by Zi'ere
33
Emani
Seeing my sister on the floor after seeing her with nothing more than labor pains had been life changing for me. I feared that my heart would never again beat the same tune it had been set to before Mrs. Gert called out for me. I abused my power for the final time and made her tell me what had upset Amina. After we had all lived through the pain of losing Mrs. Deborah and Mr. Michael, a traffic accident was the last thing I wanted to hear. I even felt a twinge of guilt because the turn of events overnight, I had more time to get my ducks in a row regarding the Jefferies pulling their support from the agency.
“Chile, I don’t know what you are standing there plotting but I am going to need you to stop your wheels of evil deeds from churning for right now!”
“What evil deeds would you be speaking of Mrs. Gertrude?” I needed her to understand that no matter what she was on my payroll, not the other way around.
Amina treated her as if she had personally set the sun. Come to think of it, everyone in the building respected her.
“Don’t get cute with me Emani! I don’t have the patience for you today. Since you can’t figure out what to do that is going to help this situation, gather your sister’s personal belongings.”
“Um, ok. Yes ma’am.” I began to scramble around Amina’s office as if it was the first time I had ever been in the space.
“You know what? How about you go downstairs and wait for the ambulance. They should be here any minute. I will take care of everything in here.” Mrs. Gert was irritated with my scattered brains.
I could understand it and I secretly appreciated that she had relieved me of seeing my sister lie on the couch still knocked out cold. When I made it to the elevator I was knocked back a few steps by Carlos Haywood, Amina’s husband. I wasn’t the twin he was interested in seeing and he didn’t hesitate making sure I knew it. He made sure I was standing upright before he sped off in the direction of his wife’s office. There was too much going on around me and I was not in control. I had never spent one day of my life not being in control.
“Felicia, I need you to go downstairs and escort the paramedics up. Move, quick, now!” She scrambled in a hurry but I knew she was doing it for Amina’s sake and not my commands.
I re-entered Amina’s office. Carlos was kneeling beside Amina, kissing her all over her face. He was also on his cell phone. It didn’t take long to realize he was talking to the medical doctor in the Haywood clan. John would meet Amina at the hospital. He had specific orders for the paramedics as soon as they would lay eyes on my baby sister.
I made my way to set behind Amina’s desk. I would be out of the way in that spot. With my elbows on the desk top I began to massage my temples. In a matter of seconds, the scope of all the drama surrounding me went up to a new level. I looked down at the documents neatly placed about Amina’s desk. A sealed envelope that I recognized as my husband, Darrell’s professional stationary was tucked into a corner of the leather business binder Amina had with her always. My imagination began to get the best of me while I tried to think of an innocent story as to why my sister would need the professional advice of my husband without my knowledge. I started to think back over the many conversations I’d had with Darrell for the last few weeks. Not once did he say anything about doing any kind of work for Amina or the agency.
“Mrs. Gert, you know with the pregnancy she should not be out for this amount of time. I don’t know what I would do if I lost my wife.” Carlos’ words were broken because he was breaking down himself.
The way Mrs. Gert gathered him in her arms to console him reaffirmed that I had heard Carlos correctly. Amina was pregnant again.
“What in the hell were you guys thinking? Damn, she just had triplets! Isn’t that enough for you?” Before I could stop myself I was on my feet spewing venomous words.
“What planet are you on right now? Whatever the reason is that you don’t know what’s going on with your own sister, makes me not want to deal with you at all.” Carlos waved me off as if I was the hired help.
He had never been so flip at the mouth with me; I couldn’t wait to tell my husband about his harsh words. Having more babies had to be something Amina had been talked into by her husband. I couldn’t fathom her wanting to add more work especially more children to her already heavy load.
“Emani, get out of here right now.” Mrs. Gert stood between me and Carlos.
I knew she’d had her fill of me for the day. I was not stupid by a long shot. Mrs. Gert was honorary grandmother to my nieces. She treated Amina as if she had given birth to her. To favor Amina was to favor Carlos. I was outnumbered to take them on and it seemed as though they were not going to break rank for me. I was confused how my best friend could distance herself from me in such a way that I hadn’t noticed before today. On my way out, the paramedics were wheeling a bed into the room led by Felicia who was an emotional wreck. I shook my head and slowly walked the path to my office. I needed to spend some time alone to collect my thoughts and feelings. I would not step a foot into the public eye with my head in a fog as it was at the moment.
34
Laini
I was limited in the calls I could make because every time I ended one call, George was placing yet another call trying to reach me.
“I am so sorry for taking so long to answer your calls, please don’t be mad at me.” Even though he couldn’t see me, I still hid behind my hands.
I separated my fingers to peak through as if I were watching a scary movie on tv. I had no desire for him to lay into me like he had the last time we talked. I was innocent in that regard.
“Sweetheart, I am so glad you are okay. I have seen everything in the news.”
