Chapter 17
Dior’s Fine Ass Mama: Don’t wait on me.
A ndres stared at Layla’s text.
Unsure what it even meant.
His reply of, Expand , had gone ignored.
Actually, it hadn’t even been delivered.
He could only assume it was because she didn’t have service, but that didn’t make sense either.
Still, Andres had an easier time believing that than she’d blocked him.
Last night, they made love until their bodies crashed.
This morning, she promised to call him as soon as her meeting with Carlos was over, and he hadn’t heard from her yet.
Was she still with him?
Was that why she’d sent that cryptic message?
“Who is this meeting with, and how long is it going to take?” Andres checked, putting his phone back in his pocket.
“I got some shit I need to do.”
Dedrick’s head shook as he sat up in his office chair.
“I don’t know, son. He should be here soon.”
Andres massaged his temples, trying not to get irritated.
When his father called and told him they had a meeting with a potential sponsor, he didn’t see the need for his presence.
Unless the man wanted to donate to his sector of the foundation specifically, they could have just briefed him on the details later at home.
He was anxious to get to Layla and find out what the fuck was going on.
The light tapping on the door gained his attention.
His body and jaw stiffened immediately at the sight of Carlos behind one of the center’s assistants.
“Mr. Benson has arrived.”
Dedrick and Trevor stood while Andres remained seated.
He had no desire to shake Carlos’s hand, especially since he didn’t know what the hell he was up to.
“I appreciate you all meeting with me on such short notice,” Carlos spoke, shaking their hands.
Marilyn’s eyes were on her son, while his remained on Carlos.
“Well when we get a call from a potential donor offering a six figure annual gift, we have no problem shifting our schedule so that we can meet,” Marilyn replied, using her right hand to usher Carlos into his seat—which happened to be across from Andres.
“We take it you wanted more information on the foundation from its founders?” Dedrick confirmed, causing Carlos to shake his head with a soft smile.
“Not at all.” He opened his black portfolio and pulled out a check.
“This is a check for a quarter of a million dollars from me and my company, AmearuTech. It’s yours now and once a year as long as we are in business, but with one stipulation.”
Carlos slid the check across the table to Dedrick.
“Which is?”
“Keep Andres away from my family.” All eyes were on Andres as Carlos continued.
“I will admit that when he first started working with my daughter, my wife and I had fallen on hard times. We are now committed to making our marriage work, so their affair needs to be over. If not, not only will I rescind my donation, but I will make sure every news media outlet in Memphis and beyond knows The Martin Foundation makes a habit out of fucking the mothers of the autistic children they’re supposed to be helping.” Carlos stood, eyes still locked with Andres.
“Stay the fuck away from Layla. I’m moving back home today, and your services are no longer needed. I hope we don’t have to have this conversation again.”
“Bruh, the fuck is this nigga talking about?” Trevor asked, standing from his seat.
“You want me to knock his ass out?”
Andres smiled.
“Nah, I already did. That’s why his ass is in here now, ’cause he know how I come.”
“Like I said… stay away from my wife.”
Carlos made his exit, and his parents immediately began to question him.
Not bothering to answer them right away, Andres pulled his phone out and dialed Layla’s number.
After three calls back to back didn’t go through, he texted her again.
And again, he did not get the notification that it was delivered.
Refusing to believe Layla had blocked him, he used the phone in the center of the table to call her.
Though she didn’t answer, it did ring, which it hadn’t done from his line.
“Will you stop and tell us what the hell is going on?” Marilyn demanded.
“Apparently nothing now.”
“Were you having an affair with a married woman? A married client?”
“She wasn’t a client. She’s not in our system. I was paying the team out of my own pocket.”
“Why?”
“Because I felt something for her the moment I met her. When she agreed to my help, something told me not to finalize it because I didn’t want the foundation involved if things did turn personal between us.”
“So she is married?” Dedrick confirmed.
“They are separated.” Dedrick groaned while his mother shook her head.
“She was supposed to be meeting him this afternoon to let him know she was ready to sign the divorce papers so we could be together.”
“Well obviously something has changed.”
Andres didn’t want to admit that, but what else was it?
Carlos had obviously gotten Layla to give him a second chance, and she didn’t even have the decency to tell him to his face.
So this was why she said not to wait for her.
As his parents words went in one ear and out of the other, all Andres could think about was how wrong he’d been about Layla.
How could he think she felt just as strongly as he did about her?