Page 61 of Trial of Deceit

Jediah held her by the waist and pulled her closer.He kissed her neck and mumbled, “This is why you’re my queen.”

It took a few seconds, but she returned the hug.

Jediah was right.No one was here to watch.No one was here to lecture her into guilt.

Just this once, she didn’t have to pretend that she was enjoying his hold.

Chapter fourteen

Asharisankfurtherintothe chair, staring up at the ceiling while the chair swayed side-by-side.She stifled another long yawn.It was so boring in this meeting Jediah dragged her to.She knew every piece of information could be important to her case, but she didn’t even get the chance to put in her earrings before Jediah dragged her out the house while complaining about having a full schedule and needing a head start on his day.Ashari thought they would’ve done more than be cooped up in this hot, small office at the back of the wholesale for the past three hours.All Jediah, Reine, Tyre, and the lead operations manager, Iyana, were discussing were boring numbers and plans to restock whatever produce the markets were low on.

“Where’s Reka?”Jediah asked, causing Ashari to stiffen.“I told her yesterday that she needs to be here.”

“She sent me,” Tyre replied.“She said she was busy.”

Jediah laughed humorlessly.“Busy?”

Tyre snuck a glance at Ashari.Ashari’s breath caught in her throat while Tyre gulped.He looked back at Jediah, who was yet to grace him with a glance.“Yes, Jed.”

Ashari looked at Jediah.He had a cigar clutched in his hand as he hung on to every word Reine or Iyana said.The cigar was lit, but Jediah was yet to take a pull.He’d bring it to his face occasionally and let it linger before his mouth.He’d do a long, yet subtle inhale through his nostrils, then dust the cigar in the nearby ashtray.

What was so important about this conversation that Jediah needed to be here?

Ashari’s brows narrowed on Jediah while she sat upright.Her movement caught Jediah’s attention.He glanced at her, and her face relaxed into a smile almost instantly.Jediah winked at her before shifting his focus to Reine and Iyana.Ashari continued to listen to the conversation, her brows furrowing at the realization that some numbers weren’t adding up.

She kept quiet about the realization as Iyana and Tyre left.

Reine lingered behind.“Mi can go somewhere?”she asked Jediah over her shoulder while erasing the figures on the whiteboard.

“Yu tell mi this last night,” Jediah said.

“Not the Math club meeting.Me a talk ’bout later… with some friends.”Reine faced her brother; she had a pleading expression that anyone would be a sucker for.“Please, best big brother ever?”

Jediah shrugged.“You a yu own big woman.Yu don’ have fi ask mi.”

“Mi have fi do it ’cause you a go worry and call down me phone otherwise,” Reine laughed.

Jediah rolled his eyes.“Gwan ’bout yu business, Reine.”

Chuckling, Reine finished erasing the whiteboard.She grabbed her bag off a nearby table and tossed it over her shoulder before walking toward Jediah.She stooped before him to give him a hug and kiss on the cheek, then Jediah kissed the top of her head.She pulled away and waved at Ashari.“Take care of my brother.”

“I will,” Ashari lied, smiling and waving.

As Reine left, Jediah dropped the cigar into the ashtray.He released a long sigh while sliding down into the chair.He stared at the ceiling, his eyes distant before they closed.

“Do you scam?”Ashari asked.

“What?”Jediah laughed.

“Your sister is good at Maths.Unlike her, I never went to college to study to become an actuary, but I know when things aren’t adding up.”

Jediah’s head lolled to the side while his eyes opened.Some mischief was in his eyes while a tiny, knowing smile formed on his lips.“You were listening.”

“No,” Ashari rushed out.

Jediah chuckled while fixing his posture.Ashari’s eyes locked on his lips.Memories from last night surfaced.Those lips had smiled against her skin after each of her breathy moans.That mouth had locked onto a soft spot on her neck in the middle of night, sucking until a hickey formed.This morning when she woke up and saw it, she’d covered it with makeup, which she’d borrowed from Reine, and Jediah had dragged her to a sink and demanded she wash it off before they left the house.Needless to say, the mark was visible for the whole world to see.

Jediah’s smile faded as his lips began to move.Ashari snapped back to reality to hear him say, “I don’t scam.That’s stealing.”

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