Page 12 of A Trial of the Heart

Chapter

Twelve

Rashad:

Adjusting my silk tie over my tailored button-up shirt, I followed my legal team closely as we entered the fifth district court room in Williamsburg, Virginia.

It was some bullshit that I was even here to begin with.

Being honest, I wasn’t the least bit fazed.

I had the best damn legal team in the area.

My team was unstoppable for sure, but I was also innocent of all charges.

At thirty-four, I owned and operated a nonprofit organization that helped youth in need called Melanin Hive Youth Center.

Along with the youth center, I volunteered occasionally for a local homeless shelter.

Being a young black man who came from a loving, two-parent home built the foundation for my success today.

It was a blessing. Sadly, I had gotten myself caught up with a female who couldn’t let go, and instead of walking away, she caused major problems in my life.

That happening was another reason the cruise was needed for me.

“You good, man?” the head lawyer on my team and best friend, Barret, questioned.

I looked his way with a nod. “Just ready to get this shit over with so I can get my life back to normal.” I spoke in a blasé tone. I was being charged with money laundering and tax evasion, which was bullshit and mind blowing at the same time.

“Welp, let’s get this shit over with.” I knew if it was up to Barret, we wouldn’t even be standing there.

Stepping inside the courtroom, my mind drifted back to a time I couldn’t forget… almost one year ago.

Lauryn: Rashad why the fuck are you not answering me?

Lauryn was a chick I met at a club a few months back, and at first, she seemed cool and down to earth.

Lauryn played the role well. It wasn’t until after we kicked it and had sex that she allowed her crazy to show.

I’d told her from the jump I really wasn’t looking for anything serious since the youth center took up most of my time.

She’d said she was cool with that. At first, I thought her tantrums and outbursts were normal women things, but I noticed hers were excessive, and she showed signs of someone needing to be committed.

Lauryn: I will ruin your fucking life don’t play with me.

Seeing her text, I chuckled. I didn’t do well with threats.

Those who met me now saw the educated black man trying to change the lives of underprivileged kids.

Fortunately for them, they didn’t know thugged out, gun toting, kicking ass, not to be played with Rashad.

I’d buried him some years back, but at any given moment, he could surface.

I tried my best to keep that part of me buried.

Me: Do what you gotta do.

I wasn’t for the back and forth, and I knew not engaging would piss Lauryn off, but it would also make her leave me alone.

I was at work, and I had things to complete so I could head out.

After five minutes of not getting a response, I assumed Lauryn got the picture, so I tossed my phone back on my desk and continued to plan this month’s activities for the kids.

I’d been working a good fifteen minutes when I heard a commotion coming from the front of my establishment.

It caused me to quickly stand to figure out what was going on.

“Look, tell his ass I am out here right now,” someone said aggressively. It was Lauryn. I knew that voice anywhere.

“Ma’am, if you would tell me your name, I could let Mr. Carter know you’re here, and he will come out,” Megan, one of the counselors, said.

“Fuck do you need my name for, bitch? I am here to see Rashad, so tell his ass I am here,” she demanded.

“I am not disrespecting you in any way, so I’d appreciate it if you returned the favor.” Megan never raised her voice.

“Bitch, why you gatekeeping? You the one fucking him, ain’t it?”

Lauryn was bringing unwanted attention to a positive place. Plus, she was disrespecting my staff. I didn’t tolerate that. I’d heard enough. Rounding the corner, I saw Lauryn all in Megan’s face, and Megan stood unbothered, but I knew her. She was waiting for Lauryn to touch her before she went off.

“Yo!”

Lauryn had lifted her hand to either hit Megan or maybe even press her finger into her temple. Either way, I stopped it. Both ladies jumped and looked my way.

“You fucking this ho? That’s why you claim you can’t be in a relationship after you turned this pussy every way but loose?” she shouted, and some children began looking through the glass in the gymnasium.

I preached respect and conducting yourself in a certain manner along with controlling your anger, and though it wasn’t me, everything happening was a contradiction.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I looked to Megan. “Help Jon get the kids from the window. I got this.” I spoke low yet firm.

Megan nodded, heading my way and passing me. My eyes followed until she was out of sight. From my peripheral, I could see her and Jon instructing the kids from the window, and once I couldn’t see any movement, I moved in Lauryn’s way.

“You fuc—”

“Shut up!” I spoke through clenched teeth. I didn’t speak to women or, hell, anyone like that for that matter, but Lauryn was messing up the church’s money.

