The Score

by Demetrius Sewell

“You were the one trying to seduce me a minute ago.”

  “I wasn’t going to do it. You…repulse…me too much. I was trying to teach you a lesson.”

  Now, he was amused. “I repulse you?”

  “Yes.”

  Seth walked closer. “I repulse you?”

  “Yes,” she repeated, but the confidence had left her voice.

  He stood inches away from her. “I repulse you?”

  She stepped back but hit the back of the couch. Seth kissed her. She knew it would happen. She knew him well. She kissed him like it was their last kiss, memorized the taste of him. Didn’t resist.

  He proved his point, and you just let him do it.

  Seth pulled back and stared at her. “Do I repulse you?”

  “Get out and leave the key,” she said, voice hoarse. “I never want to see you again.”

  Seth studied her. “I know you’re hurt. I’m sorry, but—”

  “Go.”

  “I love you and we will get past this.”

  Tatum shook her head. “Hell…will freeze over…before that happens.”

  He walked to front door. “Remember, I don’t take no for an answer!”

  “Are you there?”

  It was late Sunday afternoon, and Tatum gave a quick silent prayer before answering the caller. She dumped the dirty laundry next to the washing machine. “Yes Myra, I’m here.”

  Myra paused so long Tatum started thinking she wasn’t there.

  “What are you doing on Thanksgiving?” her cousin asked.

  “Let me think.” Tatum pretended to consider the question. Weeks ago, her plan had been to celebrate Thanksgiving with Seth, but now that was nixed. She would have probably crashed Karla’s family gathering like most losers without anywhere to go.

  She sighed. “I don’t have any plans.”

  “Good.”

  “Good?” She reached for the detergent box.

  “Grandma wants you to join us for Thanksgiving dinner,” Myra excitedly told her.

  Surprised, she dropped the box. It landed on her bare foot. She grabbed the end of the machine and bit her lip trying not to scream in her cousin’s ear.

  “Are you there?”

  Once the sharp pain became a dull ache, she finally answered, “I’m here.”

  “Will you join us? Everyone will be there, so you don’t have to be afraid. Me, Reggie, and Angela will be there.”

  She listened to Myra babble, not understanding what was really happening. Myra made it sound like nothing had ever happened. Tatum couldn’t believe her grandmother would suddenly want her there.

  “Wait, what caused her change of heart?”

  “She was talking with Mrs. Lois, you know the one who lives…”

  “I know who you’re talking about.” Tatum waved her hand, wishing her cousin would get to the point.

  “Well, they were talking about Uncle Tate and Grandma said she was embarrassed she couldn’t answer anything about his daughter—you.”

  “So now she cares because someone else cares?” Frustrated, she lifted the washing machine lid.

  Myra pleaded, “Come on, Tatum, give her a chance. She’s trying. Last time we were watching her soaps, she saw an interracial couple and didn’t say anything.”

  “Oh wow.”

  “Tatum don’t be like that. She’s trying.”

  Needing time to think about the situation, Tatum began dumping the laundry in the machine. She tried to think about what her therapist would say, but she drew a blank. Seth. She’d given him a chance against her better judgment and look what had happened? And then Karla. She’d trusted her and…

  “Tatum, are you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here.” She tapped on the machine, trying to get her mind to move in a better direction. She envisioned her grandmother, uncle and aunt and waited for the dread to overcome her. It didn’t. She waited for the small voice to tell her to run. It didn’t surface.

  She sighed, seeing it as a sign. All those things had happened when she met Seth. Even before she’d met Seth. And everything had turned into a disaster. Maybe Seth had come into her life to guide her back to her family. That they were right. Seth had proved that.

  Tatum stopped dumping the clothes in the machine. “Yes, I’ll go.”

  “What are you doing about the lawsuit?”

  Seth wasn’t listening to Gabby. She’d stormed into his office in late afternoon. He was about to tell her to leave when she asked the question that brought him back to reality. He hadn’t dealt with the lawsuit since he’d been served. Seth really didn’t want to. Ralph still worked for him. He’d expected Ralph to quit. At least, that was what most people did when they expected a big payout.

  Seth wasn’t going to fire him; that would only make it worse. He wasn’t going to look guilty of racial discrimination in the workplace. He wasn’t. Seth had simply gone with the better candidate and did not have to defend that choice on any other grounds.

  He leaned back in his cushioned chair and stifled his anger. He wasn’t a racist. Ralph would lose. There was no pattern of discrimination. He had nothing to worry about.

  “So what are doing about it?”

  Seth didn’t answer.

  “Obviously nothing because Ralph still works here.”

  He watched Gabby, her arms folded with a wifely attitude, and forced himself to be nice. “Firing Ralph would look like retaliation. As far as the case…”

  “You haven’t hired a lawyer.”

  “No,” Seth answered dryly.

  “What are you doing?” Gabby asked, clearly exasperated.

  He couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with her. He wanted her out of his life for good, but she was like a bad penny. She just wouldn’t leave. He was beginning to understand Tatum’s constant questioning.

