If You Don't Know Me (18 page)

“I
need to do a two million dollar transaction.”

En route from Nyle's house to JPMorgan, I called my investment banker. She responded, “Let me guess, an all-cash property acquisition.”

She was right but my business wasn't hers. “Make the cashier's check payable to Roosevelt DuBois.”

“I stand corrected,” she said. “Unless you're purchasing his place.”

Her comments were distracting. “Make the cashier's check payable to Nyle Carter. I'll see you in a few,” I said ending the call.

Normally, I'd chat a few minutes with her. Ask how her family was doing. I didn't have time for frivolous chatter. I'd accomplished a lot already today. I hoped Granville hadn't spent any of the money I'd given him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had. Nyle would get his check as promised. With a few more stops to make after the bank, I decided to stop at Avalon for a jalapeno Swiss cheeseburger, fries, and a strawberry shake.

Sitting at the counter, I ordered lunch, then I called Numbiya.

“Hey, queen. Where are you?”

“Grabbing a bite at Avalon in River Oaks,” I replied scanning through my e-mails.

“I could really enjoy a juicy bleu cheese bacon burger. Things are slow today. I can be there in fifteen minutes.”

Hearing Numbiya's voice lightened my spirit. I could use her company. Waiting for my girlfriend meant I'd be here for at least an hour. I'd make it to the bank in time to get the check but I wasn't sure I'd be on time for my other appointments.

“Let's do dinner,” I said while responding to a text message.

“Okay.” The smile in her voice made me smile until she said, “Roosevelt's divorce isn't final.”

My food arrived but I didn't have an appetite. “I'll see you tonight. Talk with you then. Bye.” Ending the call, I placed twenty dollars on the counter and left.

Contemplating whether to follow through with my plans, I sat in my car. State Representative Harold V. Dutton Jr. parked his black Cadillac Escalade next to my Bentley.

I lowered my window. “Thanks for bills on education, inmates' right to vote, and blocking the abortion law.”

“My pleasure.” His voice was deep and sultry. I'd heard him speak on several occasions. He'd always spoken the same as I'd heard him on television. “That's why I'm in office. To serve the community,” he said before heading into Avalon.

He was also an attorney. Practicing. I wondered if anything bothered him or as a politician, everything was rationalized. Seeing him was no accident. I had no idea why Roosevelt's divorce wasn't final but my decision to continue my journey was clear.

The bank was abnormally crowded. Thanksgiving. Black Friday. Both were a few days away. I'd imagined shoppers were preparing to spend money they didn't have. The line for business owners was longer than usual.

I waved to the president of the bank. She motioned for me to come to her.

“Let's go into my office?”

A teller buzzed us into a secured area. We took a private elevator to the fifteenth floor. Entered another secured area before arriving at her office.

“You look beautiful. Going anywhere special?” she asked sitting behind her desk. “Have a seat.”

“How's your family?” I sat across from her.

I'd rather spend a few extra minutes here than to have sat eating a burger while chatting with my girlfriend. I made a mental note to make reservations for Numbiya and me tonight. Definitely not at Corner Table. The things I'd done with Roosevelt in the Lexington Room, fluttered my mind with orgasmic memories.

“What was that?” my banker asked.

What was what?
If she'd mentioned anything about her husband and kids, I hadn't heard a word.

“Oh, nothing.” I couldn't get Roosevelt out of my heart or my head. “You have the check?” I asked. Not that I needed to give her an explanation, but I told her, “It is for a real estate transaction.”

“A lot of cash transactions are happening here in Houston. You'd think a law was about to pass allowing homeowners to drill on their land for oil,” she said handing me an envelope.

I opened it. “Pay to the order of: Nyle Carter.” Everything was correct. “I'm going to have this person come by and see you tomorrow. He'll give you the cashier's check and have it reissued from his account to Roosevelt DuBois.”

For a moment, she frowned, then replied, “Sure thing.”

I put the check in my purse. The time was one o'clock. I had a few more stops to make. Getting into my car, I dropped the check off to Nyle, and explained to him what he had to do.

My next location was a familiar one. Entering the leasing office, I met with the manager. “I need to rent a two-bedroom unit for three months.”

“We only have two units. We don't do longterm leases. And we only lease a few days at a time to homeowners for their family and guests. Have you tried—”

“I'm Sindy Singleton, daughter of Charles Singleton. He's one of the partners who own the company that manages and operates this building. I don't need to try. You do. Charge it to my card.” I slid my black card across the desk. If the unit was for me, I'd request all new furniture. But it wasn't.

