A risky affair, p.8
A Risky Affair, page 8
“Oh my god, Opal,” Phire declared.
“You’re never going to be able to live this reveal down,” Pearl laughed.
“I can’t tell if that facial expression is joyful or a ‘what the hell’ look,” Roc laughed.
“It’s the look of shock. I know it well,” Ruby said as she walked back in the room with a wet face towel. “I need you to let her go so I can clean her up.”
“You’re going to have a baby, Op.” Timothy smiled. “Man, I think I’m jealous.”
“I don’t feel well, Timothy.” Denise touched his arm as her other hand covered her mouth. “I feel like….” Before she could finish the sentence Denise threw up on Timothy’s pants and shoes.
Matt pulled Leah out of the way just in time. Then looked up at Timothy. “You and Opal did always do things together.”
Timothy looked up from his sick wife. “Get me another towel.” He caught his wife before she hit the floor. “Denise?”
“Was she at the lunch too?” Amber asked.
“No,” Phire replied as she and LT moved out of the way.
“I’ll get someone to clean up,” Sasha offered.
Theo stepped over to Denise. “You come with me. This is probably just a reaction to Opal’s digestive situation. But let’s check you out to be sure.”
“Okay, everybody out, until we can get the room cleaned up,” Sally ordered. “Amber, darling, you go sit down. People can’t get by all of this baby you are carrying.”
Phire laughed for the first time since leaving lunch. She was relieved that her sister was okay, but now she had to deal with her brothers.
“Don’t laugh.” Sally took her youngest daughter’s arm and steered her away from the family. “You are going to be in her place one day,” she said out loud then spoke softly. “Never allow anyone to attack you or your family without retaliation. Some will see it as a weakness and continue to attack one way or another. Use that beautiful brain of yours. I’m certain you can come up with a reaction that will get the point across that when you come after a Lassiter or Palmer there is a price to pay.”
“Sally,” Joe called out.
“Yes, Joe,” Sally replied in the sweetest, innocent voice.
Phire smiled, knowing her father knew exactly what her mother was telling her to do.
“Why is everyone out here in the hallway, did something else happen?”
They all turned to see Blake and Jade standing behind them.
“Jade.” Sally walked over to hug her daughter as Cynthia did the same with her brother.
“You drove all the way from Connecticut?” Cynthia smiled.
“No, we were in New York when we got the call from Adam,” Blake replied.
“How is Opal?” Jade asked.
“Pregnant,” Ruby replied.
“What?” Jade gasped.
“So is Denise,” Timothy announced. “At least that’s what the preliminary test shows.”
“What?” Sally beamed.
“You are kidding?” Diamond exclaimed.
“Oh my goodness. Congratulations, Timothy,” Leah cheered.
“You are next,” Matt laughed as everyone gathered around Timothy.
“Where is Denise?” Sasha asked.
“At the nurse’s station with Theo,” he replied.
The women all went to find Denise as the men gathered around Timothy.
“Sally, looks like the family is growing by leaps and bounds.”
“First Opal and now Timothy.” Sally smiled up at her husband. “Three more to send on their way and it will soon be just the two of us.”
Chapter 13
LT walked into the bedroom. Phire was sitting in the sunroom staring out at the view of I-95 and the James River in the distance. She had changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top. He could tell by her demeanor she was still upset about Opal. He knew from experience keeping those feelings inside could lead to a dangerous Phire.
He took a seat next to her, then pulled her into his arms. “Tell me what you are thinking.”
Phire exhaled. “Lauren put that poison in my drink. She hurt my sister trying to get to me. I want to go to her house, pull her ass out of bed, and whip that ass.”
LT nodded. “I understand.”
“Then I want to put her in the trunk of her car, pour gasoline all over her body and lock the trunk.”
LT hesitated. “Are you finished?”
“I want to soak the rest of the car then throw a flame in the driver’s seat. I want her in that trunk knowing the flame is going to eventually reach the gas tank and blow her ass into a million little pieces.”
“You are at a different level in your life now, Sapphire. The Lassiters’ game has been elevated with your appointment to The Administration. When you take someone down now, it has to be permanent. Remember how that woman in Africa came after Samuel. That is not going to happen to us. We have to take the Trents down in a way that just the thought of coming for us again will cause them to piss in their pants. Don’t think the physical. Use your brain power to imagine what would cause them the most pain. What is the one thing that would turn their lives upside down?”
LT watched as Phire’s mind began to work. He could see the wheels turning through those beautiful brown eyes of hers. “You know what I would like to see?”
“Tell me.”
“I would like to see them have to live the life they want for the others.”
LT nodded. “Okay, I create worlds for a living. Tell me what you want their world to be like.”
“Well, Gia was the first. Unlike the others, her mother received a significant sum from Leanne’s parents and Gia was set for life. That’s why sending Ms. Natalie the hundred grand for you did not hurt them at all. After Gia, Leanne did not tell her family that Trent had stepped outside of their marriage and fathered other children. She simply paid them all off and called it a day. We don’t even know if it was cash or some other form of compensation.”
