Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Amena
I was cradling Kayne in my arms, and Virgil was once again berating me for not being ready on time. It was sending me into a spiral, and I wanted to hide.
Yanking his suit jacket off the rack, he asked, “Are you even listening?” The snarl on his face sent shock waves through my body. Everything was moving too fast, and all I’d asked for was time to recoup after having the baby.
“Virgil, just go without me.” I kissed Kayne on the forehead, soothing him while he was coughing. My baby boy had a terrible cold, and his father thought he needed to man up—whatever that meant.
“How many times have we discussed my career, Amena?”
I sighed, not ready for another lecture on the mighty Virgil Especot’s life.
“Since the moment you put a ring on my finger.”
“I don’t care for your tone.” A frown formed right as a knock came at the door and the fake happy husband appeared. “Mr. and Mrs. Especot, the car is ready,” Virgil’s assistant Sharon explained with her breasts spilling out.
Virgil grinned, not even caring enough to have some type of decorum in front of his wife. We’ve been married for five years and together eight with our first child and somehow, I became the person I hated. Anything I did, the way I dressed, the way I acted was not the way Virgil wanted his woman to be in the public.
“Sharon, we’ll be right down.”
“Okay, Virgil,” Sharon replied, and my eyes widened in surprise. None of his staff were permitted to call him Virgil and suddenly she had become more comfortable being in our personal business. She stood off to the side with the doorway open and smirk on her face.
“You can go,” I dismissed her, rubbing my baby’s back.
“Of course, Amena.” Sharon sighed, her eyes flinging from me to my husband.
At Virgil’s nod, she reached to close the door and I knew he’d start on me about talking to her with a n attitude.
“Let’s get something straight, Amena.”
I walked to my side of the bed and laid Kayne down, with pillows around him, and planted a kiss on his forehead.
My imagination ran off the charts recalling all of his late nights not coming home and constantly ignoring anything that had to do with me and his son.
“Virgil, I ? —”
The dark gaze in his eyes and finger pointed in my face let me know it would be another night of fighting. “Shut the fuck up. Somehow you believe you run this marriage and household, but let me be clear, you don’t.”
“I’m clear on a lot of things, Virgil, and you sleeping with Sharon is not one of them.”
Standing with a snide grin, he said, “Yes I am.” He pushed a piece of hair behind my ear, tracing a finger down my cheek to lift my chin.
I forced myself to not throw up my lunch at his admission. Even though we hadn’t been in the best place for the last year, I thought we loved each other.
“You lost the right to touch me.” I yanked back from his grip.
Virgil shook his head, turned around, stalked toward the door, and stopped with a hand on the doorknob. I admired the tall, broad shoulders that I loved to wrap my arms around and cuddle up against when we first started dating.
“Get yourself together, and the car will come back to pick you up.”
The past few years I loved a man who never cared about me, only how we looked in the public. “I told you I’m not going. My son is sick.”
“The nurse will watch him. If you skip out, be prepared for the consequences.” Virgil yanked open the door, slamming it against the wall, and my son started crying again. I rushed to pick him up and rock him back to sleep.
* * *
“Amena, did you hear me?”
I smiled, tossing the rest of the trash in the garbage and letting go of the memories of my marriage. “No, sorry Budda.”
“Where is your head?” He twisted up his nose, leaning against the counter.
“Is my car ready?”
“Changing the subject won’t work, lil sis.” Brett had tried many times to harp on me about the men that I dated. The reason I never told him about Virgil and me was to avoid the interrogation we were having right now.
“Budda, my head is fine. I need to start looking for a place to stay and get back to work.” He hated it when I called him by his childhood nickname.
“Are you going to tell me why your ex-husband keeps calling my phone?’
I groaned. “We’re divorced, so block him.”
“Divorced and you kept the wedding day a secret from your family.”
“This is why I hesitated to come here.” I reached for the soap and sponge to clean up the dishes after I made lunch.
“Amena, stop playing. Did he hit you?”
“Budda.”
Brett shut off the faucet, grasped my hands, and turned me around to face him. “Aye, what did I promise you?”
The mental obstacles of my marriage had really put a strain on my communication with my family. Growing up, Brett was my hero, and I had shut him out, along with my parents. “You promised to always be here for me as my big brother.”
“Exactly, which means if a motherfucker hurts you then…”
I laid my head on his arm for a brief second. “You hurt them.” We both smiled and hugged for a moment, then he released me.
Kayne shouted, “Hi Laikin!”