“I’m sorry George. I should have listened to you and all this mess could have been avoided. Maybe Zoey wouldn’t be in this bed had I been open to what everyone was saying around me.”
“No, baby no. I was afraid that you were somewhere blaming yourself. I won’t let you do it. All things are meant for good for them that love the Lord.”
My emotions were getting the best of me. George’s words were exactly what my dad’s would have been if he were still here.
“I understand that, but when am I going to learn the final lesson of love?”
“I don’t know Laini. Look at me, I’m still single.”
I know one thing is a fact and one thing for sure. One, he said those words because he was still flirting. Two, he said those words to make me smile.
“It seems like we will be the last unattached two left on earth.”
The worry in his voice was gone. All was well in his world again.
“I have a personal customer I have to take care of, kiss Zoey for me.”
Liam was still chuckling over the notion of George and I being a couple when Zoey’s doctor knocked on the door. Liam had respectfully given me the opportunity to speak with Zoey’s doctor in private. When he returned to the room he found me inconsolable in tears once again. He needed a cart to bring all of the flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals back to the room after he had gone on a shopping spree in the gift shop. I had to let the wind out of his sails when I told him that Zoey was in the deepest level of a coma. She was not responding with body movements to pain, she was not talking, and she was not able to open her eyes. There was no way to tell whether she would ever wake up. To complicate matters even worse, Zoey was twelve weeks pregnant. There were endless amounts of paperwork that needed to be signed in order for the medical professionals to treat her and keep her alive regardless of her vegetative state.
I had no idea how I was going to run a corporation holed up in a hospital room for God only knows how long. Just because I didn’t know how I was going to do it, didn’t mean that it was not going to get done. I was the big sister. I would protect her and our parent’s business until I took my last breath no matter what the circumstances. I sat in the uncomfortable recliner while Liam decorated Zoey’s room with the things he had purchased. My cell bega
n to chirp, signaling a business call. It was Yvette. I had totally forgotten about the office after I had listened to the messages about Zoey.
“I’m sorry to contact you at such a difficult time right now Laini, but there are some pressing matters that have happened in the office this morning that I need to discuss with you. First off, Mr. Pollnitz has called the office one hundred times this morning and he has left a message each time. Secondly, Amina and Emani arrived at the office this morning they were prepared to handle the press conference to respond to the allegations in the blogs.
“You can tell both of them a press conference is not necessary. I will handle my own press and blog matters.”
“That’s just it, shortly after they arrived Amina had some sort of medical emergency in her office and left the building unconscious on a stretcher. Mr. Haywood, Mrs. Gert, and Emani have all gone to meet her at the hospital.”
“Oh no! All stress that all of us has been under lately has all of us falling apart.”
“I am so sorry to hear about Zoey’s accident. Can you tell me how she is doing?” Yvette knew better than to ask such a personal question but I knew that she was quite fond of Zoey, not to mention Jamel needed to know about his boss’s condition.
“Zoey is not doing so well right now. She is still in serious condition and has slipped into a deep coma.”
“Jesus! I am so sorry to hear that. Is there anything you need? What do you need me to do?”
“I am so blessed to have you. Thank you so much for wanting to roll your sleeves up and help me through this troubling time.”
“You know you can count on me boss lady.”
“Ok, get your notepad and let me know when you are ready to take notes.”
“I’m set.”
“First I need you to have security to lock down the office building. Contact Ben and have him call me on my cell as soon as you hang up with me. Send out a blast email and inform every staff member down to the janitors that they are off work with pay until further notice.”
“Does this apply to the agency’s employees as well?” I wanted to smile at her apprehension to make the call on any part of Emani’s business.
I was tempted to tell her that involvement with Emani was being timed.
“Yes. All twenty five floors need to be locked down. Have Felecia handle the agency side until you and Jamel can help her complete the response email contacts list. I’m sure Emani left her behind, am I correct?”
“I will stop you when you tell an untruth.”
I could only shake my head. Felicia had been with Emani for too long for her to still treat her as an outsider. Not only that, Emani put on a show in front of us that her agency could not run without direction from Zoey or I. Today she had left the building without handing out specific orders to anyone. She was a piece of work if I had to say myself.
“I need you and Jamel to lock down my office and Zoey’s as quick as possible. No one is to gain entrance to either office even after the building has been cleared. Make sure you get response emails from every employee with current contact information in order to contact them on when to return to work. When the building has been cleared put your and Jamel’s key in an envelope and slip it under my office door. I need you to bring me the calendar and contact book you keep for me as well as your iPad to Cedar’s Hospital when everything has been done at the office. Be advised and also tell Jamel that I will more than likely contact either of you to complete some tasks for me that I am unable to do from the hospital.”
“Ok, I got it. If you could message me Zoey’s room number as soon as you get a chance I will see you shortly.”
“Call me when you are close and I will have Liam meet you downstairs. I have had the entire floor locked down. There is no way my sister will end up with photos of her in this medical condition on the blogs. I’m having major trust issues right now.”
