Just Right: A Something Just Ain't Right Novella

by Sheena Binkley

  “With your mother, she can’t prove the company is hers since Sophia stole the deed, that’s why she’s robbing banks to get to the safe deposit boxes.” Morgan said.

  “I just said that.” Demetria said with an attitude.

  Morgan rolled his eyes and I held my breath. She must don’t know Morgan too well to cop an attitude. But instead of him going off, he took a deep breath and continued questioning her.

  “Listen, I know all of this sounds crazy, but it’s true.”

  “What if she doesn’t find the deed?” I asked.

  “Then there will be hell to pay. My mom didn’t care about running the company; but she did want what your dad borrowed from her. Since he didn’t pay, then that’s her other option.”

  “Will she do something to my dad?” I asked.

  Demetria looked away and I became nervous. What if she did try something? I know my dad was wrong for this, but I didn’t want anything to happen to him.

  “Thank you, Demetria. I have all that I need.” Morgan said and got up.

  “What about the actual deed?” I asked.

  Morgan shook his head. “I know I haven’t taken a good look at the documents inside, but I would know if a deed was in the safe deposit box. It’s not there.”

  I stared at him as he walked out of Demetria’s apartment. I went to my car and turned to stare at her door. Kyle was standing outside as he motioned for me to go. I guess he finally decided to talk to her.

  I got inside and leaned back in the seat. I can’t believe my dad is still causing issues; just when everything was slowly becoming perfect.

  I had to regain my composure for a few minutes before driving again. I knew one thing for sure; my anger will resurface when I confront my dad.

  Morgan

  After talking with Demetria, I figured she was as much of a victim in her parents’ schemes and I felt sorry for her. What her mother did for Cedric still didn’t make any sense, so I figured there has to be more to the story. So I’m just going to talk to the source.

  I pulled up to Cedric’s driveway, hoping he was at home. I knew Zoe was because of Ophelia and MJ, so maybe he was there to help out.

  As soon as I was about to get out of my car, I saw Cedric’s BMW pull into the driveway. I waited for him to get out as Lamar parked behind me. I looked from him to Cedric wondering what was going on.

  “What are you doing here?” Lamar asked.

  “Probably the same reason you’re here.”

  “Hey sons, what are you two doing here?” Cedric asked while coming to us.

  “We need to talk and we can’t do it inside. I don’t want Mom hearing this.” Lamar said.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Why you never told anyone about the company isn’t really yours?” Lamar asked.

  He gave a displeased look before speaking. “There’s a lot you don’t know about that situation.”

  “Well, I have all day for you to explain it.”

  “Why should I?”

  “Because you gave a company to me knowing it wasn’t yours in the first place!”

  “Calm down, Lamar.” I said. I was surprised that I was being the reasonable one. I guess I have matured over the years.

  “Not until he tells me what the hell he got me into.”

  “Watch your tone with me, Lamar!”

  “Everyone is high on emotions right now. Why don’t we all be adults and talk like the mature men that we are, okay?” I said.

  “Fine,” Lamar gestured.

  Cedric took us out of the garage and stood by Lamar’s car. He took a deep breath before speaking.

  “Is it true about the company? That you got a loan from someone and the company is theirs?” Lamar asked.

  Cedric looked at Lamar and nodded. “A lot was going on then. Not only was your mom and I having problems, but also the company wasn’t in the best shape financially. We were close to foreclosure on the building when Sophia thought up a way for me to save it. She knew someone that was friends with Morgan’s aunt who came into some money and wanted to be a silent partner. She didn’t want anything to do with the company in terms of running it, but she wanted to invest her money into something.”

  “Invest into a failing business?” I asked.

  “Is there more to this story, because I have to agree with Morgan?” Lamar said.

  “She was doing it as a favor to Sophia. I guess she convinced her to. She knew once I would get my feet back on the ground that things would be better. The person agreed to do it, but under one condition; I had to pay the loan back with interest.”

