Page 34 of Wifey
“Would you like some coffee?” I finally offer. We both know she’s not here to visit, but it does seem like she’s humoring me.
“No,” she shakes her head and releases another dramatic sigh. “Did you like the gift?”
“Gift?” I shake my head. “I’m sorry, I don’t recall one.”
“The donation I made on your behalf the other night. The hundred thousand dollars.” She licks her lips as if she enjoyed a meal. “I know the business was struggling for a while.”
How would she know any of this? I never let on the business was in dire need nor would anyone else would’ve known. “It’s fine and thank you for your gift. It’ll go towards a lot of families in need right now.”
“Yes, that was the reason.” Her voice indicated it most definitely was not. “Did your father mention anything about his business affairs before he died?”
“None.” It’s not a lie. Daddy rarely talked business with me. He wanted our time together to be about fun and family. Business was always the last thing he wanted to deal with. I do wish he said something because he left me with a bit of a mess I had to sort out after his death.
“I see.” She nods. “Your father was a very shrewd business man. Dare I say, he was stubborn but he always seemed to have your best interest at heart.” She looks around again. “I see he’s done just well here.” Another pause. “Are you doing okay?”
The look she has is a cross between concern and gloat. The type of look one gives when they hear their enemy isn’t doing that well and they’re rather happy about it. This woman has beef with me and I’m trying to figure out why.
“I’m doing fine.” I reply with more bass in my voice than I intended. “I got a handle on everything.”
“I know it’s a lot of responsibility at such a young age. I hope you have the right people guiding you.” She emphasizes and I really don’t like where this is going. “I just wanted to see how you were doing. If you need any assistance, I’m available.”
“I got it.” I reply with more haste than I intended. She smiles at me. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she stands up and her security step aside, “I’ll be back soon to touch base with you.” The front door opens and she turns around. Whatever warmth she had, it dissipated upon seeing the other person. “Hello, Finesse.”
Cameron’s face is emotionless as he glances at me and back at Jacqueline. He’s wearing slacks, a dark-green sweater, and Oxfords. He’d spent all day campaigning on behalf of his father’s reelection bid so he dresses the part of a preppy White scholar.
Underneath all of that attire, however, are guns. “Goodbye, Jacqueline.”
Jacqueline walks up to Cameron and grabs his chin. It’s an intimate caress between two former lovers, not people who were once friends. “You were always so stubborn,” she caresses his chin before she leaves with security in tow.
Cameron waits for Jacqueline and her crew to leave before he locks the door and closes the blinds. He rushes up to me. “Did she hurt you? Did she threaten you?”
“No,” I shake my head as he wraps his arms around me. His embrace is warm and loving. “What’s going on? Who is she? You know her?”
Cameron’s security rushes inside just moments after Jacqueline left and he briefly talks to them. His voice is calm, cool, and collected, even if he’s anything but. He turned back to me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine, but you didn’t answer my questions, Cam.” I grab his arm. “Who is she?”
Cameron lets out a breath and anger fills his eyes. “I’ll explain at home.”
Fifteen
“Jackie is Jacqueline Coleman, the head of the EAC.” Cameron explains to me over tea and cheesecake in the kitchen. We’re joined by Tesh and Maria. “She used to control parts of East Atlanta, namely Old Fourth Ward, Kirkwood, Washington Park, and East Atlanta Village. She was trying to expand and never could get a foothold in what she really wanted – Decatur, Alpharetta, and Buckhead.
“She wanted to get into the opioid market. Crack and marijuana didn’t have the same profit as heroin and various pharmaceuticals. White kids were getting doped up by the bucket loads while all the Black and brown kids were just smoking weed. With dispensaries opening everywhere, more and more people were going to legal but illegal drugs to forget about their lives.”
Cameron pauses to take a bite of the cheesecake. “The problem with Jacqueline’s plan was that I control everything. If she wanted in, she would have to go through me.”
I shake my head. Cameron always had someone testing his power and authority for ages, and I’m not surprised a woman felt she had claim. “What does this have to do with my father?”
“Your father was neutral,” Tesh interjected. “I looked through his paperwork. He owned the property and the land the coffee shop is on. He also owned the land and property of his home. Your father knew the property was a hot commodity but he also knew there was a lot of value in the land as well. He’s had plenty of offers throughout the years and he always turned it down. It was always his intention to give you everything.
“Now did Jackie want your father’s land to turn it to some drug spot or drop-off location? I don’t know; couldn’t tell you. I do know, however, Jackie wanted your father’s property because Cameron didn’t own it.” Tesh produces paperwork I haven’t seen before. “Cameron owns the property surrounding your coffee shop.”
I look through the paperwork and see Cameron is listed as owner of the boutique, hair salon, record store, and bodega on the same street as Fresh Espresso. He also owns the movie theater and two restaurants across the street.
Cameron said he had a hand in many properties and I was too naïve to think he would be operating in the very neighborhood I’ve visited for years. I feel almost sick to my stomach knowing how long Cameron had been watching me prior to getting involved.