“I understand Laini, I really do. I want you to know that I am so sorry for the ordeal that you had to go through yesterday. The situation is breaking my heart into pieces every time I think of it. I am so sorry.”
“Thank you Yvette. I’m so glad you respect me enough not to say ‘I told you so’.”
“I would never do that to you. You are such a beautiful person, I hate that you have been burned this way. There are different levels to life. I can’t say that if I were on your level I wouldn’t make the same moves. I’m not qualified to be your judge.”
“Thanks once again. Go ahead and take care of everything and call me when you get close.” I needed to end the call.
Liam was looking at me funny and I knew why. He would soon find out every true and ugly detail to the life of Laini Jefferies. I wanted to know if he was still going to stick around after hearing everything.
35
Yvette
Tory was my oldest sister sure enough but there would be nothing that could stop me from introducing the bottom of my Jordan’s to her ass when I found her. I had sat up all night waiting for her to come home and put in a minute of her time with her kids. After seeing the blogs I cried for hours. The hurt that had been captured in the photos was unbearable. I didn’t need to talk to Laini to know that her heart was shattered in a million pieces. I felt guilt from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. Tory was only supposed to black mail Laini to keep the story from going public that she was involved romantically with a married man. All the other lesbian affair bits, love triangle accusations, and the alienation of affection lawsuit was bull that she had come up with on her own foolishly without letting me know any of it.
Tory was greedy and wasn’t the brightest bulb in the chandelier. How I allowed her to talk me into scheming money out of Laini had escaped me within the first six months. Laini had been more than generous to me, my niece, and nephew whom she believed were really my children. With the amount of time and energy I put into them, they really were mine. My salary from Purple Label had made it easy to take care of the three of us while Tory squandered the fifteen grand Quese sent her every month for child support. I had to be quick on my feet to even get her to go grocery shopping.
My boss who I absolutely respected and loved believed I was a widow with two children, taking care of my mentally ill mother. The only true aspect of that statement was that I did have a mentally ill sister. I could not even say anything bad about Quese. He was a good guy who just so happened to fall for the wrong pretty girl. Wasn’t that all Laini was guilty of? She was a beautiful, kind woman who fell for the wrong handsome man. I had given Que small hints over the years that Tory was up to no good, but he refused to see it. He honestly believed that I had an attitude with Tory because I jealous of her and that I wanted her out of my house and raising their kids in their own home. After all, the home I shared with the kids was gifted to me by Purple Label employee assistance that Laini invented to help me out.
After all that Laini had done, I still chose Tory over her. I began to wonder at what point did blood began to get thicker than water. In three years Laini had done more to help, support, and encourage me than Tory had in the thirty years I had been alive. Laini had shut down the entire company. She was probably feeling as though she couldn’t trust anyone at this point. She made all the assistants turn in their keys. Although she said we were all on a paid sabbatical, no one knew how long it would remain paid. Tory had burned yet another bridge for me. I could not live the rest of my life helping her carry out psychotic plans. I would not live the rest of my life taking care of children that were not mine while their father traveled the globe making racks and their mother lived as a single woman. After the media stunt she had pulled, Quese was probably seeking full custody of his children in this very moment. Even if he wasn’t, I had a plan to make it all easy for him. They both would get handed their responsibilities today. I was walking away from my dream job without a clue if I was ever coming back. I had to turn in my keys and electronics. Tory would be turning in her keys to my house as well. Yvette was looking out for Yvette. I
needed to right the wrong I had done. I would prove to Laini that I was always exactly who she thought I was.
36
Quese
I had come to Chandler in hopes of spending some quality time with my wife, Tory and our children. For the past few years she had grown increasingly supportive of my career in the form of respect and less about financial gain for herself. Because of her shift in attitude, I was beginning to think our marriage could be salvaged after all. The conversations that had been about money all the time in the past, had transitioned into building a solid future together. I understood Crystal and Malik were getting older but there would be no money left for college if I didn’t put a stop to Tory’s excessive spending.
No matter how many times I put her on a budget, she found new and improved ways to withdraw large amounts money from me constantly without a legitimate reason. It was my job to provide for my family sure enough, but the more structure I put in place, the more she fought me on the decisions I made. A while ago she told me that she would be coming into a multi- million dollar settlement and that she would have an income of her own. Since money had been the root of our problems, she felt that once that minor detail had been rectified, I would come back home.
When I walked up to her holding on to Laini Jefferies for dear life all the hints of her scheme made perfect sense. The way Laini responded to me was every red blooded man’s dream. She wanted me, she expected to be with me, and she was ready to be with me. I had expert knowledge of all the horrible relationships where she had been dragged through the mud. Even though I didn’t know her personally, the last thing I would ever want to do to a woman like her was to hurt her. I stayed up all night trying to figure out this mess Tory had created. I couldn’t understand how Tory had been able to weasel in to get so close to Laini. Surely she was not foolish enough not to see that Tory was mentally unstable.
