Jason followed suit giving me one last hug before thanking me. “Thank you, C’for. I really do appreciate your hospitality. I have a hotel room for the rest of the week, so I’ll give you time to think on it some more. With you being pregnant, I want you comfortable before I even move in. I’ll leave my new number with your assistant and just hit me when it’s okay.”
“I will. See you later, Jay.”
He stepped out, and I turned to the tower of files and outdated mail. I knew a headache was to come just from the way all three piles slanted over. Releasing a deep sigh, I rounded my desk and took a seat. I truly didn’t know where to start. I feared the second I opened up one file a domino effect would start of chaos.
The first file I gave my attention to was surprisingly not that demanding. It was a simple signature requested. I learned the further I got down in that stack was a pile of that alone. Toneshia’s signature was there already and mine was left to seal deals. I went through them without breaking a sweat.
It was the pile of mail that caused my anxiety to spike. A lot of it was in fact outdated. However, a lot of it still required my attention. For instance, the mail I couldn’t seem to stop trembling from was from the courthouse. It was a victim/witness notification letter reminding me that the father of my child was there because of me.
Lately, anytime I thought about Black, I cried. I didn’t know how to express my emotions for him any other way. I’d shut myself out from the world forgetting that this day was coming. I ripped the envelope open and scanned it quickly looking for a date. My heart damn near beat out my chest when I realized it was two days away. This entire time I thought I successfully ran away from it.
“Shit. Shit. Shit!” I gritted slamming the letter down on the desk. I was angry with myself for taking it as far as I did, especially after enjoying him the way that I did.
I felt like I was suffocating the way every memory from those three days swarmed me. The way he held me, the way he helped me, the way he spoke to me, it was his way of showing some form of care and consideration. My son was created from that and now I had to face him in court and tell those folk that he indeed held me against my will, but I truly didn’t want to be released.I fell for him and that would have to be explained sooner than later.
“Knock, knock. So, Ja… Cheyonne? Oh God. Breathe. Breathe!” Deena screamed running over to me.
She pulled me to my feet and rushed me over to the window. She quickly cracked it, and the cool breeze hit me in the face. I gasped taking in as much air as I could. Why was this one thing drowning me the way it was? I just wanted it to be over with so me and Malachi could be happy moving forward.
“Thank you, Deena,” I said still trying to catch my breath. She was a life saver.
“What is going on, Cheyonne? What happened just now?” she asked scanning my body as if she could detect something.
“I don’t know,” I lied. “I just felt boxed in and panicked. I’m okay now. Where’s Toneshia?”
“She’s on her way in. The flowers you ordered just arrived as well. Cheyonne, if you need to go home, then do that. Me and Toneshia can manage without you here. You need to be resting it seems like.” Worry and concern was all over her face.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll wait for Nesh to get here. A glass of water is all I need right now.”
Nodding, she rushed to my fridge, removed a bottle of water, flipped over one of my glass cups from the bar, and poured me a glass. She was back in my face moments later. I downed the water and slowly gained my composure. I felt like my regret was haunting me now the way I couldn’t escape it.
“Cheyonne, are you sure? You’re sweating right now.” Deena dabbed tissue at my face trying to help me clean myself up.
“I’m good, just give me a minute, please.” Walking back to my desk, I took a seat and placed my hand on my stomach.
“Are you hurting?” she questioned.
“No. Deena, stop asking questions. I am fine. When Toneshia arrives, send her in. You can head back to your desk. Thank you,” I dismissed her.
She was hesitant but she left the same way she came finally giving me some space. No one would understand besides those that knew of the situation at hand. I had the bright idea to call Royce as if he could make this all go away. At the end of the day, all I was good for was carrying his nephew. His loyalty lied with Black, not me.
My desk phone ringing startled the hell out of me causing me to jump. I placed my hand on my chest shutting my eyes briefly. I was too jumpy and nervous for things to be catching me off guard the way they were.
I snatched up the receiver calming my nerves as best as I could before answering with, “This is Cheyonne Afor.”
“I called your cell, Brat. Why you ain’t answer?” Royce had to have some type of telekinetic bullshit going on or something cause he always called when I was indecisive about calling him.
“It’s in my purse, Royce. I must’ve forgot to get it out when I arrived at the office. What’s up?” I asked trying to see his reason for calling as if he didn’t expect an update every day.
“Just checking on you and nephew. What’s new?”
“Nothing… I have a letter from the court to appear for Genesis. I don’t want to go, Royce. He’ll see that I’m pregnant, and I’m not ready for that yet,” I confessed.
“You want him to sit or what?” I didn’t quite know street or slang like that, but I was assuming he was asking if I wanted him to do the time or not.
“I don’t want him in jail anymore, Royce. I’ve regretted it for months now.”
“Then don’t show up. I’ll handle it from here. You need anything?” It was normal for him to end one topic of discussion and throw in a new one.
