When I picked up the phone and looked at the screen, there were five missed calls listed from Diana. I thought I’d made it clear to her that there was no reason to contact me. She left a couple of messages, but I didn’t bother to listen to any. I erased them all. I swiped the screen checking all my social accounts hoping there was something from Regina. There was only my hope and foul-smelling breath responding to me. “Oh shit.” I looked at the clock; it was almost seven. “Damn, I better clean up and get myself together.” I had to get my head back into the game if this was going to work.
28
Amanda
It was almost ten when I got into the cab. Thank goodness no one knew I was carrying over $30,000 in cash tucked neatly into the front pocket of my satchel bag. I was nervous as hell. I suspected it would be Daniel meeting me. Slimy dirt bag of a man, stooping lower than the shit on the ground to extort women. Don’t worry, Mr. Daniel Tatum, I’m going to get you someway somehow.
I exited the cab at the main entrance into Washington Square Park. It was late, but the summer night brought the college students to the dealers and swindlers of the community out to enjoy the night air. I stood under the arch scanning the groups of people. I didn’t see him. I clutched my satchel tighter to my waist. I looked at my watch; it was five after ten.
People were walking their dogs, jogging through the park, sitting around the fountain, but he wasn’t there. I walked into the park toward the fountain; that’s when someone walking behind me touched my shoulder.
“Excuse me, do you have a light?” a familiar voice asked, coming from a dark hooded sweat suit.
“I don’t smoke, sorry.” I titled my head to get a better look at the person asking.
The person stepped closer and pulled off the hood.
Diana?
“By the look on your face, I’m sure you expected someone else.”
I was floored—a cluster fuck to the tenth power. Shit!
“Still nothing to say, okay I guess I can tell you the headline of tomorrow’s news desk, highly reputable defense lawyer accused of rape and extortion. How does that sound?”
I laughed to relieve some of my nervousness. Diana looked at me with eyes of permanent hurt. She started to shake her leg and folded her hands across her chest: a sign of impatience and aggressiveness. This was not going to be easy. Not having all the money may cause more harm than good, my mind revealed.
“I guess I have your answer.” She turned around and started to walk away.
I wanted to let her go, but I couldn’t risk it. “Stop, Diana.”
She halted and turned toward me. “Why should I? Weren’t you ready to bring me down, pin me as some functional junky with a distorted past? All I wanted was the appropriate amount of monies due to me. Did you actually think when I found out who you really were I wasn’t going to come at you? Don’t be stupid. All I want is sixty grand and your dark little secret goes to the grave with me.”
“So that guy works with you or is he your boyfriend who put you up to it? I hope he didn’t come up with it.”
“First, that wasn’t my boyfriend.”
Her expression changed; I felt some malice in her voice.
“He was just another dick being used for my purpose.”
There was an opening to get this Daniel, I thought. It was time to plead my case. “Can we go somewhere and discuss this like two women instead of standing here like we’re in search for a fix?” If she agreed, there was definitely a chance to come out on top.
She looked around the park, as did I, at the surrounding drug dealers staring at us, itching for a sale.
“Yeah, we can go down to the diner across from the West Fourth Street train station.”
We walked the few blocks in silence. There was something that pissed her off about Daniel and I needed to know what it was.
When we entered the diner we walked to the farthest booth away from everyone. We waited for the waitress to hand us the menus. I ordered coffee for the both of us and shooed her away.
“Listen, I’m willing to pay you whatever price you put forth. I shouldn’t have done what I did to you and quite honestly I never thought I would see you again. So when you approached me again, I was angered by your threats and demands, that’s why I had all the ammo stacked against you.”
“Look, Amanda, I’m not here to hear why you did what you did. I’m not stupid, you’re a lawyer, and I know what you are up to. This is just a ploy to negotiate. What’s your offer? Before I get up, walk out of here, and make your life a horrible mess.”
I guessed she knew a little more than I thought! I smiled as the waitress strolled over with our coffee in hand. “Thank you,” we said in unison.
I reached into my satchel and pulled out the neatly folded paper bag then placed it on the table. Diana seized the bag, opened it under the table, and shook it back and forth.
“This is not sixty. More like half, if that. Do you really think I’m joking? Did you not get the message when I sent that video to your secretary? Okay, I’ll just have to—”
“It’s thirty only because I was in court most of the day and couldn’t get to the bank. You will have the rest tomorrow morning.”
“Fine, but if I don’t have the rest in the morning before ten, court or no court, your embarrassment will be ten times more. I swear on everything I love.” She sipped her coffee.
“I understand. We both know I don’t want any of that footage out. I’m a great defense lawyer, but you know the saying, ‘a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.’ Besides there’s no way to deny footage. I just have one request.”
“And that is?”
“All copies of it. Since you sent the little snippet via e-mail, I trust you have a flash drive with the entire video.”
“As soon as I receive all my money, I will gift wrap it for you.”
“That’s not all. I want Daniel.”
She laughed almost spitting her coffee on me. “Do you plan on prosecuting him? Or fucking him?”
