Homegrown: A Takeoff love story

Chapter 14- Straightenin'

*Trigger Warning: This chapter contains physical violence and gun violence. Please be advised.

When Asia got in her car, she blanked out and just drove. She had no idea where she was going and could barely see the lines in the road past the rain that had begun to fall mixed with the tears that flooded her eyes. She ended up in the valet lane of Nick's building at the St. Regis. She jumped out of her Tesla leaving the door wide open, and ran through the down pour past the valet attendant.
"Ma'am, are you ok?" He called out to her.
Asia limped on one leg through the lobby, looking like she'd been in a wreck. When she got to the elevator, she hit the intercom button for number 1900 and prayed that Nick would answer. When the intercom came on,
"Nick, please..." was all that she could manage to get out. He buzzed her up immediately.

When the elevator doors opened, Nick was stunned by Asia's appearance. Her hair was thrown all about her head and black mascara stained her pretty face. She stood in front of him shivering from the rain and barefoot, clutching her lone blue heel close to her chest. He walked closer to her and noticed a large purple bruise forming on the front of her neck. Nick took her and gently sat her down in a chair at the kitchen table and wrapped one of his jackets around her shoulders. The friends that were over his house playing video games and watching TV quietly gathered their stuff and began to leave once they saw Asia's condition.
"Aye, hit me up later bruh, lemme know if we needa make moves." Domingo said in a weary tone on his way out.
"Bet." Nick replied giving him a sturdy dap. Everyone left, except for Quavo.
"Asia, what done happened?" Nick asked calmly, trying to keep his composure.
"I was at the charity event, the one for Tyler Perry. And then..." she paused.
"And then what? Somebody beat on you? What, you got robbed or sumn? Who hurt you Asia?" Nick's voice got louder and deeper as the anger started to rise in his chest.
"There's this guy, Winston Lakes. I don't even know him that well, but I met him here at your party. He referred Mr. Perry to me for the big estate deal. He was so nice, but at the end of the night he just...turned on me." She began to cry.
Nick's jaw got tight.
"Yeah, I know dat pussy ass nigga, he showed up to my party wit Pee. He do some work for QC from time to time. Tell me exactly what he did to you!" Nick demanded.
Asia sat in the chair silently for what seemed like hours, not wanting to recount her experience at the gala. Finally, she got the nerve to speak.
"He tried to kiss me. He said he was the reason I even got the deal. When I tried to leave, he choked me and pinned me to the wall.." she sniffled. Asia couldn't even look Nick in the eye, she felt so ashamed. Nick began cracking his knuckles.
"So, he choked you and you ran off ?" He asked in a low serious tone.
"No, he touched me...he forced his fingers inside of me, so I grabbed a knife and cut his face." She admitted, looking down at her wet, dirty, bare feet. "I'm in big trouble Nick. I think I hurt him, but I'm not sure. I should probably go to the police, right? I left my shoe behind, they're gonna know I'm the one who did it." She cried.
Nicked hugged her. He could feel the pain and anger radiating from his core. Him and Quavo exchanged a look that said a thousand words.
"Asia, I'ma get you home. Unc, follow us in my car!" Nick demanded.
"I got cha!" Quavo said, grabbing the keys.
Nick gave Asia some socks to put on her feet and they went down to the valet to get her car.

When they got to Asia's house, Nick told Quavo to wait outside in his car. He walked her in and she immediately ran upstairs to shower. Nick sat on Asia's bed, quietly waiting for her to finish. She got in the water and frantically scrubbed her body. She scrubbed so hard that her skin was burning and turning red. She lathered her hands with soap and desperately tried to clean Winston's touch from inside of her, but the more she tried, the more she cried. Nick heard her cries and ran quickly to be by her side at the shower door.
"Asia, baby you aight in here?" He asked.
"No."  She cried softly.
"Come on out, I got you." Nick grabbed a towel and wrapped her inside of it. He carried her like a baby from the bathroom and placed her on the bed. A few moments later, he came back with a white sweatshirt and sweatpants from her closet and helped her to get dressed.
"Try to rest. Don't worry 'bout dat nigga or tha police, I'ma handle it." Nick said calmly.
"But, what are you going to do?" She asked, even though she was afraid to know the answer.
"Just don't think 'bout it. As far as you concerned, it's already done." He said.
"Alright." She agreed.
"When I leave, turn tha alarm on and don't answer tha door foe nobody, you understand me?"
"I understand." She answered softly.
He kissed her on the forehead, pulled the blankets over her, and said goodnight.