  “You should really hire a lawyer. This is nothing but a stupid lawsuit.”

  Seth didn’t know if he wanted to fight this. It made him nervous when he thought about it too much. Yes, he could win this case, but at what cost? Would the black community think he was a racist? Would Tatum think so too? Would his business suffer?

  A fake racial allegation could ruin an entire career. It was like a plague. The rumor turned into false truth, and the false truth turned to fact in everyone’s mind, leaving the person penniless and wondering what happened. He could fight or settle—either way, he looked guilty. It wasn’t exactly fair.

  “You know a lot of lawyers, don’t you?” Her annoying voice interrupted his thoughts. “Why don’t you just call someone?”

  “I know a lot of lawyers, but…” He stopped. Something occurred to him.

  Gabby waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, she asked, “What?”

  Seth needed her to leave. He realized this lawsuit gave him the perfect opportunity to prove himself. He wanted to kick himself for not thinking of it sooner. Now, he was excited.

  “You’re right, Gabby. I need to start looking for attorneys.”

  “Great.”

  He asked her to leave the office so he could start. She gladly left and Seth grinned. Gabby had no clue the brilliant idea she’d given him.

  After looking in the phone book, he had the number he needed.

  Seth savored the sweet sound of Tatum’s voice when she picked up the phone. It reminded him of less complicated, more loving time. The times he’d do anything to get back to.

  “I just wanted to know if you’d changed your mind,” he greeted. There was a long pause. “Are you there?”

  “Seth, I’m at work. Don’t you ever call me here again.”

  “So I can call you later?” he asked cheerfully.

  “No,” she hissed.

  “Okay, answer my question then. Have you changed your mind?”

  “No. I don’t want anything to do with you ever again.”

  “You want me out of your life?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then meet me for dinner,” he smoothly suggested. “Let me explain my
side.”

  “You already did that.”

  “When?”

  “The other night.”

  “The night you kissed me?”

  “I answered your question. Now leave me alone.”

  “Are you sure? I’m not a man who likes to take no for an answer.”

  Tatum quickly agreed, hoping to get him off the phone. “Is that a threat? Because you’re saying that too much.”

  Seth laughed. “I’m trying to let you know I’m not going to leave this alone. I love you too much.”

  Tatum hung up on him. Seth was satisfied with the call. Now, he was free to put his plan in motion. He was going to get Tatum back because he loved her. He didn’t care if she believed it or not. It was true.

  Chapter 16

  Karla sat in Mr. Gault’s office and waited. It was the end of the day on a Friday, and she’d been looking forward to the long weekend. Karla needed to reflect on her life, her choices and what had gone wrong. She tried to see it Tatum’s way, but she couldn’t. She’d made the deal because she wanted to help her friend. If she benefited in the process, what was so bad about that?

  Mr. Gault stared at her, and he was smiling. But this smile was different. It scared her. The usual wide, welcoming smile was edgy.

  “I think I hired you, didn’t I?”

  She smiled. “Yes, the hiring manager was on maternity leave that day.”

  He nodded as though he shared the same good memory. “You have done a lot of good work for us.”

  “Thank you,” Karla said as she tried to relax.

  “However, I have received some disturbing information.”

  Karla’s breath caught in her throat. She felt like she’d been punched in the stomach.

  “I heard that you had some kind of deal with Mr. Cater. Would you like to elaborate on it?”

  She didn’t know where to begin. Karla frantically searched her mind for a good defense. He probably knew everything. Tatum had probably called him out of revenge.

  “Karla?” her boss urged.

  “I had a deal with Mr. Carter to have the account.”

  He wasn’t satisfied. “What was the deal?”

  This is your job. It’s is all you have.

  “I didn’t make the deal. Mr. Carter was interested in a friend of mine. He told me I could have the account if I set him up with her.” Her voice faltered, but she needed to say this. “I turned him down.”

  “Did you?” He sounded surprised.

  She confidently assured him. It was true. She did turn him down. Of course, she later agreed, but that was not the point.

  “If that’s true, I am happy to hear it.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Mr. Gault smiled. “That will be all. Have a nice holiday weekend.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Karla didn’t breathe again until she was out the office. She had expected the worst, but gratefully, she’d received the best. She’d dodged a bullet. She knew the issue was behind her now, and she was prepared to move forward with her life.

  Adam usually didn’t handle intake interviews unless there was an emergency. That was why Tatum didn’t understand why his scratchy, terrible handwriting was in the appointment book. The intake interview, a meeting where potential clients explained their legal problems, was set for today—actually for fifteen minutes after she left for the day.

  She was more than intrigued…she was suspicious. She was supposed to know everything that happened in the office.

  She tried not to feel distrustful, but as Adam exited his office, she took the opportunity to question him. “You have a new client coming in this evening?”

  Adam jumped like he’d expected her to be gone by now.

  “Why are you conducting an intake interview?”

  Adam recovered. “You’re leaving for the day.”

  Now Tatum knew he was lying. She folded her arms and studied him.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You’re lying.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not lying.”

  “If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll tell Erica you’re here when she calls.”

