Amy was waiting outside of my apartment when I drove into the parking lot. In my excitement after speaking to Troy, I had driven the Jaguar instead of returning to pick up the Lexus. She watched the car as I drove up, and after seeing me exit the vehicle, her eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets.
“Oh no you didn’t! Gurl, whose car are you using now? And don’t tell me it’s yours, because it wasn’t at your house the other night,” Amy protested.
Watching her antics, full of accusations, caused me to double over with laughter. She just stared at me, waiting for an explanation. I needed a change of clothing and be on my way.
“Spill it ho; you win the lottery or something?”
I chose not to respond to her questioning and filled her in on being with Troy. My attempt in changing the subject worked against Amy’s natural curiosity for wanting to know every minute detail. When I informed her about the heart charm, which he kept with him at all times, she asked where the pendant had come from.
“I guess the reason I didn’t remember giving the Golden heart to him was because I found it only a few moments before I ran into him. It was real gold with diamonds on it and I’m sure it was valuable. I surrendered its worth to him because I didn’t place any value on myself. Maybe giving him what I found was an omen of good things to come back to me. You know, like Karma.”
Amy looked at me, raising one eyebrow. I imagine I sounded all philosophical, but whenever I thought about Troy, common logic always became erratic. I don’t know if he possessed magical powers or was able to cast voodoo on innocent females; all I know was there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him. That’s right, I said nothing! Whatever unimaginable thought flashed through anyone’s brain, the answer would remain the same. If he told me to, I WOULD!
With my little bag packed, I prepared to leave. Amy asked if she could tag along. After swearing her to secrecy, we hopped in the Jaguar. If she was in awe of my small house, then she was really in for a shock once she saw the large one. While in route I filled her in on Nikki and the way she fawned over Troy.
“Well gurl, what did you expect? In her eyes, you are the enemy on the prowl. Troy belongs to her and she wants to keep it that way.”
“But I love him,” I said, and then mentally put myself in Nikki’s shoes. ”I know you’re right, but he is going to be mine, and soon! I’ve just got to figure out a way to ease her out of the picture.”
We gossiped until I pulled up to the private security station in front of Briarwood Estates and presented the guard with my owner’s card. He thanked me for the inconvenience and opened the gates. Taking a peek at Amy, she resembled a kindergartner out on a field trip. When I pulled up to the small mansion, she was mesmerized. It wasn’t until I parked in the four car garage she discovered she could communicate again.
“Ro, where are we?”
Why skirt the truth? I simply answered her question without an explanation.
“The Jag and the house belong to me,” I confessed. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Once I showed off the home, I changed back into pre-ball Cinderella. Going to the ball was nice yet facing reality seemed the best way of landing the prince. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a glass slipper or fairy godmother to weave a magic spell. That would have been awesome, but real-life situations rarely emulate fairytales.
“Ro, if the houses and cars belong to you, then why do you live in the hood?”
“Amy, it’s a long story. Legally they’re mine, yet only a loan.”
I realized by her confused expression, she didn’t quite understand; however, I couldn’t and wouldn’t explain any further. I had a more pressing problem, like how was I going to become Troy’s wife for life with Nikki in the way.
Troy used every legal maneuver possible to either exclude the state’s evidence, or have the trial moved out of Atlanta, due to the enormous amount of press coverage the case attracted. Not one of his motions was granted. Judge Frank’s failure to rule on the videotape becoming inadmissible wasn’t a victory for Troy, even though he issued the prosecutor a stern warning about the leaked video. Troy felt the damage to his client’s chance of receiving a fair trial in Atlanta was nil, but the judge saw it otherwise in denying a change of venue.
Troy met several times with more experienced attorneys at Watts and Watts, becoming aware he alone believed in his client’s innocence. With all the facts of the case against Thomas laid out on the conference table, paired against what Troy had to defend the man with, it was clearly an uphill battle. A kidnapping was ruled out since no demands or ransom note ever materialized. Out the door flew the possibility of Mila leaving for another man, since all her clothes and jewelry Thomas bought her over the years were still undisturbed in their home. The FBI, state, and local police conducting searches for both her body and the van had produced zilch. Neither her credit cards, nor her bank accounts were used to obtain money or purchases since her disappearance. Considering every possibility for her whereabouts, everyone always came to the same dire conclusion. Thomas Bertran killed his wife and disposed of her body. With the state having a video of Thomas exiting the home with his wife’s limp body, the last image anyone ever saw of Mila, Troy faced a trial his associates saw him losing.
