Chapter 19 #2
“Who you need to see?” I frowned and her smile grew wider.
“Yes, whose ass I need to put my foot in for messing up my husband’s day.”
I chuckled at the thought. If only she understood how impossible a task that was. “It’s not important. I’d rather hear about your day.”
She stared for a moment longer before deciding to let it go. “Well, my day was kind of interesting. I got into a fight with Alisha which lasted for all of maybe ten seconds before she called back and apologized.”
The idea of them arguing didn’t sit well with me, but with women, it was inevitable. They had a bad habit of overthinking issues that could be resolved with a simple conversation.
“What was the disagreement about?”
“Did you know she and Darius were considering children?”
“I did. He has mentioned it to me, but why would that cause a disagreement between you and Alisha?”
“They had an argument and she called to ask my opinion about it. I didn’t necessarily give her the answers she wanted and she got upset and blamed me for him wanting kids.
She hung up but called right back to apologize, then he came home and apologized to her so they could discuss it with level heads.
Did you know he wanted her to carry a baby? ”
“Yes, he came to me for advice.”
“And what did you tell him?” Nari frowned hard, like she had already assumed the worst.
“I did more listening than anything, but I mostly told him it was a topic he needed to discuss with his wife. The two of them together should be in one accord with whatever decision they chose.”
“He wants to have a baby with another woman and for Alisha to carry it.” I could tell from her tone whose side she was on.
“It’s an option, as well as adopting or Alisha carrying a child who doesn’t have either one of their DNA. That’s a decision the two of them must make together without our input,” I warned, hoping she knew enough to stay out of it.
“I agree, but it’s a lot to ask.”
“It is, and I pray they find a middle ground that makes them both happy, but what I know for sure is they love each other and they’ll figure it out.
You stay out of it. Be supportive without your opinions.
Meddling in others’ marriages never fares well for the outside forces.
” My eyes fastened to hers, delivering another warning.
“I was very supportive and kept my opinions to a minimum because I really wanted to tell her she wasn’t being selfish. Darius was, for asking her to carry another woman’s child that he fathered with her.”
“Sweetheart, their situation is delicate and requires—”
“Wait, so you agree with him wanting to do that?”
I chuckled, bringing her mouth to mine. “That’s not what I said. I’m only agreeing that they should consider all options if they truly want to have a child. However, what’s decided should be the option which works best for both of them.”
As I leaned toward my desk, reaching around Nari to answer an incoming call, I heard her mumble I had better not ever expect her to do some shit like that.
“Akel,” I greeted and waited.
“Kincaid, how are you? It’s Carlton Adams. I was just getting back to you about the plans for the Martin Suites renovations. If we can extend the budget to 1.8 million, I’m positive we can get everything you’re asking for and finish ahead of schedule. I know that was a concern of yours.”
“That’s half a million more than I expected, Carlton.”
“It is, but it cuts your timeline by six months, which means you can get a faster return.”
Nari attempted to ease from my lap, but I gripped her thigh until she mouthed bathroom. I let her go, and she placed her phone on my desk, crossing the room. I watched until she shut the door behind her.
“Sounds like you’re attempting to be more of a financial consultant than my contractor, Carlton.”
He laughed, amused by the accusation. “Hell no. I’ll let you be the moneyman and stick to what I know.
All I’m saying is I’ve worked for you long enough to understand that you appreciate an expedited timeline whenever permitted.
I’m offering you that option, but it’s gonna hit your pockets a little harder. ”
“And you can assure me that you won’t cut corners and I’ll get the quality I need?”
“You have my word. It’s not just your name on the line with this. I guarantee my work, Akel. You know that.”
“All right. Send over the requested changes to the budget and I’ll sign off on it after I’ve had time to review everything.”
“You’ll have it first thing in the morning.”
“Sounds good.” When I leaned toward my desk to hang up the phone, I noticed a message notification light up on Nari’s phone.
J1928: I’m willing to take that risk for you. I understand you chose him, but I still care about you, Nari. What’s wrong with just being friends?
My eyes lifted to the bathroom door in an effort to give myself a minute to consider the possibilities. If I expected Nari to trust me, then I would have to offer the same in return.
Fuck that.
I keyed her password, which I wasn’t even sure she was aware I had, and went to her social media app, going straight to the chain of messages.
J1928: I need to talk to you. It’s important. Please, just respond.
NariAkel: You either have to be crazy or you have a death wish. Please stop contacting me because I’m only going to keep blocking you. He fractured your hand just because you touched me. You claim to know so much about him and the kind of man he is, yet you keep pushing. Leave me alone!
Some of the tension left my shoulders with her response, but still. This muthafucker was really testing my patience.
That was the last message she sent, but he returned several more.
