Inner Circle (21 page)

“I like the sound of that.”

“That muthafucka’ doesn’t have a clue. He thinks after all these years I still only have eyes for him. Dumb ass! Honestly, I can’t stand the touch of him anymore,” Jackie scoffed.

“I wish it could just be me and you, without all the secrets and the lies.”

“Well, it can’t. You and I both know what that would do to our kids and our families. Besides, we agreed, this is the only way,” Jackie insisted.

“I know. It is what it is.”

“And what it is is a great fucking arrangement. So, are you coming over to fuck me, or are you going to sit over there and pout?” Jackie laughed. “My pussy is getting dry.”

“We don’t want that, now do we?”

“No, we don’t,” Jackie giggled. “Wait! I didn’t even ask. Can you get away from the family for about an hour?”

“Yeah, I can get away, but I’ma need more than an hour with you.”

Jackie placed her finger inside her vagina. “Trust me, baby, as wet as I am, this won’t take long at all.”

“Well, let’s not waste time talking. I’m on my way.”

“I can’t wait,” Jackie moaned with anticipation, sliding her finger in and out of her wet pussy. She closed her phone shut and rolled her eyes in delight at the pleasure she was giving herself. Needing more, she reached into her nightstand drawer and pulled out her vibrator.

“Atta boy, Jo Jo! Help mama get started,” she teased as she turned the thick pink vibrator on and adjusted the speed to her favorite level. Jackie licked her lips, spread her legs wide, and arched her back before placing the vibrator inside her. She figured a little foreplay wouldn’t hurt while she waited for her friend to arrive. And since her lover also lived in the plush hills of View Point, lived less than five minutes away, she knew her wait wouldn’t be long at all.

19

Eve
struggled to keep her balance as she maneuvered her way through the side garage door and into the house. True, it would have made more sense to make two trips to the car instead of trying to carry three bags of toys while shouldering her purse, but she was exhausted, and one trip was all she had in her.

“Shit!” she cursed as her purse slipped from her shoulder and ripped one of the bags from her hand. She bent down sideways and managed to retrieve them both, twisting the straps of her Chloe bag and the handles of the Toys ‘R’ Us bags tightly around her wrist.

It had been almost three weeks since Amber and Olivia had moved in, a fact that she was thrilled about, but one that had started to put a real strain on her marriage. So, rather than make any more uncomfortable trips to Amber’s house whenever she or Olivia discovered that they needed something, Eve decided to just take it upon herself to go out and buy whatever was needed, and today, Olivia needed toys. Even though Eve was convinced that Olivia was playing the “guilty parent card to the max,” but rather than suggest that to Amber, she decided that after breakfast she’d be on a mission to buy enough “kid shit” to keep Olivia happy for months.

Bracing the door with her foot, Eve stumbled into the house.
Determined not to stop until she had deposited the goodies in Olivia’s presence, she headed down the hallway. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs to steady herself, then started the precarious ascent, teetering on her five-inch pumps. Once upstairs, Eve headed down the hall to the guest room where she found Amber and Olivia lying on the bed quietly watching television.

Amber looked up to see Eve standing in the doorway winded and slightly disheveled but victoriously holding three bags of toys and her purse.

“What in the world?” Amber chuckled as Eve slowly slid to the floor allowing the contents of her bags to spill onto the floor around her.

Eve removed her shoes and began massaging her feet. “Five-inch pumps and Toys ‘R’ Us are not a good combination,” she declared.

Olivia had been glued to the television yet the sudden commotion got her attention. Seeing the toys, she bounded from the bed and rested herself next to Eve. “Auntie Eve, what is all this?” she shrieked with delight.

“It’s toys and dolls and—” before Eve could complete her sentence Olivia grabbed the fallen Etch A Sketch.

“Is this for me?” Olivia asked eagerly.

“Yes,” Eve said breathlessly. “All of it’s for you.”

Olivia’s eyes were wide with excitement as she began turning the knobs on the sketch board.

“What do you say, Livie?” Amber reminded.

