SILHOUETTE

Chapter 24

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Officer Lucy Chen questioned for the millionth time.

"Yes." Simone smiled softly. Mostly to hide her own nerves.

"You know you don't have to right?" Lucy continued.

"I know Officer Chen." She stood still as Sergeant Bradford wired her up so they could listen in.

"I mean, she's not as crazy as Rosalind so we got that going for us." Bradford making a joke was rare especially when they were on the job.

There was no way in hell that Simone was telling Jordan about this. For safety measures, she got in touch with Sergeant Bradford and the pair decided to go undercover and have her back. Was she nervous? Absolutely but she hoped this would be their last encounter.

"Okay, remember if you need help put up the menu. The waiter knows not to take it. We'll be two tables to your left." Bradford instructed walking her through it.

"Thank you guys for doing this." Simone was appreciative.

She didn't have any idea why they were meeting. Simone said all of what she had to say. She was happy to be moving on. She was helping Keisha settle in and apartment hunt. She was slowly planning the wedding of her dreams. It was a lot on her plate but they had time. One bad apple wasn't going to stop them. Least she thought. It was weird timing but she wanted the air to be cleared.

She went to the table thankful that she had arrived first. Simone looked back seeing Lucy and Tim in their street clothes. They were doing this on their own time and she didn't think she would still be needing their help. They were adorable together. Simone thanked the waiter for her drink. She talked into the mic making sure they heard her.

"Sorry I am late." Simone looked up seeing Layla.

She nodded shifting in her seat. She could see that Layla didn't look as deranged in the daytime so that was nice. Simone didn't really know what to say so she was going to allow Layla to actually lead the conversation. Layla sat her bag behind her chair and ordered a water.

"Thanks for meeting me." She smiled softly.

"Yeah...sure." Simone didn't want to say she wanted to do this.

"No Jordan?"

"My fiancé is a busy man and besides, you said you just wanted to meet with me."

"Fiancé? Wow... congratulations. I didn't take Jordan for the settling type. Did you propose?" Layla wrapped her lips around her drink.

"Uh no. He did all the work." Simone had purposely didn't wear her engagement ring but she wanted to be petty and throw in his upgraded title anyway.

"Is it because you are pregnant?"

"No no, it's because he wanted too. You know an opportunity Asher could've had if you let him." Simone didn't see why everyone was so worried about her uterus.

"Yeah well Asher is dead now so it doesn't matter."

"Layla, it does matter. You tried to hurt me and for what? I didn't even know you existed! Hell, I didn't even want Jordan but it happened. You got pregnant by Asher. You lied and ultimately Asher's death falls on you." Simone was just being honest.

Layla looked at the other woman taking in her words. She had thought about aborting the baby and adoption. However, she couldn't do it so she wanted to lie. She wanted to bring Jordan back to her life in someway. The bakers were wonderful and a grandchild was the perfect excuse. It hurt to see how Jordan moved on. She wanted to be the one that made Jordan happy.