Chapter 9 #2
“Avery!” I heard Layne, but I was too focused on reminding my bitch ass cousin what happened when he fucked with me.
“Aye, what the fuck, cu—?” The punch to his mouth shut him up.
“What I tell you?” I asked, pushing him against the wall.
“Nigga, you playin’ wit’ shorty! You—” I punched him again, and he fell to the floor just as the door swung open.
“Avery, stop it! Please!” Layne yelled.
“Av, calm down!” That was Emani. I looked down at him on the ground, bleeding at the mouth, and wanted to kick him in his shit. He began laughing while he spit blood onto the floor.
“All of this for a bitch you only known for a few weeks? Your own flesh and blood?”
“You want me to knock your fucking teeth out of your mouth next? Call her a bitch again.”
“Did you tell her why all those assistants only lasted a few weeks?” He laughed again. “How we used to tag team them bitches until they tried to extort you for money?”
Emani stepped up. “Den, you might want to shut the fuck up before I help him beat your ass.”
“Nah, let his ass keep talking.”
“Layne, you’re just a means to an end, baby.
This nigga is only going to stay interested for a month or two, then toss you over to me.
I was just trying to warm you up to the idea of moving on with me.
I actually liked you enough to think about keeping you around for the long haul.
” He laughed again, and I kicked him in his ribs.
The door opening and closing caused me to look over and see that Layne was gone.
“Get the fuck out of here, or I swear I’m going to hang ya bitch ass off the balcony!
” I rushed out of the bathroom behind Layne and saw that the people closest to the bathroom were all standing around, staring, as the music drowned out the drama that was ensuing for the other guests, who were still dancing and having a good time.
I knew they saw and heard what happened.
It was something I was trying to avoid happening because I knew Layne was afraid of this exact thing.
I continued behind her while she pushed through the doors that led to the stairwell.
“Layne!” I yelled behind her. She had gotten down to the second level before I caught up to her.
“Baby . . .”
“Let go of me!”
“Baby, listen to me. Please?”
“Is that all I am to you? A conquest? Is that why your cousin felt so comfortable flirting and touching me? How many women had there been, Avery?”
“Don’t fucking listen to him, Layne. He’s lying!”
“Is he? He seemed really confident that it’s what you all do.”
“I know we just started this, but one thing I don’t do is lie.
I would never do that to you. You have to believe that.
” She looked away from me. I could see her mentally battling with herself, but I needed her to know that what he said wasn’t true.
It was he who almost had my company wrapped up in a lawsuit because of his sexual harassment or fucking every temp I allowed to work for me.
That was why I ran through so many. It was because of him that I struggled to keep anyone on as a permanent.
The motherfucka didn’t care what they looked like; as long as they had a pussy or mouth, he was fucking it.
It was why I put the no fraternizing policy up in the first place.
He felt since he didn’t work in the same building as them that it was a green light to do what he wanted over here.
“I need to go. I need time to think.”
“I don’t want you to go, baby. Please? Just give me a moment to clear shit up, and we can leave together.”
“I’m totally embarrassed, Avery. Now everyone knows that we’ve been sleeping together. Something I was trying to avoid happe?—”
“Fuck them! Layne, you came into my life and made me feel shit I’d never felt before. You made the ‘mean asshole’ turn to fucking puddy in your hands. I’m telling you that what he said isn’t true, and I need you to believe that.”
“Av?” I looked up to see Emani standing on the stairwell above us. “You’re needed upstairs.”
“Can you handle it for me?”
“We both need to settle this. You need to handle Denver because he’s refusing to leave, and I’ll handle everything else.”
I sighed heavily while looking at Layne. She lowered her head, refusing to give me her eyes.
“Will you wait for me? Please? I’ll be right back. You can wait in the main lobby or my office, but just wait for me. Okay?” She didn’t reply as I kissed her forehead then opened the door to the second level while Emani followed.
“That bum ass nigga gotta go,” I said, stabbing the button to the elevator then began pacing.
“He’s always been jealous of you. I told you signing him on as a partner was going to be a problem. Then the fact that he always targets your assistants should have been a red flag.”
“He’s my cousin, E, and the best at what he does. I was just trying to keep the shit in the family.”
“And? We could have found someone better! Shit, I’m only your best friend and have more loyalty to you than him. He almost had us broke and having to start over because the nigga is a fucking hornball!”
“I know, Emani.”
“Then act like it. I’m so glad Terrance, and Ma and Pa left before you went crazy.
You could have cost us that meeting with him.
” I didn’t say shit because she was right.
I could have handled shit a little better, but Denver wanted to make this shit a recurring problem.
I told his ass to leave her alone. Hell, I told him to leave all of them alone, but the nigga was hellbent on doing what he wanted to do.
Losing his parents at an early age, he was forced to live with us from the age of seven until he went off to college. I always felt he had something against me but ignored it because we were the only males in the family.
I could tell when I got certain shit that he didn’t, he’d start acting different toward me. I’d literally have to share whatever I had that he didn’t, for him to be happy. I didn’t see it while growing up, but Emani was right. He was jealous of me.
The elevator doors opened to the ballroom, and we stepped off while others were stepping on to leave.
“Have a good evening. Thanks for coming,” Emani voiced while I continued my stride to the restroom. I pushed open the door and saw him nursing his bloody lip.
He looked at me and laughed lightly. “You really busted my shit, Cuddy. You went a little too far, but it’s all good. I’ma let it slide because you family.”
“Get the fuck out of my establishment. You’re fired.”
“What? Come on, cuz. You know as well as I do that you playing wit’ shorty. I know you. We’ve been slicing bitches together since high school.”
“Denny, I’m really trying my hardest not to fuck you up no more than I already have. Get the fuck out, now, and never come back.”
He turned slowly and looked at me. “So, it’s like that? You really taking her serious, huh? I mean, I definitely understand. She’s probably that baddest one to ever work for you. You should have made that shit clear, though, and I wouldn’t have tried to hit that.”
“I told you to leave her alone. I even told you that we were dating, and you still tried your hand at her. Then you fucking lying and made this shit worse. I tried to overlook your malicious ass ways. You almost had me lose my company because you swear you’re God’s gift to women.
“Luring them to fuck you with false promises of giving them a higher position or more money. You were trying to be me, and you can never be me. For the last time, get the fuck out, and don’t come back.”
He scoffed, tossing the wet paper towel in the trash. “You’ll regret this. I’m the best CFO you ever had or will have for that matter.”
“You ain’t shit but a jealous wannabe. Leave, before I make you leave.
” He walked toward the door then stopped after he grabbed the handle.
“I’m glad I ran her off. You don’t deserve a bad bitch like that.
” I was about to put his head through the door, but he hurried out, and I sighed in frustration.
My gut was telling me that Layne had left.
What was once a beautiful night had turned into a night I wanted to forget.