Chapter 5
Five
Tremaine
" M ila's trying to find her footing, so not too much on her," Chasity warned.
I sat at the bar of Justine's, eating one of their weekly brunch specials while chatting it up with Chasity.
Susanne had kicked me out of the office because she was holding interviews to backfill her position.
She was on a mission to find a hardworking, dedicated person, not someone lusting after me.
I laughed. "Your cousin's attitude is shitty. I'm racking my brain to make sure she isn't somebody from my past."
"Damn, you're a playboy like that? "You ain't just out here selling homes. You're selling ass too?" she asked, while laughing at her own joke.
"You got jokes! Is Justin here so I can tell him to demote your ass?"
"You know Justin ain't doing that. I'm one of his favorites, hence the promotion."
She rubbed her hand along the bar countertop and smirked.
"So, he thought it was smart to put your mean ass cousin in your spot." I shook my head. "Damn, why he ain't put her unfriendly ass in the kitchen?"
Chasity placed her hands on her hips and scowled at me. I raised my hands in defense.
"I'm just saying. Her attitude is stink as fuck."
"Mila's been through some shit lately," she defended. "She's really a sweetheart and will give the shirt off her back to anyone. She's just broken right now."
A flash of hurt crossed Chasity's face. A part of me wanted Chasity to go into more details about her cousin.
It made little sense that someone as beautiful as her cousin would have anything to worry about.
Mila could have the world at her feet. Still, it wasn't my business to probe, so all I could do was offer my empathy to Chasity.
"Sorry to hear that."
Chasity nodded and switched the subject, plastering a smile on her face. "Thank you, even with all your complaining. She must not have been too bad. You still tipped her well," she noted, winking. "You must've thought she was cute, huh?"
"What are you talking about? I always tip well, and you know that."
Chasity twisted her lips. "Yeah right. I know my cousin is a baddie. Even though she's cranky right now, she already has regulars. Men just come in just to see her. She hates it, though."
I would not give Chasity the satisfaction of letting her know I agreed. Mila was more than a baddie. She was beautiful. Her beauty was soft and elegant. It was all natural, which made it stand out. It made sense why all the men came in shooting their shot at her. She was a rare gem.
Chasity went to speak, but her attention went to the front door.
I turned around and saw Mila walking in a hurry.
The scrunched-up look on her face showed something had irritated her.
She wore a black pencil skirt with small, kitten heels.
She had on a black blazer and a white button-up shirt.
Regardless of how irritated she looked, she was still stunning.
"How did it go?" Chasity asked her.
"I made it to the second round. I have an interview with the boss tomorrow," she huffed.
"Okay, that's good news. So why do you look pissed off right now?" Chasity asked. "You should be happy."
"I received a phone call from Kyle."
Chasity's smile instantly dropped. "What the fuck does he want?"
"This motherfucker called, cursing me out. I didn't bother to entertain him, so I hung up in his face and then blocked him. But I forgot he could track KJ's iPad. He popped up at the hotel and was waiting for me. He?—"
Mila froze and spun her head in my direction. She forced a tight smile on her face, but her eyes told the truth. She had realized I was there, and she wasn't too thrilled.
"Good afternoon," she said.
I nodded. "Good afternoon."
She turned her attention back to Chasity. "I'm going to the back to change. I'll talk to you later."
Chasity and I watched as Mila stormed off in the back. Chasity let out a deep sigh and turned her attention back to me. From the sad look on her face, I could tell she felt whatever her cousin felt.
"Everything good?"
She shrugged. "My cousin is just going through an uphill battle right now. I think that on some days she feels like things are working out. Then, in an instant, it goes to shit. I just want her to rise above it all."
I nodded in agreement. I understood everything Chas said. Life was supposed to be easy, but we dealt with battles every day. I didn't get to where I was without having to struggle and take a few losses myself.
"Damn, I'll be wishing the best for her. Even though she is rude as fuc?—"
She tossed a straw at me and laughed. "I told you about playing with my cousin."
Chasity stopped speaking and looked at the door.
Her eyes became slanted, and hate filled them.
I spun around and saw a tall, brown-skinned man standing at the door.
He had a bald head and a five o'clock shadow.
He lacked any type of muscle and wore glasses.
Beside him stood a woman who didn't look a day over twenty-one.
