I Can't Let Go

by Chenell Parker

  “Do I need to take Tina home with me?” Kimora asked before she got into her car.

  “Hell no. She’s not staying the night over here. Venus already know what’s up,” Tino answered.

  “I don’t care about her staying the night. I just don’t want y’all to be in there fussing and fighting while Tina’s here.”

  “It’s not even that serious with me. She’ll get sent on her way before I do all that,” Tino swore.

  “Okay, I was just checking. Give me a kiss baby,” Kimora said as she leaned over and gave her daughter a kiss.

  “Me too,” Tino said as he puckered his lips.

  “You know Old Yeller is probably in there watching but I don’t give a fuck,” Kimora replied as she kissed him too.

  “This shit shouldn’t even be this complicated. Why can’t you just let that nigga go and I can do the same with Vee? You already know what it is with us. We’re supposed to be married with a few more babies running here around by now,” Tino said.

  “How when you already got a fiancée?” Kimora smirked.

  “You know damn well I didn’t propose to that girl, especially with the same ring that I gave you. She found it and just assumed it was something that it wasn’t. I already got that shit straight though. You know that it’s supposed to be me and you,” Tino noted.

  “I hear you, but this is not the time or the place for that conversation,” Kimora replied.

  “I agree but it’s definitely a conversation that we need to have,” Tino noted.

  “I know,” Kimora nodded in agreement.

  “I’ll call you and let you know about our flight information. We’ll need a ride to the airport too,” Tino said as she nodded her head and got into the car.

  As soon as she drove off, Kimora picked up the phone and dialed her mother’s number.

  “I was just about to call you,” Nita said when she answered the phone.

  “What’s up?” Kimora asked.

  “I need you to book me a flight back to Carmel,” Nita answered.

  “I see you finally got your mind right. You’re going back home, huh?” Kimora asked.

  “Yeah, to get my shit. Prince, Al and Dirty are gonna rent a truck and drive up there to bring it all back for me. The tenants left the house in perfect condition. I just had the toilet seats changed out and got some new shower heads. I paid for my bedroom set already and I’ll get the rest as I go along,” Nita said.

  “I can’t believe that you were really serious,” Kimora replied.

  “Hell yeah I was,” Nita laughed.

  “What did daddy have to say when you told him?” Kimora asked.

  “He really didn’t say much. He acts like he doesn’t give a fuck and his attitude lets me know that I’m making the right decision. For years I’ve done what he’s wanted to do. Now it’s time for me to do what I want to do.”

  “How soon do you want to go? Tina is going to Miami with her father, so I might fly back with you.”

  “I’m ready now. The sooner the better,” Nita said.

  “Okay, I’m on my way there now and we can book it then,” Kimora replied before they disconnected.

  Hassan had been bugging her to come back and she knew that he was going to be happy when she returned. Kimora wanted to surprise him, so she wasn’t even going to tell him that she was coming. He loved when she popped up at the office to take him to lunch and that’s exactly what she planned to do.

  T hree days later, Kimora and her mother were landing in Indiana. They caught an Uber to Kimora’s house so that she could get her car. After dropping her mother off home, Kimora went back home to shower and get dressed. Tino, Val and Tina had arrived in Miami two days ago and her baby was having a blast. Mateo had a huge house with a heated indoor pool. Tino sent Kimora a bunch of pictures of Tina and her cousins swimming and having a good time. He had rented another Airbnb that wasn’t too far from her house and they were flying back in that weekend. He didn’t plan to stay in Miami that long, but his daughter was having too much fun for him to leave. Kimora was so happy that her baby was getting to know the other side of her family. She had so many cousins around her age and she wanted them to grow up close.

  After checking her appearance in the mirror, Kimora grabbed her keys and purse and left her house. It was almost noon and she wanted to surprise Hassan and take him out to lunch. She wasn’t in the mood to go to his cousin’s place, so she hoped he was in the mood for pizza. They had a decent pizza bar not far from his office and that’s where she wanted to go.

  When she pulled up to the office, Kimora was happy to see that his car was there. Sometimes Hassan would go get food and sit in his office and eat it.

  “Hi.” Kimora smiled and waved at the employees that she bypassed when she walked into the building. She walked straight to the back to the area where Hassan’s office was located. Kimora was all smiles as she walked up to Harmony’s desk, but she didn’t see her there. She was just about to walk into Hassan’s office when the door opened.

  “No, I have work to do. Play time is over,” Harmony giggled as she tugged her skirt down and smoothed it out. She had her back turned, so she didn’t see Kimora standing there watching. When she finally closed the door and turned around, her smile faded and so did Kimora’s.

