by Zi'ere
“All rise! The Honorable Ruth McGregor is now presiding. Please be seated!”
The room grabbed hold of silence as we all followed the instructions. I was seated on the left side of the courtroom at the long rectangle oak table in the most uncomfortable chair I had ever sat in. I was wearing an olive green form fitting dress that stopped mid- calf. The cap sleeves added a business touch to the exposed neck line which was low enough to catch the grown woman status of my breasts but left something for the imagination. It goes without saying that the dress with the matching platform stiletto’s in the same shade of green, with a touch black were all Purple Label designs. In the empty chair beside me sat the last Purple Label handbag that Zoey had designed before her accident.
Beside me was my high power and overpriced attorney Terrell Haywood, representing my corporation pro bono. I had to admit I was impressed by his professionalism. He no longer treated Emani with the respect of being his sister-in-law. The ink on her divorce decree was already dry. The process was the fastest divorce I had ever heard of. Everything she thought she deserved or wanted to take was denied. Her prenuptial agreement held all kinds of clauses she was in violation of. If she could throw her own sister and best friend of twenty four years into a legal battle, she would not hesitate to throw her husband into one either was the consensus of the Haywood clan. She never even had a life line to call someone to come to her aide. As sad as the situation had been, Darrell had kicked her and her babies to the curb. From everything I had heard and seen with my own two, he did it with no hesitation or guilty feelings. Personally, I couldn’t say how I felt about how Darrell had treated the babies he once believed to be his own. I wasn’t God, I had no right to judge. I needed to focus on my own affairs.
I personally think the detail that did her in the most was that she had contracted the AIDS virus from some random person. She had no business going to Mekhi for anything. Her husband would have out in work to give her the children they wanted and AIDS didn’t even have to be a factor. Obviously he wasn’t shooting blanks because he had gotten Zoey pregnant at the first go at third base. She had brought the family shame by an affair and had tried to pass illegitimate children. All that time she had spent with Angel and she hadn’t learned one damn thing. She had done exactly what Angel had tried to do. She didn’t know it yet but she still had to pay the piper for what she had tried to do to me and Zoey. She didn’t know when it was coming but it definitely was closer than she thought. I had taken the time to get myself healthy enough to carry my own child. Putting together the fashion show also took up a lot of my time. I wasn’t in a rush to see Emani but here she was, sitting across the room from me. The next time she would see me after this trial would be her last day breathing.
Not only had Emani underestimate me, she had to have forgotten who her husband’s best friend was. Stephanie Haywood- Goldman would act all kinds of crazy in six inch stilettos about her best friend and older brother Darrell. Somehow Stephanie had cleared her schedule of mommy duty, babies, and her own corporation’s business to attend the trial every day this week. I had only seen her smile a few times all week and it certainly not had been when she was talking to Emani. Terrell had enlightened me that he was going to hug Emani tight legally for many years to come. He was working on a suite to bring up attempted murder charges against her based on the notion that she knew she was positive for AIDS yet still tried to have unprotected sex with Darrell. My attorney’s sister-in-law sat at the long rectangular oak table on the right side of the room. He had mercilessly poked holes in her case that she had brought to the courts of the state of Arizona against me personally, Purple Label, and my affiliation to the Barton Modeling Agency.
38
Emani had no idea that Amina had already received the news that she was in heart failure before that fretful day when she passed out in her office. With a clear conscious and selfless love, Amina had made the moves to transfer all of her shares in the agency to me. In addition to the shares I already held, her move gave me a bigger percentage than Emani. Mrs. Emani Barton- Haywood was pissed beyond recognition. According to her she had been sold out by the one who was supposed to stick by her side until death since they had come into the world at the same time, her twin sister Amina. Amina had never even presented Emani with an offer to buy the shares. She had come directly to me when she realized she needed to quit her job. Running a corporation, taking care of triplets and her husband had become stressful to Amina. Under her doctor’s orders she would have to decrease her stress if she was going to fight heart disease.
