I checked the time for the hundredth time in the last hour. I was on pins and needles. This was the final day of the divorce proceedings, and it felt as if time was standing still. I was waiting for Christion to call me and give me the good news that his divorce was finalized. I had played the role of the side chic way too long. It was time for me to take my place as Mrs. Christion Yates.
My plan for us once he left court was a nice little dinner over candlelight. Then I planned on making love to him all night long. I had been off my birth control for a month, and I was ovulating. I promised Christion I wouldn’t get pregnant while he was still married, but now he’s free a man. Yes, I have it all worked out. I’ve been buying my time since I met him six years ago when I started working as a customer service rep for his airline.
“Nori, pull yourself together.” I was in the middle of packing for our trip to Miami in the morning. Everything had been so crazy the last few days. Each night he came home from court, drained. I originally wanted to fly down to Barbados, but he was hesitant on that. But, agreed to Miami. He said that we’ll go in two months for my 27th birthday. And, that was fine with me.
Baby what time will you be home?
That’s the text I sent over an hour ago. He still hadn’t responded. And, that wasn’t like him at all. So, I decided I would go down to the courthouse and wait in the parking lot. I had promised him that I would stay away, but I couldn’t. Especially with him not responding to my text. I had to go because I was finally getting what I wanted. My man.
“What to wear? What to wear?” I didn’t want to wear anything too revealing, but I did want to look sexy. I decided on a cute little Givenchy dress we picked up during a trip to Italy. He was always taking me on luxurious business trips with him. Then afterwards, he would take me shopping.
I laid the outfit on my bed to get a good look at it. My black Christian Louboutin would add the icing on the cake that I was looking for. I was about to jump in the shower when my phone rang. I finally found it, under the pile of clothes on my bed. I was hoping it was Christion telling me that he was finally a free man. But it wasn’t. It was my girl, TaMira.
“What’s up?” I was out of breath after digging through the pile of clothes to get my phone.
“Nothing. Just calling to see when I need to get my dress for the wedding.” We were on Facetime and I could see her face was all greasy from the plate of chicken wings on the table. Her two kids were running around in the background.
“Soon, bihh…” We burst out laughing. “Hopefully in two months for real. In sixty days I plan on being the new Mrs. Christion Yates.” The wife of a CEO. Not just any CEO, but the CEO of Prestige Airlines. A private airline, that served the elite of the elite in the world. Majority of the clients were worth at least $25 million dollars or more. The last time I checked Google, Christion was worth $92 million dollars. And, that didn’t include his latest earnings. Yeah, I’m about to have all that.
“Well you need to let me know so I can start wearing my waist trainer again. You know I had to stop when I thought I was pregnant.”
“Yeah, I remember. Calling me screaming like you had lost your mind.”
“Girl I did lose it. These two rugrats are enough for me. I don’t know how much more I can take of Paw-Patrol.” TaMira started laughing, then a serious look came across her face. “I hate to ask…”
I already knew with those four words the call was about money. I braced myself to hear what came out of her mouth.
“But I need $900. My light bill is due. I need to pay for the boys summer camp tuition.” She turned her attention from me and started yelling at the boys in the background for a quick second. “You think you can get that to me by tonight. I want to get this taken care of ASAP.”
I was trying to keep a straight face because just four days ago I gave her $500 for her car payment. Now, this was getting out of hand. I guess this was the price I had to pay for exposing my relationship with Christion. It was either wait for him to leave his wife or I get the ball rolling myself. So, I had TaMira tip off TMZ, that the husband of future the US Senator from South Carolina, would be spending the weekend with his sexy young girlfriend.
Normally, they wouldn’t be interested, but I was considered a celebrity on Instagram. They were eager to eat up the news that I would be vacationing with her husband on the sandy beaches of the Dominican Republic. The news hit better than I ever expected but using TaMira to spread the news was costing me a pretty penny.
“Yeah girl, I’ll Cash App you before I head over to the courthouse to meet Christion.” What I really wanted to say was, “Hell no. I’ve given you more than the 10 grand I promised you. You are taking this silence shit too far.” I couldn’t take the chance though because I didn’t know if she still had the fake email account that she used to notify TMZ. She said she deleted it. But I’m no computer genius so she could be lying. And, I’m not willing to take that chance.
“Thank you, Suga. You’re coming through for your girl again. Listen call me when you get back. I’m about to head out to handle some errands.” She blew me a kiss before hanging up.
I had to figure out how to cut her ass off without risking her spilling the beans. I’ll figure that out later, but for now I needed to get over to the courthouse to get my man.
