,” Frick warned. “Everything that comes out of it is on tape.”
“I don't give a shit about no tape.” She mean mugged me and cut her eyes. “I want what is due to me.”
I reached out for one of the pictures of a battered Felicia and held it in my hand. “You got what was due to you, didn't you?” I said. “The only thing that's due to you now, Felicia, is another good ass kicking. If I wasn't so anxious to get back home, I'd jump over this table and beat your ass again.”
“Jaylin,” Frick yelled and then turned off the tape.
Glasgow pulled a tape out of his pocket, placing it on the table. “No, just keep on talking. We need that evidence to keep on piling up.”
Stephon had the nerve to grin.
Now I was pissed. “What the fuck you grinning at, nigga?”
He stood up. “Your punk-ass, that's what!” He cocked his head from side to side and held out his hands. “So, what's up? I've been waiting for this moment.”
When I stood up, Frick reached for the intercom. “Jada, get me security. Now!”
Frick stood in front of me, and Glasgow held Stephon close to his seat.
“Mr. Stephon Jackson, either you leave or you take a seat in the far corner of the room. I refuse to have any more outbursts or distractions, and if another one happens, this meeting is over,” Frick said.
By the time security came, Stephon was in the far corner and I was back in my seat. Frick apologized for the inconvenience, and the meeting proceeded.
I guess I got off on the wrong foot again when I held Felicia's picture in my hand and snickered. The person I saw in front of me was not the person in the picture. She was still badly messed up, but a huge part of me felt good about what I had done.
Frick snatched the picture from my hand. Truth be told, I was in another world and had not paid much attention to what he'd said.
“Excuse me. What did you say?” I asked.
He was frustrated. “I asked if you would be willing to accept the demands of Felicia's offer?”
“Look, I really don't want to be here right now. My mind is not up for this shit this morning, so the faster I can get out of here, the better.” I looked over at Felicia. “I am never going to apologize to you for what I did, and I have very few regrets. What you took from me and my wife was devastating to us. Someday, you will be dealt with by a much higher power than me, and I assure you that you will suffer much more than what I did to you. Until that time comes, what in the hell is it that you want from me!”
The room was silent. Felicia looked over at Stephon, and then she looked back at me. She sat up straight, clenching her hands together.
“One million dollars,” she said in a sassy voice. “Nothing more, nothing less.”
Frick spoke up before I did. “You are out of your freaking mind. My client is not prepared to offer you that muchâ”
I snatched up Frick's gold pen in front of him and reached for the papers underneath his hands.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“If I want to settle, are these the papers I have to sign?”
“Yes, but we're not going to settle forâ”
“Give me the motherfuckin' papers! If this bitch thinks that a million dollars gon' leave me high and dry, she is sadly mistaken! I don't have time for this shit anymore!”
Frick let go of the papers. I filled in the amount and scribbled my signature. I dropped the pen and stood up.
“Done deal,” I said. “Now we can all go home happy. So happy that we just might have to pick up a crack pipe and celebrate. Ain't that right, Stephon?” I looked over at him. “For the record, you just bought your ticket to hell. And I just happened to be the man who signed it away to you.” I chuckled and looked at Felicia. “Your good days are behind you. Your worst days are yet to be seen.”
I shoved my chair to the side and got the hell out of there. Frick yelled behind me, but I just kept on walking.