“Yeah, this is my baby girl and her mama, Siya.”
Siya oddly resembled Tatiyonna. The short hair, dark skin, and tall thickness.
“But, nah, this is my nephew Dream and niece Reign. I almost was a dad, but shit happens.”
“It's a beautiful thing. I wouldn't trade it for the world.”
I smiled and nodded. I couldn't help but notice how Siya was intertwined in this nigga arm like they were a couple. Something told me to look down at his finger, no wedding ring.
“I thought you told me you were married. Is this your wife?” I asked.
He cleared his throat and stepped away from Siya. “No, it's complicated.”
“I see. Well, let me get them out of here before we miss our reservation.”
Complicated is the same shit Tatiyonna told me when we first started talking. How were things still complicated, and Tatiyonna took him back? When I got the kids buckled in, I pulled my phone out to dial Tatiyonna’s number, but was reminded of what I had just gone through. I instead tested the waters and sent her a text. I wasn't a hater and didn't plan on telling her about her bitch ass husband. I'm sure she’ll find out because he was sloppy and his side chick didn't know her place.
Me: Hey, you came across my mind. Just checking in
She read the message and didn't respond. She was back being loyal and he was out here being exactly what he wanted to be, a family man.
A month later,I slipped on the blazer and fixed my bowtie. I looked over at my assistant to see if she was ready. Today was ribbon-cutting day for the new condominiums we spent foreverbuilding. I rented a room for the night because it was closer and I didn’t want to drive all the way back home after. Besides, the only woman that ever laid their head on my pillows was Tatiyonna. I didn’t want to give my assistant any idea that she was getting anything more than a quick fuck tonight.
“You look beautiful,” I told her.
Complimenting a woman was just in my nature. To me, being in the presence of a woman was a pleasure. Though all we had was sex, that didn’t take away from me treating her like a woman outside the four walls. Now, when we were behind the walls, I slutted her out. That was between us, though. When we arrived, I parked and helped her out of the car. The ground was now leveled and didn’t have all that loose gravel, so she was able to walk in her heels.
“This looks amazing,” she said. “It looks nothing like when we walked the grounds the first time.”
“Yeah, this is why I love to see the finished product.”
Everyone had almost arrived when we got there. We mingled with a cup of champagne. This was our time to network and get Grants Concrete and Hauling out there, if there were any new faces. Usually, I would bring my assistant because she was very social and knew my business without me being around her to tell her what to say. As I mingled, I kept my head on a swivel because the only person I wanted to lay eyes on was Tatiyonna.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived holding hands and smiling like shit was sweet. She wore a beautiful white dress that slightly hung off her shoulders. She had that pretty as chocolate skin, oiled up that my mouth watered. And her toes. My favorite, French tips. It was like time was standing still as I took her in. Five months had gone by since I had been with her. My assistant walked back up to me and handed me a glass right as they approached.
“Baby, this man right here is responsible for a lot of what you see,” Kileen said as we stood in front of us. “Baby, this is Jahmir Grant.”
We stood there for an awkward second before I extended my hand.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. McGhee,” I expressed. “I’m assuming it’s Mrs. McGhee?”
“It is,” Kileen said.
As soon as she grabbed my hand, my heart started racing.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Grant.”
“And who is this beautiful woman?” Kileen asked.
“I’m sorry, this is my assistant, Deshay. This is who was answering my emails and setting the schedule.”
“Okay, now I can put a face to it. I talked shit about you, but you run a very structured business. That’s big for someone your age. And for your family to trust you with it says a lot about your character.”
This nigga was talking to me, but I was too busy looking at Tatiyonna. Every time he had the chance, he loved to throw in my face that I was given something. I wanted to tell this nigga that I had his wife in different positions for months.
“There go the jabs again,” I warned. “How old do you think I am?”
“I’m sure you’re what, in your late twenties?”
