The Trophy Wife (8 page)

“Come on, baby girl,” Kalil stated as he got out and picked her up.

“Daddy, is Ms. London your girlfriend?” she asked.

“London is Daddy's special friend. I care about her. You're supposed to care about your friends,” he whispered in her ear and kissed her lightly on the cheek. He lifted his seat so that Jada could squeeze into the back.

“Good morning, Ms. London.”

“Morning, Jada.”

Jada stood up in the backseat and leaned over to whisper in London's ear. “My daddy likes you!” she said loudly and giggled.

London smiled and whispered back, “How do you know?”

Jada giggled. “Because he gets this dumb, goofy look on his face every time you are around.”

London laughed out loud and then whispered back, “Well, I like him too.”

When Kalil arrived at Quinn's apartment they all got out and walked inside. For some reason Jada clung to London, holding on to her hand as they walked into the building.

London felt uncomfortable and kept looking around constantly as if she were being followed.

“You good here. This is my hood,” Kalil reassured her, and London nodded her head.

Kalil walked into Quinn's crib and found Quinn lounging on the couch with the remote in his hand.

Quinn's eyes immediately scanned London, and he nodded approvingly, but discreetly.

“Thanks for looking out, fam.” Kalil slapped hands with his man and handed Quinn his keys in one swift motion.

“No doubt,” he replied. He nodded toward London with a smirk on his face.

“Oh yeah, Quinn, this is London. London, this is my cousin, Quinn.”

“Nice to meet you,” London stated as they headed for the door.

Kalil put his hand on the small of her back and led her out of the room, while she held Jada's hand. He looked at his watch. “I've got to get to work.”

“Jada can walk to the school with me,” London said. “Will I see you today?”

“Yeah, ma. I'm with you as soon as I get off work. I can't afford to miss this money, but it's me and you every day after I get off work for the next six days.”

She nodded as he kissed her softly on the lips and then bent down to kiss his daughter, who had a huge smile on her face. “What you smiling for, huh?” he asked as he tickled her. “I love you. Be good, okay?”

“Okay.”

Kalil watched as London and Jada walked off hand in hand. He hated to admit it to himself, but London had captured his heart. The fact that Jada liked her made her even more special to him. He put his hand over his face and shook his head to get his mind right before he headed off to work.

Kalil and London were engrossed in each other for the next six days. The only time they parted was when he went to work. They satisfied each other completely in every way. Kalil was feeling London, and by the end of the week he knew that he would not be able to sleep a night without her next to him. He wanted her to be his.
She deserves to be mine,
he thought to himself as he watched her sleep soundly.

The next day would end their temporary escapade, and she would have to go home to her husband. Kalil lay down next to her and pulled her close.

She woke up out of her sleep and kissed him on the lips.

“I've been thinking, ma,” he began, “I don't want you to go back home. I know we haven't spent a lot of time together, but I'm feeling you.”

She looked him in the eye. “I'm feeling you too, Kalil.”

“I want you to leave him. You don't even have to go back. We'll go get your shit tonight. London, you are my other half.”

London sat up fully, and a tear slipped down her face. She wanted to leave more than anything. She wanted to be with Kalil. He'd made her feel things that she never thought she would feel—safe and loved. But it wasn't realistic for her to leave her husband. He would never let her go. “I can't,” she whispered.

“Why can't you, London? You mean to tell me that this past week ain't meant shit to you?”

“You know it meant the world to me, Kalil. You mean the world to me,” she cried, trying to convince him that her feelings were true.

“Then what's the holdup, London? Why won't you just leave him? If you're so unhappy, let me take care of you.”

“I can't, Kalil. I don't have my own money. You are living with Quinn, baby. I can't come there with you. I'm stuck right now. If I leave him, where will I go?”

Kalil closed his eyes and shook his head in frustration. He knew she was right. He was down bad right now and he had to get his money up before asking her to be with him.

“What do you want me to do?” she cried almost hysterically.

