“I know but I took care of it.”
“Did you though? When’s the last time you withdrew anything from that account?”
“Maybe a year or so. I just put money in. I don’t take money out.”
“Okay, well that’s bullshit. You have transactions as close as a month ago. Go to the bank, take everything out, and close that account. How much should you have in there right now?”
“About seventeen grand. That’s my ‘in case of shit’ account.”
I heard him clacking at his phone and it made me nervous. If he told me anything less than the amount I knew was there then I’d probably shit bricks. How could he still have access to my account? Shit, when was the last time I even looked at that bank card?
“Honeybee…your account currently has three thousand dollars. I’m transferring it right now. Check your business account in a few minutes.”
“Three thousand!”
“Yes. That motherfucker has been milking your pockets and living off you this entire time. I see you once had nearly a hundred thousand in it. When did you move the majority?”
“Last year.”
This shit was stressing me out. I sat on the toilet and held my tummy. I was cramping and sweat started to build on my forehead. I felt like I was going to be sick and I didn’t know which way it would come out.
“Baby, I got you. Don’t let this shit stress you. I can hear the strain in your voice. I’ll take care of it. Matter of fact, I’m gonna have Amelia fly down with the jet and you can use it for your trip to Colton. Kick back and relax. Sound good?”
“That would sound better if you were on the jet,” I mumbled.
“Unfortunately, I can’t depart from my current duties, but I’ll make sure you see me soon, baby. You know I miss the fuck out of you.”
“Yep. I know. I miss you, Armond. And uhhh… thank you for figuring that out for me. I won’t ask a stupid question like how you gathered my account information. I’m just grateful you did. I really hadn’t checked that account in a long time.”
“Like I said, I got you, Brandy. Look, I gotta step off. Check your account. I’ll call you as soon as I’m out of here. You cool with that?”
“Of course,” I replied somberly.
“Pick your head up, beautiful. No need to hang that head ever again. I’m going to take care of you and make sure nobody harms you in any way.”
“Okay. Soon?”
“Soon.”
We ended the call and I went right to the toilet and hurled all the good food I just consumed. There was no way this man had been living off me and I didn’t know. How the hell did I not know?
“Sis?” Marsha called out.
“Mhm,” I replied, then found my face back in the toilet.
“I’m coming in,” she replied.
She fiddled with the handle then rushed in. She kneeled beside me and pulled my hair back. I flushed the toilet then rested on my arm.
“What happened, girl? Was it those beef ass ribs?”
I let out a light chuckle and shook my head. I didn’t even know if I had it in me to tell her what Jeffrey had been doing this entire time. Shit made my stomach churn again. Thankfully I was done. No urges to puke again.
I sat up and looked at Marsha with tears in my eyes. I really couldn’t contain my anger. I was that angry crier people thought were weak cuz I cried, when in actuality it displayed how much I tried to contain myself from unleashing.
“Stella had to head out. She tried to wait for you to come out,” Marsha said softly.
“It’s okay. Really. I uh…”
