The Lion

by D. Camille

Brandon nodded. “As you wish, Chief Green.”

  Mac nodded as well and turned her attention back to Rion. “Those guys from LA were incredible. The young one was able to find out things we would never have discovered. We need to get them on our team here in the city.”

  Rion smiled. “Yeah, they're something. Marc and Trent came in and got the job done. They're back in LA now but if we need them, they'll be back.”

  “This is going to get worse before it gets better Rion,” Mac told him.

  Rion answered slowly. “I know Mac. I know.”

  **********

  Tauri sat at her desk excitedly going over the evidence that Trent and Marc had retrieved. She was happy to see what they had produced. She was also even more afraid for Rion, because apparently these men were serious in their efforts to stop him.

  She was preparing the paperwork for her case to be ready after Brandon announced the charges and the men were formally charged. She had a lot of work to do and would not be deterred in obtaining justice for Orion. Tauri looked up after the light knock on her door.

  “Miss Patterson?”

  Tauri looked at the beautiful woman standing in her in doorway. The woman was as familiar to her as her own face, since she watched her as the anchor on the national nightly news every day.

  “Rhonda Fleming?” Tauri asked confused.

  The woman smiled the patented frosted white smile that she gave to millions every night. Rhonda Fleming was a petite ebony beauty. Her dark eyes, skin and hair gave her an exotic look that the cameras adored.

  “Yes, I'm Rhonda Fleming. May I come in?” she asked.

  Tauri stood from her seat and nodded. She wondered if Rhonda Fleming was coming to interview her about a case.

  “Of course, how may I help you?” Tauri waived the woman inside and motioned to a seat. Tauri watched as the woman gracefully took an empty chair.

  “Well I wanted to meet you and speak to you regarding Rion Shaw.”

  Tauri felt a chill go down her spine at the way the woman spoke Orion's name. She lifted a brow and folded her arms.

  “Is this about a case Ms. Fleming?” Tauri inquired.

  Rhonda smiled. “No, it's personal.”

  Tauri walked to her office door and closed it because she was sure she didn't want her co-workers to hear what was apparently about to go down. Tauri twisted the lock before she turned back to the woman. Removing her glasses, she walked back to her desk and tossed the item on top before leaning back against the piece of furniture.

  “Personal?” Tauri questioned.

  Rhonda nodded. “Yes, I don't know if Rion has told you but we were together for awhile before we parted ways over something trivial. However, when we met in New York last week I realized that what we had was truly special.”

  Tauri paused. Wait...what? Orion met this woman in New York?

  Rhonda continued, “I mean, I realize that breaking up with Rion because he was broke was not the right thing to do, especially when he means so much to me.”

  Tauri's hazel eyes blazed. “So why are you here in my office?”

  Rhonda smiled. “I was an investigative reporter Miss Patterson. Of course I know that you and Rion are now an item.”

  Tauri folded her arms. “And you've come to make sure that we're no longer 'an item'?”

  “Rion is a really sweet man. He'd have a hard time letting you down easy,” Rhonda explained.

  Tauri nodded. “But you're better at it?” she inquired.

  Rhonda nodded slowly and Tauri reached for her phone sitting on her desk. She picked it up and pressed a button. A second later the call was connected.

  “Hey baby, I was just thinking about you,” the deep voice answered and Tauri looked at his handsome face.

  “Hello Orion, are you busy?” Tauri asked.

  He smiled. “I'm never busy for you goddess, what's up?”

  “Well look who's come to visit me...” She turned the phone to face a startled Rhonda Fleming.

  “What the hell?” Rion yelled.

  Tauri turned the phone back to her own face. “Yes, she came to tell me how you two are getting back together. Which I find very interesting since you put this big ass diamond on my hand last week.” She held her hand up for Rhonda to take in the flawless diamond that she hadn't paid attention to before. Rhonda's eyes widened as Tauri continued.

  “Now you need to tell me just what is going on here, before I beat her ass all over my office,” Tauri told him.