Kalil held her and replied, “Nothing, ma. Don't worry about nothing. I'm gon' take care of everything. I'm going to take care of you. I'm gon' come up with some money, and then me, you, and Jada are going to be out, I promise.” He held her as she cried in his arms. He was determined to come up with the cash to help her out. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to take care of his daughter. They were the two most important people in his life, and it was time for him to get back on his feet.

Kalil and London lay together and enjoyed the little time that they had left together before her husband came home.

London pulled her convertible Lexus SC into the driveway and made her way into her home. She had taken a shower before leaving the hotel, but she wanted to take another one before her husband returned home, not wanting to leave any signs that she'd been with another man.
I have a few hours before Jake is supposed to be home. I need to calm my nerves before he gets here,
she thought as she made her way to her bedroom.

She pulled off her sweatpants and T-shirt and stepped into her shower. Thoughts of Kalil filled her mind as she lathered her body.
Why can't I be with a man like him?
she thought as her own touch sent goose bumps down her spine. A smile spread across her face as she thought about the next time she would see him. He'd written his number down for her so that she would be able to contact him at all times, and she couldn't wait until the next time that she saw him.

She finished her shower and stepped out onto the cold tile floor. She noticed that her purse was lying on the bed with the contents spilling out onto the bedspread, and Kalil's number was in plain view. She quickly grabbed it and taped it underneath one of the dresser drawers.

Just as she placed the drawer back on track, a voice rang out behind her.

“Where have you been?”

London jumped at the sound of her husband's voice and the smile on her face was quickly replaced with a look of fear, as she attempted to discreetly close the drawer.

“Where the fuck have you been, London?” he repeated calmly as he sat back on the bed and awaited her response.

“Jake, you startled me. What are you doing home? I wasn't expecting you until later tonight. I was going to surprise you with dinner,” she lied, attempting to change the subject and avoid answering his question.

“I caught an early flight home. I've been here since this morning. Now I'm going to ask you again—where have you been?” His tone became a bit harsher and he walked up to her and pinned her against the bedroom wall.

London's heart raced as she thought about the beating that was to come. “I just went out for a while. I wanted to find a good restaurant to buy dinner for tonight. I was lonely while you were away. I just stepped out to get some fresh air, that's all.”

Jake snatched the towel from her body and wrapped one hand around her tiny throat as he forcefully shoved his other hand up her vagina.

“Oww! Jake, please . . . you're hurting me,” she whispered as she tried to stand on her tiptoes to ease the pressure from his roaming fingers.

“Who were you with?” he asked as he probed her insides roughly. “I can tell you were with someone. My pussy feels different.”

“Jake, please, I wasn't, I swear to you,” she whispered.

His grip intensified around her neck as he purposely cut off her oxygen supply. He smiled as he watched her turn blue in the face. “You can't breathe, can you?” A demented smile spread across his face.

She clawed at his hand and kicked violently to get free from his hold, but he shoved her head against the wall and released her body, letting her crumple to the floor beneath his feet. She gasped for air gratefully as oxygen began to enter her lungs.

He looked at his hand, which was now covered in London's blood. “Go clean yourself up. I have a business meeting tonight,” he barked as he left the room.

London cried so hard that no sound came out. She felt between her legs as blood leaked from her insides. Her womb hurt so badly that she could barely stand. She cringed in pain, closing her eyes and rocking back and forth.
What was I thinking? He's never going to let me go. He'll kill me before he sees me with another man. I'm trapped here.

She lay on the floor for almost an hour before she finally gathered enough strength to move. She couldn't stop the river of tears that flowed from her eyes as she made her way into the bathroom.

Before she'd met Kalil, she would have never taken the beating from her husband so personally. But now that she knew what it felt like to be loved, she wanted more. She showered again and washed away the dried-up blood from her thighs. She let the water soothe the raw skin around her neck.
Why does he treat me like this?