Brett and I were startled at the surprise pop up of voices coming from the living room. We headed in the direction of my son letting somebody in without waiting for permission.
“Where’s your uncle, lil man?” Laikin seemed to get even more handsome as he aged.
I closed my eyes, stomach clenched at hearing his voice.
Brett kissed my forehead. “We’re going to talk about this later on.”
All I could do was nod and follow his lead, letting the conversation hold until were alone. My brother worked as a gaming designer, and I was in fashion. Our parents had reservations about our careers, but once they saw how accomplished we had become, they dropped their concerns. Kayne held one of his toys in front of Laikin’s face.
Kayne pointed at Laikin. “Mommy, my friend, Laikin, is here.”
“I see that, sweetie pie.” I smiled, admiring Laikin’s attention on Kayne. Based on his dark tinted shades, black jeans, leather jacket, and jewels around his neck, he must be ready to hit the streets with a woman.
Laikin and Brett did their signature handshake and watched Kayne. I reached down to start cleaning up my things to prepare to leave.
“What’s up with you?” Brett wondered, waving at him to take a seat.
“About to head into a commercial shoot.” Laikin stretched his legs out wide.
“For whom?” Brett snatched up the remote to change the channel away from Blue’s Clues .
“A jewelry company.” Laikin seemed pensive, not disturbed or angry from our earlier phone call.
“Nice, what are you wearing?”
He shrugged, removing his glasses. “Shit, I have no clue.” Laikin released a sigh and ran a hand down his face.
“You know, lil sis is into styling celebrities and shit,” Brett announced, and I froze with a hard glare. My goal was to take a few small jobs with some old clients and find a place for me and my baby. Stepping back full force in the spotlight with Laikin would only cause me unwarranted problems.
“Budda,” I grumbled, tossed the last toy into the toybox.
“What? You need a job, and my boy has a commercial. It’s the best way to make a name for yourself.”
Unfortunately, it made sense, but Brett had no idea about the history between Laikin and me.
“This would be perfect, Amena. I can take Kayne to get checked into the daycare, while you go with Laikin to do the gig. Besides, you want to start fresh, right?”
Laikin stared at me with an unamused facial expression.
“They probably already have people to style him.” I shrugged, picking up the rest of Kayne’s books.
Kayne stood off to the side and looked from me to Laikin.
“Come on, Kayne, time to head out.”
“If you want to do the shoot, that's not a problem. Just be prepared to work,” Laikin informed me and I felt like it was jab.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Styling has been a passion of mine for many years. He knew my skills, and even when my ex didn’t want me going to school, I did it anyway and hustled my way to work with big names.
“Brett, my boy, let’s connect in a few days. If you’re coming, then I suggest you meet me there.” Laikin dapped up my brother, rose from the couch, high-fived Kayne, and walked out—without giving me any details about the location.
It seemed like no matter what I did, he disregarded my presence. I plopped on the couch and sighed.
“What’s going on with you two?” Brett questioned.
“Nothing.”
* * *
I laughed with my friends as we walked through the kickback into Skinny P’s family home in Balwin Hills. Loud music echoed off the walls. My mom would have a heart attack if she knew I was not at the sleepover with some friends from school. Laikin promised he would stop over, and I found out through another friend at school that he was at a house party with my brother. We would chill together secretly, so I put on my shortest shorts and crop top showing my belly ring. At school I dressed a little more conservative, especially because my brother was known to get in someone’s face if they tried to step to me.
“There’s your man, Amena.” Shelly nudged me in the shoulder and passed me a cup of spiked punch. I glanced in her line of sight, narrowing my eyes at Laikin letting some bitch stand in his face with her hand on his chest. I stomped over, ignoring the whistles and guys trying to stop me.
A fierce heat burned his eyes.
“This is what we’re doing, Laikin?”
His face fell into a frown. “What are you doing here, Amena?”
“I’m surprised Mommy and Daddy let you out,” Snooty Brianna chimed in, giving her two cents, always trying to get in between me and Laikin, and tossed her hand on her hip.
“Fuck you, Brianna. Go brush your teeth and get the cum off your lip.” Embarrassment reddened her cheeks.
A few of my girls snickered behind me.
“Amena.” Laikin reached for my hand, and I backed up.
“No, you think I’m stupid or something? How many times do I have to catch this bitch in your face?” I snapped.
“Lower your voice. Brett is here.” Laikin cupped my chin to face him and pecked my lips.
“She really can't handle you, Laikin. You need a real woman on your arm.” Brianna held a satisfied smile.
I tried to lunge at her, but Laikin bear hugged me and walked me out of the party as the crowd started to notice.
