My pace picks up instead. I’m already halfway across the lot when his footsteps close the distance.
“Frankie, don’t do this.”
His hand closes around my wrist and I spin on him, fury already loaded. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
He lets go immediately, palms up. “I just wanna talk, okay?”
“You’ve talked enough today,” I snap. “You’ve talked in my office, in front of my team, with your agent, what else is there to say, Jabari?”
“I am sorry I didn’t tell you,” he states. “I didn’t think you’d want me involved if you knew. So I just figured?—”
“You’d lie and ambush me?” I fire back. “This is my job, you idiot. My career! My company! I invited an investor! Not Jabari McKingsley! Do you know how that makes me look in front of my team?”
“Frankie, my investment has nothing to do with?—”
“They are starting rumors, you ignorant arsehole! People are saying you defended me because we are involved with each other and you go and kiss me in front of everyone?”
“I wasn’t thinking clearly, Jelly. I saw you looked hurt and acted. I’m sorry.”
“Of course you weren’t thinking,” I chuckle at the privilege he had to not think of those things. “You know. I worked really hard to make sure my sexual life has nothing to do with my company. And now people think I’m sleeping with you and that’s why you helped me?”
“Who gives a fuck what people think Francine?”
“You do apparently! Your agent said it’s so obvious you did this for attention and it’s?—”
“He said that to you?”
“Yeah, but?—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t get a chance?—”
“Do you believe him?”
“Jabari!” I yell. “Can you stop cutting me off and let me fucking speak?”
He swallows the rest and I continue.
“The point I’m trying to make is, I am not in a position to be involved with you in any kind of situation or scandal. Okay?”
He jumps in immediately. “Because of Za?”
“Jabari. Please. Let me finish. I can’t have another scandal attached to me right now. The awards were enough. Youdefending me is enough. I know your intentions were good but you cornered me and now, if I turn your ‘kindness’ down, my team will think I’m an egotistical mess. Especially after last night. Or worse, now that you’ve kissed me in front of everyone, they’ll think I just sleep around to get my way, which is the last thing I want attached to my name.”
“Fuck what people think Francine. Fuck all of it. I wanted to help you because I care about you and your company. You know that.”
I massage my temples. “You don’t get it. You don’t understand the position you put me in. The minute my personal life gets put on blast next to my career? My achievements become worthless. Defending me is one thing but coming to my rescue in this way? Funding and investing? Suddenly what I did at the awards isn’t standing up to the academy for unfair treatment. Like I was doing! Now I’m a spoiled brat who didn’t get her way because she’s used to sleeping to get what she wants. Can you even conceptualize that affecting you negatively? No you can not. Because you are not a woman. You can not understand the impact this has on me because you are rewarded for bad behavior and having tantrums.”
His jaw tightens. “Really? That’s what you think of me, Jelly?”
“Yup!” I yell. “And I can tell I’m right because I explained the entire situation to you and you're still only focused on yourself! I’m starting to think your agent was right, Jabari! You made yourself necessary because you can’t stand not being the center of attention.”
“Really?”
“Really!”
“That’s not fair.”