Just as she was about to turn off the water, the shower curtain opened and her husband stepped in with her. She cringed at the thought of what he might do to her.

“I'm sorry, London,” he stated as he pressed his body against hers. “Why do you make me hurt you like this? I just want you to be faithful.” He bent her over.

When she felt him enter her from behind, she said, “Jake, please don't. I don't think my body can take that right now.”

He ignored her and began to pump in and out of her slowly with his long thickness. London bit down on her bottom lip to stop herself from crying out. It hurt badly from the damage that he'd done earlier, but she didn't want to give him a reason to harm her again, so she took it quietly and prayed for it to be over quickly. Silent tears stained her cheeks as she brought her husband to an orgasm.

When he was finished he smacked her ass lightly and kissed the back of her neck. “Get dressed,” he told her. “We have somewhere to be in an hour.”

London waited for him to leave the room so that she could scrub his scent off her body. She then stepped out and entered her bedroom. A long black Christian Dior dress was placed neatly on the bed with a set of four-karat chandelier diamond earrings and matching tennis bracelet on top. She dried her sore body and stepped into the dress. As she looked in the full-length mirror, even she had to admit that the dress was beautiful. It fit her body as if it had been custom-made just for her.

“I hope you like it,” Jake said as he appeared in the doorway.

London continued to look in the mirror as she applied the jewelry. She'd grown accustomed to him buying her things, but she wanted love. And in her heart she knew that Jake could never give her that. To him, she was just a possession, another pretty thing that he owned. She was nothing more than his trophy wife. He wanted to have her on his arm in public, but in the privacy of their home he mistreated and abused her.

“Well, do you like it?” he asked again.

London couldn't believe he was acting so casually after just choking her out less than two hours ago. His personality was like night and day, and she was beginning to fear him more and more.

“Of course,” she replied with a phony smile. “Thank you.”

She applied a mineral powder to her face and neck to cover up the traces of their fight and then followed her husband out the door and into the limo that was waiting to take them to dinner.

 

 

London was in a daze as she sat at the dinner table. All she could think of was Kalil. She needed him, and she couldn't wait to get back to her dance class so that she could see him again.

“London, your dress is gorgeous. Is it Dior?” Tracy Reynolds asked.

Tracy Reynolds was the wife of one of Jake's potential business partners, and Jake had made it clear to London that she was to befriend her. “Friendly wives produce friendly business,” he'd told her.

“London dear, don't be rude. Answer the question.” Jake gave London a look that only she could interpret.

“I'm sorry, Tracy. I have so much on my mind. I was listening to the music and became lost in my own thoughts.” London smiled graciously.

“Girl, tell me about it. These old love songs will make you think about how lucky we are to have these wonderful men in our lives.”

London just nodded her head in agreement as her thoughts drifted back to Kalil. “Excuse me,” she stated abruptly as she stood from the table.

Jake caught her by the wrist and yanked her indiscreetly, halting her from leaving.

“I'll be right back, honey. I'm just going to the ladies' room,” she said and then walked away.

“I think I may join her,” Tracy stated a minute later. “This will give you men time to discuss what you came here to discuss. Then maybe we can have some real fun and hit that dance floor.”

London lifted her dress and sat on the toilet seat to find that she had blood in her panties. She knew it wasn't her period, which wasn't due for another three weeks. It must've been from the encounter she'd had with Jake earlier. She pulled toilet tissue from the roll and placed it in her panties. She didn't know why she was bleeding, and she hoped that Jake hadn't caused her any serious damage. Cramp-like pains began to shoot through her womb, and she doubled over in pain.
Oh my God, what's wrong with me?

London got up and exited the stall. She hadn't stepped two feet before she was hit with another pain. She gripped the sink tightly as she held her stomach. Her insides ached, and all she really wanted to do was run and be with Kalil. She was definitely not in the mood to entertain Jake's friends.

