Chapter 11 #3
Jaleb stood responding for himself and Fallon, “He’s gonna call the shots right into losing this election,” before excusing himself, likely in search of a stiff drink. Langstons weren’t used to not getting their way.
Once the door shut, Fallon stared at me.
“Do you think it’s smart to keep pissing him off?”
“I think it’s in everybody’s best interest to stop making me repeat myself.”
“Fine, but I don’t trust Navie, and considering how we got here, you should be a little more careful,” Fallon urged.
“I’m not a na?ve nigga with his first piece of pussy. I know what I’m doing.”
“I can’t tell!” she yelled, back snatching her belongings. “You have a chamber meeting in thirty.”
Fallon left needing a cigarette, and she didn’t even smoke.
Ward and I joked for a few before he went to hopefully talk some sense into K-Low.
I had plenty of tasks to keep me busy and almost lost track of time.
Jogging down the stairs, I nodded at constituents passing in the hallway when Winston Calloway called my name.
“Calloway.” I didn’t stop walking because if he wanted my time, he’d have to keep up.
“Why are plans for the casino stalled?”
“I don’t discuss government business with civilians ,” I replied, reminding him of his place. Winston had a lot of money, which led him to believe he ran the city and everyone in it.
“Plenty of civilians invested time and money to ensure this goes through. The casino will bring a lot of revenue for the city, but we’re going nowhere fast because the permits stalled.”
“When your permits are bullshit, it takes more time.”
“I’m here to offer a compromise so you can move on to the next agenda.”
I laughed at him. “Your bank account doesn’t move me.”
“But it could help your campaign. Considering your staged relationship isn’t helping the way you thought.”
“Getting money has never been a problem for me. I’ll be fine, but you might want to consider diversifying your investments.”
“I’m impressed. You wear your spine well.”
“I have my wonderful mother to thank for that,” I replied.
“We’re one and the same, Treason. The only difference is I don’t pretend I’m the solution.”
“Waste my time again, and you’ll find out just how much we’re not alike fuck nigga.”
I didn’t give Winston the satisfaction of another glance as I walked inside the meeting, but the day went downhill from there.
I missed lunch listening to the room argue various ways to fuck already underpaid teachers, and zoning permit bullshit that wasn’t as pressing as they made it seem.
By the time I climbed in the car to head home, I was irritated and tired as fuck, but I had to go home and be a boyfriend.
Navie made it easy when I stepped off the elevator. She turned from the kitchen at the sound of my footstep.
“I wasn’t sure if you liked baked Ziti, but dinner is in the oven.”
“Ziti is good. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. Who pissed you off, Stink ?” Navie probed, stepping in front of me.
“Nobody. Just a long day,” I sighed, watching her unbutton my shirt next.
“Trust is built on honesty, Treason.”
“Shit, I’m back to Treason already.” Her hand found my chest, pushing me down on the couch. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you one less thing to worry about. Look happy.”
She straddled my lap, her warm center pressed against me, as Navie snapped pictures.
My hands fell to her hips, enjoying her being so close, “Shit, you feel how happy I am.”
Ignoring my comment, Navie laid across the couch, using my lap as a pillow.
“You missed me so much, you went through my shit?” I asked, staring at the Naylor Southern Law emblem covering her chest.
“ Borrowed . That’s what girlfriends do, right?”
I was the canvas, but she was living, breathing art, lacing her fingers inside mine and snapping more pictures.
My hard dick didn’t move her. If anything, she took pleasure in watching me suffer at her expense.
Lastly, she rested in my arms like a baby, making a funny face while I nuzzled her cheek.
She didn’t immediately get up, lying in my arms, examining the results.
“I told you to look happy. Not like I’m holding a gun to your head,” she fussed, flashing the screen at me. “I call the shots when we’re taking pictures. Got it?”
“Give me an order right now. Preferably one that ends with my face right here,” I smirked, gripping her thigh.
“Is sex all you think about?”
“Usually no, but you make it hard not to. Especially when I’m not getting any.”
“If I have to suffer, so do you. Although those non-negotiables didn’t mention other men,” Navie smiled.
“If you think another nigga is touching what’s mine when I’m putting up with your shit. Think again.”
