The Only Exception

29

Letoya

When I walked into Jo's work place, the building was louder and busier than usual. It was packed with news crews, and plus the workers. Making my way to the elevator, I got on and hit the floor I needed. Stepping off, I ran straight into David. "My bad D."

He shook his head as I helped him pick the folders and pages up he had dropped. "No no. It's okay Toya, we didn't see each other. Jo here too?"

"No. She's still home. She'll be here in a hour or two to go over her speech but I think she underestimated exactly when the camera crews and things would arrive. How long they been here?"

"Since 6:30 this morning." David informed me.

"Oh nah. Couldn't have been me." I chuckled.

"Couldn't have been any of us." A woman passed by and spoke.

David and I laughed at that before he nodded. "I agree with Cheryl. So what're you here so early for?"

"I left my bag in the office and I have to go shadow a class today but I'll be back afterwards. If something happens, let me know. I want to be caught up on all of the tea by time I get back here."

I walked into Jo's office and grabbed my bag from the chair.

"Baby, you made it." A voice called out from the storage room Jo had connected to her office. The door opened as I turned around and looked at the woman puzzled. She tightened the leather coat when she noticed I wasn't Jo. "Uh, can I help you?"

"Who are you?" She asked me as if I was the one baring only a leather coat and heels in her office.

"I'm Letoya... your turn."

"I'm Janet's girlfriend." She answered smartly. "Why are you in her office?"

"Who is Janet?" I questioned in confusion.

The woman rolled her eyes. "Janet Jackson. This is her office isn't it?"

Janet... is Jo. Which means she was lying about that but hell she probably had her reasons. That isn't any of my business.

"It is her office, but I highly doubt that you're her girlfriend." I mumbled.

"By the contract I signed, I'd say differently." The woman smirked at me.

My eyes widened slightly. Contract? I wasn't the only one who had signed the contract? "Did you say contract?"

The lady chuckled. "Sweetie, are you deaf? Yes, contract. You know, the thing you sign and date. Who are you? I know damn well Janet ain't hired nobody as blonde and dumb as you."

I didn't have an answer for the woman because right now I was stuck. Truly stuck. My mind stopped entirely. I wasn't the only one? How many others were there?

The doors to her office opened and Gil and Shawn entered with decorations. They hadn't noticed the lady standing on one end of the room and me standing on the other for Gil came in talking. "Come on, if we gone set these decorations up we need to hurry before Jay gets to the office."

Gil noticed the woman and stopped speaking for a moment. Shawn asked. "Uh, hello. Who are you?"

"Lila, what are you doing here?" Gil asked her with shocked eyes.

"Well..." I broke into the conversation and their heads snapped my way. "She seems to be in search for her girlfriend Janet."

"Letoya." Gil called my name lowly as he sighed and Shawn's head dropped.

"So someone inform me..." I began. "Because it seems like you two aren't too surprised at me saying that. Jo gave the contract to others didn't she? I'm not the only one am I?"

Lila laughed. "Oh shit, you thought you were the only one? Hold on, this is classic."

I nodded. "Lila, what number were you? Since it seems that the cats got their tongues?"

"She told me I was number 8. Now when did you sign this contract dear?" Lila asked me.

"A couple months back. What number does that make me?"

"I'd say 10. I've been in and out for two years. I'd be surprised if she went dry for that long. She probably had someone after me and before you."

Nodding, I digested the information and smiled. "Well, that's good to know. Sorry to cut this short, but I have to go to class. Tell Jo, I said good luck."

Leaving the room, footsteps followed me. Shawn grabbed me by my arm. "Wait Toya, I know this is bad—."

I turned and faced her as my volume dropped and my tone hardened. "You honestly think I wanna hear what you have to say? Let me go."

Shawn let my arm go as I walked to the elevator doors. Sliding on right before it closed, I rode it down to the ground floor. Getting off, I was heading towards the garage when Amber yelled my name. "Letoya!"

Turning, I looked her direction and saw her point some cops towards me. My face furrowed as the men walked up to me. "Are you Letoya Luckett?"

"Yes. Yes I am. May I help you officers?" I asked them nervously. I hated fucking cops. The room had fallen silent and the cops didn't whisper when they replied.

"There's been a situation down at your dorm room Miss Luckett, we need you to come with us."

I didn't move from where I stood. "I'm sorry, but do you mind telling me what exactly happened?"

"A Monica Brown has been shoot. We were told to come find you." The other cop replied and I felt my heart drop. 

"She's okay right?" I questioned the men as I began walking behind them. People watched curiously and when we got outside and they still hadn't answered, I asked again. "Hello? Can you tell me if my cousin is okay?"

The first dude that spoke to me, turned around and sent me a sympathetic glance. "I'm sorry, but it's not looking good. We have to get you to the hospital. It's urgent Miss Luckett."

I followed them to the squad car and got in the back. My face wore my emotions and I knew it was a look of worry. Yeah, Monica was an asshole sometimes, but that was still my family. And shooting her— well this was about to cause a war that I wasn't ready to do damage control on.