I checked myself in the mirror, it wasn’t a hair out of place. I grabbed my Prada purse I charged on Christion’s card last week. On my way down to the lobby, the doorman text to confirm my car was waiting out front. I gave the doorman a $50 tip, I was feeling generous. I hopped in my Lexus truck that Christion gave me this past Valentine’s day. That man spoiled me beyond words.
I’m heading to the courthouse to meet you.
I didn’t want him to be too surprised when he saw my car in the parking lot, so I sent him a quick text to let him know I was on my way. To my surprise, he replied, NO. I stared at the text until the car behind me honked the horn for me to go. I couldn’t understand why he said no, so I called him. The first time he rejected me. The second time he sent me to voicemail. And, on the third time he answered.
I could barely him, it was as if he was trying to whisper, “Don’t come here. I’ll explain.” Then he hung up.
It was too late because I was pulling into the parking lot. I decided to park in the middle where I could get a good view of the courthouse steps. I didn’t sit there long before I saw Christion coming out of the courthouse. Walking hand in hand with her.
Furious. That was exactly how I was feeling. I could see that Christion and Montana were surrounded by their family and friends. The only one missing was their daughter. They were acting as if they had just renewed their vows or something. I know they didn’t because it was a divorce hearing. I grabbed my phone and called him. I sat there and watched as Christion had the nerve to look at the phone, then put it back in his pocket.
“I know he’s not ignoring me.” I decided to Facetime. Again, he looked at the phone, then put it back in his pocket. My mind was made up, I got out of the car. As I was walking towards the courthouse, Christion and Montana jumped in his car when it pulled up. I should have worn my flats so I could run up to the car. By the time I reached the front of the courthouse, the car had already pulled off.
There were a few of their relatives still on the courthouse steps, so I was glad that I decided to wrap a scarf around my head to help conceal my face. As I was going in the courthouse, I overheard a woman say, “I’m so glad they are going to work it out. They can take the next sixty days to rebuild their marriage.”
I stumbled going up the steps when I heard her. An older gentleman helped me back to my feet. It was no need to hang around there any longer. I bolted back to the car. And, I immediately started calling him. No answer. He was really starting to piss me off. Just like before he wasn’t answering. Then, my calls started going straight to his voicemail. I was trying to compose myself.
I sat in my car defeated. My hands were shaking so bad, that I couldn’t even grip the stirring wheel. I started sending texts. I dropped the phone at least three times before I sent the first text.
Talk to me!! Why did you leave with Montana!
I waited for what felt like about 5 minutes, but actually maybe only 10 seconds had passed before I sent another text.
I know you see my text!!
Christion was really playing games. Instead of texting, I called from my other phone that I only used for business. It went straight to voicemail. “Bastard,” I screamed. I figured he turned his phone off because he wasn’t aware of my second phone. So, he couldn’t have blocked me. Could he?
Why you turn your phone off!! ANWSER ME
I refused to cry because I was going to get some answers. I calmed down long enough to gather my thoughts. I put the car in drive and headed out the parking lot. I sat at the stop sign so long, there was a line of cars behind me honking. I didn’t care. Honestly, I didn’t know what to do. I just pulled out into traffic and started driving.
My mind wasn’t focusing on the road. I ran a red light and almost hit a man crossing the street. I needed to get off the road and quick. When I realized where I was, I was pulling into TaMira’s apartment complex.
I pulled my car in the spot next to hers because I had to get my thoughts together. For the last six years I had sat on the sidelines, playing house with him whenever he wanted, me to. Cooking his favorite meals, listening to his ass whine about his life with Montana, and being the wife she wasn’t. I don’t know how long I had been sitting in the parking lot before I heard TaMira tapping on my window.
I unlocked the doors so she could hop in. I could hear her talking, but I wasn’t listening. And, that’s when it happened. The tears began to fall like rain drops down my face.
“Anori what’s wrong girl? Talk to me.” That was the only thing I had managed to make out since she jumped in the car.
I sobbed for I don’t how long before I told her what was happening. “He won’t answer my texts or phone calls.”
“It’s no way he went back to his wife. That man loves you. Here call him from my phone.” TaMira passed me her phone.
I was praying his phone was turned off. The phone rang three times before I heard his voice boom on the other end. I sat there numb. “Hello, hello,” I heard him say over and over. My adrenaline was rushing. “What the hell is going on Christion?” He didn’t say a word, then the call ended.