“Maybe both, what is it to you? He’s nothing to you, right? Why would you care if I use him for my purpose now?”
She sat back and sipped on her coffee a little more before saying anything.
“First his name is not Daniel. It’s Tony and he can be easily bought for a fee. I think his going rate is five grand.”
I didn’t know how to digest her statement. Did I really get conned by a gigolo?
“He’s what I call a ladies’ man, but I think his lifestyle has changed.”
“And what does that mean?”
“He broke the one rule of the handbook: he fell in love with his own client. A married one at that. There’s no coming back from that.”
By her tone, I could tell she was heartbroken. “Were you a client?”
She cut her eyes at me. “Hell no!” I saw the waitress look over to us.
I touched a nerve.
“That’s it with the interrogation. Just have my money tomorrow.” She got up from the booth and stuffed the brown paper bag in her purse.
“I’ll pay you an extra twenty grand to put him in front of me.”
She laughed. “Oh, so now I work for you? I don’t think so. You want him, get your detective to look him up. Good luck.”
“Let’s make it another forty, then. Are you really going to pass on something that takes no effort? I just said you had to put him in front me. I’m sure that will come easy to you, no?” I baited her, hoping to ignite her resentment against him.
“Get me my money.” She walked out the diner without another word.
I pulled out my phone and swiped the screen.
“Amanda, what’s up?”
“Steve, I have a job for you, but it’s a bit personal.”
“You know how I feel about personal shit.”
“Yeah, I know. Double the fee with a bonus for your confidentiality.” I sighed.
“Personal is my specialty. Send me what you need and give me a few days. Whatever
it is you’ll get. Is that it?”
“Yes, I’ll send it to you once I’m home. I need you on this right away. Good night.”
I hung up feeling confident he’d get me what I needed to tie this Tony up so he’d be begging for my help. I called the waitress over to pay the check.
As soon as I stepped out the diner my phone rang, Regina displayed on the screen. “Hey, girl, wha—”
“You dirty fucking bitch! You slept with Mark and then befriended me. You sly, sneaky bitch! Were you friends with me just to be close to him? Did you tell him all that I told you thinking he would leave me for you?” She was on ten.
“What in the hell is going on?”
“Shut the fuck up, you nasty, sneaky little bitch! I never want to see your ass again! If we happen to see each other out somewhere, you better hope I don’t embarrass your ass. Or, better yet, stoop to your level and beat the shit out of you.”
“Regina, can you just calm down for a second and explain to me what the fuck is going on?” I never heard her talk to me with such hate and disgust. What the fuck was really going on?
“You heard me, bitch!” The phone clicked in my ear. I rushed to call her back, but pushed End as soon as it rang.
My entire body shook. I stood there staring into nothing holding my phone, wondering if I should call Mark. Calling him would only make things worse. What makes her think she can talk to me like that? She just pissed off the wrong one. If she wants to see a bitch, I can show her how much of a real bitch I can be. I think it’s time Regina finds out I’ll be in their lives forever whether she wants it or not. The real shit is about to hit the fan!
29
Tony
After cleaning up and a couple hours of much-needed sleep to rid the hangover feeling, I was ready—ready to confront Regina. I thought about calling, but I didn’t. Instead I called Mark’s office. “Hello, is Mark Sands in today?”
“Yes, may I—”
I touched End on the screen before the female voice could finish her question. I knew from watching Regina, once he was in the office he wouldn’t be home until after five, sometimes six. I grabbed the envelope with the pictures and headed to Regina’s.
When the cab turned on to York Avenue I made him stop a block away from her building. I got out and walked toward her building on the opposite side of the street. I stood in front of a small newspaper stand and watched the front of her building for any signs of her. It was a little after one in the afternoon. The envelope was tucked under my right armpit.
Fifteen minutes passed. It was time.
I walked to the building.
“Hello, sir,” the doorman greeted me.
“Yes, I’m here to see Regina Clay,” I said reaching into my pocket.
“Let me buzz her,” he said picking up the phone.
I placed my hand on the phone with a hundred dollar bill. It was awhile since I’d stepped into this building and usually Regina would have already set it up to allow me in through the service entrance.
“Sir?”
“Listen, I’m a friend of hers. I want to surprise her. I haven’t seen her in a very long time and I don’t want Mark to know I’ve seen her. It’s a down low thing.” I winked. I prayed he would fall for it. I was sure he could use the extra money. I dropped another hundred dollar bill on the phone. “I promise, I’m no stalker or anything like that. Trust me.”
He snatched the bills and slid them into his pocket. “Go on up.”
I stepped onto the elevator and pushed the top floor button on the panel. It’d been a long time since I entered her building. Everything was so pristine. I missed this place. The lobby had fresh flowers perched on tables, hanging art on the walls, the elevator smelled of wood oil that was recently applied, and when the doors opened to my desired floor a floral scent hit my nose with full force. There were flowers layered along the hallway on ledges against the wall. It smelled good, but was just too much for me. I looked to the right then the left. There were two. Shit, which door was it? I walked down the hallway slowly, trying to listen for Regina’s voice.
