Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
“Hey,” Leila smiled up at me when she answered her door.
“I have to go in the office for a few hours, but…” I reached for her hand.
“If you don’t have plans later…” I paused briefly, swallowing hard.
For whatever reason, Leila always had me a bit jealous, or it could have been my fear of rejection.
Either way I froze up every time I was in her presence briefly.
“Maybe I can take you out to dinner tonight.”
She shifted her weight and smirked. “Maybe?”
“For sure,” I smiled. “I definitely want to take you out, but your time is in high demand these days, so if you don’t have plans…”
“I don’t,” she beamed, stepping forward and tossing her soft arms around my shoulders, allowing a waft of her sweet scent to sweep into my nose. “And even if I did, I’d cancel them in a heartbeat for you.”
Without being able to help it, I leaned down to kiss her lips. Though it was the second time, I got the same feels and emotions I did the first time I was blessed enough to feel her lips against mine.
I’ll be home in about four or five hours,” I said once I pulled back. “We can do an early dinner since the kids want to do a theater night.”
“I think that was more of your mom and Aunt Pat’s decision than it was the kids, but that’s fine with me.”
“You might be right,” I replied and we shared a laugh. “I just want some time with just us before it gets chaotic.”
My mother had already started her countdown for Christmas since we were only a week away. My brother was flying in later this afternoon since he’d changed his mind about flying with my sister due to a scheduling conflict, so it was now the start of all the festivities.
After delivering one final kiss to Leila’s lips, I headed out. The rest of my family was in the den with the kids, and Mel was already at the university waiting on me, so after bidding them a farewell I was in my car and calling my cousin to let her know I was on the way.
We were scheduled to officially meet with the contractors at the president’s house so they could get started on the renovations that I’d signed off on. I was also having a quick meeting with the recruiting agency about the potential new president.
Mel let me know they were already at the house waiting, so I went there first. She was waiting on the porch for me while the contractors were off to the side huddled up talking.
“Here you go.” She handed me a stainless steel mug that had Dr. Ward engraved on it. “You’re later than usual.”
“I thought my executive assistant could handle it.”
One of her brows dipped. “Construction work? Boy, be for real.”
Chuckling and shaking my head, I told her to head inside since it was so cold, and I was going to talk with the construction team.
“Good morning,” I announced to make my presence known when I neared the group. When the one holding the tablet turned to me, he accepted the hand I extended. “Dr. Ward.”
“Good morning, Dr. Ward. I’m Antoine, the team’s plumber, this is Frank, Mike and Terrell.
We all handle different trades in the construction process, but I promise things will come together beautifully.
Our foreman, Mont, had some business to handle this morning, but he should be here shortly as well as the plumber, Zach. He caught a flat on the way here.”
I nodded. “And you guys are sure you can get this done before the New Year?”
“Definitely.” He nodded then went over the things they’d be doing today.
We all walked inside where Mel was waiting, as he pulled up the 3D schematics on his iPad and began to explain the things we’d discussed in our initial meeting, only this time I could actually see the plans in real time.
After that, Mel and I left them to their work while we went back to campus so I could conduct my meeting. Leila texted me during the meeting, sending pictures of the kids making gingerbread houses with my sister, aunt, and mother while the guys smoked some brisket for lunch.
I replied asking her what she was doing and requesting to see what she looked like since she’d showed me everyone else, so she sent me a picture seconds later of her laid on the couch in my den claiming that the women forbade her from cooking or baking since she’d been up early to make breakfast for everyone.
I skipped since I had a protein shake after working out when I first got up.
By the time I tuned back into the meeting, Mel was wrapping things up. I could feel her glaring at me, more than likely to be nosy, so I made it my business to ignore her. I closed my computer down and gathered my things, preparing to leave.
“You feel me looking at you, negro.”
“I do,” I chuckled. “That’s why I’m ignoring you.”
“My girl has your nose wide open,” she commented, leaning back on my desk. “I love that for you.”
“Mind your business, Melonie.”
