Page 33 of Intentional Foul
Mom gon’ kick yo ass.
The sound of Jhae’s door creaked, and I continued to stare at the TV. She took the seat across the room, sitting on her leg. I patted the seat next to me and she rolled her eyes.
“Malcolm, we need to come up with a resolution. The record label is threatening to shelve my album if I don’t fake this relationship with KC. I need the annulment. My career is on the line.”
The desperation on her face pissed me off. She deserved better than to be tangled in the game the music industry played.
“Jhae, my position about us remaining married hasn’t changed since this morning. No man will be claiming my wife as his, but me. Do you understand, Mrs. Shaw-Jefferies?” I said as I sat forward.
My wife’s eyes widened as I read the audacity on her face. Jhae would get the message I’m not a pushover. I will not bendwhen it comes to her well-being and our union. She stood from her seat with her arms folded across her chest.
“My fucking life is over. The label is going to drop me. I wouldn’t be able to afford to live in L.A. Once this gets out, my scandal-free name will be ruined. Brand deals are gone. I will owe the label money I don’t have, and I’ll end up homeless,” she said.
I sat back with relaxed shoulders.
“None of these things will happen. I have enough money to buy your masters and fund your label. Why would you want to be signed to a label forcing you to fake a relationship?” I asked.
“Malcolm, it’s how the industry works. People fake things all the time,” she said.
Nothing she said moved me as we entered another stare down. Jhae tossed her hands in the air. “I don’t need your permission to move forward with my career.”
I leaned back on the couch. “You don’t need my permission. Our marriage will be rooted in mutual respect. I’ll admit our marriage didn’t start out as planned, but it can evolve. The first picture I see of you and KC, I’m dropping the marriage license.”
“Malcolm, get out!” she said.
Leaving my wife upset wasn’t on my agenda.
“Get! Out! Now!” she screamed.
I held my laugh as my wife stomped to the front door amused me. She waved me out the door with her tan painted nails. I approached the door and reached for her hand. In an attempt to avoid my touch, she removed it from the handle, and I shut it with us inside.
“Smooth, Malcolm,” she said.
I backed Jhae up until her back touched the door.
“Watch your tone when you’re talking to me, Jhae,” I said in a low voice. “I would never jeopardize your career, Music Note.Adding to you is my goal, never subtracting. You could retire and only sing for me and live better than you do now,” I said.
“Malcolm, you are missing the point. I don’t want to be married. What am I supposed to tell the label? No, because my best friend’s son tricked me into a marriage?” she mocked.
I caressed her cheek with my thumb as I took in the worry resting on her features and glossed over eyes. The lack of faith she had in me confirmed I wasn’t a man to her yet. I’m only Anissa’s son. Making her dreams come true stood as my personal mission. We’ve had countless conversations about her starting her own label and creating the music she wanted. Not having control over her creativity was the root of her writer’s block. The passion for singing had long left her eyes. I bared down into her eyes, allowing her warmth to dress my skin.
She wore my favorite pink tinted gloss, beckoning me to kiss her yet again. Tasting her had haunted me from the moment in my mother’s bathroom. Our lips were near connecting, and a knock came at the door.
“Room service!” a youthful male voice sounded.
“Who ordered room service?” she questioned.
“I did. It’s been a few hours since you ate. And the bath and massage are still on the table,” I offered.
She turned her body, leaning on her shoulder.
I moved away from Jhae, opening the door. “You are... you are... Malcolm Shaw-Jefferies, shooting guard for L.A. Can I have a picture?”
Tye, according to his name tag, shook with excitement the longer he stood in the doorway.
“Sure,” I said, stepping outside the door.
As the door shut behind me, the locks sounded, and I smirked. I stood with Tye in front of the food cart and smiled for the selfie.
