by Deja King
I hurried down the stairs, dimming the lights and positioned myself right in front of the steel case windows. With the moonlight beaming through, the views from downtown LA to Pacific Palisades were even more spectacular.
When Supreme opened the front door, my back was facing him. I heard the door shut and his footsteps on the marble floor. His pace was quick when he first entered but became slower with each step. I knew by that, he had noticed my presence. I remained motionless as if a well sculpted wax figure. The steps got closer and closer and I was ready to jump out my skin from nervousness, but I wanted this shit to work out so damn bad I wasn't about to fuck it up.
Then I felt the strong arms I had been dying to feel, wrap around my waist. Supreme took in his favorite Dolce & Gabbana light blue scent I had purposely taken from Precious' room and sprayed on my body. He buried his face on my slender neck immersing in the seductive aroma.
"Baby, I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away. I've missed you so much. I'm so happy you're back home," Supreme whispered, gliding his hands up the silk negligee to my breasts and massaging his fingers against my hardened nipples. "Don't ever leave me again." He pressed his lips against my skin, sprinkling kisses up and down my neck. With forcefulness he turned my body around now pressing his lips on mine with eyes closed. I let our tongues intertwine and then closed my eyes too, letting my body melt in his arms. I never knew that a kiss could feel almost as good as the actual act of sex. Then it happened... all motion stopped.
"Maya, what the fuck are you doing? I thought you were Precious!" Supreme said, pushing me away. Although his voice was raised, I didn't see anger in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Supreme. When you walked up and put your arms around me, I got caught up in the moment. Please forgive me."
"But look at you, your hair. . .you have on Precious' nightgown and that perfume. That's the only kind Precious wears because she knows it's my favorite." Supreme backed away from me and sat down on the couch. "I can't believe I did what I just did."
"Supreme, it isn't your fault. I can understand how you mistook me for Precious, that's the only reason why you were attracted to me. I should've stopped you, but I didn't. I'm so wrong for that."
Supreme sat with his head down, still baffled by what happened. "Why do you look like that like Precious?" he asked. I knew he was trying to make sense of a situation I carefully calculated.
"Well you told me to go treat myself and I decided to get a makeover. The stylist suggested the hair color and extensions. It didn't really register with me that it was so similar to how Precious wears her hair until I got home and saw all the pictures around the house. As for the negligee and perfume, Precious actually gave it to me a long time ago when I was with Clip and we were having problems. She told me this was a guaranteed way to seduce him and make him forget any other woman he may have been creeping with."
"I hear you, but this is too much."
"I know. I can't say I'm sorry enough. I haven't felt pretty in so long, and after getting pampered today I came home and wanted to feel sexy. You weren't home and I never expected for you to see me dressed in this. I only came downstairs to have a drink before going to bed, but it was like this view," I said pointing towards the window, "Was calling my name. I was daydreaming, off in another world. I didn't even hear you come in. Then when you put your arms around me and kissed my neck..." my voice trailed off. "I had no idea I was so lonely until you held me."
"You don't have to apologize, mistakes happen."
"Supreme, if for now on you're going to be feeling uncomfortable around me, I'll leave."
"What do you mean leave?"
"I'll pack up my stuff and move out. School will be starting back soon and I can get housing there in one of the dorms. Until then, I can go back to New York and visit with my mom."
"That might be for the best."
"I think so too, but is it okay if I leave tomorrow?"
"Of course. If you need for me to get you a plane ticket or anything let me know."
"I'm fine, but thanks for offering. I should head up to bed. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Supreme sat in the dark as I went upstairs to my room. I got in my bed feeling fucked up. That was a bold move I made, but with the walls closing in on me what was I supposed to do? Precious is somewhere on lockdown but was still winning. I fell asleep with depression and defeat engulfing my body.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
I thought that sound was coming from a dream I was having in my sleep but as it continued and became louder, I realized it wasn't the case. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the clock on the nightstand to see what time it was. "Nine-fifteen in the morning," I said out loud, rising up in the bed. "Come in."
"Sorry to wake you up," Supreme said, standing in the doorway in a navy blue track suite.
"Supreme, I'm catching the red-eye tonight, so can I please sleep for a couple more hours before you toss me out?"
"That's the thing. You don't have to leave."
"Excuse me, but last night you told me you thought it was a good idea for me to go back to New York until school started."
"I mean you can leave if you want, but I don't want you to feel that I'm kicking you out."
"I know you're not kicking me out, but I need to leave. I was wrong, and you shouldn't feel uncomfortable in your own house to be around me."
"I don't feel that way at all."
"You don't have to ask me not to leave because you feel guilty. I'll be fine."
"It's not that," Supreme exhaled. "I don't want you to leave."
"Huh?" I sat up extra straight in the bed as if that would help me hear better.
"I want you to stay ...if you want to stay."
"Honestly, I don't think I want to stay. I'll miss Aaliyah and I'm going to miss you too, but it's best if I leave." As bad as I wanted to jump up and down, I never forgot what Precious told me. First, you latch your hook into a man. Then once you got him you pull away, because all men want what they perceive they can't have.
