Authors: Renee Daniel Flagler
Chapter
39
Mia
Mia pulled into her garage and remained behind the wheel. After a long, hard, deep breath, she climbed out of the car and quietly entered the house. Peeking through the first floor, she searched for any signs that Princeton was still around before heading up to the bedroom.
The running shower revealed Princeton’s whereabouts. She sat on the edge of the bed waiting for him to emerge from the master bath. The tips of her ears had grown hot like they usually did when she was either under tremendous pressure or angry. This time, she was a little of both. The cheery melodies that emanated from the shower annoyed her. Princeton’s light mood was in sharp contrast to her edgy state. She looked over at her alarm clock, down to her expensive wristwatch, and then back to the bold, bright numbers on the clock. She sat for a few more moments before checking the time again. She sucked her teeth. When she got tired of sitting, she stood, tapping her feet.
When the water stopped, Mia sat back down and glanced at her watch yet again. She stood
just as Princeton stepped through the door.
“Hey!” he smiled. “How’s my—”
“I can’t do this anymore,” Mia blurted with her arms crossed.
“You can’t do what?” Princeton asked, looking confused.
“This!” Mia said, dramatically waving her arms around the room. “I can’t do
you
anymore. I don’t want to deal with the surprise visits or your ridiculous rules. I can’t be controlled like this.”
“Really!” Princeton said and stared at her for a few moments. “What’s wrong, baby? Is there something you need?” he asked, walking toward the bed, planting moist footprints on the carpet. “Just tell Daddy what it is and I’ve got it covered.”
Princeton smiled proudly, then stepped towards Mia. Drops of water rolled down his naked body like rain clinging to a window. He held his hands out to her.
“I’m serious,” Mia responded, moving out of his reach. “This won’t work, and I need you to leave now.”
Princeton looked confused again. “You’re serious?” His brows clenched.
“You don’t want to be with me?”
Mia sucked her teeth at his arrogance.
“What’s the problem?” he asked.
“I’m not interested in being a well-kept side chick that’s obligated to be at your beck and call anytime you decide you want to fly through town. That’s not how I work. I can’t sit around waiting for someone to call the shots for me. I’m my own woman, and I call my own shots.”
“Oh, so you don’t like some of my rules?” Princeton opened his arms to her again. Mia turned her head. “Well, baby, we can make some adjustments.” He stepped over to the bed and pulled on his boxers and jeans. “Just tell me what you want. But, let me warn you. There are some things I’m not willing to negotiate.” Princeton smiled again before slipping his shirt over his head.
She wanted to punch the grin right off of his face.
“Negotiate!” Mia shook her head. “This is over. When you’re finished getting dressed, do me a favor and leave. I’m not interested in being your Atlanta piece!”
Princeton stopped dressing, looked at Mia, and tightened his lips.
“I see,” he said, sliding his foot into a sock. “You didn’t tell me you weren’t interested when I gave you the keys to the Jag. You didn’t seem to be so uninterested when I handed you that black card.” Princeton pushed his heel into his sneaker and stood. “I’ll tell you what. You can be finished with all of this, but I’m not finished with you. I’ve spent a lot of money on you, and I plan to get my money’s worth.”
“Excuse me! You can have all of that shit back––the car, the card, and even this house. It means nothing to me.”
“All of you tricks are the same!” he spat, shaking his head.
“What? Who are you calling a trick?” She shouted.
“You know what you are,
” he said with disgust.
Mia’s jaw dropped as he closed in on her.
“Don’t act like you didn’t know what you were getting into when you took this place. I wasn’t going to marry you.”
“I didn’t ask you to marry me,” Mia yelled after finally shutting her gaped mouth. “I didn’t ask you for anything.”
“And you had no problem taking it from me, either. What happened?” Princeton paused and cocked his head sideways. “Did you grow some morals while I was away? You know how this goes. I give you the money, fine cars, and jewels, and you give me what I want whenever I’m in town. That’s it. You don’t make demands. I’ll be done when I’m ready, and until then, you just do as I say,” he ordered, and then turned his back, dismissing her.
Mia took the keys to the house and car out of her bag and threw them at Princeton, hitting him in his chest and face. She snarled at him, then turned on her heels and headed for the door.