  “Tauri...” Rion began.

  Tauri shook her head. “No, do not Tauri me, Orion. Why is she here?” She shot daggers at the woman seated in the chair.

  “I don't know! She has no reason to be here or at your office.” Rion could see the anger in Tauri's face. “Tauri look at me...”

  She switched her angry gaze to his face. “I don't know what the hell is going on, but I love you. Please don't do anything crazy.”

  “Oh, she's getting crazy today.” Tauri promised. “She requested it the moment she walked into my office.”

  Rion tried to remain calm. “Tauri, baby...calm down, just tell her to leave.”

  “She's not going anywhere until I'm done.” Tauri sent her a look. “My grandparents have bail money for me.”

  Rhonda frowned and stood from her chair.

  “Sit your ass back down before I really hurt you!” Tauri snapped. “You came to talk and we're going to talk dammit!”

  “Tauri!” Rion yelled.

  Rhonda silently complied retaking the seat. She looked into Tauri's angry face and yelled, “Rion help me!” before Tauri disconnected the call and placed the phone back on her desk. The phone began to ring immediately and she ignored it turning to Rhonda.

  “So what exactly was your plan Rhonda?” Tauri asked while tilting her head. “You thought you were going to come here and tell me some things about Orion then I was going to leave him?”

  “You thought you'd start some mess to come between us, so he'd fall back into your arms?” she questioned.

  Tauri gave a short laugh. “Girl, you've been watching too much damn TV.”

  Rhonda stood again. “Look I thought we could handle this like women.”

  “No you thought you'd come and bring some drama, but you can take your ass back to being Mary Jane.”

  “This is Detroit girlfriend and you will get hurt,” Tauri said coming to stand over her.

  *********

  Rion dialed Tauri's number for the fifth time and received her voicemail again. “Dammit!” He stood in his financial planner's office.

  “Something wrong Rion?” Tim asked.

  Rion looked over at him. “Yeah, very wrong.”

  “What's up?”

  Rion looked at his phone. “My ex is currently in my fiancée’s office. I don't even know what the hell Rhonda is doing in Detroit, let alone in Tauri's office.”

  “That doesn't sound good.”

  “Look, I gotta go. I need to reschedule,” Rion told him.

  “Of course Rion, just let me know when you're available.”

  Rion nodded as he headed towards the door. “I'll be in touch.”

  He exited the building before heading quickly to the unmarked police SUV that was now chauffeuring him around. His phone rang and he looked at the screen hoping it was Tauri. It was a number that he didn't recognize with a New York area code so he answered.

  “Hello?” he questioned.

  “She threatened me Rion!” the woman screamed.

  He frowned. “Rhonda?”

  “Yes! She's crazy. How could you get involved with a crazy woman?”

  “First of all, it's none of your damn business who I'm involved with and what the hell are you doing in Detroit?”

  “I'm traumatized Rion. Please, I need to talk to you.”

  “Why are you here?” he demanded.

  “She wanted to hurt me Rion. I just wanted to talk to her,” Rhonda cried.

  Rion climbed into the vehicle through the door that was he
ld open for him. “Where are you?”

  “On my way to the hotel downtown, The Book Cadillac, Room 313.”

  He glanced out the window. “I'll be there in thirty minutes.”

  Rion disconnected the call and dialed Tauri again. Her phone went to voicemail.

  “Hi, you've reached Tauri Patterson. Please leave a message.”

  “Tauri, it's Rion. I don't know what happened but I'm going take care of it. I'm sorry and I love you baby.” He paused. “Call me when you get this message.”

  Rion pressed the button and held the phone in his hand. He hit another button and the phone rang. When it was answered Rion began immediately.

  “Brandon, I need you to check on Tauri for me.”

  Brandon was immediately alert. “What's wrong?”

  Rion quickly explained the situation.

  “Damn Rion, how did this happen?”

  “I'm about to find out. Go see if she's alright. She's not answering my calls right now.”