"WhY?"
"Because I crossed the line yesterday and it's best if I go."
"No you didn't."
"Yes, I did. I let you kiss me knowing you thought I was Precious."
"That's not exactly true."
"What isn't true?"
"When I first came in the house and saw you standing by the window, I did believe you were Precious. When I started kissing you though, I knew something was different, but fuck it, I'm a man and it felt good. I pushed you away because no matter how good it felt, it was wrong so I stopped myself."
Bingo! I knew I didn't see anger in Supreme's eyes when he pushed me away. "I know where you're coming from, Supreme. Precious is gone and you're lonely. It's natural that you reach out to somebody for comfort. That somebody happened to be me last night."
"Hold that thought, Maya. I'll be back in a little while. That must be Detective Moore at the door. He called a minute ago saying he would be here in a few."
"Okay, I'll be right here." Supreme rushed downstairs and I rushed out my bed so I could eavesdrop on their conversation. I knelt down at the top of the staircase and Supreme had just let Detective Moore inside.
"Can I get you something to drink?" Supreme offered, being surprisingly polite to the detective.
"No, I can't stay that long. But I wanted to come over and discuss this with you in person."
"Sure, what did you find out?"
"The lab did analyze the letter and indeed it was Mrs. Mills' handwriting."
All I could do was smile.
"I knew it!" Supreme yelled, punching the air with his fist. "How could she leave me and our daughter?" Supreme said out loud a few times before Detective Moore decided to interrupt.
"Mr. Mills, I know this is tough, but I'm still not convinced this is as black and white as it appears."
"What are you talking about? You said the handwriting is Precious'. What else could there be? My wife is probably off with Nico Carte
r somewhere, not giving a fuck about me or our family. Have you been able to get in touch with Nico yet?"
"No, I haven't. But because he was the last person your wife talked to on her cell, doesn't mean that she is with him."
"Why are you defending Precious so much? You don't even like her."
"I never said I didn't like Mrs. Mills, I actually somewhat admire that fiery personality of hers, but that's beside the point. As a detective, my gut tells me that there is a lot more going on here."
"What do you mean?"
"That's the thing. I can't figure it out. But I think that houseguest of yours may know a lot more than what she's saying."
My smile had now turned to a frown.
"You talking about Maya? What does she have to do with this?"
"I can't put my finger on that either, but again, my gut never lies."
"If Maya knew anything that could help us find Precious she would tell me. Precious is like a sister to her. She's just as worried about her whereabouts as I am."
"That might be the case."
"It is. Now that we know Precious is alive and well, I suppose you can close that missing person case."
"That's standard procedure, but I'll still be continuing my own private investigation, and let me know if you discover any new leads."
"I will. I appreciate your assistance, Detective, and I'm sure we'll be in touch," Supreme said, shaking Detective Moore's hand.
I scooted back to my bedroom as Supreme let Detective Moore out. I rushed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I jumped in and let the water drench my body, then hopped back out and went to my bedroom door, peeping out of the slightly opened crack to see if Supreme was on his way up. I figured he would want to share with me his discussion with Detective Moore, and I had to do something to divert the suspicion the detective was casting in my direction. As I suspected, Supreme was coming up the stairs to see me, no doubt.
I ran back to the shower, hopped in one more time so my body would be freshly wet, and then stepped out, patiently waiting for Supreme's arrival. When I heard him knocking at my door, I ignored him, not saying a word, but willing him to come inside. He continued to knock and then called out my name. When I heard his hand on the doorknob, I ran back to the shower and turned off the water.
"Maya, are you in here?" Supreme asked, walking in my bedroom, and right on cue I made my entrance.
"Supreme, what are you doing in here!" I screamed as if embarrassed that he caught me coming out the shower butt ass naked. There is nothing like a wet glistening body to get a man's dick extra hard.
"Maya, forgive me. I knocked and called out your name but got no answer."
"Yeah, because I was in the shower and obviously didn't hear you. You need to get out, right now!" I continued my tirade.
"Of course. I'm sorry."
'You should be, now please leave. I need to get dressed."
"Sure. When you're done, please come downstairs because I need to talk to you about some things."
"Fine, now get out!" I was popping all that shit in my birthday suit without a towel in sight to cover up my tits and ass. When Supreme walked out with his head hanging down looking pitiful, I slammed the door and locked it as if I was done with him. How proud and pissed Precious would be. I was using every trick she ever taught me to score her own husband.
I took my time getting dressed, purposely making Supreme wait. I hoped this new drama I conjured up would scoot out that bullshit Detective Moore had left on his brain. To be on the safe side, I added an extra prop. I walked slowly down the stairs carrying my suitcase. The way Supreme's eye bulged, I knew he was thrown for a loop.
"Why do you have your suitcase? I thought we decided you were going to stay."
"No, you said I could stay and I've decided not to."
"WhY?"
"What did you want to talk to me about?" I asked, intentionally switching the subject.
"Oh yeah, umm...the letter."
"What letter?"
"The one I got from Precious."
"You mean the fraudulent letter that someone must've forged?"
"No, it wasn't forged. She wrote it."
