Page 19 of Inadmissible
“I’m a hardworking man, and I take care of the things I value and pursue. That won’t be a problem for me.”
“Good. So . . . I’ll try to tell you things that I don’t believe will be a breach of her trust. First, she has had a string of toxic men and bad breakups. Her last three relationships ended because of cheating, which she has now deemed inadmissible in relationships. Actually, she’s deemed relationships inadmissible too. When we first met, she was very soft, sweet, and warm. Now . . . she’s harder. Colder. Still kind but very protective of herself. She doesn’t let anyone new in, and she is very careful of who and what she entertains. Anything that makes her feel uncomfortable, she ends.”
Emilia paused and licked her lips. “Taj had a way of trying to love men into treating her right. She thought the better she treated men, the better they’d treat her. The opposite happened, so she doesn’t deal with men now at all. Honestly, I’m surprised she even talked to you last night. Even with your history, she hasn’t talked intimately with a man since what happened with Destin. So if she really doesn’t give you a chance, I hope you take pride in whatever you were able to experience with her last night.”
“One last question. Is it fear of being hurt again that’s put up that armor, or bitterness? I can make my way through fear because its casted out by love, but if it’s bitterness?—”
“She’s not bitter,” Emilia interrupted me to say, “just very closed off and careful. She’s not the opened version of herself she was when we first met. I don’t think she trusts the male species.” Emilia smiled. “Except her brother. And you, so you have a head start because you helped her. I’ll be praying that works in yourfavor, because Taj really is so sweet and loving. She deserves to be loved the way she loves. I want her to have that.”
I considered her words for a while. There was something about Taj that drew me to her one year ago and last night. I could tell her heart needed more protecting than her body did this time around. We may not have known the facts about each other or been around each other long, but our chemistry was undeniable, and I just had a feeling about her. With no real rhyme or reason, I was confident she was the woman I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. It felt cliché to say, but when I saw her last night, I felt alive for the first time in my life. I imagine how I felt last night was how Adam felt when he first laid eyes on Eve.
That recollection had me telling Emilia, “No matter what it takes, I promise I’m going to give it to her.”
Taj
This morning, I was a bundle of excited yet nervous energy. Attorney Gregory Adams appointed me as the lead attorney for one of the firm’s biggest clients. Martin Stevens was a multi-millionaire who was about to shift into land development. He wanted research and representation for a multi-million dollar development deal. I didn’t know all the details of the deal, but I was sure I’d be able to help him with it, especially since Gregory was going to allow me to choose a three person team to work with as well.
As I drove to the office, I took that time to update Tyler on what happened at the gala. I didn’t really want to tell him, but I knew if word spread that I’d been in the same room as Destin and I didn’t tell him, he’d be ready to act a fool.
I waited patiently as he answered Mama’s questions about what he wanted for dinner when he got back home from work. I thought it was so cute that they were living together again. There was no telling how long it would actually last though. Mama was like me in the sense that she was already wanting more solitude and freedom now that she was away from Daddy.
“Aight, Sis, I’m back,” Tyler said as I exited the interstate. “Now what were you saying happened Sunday?”
“You know I told you about that gala Emilia wanted me to go to, right?”
“Right.”
“Well I went, and guess who was there?”
“Who?” he asked, damn near sounding just like a skeptical owl.
I laughed. “Destin and Trenae. They’re engaged.”
Tyler released a round of boisterous laughter. “Ain’t that some shit? Well, worst wishes and coldest regards. And a big fuck them too. He didn’t bother you, did he?”
“He tried but he wasn’t really able to. You remember the guy I told you helped me out at the bar a year ago?”
Tyler scoffed, and I could imagine the frown that covered his face. “I do, and I’m still pretty peeved that you didn’t call me?—”
“Big brother, please. I’m almost at the office. Anyway, he was there. Apparently, he’s one of the partners at the firm Emilia works with. He knew Destin and Trenae and made it almost impossible for him to bother me. At one point, he threatened to kill him and bury his body where it couldn’t be found. He also told Destin he knows how to get away with murder since he’s an attorney as well.”
“Oh shit. I like this guy already.”
“Of course you would, crazy.”
We continued to talk until I pulled into the office parking lot. Before I could end the call Tyler asked, “So wassup with you and How to Get Away with Murder? Any man that’s on his Annalise Keating behind you is quite alright with me.”
A sputtered laugh escaped me as I parked. “Boy, if you don’t get off my phone with this foolishness.”
“I’m serious, Sis. I’ma call ’im AK.”
“Goodbye, Tyler,” I almost yelled through my laughter.
“Aight, baby sis. I love you. Have a good day.”
“I love you too. I’ll see you for dinner in a couple of days.”
I sat in my car for a few minutes after ending the call to settle my nerves. I wasn’t sure if Martin was already at the office or not, and I didn’t want to seem overly excited. Working on his behalf was a big fucking deal, and it would open me up to a different caliber of clients and opportunities, but I didn’t want to seem overly eager. If I was completely honest, I still wasn’t sure why I was even chosen to work with him. This wasn’t my area of expertise. Regardless, I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity.