She wore a crop top exposing her pregnant belly and gray sweatpants.
She wore a pair of black shades and rocked a short bob cut.
Before I could ask Chasity if she knew them, she was coming from around the bar.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" she angrily grilled, getting in his face.
I turned all the way around in my seat to make sure I didn't need to intervene physically.
He chuckled. "I should've known she was here with your slut ass. Where's Mila?"
"Slut? I got your slut, cheating asshole. What the fuck do you want?"
"Man, Chas, stop playing with me. Mila's got my son living in a fucking hotel! I came to get him!"
"You ain't getting shit. Then you got the nerve to have this child with you. Sorry, baby, this is a twenty-one-and-over club. Chuck E. Cheese is three blocks over!" Chasity yelled.
The young woman looked up at the man, stunned by Chasity's remarks.
"Ignore her. She's one of Mila's cousins who wasn't raised right," he insulted.
"Nigga—"
Chasity went to lunge at the man, but Mila came running from the back, jumping in between the two.
"Chasity, calm down. Ignore him. He's not worth it!" Mila pleaded.
"Nah, he should've gotten his ass beat a long time ago!"
"Yo, Mila, get your cousin before I call the police on her."
I scoffed. It was funny how he threatened to call the police on Chasity when he came in, disturbing her peace at her work environment. I'd known Chasity for a long time, and I'll be damned if I was going to let some random ass nigga do anything to her.
"Kyle, what do you want?" Mila asked. She sounded defeated from her tone. "You're making a scene."
"You're damn right I am. You ran off with my son! How the fuck could I not make a scene right now?"
The few people in the restaurant stared at everything going down.
"Kyle—"
"Don't Kyle me. First, you're staying in a hotel, then—" He looked her up and down. "You work here too?" He laughed. "Let me get this straight. You're staying in a hotel, working as a server, and think that you can raise my son? Off what tips?"
"Kyle—" she gritted.
I could see her rage building up. She balled her fist by her side and bit her lip.
"Go get my son right now. I'm taking him back with me," he demanded.
"You're not taking him anywhere. He's definitely not going to go with you and your slut-ass mistress. KJ stays with me. He's well taken care of!"
"Bullshit!" he spat. "I came here to get my son. He will not be subject to poverty because your feelings are hurt."
"Nigga, you ain't leaving here with KJ."
Mila stepped into his face. Even though he towered over her, it didn't seem like she was scared. I saw his fist tighten, so I stood from the bar seat. Mila might have had a shitty attitude, but I would not sit here and watch a man hit a woman.
"You want a bet? Wait 'til my lawyers hear about this. I'll have full custody of KJ, and you'll never see him again. You think a judge is going to award a woman, staying in a hotel, working at a bar, custody over a well-known doctor? You've got another thing coming!"
The confidence Mila had faded away, and panic covered her face.
"Kyle, please..." Her voice was weak. She had surrendered to him in an instant. "You know I can't afford a lawyer."
"That's even better. KJ will be back with me in no time," he bitterly spat.
Chasity's eyes bounced between the two of them.
She was even too stunned to speak. As I watched the scene unfold in front of me, I was taken aback that a man would take a child away from his mother when she was doing all that she could.
The situation hit close to home, and I could no longer sit and watch.
"Ms. Mila," I interjected.
Everyone's eyes jumped toward me. I didn't miss how the young lady with the gentleman eye-fucked me as I made my way closer to them.
"Did I catch you at a bad time?" I asked, looking at her.
"Um..." she stuttered over her words. "I-um-huh?"
"Great! I hate to come to your part-time job to trouble you with this, but your apartment is ready. We were just waiting for the cleaning to be completed. I also emailed you your job offer. Did you not get it?" I asked.
Mila looked at me confused, and I gave her a look to let her know to go along with what I was saying. Once she realized what I was doing, she followed suit.
"Sorry, I got distracted. I haven't had the time to look. Thank you so much for the opportunity!"
"You're welcome," I replied with a wink.
The gentleman scoffed. "Who is this clown?"
I smirked. "I don't see no clowns, but I'm Tremaine Houston, and that's all you need to know."
He scoffed. "The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"Look me up, nigga."
All professionalism had gone out the window. I was over him. He came in with his chest poked out, but once I finished with him, he was going to be leaving with his tail tucked.