Chapter 26 #2
“And you failed to mention you offered Blue a blank fuckin’ check. This shit was never about me. It was about keeping your secret affair a secret , which you’re doing a piss poor fuckin’ job of by the way.”
“What do you want me to say? I was wrong about her. Is that what you wanna hear?”
“I wanna hear you on the phone with your accountant to set up that transfer. We have a lot of ground to make up for, and that costs money,” I sighed, taking a seat at my desk since Blue no longer occupied it.
“You’re really going to do me like that?” Jaleb asked, fist pounding his chest, while Fallon looked like she wanted to interject.
“Now we’re above certain shit?”
Jaleb slammed his palms on my desk, pain flickering in his eyes. Had he come to me man to man, we could’ve figured it out together. Jaleb chose to go behind my back, and he had to pay for that.
“Fallon, give us the room,” he ordered.
“I’ll check in later, but you two need to sort your issues before the Health Equity Summit. Both of you need this, so figure your shit out.”
Fallon gathered her bag and fled my office.
“Like it or not, we’re family, Tre. So what’s the real problem?” Jaleb asked.
“I can’t trust you, and I don’t need another motherfucka’ around me I can’t trust.”
“Do you really believe you can trust her?”
“Blue never claimed to be anything she’s not. Running around with Sloane like you don’t have a fuckin’ wife at home. If you can snake her out, what the fuck makes me any different? It’s you who let pussy come before family. Not me.”
I could feel the sourness in the pit of Jaleb’s stomach that forced him across the room, plopping on the seat. Blue was special, but even she didn’t have the magic Sloane did. He was visibly disappointed in himself, losing the bitter battle.
“Yes, I wanted to protect my image because it affects you, too. I want to see you win because you fuckin’ deserve it. You’ve worked your ass off for this shit. I fucked up, Tre, but I do love you.”
“ Still fuckin’ up,” I corrected, because it wasn’t just one mistake that shook our relationship.
“I’m man enough to own my mistake. Because I do love you, I’ll put a million dollars in a trust for the baby. That’s the best I can do.”
Jaleb’s deception hurt more than Winston’s ever could, but as a man, I wasn’t perfect, and neither was he. Unlike my own father, he was trying, so I met him halfway.
“Danielle can do the project, but I want her under the strictest NDA.” Jaleb nodded as I leaned back in the chair, “And since I’m not a hypocrite, Sloane didn’t leave you on purpose. Your parents paid her to end it because they couldn’t have you throw away everything for Sloane.”
Jaleb’s pinched lips stared at me, hoping I was joking. Blue was torn with Sloane’s resurgence, but I didn’t give a fuck if she was mad at me. Jaleb needed to know the truth, and I didn’t mind being the messenger.
Finally, he pressed a hand over his face, heading for the door without another word. I checked my phone and there were no messages from Blue, so I finished work before Ward picked me up to go to the convention center.
“We still on for the fight tonight?” he asked, after I shut myself in the car.
“Yeah. Blue will be busy with Rayven.”
“June asked to slide through.”
“Only if he’s on his best behavior.”
“He might as well stay home,” Ward joked.
As much as June worked my fuckin’ nerve, he was solid.
“He can come through.” Ward nodded, but kept stealing sheepish glances at me through the rearview.
“What, nigga?”
“I can’t believe you’re going to be somebody’s daddy.”
“Shit me either.”
Now that it was a reality, I couldn’t see my life any other way.
“ Blue got you whipped like a motherfucka.”
“I’m cool with that.”
Ward parked along the curb, shaking his head at the reporters lining the sidewalk as I climbed out. The summit was about health equity and bridging gaps in a city that had too many. Walking in to greet the Langstons, I could feel the weight of everything but equity.
“We’re proud of you, son. Carrying the family name with dignity,” Russell Sr. clapped his hand on Jaleb’s back.
“With Treason in office, Yassah running LMG, and Jaleb the philanthropist, we can finally retire in peace,” Josephine laughed, overpowering Jaleb’s silence, “Oh, where’s Navie?”
“She’s taking it easy. It’s been a long few days.”
Josephine nodded, “You send her my love.”
“I will.”
She patted my arm before leaning in to whisper, “Keep an eye on her. She seems sweet, but was raised by a woman like Sloane.” She stopped her sentence short.
