“Jeff, can you please let me enjoy my vacation in peace? I was having a good time.”
“I’m glad you are but you need to leave the wealthy where they belong,” he replied.
“Excuse me? What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Humph,” he dragged. “You know exactly what and who I’m talking about. Stop being fresh and you won’t have to worry about motherfuckers saving you. Forget that nigga and come home.”
“Huh? What are you talking about? Who’s saving me?”
How the fuck does he know about Armond?
“Baby never learns.” He sighed. “Bring your ass home and fuck with a real nigga and leave them rich niggas alone. You got all you need right here.”
“When will you realize you aren’t the prize? That you are a pompous asshole who can’t take no for an answer? Go find a miserable bish who will heed your beck and call and leave me the hell out of it. I’m not her. I never have been, and for you to assume that, as long as you’ve known me, is beneath you and miserable on your part. The love is dead and so are you to me. So for the last time, move the fuck on and give me my divorce.”
He chortled and I could damn near see that wicked smile on his face while he shook his head, his reluctant arrogance that said, “fuck you sideways, bitch. I’ma do what the fuck I want.”
“Never.”
He disconnected the call and I exhaled sharply and went to the fridge to see if we had any little bottles of liquor. I needed something to take me off the edge. I was seriously about to crash out. This man had eyes on me in a whole different country and had been watching hard. I would never escape that bastard if my life depended on it. Shit, had I put Armond in danger?
It was always something—banter, ignorance, pop-ups, spewing. Just annoying the fuck out of me because he could. The man had so many officials and people of power in his pocket he believed he was untouchable, and quite honestly, he was. In New York.
My restraining order had been laughed at. Moving to another state was laughed at and he followed me there because he had the money and power to do so. Jeffrey was a splinter in my damn finger that wouldn’t come out.
I should let Armond go about life without me. I didn’t need him getting tied up in my bullshit. He had too much going on and ran multiple businesses. He didn’t need to be involved in my little life and put himself in the way of Jeffrey. Though I truly believed Jeffrey would finally meet his match in Armond.
It was an unnecessary battle that didn’t concern him. If he got involved with me, I was sure he would jump right in. It’s best that I forget Armond and leave it alone for good. Just a great time in a great place with a great person, temporarily, for the vacation.
My phone buzzed again and all I could do was sigh. Jeffrey didn’t know when the conversation ended. He would say his piece then continuously call me over and over just to nag the hell out of me, no matter how many times I changed my number. Itseemed like this was one of those times. If I planned on allowing sleep to enter my system, then I needed to pick up.
I reluctantly answered the line.
“What, Jeffrey?”
“Ah, that’s why you weren’t picking up. Someone else was attacking your line.”
Armond’s voice filled my eardrums and I exhaled a sigh of relief. I was so damn happy it wasn’t Jeffrey this time.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Armond.”
“Are you alright? You need me to come by?”
“You’re sweet but no. I just need to make sure I change my number when I head back to The States. I’m so sick of this fool.”
“I thought he wanted no parts of you?”
“Well, he’s an annoying ass tick who haunts me endlessly. I thought I’d be able to enjoy my vacation without his pestering, but I was so wrong.”
“What has he been doing? Is he here?”
I could hear shuffling behind him and I just knew he was about to pop up if he was already finished with whatever pulled him away from our date.
“No, not that I know of but…”
“…but?”
“He knew we went out tonight which I can’t even fathom how he knows that.”
