The last thing she wanted to do was have to indulge Stan, not the man. But it was the only way she could get the information she was looking for on Jason. Latoya sat on the side of the tub in Stan’s master bathroom and waited for Gabby to answer the telephone. The last thing she needed was for Jason to know she had stayed out all night. “It’s about time you answered,” Latoya snapped when Gabby picked up. “What in the hell took you so long?”
“I was giving Sierra her bath, Ms. Wright.”
“Where’s Jason?”
“He left with his family early this morning and will be returning later tonight.”
“He went somewhere with Eric?”
“And Ms. Miriam.”
“Jason’s mother is here! When did she come?” Latoya stood as she yelled into the phone.
“She arrived yesterday.”
“Why in the hell didn’t you tell me Jason’s mother was here? Where did they go?”
“I don’t know,” Gabby replied.
“These are the things you are supposed to tell me Gabby. I ought to fire you for being so damn inefficient.” Latoya hung up the telephone and began to quickly dress. As hard as she tried, Jason’s mother did not like her. Well, she was just going to have to try harder. According to Stan, she was about to be seriously replaced. So far she had been able to keep the hos away from Jason, but somehow this one slipped in. Well, if Jason thought for one minute he could just push her aside he was wrong. She had a sure fire weapon—Sierra. She sacrificed a year of her life to give birth to that child. Now it was time for the payoff. Looking in the mirror, she was thankful for the reflection that looked back. Her mother may not have been the best one in the world, but she did give her the good looks, the hair and the body of an angel. And her stuff was all natural, that’s what the men loved about her, she was real. She knew what she was doing when she went after Eric, so what, if it was his brother that fell for her. Either way she got what she wanted, a ticket to the good life. “I will be damned if some country ho from Virginia is going to take that away.”
Walking back into the master bedroom, Stan was still knocked out spread eagle on the bed. A repulsive act was needed to get him to talk, but once he started, he spilled it all. Leaving the house, she made a promise to herself—that was the last time. Someone was going to come out of their pockets with a few million or take care of her until Sierra turns eighteen. Driving home she devised a plan. First she had to play the adoring mother while Miriam was in town. That meant she would have to sit low for a minute, no extra-curriculum activity for a while. Actually, that could be a good thing. It would give her time to do a little research. The internet was a wonderful thing. She could use it to see who the woman was that was trying to put an end to her life of leisure. Damn, why did she have to get stuck with Jason, the street smart brother? Eric would have married her the moment she told him she was pregnant.
That was something she never understood back then. When she entered that room at the after party a few years back every man in the room stopped to check her out. Walking by them all she went straight to Eric, extended her hand, “Hello, I’m Latoya Wright”, and flashed that dimpled smile that knocked most men to their knees. But not Eric, “Silk” Davies. He simply returned the smile. “It’s nice to meet you. Jason, would you make sure Ms. Wright get an autographed CD,” and walked away. The shock of the rejection lingered for a moment, until Jason took her hand and asked her to forgive his brother. He was in a zone with his music and nothing, no matter how beautiful the package, could get his attention. But she wasn’t deterred, she looked at Jason and smiled, being a music executive, he was just as much of a catch as his brother, and just as rich. Smiling she remembered dropping the hint that Eric might be on the down low. It was no more then he deserved for brushing her off like he did. Nevertheless, she accomplished what she set out to do, capture a power broker in the music business to take care of her for the rest of her life. It helped that the brother wasn’t half bad between the sheets, Lord knows Jason could work her body overtime. They had some good times, before things turned bad. A few months into the relationship she had to beat down a few honeys that were trying to move in on her turf and the reporter telling Eric who had planted the down low story didn’t help. It seemed the brother bond was tighter then she thought. But then the ticket to paradise arrived, she found out she was pregnant. There was no way Jason Davies would turn his back on his child. Life had been good until now. How dare he tell her to find a place to live? He had to deal with her for at least fifteen more years whether he wanted to or not. Pulling into the garage, she turned the engine off and walked into the house. Let the games begin. “Sierra, baby. Mommy’s home.”