“Who the fuck are you talking to?” She raised her voice, rolling her neck and widening her eyes.

“Get out.”

Lauryn scoffed. “I ain’t going nowhere.”

It wasn’t going to be easy. She was going to put up a fight. Looking over my shoulder, I ensured no one, mainly the kids, was looking our way. Satisfied no one was, I faced Lauryn again.

“I said get the fuck out.”

“Hell no, I ai—”

I didn’t let Lauryn complete her sentence before I grasped her elbow roughly and pulled her toward the exit.

“Get the hell off of me. What is your problem?” Lauryn tried to snatch her arm away from me, but my grip was much stronger than hers.

Once we were outside, I released her, pushing her from me gently.

“I don’t know what the hell your problem is, but we’re done, and don’t bring your ass ‘round here again. Don’t come to my place, and if we happen to be in the same vicinity of each other, look the other fucking way, and don’t say shit to me.” I spoke firmly and slowly.

Lauryn stood there. Her mouth was slightly agape in disbelief.

“Seriously, Rashad?” Her lip quivered, and her voice was shaky. She looked as though she was about to cry.

“Seriously.” I’d already said I was done with Lauryn, but after today’s events, I didn’t even want her to say my name let alone look my way.

A look I couldn’t explain took over Lauryn’s features, and the tears I thought would come instantly faded.

“You gonna regret this shit.” Her tone was laced with pure anger. Lauryn lingered a bit before she forcefully rolled her eyes and spun, walking away from me quickly. Her threat didn’t mean anything to me as I knew it was empty, and even if it wasn’t, she didn’t put any fear in my heart.

“You not worried, are you?”

Hearing Barret’s deep voice pulled me from the short memory that had led to a roller coaster of events which ended with me in court.

“Nah, nah. I’m good.” I adjusted my tie before Barret nodded, and we continued into the room.

Just as I made my way to the front of the courtroom where we’d sit, a familiar, potent, intoxicating scent filled my nose.

Scanning the courtroom, my eyes landed on Shiloh.

She was oblivious to me as her head was down in some files.

Almost two weeks ago to the day, I had met her on a cruise, and we connected as if we’d known each other all of our lives.

Perusing her slowly, I licked my lips at the thought of her sweet nectar dripping on my tongue.

The red high-waisted skirt paired with the white ruffled blouse hugged her curves, while the nude designer heels made her thighs more appealing. Shiloh was beautiful by default.

After the judge asked me how I pleaded, I looked Shiloh’s way as I knew her eyes would instantly find mine.

It took a lot not to chuckle out loud once our eyes met.

She looked as though she’d seen a ghost. I winked her way, and the expression on her face intensified.

She was genuinely surprised and even confused.

Shiloh and I had spent every day together on the cruise, but once we stepped back on land, we went our separate ways.

As dope as the time was together, she made it clear she didn’t want anything serious, and though I was feeling her, I respected her wishes.

It was comical how things worked. The world was so small that running into Shiloh in such a setting didn’t even surprise me.

When we were together, she told me she was a lawyer, but it never went any further than that.

My eyes never wavered from Shiloh as she seemed to have a battle with her own self on what to do.

I knew she no longer wanted the case after realizing it was me.

I expected her to say so, so it was surprising when she didn’t.

“You good?” Barret leaned my way asking just above a whisper.

Looking away from Shiloh, I nodded to Barret but didn’t speak. Barret looked past me and then focused back my way.

“Conflict of interest I should know about? If you know her, it’s something we need to speak on now.”

Shiloh had already said she was good to proceed, so if she was cool with it, then so was I.

She meant what she said when she said whatever we shared would be left at the dock, even though we had exchanged numbers.

I hated that her beautiful self would lose this case.

Looking Shiloh’s way, I hoped she’d look my way because, though she said she was good, had I seen an ounce of doubt, I would have spoken up.

She refused to look back my way. I truly hated it had to be the way it was, but she set the tone, and I was dancing to her beat.

“Nah. We good.” I spoke quietly.

“Cool.”

I listened to the judge say when the first day of court would be, which would be the selecting of the jury and then the trial date, before the bailiff instructed everyone to rise for the judge’s dismissal.

Once the judge was out of the room and court had been dismissed for the day, I looked Shiloh’s way and chuckled silently because I knew she was trying to avoid me.

I spoke to Barret about getting with him later in the week before I strolled from the courtroom.

Shiloh wasn’t getting away no matter how fast she tried.