“Until it came to me,” LT stated. “The fact that her husband stepped out with a Black woman was more than she could take.”
“Skin color had something to do with it for sure, however, I think her anger came from Trent falling in love with your mother. Remember, Gia said he was talking about leaving Leanne for your mother,” Phire reminded him. “That’s why she turned to drastic measures. The point is your other siblings did not have the break you did. You had Ms. Natalie. She did not use any of the money received from Gia. She invested it into your education. You took it from there.”
“That leaves the other five,” LT stated. “Madeline is a nurse. She makes about $70K a year. Maybe more with overtime. Selma is a teacher, making $40K a year.”
“Which is a damn shame,” Phire huffed.
“I agree. Peyton works in a warehouse. Last time we talked she had just gotten a raise to $60K. Ryder and Owen both work in state government. Both are making less than $100K a year. None of them are anywhere near Lawrence who is pulling in a quarter of a million in salary in addition to access to close to a billion dollar trust fund that he and Lauren has access too.”
“That needs to stop,” Phire stated. “If they receive income from both Gruber Innovations and ESTY, all of your brothers and sisters should.”
“I say, let’s make that happen.” LT tapped her nose with his finger. “I say we flip the table upside down. Rebuild a new table where everyone has a seat.”
Phire smiled. “I like the way you think, Mayor Palmer.”
“I know you do.” LT pulled her into his lap. “I’ve been keeping an eye on ESTY from behind the scenes. Did you know that Lawrence has been selling off some of his personal shares of stock?”
“Really?” Phire looked surprised. “Tell me you have been buying them.”
He smiled. “I have. When I first did it, I thought to divide the shares among the siblings. However, he is coming close to losing controlling interest. Now, I’m thinking, what if we get control of ESTY, then place all the siblings on a newly formed board of directors, that the Chief Operating Officer, Lawrence will have to report to? “
Phire sat straight up. “He will have to answer to every sibling. You are going to need an accounting firm that is not under Lawrence’s control to handle the books to ensure employees and members of the board of directors, are being compensated before the COO. I take it Lauren and Lawrence are currently on the board?” she asked.
“Yes, but I pressed hard to discover anyone else. It seems it was and still remains a family company.”
“With stockholders. Hmm, I wonder if any of the other stockholders are interested in selling?”
“The very question I plan to ask my accountant in the morning.” LT smiled as he pulled her beneath him.
“You did what?” Lawrence yelled so loud the chandelier above their head rattled.
“Do not yell at me. I have been through a trauma today,” Lauren replied with a sigh as she slumped down further into the chair she was occupying. “It’s not like it was enough to do anything more than make her sick at the stomach. But before I could get the joy of seeing even that bit of satisfaction I was asked to leave and to never return. Can you believe that, Larry? After all the years our family has been patronizing Mulberry Landing I was escorted out like some common criminal. They should have been the ones asked to leave.”
“They who?’ Lawrence asked.
“That Lassiter woman and her sister, of course.”
“Which sister?”
“Why are you drilling me like this, Larry? Did you hear what I said? They put me out of Mulberry.”
“Lauren, I told you not to go after Palmer or that woman he is marrying. That family is connected in ways you can never imagine.”
“They can’t be that well connected to anyone who counts. Her address is over on North side and I’m talking about Ginter Park.”
All Lawrence could do was stare at his sister. “You really do not keep up with things happening in your own city, do you?” He pulled out his cellphone. Did a search then exhaled before turning it so that she could see what was on the screen. “Does this person look familiar to you?”
Lauren sat up. “Of course, Larry, that’s the President.”
“Take a good look at the person standing next to him.” He waited.
“So?”
“That is a Lassiter. The White House Press Secretary is Sapphire’s sister.” He scrolled then pulled up another picture. “Do you see the man standing behind the President? That is one of Sapphire’s brothers. He is on the President’s detail whenever the man comes to Richmond.” He scrolled again. “See this one?”
“That was the other hood rat at the restaurant,” Lauren exclaimed.
Lawrence threw his hands up in the air. “I was afraid of that.” He sat in the chair across from her. “Tell me everything that happened at Mulberry Landing.”
The more she revealed about the events at Mulberry Landing, the more Lawrence’s heart rate increased. If only his sister paid attention to anything other than chasing no good men from country to country or buying the latest in fashion, she would know about LT and that damn woman he was about to marry.
“I told you to be careful with LT for a reason, Lauren. The man has power and connections. The sister in this picture, she is married to Grant Hutchinson, LT’s Chief of Staff.”
“Hutchinson?” Lauren frowned. “That name sounds familiar.”
“It should. The land adjacent to ESTY is owned by old man Hutchinson. He also owns the land Mulberry is on. I’m surprised they did not have you arrested for trespassing.”
“I did nothing to be arrested for,” Lauren hissed.
“You just told me you put rat poison in the woman’s drink,” Lawrence growled.
“But she did not drink it after I did it,” Lauren growled back.
“How do you know that? You said they stayed back when you left.”