The fifty-eight year old grandmother of twelve, Gabby looked at the clock and made a note in her journal while shaking her head wondering why God gave children to some people. Standing, she closed the journal and put it inside the pillowcase on her bed. The bellow occurred again as she walked into the adjoining room to look in on Sierra, who was down for her nap. Seeing the angel was still asleep, she walked towards the suites that belong to Ms. Wright to get the woman to stop yelling through the house. In the twenty years she had been a governess, she had come across some trifling parents and this one was no different. But just like the others, she too shall reap what she sow. “Ms. Wright, Sierra is taking her nap.”
“Good,” Latoya smiled. “I have some things I need to do. Let me know the minute she wakes up.” She said while walking towards the other end of the house.
Gabby learned early on not to ask questions of this one. But she wondered where Ms. Wright was going. Mr. Davis did not like her in his part of the house and that was the only thing down that hallway. Mr. Davis paid her a rather nice salary to keep his home clean and daughter safe. A part of that was protecting his privacy, especially from Ms. Wright. Why was it always the good men that ended up with trifling conniving women? She shook her head as she entered the door right off the kitchen. In the security room Gabby watched the woman’s movements on the monitor. When Latoya entered Jason’s office, Gabby hit the record button and adjusted the camera to cover the entire room. She then walked out of the room and continued with her chores. Some women never seemed to have enough. Here the man had put her in a seven bedroom mansion with every amenity known to man and she still was not happy. One day she would learn. Gabby just hoped it was not at Sierra’s expense.
♪
Inside the office, Latoya wasn’t sure what she was looking for but when she saw it she would know. The man was too organized. Everything was neatly in its place, so whatever she did she had to make sure it was put back in its place or he would notice. Sitting at his desk she opened the center draw, nothing. She tried the bottom two drawers, they were locked. Turning to the computer on the side she hit the enter button, just to see if he left it up—he didn’t. Damn, there had to be something. She opened the planner on his desk and looked at his appointments. He had several with a realtor, she wrote down the person’s name and number that might come in handy later. Turning the pages backwards, she read the appointments for the previous months. Nothing she did not know about. Going back another week she looked at each date and came across one that read: Siri – Va. – Elementary School. Hmm, I wonder what that could mean. She dialed a number on her cell phone and sat back in his chair. “Hey girl, what’s up?”
“Toya? Hey girl. Long time no hear. You still beating people down in the ATL?’
Laughing Latoya replied, “Hey a girl got to protect her turf. That’s why I’m calling.”
“Oh hell. I just came from church and you got me up to no good already.”
“It’s all for a good cause and you know I’ll look out for you.”
“Yeah, yeah, what do you want and how much do I get?”
“A thousand for some information.”
“Wow, Jason got you on that type of allowance for you to dish out a grand just for information?”
“If my plan works, it will be a whole lot more zeros behind that grand.”
“You got my attention.” “Do your computer thing and see what you can find with this combination.” She gave the information to her friend, but did not give any specifics, the fewer people that knew what she was up to the better. Money would keep some people’s mouths shut, but not everyone’s. “I need this, like now.”
“I’ll see what I can do as soon as I see half in my account.”
“Done, call me today,” she disconnected the call. Now phase two. She closed the book took a look around and made sure everything was back in place.
♪
It was late when Jason walked into his home. The driver pulled off taking his mother and Eric home. All he wanted to do was see his daughter then dream about TeKaya. It was getting harder and harder to leave her. But he knew he was the one with baggage to clean up. Shaking his head and smiling, he had to admire the way TeKaya was handling the situation. She was not giving him an inch. If you care enough about me to tell my mother you plan on making me your wife, then you will find a way to clean up your house before bringing me in. The woman told him to clean up his act. He wondered if she had any idea how many women would not care about his situation, they would take whatever he had to give. Hell he was Jason Davies—music executive. TeKaya could care less. To her, he was the man who claimed to love her and she expected nothing less than his all. That was what he loved about her.