Fuck it! I walked up to the first door closest to me and knocked.
The door opened and there she was, beautiful as the day I met her.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Tony?”
“Regina.” I smiled.
“I’m calling the cops!”
She tried to shut the door, but I stuck my foot out to stop it from closing and rushed inside. “Regina, please I just want you to listen to me. I promise I will leave, just please listen to me. I’m not here to hurt you.”
Regina stopped and turned around. “What are you doing here, Tony? What do you want?”
“Regina, I love you. I need to—”
She threw her hands in the air annoyed. “Tony, we’ve been through this. I’m not leaving Mark and you better hurry with whatever you have to say because he will be home soon.”
Why was she lying? I opened the envelope and placed the pictures on the kitchen countertop. “Please look,” I whispered. I had to play this to the best of my abilities.
Regina eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
“Regina, he’s not the one. He doesn’t really love you. This is not the only one. After you stopped seeing me, I didn’t know what else to do. I had to prove to you we could work. I’ve cut off all ties with all my clients. I no longer have that phone, that life is gone.”
“How did you get these pictures?” Her voice whimpered as she shuffled through all the pictures.
“I didn’t want to tell you before I knew for sure. I had him followed. Please I’m not lying. Do you really want him? Your connection to him left when you started fucking me. You know our relationship was real. Something we both needed. You needed my affection, my unconditional love, my undivided attention without anything in return. You gave me the chance to love again. It wasn’t the sex. You already knew sex wasn’t anything I was lacking.”
She said nothing. Her eyes were still scanning the pictures.
I stepped closer to her, putting my arms around her. Her scent was intoxicating. “Please believe me. I don’t want you to get hurt by him. Please say something,” I spoke into her ear.
She pushed me back. “Get the fuck out of here! Why would you do this to me? This is the man I’m about to marry. We’re going to start a family. Why are you doing this?”
A family? What was she talking about? She couldn’t have kids.
“Are you trying to destroy me? Tony, you can’t provide for me. You don’t even own your apartment. How could you provide as a man should when you don’t even have a job? Fucking sex-deprived women is not a career! Get the fuck out my house! I don’t ever want to see you again!”
Was she really kicking me out after seeing those pictures? “Regina, don’t be so naïve.” I stepped closer.
She pushed me back again and reached for her phone. “If you don’t get the hell out of my house I’m calling the cops. Trust me, it’ll be very easy to convince them that you hit me. How many felonies do you have? Or maybe I should make a call to the IRS. I wonder if that would hurt your little cash-funded lifestyle.” She swiped her screen, threatening to push Send on the 911 display.
I walked to the front door hoping she would stop me for any reason. I was walking away without her, for now, but soon she would be mine. I promised myself. I unwillingly left her building wishing like everything she was walking out with me.
By the time I returned home, my perfectly planned future went up in flames. I was sure the pictures would shed some light and she would easily fall into my arms. How could I’ve been so wrong?
30
Vanessa
I walked into my office feeling like shit. My wild night of drinking tequila and snorting coke was slowly creeping up on me. I entered my private bathroom and pulled out a small bottle with the white substance inside. I took a couple of bumps just to put my head back in order. As soon as I walked out rubbing my nose, Charles greeted me.
�
�So we’re back to that stage again, huh?”
“Why are you in my office?” I rolled my eyes.
“Look at yourself!” He closed my office door and took a seat.
I already knew the speech; we’d been down this road before.
“Look at yourself, you’re a mess and your mess is affecting the business our parents built. I can’t have you working here like this anymore. You need to go back to rehab. I’ve made all the arrangements, there’s a car downstairs waiting for you,” he insisted.
“Fuck you, Charles! I’m not going!” I shouted.
“Listen, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t love you. You have two choices: either you take my help and get on the straight path, or you can continue your ways until you demolish your very existence and everyone who loves you.”
“You’re not the boss of me! Get out of my office!” At this point I was livid with his dismissal of my feelings of how I live my life.
“You need to stop. Stop everything. I know what you’ve been doing to Mark. You don’t have to ruin another marriage with your slutty ways! Leave him alone! All his future endeavors with this company will go through me, no one else. He’s made me aware of all the late nights where you tried to force yourself onto him and God knows what you said to his wife!”
“She’s not his wife!”
“She may not be his wife, but she’s more than you’ll ever be to him. I’m not trying to make this harder for you or put ourselves into another binding lawsuit because you can’t act appropriately. You’re going to rehab so you shouldn’t be a problem to him or me anymore.”
“A problem? Is that what I am, Charles? A problem?”
“You’ve always been a problem, Vanessa. You and I both know that.”
“Maybe I should solve the problem for everyone. I bet you would love that, right?” I threatened.
“Really? I never said a word to you when you left our father facing death because of your selfish reasoning on breaking up a marriage of one of his good friends. I never mentioned it to any one of our siblings to save you from being blamed and hated. I covered your ass and swept it all under the rug. Now, I refuse to continue to be like Dad with fixing your wrongs. Dad always saw the good in you and you left him there to die!”
Sharing the Sheets Page 15