  “Oh, Kimora, hey. How are you?” Harmony asked nervously. The top two buttons of her shirt were undone, and her hand trembled in fear as she attempted to button them. Kimora didn’t know what she was scared of because she had no issues with her.

  “Obviously not as good as you,” Kimora replied as she bypassed her and walked into the office. Hassan was busy tucking his shirt into his pants when he saw her. The look of guilt on his face was hard to miss. He looked shocked to see her and she understood why.

  “Hey baby. This is a pleasant surprise. Why didn’t you tell me that you were coming back today?” Hassan asked as he walked over to her with his arms extended for a hug.

  “Please don’t,” Kimora said as she backed away from him.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I came here to surprise you and take you out to lunch, but it looks like I’m the one who’s surprised. I’m happy that I didn’t tell you that I was flying back today.”

  “What are you talking about?” Hassan asked, feigning ignorance.

  “When did you start fucking your secretary?” Kimora asked him.

  “What! Are you serious?” he questioned while laughing nervously.

  “Let me know when you find something funny,” Kimora answered as she looked at him seriously.

  “I can’t believe that you would even accuse me of something like that. Harmony is my secretary and nothing more. I love you too much to even think about cheating on you,” Hassan swore.

  “Nigga please. I know how a bitch looks when she’s freshly fucked. I guess that explains why you’ve been feeling so bad lately. You’ve been popping pills to keep your dick up for the next bitch,” Kimora accused.

  “I haven’t taken those pills since the last time we were together, and I don’t have a reason to. I had a headache and nothing more,” Hassan argued.

  “Yeah okay. So, I guess if I look in your trashcan, I won’t find any used condoms or condom wrappers,” Kimora said as she walked over to his desk to see for herself.

  “Are you serious right now Kimora? You’ve been in New Orleans more than you’ve been home and I let you have that. I know the predicament that you’re in and I’ve tried to be understanding about it. Maybe it’s you who’s doing wrong and trying to blame it on me,” Hassan replied as he stopped her from going any further.

  “Wow, the old deflecting trick. I’m too old for reverse psychology but thanks for proving my point,” Kimora laughed sarcastically as she turned and walked away.

  “Please don’t do this Kimora. Baby, I swear, I didn’t do anything wrong,” Hassan said in a pleading tone.

  “Don’t let the calmness fool you my nigga. I was a hood bitch when I moved here and ain�
�t a damn thing changed. I’m far from being dumb Hassan, so don’t try to play me for a fool. I don’t know when the shit started or how long it’s been going on, but you’re fucking that bitch. That much I’m sure of. It’s all good though. I’m not even mad. I would have respected you more if you would have been honest with me though.”

  “I’m not gonna admit to something that I didn’t do,” Hassan replied.

  “Cool, well, I guess this conversation is over,” Kimora replied as she walked away and out of the office with Hassan hot on her heels. Harmony pretended to be busy when they walked out and she was too embarrassed to lift her head.

  “Baby please. You wanted to go to lunch. Let’s go sit down somewhere and get something to eat,” Hassan begged as he chased after Kimora.

  “I’m good. I’m really not that hungry anymore,” Kimora replied.

  “Can we at least talk about this Kimora?” Hassan asked.

  “We already did. You said that you’re innocent and I disagreed. End of discussion.” Kimora shrugged as she unlocked her car door.

  “Are you still coming to the dinner this weekend?” Hassan asked her.

  “Absolutely,” Kimora nodded, right before she got into her car and pulled off.

  His father’s dinner was more for her benefit than anything else. She needed to make some new connections and reconnect with the ones that she’d already made. She was happy that she freelanced and didn’t have a boss to answer to. She was her own boss and set her own schedules. With the kind of work that she did, Kimora could work from anywhere. With the way things were going, she would probably be doing it from New Orleans.

  “You sure you don’t need me to come with you sis?” Prince asked as he clasped Kimora’s chain around her neck.

  Kimora told him all about Hassan and his secretary, and Prince wasn’t feeling it. The nigga was on some stalker shit and he was ready to knock him the fuck out. He kept popping up over there or he called every five minutes. As soon as Prince got to Carmel, Kimora’s house was the first

  place that he went to. Al and Dirty stayed at the hotel but he wanted to make sure that his best friend was okay.

  “No, I’m good. Besides, there is no room for no one else. This shit cost three hundred dollars a plate and it’s all sold out,” Kimora replied.

  “Three hundred dollars!” Prince yelled. “Shit, they could have had a whole seafood boil in the hood for the price of two plates.”

  “Not these pretenders. They’re too good for some shit like that.” Kimora frowned as she sprayed herself with perfume.

  “When is my niece coming back?” Prince asked.

  “In the morning and I can’t wait,” Kimora replied.