Watching Jaleb’s jaw tighten as he stood next to his wife was better than the Cavs and Warriors in 2016. I could almost hear the storm building behind his eyes. He wanted to say something, but the public is watching.
“But if things don’t work out, I’d take you as a son-in-law,” Josephine poached.
“Mom, please!” Yassah rushed out, embarrassed.
“Leave the boy alone, Josephine,” Russell dragged, winking at me while roping his arm around his wife.
Jaleb walked away, his family sharing looks of confusion.
“Now what’s wrong with him?” Josephine huffed.
“He’s been like this since she resurfaced. Thanks, Tre.” Mich delivered an exaggerated smirk before walking in the opposite direction from Jaleb.
Jaleb gave his speech first full of polished rhetoric.
His parents beamed in the front row like they’d groomed him for this exact spotlight, which they had.
When it was my turn at the podium, I leaned into the mic, voice steady, gaze sweeping over the audience.
My words landed sharply because they weren’t dressed up.
They were real, and the crowd ate it up while Danielle stood next to the cameraman directing the shot of me on stage.
When I stepped off, Danielle’s arm landed on mine.
“Is Navie coming? We could use some shots of you together.”
“No,” I replied, keeping it short.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” she asked, opening her stride to catch up because I was already on the move.
“We don’t have shit to talk about.”
Danielle and I hadn’t spoken since we split years ago. As far as I was concerned there wasn’t shit to say now. She had a job to do, and so did I. Working the room, I engaged in pointless conversations I didn’t give a fuck about, thankful when Daige greeted me with a hug.
“Where’s my girl?”
“Tired. I gave her the day off,” I replied, shaking hands with Abdul.”
“Hmm, I’m going to get her. Leaving me here by myself.”
“Get on her,” I jokingly urged.
“How is she really?” Daige asked with genuine sincerity.
“She’s managing. Hit her up, she might need some girl time.”
“I will.”
Abdul and I discussed the campaign. He assured me I had his vote and had been trying to sway anyone who would listen to see the light, too.
Using Navie as an excuse to skip out early, I headed for the car so I could go home.
Ward used the drive to let me know he’d taken Navie’s advice.
He reached out to Kelis, and they had a lunch date today.
He was nervous as fuck, shifting in the driver’s seat, trying to play it cool.
Ward had other things to attend to, so he dropped me off before coming back later to watch the fight.
“I can’t believe you’re pregnant. I hope it looks just like Auntie,” Rayven cooed as the elevator opened.
“I don’t care who it looks like, just don’t do all that crying.”
“Stop calling my baby it ,” I scolded, joining Rayven and Blue in the kitchen.
“What else am I supposed to say? It doesn’t have a name,” she countered.
“I don’t know. Not it .”
“Gummy Bear,” Rayven suggested, “At this point, it’s going to turn into one how you’ve been crushing lately.”
“It already looks like one,” she laughed, the hardest in the room, snorting like a damn pig.
My lips gritting together made her laugh harder. All she could do was put her hand up to apologize.
“They’re not good for you. Don’t keep feeding my baby junk,” Rayven fussed.
“Don’t start being the fun police, Doc .”
Navie rolled her eyes while Rayven taunted, “Doesn’t feel so good, does it?”
“This is why you’re going back to school.”
“Not before we turn up tonight!”
Rayven bent over, shaking her ass, while Navie hyped her up, giving me a preview of tonight.
“As long as it’s not a nothing ass nigga behind you, whispering lies in your ear. Turn up all you want.”
“Now who sounds like a nagging ass parent?” Blue rebutted.
“No turning up at all for yo’ ass,” She looked back at me, biting he lip, when I smacked her ass like she had a flashback.
“Yeah, right! It’s time to celebrate! They couldn’t hold a real one down,” Blue announced, swaying her hips.
“Where was all that shit when yo’ ass was crying?” I asked.
“Don’t do that because you were moping around here, sad as hell too,” Rayven admitted.
“Oh, really?”
I used the strings of her sweatshirt to pull her closer, “I never pretended like I could breathe without you, but you knew that already.”
“Aww!” Rayven squealed.
“Please! He’s laying it on thick because I’m going out tonight. Don’t fall for it,” Navie playfully shoved Rayven toward the room she’d claimed as her.
“I think he means it,” Rayven defended me.
“Anyway, what are you wearing tonight?” Navie asked, shutting the door behind them.
