by Deja King
"Yes."
"Yes, what?" Quentin inquired moving closer towards his daughter.
"Yes, I wanna try and have a relationship with you. I don't know what's going to happen but I wanna see."
When Quentin wrapped his arms around Precious she was completely stunned. It was unexpected but somehow it felt right. "I'm going to do my best to make up for all our lost time. You're my daughter and I love you."
Tears welled up in Precious' eyes. It wasn't until right then, she realized how much pain had been bottled up inside of her for all those years. It had been too painful for her to admit she wanted and needed the love of her father because it seemed totally out of reach. But now there was a chance and her heart welcomed it.
"I'm very pleased that you accepted my dinner invitation," Arnez said staring at Veronica who was sitting directly across the table.
"You say that as if you're surprised I agreed to come."
"Honestly, I have to admit, I am. A woman like you having dinner with a man like me."
"A man like you...I don't get it. From where I'm sitting, looking at you, I doubt you have a shortage of women friends."
Arnez slightly chuckled and put down the glass of wine he had in his hand. "No shortage but how about quality, you seem to be a very successful lawyer. I've never had an opportunity to have dinner with a woman like that."
"Well you seem to be very successful yourself," Veronica paused for a moment glancing around the restaurant with its vast, vaulted gilded ceilings and mosaic the floor, from the original nineteenth century design. But the absolutely stunning place was further complimented by a dash of futuristic twenty-first century interior design with picturesque views of St. Patrick's Cathedral and The Palace Courtyard. "You certainly couldn't afford to take me to a pricey place like this if you weren't doing pretty good."
"Who said I was paying. I thought this dinner was on you," Arnez cracked, causing a huge smile to spread across Veronica's face. "But seriously, I'm honored that a woman like you would want to have dinner with me. I didn't think I was your type."
"And what type are you?"
"Let's just say I'm a bit rough around the edges."
"You look anything but rough to me. But since we're being honest, when you first asked for my number I was rather shocked. I didn't think I was exactly your type."
Arnez raised an eyebrow waiting for her to continue.
"I picture your type being more of the bombshell beauty."
"I don't know the last time you looked in the mirror but you're beauty personified."
"Thank you, but I'm not the obvious beautiful that I would think you'd be attracted to."
Arnez leaned back in his chair and grinned. He understood what Veronica was saying but she was exactly how he liked his women-from her shoulder length chestnut brown bob, classic features and voluptuous toned body. She had understated sophisticated beauty that was timeless. From pure visual perception, Veronica was the type of woman that brilliant men like President Obama would gravitate to. But he highly doubted that Veronica had the psychological savvy of a Michelle to marry her own Obama and Arnez's assessment was dead on point.
As competent and fierce as Veronica was when it came to legal terms and contracts she had no self control when it came to the men in her personal life. With all the education she had under her belt, the only type of men she would let under her skirt was criminals. So although when she met Arnez he told her he was on his way to a meeting her gut screamed he was involved in illegal activities and profitable at it. She had dealt with enough of them to know the telltale signs.
"How about we leave here and I show you just how attracted I am to you."
"Excuse me," Veronica choked.
"You heard exactly what I said. Are you coming or are you staying?" Veronica was shocked by the proposition Arnez was making but also very turned on which he knew. Still, Arnez wasn't a hundred percent sure she would take the bait but working with limited time he felt it was best to play his best poker hand now. "Waiter, can you bring me the check. I'm done here. Unless of course you're staying," he turned to Veronica.
"No, I'm done too."
This isgoing to be fun, Arnez thought to himself as he stood up and walked to the chair Veronica was sitting in and took her hand. She willingly gave it to him as they left.
Nichelle stood on the corner quickly looking around in all directions. She wanted to make sure that Akil hadn't followed her out and she was also searching for any sign of Renny. She was discreet with her departure but there was also that chance she wasn't discreet enough. After not seeing Renny she grabbed her cell to call him but quickly realized she had no number on him. Then a quick flash of light caught Nichelle's attention and she turned her head to see a flicker of high beam lights coming from a dark colored Range Rover. Her heart began rapidly beating as she walked towards the Range and it slowly drove closer to her. When it stopped near her, she still couldn't see inside because of the dark tint. That didn't stop Nichelle from walking closer and reaching for the passenger side door handle. When she opened it this rush of emotions flooded her. She hadn't seen Renny in what seemed like a lifetime but the love she had for him was more intact than ever.
"Are you getting in?" he asked in the same calm, cool and collected voice that was his signature style. Nichelle got inside and closed the door. As Renny drove off she saw Akil come out the building, looking around as if in a frantic. Then he began blowing up her phone. "Seems like someone is really trying to get in touch with you," Renny commented.
"Yeah, it's somebody I work with," she answered casually, putting her phone on silent. Nichelle knew that Akil was going to be worried sick thinking that somebody snatched her up, so she felt the least she could do was send him a text letting him know she was okay. She would deal with the heated lecture he would no doubt blast her with, when she saw him again in person.
"I missed you," Renny turned towards Nichelle and admitted.