J1928: I miss you
J1928: As a friend. I know you’re married. I respect that, even though I think it’s a terrible mistake.
J1928: Just let me know you’re okay. Can you just tell me if you’re really happy? I can help if you’re not. You don’t have to feel trapped.
There were about twenty or so more messages before those, but some had different names that she had blocked. None she’d responded to.
Nari’s eyes were on me when she left the bathroom and realized I had her phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Why didn’t you tell me he was messaging you?”
“Why are you on my phone? How do you even know my password?” She frowned and I laughed sarcastically.
“Is that what you really want to debate right now? Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it wasn’t a big deal. Either you’re with me, or they’re with me, so I’m not in danger.” She motioned to the door and I assumed she was referring to Floyd and Conner.
“That’s not the point. If he’s this desperate for your attention, I need to know. A desperate man is a dangerous one.”
“I didn’t want you going after him again. It’s not that serious.”
My eyes narrowed as my head angled slightly to the right. “You care about his feelings more than those of your husband?”
“No, I don’t give a damn about his feelings. It’s not his feelings that would have been an issue had I told you about those messages.”
I extended the phone and she accepted it with hesitation. “Ask him to send you his address. Tell him you can meet there tomorrow since I’ll be out of town. Make sure to add it’s your only chance because it’s difficult for you to get away without me knowing.”
She would never be within proximity to that muthafucker ever again without me being near, but I needed him to think it was a possibility.
Nari had no idea just how desperate and delusional Joseph really was.
However, his recent alliances painted a clear picture of the type of betrayal he was capable of.
What she failed to realize was everyone had a price—including Joseph.
Before me, Nari hadn’t been exposed to the type of people who would rather destroy than walk away, meaning I had to deliver a crash course.
“What? No. Why do you want me to do that?”
“You know why, sweetheart. I warned him. You can’t save him, but you can make his consequences less severe because if I have to waste time tracking him down, he will pay for not only defying my orders but also wasting my time. Either way, he will see me.”
“So you’re basically asking me to hand deliver him to you because I’m positive I won’t be who Joey will be meeting tomorrow.”
You damn sure won’t be.
“You seem concerned.”
“Because I am. You don’t have to—”
“I don’t have to what? Check that muthafucker yet again for disobeying my orders?
I made it very clear that you were off-limits.
His dreamy fantasies of you one day realizing you no longer want to be married to the monster who’s holding you against your will ends now.
I gave him an out. He wasn’t smart enough to take it. ”
“What are you going to do?”
I stood, inching closer to Nari, leaning toward her face. “Send the message, Nari.” After a kiss on her cheek, I bent enough to press the intercom button.
“Yes, sir?”
“Please send Floyd into my office.”
“He’s on his way, sir.”
“What are you doing?” She frowned as her eyes met mine.
“As much as I enjoy seeing this beautiful face of yours, I have work to do.”
“Are you seriously upset with me over nothing?”
“No, sweetheart. I’m not upset. I really do have a lot I need to get done. I won’t be late. If you decide not to cook or don’t want the chef to, I can pick up dinner on the way home. Please let me know.”
She stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. When Floyd appeared in the doorway, I lifted my eyes from hers to address him.
“My wife is ready to head home now. Please don’t make any stops along the way.”
“Yes, sir.”
“So, we’re back to this now?” she gritted, and I smiled, pulling her into a hug and kissing the top of her head.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Nari.”
She shot daggers at me but didn’t say another word. Nari turned on her heels and left but made a point of slamming the door as her final expression of how she felt about me sending her home.
I didn’t give a damn. Such a simple mistake like not telling me about Joey’s communications could be an egregious error that compromised her safety.
I wasn’t necessarily angry because I understood her need to preserve the man’s life, but that wasn’t her call to make.
I also understood there wasn’t anything behind her efforts other than Nari having a good heart and not wanting her conscience weighed down by the idea of playing a role in someone dying, but that wasn’t to be avoided.
It was, however, entirely on Joey and nothing she needed to feel guilt behind.
Regardless, I knew she would. That wasn’t something I could help, nor would I take into consideration.
She was my priority, and he had been warned.
I sat contemplating my next move. It was time to end this shit. It had never been in my nature to allow anyone or anything to disrupt my life and I had already been extremely accommodating.
Lifting my phone from the desk, I began expediting the matter.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Akel. How can I help you?”
“I need to plan a flight for tomorrow. A day trip to Miami.”
“No problem, sir. What time are you expecting departure?”
“Late afternoon. Between two and three.”
“Perfect. I will arrange to have your jet fueled and ready to go by noon.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, sir. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Every piece had to align perfectly to make this happen, but this was ending, and I would be the only one with a favorable outcome once it was over.