Didn't We Almost Have It All? | method man

Chapter 3

Jaida's heels clicked and clacked across the pavement as she approached the towering Central Park Tower on West 57th St. As she read Mef's direct message from two days ago, she mumbled the address to herself before looking up at the beautiful, upscale building. Suddenly, Method Man emerged coolly from the entrance and approached her. Jaida's eyes scanned him up and down as he was dressed in a fitted, black shirt and jeans with a toothpick in his mouth.

"Thank you for coming."

Jaida looked confused. "Um, hey. Why am I here?" she asked.

"Tia told me you own a real estate brokerage. There's some changes happening in my life and I need a new start. I was hoping you could find me a place." He looked around, "something like this."

Jaida scoffed slightly with a smile, "I have people for that. I'll give them your—"
"I want you..." he interrupted. There was a pause before he continued his wordplay, "to do it.... please."

Jaida looked at him. She was searching to see if he was going to laugh, smile but nope. He was serious almost about everything since she's met him.

She sighed and reluctantly agreed to help "I-I'll see what I can find. I think this here is under contract but for future references," she pulled a business card out of her purse, "don't summon me. Call me." She gave him a fake smile and walked away. He chuckled watching her walk away. He was intrigued by her no-nonsense attitude. He thought that was cute.

​​​​​​ ***
Weeks later

Shay looks down at her phone with a stank face, "What's goin on with Jaida and Mef?" She asked Tia showing a video of Method Man holding the camera with his arm around Jaida's neck. It looked like they were at the studio.

Tia looked over and laughed, "Girl they're just friends. Ain't nothing goin' on. Why you worried anyway?"

Shay rolled her eyes at the question and continued sipping her drink at the restaurant table. Tia shook her head.

Shay had it bad for Mef. It started out as an innocent crush when she was younger. Shay grew up seeing how all the women obsessed, screamed, and fanned out over this man but she knew they never stood a chance. She would sometimes see him from time to time with other women too. Shay and him were ten years apart, but she was tired of him seeing her as a little girl. She was a woman now and she was ready to pursue her desire. They've smoked, hung out, but he was always respectful and treated her like family. Seeing Jaida hanging out with him made her turn green. He was hard to get close to. She's known him for years; Jaida just met him not too long ago and they're already cliqued up like they homies.

"Ti, where did you find this bougie bitch anyway?" Shay asked in irritation.

"Uh uh don't start that shit Shay," Tia said holding her hand up, "I've known you since forever, and even though Jaida and I haven't known each other for long, y'all my bitches. Tighten up," Tia scolded, hoping Shay would let her one-sided beef go.

Ever since Tia introduced them to one another she instantly regretted it. Their personalities didn't mesh. Shay was very attention seeking, loud, outgoing and territorial. Jaida could be all those things, but she just didn't vibe with Shay. However, they tolerated each other, they would mostly hang out in a group setting and if they did find themselves alone together, they would make small talk but nothing serious.

"Jaida has no issues with you." Tia continued, "She's mad chill once you get to know her."

Shay waved her off. She wasn't interested in hearing what Tia had to say. Tia on the other hand wanted to know what really was up between Mef and Jaida. They met two months ago and to her knowledge, Jaida and Mef only communicated here and there via social media. How in the hell they wind up the studio together that she never told me about? Tia asked herself. One thing for sure and two for certain...she was gonna find out.

***
Days later

Jaida and Tia sat at the in-house bar catching up. Tia was throwing a little shindig at her condo in New York. It's been a few weeks since Tia saw her friend in that video with Mef and instead of texting her about it, she wanted to talk about it in person.

"Now Jaida, since when you and Mef linked up? Last time I checked, he wanted you to help him find a place."

Jaida laughed, swirling her straw in her drink, "Nah Mef is cool. We've been in contact, I had a listing that I wanted to run by him, he told me to meet him at the studio. We talked, we were chillin', he was high, he took that video, and that's all it was," Jaida shrugged.

Tia's face dropped, "That's it? No juiciness?"

"Girl, you know that man is married."

Tia cocked her head back a little, "Look...Him and Tammy been with each other forever, but I've seen him in action and let's just say...Mef ain't no saint."

Jaida hung on to her friend's word before she finally responded, "Tia, that ain't no surprise but I refuse to involve myself with a married man."

"Separated." Mef interjected, catching them off guard.

Jaida was taken aback, "Huh?"

"Nah I overheard yall say married. Just saying...we're separated," he replied smoothly leaning in to give Tia a side hug.

He gave Jaida a warming hug and Tia couldn't help but to notice. He firmly pressed his body into Jaida with a side hug along with a gentle squeeze. It was innocent but Tia couldn't help but think they'd be a cute couple. Their relationship did seem innocent as Jaida explained but regardless of what became of it, she did enjoy seeing her friend laugh, let loose and just live in the moment for once. From the time she met her, Jaida was healing from a breakup where she never received closure. Her boyfriend of five years died in a car accident, and she haven't full bounced back from that. No matter how many parties and functions Jaida was invited to, no matter-how many niggas tried to talk to her, Jaida couldn't fully commit. As far as she knew, work was her man. As Jadia and Mef released their embrace, Tia excused herself from the bar, leaving the two to mingle. Mef ordered him a drink then turned his attention to Jaida. He looked at her a little irritated.

"Why y'all over here talking shit bout me?" He asked with a mean mugged look on his face.

Jaida was caught off guard by his seriousness, before she could answer he said, "Look, I'm a cool ass nigga. Tia loves that gossiping shit, I don't. If there's any questions you got about me, anything you wanna talk to me about...holla at me."

"Clifford, you need to chill. Tia was just tryna get the scoop on us when we took that picture at the studio." He said nothing, feeling kinda dumb. She continued with attitude in her tone, "yeah so next time if you want to know something just ask instead of being an asshole." She rolled her eyes, got up from her seat and left before he could even respond.

***
This chapter was pretty mid but it will get better! Promise!

Hmm do y'all think Mef over reacted?