Two weeks prior to the murder trial’s starting date, Troy met with the state of Georgia’s attorney general, Glenn Nobel. He knew why the meeting was scheduled and anticipated the conference. Nobel, as expected, offered him a plea deal in order to save the courts money and time, and to avoid any embarrassment Troy might face in losing the case at trial. The offer was also without surprise: life in prison for Thomas. Troy had already discussed the probable plea-bargain with Thomas, so on behalf of his client, the offer was passed on, leaving Troy with no option other than to dig in and prepare to fight. The young attorney realized at the end of the trial, his client might live out several years on death row before exhausting his appeals, unless he could somehow sway the jury of Thomas’s…, what? Even with Troy’s analytical way of thinking, Thomas’s recall of what transpired was a leaky bucket, one with big holes in the bottom. He realized it, and so did Nobel.
Visiting Thomas after his meeting with the attorney general, he again asked his client to consider the offer. Thomas, if anything, remained consistent, sticking to his claim of not knowing what happened to Mila. A change in his client’s demeanor was clearly evident. Thomas spoke with more conviction in his voice. Gone was his depression, tears, and self-pity, replaced by anger, focus, and desire. Yet, with all his newfound fire, Troy still only possessed an invisible shield to defend Thomas against Nobel’s very powerful arsenal of weapons to be used against him at trial. A jail’s guard informed Troy that visitation time was over, with Thomas insisting everything was going to be okay.
It’s a good thing Thomas didn’t tell Troy what sign had instigated his new found beliefs, or his lawyer might have thought him psychotic. While Thomas prayed, he glanced through the small bars outside the window of his cell and saw the letters: M – I – L, reflecting on the side of one of the other buildings. To Thomas, that was his sign. In reality, the site was visible every night, being simply the shadow of some of the letters reflecting off the Miller DeKalb county jail’s iron fence. Troy left the jail thinking his client had entered the psychological realm of denial; that, or he’d surely lost touch with reality.
I’ve always found it perplexing how women can watch each other undress, while admiring the physical attributes of their anatomy without obtaining a negative label, whereas men can’t unless they’re called a homo. Why? What’s wrong with a guy complimenting another male’s sculptured physique? Wish I could answer that one, but…, meanwhile Amy observed every exposed area of skin I revealed, when I changed from my suit to a pair of pink Daisy Dukes and matching shirt. She sported a similar outfit, so we were almost dressed like twins. Too bad men can’t be open about their opinions freely, the way women can. But hey, that’s their problem!
Only because she didn’t miss seeing any of my disrobing, did Amy comment about how soaked my panty liner was. I joked, saying if I hadn’t worn it, I’d have left an embarrassing puddle in the offices of Watts and Watts. We both laughed, but I sensed she wanted to ask me something. After yakking for several minutes, she finally spit it out, asking if I had anyone else to hook her up with. I knew what she meant, yet pretended I didn’t. I wanted her to state what she really wanted. Just as I thought she would do when I remained silent, she did.
“I really had a wonderful birthday party with Mr. Grisby; do you think we could have another party?” she asked, tracing her fingers around her nipples.
“What did you have in mind?”
“You know something safe, like the last time. I would love to experience a few more encounters before Chris and me get serious. Because once I marry Chris, I’m going to stay true,” she insisted.
“What about another round with Mr. Grisby?” I asked, sure of receiving a yes. Then I threw her a curve. “Amy, I know you might not like him very much, but Officer Davis knows how to work it too. I’m sure I could arrange a little threesome.”
“But –m, okay I guess,” she replied, with a question following before I could respond. “Ro, who’s the best at throwing that dick, Mr. Grisby or Officer Davis?”
“There’s no such thing as better. All men are different, just like us. Mr. Grisby can stretch you wide and wear you out, whereas Stephen makes love, with oral and vaginal pleasures while he touches every erogenous zone from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head. Now, if you’d prefer more oral stimulation, there is always Sheldon.”
“Is there anybody else?”
“A few, but remember you wanted safe. I can’t vouch for anyone else, “I advised. “I have a question for you. Do you think Chris is going to stay true to you once he puts a ring on your finger?”
