Smoke and Mirrors (DE)

9. Truth be told

" Aye who that?" Brandon asked nodding towards the separate flatscreen TV mounted on the wall next to the main one that displayed all the security cameras around Joseph's property as him and Tre played the game. A blacked out Audi got picked up by one of the front cameras as it pulled into the crescent driveway.

Joseph emerged from the kitchen rolling a blunt, his white hotel slippers shuffling against the marble floor as he approached the TV to see what they were talking about. " Y'all gone find y'all something to do," He said, spitting a piece of weed out of his mouth.

" Damn big bro you kickin us out the crib?" Brandon asked. Tre set his controller down smacking Brandon in the back of the head.

" I ain't say that, you gotta move from around here though,"

Joseph's home had turned into the kick it spot for his people which he didn't mind because they were family and his home was so big everyone could all be there at once and he still wouldn't see anyone if they were on opposite ends. His new home was 8,500 square feet with 7 bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms, two living rooms, a basketball court, pool, and outdoor seating in the backyard— a five car garage and the best part, the kitchen, which was equipped with the best most expensive kitchen appliances on the market and marble slabs imported directly from Italy that graced the counter tops. The small mansion sat on two and a half acres of land.

He'd made the decision to move out of the city for privacy. In a strange turn of events, he'd grown to be some sort of twisted celebrity like OJ Simpson. With his murder trial being so highly publicized for the shocking verdict that nobody could've prepared for, his face was etched into a lot of peoples memories. No matter where he went he would get recognized and if he was unlucky enough to run into paparazzi they'd flock him for photos to sell to the paper.

Grace spritzed herself with her travel Viktor&Rolf Flower Bomb perfume that she kept in her car, rubbing her wrists together and dabbing her neck. She flipped down her sun visor to check her appearance in the mirror before grabbing her purse and getting out. Though she'd have preferred to meet with Joseph in a more public setting to set boundaries she agreed to sit down with him in the comfort of his own home so he would be out of the public eye. Knocking on the big glass door, she stepped back waiting for it to be opened.

" Hi," Grace said awkwardly, stepping in.

He nodded what's up, closing and locking the door behind her. The smell of his normal Baccarat mixed with premium weed filled her nose. She mentally cursed at herself as she followed behind him through the house. She hated that no matter how strong her anger for him was at the moment, whenever she came in his presence her heart began to flutter and she got all shy and soft for him like a big dummy and it was embarrassing.

" Thank you for not making me leave the house to meet with you," He said after a moment, looking over his shoulder at her. " I figured we could go outside in the backyard since it's a nice day out,"

" That's fine," Grace said softly. Joseph held the back door open for her and they went to the covered seating area. Joseph took a seat next to her while still giving space between them. Grace rubbed her clammy hands together looking around the spacious backyard.

" How have you been?" Joseph asked, unsure of how to start the conversation. He and Grace both knew that this discussion was long over due— things needed to be explained, feelings had to be shared and apologies had to be made but it wasn't something he could just dive into so easily. There was years of built up animosity and hurt that had to be treaded lightly around.  Joseph was up all night reciting in his head what he wanted to say, but no matter how many times you go over a conversation in your head it almost never plays out how you imagine it to. Joseph could give a fuck less about what anyone on this earth had to think about him— they could call him a monster and crazy, but when it came to Grace it was different. He cared how she viewed him the most.