DUBIOUS

by McKinney, Tina Brooks

“Honey, please, the heifer was shitting bricks when she opened her file. She has a political agenda. If word got out that she was, pardon my French, a muff duster, it would ruin any chance she had to win over those staunch republicans that she is constantly trying to woo.” I swiveled my chair to face my skyline view.

  “I know that’s right. How can she hate on a group that she is a card-carrying member of.”

  “Exactly. It’s like I told them, I have no interest in their personal lives as long as it does not come back to bite me in my ass. You know, caught up in some guilt-by-association shit.”

  “I know, right? I ain’t even a lawyer yet, and I ain’t even trying to mess up my chances like that if any of this shit was exposed. I can see the headlines at six right now.” She shook her head.

  “That’s my point. We need to make this shit go away with the quickness. I want you to go to this next meeting.” I watched uncertainty creep across her face.

  “Me? Do you really think that’s such a good idea?”

  I could sense her hesitation. If things didn’t go the way I’d planned, both of us could be out on the street looking for jobs. There was a slight risk of that, but I was betting that Gary was just as tired of his trifling-ass niece as I was. “If I didn’t have these signed statements, I probably wouldn’t let you go even if you had begged me. But since I do, I want you to be able to see their facial expressions when I drop the big one. After all, you helped me gather this information.”

  “I know that’s right. I can’t wait to see this shit. But what about Desiree? You are asking for the resignations of Gary and Anita, don’t you think that Desiree needs to go, too?”

  “Without a doubt, but since she isn’t a stake holder in this entire mess, I knew that I wouldn’t get the support I needed. Trust me, ole girl will be packing up her shit too before the end of the day. If she doesn’t, I will make her life a living hell.”

  “You and me both. What time are you meeting with them?” she said with a smile.

  “Noon. Gary was in court, so I told his secretary to buzz me as soon as he returns.”

  “So what do you need me to do?”

  “Set up the projector. I want to be ready if I have to show the evidence we’ve gathered to the whole firm. I’m prepared to air out all their nasty underwear if they force my hand.”

  “You’re going for the jugular, aren’t you?” She gazed at the skyline as if she were imagining the outcome of this house cleaning.

  “Hey, whatever it takes. I mean shit, I’ve taken about as much shit from them as I’m willing to take. If they want to push it there, then I say push it.”

  “I hear ya. Well, let me go set up. I can’t wait to see that heifer’s face. She thinks she is so smart, so smug, and so God fearing. If I was her, I would be afraid that God would strike her trifling ass down for bearing false witness.”

  “Talisa, none of this shit feels right to me. I am not this vicious and vindictive person that I’ve become. I’ve been forced to put on gloves that don’t fit, but they left me with no choice but to fight back. To be honest, if I could take down Anita without bringing in her uncle/father, I would but that wouldn’t solve the problem. He’s a manipulative bastard and needs to be stopped as well. If I gave him an inch, he would find some other asshole to do his dirty work; therefore, I have no choice but to stay the course and see it to the conclusion. To be honest, I’ve just about lost my taste for law. When I first took my oath, I believed the hype. I thought the judicial system was the only organization that wasn’t predicative of how much money you had in the bank.”

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Oh Lawd, you ain’t gonna start preaching, are you?”

  “Oh, you got jokes, but you know what I mean.”

  “I do. I just wanted to lighten the moment. It’s hard to look in the mirror and see shit the way it really is without rose-colored glasses. Hell, I’ve been walking around with those tinted lenses for years. I have to thank you for taking them off.”

  “Me, what the hell did I do?” I swiveled away from the view to face her.

  “You kept it real with me. You never sugarcoated your shit. In other words: you told me it is what it is. I can’t tell you how many folks tried to sell me a bale of goods that wasn’t hitting on shit. You never did that with me. Regardless of the outcome today, I’m with you.”

  If I had a response, it was lost in the tears that clouded my vision. Talisa knew me well enough to use the opportunity to leave. I allowed the tears of disappointment to fall. When I was done crying, I called Sherman.

  “Hey baby,” I said, fiddling with my letter opener.

  “Ah, how did it go?”

  “Well … the first group went over very well. I am supposed to meet with the other group around noon.”

  “Do I need to be there?”

  “Naw, baby, I got this.”

  “Are you sure? You are dealing with some very deceptive people. I don’t want them coming out the bag on you.”

  “Oh, I wish they would. Momma didn’t raise no fool.”

  “I would never use fool in the same sentence to describe you,” he said.

  “You’re just biased.”

