Chapter 47 Octavia
Forty-Seven
Octavia
I was so thankful to have my best friend, Naomi, in town. She’d taken two vacation days and decided to drive from Raleigh to Atlanta to hang out with me.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love babies, but watching them crown grosses me out every single time.” Naomi snickered as the nail tech lifted her hand to evenly file her nails. “There’s all that liquid, blood, and gushy stuff.”
“So why do you still do it?” I laughed with her, examining my manicure.
“Because of the hefty paychecks, girl.”
One of the things I loved about Atlanta was the amazing nail techs. When I’d realized I’d have to be living in Atlanta for a while, I’d been worried about where I’d get manicures and pedicures. But one quick search, and I’d been flooded with endless options.
Getting my locs retwisted was another bonus. There were so many loc stylists in the area, and many of them were holistic.
“So your boo let you have the day off, huh?” Naomi side-eyed me with a smirk. “How does that work, anyway? Are you still a nanny? Stepmom? Like, where does that put you with his daughter?”
“I’m still her nanny, and he insisted on still paying me for my time. He thinks I will feel like he’s using me if he doesn’t keep sending me deposits.”
“I know that’s right,” Naomi said after a slight purse of her lips. “See, that’s a good man. Smart too. And he clearly knows how to work that magic stick if he has you glowing like this.”
“Listen. I don’t like to brag, but he is in-cred-i-ble.” I bit back a smile and shifted in my seat, remembering Javier telling me I was his everything right before slipping between my thighs and making the sweetest love to me.
I’d never felt so taken care of. He was so tender, sweet, and passionate, yet so dominating at the same time. He pleased me in so many ways—ways that my body couldn’t keep up with but that it loved so much.
Luther couldn’t even compare to him. Those were two different men, one fit for the streets while the other was fit for the throne.
“Don’t you think me seeing Luther get arrested was too much of a coincidence?” I asked as my nail tech applied a clear coat of polish to my pinkie finger. “I don’t know. It just felt way too easy. Like that was just a prank, and he’ll pop up and harass me again.”
“Octavia, you have to stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Thinking that every single win you receive is supposed to be through hardship. Last I checked, he’s definitely locked up, and if you ask me, his ass needs to be in jail.
” She rolled her eyes, temporarily pursing her lips.
“You see it as too easy. I see it as a blessing. Lord knows you don’t need any more drama in your life. ”
I laughed at that. “That’s true. There’s so much going on. I just want it to level out a bit and go back to normal.”
“And it will, now that he’s out of the picture.” She shot me a wink. “You have your man, your job; your family is thriving and healthy. This is your time to heal and bloom, my love, regardless of how easy it feels. You deserve more in life than heartache and pain.”
“Aww, Naomi,” I cooed, my eyes burning as emotion pumped through me. “Honestly, without you and Davina, I don’t think I’d have my sanity.”
“Wait . . . you’ve been sane this whole time?” she teased.
I busted out laughing, bumping her with my elbow.
“All done,” Naomi’s nail tech announced after applying the last of her cuticle oil.
“Thank you.” Naomi examined her nails with a grateful smile. “Damn, girl. You were right. These nail techs don’t play.”
“I told you. You ready to go?”
“Yes, please. I’m starving.”
After paying, we left the building and found Naomi’s car on the curb. She drove us to one of my favorite restaurants in town. Venicio’s had the best melt-in-your-mouth baked cod and cocktails. It was a bit on the pricier side, but neither Naomi nor I cared about splurging.
Truthfully, since I was living in Javier’s guesthouse, and considering how much he paid me, I was able to save a lot of money. The main things I used money for were food, gas, groceries, and maybe a little online shopping.
A lot of it also went to Mama, to help her out with bills at our house in Maple Cove, or to cover Abe’s therapy appointments. I couldn’t wait until I could see them again. Maybe Javier wouldn’t mind if Mama and Abe visited us. He’d probably enjoy it way too much.
Naomi and I walked into Venicio’s, where a hostess greeted us and sat us down at a booth. As I scanned the menus, I heard a voice. A familiar, deep, conceited voice that made my stomach lurch.
“—thinks I have a fair shot at custody. I gotta say, this was way easier than I expected. I mean, it’s right there. I can taste it.”
I gasped, and Naomi’s eyes swiveled up to mine. “What?” she asked.
“The guy in the booth behind me. I know who he is.”
She frowned, then tilted to the side just a bit to see past me. “He’s got nice hair.”
“Yeah, I bet he does.” I scowled as I plucked my phone out of my purse, ready to text Javier and let him know.
“I’d be so fucking embarrassed if I was that guy.
Think about it. The whole world knows his wife fucked me?
” Rafael snorted an obnoxious laugh. “Not saying I’m the hottest guy in the world, but imagine what kind of catch I’ll be considered if a famous basketball player’s wife feels the urge to go to bed with me.
Imagine all the other women who will be ready to do the same. ”
“She was on your design team, right?” the man seated with him asked.
“She was. And the way it happened, bro. Oh, it was like a dream. I still remember it.” Rafael paused, and when he released a wet gasp, I figured he’d taken a sip of his drink. “She was in my office, taking sips of my whiskey. Then she lets me put her on her hands and knees—”
I cleared my throat, resisting the urge to twist around and slap him on the back of his head.
