The FIRE in You

Chapter 39: The elephant in the room

I took my phone out and texted Jenkins to look into it.

"Aubrey, are you ok?", Vivienne asked. "Yes, why?", I asked back. "You seemed distant", "Maybe she's thinking of the sex she's gonna have tonight. The ladies said you need to be in doggy style with your man holding on to your waist to get maximum effect", Odette said making my eye go wide. The henna women laughed. "Give us all the details why don't ya", Vivienne teased, finally taking the attention away from me.

"There you go. It's dry", Vivienne said when she checked my waist henna tattoo. "Thank you", I said then covered it up. She paid the ladies and we left. I followed Vivienne's lead, she seemed to know where to go.

We found the boys in what looked like a busy park. They were sitting on one of the benches that were facing the ocean with beers in their hands. Odette walked up to Philip and kissed the hell out of him then stepped away only for Vivienne to do the same. Ajax choked on his beer making Philip laugh.

"Threesome virgin. What a surprise... Let's go, there's a place around here that has a barn fire and awesome music. You're gonna like it", he said then called the hotel's minivan.

It was like 2 km from where we were. It looked exclusive so it made me feel comfortable. I turned to Ajax and he was having the time of his life. I guess having Philip around really helped.

"Mr. Netherenes. Nice to see you", the old man who had a woman as young as Maya in his arms said with a huge smile. "Thank you Peckster. We're here to have a good time. Can you set us up?", Philip said, and the man nodded. We followed him to the beach. He called the waiters and they made a setup for us. Two huge love sofas and a coffee table facing the barn and dancing space.

The place was lively.

"Tequilas first please", Philip told the waiter and it took them seconds to get us waisted.

We danced all night long and finally witnessed the sunrise. Ajax and I went for a walk on the beach, I craved feeling the ocean water under my feet. We asked the waiter to take photos of us kissing with the sunrise in the background.

It was amazing.

"This is the best birthday vacation ever. Thank you Brey", Ajax said making me put his face in my hands and kiss the hell out of him.

"You deserve way more. I could show you if you'd let me", I said making him furrow his brows. "You're not spoiling our vacation with this. I'm not changing my mind, next time we're doing this, we will be splitting the cost", he said. I smiled. "I know, I was just trying my luck", my words made him chuckle. He kissed my temple and we returned to Philip and his gang.

We found them making out on the sofa. It was quite a view. "Get a room!", I shouted, startling them. "Fuck! Do you mind?", Philip whined making Odette stand and pull him up. "Let's go back, we have some business to attend to", she told him with a wink. "Yes Ma'am", he answered like a kid in a candy store.

As we were going to the parking lot, my phone started ringing. I looked at the called ID and it was Maya. I put it on mute and returned it to my pocket. "Work?", Ajax asked. "Maya", I said then looked at the front. He squeezed my hand lightly.

"Look, I know it's none of my business and I've tried to remain distant until you're ready to talk about it but, I can't wait any longer", Ajax said the moment we entered our cottage. I knew he would say something about 'me ignoring Maya's call' because he was on edge the whole ride back. "I understand", was all I said as I sat on the armchair. 

He kneeled in front of me making me look at him. "Brey, you need to talk to her. I might not know Lawrence or Maya that well, but what they did was unforgivable. I know it hurt you to your core but, Maya's family. You need to talk to her, you need to tell her whatever's in your heart otherwise this will keep getting worse", he said and I felt tears coming down my cheeks.

"I cant Ajax. It hurts so much. If I hadn't brought Lawrence into our lives then none of this would have happened", I said. I have been feeling guilty that I couldn't bring myself to look or talk to Simone. I can't... I don't know where to start.

She has been trying but I just can't. It's my fault. "Is that why you have been avoiding Simone and Jason?", he asked and I nodded with more tears backing it up. "Brey, it's not your fault. He's just an asshole. I don't know what he's thinking but I bet he's also regretting what he did", his words surprised me. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not taking his side. All I'm saying is, men like him tend to be impulsive that's all", he said making me wipe my tears away.

"Don't push them away. Don't push your family away gorgeous. You have done well so far, keep holding on especially now that I'm here with you. You don't have to do it alone. You got a dashing man right next to you ready to lend you a hand or two whenever you feel overwhelmed", he said making me chuckle. "Dashing huh?", I teased making him laugh while wiping my new tears away.

"I love you", I said then pulled him in a kiss that ended up getting heated until my phone started ringing again. I took a deep breath and then took it out of my pocket. As I guessed it. It was Maya. "I'm going to take a shower", Ajax said then left me staring at the ringing phone.

I released a breath and then answered. "Hi Sis, I tried texting but you didn't answer", she said in her normal cheerful voice. "I called Jenkins and he said you were on vacation so I guess that's why you didn't answer. I uuh... I need to talk to you. When are you coming back?", she asked. I remembered what Ajax said and cleared my throat.

"After two days", "One week vacation? Things with Ajax must be good", if she said this a year ago, I would have blushed and even chuckled but now, it was just a sentence. "OK then, I'll call when you're back. Bye", she said then hung up.

I stood up from the armchair ready to join Ajax in the bathroom when another call came in. "Tell me I was wrong", "You weren't. Lawrence had him tail us since the campaign launch. He wants to know your every move", Jenkins said making me furrow my brows.

It seems turning my young sister into his mistress was not enough. I might as well turn things up a notch.