Chapter 21 #2
This isn’t a choice anymore. This is a room full of people who need me to say yes.
“You don’t get creative control,” I say firmly. “You don’t become the face of the studio. And this doesn’t turn into a PR circus.”
Daniel nods. “Agreed.”
Jabari nods too.
“Okay. We’ll review the proposal,” I say. “Formally. Once everything looks right… we can move forward.”
Daniel smiles. “Of course.”
The meeting ends in a blur of polite smiles and professional handshakes I don’t feel present for. I don’t wait for it to fully dissolve. I grab my bag and head straight for the door as the team surrounds Jabari and began discussing timelines and schedules.
Walking out has become my new signature move.
“Miss Campbell?”
Daniel catches me just as I’m about to head down the hallway.
“Just Frankie is good,” I say. “What’s wrong?”
“I— I want to—”
I cock my eyebrow as I wait for him to collect himself.
“I wanted to ask, what’s the relationship between you and my client?”
Immediately I’m on the defensive.
“He’s my friend's brother. Why?”
“Oh!” He sighs in relief and chuckles lightly. “Oh thank goodness.”
“Am I missing something, Mr.?”
“Daniel will do. And no, no. I was just worried my client got himself caught up in something silly.”
My eye tweaks.
“Silly?”
“Please, I’m not trying to be offensive,” he explains.
“I just— he— Jabari has this obsessive need to prove himself to any and everyone! But we are in the middle of trying to move him up in the league! He doesn’t have time for this shit!
” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Honestly! The need to be the center of attention in everything… involving himself in this— no offense—shitty situation! Not to mention sparking rumors of personal involvement.”
I let the rant go on this far but I pause it there.
“Look, David? I’m sure you have a lot of tension built up about your client and believe me.
I have an issue of my own with him to address.
However, I would like to state that I am not a safe space to vent too.
Don’t ever bad mouth Jabari to me. Don't talk negatively about him period. If you have an issue with his attitude, take it up with him or quit. But don’t ever feel comfortable enough to speak out against him to me. ”
“I—”
“I ain’t done,” I state. “This is a professional setting. Would you address the board of directors so damn casually? I don’t think so.”
“Yeah but it’s not like your company is that big, right?
” He scoffs. “You ain’t exactly got a board of directors do ya?
I mean seriously, it’s obvious Titan is doing his sister’s friend a favor in an effort to prop himself up as the center of attention.
But now we have rumors of a relationship between you two? He doesn’t think these things through!”
My heart sank. Za…
What is she thinking about this?
I can’t even imagine because I’m too busy getting insulted by a man who thinks he’s so much better than me that he doesn’t even care he’s doing it to my face!
“Ya see, I was trying to be professional but now you’re taking the fucking piss! Who do you think you’re talking to? Do I look like a fucking prick? Ay, go suc—”
The meeting door swings open and my team walks out with an excited Jabari before I get into my step by step directions on all the ways he could lick out ‘em mudda.
“Jelly?” Jabari’s face drains of color when he sees I’m upset. In two steps he’s by my side, bumping his dickhead agent in the process. He cups my cheeks and rains down kisses all over my face, giving priority to my nose like he does in private.
Except.
We are NOT in private.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay? Are you mad at me?”
My hands go to pull his away from my face, stopping him and we lock eyes.
I see him try to read my emotions, then he clicks into reality where we are, who’s around us and what he did.
I feel something in my heart I’ve never felt before like this. I can’t name it, but. It’s there.
“Jelly…”
I look at the people around us. His agent is gagged.
Tasha and the team are floored. But I can see the look in their eyes when they realize he may only be here because of me. And that look made my eyes teary.
I look at him one more time, then say something I didn’t think I’d say to him ever again.
“I hate you.”
The car park’s sky’s overcast. I fumble for my keys even though I didn’t need them. I just need to keep my hands busy. Or I’ll strangle him.
“Francine.”
I hear him but keep walking.
“Jelly—wait.”
I don’t.
My pace picks up instead. I’m already halfway across the lot when his footsteps close the distance.
“Frankie, don’t do this.”
His hand closes around my wrist and I spin on him, fury already loaded. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
He lets go immediately, palms up. “I just wanna talk, okay?”
