Through the Fire (14 page)

“Nor I you. That’s why you, wife, need to

do whatever it is to get better, because I plan on

keeping you on your back this weekend as

well,” he mocked-threatened.

“Not if I get you on yours first,” was her

sassy reply.

“Oh, it’s like that, huh?” he chuckled.

“Yes, it is. I plan on putting a hurting on

you when I see you, husband of mine,” she

teased.

“Hmm… That sounds promising. Hurt

me. Hurt me, baby.”

“Yep, and seeing as how you get all

winded and all, you’d better bring your oxygen

tank. You’re going to need it,” she joked.

“Oxygen—we’ll see who’s going to need

oxygen. You weren’t complaining about me

being winded when you were screaming my

name

at

the

top

of

your

lungs.

Brandon…Brandon. Oh yes, give it to me baby
.

Harder
,” he mimicked.

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Dominique’s face reddened. She did

remember saying those words. Only she was a

little more forceful. “You know a gentleman

wouldn’t repeat that.”

“Why not? I like it when you scream my

name. You do it so lovely,” he chuckled.

“We’ll see who screams whose name the

loudest this weekend,” Dominique challenged.

“I love challenges, wife. I am looking

forward to it.”

Dominique was spared from responding

by a soft knock at her office door.

“Listen, Brandon, someone’s at my door.

I’ll call you when I get in this evening,” she said

quickly.

“Make sure you do. Love you, baby. Talk

to you tonight.”

“Love you, too. Bye,” she said

disconnecting her call.

“Come in,” she called out. Dominique

watched as her legal assistant, Karen, pushed

the door opened and walked into Dominique’s

office carrying a thick file.

“Hey, boss lady,” Karen chirped.

“How’s it going, Karen? And how many

times do I have to remind you that I’m not your

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143

boss? What have you got there?” Dominique

asked.

“It’s the other half of the
criminal
case

you’re working on,” Karen responded stressing

the word criminal. Dominique knew that Karen

hadn’t approved of her taking this case. She

thought all criminal cases were dangerous.

As far as Dominique could tell, the only

danger in this case was her client being found

guilty, going to jail, and Dominique walking out

of that courtroom with egg on her face. There

were so many players involved that it was hard

to determine what was what. How did a civil

case suddenly go criminal? And all fingers

pointed at her client.

“Ugh! This is getting to be ridiculous,”

Dominique groaned. “By the way, thank you for

leaving that message on my phone about the

trial postponement. Something’s up. The judge

wants to see us all in his chambers in the

morning. This should be interesting. I wonder

what’s going on?”

“I have no idea. Have you spoken with

Mr. Johnson again?” Karen asked.

“Yes, before I left. According to Randal

Johnson, everything’s a conspiracy theory.

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Either the dude is paranoid, or there may be

some truth in his craziness.”

“Oh I think there’s a lot of truth in what

he says,” Karen said seriously. “Not about the

conspiracy thing, mind you, but it does seem

odd that every time there’s an inkling of a

breakthrough in this case something happens.

Makes you wonder.”

“I was thinking the same thing. If I didn’t

know the ADA, I would seriously think

something was up. This last incident with the

attorney who was supposed to take this case

being in a mysterious car accident made me

wonder if someone is really out to get Mr.

Johnson. Old boy might be paranoid, but that

doesn’t mean there isn’t some truth in his

paranoia. I’ve never believed he was guilty of

anything but trusting the wrong people. And as

I was reading the file last night, I couldn’t help

but think that there’s something bigger in this

small picture.”

“Where have you been? This case is

nowhere near small, and it’s getting bigger

since you agreed to take over the defense. So if

there’s a bigger picture than the one we’re

already looking at, then we are in way over our

heads with this one.”

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145

Dominique sat up straight in her chair.

“Come to think of it…I think someone is trying

to play us, Karen. I’m a good lawyer—even I can

admit that…but maybe not good enough for

this kind of case. It’s way out of my comfort

zone. I believe someone is counting on me not

being prepared,” Dominique said.

“I’ve thought that from the beginning.

But you’ve been so hell bent on taking on the

world lately that I didn’t say anything. I don’t

know what happened at the wedding but

hallelujah, thank you Jesus, you’re smiling and

thinking more clearly now.” Karen laughed.

“Must be a man…come on, dish the goodies.”

Dominique blushed and quickly lowered

her head, pretending to sift through the file on

her desk. “I don’t know what you’re talking

about,” she murmured.

“Yeah, sure you don’t,” Karen smirked.

“That’s why you came in the office this morning

walking funny and with damn near a turtle

neck on in ninety degree weather. Umm,

hmm.”

Dominique’s

blushed

deepened.

“I…I…Oh, be quiet and let’s get started on this

case.” She was
not
going to get into her

relationship with Brandon. Although she

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trusted Karen with her life, she didn’t feel like

sharing Brandon with anyone yet. She wanted

him to herself before the world intruded on

their happiness. And the world would…in the

form of her father. She loved her father but

after this case was over, to hell with her father

and everyone else who didn’t approve of her

marriage to Brandon. They’d just have to deal

with it.