He froze at the door of Sierra’s room. Latoya was there on the sofa with Sierra in her arms asleep. One would think it was normal for a mother to be holding her child, but not Latoya. He picked Sierra up to place her in her bed and Latoya woke up a little disoriented. Once Sierra was settled, he looked at Latoya, “What are you doing in here?”
Stretching she yawned, “She wasn’t feeling well. I think she has a fever.”
Jason turned and felt his daughter’s head, she didn’t feel warm, but she was still asleep. Usually she would wake up as soon as he touched her. “When did this start?”
“I don’t know, around two this afternoon,” she said as she stood to look over at the child.
“Why wasn’t I called?”
“I didn’t know where you were or how to contact you.”
“Where’s Gabby?”
“It’s late. I’m sure she’s asleep.” She reached down and tucked the cover around her daughter. “I was a little worried for a minute. But she’s sleeping soundly now.”
He took off his suit jacket and placed it across the chair. I’ll stay with her through the night.”
“I don’t mind staying.”
“Since when?”
“You know Jason our child is not feeling well. It’s not about you or me. It’s about her. So I’m not going to argue with you tonight. If you want to stay, stay. I’ll take the monitor with me and check on her in the morning.” She picked up the monitor. “Good night.” She walked out of the room. Upon entering her room, Latoya set the monitor on the night stand and placed the bottle of brandy she had tainted Sierra’s Kool aide with inside the cabinet and then crawled back into bed she had vacated just a few minutes earlier, with a smile.
♪
The next morning Gabby walked into Sierra’s room and found it empty. Not seeing anything out of place other then the child missing, she took a look at her watch. It was a little after six. She began walking towards Jason’s suite, for she knew Ms. Wright was not up this early. Tapping lightly on the door, she called out, “Mr. Davies, are you decent?”
“Yeah Gabby,” he groggily replied. “Come on in.”
She walked into the suite to find him in the sitting area of the room and Sierra asleep in his bed. “I came looking for our pumpkin. Did she con you into sleeping with you?”
Standing with just his pajama bottoms on he walked into the dressing room and returned while putting the top on. “What happened with Sierra last night?”
Frowning, Gabby looked at him confused. “What do you mean?”
“Latoya indicated Sierra wasn’t feeling well. Why didn’t you call me?”
“I have no idea what you are referring to. Sierra was fine when I put her down around nine last night.” She went over to the child and touched her forehead, now quite concerned. “She doesn’t feel warm or anything. Sierra, sweetie wake up for Gabby.”
“Do you think we should wake her?”
“I need to know my pumpkin is okay,” Gabby replied. When the little girl stretched in her arms, Jason released the breath he did not realize he was holding and Gabby smile. “Good morning pumpkin. Daddy said you don’t feel well. Can you tell Gabby what hurts?”
Now Jason was standing next to the woman and his daughter close to the bed. “She seems groggy. By this time she would be all over the place.” He picked up the cordless telephone next to his bed. “I’m calling the doctor’s office to see if she can see her today.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. With a young child you never know.
Jason tenderly caressed dark curls on Sierra’s head. Concern was etched so deeply in his face that Gabby had to try to ease his fears. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
“Hey pumpkin,” Jason smiled down at his daughter as he listened to the recording from the doctor’s office. Sierra smiled at him, closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
Gabby put the child in her father’s arms. “I’ll get some clothes to dress her,” then left the room. Jason hung up the telephone and then dialed Eric’s house. Before he had a chance to tell his mother Sierra’s symptoms she had hung up the telephone. He was sure she would be there within the hour.
By seven thirty, Jason, Miriam and Gabby were all in the kitchen watching the very energetic child chasing her Uncle Eric around the island with her teddy bear. Eric stopped and turned suddenly scooping the giggling child up into his arms. “Eric don’t toss her around like that,” Jason said still concerned for his daughter.
“Jason, the child is fine. Who said she was sick in the first place?” Miriam asked as she smiled up at her granddaughter.
“Ms. Wright,” Gabby replied with a little bit of sarcasm as she placed a cup of juice in front of Miriam.
“What would she know?” Miriam mumbled.
