Page 49 of Treason's Temptation
Miss Dot marched out, running off a list of shit I knew I’d hear about later with Navie beside her. I expected Navie’s frustration to slam the door. Instead, her palm caught it before it closed, shutting it quietly.
“Youreallylike her,” Fallon said in a way that combined shock and horror.
“I’m having fun and keeping up appearances. Sounds like you don’t likeher?”
“She’s a liability, so no, I don’t.” Frustrated, she turned to Ward and tossed a hand, “You know him better than anybody. What do you think?”
“Tre calls the shots,” Ward replied, keeping it simple.
Jaleb stood responding for himself and Fallon, “He’s gonna call the shots right into losing this election,” before excusing himself, likely in search of a stiff drink. Langstons weren’t used to not getting their way.
Once the door shut, Fallon stared at me.
“Do you think it’s smart to keep pissing him off?”
“I think it’s in everybody’s best interest to stop making me repeat myself.”
“Fine, but I don’t trust Navie, and considering how we got here, you should be a little more careful,” Fallon urged.
“I’m not a naïve nigga with his first piece of pussy. I know what I’m doing.”
“I can’t tell!” she yelled, back snatching her belongings. “You have a chamber meeting in thirty.”
Fallon left needing a cigarette, and she didn’t even smoke. Ward and I joked for a few before he went to hopefully talk some sense into K-Low. I had plenty of tasks to keep me busy and almost lost track of time. Jogging down the stairs, I nodded at constituents passing in the hallway when Winston Calloway called my name.
“Calloway.” I didn’t stop walking because if he wanted my time, he’d have to keep up.
“Why are plans for the casino stalled?”
“I don’t discuss government business withcivilians,” I replied, reminding him of his place. Winston had a lot of money, which led him to believe he ran the city and everyone in it.
“Plenty of civilians invested time and money to ensure this goes through. The casino will bring a lot of revenue for the city, but we’re going nowhere fast because the permits stalled.”
“When your permits are bullshit, it takes more time.”
“I’m here to offer a compromise so you can move on to the next agenda.”
I laughed at him. “Your bank account doesn’t move me.”
“But it could help your campaign. Considering your staged relationship isn’t helping the way you thought.”
“Getting money has never been a problem for me. I’ll be fine, but you might want to consider diversifying your investments.”
“I’m impressed. You wear your spine well.”
“I have my wonderful mother to thank for that,” I replied.
“We’re one and the same, Treason. The only difference is I don’t pretend I’m the solution.”
“Waste my time again, and you’ll find out just how much we’renotalike fuck nigga.”
I didn’t give Winston the satisfaction of another glance as I walked inside the meeting, but the day went downhill from there. I missed lunch listening to the room argue various ways to fuck already underpaid teachers, and zoning permit bullshit that wasn’t as pressing as they made it seem. By the time I climbed in the car to head home, I was irritated and tired as fuck, but I had to go home and be a boyfriend.
Navie made it easy when I stepped off the elevator. She turned from the kitchen at the sound of my footstep.
“I wasn’t sure if you liked baked Ziti, but dinner is in the oven.”
“Ziti is good. I appreciate it.”