"I missed you too."
"I didn't realize just how much until seeing you again. Those billboards don't do you justice."
"Really ...I thought they actually did me too much justice. They have me without one flaw which of course is impossible."
"I'm not talking about that. Those pictures don't show the innocence in your eyes that I see so clearly when you're right here next to me."
"That's ironic, because with all I've been through the past couple of years I don't feel so innocent anymore. From Carmelo and my mother getting killed, seeing Tierra get shot and you leaving me, I think the better word to describe me is damaged."
"You're not damaged and I didn't leave you, you left me-remember."
"Did you really leave me a choice? Our entire relationship was built on lies."
"Us being in love wasn't a lie."
"Then what took you so long to come back for me? You never even called me."
"I was trying to protect you, Nichelle."
"You keep saying that but never explain how. I'm here, in front of your face now. Tell me exactly what was going on and why is your cousin Arnez so determined to get his hands on me?"
When Renny came to the red light, he stopped and stared at Nichelle. "Can we get into that later?"
"No! I've waited long enough. I have to walk around with a bodyguard twenty-four-seven because of Arnez. I don't even feel free, it's like I'm a child. The least thing you can do is tell me why. I also want to know what happened to my best friend. It was like I lost both of you at the same time."
Renny put his head down, and then looked back up when the light turned green, continuing to drive. "Nichelle, I never wanted things to end up like this for you but a lot of times we have no control over what happens in our lives. Please believe I had nothing to do with that bullshit scheme Arnez concocted. When I found out, I tried my best to protect you. That's why I sent Tierra to go get you, but things didn't work out the way I hoped."
"How did you find out what Arnez was up to?"
"I started puttin
g shit together. After we had dinner at his crib that time, a few days later he started asking me a few questions about you. I didn't think too much of it. The business we're in, and the fact he knew we were serious, I figured he wanted to do a little checking around, looking out for my best interest. Then he started asking questions about where you grew up, your mom, and I made the mistake of telling him where she lived. I swear Nichelle, I had no idea he planned on even talking to your mom, let alone killing her."
All Nichelle could do was shake her head. Replaying all this over again was bringing tears to her eyes. But she wanted to know exactly what happened; she needed to know in order to bring some sort of closure to all the chaos. "So how did you finally put it all together?"
"I had to meet Arnez at this safe house and I got there earlier than planned. I heard noises coming out this back room and when I went to open the door to see what was going on, it was locked. Chanel told me that Arnez was in there handling some chick that worked for him who had stolen some money and drugs. So I went outside and made some phone calls and told her I would be back when Arnez was finished."
"Were the noises you heard coming from that room, my mother?" Nichelle asked in a horror stricken voice.
"Yes, but it wasn't until she was already dead I found out. About twenty minutes later, Arnez came out and said an emergency came up and he would need to reschedule our meeting for the next day. Then I saw one of his workers carrying out a covered up body and putting it in the trunk of a car. Then Arnez and Chanel got in another car and drove off. I went back inside to get something I left. I don't know if it was curiosity or a bad feeling but I went back in the room where I heard the noises coming from."
"What did you see?"
"Are you sure you want to know?" Renny questioned with concern in his voice.
"Yes! Tell me!"
`A chair, some rope, a baseball bat and a lot of blood."
"That sick monster tortured my poor mother. I hate him!"
"I'm sorry, Nichelle," Renny said, reaching over and stroking her hand.
"Continue."
"I was turning around about to leave and I noticed a
purse in the corner and I figured it belonged to the now dead woman. I wanted to see the face of the person who Arnez felt the need to have bashed like that."
"Yeah, I can't wait for somebody to bash that nigga's face in!" Nichelle barked, getting extra amped.
Renny couldn't even say nothing in his cousin's defense because he knew he had that coming and deserved it, so instead he continued. "I had never seen your mother before but when I went through her wallet I saw a picture of a little girl and then a picture of you when you looked to be about fifteen or sixteen. Then I recognized the address on her driver's license. It was at that moment I knew the woman Arnez had killed was your mother. There was also a picture of a young teenage boy, and your mother holding a baby. On the back your mother wrote; Genesis, Genevieve my babies. And with the date on the back, I knew the baby had to be you and I figured Genesis must be your brother."
"Do you know my brother?" Renny could hear the hope in Nichelle's voice.
"No I don't. But I've heard Arnez speak of him on numerous occasions and it was never positive. That's his enemy. I knew Arnez was coming after you next but I didn't want him to know I was on to him so I sent Tierra to bring you to me."
"What happened to Tierra?"
"I was trying to call her and she wasn't answering her phone. I figured shit was fucked up but not that fucked up. When I got to the projects, Arnez was gone and Tierra was laying on the sidewalk bleeding. I tried to save her but she was already dead."
Nichelle could no longer keep her composure. Tears gushed out her eyes and wouldn't stop. "I can't believe Tierra is dead," she screamed over and over again becoming inconsolable. Renny pulled over in an attempt to calm Nichelle down.
