The Available Wife (6 page)

CHAPTER 7

“Niquole, your lunch is here,” Meagan said through the speakerphone. She’d interrupted my thoughts of Kingston’s actions just two days before.

“Okay. Bring it in,” I replied back.

“What did you order today? It smells good,” Meagan said when she stepped inside my office seconds later.

“For some reason, I’ve got this craving for Chinese food,” I replied.

“You’re not pregnant are you?”

I looked up at the blonde, wannabe black chic and frowned. “Girl, if something creeps inside of me right now, the only people who will know about it are me, the doctor and God,” I laughed. She joined in on the laughter. “You can have some if you’d like. I’m sure there’s more than enough,” I said admiring the red, purple and black maxi dress and stiletto heels that added four inches to her five-foot-six frame. “I’ve got some sesame chicken, shrimp and cabbage, a few fried wontons and egg rolls,” I listed, then skimmed through the bag as if I’d forgotten what I ordered.

“That sounds like a meal for four,” Meagan said. “Are you expecting company?”

“If I were expecting company, do you think I would’ve offered you any of the food?” I joked. “Whatever I don’t eat is going home to John John. He loves Chinese food. Do you want any?”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” she declined. “I have a few errands to run before I get ready for the party tonight. Is it okay if I take off a few hours early?”

“As long as I don’t have to take care of any messages or emails, you can take off.”

“You know I’ve taken care of all of that,” Meagan replied in a tone letting me know that she was good at her job. Hell, she was. Ever since hiring her a month after Nathan was born, she’d shown and proved to be a very valuable asset to my label.

“It’s kind of quiet out there,” I spoke referring to the noise that I wasn’t hearing in the halls.

“Everyone’s in the conference room.”

“For what?”

“They wanted to hear Fortunes sing a few tunes.”

“Tell those girls they better not fuck their voices up before the album release party tonight,” I joked.

“I know, right? So, are you ready for that?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. Fortunes is gonna make men fall to their knees and beg to eat pussy.”

Meagan smiled. “You’re off the chain, Niquole, but I think you’re right. The producers wrote some great tracks for them.”

“I know. I got teary-eyed on a couple of them.”

“Yeah, right,” she laughed. “I don’t think you can produce tears.”

“You’ve got a point,” I replied thinking about the tears that I tried to make fall after Kingston murdered Hummer. “Meagan, before you go, I need to talk to you about something,” I added when I saw her do a ballerina twirl and start toward the door.

“What’s up?”

“Close the door.”

She did as advised. “What’s going on?” Meagan asked curiously after tossing her straight, blond hair over her shoulders.

I reached inside my desk drawer and pulled out a brand new black Louis Vuitton L’Absolu, leather bag with the tag still attached. I placed it on top of my desk and pushed it toward her.

“This is for you. I had it delivered today.”

“Are you serious? This is what the FedEx guy dropped off today?”

“Yeah.”

Meagan shook her head. “What is this for? I don’t understand.”

“I can’t tell you now, but you’ll know what it’s for when and if something happens.”

I had a funny feeling down in the pit of my stomach that Kingston would be making unexpected visits to the studio after what happened and I needed to make sure I had all of my ducks in a row.

Meagan gently clutched the bag then stared at me after looking at the price. “You paid thirty-five hundred bucks for this bag?” she asked shockingly. “Are you in some kind of trouble or something?”

“No. No, it’s nothing like that.” I smiled halfheartedly then tried to hide the worried look on my face.

“I can’t accept this. This is too much,” Meagan said as she pushed the bag back to me. “It feels like a bribe to keep me quiet about something. If you’re in trouble, you don’t have to bribe me. You’re my friend. I’ll do anything for you.”

“Thanks, Meagan.” I smiled. “Just take the bag anyway. I know how much you love purses.”

“That’s true, but you’ve got to tell me what’s going on.” She took a seat in one of the burgundy and pewter, barrel shaped chairs in front of my desk. She then crossed her legs as if to say, she wasn’t going anywhere until I told her something.

“Meagan, it’s none of your business. I just need to know if you have my back if some shit pops off.”