"What!" I dropped my suitcase to the floor for a dramatic affect.
"I know. In my heart I wanted to believe she didn't write it, but my head kept telling me she did."
"I can't believe it! Why would Precious leave you and Aaliyah? You seemed like the perfect family. I admired your relationship so much. I hoped that I would share that type of love with someone, someday."
"I thought we were the perfect family too. I don't know where I went wrong."
"What else did the detective say?" I inquired to see if he would mention the suspicions the detective had about me.
"Nothing really. They're going to close out the missing person case, but he's still going to do his own investigating."
"Why"'
"You know detectives. They never give up until they have all the answers."
"What are you gonna do?"
"Honestly, I don't know. My first priority is to make sure Aaliyah is happy. It's good that she's with my parents right now."
"I hope everything works out for you and Aaliyah, but I need to be going."
"I thought your flight didn't leave until tonight."
"It doesn't, but I have to take care of a few things."
"Maya, I really am sorry about what happened earlier. I hope that isn't why you're leaving."
"I was angry at first, but when I thought about it, I know you didn't mean to walk in on me naked. I'm leaving because with Precious gone and now that I know she may not come back, there's really nothing left for me here. I was thinking of even enrolling in a college in New York instead of coming back to LA."
"Is that what you want?"
"I only came to LA to be with Clip and because Precious was here, but now that they're both gone, why should I stay? For all I know, Precious could be back in New York. You know she will always be a Brooklyn girl at heart."
"You think Precious could really be in Brooklyn?"
"Hell, I don't know, but ain't Nico from Brooklyn also?"
"So you think she ran off with Nico too?"
"I'm sorry, Supreme, that was insensitive of me to even mention Nico. I was voicing my thoughts out loud. I'm trying to understand what or who would make Precious abandon her life here in LA with you."
"I was contemplating the same shit and I keep coming back to Nico. The fucked up part is that nigga seems to have fallen off the face of the earth too."
"I'm confused. What are you talking about?"
"I've had my own team of topnotch private investigators hunting that nigga down and it's like he's ghost. The last lead was him setting up shop in Chicago. Now they can't locate that motherfucker nowhere. I'm wondering if him and Precious done ran off to some island somewhere. But best believe, I don't know when, but one day both of them will have to answer for this shit, I guarantee that."
"I feel you, Supreme, and I wish you the best of luck."
"I appreciate that. I hate to see you go but you have to do what's best for you. Call me when you get to New York. Let me know you got there safely."
"I will. I'll talk to you later. Bye, Supreme."
"Bye, Maya."
Bye, my motherfuckin' ass! My sweet, innocent persona was working beautifully on Supreme. I walked out the front door to the estate more confident than ever with my position in his life. This nigga was a wounded dog. He was convinced that his ride and die bitch, Precious had tossed him to the side to ride off with the next dude. There was no one more vulnerable than a heartbroken, lonely man. Last night's prelude to a kiss was only the beginning.
Boss Man
I eyed the clock, and I knew Mike would make his appearance at any moment. We were on some sort of set schedule now. I already had breakfast and he would give me a snack an hour or so before lunch. With this new arrangement, Mike was becoming more lax with each passing day. He wasn't allowing me to walk th
e house freely yet, but I had a feeling it would be happening soon.
"Come in," I said when I heard Mike knocking at the door, looking forward to the treat of the day. That was something I never thought would happen. But being dead in the center of this shit I see now how hostages become brainwashed by their captors. You seriously start appreciating whatever kind gesture they show you. Technically you know it's some bullshit, but your head be so fucked up, you'll take the shit anyway you can get it.
"Where's my snack?" I asked, feeling an instant letdown when Mike came in the room with nothing in his hand, not even a glass of water.
"I thought maybe today you would like to come in the kitchen and eat your snack."
"Seriously, or are you gonna change your mind again? Yesterday you invited me to come watch a movie then backtracked when I took you up on the offer. Is this round-two of the teasing?"
"No teasing, come with me and see for yourself."
I let my leg dangle from the bed for a few seconds giving Mike a chance to say "Sony, the jokes on you, you ain't going anywhere", but when he didn't, I got the fuck up ready to bolt. Any chance I got to step away from the depression of being stuck in a room, I jumped at.
"So this is where you whip up all my meals," I said, looking around the hi-tech kitchen.
"This is it. Now have a seat." Mike went to the stainless steel refrigerator and pulled out a fruit platter. "Do you like Jamaican fruit punch?" he asked getting a couple of glasses out of the cabinet.
"I never had any."
"Today will be your first time then. I think you'll enjoy."
I didn't care to drink or eat anybody's shit, but hell, the worst thing that could happen was Mike would poison me and I'd die. And the odds were stacked against me in that favor anyway.
I nibbled on the sweet melon and sipped on my punch, sizing up Mike's every move. "Mike, you seem to be in an awfully good mood today. What's up?"
"Maybe knowing that soon I'll be out of LA a free man and a lot richer is making these last few months being on the run worthwhile."
"You know, I've been meaning to ask you how you pulled that off."
"Pulled what off?"
