Chapter 12 #3
"Call that bitch Promise and tell her you need to meet with her today. It's time to eliminate her altogether," The voice slithered lowly with familiar authority, slipping through her thoughts so naturally she hardly questioned it anymore.
Macie smiled, feeling like this was the best time to make this move. She took a sip of her mimosa, reached for her phone, and scrolled to the text that her resource had sent her a few days prior that included Promise's phone number. After tapping the number, Macie hit the call button.
On the other side of town, Promise had been up for the last hour preparing for the day. She stood in the mirror flat ironing her hair.
"Hello," Promise answered, squinting her eyes, trying to make sure her part was straight.
"Promise, it's good to hear your voice," Macie said. "I'm sorry, but I'm not catching your voice. Who am I speaking with?" Promise quizzed with scrunched brows.
"This is Macie, Monroe's mother. I've scheduled a dinner reservation at Bar Pitti for tonight. I need you there at 8pm," Macie said.
"Um, that won't work for me," Promise pushed back, her discernment cautioning her immediately. "I can meet you at Frankies Spuntino's at 7pm," she countered.
Macie smiled, but hadn’t expected resistance this early.
"7pm. I'll be there," Macie agreed. "It's a beautiful day, Promise. You have a great one."
"You do the same," Promise replied, then disconnected the call, but something wasn’t sitting right in her spirit.
It’s time to remind these muthafuckas who you are, Macie said to herself. She was unmoved, however. She continued to enjoy the breeze and her mimosa as she meditated on ways to make Promise fear her.
Later On The Same Day…
Macie looked down at her phone, pissed off because it was fifteen minutes after seven, and Promise had just walked into the restaurant.
She hated to admit it, but she was so beautiful she understood why her son was in love with her.
As the waitress led Promise to the table, Macie sipped her wine, and observed the latest Louis Vuitton Gala Pumps that adorned her feet.
Nothing irritated her more than someone who showed up late to meet with her.
"Promise," Macie half-greeted as Promise took her seat across from her.
"Macie," Promise replied, returning the same energy Macie exuded with raised brows.
"I thought a woman of your status would have more decorum. You’re late," Macie calmly stated. "You look beautiful though."
Promise ignored Macie's comment, giving the waitress her attention. "I'll have the Armand de Brignac, please," Promise placed her order, then sat comfortably across from Macie.
“Certainly,” the waitress replied before walking away.
"If you had any Decorum, you'd choose your words a bit wiser when speaking to me."
"Choose my words, huh?" Macie repeated. "Well, let's see how well you can comprehend. My son ain't the one you wanna have a future with. You may think you can handle his lifestyle, but it comes with a lot more than women like you bargain for."
"Women like me?" Promise laughed lightly. "What you know about women like me? I'm thoroughly intrigued now."
"Here's your champagne. Can I start you with an appetizer?" The waitress asked.
"Not right now, but I'll get your attention when I'm ready," Promise answered with a smile, then took a slow sip from her champagne flute.
"Women like you think what's between your legs is enough to sustain a relationship, but jump ship when it's time to do more than fuck," Macie spat. "But," she leaned back. "I'd be less than who I am, not to warn you. You don't have a clue about who you're dealing with, beautiful."
Promise leaned her head to the side, then leaned forward. "I know you're busy tryna make me fear you, but it's hard to take you seriously when you got that big ass bugger hanging out of your nose," Promise said, then took another sip of champagne.
Macie immediately snatched the black linen cloth that her silverware was wrapped in, and covered her nose. Promise bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing hard and loud.
"I'm glad you think this shit is a joke. We gone see who laughs last though," Macie said, wiping her nose, then stuffing the cloth in her purse. "You need to walk away from my son and never look back."
Confirmation.
Promise didn’t need confirmation when it came to her discernment, but the threat Macie had just spat, made her grateful for not second-guessing herself.
Macie didn’t know that Monroe had told her about the restaurant their family owned that was right next door to Bar Pitti, the consequences for Promise not adhering to Macie’s demands could’ve cost her life.
"I'ma say this to you once, 'cause I'm never gonna have this conversation with you again," Promise said, polishing off the rest of her champagne.
"For starters, I'm not scared of your crazy ass.