“Thank you, Auntie Evvvvvve.” Olivia almost sang her gratitude as she leaned in and gave Eve a hug.

“You’re welcome, Livie.” Eve struggled to her feet leaving Olivia to explore the assortment of toys on the floor before her. Then she motioned for Amber to follow her, and she turned and headed down the hallway, tossing her shoes into her bedroom as she passed by.

“Livie, you stay here and check out all the nice toys Auntie Eve bought you and Mommy will be right back, okay?” Amber instructed
as she followed Eve down the hall. “You really didn’t have to do that, Eve,” Amber insisted.

“Yes, I did. Trust me, I couldn’t stand to see you make one more unnecessary trip to get Candy Land, her iPad, or another damn American Girl doll,” Eve said heading down the stairs.

“I know it’s been a little ridiculous, but Livie’s having a hard time with this. She’s used to her own room, her own bed, and her own toys,” Amber apologized following close behind.

“No need to apologize. Besides, that’s what godmother-honorary aunties are for, right? To be honest, Chase and I have been talking about starting a family of our own and having Olivia around is definitely good practice for our own child. I only hope that we can produce one as cute as Livie.”

“Oh, please. You and Chase are both good looking, so you should have nothing to worry about.”

Eve led them down the stairs and into the breakfast nook where they took a seat at the table across from each other.

“Have you talked to Sean?” Eve asked.

“Only to talk about Liv. He misses her, and she keeps asking when we can go home.”

“Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve been thinking that maybe you should contact Sa’Myra and tell her you want to negotiate some kind of settlement. I’ve done some digging, and this is not the first time she’s been in this position. From what I’ve gathered, she’s been pregnant a few times before and has a couple of kids. Girl, she’s a cold piece of work, that woman. I heard she even got paid $50,000 in hush money not to tell some producer’s wife that he was cheating.”

“How do you know this stuff?” Amber asked shaking her head in amazement.

“It doesn’t matter how I know. Just consider it an added benefit to being a part of The Wives Association. Besides, the sooner we get that bitch Sa’Myra out of your life, the sooner you get to go home.”

“Goodness!” Amber said in anguish as she held her head in both hands. “How did we get into this mess?”

“Well, I would love to say that if you had listened to me and never hired the bitch in the first place you wouldn’t be in this mess. But the truth is Sa’Myra has a history of positioning herself to take advantage of vulnerable rich people. Unfortunately, you and Sean fit the profile perfectly.”

“And we fell right into her trap,” Amber sighed rubbing her temples.

“Yeah! But I say it’s about time that somebody dealt with her ass accordingly. And that somebody is going to be you. Offer her money, but only if she agrees to have an abortion and not go public with this shit. See if she still threatens to have the baby once you dangle some Benjamins in her face.” Eve leaned back in her seat. “I say call her bluff.”

“But what if she’s not bluffing?”

“Oh, believe me, she’s bluffing, but she won’t back down until she hears the right price.”

“So you think we should just pay her?”

“Trust me; in situations like this, money is almost always the answer. The only question is, what or how much does the bitch want.”

“Sean’s not going to like this.”

“Sean doesn’t even have to know. By the time he figures out what happened, you and Olivia will be back home, and this will all seem like a bad dream.”

“More like a nightmare,” Amber groaned.

“True, but the point I’m trying to make is that it will be over, and that bitch will be out of your lives forever,” Eve stated profoundly.

“You know what? I’m in. Tell me what I have to do.”

“Call her ass and set up a meeting.”

“Cool. I’ll do it first thing tomorrow,” Amber said.

Eve grabbed the phone from the kitchen counter and quickly scribbled something on the pad next to the phone. “Call her now. Here’s her number.”

“Right now?” Amber quizzed.

“Yes, right now.” Eve handed her the phone.

“Okay,” Amber said picking up the piece of paper. She paused a moment, then looked at Eve. “Wait! Where the hell did you get her number from? Or is this just more perks from our esteemed association?”

“Bitch, just dial the damn number and quit with the third degree,” Eve laughed.