As she turned, Mia felt Princeton’s large presence loom closely. When she looked back, he was immediately behind her. He snatched her by the back of her shirt and tossed her to the other side of the room. Mia’s head met the wall with force, and the room moved in waves. She grabbed the back of her head and let out a wounded cry. Princeton was approaching fast. Mia scampered to her feet and grabbed a vase from the wooden shelf. As he neared, she swung with all her might, missing him. Easily, Princeton grabbed the vase from her grip and tossed it like a child’s toy. The crystal shattered into tiny pieces as it hit the window frame across the room.
Mia started swinging, landing several ineffective punches to Princeton’s face and chest. He swatted at her fighting hands like he was shooing at flies. Then she opened her hands and began slapping at his face. She tried to pierce him, but her perfectly manicured tips failed to break his skin. Growing weary and worrying about her baby, Mia dropped her hands from exhaustion. She caught sight of Princeton as he pulled his fist back.
“Princeton, no! I’m pregnant!” she shouted, placing her hand over her stomach, leaving her face open for the impending abuse.
His wrath continued despite her cries. She cowered just in time to miss getting slammed by his hefty hands. Princeton’s blow went through the wall. The time Princeton took trying to pry his fist from the hole he created gave Mia time to react. She drew her leg back and drove her knee deep into his groin. He grunted and doubled over. Mia ducked under his arm and jetted out of the room, but not before grabbing her bag and the keys to the Jag. Princeton continued to moan as he hurled threats at her retreating back. By the time she reached the first landing, Princeton had freed himself
and was coming up behind her.
Fear kicked her adrenaline into high gear, and Mia raced to the garage, making it to the car just as Princeton reached the first floor. Her hands were shaking so badly, she didn’t think she would be able to get the car started. Just as it cranked, Princeton pulled the door leading from the house to the garage off the hinges and barreled through the doorway. Mia jammed her foot down on the gas, jerking the car into reverse. He kept coming. When the car was clear of the garage, she shoved the gear in drive and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. The car skipped and flew forward in time to escape Princeton’s reach.
Mia drove away from the complex at top speed. It wasn’t until her tears rolled back into her ears that she realized she was crying. She cut a hard right at the entrance to the complex, causing the car to go into a partial tailspin. Instinctively, she cut the wheel, straightened out the car, and zoomed onto the main road.
Her heart rate was in sync with her odometer—both reaching dangerous limits. With trembling hands and a racing pulse, Mia drove away as fast as the sleek car could carry her.
Chapter
40
Gavin
Gavin heard Blue at the door of the hotel room as he sat in the living area nursing a rocks glass half-filled with scotch. She entered and paused when she saw Gavin seated near the door.
“Hey,” she greeted cautiously.
“Hey,”
he replied without turning.
With her eyes averted, Blue walked past Gavin into the bedroom and closed the door.
He tightened his lips, shook his head, and downed the last of the amber inferno in his glass. The spiced liquid slithered down his throat, heating his chest like lava.
Gavin fought the urge to toss the glass across the room. The shattered shards could have relieved the pressure from the frustration choking him. Jay and Blue tossed across his mind. He poured another drink and sat back down.
The room door creaked, but he acted unfazed. He could feel Blue’s gaze settling on him.
“Gavin,” Blue called softly.
A raised brow was his only acknowledgment. Blue sighed.
“You don’t have to talk to me. Just listen,” she said.
Gavin raised his glass, signaling for her to continue.
“I don’t really know what else to say. I’ve said sorry a hundred times since yesterday. I’ve realized how this whole thing must look to you, but you have to know that hurting you wasn’t my intention. Again…I’m sorry. I really am. I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”
Gavin tightened his lips, took another sip, and nodded his head. A large, quick swallow consumed the remnants of the firewater. Without a word, he put the glass down, picked up his keys, and walked out the door.
After the valet pulled his car from the hotel lot, Gavin cruised through the streets of Atlanta from College Park to Downtown, through Buckhead and all the way out to Stone Mountain. Gavin drove until he could no longer ignore the emptiness in his stomach. Lunchtime had come and gone, and so had the scotch he consumed earlier. His insides felt desolate, and his strength started to wither. Jumping on 85, he drove back downtown and treated himself to the hefty servings at one of his many favorite soul food restaurants. He stayed long enough for the thin late-afternoon crowd to grow thick with evening professionals dealing business, networking, and gathering for after-work cocktails and conversation.
Gavin drove around some more, making a few quick calls to local clients until the doors to the sinful pastures of Magic City were opened. He found a seat at the bar with a clear line of sight to the stage and opened up a tab. The crowd at the club gradually grew into a thunderous enclave of animated, frisky, and brassy male and female celebrities, athletes, and locals. Gavin absorbed the mixed tapestry of playmakers and wannabes, shaking his head at the few overzealous characters who were brusquely ejected from the club by super-sized bouncers the moment they got carried away.