“You are my business, Kiyan,” She fired back, lifting from her spot and walking into my personal space. “You weren’t unhappy before, but it’s nice to see you smiling more these days, and it being for something other than work or family. I’m glad you met Leila.”
“Yeah.” I laughed lowly and nodded. “Me too.”
After she grabbed her purse, we walked out together, me walking her to her car before I went to mine. She was heading back to my house while I went in the opposite direction toward the president’s House to see their progress and let them know we’d be providing them lunch.
I could hear all of the equipment going when I let myself in, so I made my way in the direction of the noises then eventually heard voices as I neared.
“So what are they saying, Al?”
“She’s lawyered up,” he scoffed. “Don’t ask me how because she has no money to her name, but she did.”
“Told you I saw her with some pretty boy ass nigga down at Blues. It was probably him.”
“Could be, but it’s strange. I just put her and Ava out. She would’ve had to have known him for a while now if that was the case because what man in their right mind would spend money on a lawyer for someone else’s problems?”
Leila and Ava?
This was her husband.
Small ass world.
“When niggas are desperate, they’ll do anything,” the man replied. “Told you buddy looked pillow soft.”
“Well, I could probably use that,” her husband voiced. “I’ll just say she was cheating because like you said, what kind of man would take in a woman with nothing to offer but burdens and a daughter who’s ret—”
“I dare you to finish that statement.” I stepped in and growled, making my presence known.
“D-Dr. Ward.” Antoine stuttered when he saw me. “I-I wasn’t expecting you back.”
“Finish your sentence, Aldrick,” I said, ignoring Antoine.
His brows furrowed as he eyed me. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”
“Naw, but I know you.” I looked him up and down.
“You’re the worst kind of dude, bruh, all of you,” I pointed around the room.
“Standing in here listening to him tear down his wife—the woman who bore his child, and ready his mouth to disrespect both of them, then all you run to his defense and try to make excuses for him to make him sleep better at night. The shit is despicable.”
“That’s him, Al,” I heard Zach mumble.
“Him? From the other night?”
“Him from birth,” I corrected. “What’s wrong with you, man?” I frowned. “It’s not enough that you tossed your family out like they were disposable, you have to sit in here with your little fan club and trash their names too?”
“I wasn’t—”
“You were,” I cut him off. “You vowed to love and protect them, but since the moment I learned of your very existence, I’ve been questioning it. You had a beautiful family, and you threw it all away. And for what? Bragging rights?”
“Peace.”
I scoffed. “Negro, please. If that’s what you were searching for, you would have held onto those two a little tighter.
I’ve only known them for a few weeks, and they’ve brightened my world in ways that I didn’t even think was possible, but when you have something as dark as you have consuming you, you wouldn’t know what to do with it, which is why you fumbled it.
I got them now. The little shit that she’s asking for in the divorce is child’s play to me, but they deserve that and then some. ”
“I just—”
“I’m done listening to you talk and all of you are done here,” I cut him off. “Pack up and get up out of here.”
“Wait, you’re firing us?” Antoine asked.
“Over his personal issues?” Someone else added.
“No, I’m firing you because you don’t meet the standards to work on this university campus,” I corrected.
“This school was built on integrity, professionalism, and respect. We’re educating future leaders here.
People who are expected to exercise discipline—on and off the clock.
Men who can’t separate bitterness from work and degrade their wife and special needs child in casual conversation…
isn’t a personal issue. It’s a character issue.
And I won’t have people like that or one’s that instigate it representing me or this university, so yes, Antoine,” I turned his way. “I’m firing you.”
“Man this is crazy,” he mumbled.
I was done talking, so I prepared to leave, but I got a thought, so I turned back toward them, focusing my gaze on Zach specifically.
“Everything had better look the way it did before you came, minus what you started on today, or I’m going to show you how soft I am.”
I was done talking and positive that I’d gotten my point across, so I turned leave for real this time.
I opted to drive home in silence because there was a lot on my mind.