I looked at the phone. “He hung up on me. Let me call his ass back.” I called back two more times. Each time I got the voicemail immediately.
“We bout to go over there,” TaMira said. “Hold on let me send the boys over to my neighbors and I’ll be right back.”
I watched as she ran up the steps to her apartment. I called his phone again. This time when he didn’t answer I called his drivers phone. At least I didn’t go straight to voicemail, but he didn’t answer either. Then it hit me to call the driver that he had reserved for me.
“Hello.”
Well he hadn’t cut me completely off. “Braxton where’s Mr. Yates?”
“I do apologize, Ms. Norton, I am no longer on your service. Mr. Yates said he will reach out to you later to explain.”
I didn’t want to hear anything else. I ended the call. He was not going to have to explain later, he was going to explain now. I waited for TaMira to return before I peeled out the parking lot like I was going to put out a fire.
Ten minutes later, I pulled up to the old mill that had been converted into condos. He purchased the penthouse last year before Montana put him out. Then it hit me. She put him out, and now he’s taking her back. I decorated the penthouse. I spent just as much time here with him as I did at my place.
As soon as I put the car in park, TaMira and I jumped out and headed into that building. You would have thought I was Miss. Sophia going to see Mister. As soon as I stepped in the building, the doorman and Christion’s head security guy stopped me. If I had to make a scene, I would.
“Ms. Norton, Mr. Yates wants you to know he will speak with you tomorrow,” his bodyguard stated. I didn’t appreciate the tone in old boy’s voice.
“No, either I’m going up or he’s coming down,” I informed both of them. I could see my girl out the corner of my eye pulling out her Vaseline. Yes, it was going to be that type of night.
The doorman rushed back to his desk. I could hear him on the phone, “Mr. Yates you need to come to the lobby immediately.” Christion’s security guy shot him a quick look like he could handle the situation.
Five minutes later, Christion came downstairs. He was wearing the Yeezy’s that I had gotten him for his birthday and a pair of jogging his pants that showed his print. What was he doing upstairs with her? I asked myself.
“Anori, didn’t you get any of my messages?” He was calm, cool and collected. Acting like I was just some annoying woman. I had been with this man for six years, the least I deserved was an explanation.
“What messages?” I had a chip on my shoulder, and I was daring anyone to knock it off.
“The messages that you got from your driver and my man right here. I was coming to see you tomorrow.”
“Well tomorrow’s here,” I bellowed. I was so close to him, if he opened his mouth we could have kissed. He stepped back a minute before giving his security man and the doorman a nod.
“Come over here and let’s talk.” He was pointing to a section in the lobby for us to sit down.
“No, I want to go upstairs like I always do,” I shouted.
“That’s right,” TaMira yelled. She didn’t get the chance to say anything else before she was escorted from the building.
I walked over to the elevator and put my code in to go up to the penthouse. Nothing happened. I didn’t hear the elevator coming down like I normally did. “You locked me out. You locked me out!” I charged straight for him to hit him, but he caught my hands. He restrained me so tight I couldn’t move.
“Anori…” his voice was so stern. He had never taken that tone with me.
I gave him a look because he wasn’t calling me Nori Bear like had done for the last four years. Hell, just this morning. He must have felt the vibe I was giving because his voice wasn’t as scolding as before. “Anori, never in a million years I would have thought we would be here. I didn’t think I had any more feelings for my wife. But, today…”
I froze because the tone in his voice sounded different. He sounded sincere when he talked about her. I listened as he explained the outcome and the sixty-day situation. He said for me to meet him at his office the next day to discuss the car, my apartment, and the bank accounts he had established for me. He said they all were gifts, so he didn’t intend on taking them back.
He released his grip from around me. He kissed me on the forehead like I was his daughter. Then, he walked away. He just walked away. I dropped to the floor as the elevator doors opened and closed. What was I supposed to do now?
Sixty-days Later
“Girl let’s go,” TaMira demanded as she waited for me to grab my bags. We were heading to a resort that I had booked in Barbados for me and Christion.
“I’m coming,” I shouted back. I grabbed my Louis Vuitton luggage and headed into the living room. I was using the money that Christion had left me to live my best life.
We were halfway out the door when TaMira let out a loud gasp.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“They’re saying that Christion collapsed at the courthouse. It’s all over Facebook.”
I stood there frozen.
“Did you hear me?”
“I heard you,” I put my Chanel sunglasses on and turned the light off in the living room. “Now, let’s go catch our flight.”
Christion was getting exactly what he deserved.