She made a few calls. I waited until she printed the agreement. I read it, signed, got the keys, and was en route to my next stop.

“P
ussy or food, dude? Whatever you want. I got you.”

Beaux parked my truck in front of The Breakfast Klub. I was so hungry I could eat both at the same time. When a man's nuts were hanging low, he couldn't think straight. I wanted to chow down on every pussy we passed on the freeway, the street, and the ones in the sky. I had enough money to join the mile high club. Wonder how much that cost. Never been on a plane.

“What would you like?” the cashier asked. “Just so you'll know, we close in an hour.”

Wasn't going to take us that long to finish our food. Give me a stack of pancakes, pussies, warm maple syrup was what I wanted to say. I was gonna eat asshole and all. “Yum. Yum, look at the ass on that,” I said.

Beaux slapped the back of my head. “Shut up and order.”

I frowned. That was kinda like when Mama used to say, “Shut up and be quiet.”

“Excuse me,” the cashier said placing her hand on her hip. She rolled her eyes.

What was up with her attitude? She thought I was hitting on her? I was talking about the woman by the beverages refilling her glass with tea. She was beautiful. Instantly I got hard wood. I adjusted myself.

“Give me the tallest rack of hotcakes you have and a side of crispy catfish and one of them iced teas. It's gotta be sweet since she got some. Maybe I'll ask her to stick her finger in me. I mean, mine. What you want?” I asked my brother.

Shaking his head, Beaux said, “Don't mind him.”

The cashier commented, “Just got out, huh?”

Beaux laughed. I didn't see a damn thing funny.

“I'll have catfish, greens, yams, and mac and cheese and I'll have an iced tea too.”

She tapped on a few keys. I pulled a hundred out my pocket. She shook her head.

I asked this broad, “What now?”

“We don't take hundreds and even if we did, I'm not touching your money.” She looked at Beaux, then said, “It's twenty-seven fifty-two.”

Bro handed her thirty. “Keep the change.”

She handed us two large brown plastic cups. I rolled my eyes at her, then whispered, “The money you've been handling all day is dirtier than my dick.” I started to give my cup back to her and ask someone else to wash their hands then give me one.

Beaux nudged me in my back. “Dude. Go on before you get us kicked out.”

I sat across from my brother. We'd chosen a table at the window to keep an eye on my Super Duty. The suitcase of money was inside. I know Sindy had told me not to spend any of it until she called but I didn't see harm in padding my pocket with two g's. Technically, since old girl rejected my C-note, I hadn't spent a dime.

Beaux had enough cash to pay for the few things I needed. After we left here I had to stop at Walgreen's up the street and get toothpaste and a toothbrush. My old one had sat for a month. Wasn't putting either in my mouth.

I winked at the woman with the giraffe legs and stallion booty. She was eating alone.
Ride me, cowgirl!
“I want her, bro.”

“Leave that lady alone. When we going to visit Mama's grave? We still have to take care of her business.”

Aunt Wilma had probably emptied Mama's house by now. Any policy with our name on it was still there only because she couldn't cash it in. Mama's house was paid for. It wasn't going anywhere. Neither Beaux nor I wanted to live in it. Putting flowers on Mama's grave was more for us than for her. My mama lived in my mind, not some cemetery.

“We can go after Thanksgiving.”

“When?” he asked.

Beaux was getting on my nerves. I noticed, “She ain't got no ring on her fingers. I could buy her one.”

“Dude, if you just got to get it out, call Precious if you want to get laid. She's drama free and she still loves you.”

How he knew that? “I don't want Precious anymore. I want her,” I said pointing.

Precious was a nice girl. She was freaky and fun. The way she rode me was unbelievable but I wanted new pussy. I imagined sliding my salami between that girl right there's butt cheeks and cumming on her back. Didn't need another kid. Didn't want to use a condom.

What if old dude gave me something and I give it to her?

A waiter placed our food in front of us. I picked up my glass and headed to the self-serve beverage station. I filled it with ice then added sweetened tea. Beaux's sense of urgency to quench his thirst wasn't the same as mine. He'd never been locked up.

Pretending I was adding sugar to my drink, I stared at her. She was pretty. Dark skin, shiny legs. I wondered if she had big nipples. Would she let me bite them? I felt like howling like a dog. I should've gone back to my table. My cowboy boots traveled in her direction.

“Hi,” I said inviting myself to a seat.

“Hello,” was all she said.

“Why you sound sad? Where your man at?”

“Every woman isn't interested in having a man,” she said. “Besides, men don't know what they want.”