It was the last of the unruly drunks that caught Gavin’s attention. His eyes met Jay’s hollowed glare as he was being dragged to the door. When Jay caught sight of Gavin, he fought in vain to free himself from the clutches of the Goliath-sized chaps in charge of securing the premises. Gavin swallowed the last of his cognac, closed his tab, and headed for the door. He knew that no matter what time he walked out, Jay would be outside waiting.
The second he set foot over the threshold, Jay was in his face.
“Why did you do it?” Jay shouted. Spit flew into the air.
“It wasn’t even like that, man,” Gavin said, remaining calm.
Gavin’s only out was to show him that he was willing to face him like a man. Reasonable conversation or any kind of explanation would prove pointless in Jay’s state.
“Yeah, right. You didn’t have to do it, man. Blue was mine. All the women in the world, and you had to go after mine. You already got it all,” Jay said, his word sloshing past his slack lips.
“Just get your hands out of my face.” Gavin remained calm.
“You’re lucky I don’t pummel your ass right here…telling me to get my hands outta your face,” Jay grumbled and puffed his chest up at Gavin. “I should beat you down right here, right now. That’ll teach you to run after another man’s woman,” Jay snarled.
“No need, dude. We can see each other back in New York…handle this like a man…sober.” Gavin stepped back from Jay, but his eyes stayed on him. “We’ll deal with this when the time is right.”
“I want to deal with this right now, coward,” Jay said before taking a step back and charging at him.
Gavin sidestepped, removing himself from Jay’s path.
Jay stumbled, turned around, and charged at him again. Gavin moved one more time, and Jay’s stagger landed him on the ground. Jay rolled around on the asphalt clutching his shoulder in pain.
Gavin stepped closer to make sure Jay wasn’t hurt badly
before heading to his car.
“I’ll see you in New York,” Jay shouted, still rolling and
grappling with the pain in his shoulder.
“I’ll be ready when you are,” Gavin said, then got in his car and pulled off.
Chapter
41
Mia
Mia was finally able to get Jay on the phone.
“What’s up?” he answered.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to call you for at least twenty-four hours. I need my car,” she said as she scampered around the hotel room, peeping out of the window every few minutes.
“All right, all right. I’ll bring it to the house. Let me get myself together first.”
“No! Don’t bring it to the house. Princeton’s there.” The simple mention of Princeton’s name propelled her to the window one more time. She didn’t think he knew where she was, but anxiety coaxed her paranoia to the surface. “Um…meet me…” She thought for a moment. “Meet me down here at the hotel. I need a favor.”
“Ah, what now?” Jay grumbled.
“Don’t forget that’s my car you’re driving around in,” she huffed.
Jay delayed his response for a moment. “All right! Damn!”
“Jay!”
“What?” he tossed back.
“Ugh! Just meet me at my hotel. I’m at the Hilton on Peachtree Industrial in Gwinnett. I need you to be here within the hour. You’ll have to follow me in my car so I can drop off this car. Then I’ll need for you to bring me back to the hotel to get the rest of my stuff.”
Mia had a strong feeling she needed to get rid of the Jag fast. As possessive as Princeton was, she suspected he might track her via the anti-theft system or GPS. She wouldn’t put it past him to equip the car with some type of high-tech tracking device so he could trace her every move. What had she gotten herself into with him?
Jay remained silent.
“Just come on,” she said and ended the call.
Mia crept to the window, peering through the side of the heavy floral-print drapery like a Russian spy. Her mouth dropped as she watched the source of her paranoia play out before her eyes. A black Hummer pulled to a stop right behind the Jag. Princeton leapt from the passenger seat, jogged around the car, and looked over the Jag before raking his eyes along the hotel from window to window. Mia jerked back, hoping she hadn’t been spotted. She eased the curtain back into place with her trembling hand and backed away.
Her suspicions were confirmed.
Dashing for her cell phone, she retrieved it and grappled at the buttons to pull up Jay’s number.
“Jay!” Mia’s voice was filled with desperation. “You have to come now. Please.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I need you. I need you right now. Please.” Her voice was worn. “Please come now,” she said, on the verge of tears.
“Okay, I’ll be right there. Are you by yourself? Are you okay?”
“I just need you to get here as soon as you can…and don’t come to the front. Pull in to the service entrance. I’ll come out from there.”