I had made moves in silence. I paid Amina and Zoey both ten point five million each for their shares in the corporation. It had come out through the midst of this trial that Emani didn’t have the funds to buy the shares in the first place. Her claim to the extra money in my purse is what had caused her to put up her last few coins to battle me in court. By the end of the week Emani would have it in black and white, signed by a judge the facts that I already knew. Amina’s transition of power, having the legal documents signed, in lawful order, and Amina accepting the transfer of funds into her personal bank account sealed the deal months ago. The same legal actions had been completed with Zoey too. Emani was shit out of luck. Before I learned she was a snake, it had been my plan from the beginning to let her continue to run the Agency as she saw fit with little to no interactions with me. But, that had been the plan many moons ago. She really had no reason to mess up her life the way she had chosen to do it.
It was clear she had no idea she had lost the game when she initially filed the suit. If she wanted a fight, then a fight is what she now had. I was no longer interested in working with her at all. My counter claim was not to buy out her portion of the shares but I wanted my move of firing her to be upheld in court. It was clear that whatever the friendship and business relationship had been, it was now over. There was no undoing all the wrong that Emani had done to me. I had stayed in my lane and let her think she was really running things for long enough. She needed to be taught a lesson. She needed to know she wasn’t untouchable. I had connects in high and low places, all that she had done to me was surely going to cost her more than money. After I had rid my life of Emani a big celebration would be in order. My mind was thrown back into the courtroom as Amina made her way to the stand.
I automatically smiled at my best friend upon sight. She was a soldier and I had much respect for her. She was dressed in her finest Purple Label designs. Yesterday, on cross interrogation Emani’s attorney had gone hard on Amina. Terrell was going to make everything make sense today. Emani was heartless for putting her sister through testifying. I was convinced every dog has its day and Emani was on the fast track. It was unfortunate that she didn’t know me better than she did after all these years. Nice Laini went out the window quick when she or those she loved were threatened. This Laini that she pulled out of me running shit now, I was no longer willing to let Emani think she was large and in charge. She needed to know that I didn’t do anything half assed. I was full assed in every move I made, as a matter of fact.
39
“Can you please state your name for the record?” Terrell approached his other sister-in-law after she had been officially sworn in.
I had insisted he not go hard in on Amina. I wasn’t worried about losing this case and Amina wouldn’t be the cause of me losing it if that is what the ending decision would be.
“Amina Barton- Haywood.”
“Mrs. Haywood for the record, can you also state your relation to the plaintiff, defendant, and myself as the defendants attorney?”
“Yes. The plaintiff is my identical twin, Emani Barton-Haywood, ex-wife to your brother Darrell Haywood.”
“I’m not an ex-wife! Darrell Haywood will be my husband until death!” Emani screamed out in open court.
The judge was surprised by her outburst. Her attorney had asked Amina the same question and Amina had answered it the same way a day ago. Why she was so reactive bout Amina’s words
today of all days.
Amina continued on with her answer.
“The defendant is my best friend and business partner Laini Jefferies. And, you Mr. Haywood are my brother-in-law twice over and my husband, Carlos Haywood’s brother.”
“Mrs. Haywood, I won’t take up too much of your time today. My client has instructed me to handle you with great care as a witness. So, let’s get started.” Terrell was well in his element.
He was stunting in a Tom Ford suit with coordinating dress shoes. His look oozed the essence of stacks on top of stacks of money. How his wife kept the ladies off of him was perplexing my mind every day that I saw him. Those Haywood men were beautiful specimens. They had all skipped the awkward growth phase most kids went through. Their genetic pool was deep and strong.
“I’m ready to get started as well.” Amina sat in the witness stand with perfect posture and a beautiful ensemble to boot.
“Can you please explain to the court the reasons for the actions you decided to make in regards to your interest in your family business Barton Modeling Agency?”
