Affinity

Chapter 43: One Foot in The Door

" I'm still not feeling this dress young lady, I think you need to put my jacket on. Here." The man threw his suit jacket at me before I could even respond, hitting me dead in the face. He lucky I didn't have any makeup on for his dumbass to mess up.

" You wanna fight? On this day of all days you wish to throw hands with me? Cuz you definitely hit me with ya damn jacket, and ima count that as you throwing the first punch." I un-crumpled the jacket in my lap and held it flat between my palms as I awaited his response.

" Here you go being dramatic as hell, like you bout to run and tell on me or some shit. Oh well lil girl, throw that shit on and let's get this show on the road."

" You just knew you were coming in with me huh?" I huffed in my seat and inspected the jacket before slipping it on.

" You had no say in the matter, and I will not allow you to think you had a chance to even consider otherwise. Now come on slow poke, we got graduations to get to!"

" Just betta be ya graduation." I mumbled the previous under my breath as he'd made his way to my side of the car and was now opening the door so that I could step out. As soon as I went to put my foot on the ground this man grabbed my arm and faked like he was about to push me into the damn sidewalk.

" Oopps did you trip sis, gotta be more careful." A sinister smile played on his lips as he took pleasure in messing with me as usual.

" Ima fuck you up one day, just know it's coming." I straightened out my dress as he continued to laugh at me.

" Waiting patiently." Jay leaned forward and kissed my cheek in mock affection before pulling back and sighing deeply. " I know I don't have to tell you to be careful when we up in here, but ya know hold on to the cart, don't touch shit on the shelves, cuz we got food at home and all....." His laughter faltered at his own joke as he imitated a black mom's pep talk before entering a grocery store, obvious to suffice I was annoyed by his joking at such a time, he couldn't keep his damn comedian button switched off for shit.

" Jay! This is serious, stop playing." I stamped my heeled foot into the concrete below us and let my annoyance take up residence on my face so he could see I was really about to be pushed past my threshold of tolerance.

" Mybad lil one, come here. I'm sorry. I got you in there don't worry bout a thing, okay? We're walking out this thing together ard?" Jay held me in an embrace for a moment before looking me in the eye and gripping my hand in reassurance. If I couldn't put my trust in Jay, who could I?

" Let's go." I was the first to start moving towards the building, my feet shuffling as I ascended the stairs with Jay's hand on my shoulder. It was as if he couldn't bear my slipping out of his grasp, as if I would vanish into thin air if he dared to let me go.

We walked into the downtown building that, by the looks of the labeled marque, held more than twenty other supposedly legitimate businesses. Ever Holdings Ltd. stuck out like a sore thumb, he'd obviously gone behind my back and changed the name once I'd put the company on the stock market. When I'd dissolved A Balanced Tone Inc. he'd used his clout with the remaining shareholders to rebuild it, cloaked in a new name. He wasn't slick for shit, and especially not to me. I knew his moves like I knew my own, years out of each other's evolving presence, and brother and sister were still in step with each other even when they didn't want to be.

" You know Trey told me bout that business shit you did."

" I know, that man can't hold water." I sighed and leaned back into the elevator wall as we rode to the twentieth floor, " I don't care as long he keeps his mouth shut to Jaz. I'm not ready to hear her mouth yet, may never be ready."

" You tryna help everybody on the low, be open to accepting thanks." My brother, all brown hues of love with boyish eyes of persuasion, how could I not take weight in his words.

" Ding." The elevator announced our arrival to the appropriate floor and instantly my heart rate sped up. I was nervous in the form of sweaty palms and delayed step, Jay had to damn near pull me off the elevator.

" Deep breath." He threw the words over his shoulder to me as he dragged me along. I took heed and drew in air shakily before releasing, I looked up just in time to see a young woman spring from behind the reception desk and greet us.

" Ms. Ever, Mr. Ever is expecting you. Right this way please." I didn't have the energy to fake a smile towards the woman or even inquire how she knew me from sight alone, I simply followed her diagonally placed footfalls as they lead further into the space.

" Cuz now I'm just not an Ever." Jay's salty ass commented died in between our shoulders as I was grateful for the smile his dry humor provided me with. I clutched his arm quickly and looked up at the side of his face to see nothing but assurance in his features; confident that he was the better brother of the two. Me walking in on his arm was proof of that. It was this symbolic moment between us in which I saw his true place in my life, and where he was glad that I'd finally seen as much, that'd distracted us from the sounds of firearm being discharged in our direction......

Had to leave a cliffhanger.......

We not done yet