How could he talk about a dead woman like that?
He was a horrible human being. I couldn’t believe this was happening.
Of all the odds in the world, I was here—right here in a seat behind the man trying to ruin Javier’s life.
“It had to be fun if you ended up getting her pregnant,” the other man commented.
“Well, see, that’s the crazy thing.” Rafael’s voice became quieter as he said, “She told me about the baby—or at least that she suspected it. And she straight-up tells me she doesn’t want me involved or raising it.
At the time, I didn’t give a fuck, you know.
I had other shit to deal with, and a kid is the last thing I fucking want.
Even now, I’ll probably have to hire a few fucking nannies to keep an eye on her. ”
My heart thumped faster. I couldn’t believe I was hearing this. He wasn’t talking about Aleesa like that. Not my sweet girl.
“But it’ll be worth it. The kid’s face is already all over the place.
People will see me with her, and I can get her started with the new line we have going for kids.
It’s going to be huge, just you watch. When they see her face, the dollars will start rolling in.
The people love her already. I wish I would’ve thought about this before now. ”
Our waiter approached the table with two waters and set them down in front of us. I locked the screen of my phone and asked the waiter for five more minutes.
When the waiter took off, I looked at Naomi. “I need to do something.”
“Hold on.” She caught my wrist before I could climb out of my seat. “Don’t tell me you’re about to confront him, Tavia.”
“Of course not.” I put on a faux grin and gently tugged my wrist out of her hand.
Then I slid out of my booth, tucked my phone into my back pocket, and picked up my cup of water.
Then I turned toward Rafael’s booth and pretended to trip, tipping my glass forcefully to the right so water could spill all over his food and run onto his lap.
“What the fuck!” Rafael shot out of his booth.
“Oh my goodness,” I gasped. “I’m so sorry!”
Rafael flung the water off his hands as he grimaced at his wet trousers. I tried not to laugh, because he was wearing a gray suit and looked like he’d peed himself.
“Do you work here or something?” Rafael looked me up and down, grimacing.
I frowned back. “Do I look like I work here?”
“I don’t fucking know, but if you do, I need to speak to the manager. What kind of unprofessional shit is this?”
“Well, I don’t work here, and I told you I was sorry.
” I looked from him to his friend—a scrawny Caucasian guy with glasses, who was balding at the crown of his head.
Typical. “I have to ask. What is it that you get off on more? Him telling you stories about using children for financial gain, or when he tells you about his affair with a deceased woman?”
Rafael’s friend turned beet red.
“Who the hell are you?” Rafael hissed.
“Someone you’re going to regret sitting next to.”
I started to walk away, but Rafael grabbed my upper arm tightly—so tightly I nearly froze. Because the grip was familiar. It was angry and hard and ruthless.
“Um, you better get your hands off my girl before I cut ’em off.” Naomi’s voice rose behind me, and I looked in her direction. She stood a few steps away, holding a steak knife in one hand.
The crazy thing was, Naomi was the type to definitely cut or stab a man’s hands if he got .
. . well, handsy. She’d hurt men before, and she’d do it again.
She grew up around horrible people, so this was nothing new to her.
However, I would never let her do it here—not in Atlanta and not to a rich, petty man like Rafael.
“No, you know what? It’s okay, Naomi. I’ve got this.” I lowered my eyes to Rafael’s grip. “I suggest you remove your hand before I make you remove it.”
Rafael blinked rapidly as he snatched his hand away. “You spilled water on me on purpose. That’s assault.”
“Oh, please. It was an accident. Besides, a little water isn’t going to kill you. You need a bath to wash away all the grimy shit you do.”
Rafael stared at me, baffled.
“Is everything okay here?” A well-dressed man approached us, with eyes full of concern. I figured he was the manager.
“Oh, yes. Everything is fine,” I told him. “Just a little misunderstanding. Right, Rafael?”
This time, Rafael blanched. “Wait . . . I know you . . .”
I simply smiled, refusing to stick around as he processed just who I was. “Enjoy the rest of your soggy lunch.” I made my way back to Naomi, who was already collecting our purses and was ready to leave. When she’d looped her arm through mine, she rushed with me to the exit.
As soon as we were outside, she yelled, “Octavia, what the hell! You said you weren’t going to confront him! I almost killed that man!”
“I know, I’m sorry! I couldn’t help it!”
She busted out laughing. “Damn, girl. You had my heart pumping and everything! You can’t just go off script without giving me a heads-up. You know I’ll have your back no matter what, but damn.”
I laughed. “I know you will.” I grinned as we made our way to her car.
When we were seated inside, she looked at me and said, “Why are you still smiling?”
“Because I think I just spared Javier any more agony about this custody battle.”
Her brows stitched together. “What do you mean?”
“I mean—” I unlocked my phone and turned the screen her way so she could see it. When she realized what she was looking at, her eyes expanded and an amused smile swept over her face. “I recorded every single thing he said.”
“You smart-ass bitch.” She squealed as she gripped the steering wheel. “This is why you’re my best friend!”
I laughed as we threw our hands out at the same time to do our bestie handshake.