Secondly, I'm here because Monroe wants me to be.
It's never gone be a day I take unsolicited advice from you concerning my personal life.
How I use my pussy ain't your business, just know your son love this shit more than fucking air.
But, more than that, we share something so sacred...
something so divine that a demon like you can't help but stand on the sidelines, and be jealous about it," Promise unapologetically read Macie.
"What I'm interested in knowing is how far you'd actually go to try sabotaging your son's relationships all because you're miserable. "
Promise’s words landed harder than any slap ever could. Macie was so mad her blood pressure shot through the roof, and sweat began to slide down the side of her face.
"Aww, you look a little warm. You having a hot flash?” Promise asked rhetorically. “That's a damn shame how all that water coming out of you, and it still ain't enough to drench the flames from hell that's raging from your soul."
Macie felt her hands shaking, she wanted to shoot Promise so bad, but it wasn't the right time. She grabbed her wine, finishing it in one swallow.
"You don't know who the fuck you playin' with."
Promise smiled.
"No…I think I do."
"Fuck you," Macie said, standing. "I'll see you again...Sooner than you think, Bitch," Macie said, walking out of the restaurant. Her chauffeur was already waiting to grab the door for her.
"Would you like a refill, or the check?" the waitress asked.
"I'll take the check, please," Promise requested.
"Sure thing. Here you go," the waitress said, handing Promise the check.
"Here you go," Promise said, handing over her credit card.
Promise had been doing good, but she missed Monroe so bad it hurt. She hadn't been able to sleep right since the night he walked out of her house. Everywhere she went, everyone she spoke to... everything she encountered was a constant reminder of Monroe.
"Here's your card. I hope you enjoyed your champagne," the waiter said.
"Yes, I did. Thank you," Promise replied, placing her card back in her purse.
"You have a good night."
"Likewise," Promise said, rising from her seat, paging the valet to let them know she was ready for her car.
As she walked out and stood in front of Frankies Spuntino's, she noticed a black SUV pulling away, and another black car across the street.
It was Monroe's trusted friend's G. Promise knew him because he was one of the few people who knew where Monroe lived.
There were no words exchanged because they weren't needed...
just a simple head nod before he drove off.
It was at that moment that Promise knew that Monroe was still protecting her.
"Here's your keys, Ms. Montgomery, the valet driver said, pulling Promise out of her thoughts. Unbeknownst to her, G was still behind her, following her until he knew she was home safe.
"Ayebruh,” he kept his eyes on Promise's taillights. “She good. I got eyes on her now."
"Good lookin' out, G," Monroe said, then disconnected the call.
“Let’s go, TJ !” Promise cheered, blending in with Rae, Truth, and all the other families that were rooting for the basketball team to win.
One thing about Promise was that when her word went out, it didn’t matter how hard life was; she was going to show up for her nephew. It wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last instant where she had to compartmentalize her grief to make someone she loved dearly happy.
"Lock 'em up! Come on, defense!" Truth barked, half-standing from the bleachers as if his voice alone could force a turnover. He was fully invested in the game.
Promise felt so blessed to be present with her family, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed them until she made it to their home, and was showered with pure love.
Even My’Dymond was happy to see her. Suddenly, the vibrations against her thigh yanked her attention from the court, alerting her that either someone was trying to call or text her.
Reaching into her pocket, she quickly viewed her screen.
She quickly hit the button on the side of her phone, sending him straight to voicemail.
The timing wasn’t right, and she didn’t want to struggle to hear his voice when they spoke.
Instead, she made a mental note to call him later.
But to know she was on his mind made her smile.
Her heart still beat for him.
Their connection, still undeniable.
She felt him, and hated to deny his call.
“Come on, TJ!” Rae exclaimed excitedly.
TJ rose above the defender, released the ball, and the buzzer sounded.
Swish.
It was hard, but Promise managed to get her head back in the game just in time to see TJ take the winning shot.
“Ahhhhh! That’s my nephew!” Promise proudly shouted like the proud Auntie she was.
Drake’s Make Them Pay thumped through the gymnasium as TJ and his teammates formed a line on the court, slapped hands with the opposite team, and tried not to gloat. Once done, they disappeared into the locker room to change clothes.