“What?”
“I’ll explain everything when you get here. Just come as fast as you can.”
“I’m coming now. Give me a few minutes.”
Jay’s final words gave temporary ease to the thumping in Mia’s chest and the thrashing in her belly.
She returned to the window and spied through the sheers, careful not to move the draperies. The Hummer and Jag were still in place, but there was no sign of Princeton. Mia gasped, grabbed her purse and cell phone, and ran for the door. She looked back at the shopping
bags she had spent the morning acquiring.
The bags filled the perimeter of the room, her just reprieve and parting gift for Princeton’s aggressive behavior.
It’s not worth it right now.
Paranoia shrouded her while she tried her best to spend as much of his money as she could. Throughout her quick shopping spree, she had spent much of her time looking over her shoulder, figuring he’d try to catch up to her at some point. There were only so many places that people with abundance shopped, lived, dined, and rested their heads in Atlanta. She knew he’d come upon her sooner or later.
The thousands of dollars she’d siphoned from his cards through cash advances weren’t enough after his violence the day before. This last-ditch effort to make a dent in his pockets made her feel like she’d gotten some kind of revenge. It was worth the risk. Now she was looking at the possibility of having to leave her expensive jewels and new digs right there in the hotel room.
Mia swung the door open and raced through the hallway, leaving the bags but holding her pregnant belly. The ding alerting the arrival of the elevator gave her pause. Urgent footsteps followed the pinging. Princeton’s subterranean voice boomed through the halls, bouncing off of the walls. Mia turned on her heels to head toward the stairwell. She'd paid for the room in cash, but knew it wouldn’t take much for a star like Princeton to get what he wanted from the hotel staff. Apparently, someone had given her up.
The stairs were too far down the other end of the hall. She looked left and right, then dipped into an open room that was being serviced. The frail, foreign worker froze in her place when she saw Mia rush into the room. Mia gave a quick frantic smile and gestured towards the bathroom as if nature was calling her with vehemence. The woman nodded and smiled, ushering Mia towards the bathroom with her small, weathered hands.
Once inside, Mia pressed her ear against the door panel. Princeton’s baritone voice still permeated the air, muddying it with profanity. Mia was every kind of bitch Princeton could think of. She jumped at the loud banging as if he was pounding on the door she hid behind.
“Open this door, Mia! I know you’re in there! Come on, open the door!” he yelled in sync with his insistent banging.
Mia squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her ear against the door even harder. The churning in her stomach threatened to make her heave. When her cell phone rang, she almost dropped it. The phone bounced in the air a few times before she garnered a solid grasp on it and answered the call.
“Hello,” she whispered, pushing the phone into her free ear.
“I’m almost there. Why are you whispering?” Jay asked.
“He’s here,” she said, this time completely unable to suppress the tremor in her voice.
“Who’s there?” he asked.
“Princeton. He’s after me. He flipped out on me yesterday when I told him that I couldn’t be with him.” Mia quickly gave Jay a few more details to paint a clearer picture of the situation.
“Okay. Where are you now?” he asked.
“I’m in a room across from mine…room 304. He’s banging on my door like a maniac. I can’t go out there right now.”
“Just give me a few more minutes.”
“Be careful, Jay. He’s not alone.” Mia heard Jay disconnect the call.
Mia pressed her ear against the bathroom door. She could hear the little woman yelling at the men in another language. She didn’t know exactly what she was saying, but it wasn’t hard to figure out. The woman ran back to the room and picked up the phone. She spoke fast, half in her native tongue. All Mia could make out in accented English was the word ‘security’. Mia heard the woman’s padded steps as she traipsed back past the bathroom chanting, “I call security on you.”
Mia dialed Jay again.
“Where are you?” she whispered loudly while pacing the bathroom.
Pounding from the men’s heavy steps resumed. Mia reoccupied her position at the bathroom door, holding the side of her face against the wood to listen. It sounded like the men were walking back towards the elevator. The ping resonated again, and Mia could hear their voices fade behind the closing doors. She heard a second ping and then silence. She pulled away from the door one last time and waited a few minutes before emerging from the restroom.
Mia exited slowly, looking in all directions. As she came out, the small woman stared at her with critical eyes and her hands on her hips. Mia dismissed her suspicions with a wave of her hand and crept towards the door. She peeked out and ran back to her room. She walked circles in the carpet, pacing and wringing her hands.
“Come on, Jay. Hurry up,” she said, checking her watch repeatedly.