"Baby, it's gonna be alright. I'ma take care of you," he said pulling her close and wrapping his arms around Nichelle as her body continued to shake. "I promise, I'll make sure Arnez or nobody else ever harms you again."
When Veronica woke up next to Arnez, two things crossed her mind: she couldn't believe she was going to be late for work but luckily she was the head of her own law firm and the sex had been incredible. But no matter how great the fuck, Veronica had work to do and clients that depended on her so she quietly began getting out of bed not wanting to awaken a sleeping Arnez.
"Where do you think you're going," Arnez said pulling Veronica back in bed.
"I thought you were asleep."
"Yeah, and tried to make an escape but you thought wrong. I'm not done with you yet," he said, pinning her down on the bed,
"Arnez, I have to go. I'm already late for work," she murmured in his ear trying not to enjoy the tongue play he was giving her body. But once the moistness of his mouth swallowed her hardened nipples her legs spread wide open as if he knocked on the front door and she personally invited him in.
"This dick feel good to you," Arnez more so stated than asked.
"Yeeessss," she moaned, briefly wondering how she went from both legs out the bed to full body back in the bed with her insides getting twisted out. While she wondered that, Arnez thought about how lucky he was to be swimming in some good pussy that would also help him finally get a firm grip on Nichelle once and for all.
"These pictures are incredible," T-Roc said to Akil as they went through some of the shots from Nichelle's photo shoot.
"Yeah, she's a natural."
"Akil, she's more than a natural. These pictures are phenomenal."
"What are you all in here going on and on about?" Genesis asked as he walked in T-Roc's office.
"I wasn't expecting to see you this early in the morning," T-Roc remarked.
"You told me to be here by ten. I'm taking my job very seriously."
"Akil, this is Genesis, my new go to man." They shook hands and then all three started looking at the photos. "This is the new spokes model for the perfume I was telling you about."
"She's beautiful," Genesis said, going through each picture.
"Don't get any ideas, no dating women that we work with," T-Roc teased.
"Get the fuck outta here! She looks young enough to be my sister! That's your mind you need to get out the gutter," Genesis snapped back in a condescending way.
"But the thing is, she's not your sister so it's okay to lust just don't touch."
"Believe it or not, as pretty as she is I have absolutely no desire to lust or touch her. I don't know what it is but it would seem perverted to me for some reason, maybe because she has somewhat of an innocent thing going on."
"I don't see innocent. I see pure sexiness that's going to sell me a lot of perfume," T-Roc grinned.
"Genesis, I feel where you coming from and also feel where you coming from too, T-Roc. I think that's what makes Nichelle so appealing. She does have sex appeal but it almost appears harmless. That's why men and women will be drawn to her," Akil explained.
"So when will I have a chance to meet this Nichelle?"
"The next scheduled photo shoot is Friday, so be there."
"I will. I might need to protect her from certain married men," Genesis said eyeing T-Roc. It was all in fun but at the same time, Genesis knew you could never underestimate how far a man would go to get his hands on some fresh young meat. "So what's on today's agenda?"
"Let me wrap things up with Akil and then I wanted to go over a few things with you."
"Cool. I'ma step out and make a phone call. I'll be back shortly."
"So, Akil, how's Nichelle feeling about the shoot? I thought she was going to come with you this morning to see the pictures."
"She was but she had to take care of some things."
"Really, is everything okay with her? I would hate for our rising star to be having problems already."
"No problems. Everything is good. Just minor kinks to work out but I'm on top of it."
"Yeah, make sure you do stay on top of it. I'm plannin
g on investing a lot of money in her. I don't want anything to go wrong.
"It won't."
"I'ma take your word on that. But if you need my assistance in anyway, I'm here."
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me. We're doing business together. I have to protect my assets and Nichelle is now an asset. To show the industry and Nichelle just how invested I am in her, I'm throwing her a grand over-the-top, ridiculous coming out party," T-Roc boasted.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Akil was surprised by T-Roc's suggestion.
"No, I'm not sure, I'm absolutely positive! I'm going all out. It'll be the biggest party of the year. I'm inviting all the industry bigwigs, entertainers, you name it. Not only will it give Nichelle a lot of exposure but I'll use it as a way to give my new perfume line great buzz. This is perfect!" Riding high off of his excitement, T-Roc picked up his desk phone and got his secretary on the phone. "I need you to call for a meeting ASAP! We have a party to plan."
When Precious woke up the only thing on her mind was the conversation she had with Quentin the day before. She never imagined it would have such a profound effect on her but it did. The idea of having a relationship with him was something she actually wanted to happen and it was somewhat scary to her.
"What has you in such deep thought?" Supreme questioned when he walked in the bedroom.
"Is it that obvious?" Precious wondered.
"Yeah, you're sitting up in bed, kinda in a daze, staring up. Either something is on your mind or you got a habit I don't know about," he taunted.
"Funny!" Precious took a pillow from off the bed and tossed it at Supreme. "No drug habit but I do have something on my mind."
"Care to share?"
"I do. It's about Quentin."
"Your father?"
"Wow, that's the first time you've ever called him that."