  “Which you didn’t do,” Lamar stressed.

  “At the time, I was intending to pay, but with all the issues that were occurring with Sophia, I just didn’t do it. Then a year later, my money got tied up in an investment deal that went wrong, so I really didn’t have any money at the time.”

  “No, you were just thinking about yourself and wasn’t intending on paying.” Lamar fumed.

  “We know who the person was that loaned you the money. It’s Demetria’s mother. She, along with her husband, was friends with Caroline. What I am still not understanding is why did she do it?” I asked.

  Cedric sighed. “Because Sophia knew that Melinda was cheating on her husband; she caught her with another man. Caroline knew, so since she was loyal to her husband, she told Sophia to go to her for the money. Well, let me rephrase that, she blackmailed her into doing it.”

  “If it was blackmail, why have it as a loan?” Lamar asked.

  “So it wouldn’t look too obvious. Anyway, in ordered for the deal to go through, we had to make it look as if she was becoming the owner of the company. Sophia hid the deed so it wouldn’t come back on us, and the rest is history.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Dad. Those bank robberies that have been occurring recently are all connected to you. Evidently, since you didn’t pay, Melinda is trying to claim what is hers by finding the deed.” Lamar said.

  “Why is she robbing banks? I don’t think the deed is hidden in a bank.”

  “Supposedly it’s in my safe deposit box. I know for a fact it’s not, and you do too.”

  Cedric gave a slight chuckle as Lamar and I gave impatient glances. This wasn’t the time to be funny.

  “What’s so damn funny?” Lamar asked.

  “Listen, I don’t know what you two are trying to do, but I can tell you it’s not going to work. I don’t know anything about where the deed is hidden.”

  “I think you do. Instead of telling us where it is, you’re continuously lying to your family about it. Do you want to see your loved ones hurt or killed, because Demetria’s mom is dead serious on finding it?” I said.

  “What do you want me to do? I gave you the company for a reason, Lamar. So you can take over the reins and decide on where you want to go with it.”

  “Technically, it’s not mine.”

  “But you can find a way to make it yours. I washed my hands of it. Now, it’s your turn.”

  Lamar looked wide-eyed as his dad walked back into the garage. He closed it, leaving us both speechless.

  “What the hell just happened?” Lamar asked.

  “I think your dad just told you to fuck off.”

  He shook his head. “This is ridiculous! Now, I’m questioning the real reason why he gave me the company.”

  “I think you just found out why.”

  “What am I supposed to do? I don’t know how much it is to pay off the debt or how to even get the money. I should just say screw it and let my dad go down.”

  “I think you should prove him wrong. Show him that you can do this; if all goes well and he tries to acquire it back, then don’t let him back in. From what I’ve learned in life, people will do what they can to screw us over to make themselves look good. I know it’s your dad, but sometimes, you just have to look out for yourself and take matters into your own hands.”

  Lamar watched as a car goes by and sighed. “A part of me wan
ts to do what I can to keep the company going, but another part doesn’t. Maybe Demetria’s mom should just destroy his ass.”

  “No matter what goes down between the two of you, he’s still your dad.”

  “I know.”

  “Are you surprised about Demetria’s mother being the donor?”

  Lamar shook his head. “Honestly, no. The shock value wore off a long time ago. Everyone is connected to each other in some sort of way.”

  I gave a tiny smile and looked ahead. “Just when things became calmer, now this.”

  “At least we haven’t been in a shoot-out or kidnapping, so it’s an improvement.”

  I laughed. “Don’t rule any of that out. But seriously, what are you going to do?”

  Lamar sighed. “I don’t know. Do you think I should just turn the business over to Demetria’s mom?”

  “You could, but what would she do with it once she gets it? She doesn’t want to run it, so she’ll probably sale it. Think of all the employees that would lose their jobs. Do you really want that on your conscience?”