She hadn't answered my questions. Women were like that too. Didn't want to debate her. I wanted to eat her up.

“You into girls?”

“Maybe I should be.”

Wow, some dude must've shattered her heart. “I can't stay.” I pulled the bankroll out of my pocket, placed it on the table, then took out my cell phone. “Can I have your number?”

She picked up my stash, peeled off two hundreds, put them in her purse, then laid the rest of my cash back in front of me.

Now that I was rich, I didn't care about her taking a couple of bills. “Well?”

Her smile was still a little sad but friendlier. She said, “My name is Mahogany.”

My dick started creeping down my thigh. I felt it widening. In a minute I'd have hard wood.

“You ready?” she asked looking between my legs. “Yeah, you're ready. My number is seven, seven, three, five . . .”

“Where you from?” I asked staring at her lips.

“Port Arthur, originally. Been to New Orleans, Lake Charles, made my way to Houston. Might move to LA,” she said, sipping her drink.

“Really!” I gulped down my tea. “You sure move around a lot. I'm from Port Arthur too. And here. That's it. Why I ain't never seen you in PA? I would've remembered a face as pretty as yours.”

Mahogany smiled. “Yeah, I would've remembered you too,” she said. “I'ma order something to eat before they close. You want me to refresh your tea first?”

“Sure.” What I really wanted was watch her walk away, then back. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” she said sitting next to me.

“Bro, we gotta go!” Beaux yelled.

“I'll call you in an hour, Mahogany.” I left the other eighteen hundred where she'd put it, stood, and went back to the beverage stand. Didn't need any more sweetness from the tea. I got two to-go containers.

“You have to learn the hard way,” Beaux said. “Why you give that woman money?”

Duh. Because I could. I didn't give a fuck what my brother thought at this moment. I handed him his container, then packed up my pancakes and catfish.

“Dude, her name is Mahogany and my dick is singing the blues. Take me home. Now so I can jack off.”

“W
here in hell were you?”

He should've been home. I'd waited an hour outside his apartment. Only an idiot would drive around with over a million dollars in his car. Obviously his brother wasn't that smart either.

Granville's eyes shifted to the side. “You didn't tell me to—”

Smack!
I hit his jaw. “Where's the money?”

He tightened his mouth like a little kid who was guilty. “What you so mad about?”

Every damn thing at the moment, especially not knowing why Roosevelt's divorce wasn't finalized today. I had to complete my tasks before dinner with Numbiya.

“You spent the money after I told you not to?”

“Could you define spent?” he said hunching his shoulders. “It's mine, right?”

“Go upstairs, pack a bag, and get back down here fast as you can.”

Beaux asked, “Why? Why are you trying to rule my brother's life? He's done, right? The money is his, right? And what's up with this moving truck.”

“I don't have time to answer any of his questions.” I told Granville. “If you don't want to go back to jail, do what I said and hurry up before I take my father's money and leave.”

I instructed the movers, “Go upstairs, start packing everything in his apartment. When you're done, take it to the storage unit. He might need it back later.”

“You setting my brother up.” Beaux raced upstairs to his brother's second-floor apartment. Good. I had a phone call to make. I dialed Helen.

“Where are you?” she answered.

“We'll be on our way in two hours top.”

“The place closes at five, dear.”

I'd made the appointment. Of course I knew that. Plus, I had other reasons to move fast if I didn't want to ruin my plans. Beaux and Granville were heading back toward me. Quickly, I told Helen, “I've got to go. Bye.”

Granville had a suitcase. “Give me the keys to your place. The movers will store your things. You're going into witness protection,” I lied.

Only a fool would smile after hearing that. He was the most ignorant man I knew but he wasn't stupid. I'd seen him represent himself in court.

“But I didn't witness anything.”

“I'm going to get you out of this hit man situation with my father. We don't have time for this. Get in my car. Beaux, follow me.”

A woman had to take charge of situations early and fast. By the time Granville figured out what was happening, I'd be done. “I'm going to assist you with setting up an account in your name. You can't keep that kind of money on your person.”

He frowned.

On the drive, I told him, “If you do everything I tell you, by Christmas you'll be the happiest man in the world.”

“Yes, dear.” He squirmed in his seat. He rubbed his bald head with both hands. His brows stretched high. “You're going to marry me?”

“Not even if I were dead.”

He frowned again. “Then why am I supposed to be happy and who am I hiding from?”

“You'll see.” I turned into Helen's driveway then called her.

She answered, “I see you're here. We're on our way out.”

A last-minute change of plans was necessary. “Give me thirty minutes leeway. We should be done and gone by the time you arrive. He doesn't know.” I texted my next comment: Let's keep it that way. If he sees the baby, he is going to freak out.