“I was an equal partner of twenty- five percent in the corporation along with Emani. Zoey and Laini Jefferies each held twenty- five percent shares in the corporation as well. After learning of my own serious health issues I decided to sell my shares in the corporation so that I could retire comfortably and care for my family. According to the laws at the time, Laini and I followed the guidelines for her to agree to purchase my twenty- five percent for ten point five million. I approached Laini regarding the transition of power and the purchase amount. Laini took about two months to think about the deal before she accepted my offer.” Amina spoke calm and truthfully.
“Can you tell the court your reasoning for going to another business partner in the corporation before you had offered the shares to your sister Emani Haywood?”
“I have witnessed firsthand Emani’s questionable business practices she has completed over the years. It was in my professional opinion that the business would suffer immensely if Emani had complete control of the corporation.”
“Questionable business practices? Are you kidding me? You had the nerve to choose this bitch over your sister over questionable business practices when she is the queen of…..” Emani shot out of her seat like a rocket and screamed at Amina.
She was so loud Amina jumped from the unexpected interruption. The judge pounded her gravel several times before Emani’s attorney got her under control. I could only shake my head in disgust. How this chic had managed to portray a woman with class was beyond me. Everyday her ratchet-ness was becoming more and more evident. I was on the verge of letting out a gut wrenching laugh at the look on Terrell’s face that had locked in on Emani. Obviously he wasn’t used to seeing Emani show her as like she had done this week. She was spiraling out of control and one thing the Haywood’s didn’t play about was the prestige behind their name. Emani was acting out in ways unbecoming as a coveted Haywood’s wife.
“Apologies to the court and Mrs. Amina Haywood for the interruption made by my client.” Emani’s attorney was dripping in disdain for her client. “It won’t happen again, your honor.”
“Mrs. Berch, I would not make a promise you can’t keep on behalf of your client. She may run her business as a county circus act, but I do not run my courtroom in such a manner!”
The patience of the court was wearing thin.
“Before you ask me, that outburst is considered mild to what I have seen Emani do and say in the years we have run the business.”
“Objection, your honor Mr. Haywood has not even asked the witness a question and she is firing off unneeded information.”
“Stricken. Mrs. Haywood’s words were an even blow to match what your client shouted at her. I only wish she had said her words louder.”
40
The courtroom banter went on until lunch time. Instead of coming back after a lunch break, I was granted my request to have the afternoon to check on my businesses. It was in my opinion that the judge didn’t want to deal with Emani after lunch anyway. We all would have a judge’s decision regarding the validity of selling the shares in the morning. Had the judge advised us of her readiness to rule, I would have preferred to come back. All was well in the end because I had business to attend to. I had no need to rush an answer to Emani’s questions that would surely turn out in my favor. I needed to strategize a plan for how I would handle Emani after the judge’s decision had been given. She had sued me and attempted to not only take back my original shares in the Agency, but to take back the shares Amina and Zoey had sold me as well, and she was wanting her own slice of the Purple Label pie as well.
I didn’t know who her dealer was, but I knew she had to be on some premium illegal drugs for her to come at me this way. I could never trust this person again. Every lock every door had been changed in the building. I didn’t’ care if it was a pad lock, I needed a new one. All back doors, sewer entrances, side doors, and elevator keys had to be changed immediately. I would not feel safe in my own business office at the Barton & Jefferies building. As soon as the decision was handed down, she would be served papers in front of the media exactly how she had embarrassed me. I needed her to be permanently removed from my life. She didn’t know it yet but the distance I was willing to go for peace of mind was far more than she could ever imagine me to go.