“No doubt about it! I’ve got him wrapped around my finger.”
She sounded so sure of herself. If I didn’t know the guy she was speaking about, I might have believed her.
“Are you sure about that?”
“I know it! I’ve got him pussy whipped,” she said patting her crotch.
I didn’t want to snuff out her confidence; however, Amy needed a serious wake-up call. Chris wasn’t the angel she saw him as, unless he had a twin brother named Chris. The thought which flashed through my mind was to set up a rendezvous with Chris and me, letting her see just how true he actually wasn’t. I ditched the idea, deciding instead to show her the video of Chris and Darnisha swapping spit while practicing vertical bedroom maneuvers pressed against Hot Boi’s car. I also let her know about him trying to invite himself into a helping of me, over a tub of ice cream. Surprisingly, she took it well.
After studying the video a few times, she started to get smart. Somewhere inside myself, I was cheering. Then she made a confession that blew me away. She knew about Chris hitting on me.
“What?”
“How can I say this without saying it?”
“Say what?”
“Well, I told Chris about you and me. I think I may have painted the wrong picture of you.”
“And what picture is that?”
“See, what had happened was Hot Boi was wondering where you were when you didn’t spend the night at your apartment, and Chris and him were going to follow you to see what you were really up to. That’s when I told Chris about us and how sensual you were. I also kind of mentioned if we ever did a ménage a trois, you’d be the perfect candidate. He told me how totally hot you were that night, and also how you managed to slip away. I’m sorry Ro, please forgive me.”
“We’re cool; nonetheless, I’ve thought about it too, but Chris and Joe are too close and problems would surely arise if Joe ever found out. What about the girl in the video with Chris: Darnisha?”
I’m gonna beat that bitch’s ass!” she stated, with tears forming in her eyes. “And to think I actually thought I had a lock on Chris.”
“You do Amy, but you’ve got to realize until there is a ring on your finger, neither of you are obligated to each other. Those vows mean something, that’s why I don’t get riled when I know Troy dates other women. I’m a jealous bitch too, but once he puts that ring on my finger, he’s mine. Remember this, a man might drink a beer at several bars, but at the end of the night, he’s coming home. Amy, you’re Chris’s home. Sure, he might give a little dick away, so what? No matter how much or how long he uses that thang, whenever he gets home it’s still there. It’s the same with what you’ve got between your legs. You can screw each and every day for as long as you want, but when you get home, you’ve still got that hotbox between your legs,” I informed, to a confused expression. “What I’m trying to say is if you breakup with your man because a chick wants to him give him some sex, who really wins?”
“She – she does,” she answered, after careful thinking.
“Right, she does. So what, she gave him some. All she really got for her efforts was a wet cat; you still have the man, right?”
“Yeah, but…”
It was at that moment that I think the light in her brain flicked on. “Hallelujah!” That’s what’s wrong with most folks, they move on too quick. Once I get Troy, he’s mine for life or until I decided it’s over. It would be my choice, not his. What if he decided to move on? That’s not going to happen! If Troy wanted to have sex with Mother Teresa, so be it. I only hope he’d wipe away the cobwebs off his thang before he came home. If he didn’t, I’d do it for him then give him the best sex he ever experienced. Understand this; no one wants to hear bitching. If your mate does find someone he desires more than you, show him what someone else might get if his cheating ways continue. If that occurred, the divorce rate in the world would drop overnight. Hell; for the fun of it, invite other person over; sexual experimentation has its rewards. Ladies, your man might not want you to have another guy come over, and many hubbies might think twice about their other woman coming by, due to the realization she might be visiting for you instead of him. Keep your confidence up through it all, because jealousy is weakness, and weakness leads to pain. And yes, pain is a serious problem!
Where was I? Oh yeah, Amy realized she didn’t have to feel guilt about enjoying Mr. Grisby’s birthday gift to her, nor any more presents she might receive in the future. That included any she decided to open after they were wed.
“If I could arrange it, how would you like to get even with Darnisha?”
“What do you have in mind; knocking her teeth down her throat?”
“Better, how about setting her up with Mr. Grisby and making sure Alvin was present, with her understanding after-the-fact that you invited him?”
“Ro, I’m glad we’re tight, because you’re one evil ass bitch.”
I saw no need to answer her remark, so I just took a bow.