“Okay, Niquole, you’re really starting to scare me,” she replied. “Does it have anything to do with the label? Germaine? The boys? Your health?”

“Look,” I huffed letting her know that she was irritating me, “I don’t need this right now. I’ve got enough shit on my mind and I don’t need you drilling me about any of it.”

When Meagan saw my reaction and heard the tension in my voice, she knew not to ask anymore questions.

“Okay. I’ll see you later,” Meagan said before standing up. She clutched her new bag then left.

In the few months that I’d known her, Meagan had never given or caused me any trouble, so I knew that she would have my back.

I opened the brown, paper bag and soaked in the aroma of the sesame chicken and shrimp. I was famished, and couldn’t open the bag fast enough. When that task was finally done, I ripped open the soy sauce and poured it all over the food then dove into it. While eating and staring around my pewter glazed office, Kingston’s actions crept back into my mind. I wondered if it bothered him that I hadn’t freaked out as any other normal woman would’ve done after practically witnessing a murder. What if our little secret would bring us even closer together? I was so wrapped in my thoughts that I didn’t hear or see Germaine walk inside the office moments later.

“We need to talk,” he spoke sternly after sitting down in front of me.

“Couldn’t this wait until I got home? I’m trying to have lunch,” I pouted.

“If it could’ve, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

I pushed my food away and leaned back in my high-back, leather executive chair. I then folded my arms across my chest and waited for what he had to say. Before he could begin, Meagan reentered my office. Germaine flinched a little when he heard her voice, but I didn’t think anything of it.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she spoke from the door. “FedEx just delivered another package and they need to check your ID,” she addressed me.

“Check my ID?” I questioned. “I’ve never heard of shit like that before.”

Meagan shrugged her shoulders. “He said the sender requested it.”

I opened my desk drawer and retrieved my ID from my purse then stood up and walked to the lobby with Meagan by my side.

“What do you think it is?” she asked curiously.

“I don’t know, but it better be something good to cause all of this hoopla.”

“Seems like the FedEx guy came at a perfect time.”

“What do you mean?”

“I could feel the tension in your office between you and Germaine.”

“Meagan, leave it alone,” I said before stopping in front of the cute, tanned, delivery man who gave me the most electrifying smile.

“Are you Niquole Wright?” he asked.

I presented my ID to him. After signing my name on their little electronic device, he handed me a huge, purple and black striped box. I thought it was going to be heavy because of its size but, it wasn’t. It couldn’t have weighed more than two pounds.

“He was cute,” Meagan spoke after the delivery guy walked away.

“He hasn’t left yet. Go talk to him,” I giggled as I watched her get all googly-eyed over the guy.

“He doesn’t make enough money for me,” she joked.

We both laughed.

“I wonder what in the hell could be in here?” I questioned before slightly shaking the box.

“Did you order something and forgot about it?” she asked.

“Possibly, but there’s only one way to find out.”

When we walked back to my office, Germaine was still sitting with an uneasy look on his face.

“What’s in the box?” he asked.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” I replied.

“I’ll bet it’s something else that you don’t need, don’t use or have any room for,” he replied in a slightly nasty tone.

I rolled my eyes at him and placed the box on my desk accidentally knocking down my favorite photo of Johnathan and Nathan asleep. They were both passed out on their backs in the same snow angel position. Curiously, I lifted the top off the box and retrieved the card that was lying on top of some white tissue paper. I slapped Meagan’s hand away when I saw her trying to lift and peak underneath. I pulled the card from the envelope and held back my ecstatic emotion when I read it.

This should help take your mind off of things.
I want this on your body tonight at the party.
Love,
Kingston.

I eased the card back into the envelope and slid it in the front pocket of my Nicole Miller slacks. I tried to hold back my excitement as I dove through the tissue paper. When I finally saw what was inside, I gasped…so did Meagan. Germaine wanted to see what the excitement was all about so he stood up and glanced inside the box as well.

“Girl, how could you forget that you ordered this?” Meagan spoke enthusiastically as she lifted the dress from the box and pranced around the office with it. “Isn’t this nice, Germaine?” she addressed him.