  “Fine, I'll call you back.” Brandon hung up and Rion sat back against the seat in the moving vehicle.

  He turned to look out the window. “Let me fix it baby.”

  *********

  Brandon rushed down to Tauri's office and found it empty. He looked around for signs of a fight or struggle and saw none. As he breathed a sigh of relief, he heard Tauri's phone ringing on her desk and wondered where she'd gone.

  Brandon walked to the elevators and pressed the down button. He hoped that Tauri had not done anything that would make her the headline news. He knew her temperament very well. Tauri was no nonsense most of the time but when you baited her, she became a lioness.

  The elevator doors opened and the person he was looking for stepped out.

  “Tauri!” Brandon called.

  Tauri looked at him. “Hello Brandon.”

  Brandon's eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Where were you?”

  “Putting some trash out,” she said walking away towards her office.

  Brandon followed her back to her office and closed the door behind him.

  “Rion wanted me to check on you. He's been trying to call you,” Brandon explained.

  Tauri picked up her glasses and placed them back on her face before turning to her paperwork. “I know.”

  “Tauri, he's not involved with her. He hasn't been for awhile,” Brandon said calmly.

  She studied the papers in front of her. “I know,” she repeated.

  Brandon sighed. “Are you going to let him explain?”

  Tauri looked up at Brandon. “Yes Brandon, when I'm not on tax payer's dollars I will let Orion explain why his ex-girlfriend showed up at my office. I will also let him explain why he was meeting with her while he was away in New York, allegedly on business for his team.”

  “A meeting that he has failed to mention since his return,” she finished succinctly.

  “Rhonda just wants to start trouble Tauri.”

  She removed her glasses. “If there wasn't trouble in the first place, there'd be none to start.”

  Brandon nodded. “Are you going to call Rion?”

  She picked her glasses up again and started reading. “I'm working.”

  Brandon turned and walked out of the office and Tauri never looked up. He walked back to his office and picked up the phone waiting for Rion to answer.

  “What's up Brandon?”

  “She's fine and you're dead.”

  *********

  Rion pulled up in front of The Book Cadillac Hotel with Brandon's last words on his mind. He knew Tauri was truly angry right now and he needed to get to her as soon as possible but first he had to deal with the problem.

  Exiting the vehicle, he headed inside to Room 313. Once there he knocked on the door and Rhonda answered in robe. He looked her over quickly.

  “Really Rhonda, this is the level you're stooping to?” he questioned. “What's next? You have cameras to tape me so you can send them to my fiancée?”

  Rhonda frowned. “I asked you here to talk Rion. You wouldn't talk to me while you were in New York.”

  “I told you all I had to say.”

  She placed a hand on her hip. “Are you going to talk to me from the hallway?”

  Rion stepped inside the room and Rhonda looked him over in his expensive dress suit and tie. His designer shoes and sparkling watch completed the ensemble.

  “At least you still know how to dress,” she commented as she closed the door.

  “What the hell are you doing Rhonda?” Rion demanded.

  She walked over to the sofa and plopped down exposing her naked legs. “I miss you Rion. I had to come see you. You blocked my number and I had to get a new one to call you.”

  “Go back to New York. Do not come back here again. There is nothing here for you,” Rion told her firmly.

  Her face fell. “You really asked her to marry you? You just met her!”

  “It's none of your damn business.”

  Rhonda lifted a brow. “I see you've taken to the thug life.”

  Rion's eyes narrowed. “Stay away from me and my fiancée. I'm not warning you again.”

  She jumped to her feet. “I was with you for nearly a year Rion and you never mentioned marriage!” she screamed. “And then you go and ask that...that...bully!”

  “Tauri's not a bully.”

  “She threatened to hurt me. She put me out of the building and told me to stay the hell away from you or she was going to 'bust a cap in my ass'!”

  Rion smiled knowing Tauri meant every word.

  “That's not funny Rion! You want to marry a woman like that?”