I kept asking myself how I would handle it when I saw Aldrick, and I was regretting how I did because what he needed was his ass whipped.
I just didn’t want to overstep and possibly ruin things for them, or hell, myself.
At the end of the day, I was at work when it all transpired, and I didn’t want to risk my livelihood on someone like Aldrick. He wasn’t worth it.
But they were.
I would easily give Leila and Ava the world without a second thought.
It had nothing to do with the condition in which I found them or what she was going through, it was simply the looks in both of their eyes that had me on my knees and at their beck and call.
I wanted what was best for them, and I was sure that in that moment whipping her husband’s ass wasn’t that.
“Hey, Ki,” my mother spoke when I entered through the kitchen.
“What’s up, Ma.” I paused briefly to kiss the top of her head then waved to everyone else before making my way toward the steps.
I made it to my room, preparing to take a shower, when I heard a knock at my door. I looked in the direction, debating whether or not I should ignore it due to my mood being off, but decided that no one there had done anything to warrant it, so I answered.
“Yeah?”
Instead of responding right away, it slowly crept open, and Leila peeked her beautiful face inside.
“Hey, is it okay if I come in?” I nodded and waved to her. “Ava was calling your name when you were on the way out of the kitchen.”
“Damn,” I dropped my head, immediately feeling bad. “I didn’t hear her. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine, but what about you? Are you okay?”
I nodded. “I’m good, love.”
Her lips pursed. “We haven’t known each other that long, but long enough for me to notice when something’s bothering you. You’re not yourself.”
“Maybe—let’s stay in tonight,” I said in an attempt to get off the subject of what was bothering me, “chill with the family, do the movie night and games.”
“That’s fine, but I know that’s not what’s bothering you, so spill. Did something happen at work?”
“Naw, I just—” I paused, contemplating on whether or not I wanted to tell her, but it was her ex, so it was best I did before she heard it in another way. “Your husband… he was at the university today.”
Her eyes ballooned. “What? Why? Did he say something to you? I knew Zach’s messy ass was going to start some shit.”
“Hey,” I reached for her hand and led us both to my bed to have a seat.
“Relax, okay? He didn’t say anything to me…
not right away at least. I hired them to do some work at the president’s house for me, not knowing who he was,” I hurried to clear up.
“When I went to check in with them, I overheard them talking about you and Leila. It wasn’t my plan to eavesdrop or even start trouble in that moment, but I couldn’t stand to hear it,” I confessed.
“You and Ava have grown to mean a lot to me in this short period time. I’m not going to allow anyone to slander either of your names or disrespect you. ”
She blushed like she always did and shrugged one of her shoulders a little. “They’re just words.”
“Naw, they’re not,” I argued. “Especially not from a man that vowed to love and protect the two of you. Words have a lot of power; the ability to lift you up or break you down. I’m not allowing the latter and neither should you, Leila.
” I gave her a stern look. “You risked your life to give him something beautiful. The least he can do is respect you.”
With our eyes locked on one another’s, she placed her hand on the side of my face then moved in for a kiss.
“Thank you, Kiyan,” she said softly when she pulled back. “For everything.”
I placed a hand on top on hers briefly before I pulled it away and kissed the middle of her palm.
“You know you don’t have to thank me.”
“I do,” she insisted. “You came into my life and erased ten plus years’ worth of neglect, mistreatment, and self-sabotage. For a long time I felt like my situation with Aldrick was my karma for abandoning my friends and family to build a new life with him—like God was teaching me a lesson.”
“God doesn’t work like that baby,” I said as I took her other hand. “Sure, things didn’t work out the way you would have imagined you wanted them to, but even detours get you to the desired destination.”
Again, she smiled, showcasing her pearly white teeth before leaning in to kiss me.
I wanted to take it a little further, but it wasn’t quite the right time for that.
Especially not with my entire nosy family being awake, so unfortunately, I pulled back before I could get carried away and pressed my forehead against hers.
“I’m falling for you, Leila,” I admitted.
“Me too,” she replied softly.