“Ah, she thinks about her distant lover,”

Dominique heard Karen say.

“Hush up, Karen. Time to get to work.”

Dominique’s blush deepened.

“Okay. I see I’m not going to get anything

more out of you today.” Karen pretended to

sulk. Dominique ignored her. “Just promise

you’ll give me all of the juicy details soon.”

“Promise. Now, we have work to do. Did

you find any case law that I can use?”

Dominique asked.

“Only a little, I plan on doing some more

research. I think I have enough for us to work

with for now so crack the whip, boss.”

Dominique sighed. “Will you please stop

calling me boss?”

“Yes, boss,” Karen sassed.

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147

Dominique could only shake her head

and giggle at Karen’s silliness. “That fresh

mouth is going to get you in trouble one day,

Karen.”

“I sure hope it’s in the form of a man. A

sistah’s been on the decline lately.”

“Date didn’t go well?” Dominique asked

as she started reading the paperwork in front of

her.

“No. Long story for that day when you tell

me about your man.”

“Fair deal.”

Dominique and Karen worked nonstop

until Dominique’s desk phone rang.

“Hello,” Dominique murmured as she

highlighted information she thought pertinent

to her case.

“Dominique, it’s your father.”

No shit
she wanted to say, but then

thought better of it. “Hello, Daddy, what’s up?”

she said, trying to hide her lack of enthusiasm.

“Are you free for lunch?”

“No, sorry, Daddy. I have too much work

to do. Karen and I are working through lunch,”

she said.

“Dinner, then, and I won’t take no for an

answer. Be at the house by 7 p.m.”

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“I don’t think—” Dominique didn’t have a

chance to respond. Her father had hung up and

she was now listening to the dial tone. “He

hung up,” she said furiously to Karen. “How

dare he think that I’ll jump because he says

so?”

“Well, you have been doing just that for a

while now. Don’t get me started on your dad. I

know you love him and all, but his ideas are

just as phony as he is,” Karen said.

Dominique was shocked. Had Karen

always felt that way about her father? If so,

why? “Karen, I never knew you didn’t like my

father.”

Karen clucked her tongue. “I’ve never

liked the way he used your love to manipulate

you into doing his will. He’s a user and a

manipulator with a control streak. And before

you protest, I recognize the signs. Remember

what I’ve told you about my childhood. I say it’s

about time you got some man balls where your

daddy’s concerned. You standing up to him is

long overdue.”

“Wow, I never knew you felt this way.

We’ve been friends since high school and

you’ve never said a word,” Dominique said.

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149

“Yes, I have. You’ve just never paid

attention. You think your father walks on

water, as well as any daughter should. I just

know different. Now, let’s get finished with this

so you can meet Daddy for dinner.” Karen

practically spat the last words at Dominique.

Dominique stared at Karen in shock. She

didn’t know what to say so she bent her head

and continued to go over the case file. She had

read the same paragraph for the fifth time

when she realized none of the words made

sense to her. And did she just see a mention of

her father’s name? She scanned the page again,

but after a few times of not being able to focus

she gave up. Karen’s words had really hit home.

The scales were falling away from her eyes, and

she was starting to see her father in a way that

others always talked about. Dominique didn’t

like feeling this way or thinking ill of her father.

Either way, he was still her father and she loved

him dearly.

* * *

Marcus Shaw faced the two men sitting

across from him in the restaurant and smiled.

“Gentlemen, it’s done. Dominique will meet us

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at my home for dinner. Just be there by seven

o’clock this evening.”

“We’ll be there,” the senior Hobbs said.

“Now, you’re sure Dominique’s going to agree

to a marriage with Felton?”

“I’m sure. Listen, nothing’s getting in the

way of me becoming Governor. You just make

sure Junior gets his gambling under control.

I’m serious, Felton. You’re one of my biggest

contributors. We are two of the richest African

American families in the Atlanta area and a

union between us would be awesome. Besides, I

thought you were all for this marriage between

our children.”

“Oh, I’m just surprised
you’re
still

agreeable. You and I have been friends a long

time…almost like brothers. You know my faults

as well as my son’s, and yet you still want your

daughter to marry my son. Makes one question

your real motives, or maybe you’re just not that

fond of your daughter.” Felton eyed Marcus

suspiciously.

“You have the nerve to question my love

for my daughter, Felton? You, who can’t keep

your son out of gambling casinos nor from

spreading his seed across the hemisphere,”

Marcus thundered. A few of the other diners

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151

looked over at the two men, and Marcus made

an effort to get his temper under control and

plaster a fixed smile on his face.

Felton Sr. smirked. “See, you do know my

son’s faults. But from what I’ve gathered all of

these years, none of your children has brought

you a moment of trouble. In fact, since you had

the attack, you’ve used Dominique to your

advantage.

“Sure, a marriage between our children

will work for both of us. I have the financing

and you have the political connections. I would

love for my son to marry a good woman but at