“You’ve talked enough today,” I snap. “You’ve talked in my office, in front of my team, with your agent, what else is there to say, Jabari?”
“I am sorry I didn’t tell you,” he states. “I didn’t think you’d want me involved if you knew. So I just figured—”
“You’d lie and ambush me?” I fire back. “This is my job, you idiot. My career! My company! I invited an investor! Not Jabari McKingsley! Do you know how that makes me look in front of my team?”
“Frankie, my investment has nothing to do with—”
“They are starting rumors, you ignorant arsehole! People are saying you defended me because we are involved with each other and you go and kiss me in front of everyone?”
“I wasn’t thinking clearly, Jelly. I saw you looked hurt and acted. I’m sorry.”
“Of course you weren’t thinking,” I chuckle at the privilege he had to not think of those things. “You know. I worked really hard to make sure my sexual life has nothing to do with my company. And now people think I’m sleeping with you and that’s why you helped me?”
“Who gives a fuck what people think Francine?”
“You do apparently! Your agent said it’s so obvious you did this for attention and it’s—”
“He said that to you?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t get a chance—”
“Do you believe him?”
“Jabari!” I yell. “Can you stop cutting me off and let me fucking speak?”
He swallows the rest and I continue.
“The point I’m trying to make is, I am not in a position to be involved with you in any kind of situation or scandal. Okay?”
He jumps in immediately. “Because of Za?”
“Jabari. Please. Let me finish. I can’t have another scandal attached to me right now.
The awards were enough. You defending me is enough.
I know your intentions were good but you cornered me and now, if I turn your ‘kindness’ down, my team will think I’m an egotistical mess.
Especially after last night. Or worse, now that you’ve kissed me in front of everyone, they’ll think I just sleep around to get my way, which is the last thing I want attached to my name. ”
“Fuck what people think Francine. Fuck all of it. I wanted to help you because I care about you and your company. You know that.”
I massage my temples. “You don’t get it.
You don’t understand the position you put me in.
The minute my personal life gets put on blast next to my career?
My achievements become worthless. Defending me is one thing but coming to my rescue in this way?
Funding and investing? Suddenly what I did at the awards isn’t standing up to the academy for unfair treatment.
Like I was doing! Now I’m a spoiled brat who didn’t get her way because she’s used to sleeping to get what she wants.
Can you even conceptualize that affecting you negatively?
No you can not. Because you are not a woman.
You can not understand the impact this has on me because you are rewarded for bad behavior and having tantrums.”
His jaw tightens. “Really? That’s what you think of me, Jelly?”
“Yup!” I yell. “And I can tell I’m right because I explained the entire situation to you and you're still only focused on yourself! I’m starting to think your agent was right, Jabari! You made yourself necessary because you can’t stand not being the center of attention.”
“Really?”
“Really!”
“That’s not fair.”
“It’s very fair,” I say. “You keep doing this. You keep forcing your way in without thought on who it affects.”
“I was just trying to be there for you!”
“Why?” I cut in. “You ain’t my friend, you ain’t my man and we sure as hell ain’t that close. I’m not a toy in need of fixing. I’m not your woman who needs defending. Got it?”
He laughs once, sharp. “Yeah, where was that energy when your legs were wrapped around my face?”
“That’s different and you know it,” I say. “Sex doesn’t mean you get access to everything else, or get to do shit like this.”
“So what, I’m good enough to fuck but not good enough to support you?”
“Don’t twist it.” I snap. “I don't need a man hovering over my career, I built this without you. I’ll be fine without you.”
Silence stretches between us and I feel empty. I’m so mad but not at him. Well, not fully. I’m mad at the world for not allowing me to have it all.
I just want… fuck. I wanna be happy. But I really don’t know how to be happy at this point.
“So. That’s it then.”
“It is,” I say. “You don’t fit into my life, Jabari. You keep trying to carve out space where there isn’t any. Just let me be.”
More silence.
For a moment I thought I’d awaken his former argumentative self and rip me to shreds. But instead:
“So what was all that talk the other night, then?” he asks. “About wanting each other? About not wanting this to end?”
I look away to keep the distance I want to create.
“That was emotional,” I say. “This is real.”