Jake wanted her to be this beautiful prize for him to display for the world, bringing her to these dinners so that she could complement the deals that he brokered. He knew that she was eye candy and that every man that he flaunted her in front of would secretly wish that she belonged to them. She held her breath as another sharp pain shot through her abdomen.

Tracy opened the bathroom door. “London, are you okay?”

London immediately straightened up and erased the look of pain from her face. “I'm fine,” she replied quickly as she turned on the faucet to wash her hands.

Tracy noticed that London couldn't keep her hands still. “Are you sure? You're shaking.”

“I'm fine.”

“London, you're not fine. What's wrong?”

London didn't answer her. She went into her purse and took her mineral powder out to apply more to her face and neck.

Tracy looked closer as she noticed what London was trying to hide. In the darkened atmosphere of the restaurant she couldn't see it, but in the brightly-lit bathroom she could clearly see the red bruises all over London's neck. She turned London's face toward her. “Who did that to you?”

“Nobody. I just break out in rashes sometimes. It's nothing,” she said quickly. Her words stumbled out nervously, but confidently, as if she had rehearsed what to say if anyone asked her.

“London, that's not a rash, those are handprints. Did Jake do this to you? Does he hit you?” Tracy asked loudly.

“Aghh!” London said as another pain ripped through her petite frame.

“That's it. I'm going to get help.”

“Wait, no! You can't!” London cried.

“No man has the right to hurt you like that,” Tracy whispered.

“I know, I know. Please, Tracy, you can't tell anyone about this. Please promise me that you won't say anything.”

“Okay, London, but if you ever need my help, you call me.”

Tracy pulled out a piece of paper and wrote both her home and cell numbers down on it, and London took the number, knowing she would never use it.

Tracy helped London straighten herself up, and then they both walked back to the dinner table.

“What took you ladies so long?” Jake asked.

“I'm not feeling too well. I've been having these ridiculous migraines all day,” Tracy lied.

London gave her an appreciative look as she took her seat next to Jake.

Tracy said to her husband, “Is it okay if we call it a night, sweetheart? I feel so exhausted.”

“Sure. I think Jake and I just about handled everything that we came here to do. It was very nice to meet you, London.” Mr. Reynolds grabbed London's hand and kissed it sweetly.

“The pleasure was all mine.”

Tracy hugged London as if they were old friends and whispered into her ear, “Don't hesitate to use my number.”

London was grateful for the kind words, but she knew that she would never call her. Her connection was too close to Jake, and he would kill her if he found out that she'd confided in one of his business partner's wives.

Jake and London rode in silence on their way home, until Jake's cell phone rang. He answered it, and London immediately sensed the mood change in the car. She looked over at Jake. His face turned cold, and his eyebrow dropped in anger as he listened to whatever news he was receiving from the anonymous caller.

“Of course, I understand,” he stated in a short tone and abruptly ended the phone call.

“Is everything okay?”

“What is it?”

He yelled, “What did you tell Tracy Reynolds?”

“Nothing,” she replied nervously. “I didn't tell her anything, I swear.”

“You lying bitch!” He reached over her and opened the passenger door and tried to push her out of the car. “Get the fuck out of the car, bitch!”

“No, Jake, stop it! No! Please!” she screamed in fear as she watched the yellow line on the road pass her by at top speed. Her passenger door opened wildly as she tried to reach for it.

“Bitch, get out!” Jake was foaming at the mouth. “You want to tell my friends that I beat you? Huh?”

“No! Jake, I swear! Please . . . I love you! Plea-ease!” she sobbed uncontrollably as she struggled to keep her body inside of the vehicle. Luckily for her the car door slammed shut as Jake swerved to avoid a pothole.

When they reached their home, Jake got out of the car and literally pulled London out of her seat.

“Jake, please listen to me! I didn't!” she yelled, hoping that one of her neighbors would hear her. She knew that there was no one around to help her, since they lived in one of the most secluded suburbs of the city and most of the houses were at least a mile apart.

He pulled her to the back of the house and went into his shed to get a shovel and a flashlight.