“You liked my shit enough to throw me in jail just to make yourself my hero,” she shrugged, before asking.
“How was your day with Miss Dot?” I asked.
“I should’ve let your ass starve for dinner after you set me up.”
“Nobody set you up. I saved you if anything.”
“You really need to let go of this God complex you have.”
I chuckled, sharing what I learned from my last relationship, “The quickest way to get caught is following the money. If I’m paying you for doing a job, you have to actually do something. You want a cut of every check, don’t you?”
She rolled her neck to the window overlooking the city instead of answering my question.
“I’m making you look like a tax-paying, law-abiding woman who helps single mothers get off the street. If the police come sniffing again, they look like the villains. Not you.”
She stared at me with her jaw tense, hating that my decision made her feel protected. It was obvious she didn’t know what the fuck to do with it.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. How did it go anyway?”
“My head hurts. I can’t tell if she hates you or wants you to win.”
“Everything is earned with her, but I’m cool with that. She keeps me on my toes even if she gets on my damn nerves.”
“We put Shirah and the girls in an extended stay for the week, but then what? Miss Dot is right, they need help, and there aren’t enough resources in the city.”
“You actually sound like you care.”
“Those kids deserve somewhere warm and safe to sleep.”
“My lady is resourceful as fuck. She’ll figure something out.” I gave her a half smile, asking my first question from Fallon’s list. “What’s your middle name?”
“I know you looked me up,” Navie sassed, wearing a grin, “You tell me what my middle name is?”
“Hell yeah, I had to figure out who had me blushing and shit.”
“You’re dangerous, you know that?”
“Why? Because I’m honest, Navie Racquel Dixon. Sloane should’ve gone with Blue instead.”
“Navie Blue Dixon,” she frowned, wearing her opinion, “That’s cliché as fuck, and you know why, I’m not about to stroke your ego.”
“I wish you’d stroke something , Blue.”
“I am not answering to Blue.”
“No Stink. No Blue. You’re strict as fuck.” Navie giggled, while I grabbed my phone and googled what Blue symbolized just to irritate her, “You’re right. Blue means calm, and that damn sure isn’t you.”
“I’m very calm when I’m not kidnapped.”
“Let that grudge go. We both fucked up.”
Navie’s quiet strength carried her back to the kitchen. There was an underlying heaviness that never seemed to leave her smile.
“What’s yours?”
“I know you looked me up, too,” she turned around, wondering how I knew. “You knew everything Google could tell you about me and my campaign.”
“Guilty, Treason, Inez Westbrook. What made your mom name you after her?”
“Let her tell it, she knew when she peed on that stick she was one and done.”
Navie returned to the couch, displaying a level of comfort I hadn’t seen since the night we met. “Any hobbies other than getting on my nerves?”
“Boxing, but I don’t have much time for it now. What about you?”
“Tennis.”
“Navie likes tennis, huh?”
“I do. It’s a good stress reliever. Coming home to you every day, I’ll need a trip soon.”
“Where a cute lil’ outfit and I’ll make that happen.”
“Does the public know you’re such a perv?”
“Shaming me for being attracted to my lady is crazy. I see why relationships don’t last anymore.”
“We’re in private right now, so I’m not your lady.”
“My homie?”
“Jury’s still out on that one.”
“Damn,” my hand hit my chest, and Navie laughed. “It’s like that?”
“I guess so.”
“Trust is built on honesty, right?” Navie nodded. “Wassup with Lorenzo?”
“Nothing,” she replied.
“You gave me your word. No secrets that could hurt the campaign, Blue.”
“It won’t hurt the campaign. Just me,” Each word came out with a pause, like she was in a minefield, carefully picking her steps.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“It’s not important. Goodnight, Treason,” Navie dismissed herself, running from Lorenzo like she did earlier in my office.
I sat on the couch, elbows on my knees, still reeling from how fast the energy shifted.
One second, we were chilling and joking, then she heard his name, bringing out another side of Navie.
The bedroom door shut a few seconds later, and I didn’t chase her.
Not because I didn’t want to, but poking the bear would only make her lash out.
Me: I need everything you can find on Lorenzo Strathmore Jr.
Ward: I’m on it.