Eve watched as Amber slowly dialed the number. She had to admit that it would have been a difficult phone call for her too if the shoe was on the other foot. When Eve suspected ringing, she motioned for Amber to put it on speaker.

“Hello?” Sa’Myra sounded as if she had been asleep.

“Sa’Myra, it’s Amber Jackson.”

“What do you want, Amber?” she snapped.

“I was hoping to talk to you about resolving our current situation.”

“Anything you want to say to me you can say to my lawyer,” Sa’Myra said coldly.

Amber glanced at Eve, not sure how to respond. With a circling of her finger Eve signaled Amber to continue.

“I was hoping that wouldn’t be necessary,” Amber replied, regretting the words the moment they escaped her mouth. She looked at Eve who confirmed her concern by rolling her eyes and shaking her head in disapproval.

“Necessary? Of course it’s necessary. Unless you . . .” Sa’Myra paused. “Again, what do you want, Amber?”

“Okay, no more beating around the bush. How much is it going to cost for you to terminate this pregnancy and leave my family alone?” Amber was becoming angry.

“You’re assuming that I
want
to terminate the pregnancy.”

“No, but I am assuming that there is a price that would convince you to consider it.”

“How much are you offering?”

“I have no idea what the price of fetal blackmail is, but I figured, based on your past experiences, you could come up with a number.” Amber was hoping that this personal dig would not go unnoticed, and by the silence on the other end, she was pretty sure that she had touched a nerve.

Eve smiled and gave Amber a nod and thumbs-up.

Feeling that she had the upper hand, Amber continued. “By your silence, I’m going to assume that a negotiation and settlement are not impossible. So, I’d like to propose a meeting. Meet me, face-to-face, woman-to-woman.”

“Alone!” Sa’Myra demanded. “‘Cause frankly, I don’t trust your ass.”

“Well, I’d have to say the feeling is mutual . . . but fine,” Amber confirmed. “You pick the time and place.”

“Starbucks on Wilshire and Bixel at two o’clock tomorrow,” she said without hesitation.

“Perfect!” Amber said. “Tomorrow, at two then.”

“This better not be a setup either,” Sa’Myra snapped. “And bring your checkbook,” she shouted before hanging up.

Eve and Amber stared at the phone, and then looked up at each other.

“Did that bitch just hang up on me?” Amber asked.

“Yep,” Eve laughed. “That’s an old-school power move,” she chuckled. “I gotta hand it to her, though, she’s slick with her shit. But hell, it’s not like you invited her to tea.”

“I know, but she didn’t have to hang up in my face,” Amber said shaking her head. “The bitch has balls!”

“True, but you held your own. I was checking you out. You strapped on a pair yourself. They may have been tiny little balls, but hell, at least you had a pair,” Eve laughed.

“Whatever!” Amber said laughing aloud.

“So, two o’clock tomorrow it is. You okay going by yourself?” Eve asked slapping the table.

“Honestly, I think I’ll be okay. It’s not like I’m scared or anything.”

“Good, but just in case, take a box cutter,” Eve suggested making a cutting gesture. “You can slice and dice that bitch if she gets out of line,” she joked. “But real talk, she can forget about that checkbook shit. You let her know that whatever you two decide will be put in writing, and she won’t get a damn dime until you have proof that she’s actually gotten the abortion.”

“You think it will be that simple?” Amber asked.

“We’ll find out soon enough. Once we know what the bitch wants, I’ll get the papers drawn up.”

Amber took a deep breath. “Thanks, Eve.”

“No need for thanks. I’m sure you’d do the same for me.”

“I wouldn’t have to,” Amber laughed. “We know you woulda already handled the situation.”

“What you mean is that it would have never happened. I told you not to hire that bitch. Next time you’ll listen.”

“There won’t be a next time. My next chef will look like Emeril,” she managed a laughed.

“After this, you shouldn’t want another chef even if he looks like Colonel Sanders! Hell, I think now is as good a time as any to learn to cook.”