A few minutes later, there was a tap on the door. Mia’s heart pounded. She didn’t know whether to answer the door or let the person keep knocking.
“It’s me,” she heard Jay say. “Open the door.”
Mia cracked the door slightly, pressing her eye against the slim opening to make sure it was him.
“Thank God you’re here,” she said, swinging the door open to let him in.
“Where is he?” Jay asked.
“I hope they left.” Mia ushered Jay into the room. Nervously, she snatched up her packages on the floor. “Help me with these bags. Where’s the car?”
“Out front.”
Mia let the bags fall from her grip. “Jay, why? I told you to pull ‘round back. We can go out the service entrance or something.”
“I’m not running from any man. I came through the front, and I’m leaving through the front.” Jay shook his head. “What would I look like trying to creep out of a back door? Let’s go,” he said and started grabbing at some of the bags. “Wait a minute.” He stood promptly. “What the hell is all of this stuff anyway?”
Mia averted her eyes and grabbed the last bag.
Jay huffed.
“I’m sure he doesn’t realize how much of his money you just spent,” Jay said and chuckled.
Mia cut her eyes at him but confirmed nothing.
“You’re unbelievable,” he said, laughing.
The moment the elevator doors opened to the lobby, Mia spotted Princeton and his accomplice. She held tight to Jay’s arm and pretended not to see him, hoping they could slip out undetected. Mia knew Jay had spotted Princeton, also, because his gait grew in masculinity. Jay walked taller and harder, his puffed chest leading the way.
Mia caught sight of Princeton through her peripheral vision. She tensed, squeezing her grip on Jay’s arm. He stopped and turned as if the heat of Princeton’s glare tapped him on the shoulder. Mia thought she would explode when their eyes met. Neither of the men uttered a word, but their eyes dared the other to make a move. To Mia, the lobby felt like the temperature had climbed a few degrees higher. Moments later, Jay nodded and cocked his head to the side. Princeton nodded back and chewed his bottom lip. The fire in his eyes cast sweltering flames across the room and singed Mia’s skin. Princeton’s glare toggled from Jay to Mia. The one resting on Jay said,
You’ve got this for now
. The hotter one reserved for Mia said,
This isn’t over.
Slowly, Jay turned away and started towards the hotel’s front bay. By the time they made it into the car, Princeton and his henchman were exiting the front door. Jay led Mia to the passenger side while he stuffed all of her bags into the trunk. She filtered through her purse, pulled out the keys to the Jag, and tossed them along with Princeton’s limitless credit card out the window as they pulled off.
Jay looked over at her and shook his head.
“Thank you so much. You saved me. I think he’ll leave me alone now that he’s seen me with you.” She laid her head back, feeling lucky Jay had made it to her in time. Slowly, her breathing returned to a more natural pace.
“Jay,” Mia called out to him.
“What?” Jay said with a hint of exasperation.
“See what I mean?” She leaned her head towards Jay. “We work well together. We belong together,” she added.
Jay looked over at her and then back at the road.
“We’re going to be great together,” she continued, ignoring his blank stare.
“Why, because we’re both fucked-up individuals?” he responded and laughed.
Mia stared at him with her lips curled upwards. Jay smirked.
“No,” she said with a light scolding. “Because we have a lot in common.” Mia shook her head and huffed. “We can do a lot together. What can stop us?”
Mia sucked in air, turned her back on Jay, and stared out of the window, watching the blur of the construction, homes, and trees as they whizzed by.
“Where am I taking you?” he asked, gazing at her from the side.
Mia grunted. “Your house,” she stated confidently.
“No! I need to take you somewhere else,” he said.
“Where? I can’t go back to my house…I mean, Princeton’s place. I can’t go back to the hotel. You’re going to have to take me back to your house.” Mia thought for a moment. “Speaking of which, I need to contact Carol at the real estate office to get an idea of when we can wrap this sale up. We can find a new place together.”
Mia dialed Carol’s number. She answered on the first ring.
“Oh, Mrs. Holiday. I was just about to call you. The couple has decided not to go forward with the purchase of the townhouse. But, I have another couple from out of town that I think would be interested. I’ll give a call to schedule an appointment when they come back.”
“Sure. Thanks,” Mia said, disappointed.
Between Carol’s news and Jay’s begrudged body language, Mia’s feelings were hurt. She brushed off the pang of rejection and focused on making the best of her time with Jay at his home. By the time she found a new place, they would be moving in together—as a couple. At least that’s what she planned.