Lauren blinked. “Well, if she did, then good. It’s a little price to pay for the humiliation I suffered today. At least I attempted to get information from them. You’re not doing anything to stop them from taking our inheritance.”
“You have no idea what I’ve done. Do you think for one minute I want to split anything we have seven ways? No. However, things like this have to be handled in a more diplomatic manner than calling the Lassiter woman a hood rat to her face,” Lawrence hissed. “Now I am warning you to stop instigating the situation. It can only lead to an escalation of their claims.”
“Fine.” Lauren stood. “Tomorrow I’m to see Mother, and then I’m flying back to Los Angeles to get out of your way. Go ahead and let them take everything from us. I’m going to enjoy it while we still can.” She stomped out of the room leaving Lawrence thinking how and if he could get away with eliminating her.
Chapter 14
The state psychiatric hospital had been the home of Leanne Trent since she was committed for the attempted murder of Sapphire Lassiter. Deep down, Lauren had known there was something off with her mother, even as a small child. There were long periods of time when her mother was the best. Then there would be an argument, a loud one between her mother and father. When those happened, a dark period would follow. Her mother would disappear from their lives for months at a time. When her mother was on trial, Lauren made the connection to her mother’s depression bouts with the pregnancies of mothers to his bastard children.
“You’re clear to go,” the guard behind the glass stated.
The gate opened and Lauren was guided into the private visitation room. Lauren took a deep breath then entered the room.
“Hello, Mother.”
Her hazel eyes looked up and the smile Lauren loved so much appeared. “Hello, Lauren. How are you?”
Lauren smiled. This was a good day. For a moment she saw the mother who had combed her hair, had tea parties with her, and made oatmeal cookies in the kitchen. She loved that mother. Then she remembered the day her brother came to her home. She was a happily married woman, until the day her father and mother had been arrested. The months that led up to the trial were horrible times for her and Lawrence. Her mother was found guilty, her father was killed in an explosion, the company suffered from the bad public relations and her husband left her. In her estimation, it was time for others to suffer. Then and only then could she go on with her life. If that meant her mother was going to have to have an hour or two of discomfort, so be it. Lauren knew once she asked her questions it would take her mother back into a dark place that would take the facility personnel months to recover.
“I’m not well, Mother,” Lauren replied. “I need your help to get better.”
Her mother nodded. “You have questions about your father.”
Lauren sat in the chair across from her mother. “These people are trying to take our inheritance. Lawrence’s mind is on keeping the business going. He is not fighting these paternity cases like he should. I need to know a few details about father’s escapades.”
“What do you need to know?”
Her mother’s clarity was surprising. Lauren’s hopes soared. “How many children did Father have outside of your marriage?”
“Seven,” Leanne answered as she sat back. “For a minute I thought you came to see me because you cared. You are your father’s child. This is about you and your happiness. Since I am trying to purge your father and his sins from my soul, ask your questions. Make them good, Lauren. I will not do this again.”
“Very well.” Lauren nodded. “Did anyone else know about the women you paid off?”
“I had given your father two beautiful children and control of a thriving business. But it wasn’t enough. I believe he resented my family’s fortune, but he needed it. He did what he what he had to in order to stay in my father’s good graces. All the while humiliating me by sleeping with other women. By the time I learned about Gia Ferrell, she was ten years old. I hired an investigator and he found two more women. One had a daughter Madeline and the other a son, Ryder. They are older than you and Lawrence. As it turned out Trent had paid them not to file a paternity suit. I thought that was it, until the investigator discovered, Selma, Peyton and Owen. I took a page out of your father’s book and paid them off. However, I warned your father that if it happened again all of the information the investigator had I would send to my father. For a while after that I thought his consorting with other women was over, for we went almost a few years without any new babies. Then I learned about the affair. I believe the other women were just lays, nothing to really threaten our marriage. Dorothy Palmer was different. Your father actually came to me and asked for a divorce. He wanted to leave me and my children for one of his techs at my father’s company. He thought he was in love and wanted a life with her. The day the investigator showed me pictures of them was the day I knew she had to die. But it wasn’t enough to just kill her, I had to make him suffer too. Funny, but after that we had a pretty normal life until the college girl showed up asking questions.”
“Mother, who told Sapphire Lassiter about Father?”
“Gia Ferrell. She knew about the other children and somehow she figured out Trent was involved with Dorothy Palmer’s murder. At some point, she found Trent’s treasure room. He had the nerve to keep trinkets of all the women.” She chuckled. “She was the one who contacted the Carlton London Law Firm. She set up that trust for Dorothy’s son. Like you, the guilt of her father’s actions was at the root of the issues in her life. Helping the boy was her way of releasing the guilt. What are you about to do?”
“Get my life back,” Lauren stated as she stood. “From what you’ve told me, LT Palmer was responsible for the destruction of my family. One good turn deserves another.”
“Your father was responsible for ruining our lives. I compounded the situation by doing what I did. I accept responsibility for my actions, Lauren.” Her mother looked up at her. “Let this go. Enough lives have been ruined by his selfish behavior. Don’t do something that will put you behind bars.”