“Yeah,” he answered quickly then sat back down.

I could never understand why he was always acting uneasy around her. I knew they weren’t fucking. I just brushed it off as another black man afraid to be around white people. I could feel Germaine’s eyes on me as he waited for me to answer Meagan’s question.

“I’ve been so damn swamped with the last minute details for the album release party that I forgot it was being delivered today,” I lied.

“Please tell me that you’re wearing this to the party?” Meagan continued. “If not, can I borrow it?” she joked.

“I gotta be fly, don’t I?” I laughed, hoping Germaine couldn’t figure out that I was making everything up as I went along. “Meagan, put the dress back in the box before it gets dirty.”

“Yeah, I’d better because I can’t afford to replace it. Prada is definitely not in my budget,” she giggled. “I need to head out anyway,” she said after placing the dress back inside the box. “I’ll see y’all later,” she added before bouncing out the door.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” I asked Germaine then placed the top back over the box.

I really didn’t care what was on his mind. I just didn’t need him questioning me about the dress. I rubbed my hand over the box as if it meant the world to me. I was so wrapped up in my new gift that I wasn’t paying any attention to the fact that he was watching my every move. He knew there was more to the dress than I was letting on.

“So, you have a separate bank account that you’re hiding from me?” he asked with piercing eyes. I knew what he was talking about, but couldn’t figure out how he knew about it.

I glanced down at my computer. “Why are you snooping through my shit, Germaine?”

“It was in plain sight. I didn’t have to snoop, but don’t try to avoid the subject. What’s the account for? Why didn’t I know about it?”

I held back the bull that was raging inside of me, but I knew it would be even more suspicious if I prolonged an answer. “The account is for the boys.”

“The boys?” he asked rhetorically.

“Yes. College and shit like that. Don’t you want the best for your kids?”

“Of course. But why did you feel the need to hide that from me?”

“I don’t have to tell you everything that I do with my money.”

“Well, if it’s for the boys then I’ll need the code,” he stated.

“For what?”

“Because their my kids too, and I should always know what’s going on.”

I had to laugh. “Germaine, I hope that’s not why you’re here. If so, you’re wasting your damn time. I’m not giving you anything to…”

“You know what,” he interrupted before tossing a plastic Target bag at me. “I don’t want to hear that same ole BS. Explain that!” He pointed at the bag.

“What’s this?” I asked, slowly opening the bag.

“You tell me.”

Once the bag was opened, I held back the shock that I wanted to show on my face and the gasp that wanted to escape my mouth.
Fuck. Why didn’t I get rid of that shit
? I thought after glancing at the pink, blood-splattered jacket.

“Where did you get this?”

“I was in your car early this morning looking for one of Nathan’s diaper bags. I couldn’t confront you about it then because you dashed out right after I walked back inside the house. Now, answer my question, what is it?”

“I don’t appreciate you going through my shit, Germaine.”

“It’s your jacket. You should know what the hell is on it.” His voice grew curious. “Is that blood, Nikki?” he asked before snatching the bag out of my hand.

I quickly snatched it back and frowned. “You need to mind your own damn business,” I said after turning away from him with the Target bag clutched tightly in my hands. I couldn’t face him. I couldn’t think of a lie fast enough and damn sure wasn’t about to tell him the truth. At that moment, I wish I had let Kingston take the jacket with him and drove to the studio like he instructed.

“Look, I don’t have time for this shit, Germaine. I’ve got a party to get ready for. Now, will you please leave?” I finally turned to face him.

He stared at me with a blank look on his face as if nothing that I said or did could stun or shock him anymore.

“What?” I barked.

He shook his head before asking, “Since you can’t explain the jacket then can you explain this receipt I found in the trunk as well?”

I snatched the receipt he pulled from his pocket. I then swallowed the lump in my throat as I stared down at the paper. It was for a four thousand dollar pair of diamond, baguette studs and a two thousand dollar TAG Heuer men’s watch.

“I know you’re not buying
those
kinds of gifts for potential clients are you? And I know they’re not for me because you haven’t bought me anything in a while.”