* * *
Even though Brett grilled me for answers about Laikin’s clear attitude, I chalked it up to Brett being pissed about my ex trying to contact me and setting boundaries of them not fighting him because his political career could do damage to them both.
* * *
I got there early, at least two hours before I was scheduled. I was so happy to see a few people who I had worked with in the past, and they made the day better than I could have imagined. Going back to work as a named stylist in the industry would be hard, and many people wouldn't give me a chance. I knew Laikin only did it because my brother had asked him to. For us to be in the same place together and not let the tension get in the middle of the business spoke volumes.
Dark brown eyes glared at me while I stood near the camera equipment with the director. The hair and makeup team was watching footage of the shoot. Laikin was draped in not only a custom watch and necklace, but diamond earrings hung on both sides. I put him in a dark black suit for the first shoot, and now he wore a leather jacket and blue jeans, shirtless, with him holding a helmet from his team.
“Laikin, you look great. Hold your chin up and look into the camera.” The photographer, Grady, moved to the side, pressing record on the camera as the model walked into the shot and moved beside Laikin. Some people might think I had no right to be jealous, and maybe in a rational state that was true, but the dark skin, big boobs, and flat stomach only reminded me that Laikin and I were in different worlds now.
I cleared my throat and walked over to interrupt.
“You said you’re free tonight, so dinner like you promised?” she flirted. Laikin scanned my face, and I kept my eyes focused on him as he adjusted his jacket and pants.
“Give me your number after this,” Laikin said.
She squealed in excitement and glanced at me. “Girl, tell Laikin I would be the best thing on his arm. We would make beautiful babies.” She winked at him, and I put on a fake smile and rolled my eyes.
“You have lipstick on your teeth.”
Laikin burst into laughter, and she frowned. She ran off to the makeup artist. Not wanting to be in his space long, I turned to leave, and he gripped my hand.
“Why you do that, Amena?” He gave me a lopsided gaze.
“What are you talking about?”
Anger contorted the features on his face. “That girl didn't have anything on her teeth. You're hating.”
I folded my arms and tapped my foot. “Hating on what?”
“Check it, Amena. Just do your job and we will get along great,” Laikin demanded. As the crew started to prepare to continue filming, his co-star stomped back over with a glare on her face. Not wanting to get fired on my first gig back in the business, I moved out of the way and got behind the camera station as the director gave them instructions.
Hours later I held Kayne’s hand and the phone to my ear listening to my mother gossip about her friends canceling on her at the last minute. I stepped forward, heading into the first apartment on my list the realtor sent me, and got a shock of my life when I saw Laikin coming off the elevator and not alone.
“Laikin!” Kayne yelled, snatching his hand away and running into his body, not letting him move. The woman sneered at him and stepped back with her hand on her hip.
“Ma, let me call you back.”
“Why? Is something wrong with Kayne?”
Not answering, I hung up the phone, approached them to grab Kayne, and Laikin’s grin evaporated at the sight of me.
“What’s up, Kayne?”
“Who is she, Laikin, and do you have a kid?” the woman demanded, ready to blow up. She’s different from the bimbo at the shoot.
“No,” Laikin and I answered at the same time.
“Kayne, come on. We have to go.” I decided right then and there I would not be looking at the place, even if it was in my price range.
“What are you doing here?” Laikin let Kayne go, and I grasped his hand.
“Nothing, we’re leaving.”
“But, Mommy, you said we looking at places to stay,” Kayne blurted out, telling all my business.
“I thought you were staying with your parents or Brett for a few months.” Laikin acted like he was my father and demanded to know everything in my life.
“Laikin, what about dinner?” The woman fussed, reaching for his arm. He moved out of her grip and frowned at her.
“You know we're not like that, Tisha.”
“Well, last night you weren’t saying that when you stuck your d—” She gulped at his harsh gaze as she almost spilled his private business—which the world already knew—about him being a playboy.
“Kayne, come on, baby.” I moved around to leave as Laikin and his little plaything continued to argue.
“Momma, who is Tisha?” Kayne’s curious little eyes scanned mine, and I loved how innocently his mind wondered about the world. I hated the man I had a child with, but I would never regret my baby.
“She’s Laikin’s girlfriend.”
“Oh.”
Kayne and I left and headed to the next listings of townhomes and condos. Everything was either crap or too far away from the daycare that I enrolled him in. We headed back to my brother’s for the rest of the evening, where we ate dinner, then I gave Kayne a bath and relaxed with a glass of wine.