I kept the Jefferies & Barton shut down for a full three weeks while I stood by my sister’s side to be at their beck and call. I was lost on the reason Emani could have not to be in one of the Benz’s following the ambulance that carried Amina. The decision I made to have all of the offices locked down and the locks being changed was the best decision I had made in years. I got word from Jamel that Emani was having a fit when she was picked up by two security guards and escorted to her chauffeured car. She even had the nerve to threaten the men with legal action headed by her brother-in-law. When it came to the building and its contents, Emani no longer had authority. The guards were not ignorant in respects to who signed their beautiful paychecks and it was not Emani Barton- Haywood.
My head was pounding with a migraine. Liam had food waiting for me when I got in the car. Being just shy of five months pregnant wasn’t the only ailment I had. With the wedding, both businesses, new employees, the trial, the fashion show, Zoey, the twins, the nanny, Darrell, and the Haywood clan I was close to a breakdown. By the time we made it to the office I still had a splitting headache. Even though it was an overcast day, I had my shades on and the light was still too bright for me to tolerate. Liam being the good husband that he was, went upstairs to get the sketches I needed for the remainder of the day. He had single handedly laid me off for the rest of the week. I would only be able to work from home according to my new dad.
41
In court the next day I had the entire remaining Haywood squad seated in the benches behind me. Zoey and Liam sat side by side on the front bench. Even though we were confident that the moves that had been made were legitimate and legally binding, I was still a bag of nerves. After the judge had taken her seat she wasted no time laying into Emani’s bogus claims. Not only did Emani loose the case, she was ordered to pay my attorney’s fees for filing the suite out of spite when she knew full well ahead of time that it was binding per stipulations she had created herself way back when. The judge was very irritated on the waste of tax payer money on Emani’s circus act. If the judge had not been in such a foul mood, I am positive cheers would have gone up in the air.
It was official. My countersuit to uphold the termination of Emani had been upheld as well. Sister girl was now baked extra crispy. She had no home, no man, no money, and no job. The only person that should have been helping her care for her was deceased. Darrell had said that he had cut her down to her ankles and he had indeed done just that. His home was still not safe enough for Zoey and the babies, we all knew that. He had virtually moved into her wing of the palace we now occupied. I loved to be at home listening to the hustle and bustl
e. I had spent so much time in silence swallowing me whole. I had to admit the noise was a welcomed piece of the pie of having a big family. I was knocking down each hurdle just as I knew I had to do. Everything was indeed lining up nicely and it all felt so good. There was still one more thing that had to be done before my to do list would be complete.
From the courthouse we all followed each other to the Jefferies & Barton building. On the first floor in the auditorium the first ever Purple Label 2014 year reveal was scheduled to start at six pm. Of course there was more than enough time for everyone to sit in the cafeteria and enjoy lunch. It felt good to have Zoey and Amina in the offices with us for a few hours to make sure nothing had been overlooked and that everything fit the models just right. The employees were in a festive mood because the sample racks had been empty for months since the line was going to be released at once instead of the four shows we normally had each year. Come Monday morning there would be an abundance of samples for the taking. Jamel had taken over the accessories line with no problems. He presented sketches that were unlike anything I’d ever seen or could have envisioned for the line. He promised me he was not gunning for my job. I was privately thinking of what kind of sick shoe game he could cook up for Purple Label. The guy had pure talent.
Evening gowns, lingerie, pant suits, shorts, swimwear, jumpers, rompers, heels, flats, sandals, stilettos, totes, duffle bags, belts, underwear, panty hose, tights, slips, camisoles, work out gear, yoga gear, tennis shoes, sweaters, blouses, tank tops, t-shirts, jeans, linen sets, casual clothing, work attire, and leisure attire were all featured in the Purple Label show that lasted a total of an hour and a half. The media had shown up by the bus loads. As the music changed to Beyonce’s Yonce- me, Mrs. Gert, Felicia, and Jamel walked the catwalk waving and receiving the loud hand claps, whistles, screams, and praises for our hard work. The reception lasted well after midnight I was told. On a skeleton administration team putting on a full fashion show for next year’s catalog, the four of us were on a paid vacation by my husband for two solid weeks.