  “Felicia, I love you, and I would love nothing better than to make you my wife. I was going to hold off and ask you later, once the dust settled, but I need you to know just how much I love you.”

  The cat not only had snatched my tongue, but it buried the shit under the busiest expressway in Atlanta. Fresh tears—these of joy—streamed down my face. His words washed away all the pain, suffering, and doubt. I was reborn through his words, and I felt invincible.

  Talisa knocked and opened the door. “Felicia, Mr. Yeager is in his office. He said he’s ready to see you.”

  “Okay, thanks.” I hung up the phone forgetting that Sherman was on the other line. My mind was focused, and my grim determination was written on my face. I gathered my folders and the signed letters and headed toward the conference room.

  One tap on Talisa’s door and she was right behind me—show time!

  * * *

  If Gary was surprised by Talisa’s presence, he did not allow it to show. Anita, on the other hand, was beside herself. I could tell she wanted to demand an explanation of why I had brought her to the meeting, but I cut her off before she could utter a syllable.

  “Thanks so much for agreeing to meeting with us on such short notice. I will, however, keep this short and to the point.”

  “Thanks, Felicia, but why are you being so formal? We are all family here?” Gary gestured to the entire room. Leaning back in his chair, he patted his broad belly as one normally did after eating a satisfying meal. His look said he was in control of this meeting, and it was my intention to snatch the rug right out from under his feet.

  “Some more familiar than others, right?” I said, setting him up for the kill.

  “Uh, I don’t understand.” The smug look left his face as he leaned in and rested his arms on the table.

  “Oh, but you will. I have in my hands signed statements from each of the partners calling for you and your niece’s immediate resignation.” Oh yeah, shit’s about to get interesting now. I handed the papers to Talisa, and she plopped them down on the table in from of them. I was the one wearing the smug grin now.

  “What in the hell are you talking about, Felicia?” He struggled to get to his feet, but I wasn’t about to let him leave until I was finished.

  I said, “Sit your fat ass down.”

  Anita turned a deep shade of fuchsia. I didn’t know white people could turn that color, so I kept an eye on her to see if she would stroke out on my ass.

  I started pacing the room, all eyes on me. “Now we can handle this one of two ways: either you tender your resignation, or I will be forced to go public with the information that we’ve gathered on both of you.”

  “This is ridiculous. I’m not about to stay here and listen to this horse shit.” Anita started to walk toward the door.

  “N
ot so fast, Missy. I know all about you and your trifling ass. How long did you think you were going to continue with this charade?” I said.

  She whirled around as if she were about to slap me. I’d been waiting to lay her ass out for quite some time, so I was ready for her.

  “You don’t know shit!” she hissed.

  “Oh yeah? I bet I know who your daddy is. I also know that you haven’t a bit more finished law school than the man on the moon. In fact, you didn’t even graduate from college!”

  “Damn, ain’t got shit to say now?” Talisa was talking shit now.

  Gary frowned at Talisa. “Why are you even in this meeting?”

  “’Cause I helped expose both y’all fat asses, and I’m the one who’s about to put on a slide show that I’m sure your wife and her husband would love to see.”

  I said, “And if that ain’t enough, I’m sure the Bar Association will be very interested in your duping them into believing that Anita is licensed to practice law. She has also been your coconspirator in illegally taping your employee’s extra-marital affairs. I’m sure the police department will be interested in those tapes as well.”

  Anita and Gary exchanged glances.

  If looks could kill, Talisa and I would be charred meat smoldering on a grill. I watched their myriad emotions with disdain. I didn’t feel sorry for either one of them.

  “Do you need a pen?” Talisa said.

  I almost burst out laughing.

  Anita had that stick-a-fork-in-me-I’m-done-look on her face. Gary was ready to give up, but I could see the wheels turning in handy heifer’s head.

  “Before you allow your mouth to write a check your ass can’t cash, peep this.” I threw the file at Anita that contained detailed notes from her psychiatrist. “I bet you thought you would keep those dirty little conversations between you and God, didn’t you? You really should learn how not to kiss and tell.”

  I could tell when the fight went out of Anita and acceptance settled in. She hauled her ass back over to the table and snatched the pen from Talisa. I had to step between the two to keep Talisa from slapping the taste out of Anita’s mouth. Anita looked like she was about to hit me, but she quickly turned and left the room.

  A few seconds later, she returned and security was with her.