  “Yes, I do. I love a woman just like that.”

  Rhonda walked over to him. “Rion baby, what happened to you? You've changed since you've come back here.”

  He looked down at her. “I haven't changed Rhonda. You just never wanted to see the man I really was.”

  She touched his arm. “Come back to New York. You can stay with me until you get your finances in order then you can drop this whole owning a team headache and just be happy.”

  Rion took the hand that was on his arm. “I am happy Rhonda. I've met the woman I've been waiting for all my life. She's going to be my wife, the mother of my children, and my best friend for the rest of my life.”

  Rhonda snatched her hand away. “I hope you get everything you deserve Rion. You have no idea what you are doing,” she snapped.

  “Stay away Rhonda or I take no responsibility for the consequences,” Rion warned her before turning to walk out of the room.

  “Like I said, you have no idea what you're doing Rion Shaw.”

  *********

  When Tauri arrived home from the office Rion was waiting for her outside her apartment. She glanced at him and walked to the door.

  “I've been calling you,” he told her as he unlocked the door.

  “I've been working.” Tauri pushed open the door and went inside with Rion following.

  She placed her purse on the table and kicked off her heels before turning to him.

  “You saw her in New York.”

  Okay, we're going straight in, Rion thought.

  “Can we sit down and talk?” he asked.

  She folded her arms. “You can sit, I'd rather stand.”

  He nodded and walked over to the sofa taking a seat. He looked at her for a minute. “Yes, I ran into her while I was in New York.”

  “And you didn't say anything to me about it?” she questioned.

  “I didn't think I needed to tell you whenever I run into a woman that I've dated,” he explained.

  Tauri crossed the room. “You told me you didn't have any crazy exes.”

  Rion ran a hand down his face. “I never thought she'd do anything like this.”

  He watched as she hugged herself then lifted confused hazel eyes to him. “Did you sleep with her while you were in New York?”

  Rion frowned. “You think I'd tell you that I want to marry you and have babies with you then turn aroun
d and sleep with another woman?”

  Tauri threw her hands into the air. “That's just it Orion! I don't know you! I don't know what you would do,” she yelled.

  “You don't know me Tauri?” he questioned.

  “I asked you a question Orion.”

  Rion lowered his head and tried to breathe to calm himself. After a minute, he stood and straightened his tie.

  “I've never claimed to be a perfect man Tauri, but I am a man of character and if you question that then maybe you're right...you don't know me. Maybe this is still too fast for you or maybe you just don't want it.”

  He turned and walked slowly to the front door. Whatever Tauri was expecting him to say, it had not been that, not that at all. Orion never walked away and he never let her walk away, but now he was walking to the door without a backwards glance. When he reached for the knob she screamed his name and he froze.

  Tauri walked over to him as he stood still facing the door. She placed a shaking hand on his back. “Please, not like this...never like this,” she whispered.

  “I know that you are a man of character. You've never shown me any less.” She removed her hand and stared at his back in the dark suit jacket.

  “I'm angry, I'm confused and in my feelings right now. She came saying all these things about you and I didn't know what to do.”

  Rion turned and gently took her into his arms. “I'm sorry Tauri.” He kissed her softly. “I love you and I would never hurt you.”

  Tauri held on to his solid frame kissing him passionately until he lifted her in his arms and carried her over to the sofa. He looked into her eyes.

  “Why didn't you answer the phone?” he asked.

  “I couldn't talk to you.”

  He studied her face. “Because you thought I'd slept with her in New York?”

  She nodded. “I couldn't understand how you could ask me to marry you after doing something like that.”

  “Baby, I was in New York meeting about the team. Then I was buying baseballs and engagement rings. I wasn't stepping out on you. We talked everyday and all night.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the ring he'd given her.

  “I know,” she touched his face. “I just got caught up.”

  Rion smiled. “She said you threatened to bust a cap in her ass.”

  Tauri frowned. “You've talked to her?”

  He nodded. “I went to see her at her hotel.”