“Know what?” Granville asked.

Helen texted: Who's in the car behind you?

I typed: His brother. See you there. Bye then drove away.

“What were you doing that took you so long to get home?” I asked him.

His eyes widened. “You just reminded me.” He pulled his cell from his pocket. “Hello, Mahogany.” He paused then continued, “I'm sorry I'm late calling you. I'll call you back tonight. Good-bye, dear.”

Okay. I shouldn't take his saying “dear” personally. I didn't ask who Mahogany was. I didn't care. I parked in the lot outside a downtown building. Beaux parked in the space beside me.

“Don't sit there. Get out.”

“Where we going?”

I waved Beaux in my direction. “I feel responsible for what happened to Granville at my father's house. I brought you here for a blood test to make sure you're not infected,” I lied.

“You did this for me?”

“Of course.” I wanted to shake my head the way he'd done.

Granville looked to his brother.

“This is a good thing. Is it confidential?” Beaux asked.

Helen would be here soon. I started walking. “Of course it is.”

“Well, bro. If Mahogany is your girl, take this test for her.”

Entering my doctor's office, I had to shake my head this time.
Take the test for her? Really?

“Good to see you, Sindy,” he greeted. “Which one needs testing?”

Granville volunteered, “I do.”

“You're doing the smart thing, young man,” my doctor told him. “I'm going to do a swab and she's”—he pointed at his assistant—“the phlebotomist is going to draw your blood for your test.”

“Why both?” Granville asked rolling up his sleeve.

Quickly she tightened a rubber strap around his bicep, inserted the needle, filled three tubes, placed the cotton ball over the needle, removed the needle, and released the band. “You're all done.”

“This way we'll make sure. Besides, the swab will give you faster results. Sindy, I'll text you.”

Having watched Granville's blood flow into each tube, I'd already paid to make sure the results showed Madison's baby was for Granville. And I'd also paid for the real results. Hopefully, the two would match. Even if Roosevelt was the father, he shouldn't have to be held hostage to a woman like Madison.

Soon as the doctor was done, we left the office. “Granville you're riding with me. We have one more stop. Beaux, you can follow us if you'd like.”

“Yeah, bro. I'ma need a ride back—” Granville stopped midsentence. “Follow us for sure.”

By the time we'd get to his new residence, Helen should've been at my doctor's office with Zach to complete the paternity test. I'd come up with a brilliant reason why I'd tell Roosevelt the first test was false.

Granville was quiet for a while, then asked, “When will I get my results?”

A text message registered on my cell. It was Helen. She'd arrived with Zach.

“Oh, here it is. You're fine. Your results are negative.”

“Let me see,” he said reaching for my cell.

I pulled away. “It's confidential.”

He frowned. “What about the blood test?”

“It'll be the same. Don't worry,” I said.

I cruised into the driveway, parked in a Future Homeowner space, and motioned for Beaux to park beside me.

“This is where Chicago lives,” Granville shouted. “Did you bring me here to kill him? Is a gun somewhere in that suitcase? I'm not doing it. I changed my mind. I'm not going back to jail. I—”

“Stop it!” I didn't mean to yell at him but what was wrong with this man? “You're not going to kill anyone. You're going to do everything I tell you starting with do not communicate with my father under any circumstances. He doesn't know where you are. Remember you're under witness protection. Be quiet and come with me.”

We entered The Royalton. I introduced Granville and Beaux to the concierge on duty as the new residents in the rental unit.

“Welcome. If there's anything I can do to be of assistance, don't hesitate.” He pressed a button and the double glass doors parted.

Granville laughed like a kid.

Something in his brain was seriously off balance. I gave them a quick tour of the wine cellar and tasting room, the mailroom, the theater, pool table, and entertainment room. After showing them the gym, outdoor patio, swimming pool, and Jacuzzi, we rode the elevator to the fifth floor. I handed him the key.

“This is your place until January thirty-first. Then you'll have to move out.”

Beaux laughed. “Better not get rid of your things, bro.”

When the door opened, Beaux wasn't laughing. His mouth hung open.

Granville said, “Wow!”

“Remember what I told you, Granville.” He probably hadn't heard a word after he'd stepped inside but that was okay. I was not crossing that threshold. “I'll take care of setting up your account later.”

My work for today was done. Now I had to get ready for dinner with Numbiya. All of my chess pieces would be in place before Madison was released from the hospital. It wouldn't matter which direction she'd move. I'd already won.

Checkmate, bitch!