  I smiled. “One of the security people will escort you to your office to collect your personal belongings. You will not be allowed to take any files belonging to the firm. They will also collect any company-issued credit cards, keys, and parking passes. If you comply with this, I am perfectly happy to keep our conversation private. However, if I hear of either of you slandering this firm or any of its partners, I will be forced to show the world just how nasty you are. Frankly, I want you to say something. Do anything that would give me reason to expose you both … so please take heed when I tell you, I’m letting you off lightly. You haven’t seen the bitch in me; trust me … she isn’t pretty.” I turned to leave and left Anita with one parting remark. I paused at the door. “Oh, you might want to tell Desiree that her ass has a number on it, too. She might want to pack her shit up because none of the partners have any use for her, and she sure won’t be getting that fat check any more. I’m done playing games with y’all silly asses. She can fuck up if she wants too ’cause frankly my dear, I don’t really give a damn what happens to none of you.”

  EPILOGUE

  It was hard to believe that several months had passed since the major overhaul of my life and of my firm. Of the seven partners, only four remained. But it was a strong partnership. We had cut out all the duplicity in billing practices, and as a result, we were emerging in our field as respectable lawyers. This was no small feat since people equated lawyers to common street criminals who would rob you blind with a smile.

  Finally, I was able to feel good about the services I provided without fear of reprisal for my low, billable hours. Fortunately, Gary and his niece were never heard from again. I was happy about that because, despite how I felt about Anita, her uncle had never really done anything to me personally. I’d heard that he had divorced his wife, but he had millions so money was not an issue.

  Sherman offered to follow up on Anita, but I had given that heifer too much of my energy and wasn’t willing to focus on her trifling ass for another second. Desiree had taken the hint and left the firm, too. Her dumb ass had the nerve to request a reference, as if I had anything good to say about her.

  “Are you going to sit in front of that mirror all day?” Talisa said, looking as pretty as ever in a long flowing dress.

  I turned to look at her. “I’m almost done. I was just thinking is all.” I couldn’t understand why Kenya was avoiding me and not returning my calls.

  “Thinking about what?”

  “Oh, just the changes that I’ve went through and how happy I am to get to the other side.”

  “You and me both. I could not have written a better ending if I tried.”

  “So you think I’m making the right decision?” I looked at her with hopeful eyes.

  “Hell yeah, the nigga is fine, he got plenty of money, and he worships the ground you walk on.”

  “I am pretty lucky, aren’t I?”

  “Damn right. I just want to know when you are going to tell him about the baby.”

  I rubbed my belly. “I told you, I’m going to surprise him tonight after the ceremony.”

  “Well, I ain’t gonna lie to you, I don’t agree with you. But you’re a grown-ass woman.”

  “Talisa, if I’d told him about the baby before, I wouldn’t be sure that he was marrying me and not his child. I can’t go through another breakup, it would kill me.”

  “Girl, if that man was going to bolt, he would’ve done it a long time ago.”

  A discreet knock on the door stopped our discussion. Randy entered the room with this big-ass smile on his face. I’d forgiven him for his past and had settled back into a friendship that somehow had gotten lost in the marriage. Now, he was relegated to girlfriend status.

  “You ready to do this?” he said.

  “As ready as I’m going to be.” I rose from the dressing table and arranged the short, ivory veil that covered my face. Asking my former husband to give me away was a bold move, but since I had no real family left, Randy was a logical choice. After he had gotten over his initial reaction, he warmed to the idea. Of course, I hadn’t told him about the baby, either, but I would deal with that when the time was right.

  Holding my arm, Randy escorted me down the aisle to my future. Sherman was handsomely dressed in ivory, suited and booted with a large diamond earring blinging in his ear. His goatee was freshly shaped and his bald head was shinning. My fingers tightened around Randy’s arm the closer I got to Sherman and the minister.

  It was a small ceremony with just Randy and Talisa standing for me, and Sherman’s best friend Reggie and cousin Rodney standing for Sherman. I noticed the twinkle in Reggie’s eye as he watched the sway of Talisa’s hips. She had put it on the brother, and it was my bet that they would be the next couple to waltz down the aisle.

  Randy turned me around to face him as he lifted my veil. He kissed me on both cheeks before he let me go. I saw the tear leaking from his right eye, and I wiped it away with my gloved finger.

  “Be happy,” he whispered then took his place next to Talisa.

  I took Sherman’s hand. He pulled me close, causing my knees to shake with desire. Love for him swelled in my stomach and rose to my heart. I could feel the tremble in Sherman’s body as the minister pronounced us man and wife. We turned to each other and kissed. It just didn’t get any better than this.

 

 

 
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