I sank into the leather chair behind my desk, skimming more data and analytics. Numbers had always mattered, but staring at them felt more pressing with a child on the way. I rubbed my temples and tried to focus, but the knock on the door broke my concentration hours later.
Ward and June leaned in, grins wide with excitement. “Get yo’ ass up from the desk. It’s time to watch Janero make me a lot of money.”
“That nigga isn’t coming out for another three hours,” I replied.
“I’m trynna see what the young boy Onyx, is gonna’ do.” Ward’s voice was loud enough to snap me fully into the present.
I pushed back from the desk, shutting down spreadsheets and polls, and allowed myself a small, wry smile.
For a few hours, the fight would take precedence over everything I couldn’t control.
The three of us piled in the living room, watching Onyx pummel a nigga that didn’t deserve to hold his bags, when laughing and squeals filled the hallway.
“Well, who is this?” June asked, standing up, offering Rayven a hand.
His eyes, glittering, shot me up from my seat. June wasn’t shit, Rayven needed to be mixed up with so I walked between them.
“Too fuckin’ young for you. Sit down.”
“He’s just being nice. I am grown, remember?” Rayven pouted.
“Yeah, Tre. I’m being nice,” June mocked.
“She doesn’t need you to be shit,” I snapped, feeling myself swept up in the blue tube top dress barely covering her thighs. “I need to holla at you.”
“Tre, we gotta go,” Navie whined, my arm snaking around her waist.
“You will in a minute. Ward, keep an eye on Rayven,” I replied, backpedaling to my office. I kicked the door shut with my foot.
“Don’t start.”
“Start what?” My hand gripped her neck,, her soft curves melting in my chest. I teased her lips with my teeth before nudging them apart exploring her mouth with my lips since I couldn’t explore anything else.
“You know what,” she moaned.
“It’s hard not to. You look good as fuck, Blue. Damn.” I groaned, adjusting myself before turning to the safe. Knuckling the code in, the door popped open, and I handed Navie her gun.
“I’m trying so I gotta’ let you enjoy yourself, but be careful tonight. Anything feels off, call me.”
She didn’t hear me with the gun in her hand. Blue knew how to handle it, but Winston had been quiet. I needed her to be careful in case he got loud tonight.
“You wanna stay in tonight?” I probed more insistently. “Eyes open, tonight. I need you home safe.”
“This doesn’t feel like trying,” she sulked.
That slight pout drew me in like a magnet, backing her against the door.
“I’m trying, Blue. Real hard. You feel that?”
She giggled, her hands cradling the nape of my neck, “No, Tre!”
“I missed you all day. Then you come out here smelling good and looking better. Why are you teasing me like this?”
Her breath hitched, and my chest tightened. Then the office door shook after a sharp bang on the other side, my lips hovering over hers.
“Aye, where’s the rest of the Hennessy?” June yelled, beating on the door.
“Nigga get off the door!” I yelled, while she used the interruption to open the door.
“I have to go anyway!” She said, slithering around the door.
“Y’all were in here fuckin, huh?” June asked, turning his smile up a notch.
“Next time you need a favor. Don’t!”
June’s cock blocking ass dismissed my attitude, grabbing the glass bottle from the shelf, “Quit crying nigga. When she comes home drunk and horny, it’ll be worth it.”
“She can’t drink. She’s pregnant, and you might wanna slow up,” I fussed, following him back down the hallway to the living room. “You’re not staying here tonight.”
“Ward will take me home,” June volunteered.
“I’m not trynna hear Coco’s mouth bringing yo’ ass home drunk,” Ward replied, shaking his head.
“She just likes hearing herself talk. Nobody stuntin’ Coco.”
June constantly tested Coco like she hadn’t already slashed his tires, and his ass too. She might’ve taken his shit, but it never came easy. June finished the glass and then slid his hand in his pocket, ready to face a blunt.
“You’re not smoking that shit in here. Didn’t I just tell yo’ ass she’s pregnant?”
“It ain’t like I can just go outside and smoke,” June looked around wildly, like that excused him. “Weed is a plant anyway. It’s healthy.”
“I see why Coco stays on yo’ ass,” Ward shook his head. “Don’t light that shit in here, man. What’s wrong with you?”
June shrugged, pouring himself another drink while I tried to focus on the fight and let Blue have her girls’ night.