Tabitha

Chapter 2

Tabitha

Friday…

Tasteless coffee.

Burnt toast.

I drained the cup and placed the empty container in the sink, tossing the toast in the thrash. Today was one of those days where I didn't want to leave the apartment, I didn't want to see people, and I certainly didn't want to have to deal with my ex.

Gary Beckett was the worst decision I have ever made in my life. Not only did I marry him, I made him a business partner who has become the bane of my existence. The man was hellbent on making my life miserable.

In addition, although it was late summer, Baltimore was hot and balmy. Having to leave my home and go out into the heat was something I wasn't looking forward to.

I dragged myself from the kitchen while stripping my clothes off on my way to the bathroom. Once there, I tossed the clothes into the hamper and stepped into the shower. The warm water on my skin soothed me somewhat, but my mind was where I needed the most attention. I stood still and let the calming waters wash over me, hoping to bring some stillness of mind.

I had a meeting this morning that needed me to be in my best frame of mind. Our Japanese client was meticulous, and I needed sharp wits about me. But Gary draining my business was taking its toll on me and I had no idea how to put an end to it. The police and lawyers could do nothing until I had proof of illegal activities on his part. I had nothing.

I needed him gone, but his contract was ironclad. In addition, he'd colluded with some of the shareholders which made his position firm. I was at a loss as to what to do. It also seemed that our lawyer was on his side, therefore I was in the process of finding new attorneys to represent me.

Tension was messing with my neck and back, and a headache was threatening. Breathe Tabitha, breathe . A few minutes under the warm shower seemed to have eased some of the aches but it was getting late, so I turned the tap off and stepped onto the mat. With the way I was feeling, the only thing that made me feel quite like myself was my skin care routine for the morning. I'd developed a product that took care of three major skin care issues and that was the reason for the Japanese investor.

As I got dressed, my cell phone rang. I picked it up off the dresser with a smile. It was my best friend, Linda.

"Hey babes, we're having lunch today?"

She sounded sleepy as she answered. "Of course, and I have a surprise for you."

"You know I hate surprises, right?"

Linda chuckled. "You will like this one though."

"I doubt that, but let's see."

We wrapped up the conversation and I completed getting dressed. I was looking forward to our weekly lunch, although we also had dinner, a night out, and a girl's night in each week.

Linda and I were like sisters, we grew up together since the age of four years old. Our parents had been best friends until their passing. We were both now orphans and we adopted each other.

Linda hated Gary from the beginning of our relationship. They never got along although she supported me and my decision to marry him. I wish I had listened to her caution not to get involved with this man. Now I have to pay the consequences of my own action. Nevertheless, she was there for me no matter what.

The meeting went without a hitch, but at the back of my mind was the notion that something bad was about to happen with Gary. He's the type that always swoop in after everything is laid out to reap all the rewards. And I believed this was no different. Now, he was travelling, which gave me a few days to try and do things differently.

This new company I started would be managed by the Japanese until I was ready to take full control. This was not a subsidiary and had no relationship with my original company. I felt like I was losing the company I built from nothing because of this man, but what else could I do but start another? The new company was solely my own, with a new product which would meet the needs of women of color.

Linda and I met at our favorite lunch spot, a Jamaican restaurant that made the best oxtail and beans. She was already there when I arrived and had placed our orders. If you knew about Jamaican restaurants, you'd know they were already packed for the lunch hour.

As I came through the door, she waved from across the room. Her bright smile lit up her warm honey features, with her plum cheeks and bright red lips. Linda was five three, five seven in her four-inch heels, voluptuous both in bust and ass. She was quite the vixen, and she wasn't ashamed to flaunt it.

Today she was wearing a blond buzz cut that suited her complexion well. She looked like she just stepped off the front page of a black magazine.

"Girl, your hair is slaying!" I complimented her. "I love it."

"You need to come to my hairdresser."

"You know I must use the hair products I make. I can't cut my hair. The hair growth products won't sell."

"I feel you," she agreed. "Sis, how was your meeting?"

I slipped into the seat opposite her. The place was an old diner with booths and Formica tabletops. I sat across from her and shrugged. "It was okay. I'm just worried about starting something new. I lost the first one I started, let's hope I keep this as well."

"I swear, Sis. Let me have someone end this for you."