“She was not what you see now an hour ago. Gabby woke her and she went right back to sleep,” Jason tried to defend his over protective actions.
“I must say, I was a little concerned at first. Sierra is usually waking me up in the morning. I can always hear her talking to her dolls through the monitor. But not this morning,” Gabby offered as a defense.
“Good morning,” Latoya said from the doorway. “Sierra,” she smiled as she took her daughter from Eric ignoring everyone else. She brushed the curls back from her daughters face. “How are you feeling this morning?” She went through the motions of touching the child’s face. “You don’t seem too warm today. Are you feeling better this morning?”
To most people the scene would have appeared to be a mother’s genuine concern for her child. But to Eric this was anything but. Latoya should have continued with her acting career, for she was putting on quite a show.
“Jason did you call the doctor’s office?”
“I did, but mother doesn’t think it’s necessary now.”
She looked up at Jason with such concern, and then looked over at Miriam. “Hello Mrs. Davies. I’m sorry I didn’t notice you at first.” She then turned to Eric, “Hello Eric.” Before he could answer she turned back to Miriam. “Are you sure she doesn’t need to be seen by the doctor. She had such a temperature last night.”
“She didn’t seem warm to me last night when I put her to bed,” Gabby stated.
“Well she did to me when I checked in on her,” Latoya replied with a little bit of an edge to her voice.
“What time was that Latoya?” Miriam asked as a look passed between Gabby and Eric. The two had seen similar performances from Latoya whenever she was trying to get Jason to purchase something she wanted.
“I’m sorry Miriam, what did you ask?”
“What time did you look in on Sierra?” Miriam repeated the question.
“Well, it was a little after eleven, I think. I was out with a girlfriend last night. Where were you Jason?”
“I was out with a girlfriend as well,” he replied then took the child from her and reclaimed his seat.
Sierra began eating the fruit from his plate. “Grape Daddy,” she held a grape up to his mouth as he shook his head.
Standing with her hands on her hips, the tears began to form in her eyes. “Why do you continue to do this Jason? Even if that was where you were, did you have to embarrass me in front of your family?” She did not raise her voice or sound angry, she sounded hurt. Looking around at the people in the room, she stopped at Miriam. “I’m sorry, excuse me,” and ran from the room.
Sierra looked up at her father, “Mommy crying Daddy. You kiss her and make better.”
He kissed her forehead, “Okay baby.”
Eric gave Jason a curious look. “Do you have an appointment with the realtor today?”
“Yeah, why?”
He looked at the doorway Latoya made her exit then turned back to his brother. “Does she know?”
Jason never looked up from his baby girl feeding him fruit. “Apparently so.”
Eric began to chuckle as Miriam looked stunned. “No. No.”
Gabby looked and nodded her head, “Okay, now that makes sense.” She put the plates in the dishwasher. “Excuse me folks. I have a roach to stomp.”
“You go get her Gabby,” Eric smiled as he took a seat at the breakfast bar next to Jason. “Let me have some of that fruit.”
“No,” Sierra turned and looked up. “It’s for my Daddy.”
♪
Taking notes from the call, Latoya was pleased with the information being shared. She had a name, address and even knew where the woman worked. Now all she had to do is make the travel arrangements. Clap—clap—clap. She turned to the doorway and saw Gabby standing there giving her applause. “That was some performance you gave. You know you didn’t fool anyone.”
“I didn’t have too. But I bet you this. The next time Jason leaves, I will know how to reach him. You see he’s a caring father, whether he trust me or not. He will not leave here again without me knowing how to contact him, just in case his daughter gets sick.”
“Mr. Davies, can take care of himself. Sierra however, is a child. If I find out you did anything and I do mean anything, to my pumpkin your ass is mine.”
“Hmm, don’t play me old woman. You’re going to find yourself as the first casualty around here.” She walked over to the door and slammed it in Gabby’s face. She looked down at the notebook in her hand then made another call. “I need you to trail someone in Virginia. I want anything and everything you can get on her. I want pictures, I want dirt, and I want it now.”
She hung up the telephone and looked at the notes again. “Okay, Siri Austin—your time is up.”