  Lamar looked at me and shook his head.

  “What?”

  “Who are you? You’re not the same guy that I used to know.”

  I laughed again. “I guess maturity finally caught up to me… that, and fatherhood.”

  “I heard that. Maybe your new wisdom will rub off on me.” He said.

  “I hope so.”

  Lamar rubbed his hands together and went to his car. “I know what I have to do.”

  I gave him a puzzled look as he opened his car door. “What’s that?”

  “You’ll know in time.”

  I watched as he got in. He nodded as he pulled out of the driveway. His car went down the street when an unsure feeling set inside of me. He’s about to do something stupid. I just hope it doesn’t cost him more than just the family business.

  Hayley

  With everything that was going on, I haven’t heard anything from Morgan since he left Demetria’s earlier. I was planning to go by my parents to pick up MJ and go home, but I got sidetracked and went to my job for a bit.

  After dealing with a last-minute account crisis, I was able to leave when I realized I didn’t have my wallet, so I had to go back home.

  I pulled into my garage and immediately closed it before getting out. I waited for a few minutes in the car, coming to terms with everything that has recently happened. After today, I don’t know if I’ll be around my dad. He has done nothing but cause issues to our family. The sad part to all of this is that my mom never knew about it until it was too late.

  I went to the garage door and went inside the house. I disabled the alarm, and a slight shiver went through me. I don’t know how I could be here when not too long ago Travis was just inside our home. The idea that he knew the code to the alarm and walked freely around here was truly disturbing. I don’t know why Morgan and I haven’t changed the code and locks as soon after he left with Travis.

  I headed for the stairs to the bedroom when I noticed the door ajar. I looked down the hall, seeing that everything was intact.

  I’m being paranoid. I thought. Morgan could have come by after he left Demetria’s to see if everything was okay. No harm, no foul.

  I slowly opened the door and noticed the room was ransacked. The bed covers were overturned, papers were on the floor, and several vases were smashed.

  “What the hell?” I whispered. I didn’t even want to stay as I quickly turned around and fled downstairs. I was going to the bottom step when I felt someone pushed me. I tumbled over the last two steps before falling on the hardwood floor.

  “You finally made it home, Hayley. How wonderful to see you.”

  I looked up and saw a woman greeting me with a 22 revolver in my face. I don’t know how I knew it was Demetria’s mom, but I have a feeling that it was.

  I sighed, realizing I probably shouldn’t have come home.

  Morgan

  Ever since Lamar left, I had a bad feeling about what he could be up to. Although Lamar was a levelheaded person, he would do drastic things when his back was against the wall. If he does, I just hope he knows what he’s doing.

  I pulled up to my house, figuring I needed to check and see if everything’s okay. I already talked to Zoe, letting her know I’ll be back to pick up MJ. I just needed to see if anything was unusual with the house before bringing him back.

  I opened the garage, seeing Hayley’s car inside. I gave a sigh of relief, glad that she was here. I’ve been trying to call her, but her phone kept going to voicemail. I guess she wasn’t near her phone at the time.

  Suddenly, the detective mode kicked in as I realized something wasn’t right. If Hales was here all along, either she would have called to let me know she was here or even returned my call. I called her three times, so that was unlike her not to.

  I didn’t even pull into the garage as I turned off the ignition and got out. I went inside, unlocked the door, and went in. I slowly reached for my gun as I surveyed downstairs. Everything seemed fine, but my paranoid mind kicked into overdrive. I’ve been with Hales too long to know when she was in trouble. I knew she was.

  I pulled out my phone to dial the station. I think I’m going to need some backup. As I gave my information, I noticed one of Hayley’s shoes was on the floor by the stairs. I picked it up and went to the grand room to see no one was there. I headed upstairs, hoping she was there. As soon as I got to the top, I heard yelling, so I went in the direction of where the sound was coming.