"No, getting blood on our hands won't solve my problems."

"It would solve everything. Just say the word and no one will ever find his body."

I reached across and slapped her hand. "Keep your voice down."

"This is a Jamaican restaurant, whatever you say stays right here. In fact, they'll be happy to help us with this problem as well."

"Stop," I laughed just as the server made his way to our table. "The food is here. I am so hungry!"

"Me too."

My mouth opened wide. "How did you get them to serve all this?"

Usually, they didn't like to serve all three of their most popular meats in one meal. Today however, we got oxtail, curry goat, and jerk chicken on one plate, with rice and peas, vegetable and plantain.

"I told them we got man trouble and Miss Myrtle sympathized with me."

Miss Myrtle was the owner, and her son was the chef. The one who served us was the grandson, and the granddaughter was behind the cash register. A cousin served at the counter as well.

"I'm glad you told her that," I beamed. "These are my favorites … wait, you said you had a surprise. Should I be worried, is that why you ordered all three of these?"

She scratched her neck before answering which told me she was buttering me up for something. "That's why you got my favorites in one dish. I won't eat until you tell me what's going on."

‘Girl, you're too suspicious, eat your lunch."

With a pout, I pushed my plate to the side. "I'm not hungry."

"Heh?" Linda stared at me wide eyed. ‘Didn't you just say how famished you were? Are you throwing a tantrum. Girl, have your food."

"No. I don't want it."

She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Okay, I'll tell you. Now eat up like a good girl." I pulled my plate closer and dug in. "That's a good girl," she crooned, and we both laughed. "You're such a kid."

"Now spill," I taunted. "My food is getting cold and it's your fault!"

"Alright," she sighed once more. "My cousin's husband wants to stock your brand in his store."

I raised my head and looked at her with a frown. "Is that it?" I asked suspiciously. "What's the catch?"

"No catch. It's your new brand that he wants to retail."

"We haven't even launched yet and I am still waiting on my Japanese investor to sign the deal. Moreover, it will be launched in Japan and US first. Where is this store?"

"Dubai."

"I don't know. Japan was supposed to be our Asian launch."

"Look babes, it's not just one store. My cousin and his husband own a chain of stores in Dubai, London and some other place I don't even know."

My eyes bulged. "You're talking about your cousin Ian?"

"Yes!"

"Oh my God. It's Italy, you idiot. He also owns a store in Italy!"

"Oh, I forgot you knew Ian. So, you also know his husband, Alex."

I put down my fork. "Have you been smoking weed or something? What do you mean, ‘ so you also know his husband Alex '?" I mimicked. "Giiirrrllll, stop playing. You romp too much!" I said when I noticed the twinkle in her eyes and the amused smirk.

"So, what do you think.?" she asked seriously.

"I suppose we can add them to the suppliers list. That would be so snatched!"

"Then it's settled, you're flying to Dubai this weekend for a meeting with Alex and to meet your new boyfriend."

"You booked me a flight … what ?" I almost choked on my oxtail. "Repeat that."

"Yes, I booked you a flight to Dubai."

"And?"

She lowered her eyes and took a bite of her food. "You'll meet with Alex?"

"And?" She swallowed and took a long drink of her juice, mumbling under her breath. I nudged her and asked again. "And?"

"Alright, you'll meet a new man from the Boyfriend Agency?"

"What Boyfriend Agency, and the hell you mean I'll meet a new man?"

"I got you the perfect match and he's in Dubai."

I shook my head adamantly. "I'm not going to Dubai. You go and meet this man of yours."

"I knew you'd say that. Hold on." Linda reached into her handbag and grabbed her phone.

"Who you calling?"

"Aunt Beryl."

I grabbed for her phone. "You wouldn't!"

"I'll do anything to get you away from Gary and married to the ideal man. Should I call my auntie? She already knows about this, and she's prepared to drag you there if she must."

I pointed a finger at her nose and scrunched my face. "I swear, you're gonna pay for that, and all this." I swept my hand across the table indicating our lunch. "And I want dessert!"

Usually, we split the bill whenever we went out unless otherwise indicated beforehand, or on special occasions. Today I was acting like it was my birthday and it was her treat. She was blackmailing me with her aunt who I could never say no to and that wasn't fair at all.

"I swear, I'll get you back, Linda McCoy."