  Adam whined. “You can’t do that. That’s not fair.”

  “Then tell me,” she demanded.

  “You don’t have to tell Erica. I’ll tell her myself. I’m used to her pain.”

  Tatum saw Seth standing in the doorway and went numb. She stared at him like she’d seen a ghost. She wanted to slap the smug look from his face.

  “I told you not to contact me here,” she told him.

  “I’m not here to see you.”

  Tatum was surprised and embarrassed. “Oh.”

  She was going to ask him why he was there, but then she realized why. “Oh,” she said again, stunned.

  Adam grabbed some papers from the filing cabinet along with a file folder. He waved Seth toward his office door. Tatum gave Seth the evil eye as he walked past. He grinned at her.

  When the door closed, Tatum’s rage grew. She wasn’t going home. She was going to sit at her desk and was prepared to wait all night if she had to. This was a time she wished Adam specialized in criminal cases instead of tort law.

  Inside the office, Seth watched as Adam looked over the documents from Ralph’s lawyer. He took out his notepad and turned to Seth. “What happened?”

  Seth explained what happened, but he left out what he thought could be the most important part; that it had nothing to do with business and was simply cause and effect. He knew what Ralph had done, and Ralph knew he had to pay.

  “Would you consider settling the case?”

  “You mean for money or giving him the job?”

  Adam glanced at the complaint again. The plaintiff was suing for both. “It depends on what you want.”

  “I’ve already hired someone,” who is incompetent, “so that’s out of the question.”

  “What about money?” Adam prodded.

  Ralph was not going to be rewarded for screwing up his life.

  The intake session concluded after Seth had given all the usual information. The men shook hands and Adam agreed to take the case. Adam assured Seth he would be getting in touch with him soon.

  Seth couldn’t resist asking, “How are you going to deal with Tatum?”

  “I’ll think of something.”

  “I want her working on my case.”

  Adam shrugged. “That’s fine with me.”

  Tatum was ready for them when they exited the office. Ignoring Seth, she looked at Adam. “I want to talk to you.”

  Inside his office, Adam tried to have the first word, but he wasn’t nearly fast enough.

  “I know you don’t know who that is, but—”

  “I know.”

  She stared at him, shocked. No, he was wrong. If he knew the truth, he wouldn’t have even entertained the thought.

  She shook her head. “No, you don’t. That bastard is—”

  “Seth Carter is your boyfriend. Right now, you’re going through something.”

  “‘Going through something’?” Tatum chuckled like it was a joke. “That bastard screwed me over. He had a deal with my friend, Karla. If she convinced me to go out with him, she could have an account.”

  She expected him to be surprised, but he wasn’t. Obviously, he believed Seth’s lies.

  She was angry and tried not to feel betrayed. “I thought you were fair.”

  “I am.”

  “Then why are you doing this?” Tatum forced back tears.

  Adam sighed. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I don’t know what happened, and I don’t care.”

  She pushed away from him.

  “Tatum, what happened and Seth’s case have nothing to do with each other. Right now, you have to be a professional. You can’t mix business and pleasure.”

  He sounded like Seth. “He’s doing this to get back at me.”

  “So he created this case so he could get back at you?”

  “Yes.”
<
br />   “Remind me to do that to get back at my brother. I don’t think I’d be an overachiever like Mr. Carter and be sued for discrimination, but—”

  “What are you talking about?” She hadn’t heard anything about a discrimination lawsuit.

  “He’s being sued by a man named Ralph Jackson because he didn’t get the manager’s job.”

  She felt bad for Seth, but even worse for Ralph. He deserved the job. She didn’t understand why Seth would choose someone else. “Why would you want this case?”

  “If I am going to fight for the underdog, I’m going to have to be willing to fight for the powerful too.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.”

  He exhaled and grabbed his suit jacket off the back of his chair. “I sympathize with him. To have someone call you a racist is the kiss of death. It doesn’t matter if you’re a factory worker or a CEO. You can’t come back from it.”

  Tatum didn’t believe it. “Please. If the allegations aren’t true, non-POCs simply have their reputation restored.”

  “You don’t understand, Tatum. It’s not that easy.”

  “Then explain it.”

  “Mr. Carter is fighting for his life. Everything he’s worked for is in this case. Being accused of racism, in this day and age, like being accused of murder.”

  “So white people are saints now?”

  Adam frowned. Maybe he knows you don’t want to understand.

  “You have to do the research on this case,” he said, walking to the door.

  She shook her head. She wasn’t going to do it. He’d done the intake interview. He would do the research.

  “I didn’t know employees could refuse work,” he said, acting as though he was bewildered.

  When he opened the door, Adam’s mood turned to depressed. They were both shocked to find Seth still there standing next to someone. Tatum felt sorry for him, but she was too wrapped up in her own dismay.

  “Sugar, I thought I’d never see you.” Erica, a tall, leggy blonde with supermodel looks, leapt toward Adam. She hugged him tightly, her excitement rocking them back and forth. Adam didn’t wrap his arms around her.

  “W-when are you leaving?” Adam asked.