  Once I got to my bedroom, I tried to open the door, but it was locked. As the yelling intensified, I knew I had to get in. I kicked the door in, breaking it as pieces of it fell to the floor. Hayley was tied up in a chair and someone I didn’t recognize was behind her, pointing a gun to her back.

  “Morgan, I was expecting you to show up.”

  I held my gun at her as I stepped closer. “You must be Melinda, Demetria’s mother. How did you get in here?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know? Now, where’s the deed to the company, Morgan? Once I get that, then I’ll let her go.”

  “I don’t know where it is! If I did, I would have found a way for you to have it.” I fumed.

  “Stop the bullshit! I know you have it in your safe deposit box. I’m sure Demetria told you that. But how you not going to know you had it all of this time? I thought you were smarter than that, Morgan?”

  “I guess I really didn’t know what was inside, especially when my mother is involved. Besides, if you know for sure if it’s in that box, then why are you ransacking our damn home? Evidentially, you don’t know either. Who told you it was there, because if it was my mom, well you know she has a few screws loose.”

  “Thanks in part to your father-in-law. I warned her about that man, that he was no good for her. That’s why when she went coo-coo, I felt I had to do what was necessary to get back at him, starting with his business and then his family.”

  Hayley looked from her to me. She gave a panic look as she wiggled in her seat.

  “And stay still! Do you want me to shoot you right now?!”

  “Not if I shoot you first. Believe me, if I had the damn deed, I would have given it to you by now, but I don’t.”

  Melinda stared at me as if I was lying. After Demetria told me about the deed, I had to find out for sure if it was in my possession. I went to the bank and sure enough, my mom was bluffing. I didn’t have it and I probably never did.

  “It’s in your safe deposit box, Morgan!”

  “No, it’s not! It never was! My mom was lying the entire time. For all you know, the documents could have been something else. Did you know if that was what you were signing?”

  “I know what I signed. Now, I could seek revenge and kill your precious Hayley. Not only will that destroy you, but her father too. In fact, why don’t I just do that? I don’t want the damn company anyway.”

  My finger was itching to pull the trigger as I still had my gun on her. Hayley gazed a
t me, motioning me to shoot her, but I wasn’t going to. Not yet, anyway.

  My phone went off as Melinda waved her gun at me.

  “Don’t answer it!”

  “This call could be important.”

  “It won’t be after I shoot your wife.”

  I gave her a look reading, ‘you wouldn’t’, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to push this woman even further.

  The phone rang again, making me wonder if it was Lamar. I did call him on the way to the house, so he’s probably returning my call.

  “Listen, why don’t we make this easy for you, how much do you need? We can pay you so you can move on and we won’t press charges.” I offered.

  “You’re a cop, Morgan. I’m sure you’ve called for backup, so don’t give me that.”

  “Then what the hell do you want? If this is about my mom and Cedric, then you should take it up with them. Don’t put Hayley or me into this!”

  “But you are involved! She killed my husband…”

  “Estranged husband.”

  “And your mother ruined my life.”

  “Which you helped, knowing she was mentally disturbed. I know she was blackmailing you, but you could have turned her over to the authorities. Now, I suggest you take whatever we offer you and get the hell out.”

  “So I can go outside and get shot by your people? I don’t think so.”

  I heard someone coming up the stairs, which had me alarmed. I slowly walked backwards to the door. Lamar and Demetria were coming inside.

  “How the hell you know I was here?” I whispered.

  “I just knew.”

  Thank God Lamar had his key. We gave it to him for emergencies and this definitely qualified as one.

  “Mom! What the hell are you doing?!” Demetria exclaimed.

  “I’m taking back what is mine. You couldn’t help me, so I am doing it myself.”

  “Because what you are doing is wrong! You knew what you were getting into when you gave that loan. It shouldn’t be a surprise that they both screwed you over.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “To talk you out of this mom please, just let it go. Let Lamar run the company and forget this ever happened.”