  She was so happy that she had someone else in Carmel to talk to for once. Kimora had already said that when they left, she was leaving too. She didn’t know when she would make the final move but hopefully that wouldn’t take long either. After the benefit dinner, she was done with Hassan and she couldn’t wait to let him know. Kimora wasn’t even mad about him fucking his secretary. If anything, she was happy that he gave her a reason to leave. She couldn’t be a hypocrite like that. After all, she was fucking her baby daddy and had no plans to stop.

  “When are you moving back home?” Prince asked as he walked Kimora out to her car.

  “Who said that I was?” she countered.

  “Why wouldn’t you? There’s nothing keeping you here anymore. Nita is leaving and you’re done with ole boy. Not to mention the fact that you started fucking with Tino again,” Prince smirked.

  “Who told you about that?” Kimora asked.

  “You just did,” Prince replied as he laughed.

  “Bastard!” Kimora yelled as she laughed with him.

  Prince promised to stay up and wait for her and Kimora was on her way soon after. She had a purse full of business cards and she was ready to network. When she pulled up to the hotel’s ballroom, valet took her car and she headed inside of the building. Although she wasn’t in the mood, Kimora put on her best smile and got ready to be fake.

  “Baby, I’m so happy to see you. Come on, our table is up front,” Hassan said as he walked over to her and grabbed her hand.

  He had been watching the door waiting for her to show up. He would have been too embarrassed if she didn’t. Kimora was still pissed with him, but she was too stubborn to let him make it right. He loved her too much to let her walk away. He had to get back on her good side and before the night was over, he was sure that he would be.

  “Don’t touch me. I can walk fine on my own,” Kimora replied as she discreetly snatched away from him and continued to smile. She knew how it went at those events. Cameras were always flashing and people were watching, even if they seemed like they weren’t.

  “Can we please not do this tonight Kimora? Harmony is gone, okay? I fired her and got somebody else from the temp agency,” Hassan said. He had the agency send over a man that time, just so Kimora didn’t get suspicious.

  “That’s fucked up Hassan. Why did she have to lose her job and you were just as guilty as she was?” Kimora questioned.

  “I didn’t even do anything, but I didn’t want you to think that I did. I’m willing to eliminate any potential problem that stands in the way of us being together.”

  “Well, eliminate your damn self,” Kimora snapped before she took her seat.

  Hassan sighed as he sat down next to her. He watched his parents work the crowd and mingle with their guests. Once the food began to be served, everyone sat down and made small talk with the people at their table. Afterwards, Kimora broke away from Hassan and started mingling on her own. She was happy when one of the lawyers who she’d been trying to do business with came over to her. People were talking and they only had good things to say about her. He wanted to work with her, and she didn’t even have to approach him. Kimora was already making close to six figures and a few new clients would get her there. After speaking with a few more people and passing out some more cards, she went back to her seat, right as Hudson’s annoying voice could be heard over the microphone. Kimora tuned him out, but she clapped whenever everyone else did. When Hassan got up, she ignored what he was saying too until he said her name.

  “Don’t be shy baby. Come on up here,” he said as his parents stood next to him and smiled.

  Kimora got up and slowly made her way to the podium where they were standing. She hated being the center of attention and the flashing lights of the cameras had her ready to sit back down.

  “Where’s my beautiful granddaughter?” Hudson asked low enough for only them to hear.

  “She’s with her real grandparents,” Kimora replied as Elaine gasped in shock.

  They didn’t know that side of Kimora, but she didn’t mind introducing them. Since giving birth to Santina, she wasn’t as rowdy as she used to be. Hassan’s parents always did annoy her, but she kept the peace because of him. Since he now annoyed her just as much, they could all kiss her ass. When Hassan grabbed her hand and started talking, Kimora was curious as to what he had to say.

  “Baby, I know that these past few months haven’t been easy, but I love and appreciate you for standing by me. With me running a business and helping with the campaign, my time with you has been limited. Still, you never complained and you were there whenever I needed you. I love you with everything in me and I would be honored if you agreed to be my wife. Will you marry me baby?” Hassan asked as he dropped down to one knee. He produced a ring box that held a beautiful diamond ring.

  “Fuck no nigga,” Kimora whispered as she kept a fake smile plastered on her face.

  Hassan was truly crazy. She didn’t even want his ass anymore, so marrying him was out of the question. He was a fool for proposing to her when they were barely even speaking to one another. Then, he had the nerve to act shocked about how she replied. He didn’t handle rejection too well. Instead of taking his L and moving on, he slipped the ring onto Kimora’s finger and stood to his feet.

  “She said y
es!” he yelled into the mic as the room erupted in applause.

  “No the fuck I didn’t,” Kimora gritted, even though the noise drowned out her protest. She was ready to grab the mic from him and tell them that it was bullshit but Hassan handed it to his father before she could.