Page 25 of Cause When You Love Someone

Clarke

G rown Woman

Most times, I crawled into a hole when my business hit the internet.

This go around, I put on my finest threads, jade-colored stones, and walked into my lawyer’s suite with my head held high.

Although I was fine with attending the meeting alone, Sage insisted on tagging along, and I accepted his support.

Lately, he was the only person I knew who was in my corner.

We sat in the office, gossiping for about five minutes before Kelis Troy joined us in the office.

“No mom today?” she asked while relaxing in her oversized leather chair.

“Nope. She won’t be attending any meetings with me from now on. I’m dissolving our contract.”

“Wait. Are you serious? You two have been a team since I became your lawyer.”

“So you should know how serious I am. I want to update my will too.”

Kelis removed her glasses, then reclined in her seat. “Well, Clarke, even though you’re terminating your manager, she’s entitled to revenue on deals she secured on your behalf.”

“That’s fine. I’m not against sharing the money. I just don’t want to share the same space.”

Sage fanned himself. “Whew. This feels like a divorce.”

“More like a healthy separation,” I replied.

“Healthy?” Sage quizzed. “You know your mom better than that. She already goes crazy when you go missing. Imagine what she is going to do when she learns you cut her off.”

“I expect it, and I can handle it. I just want my freedom. My mom separated me from anyone who loved me differently, even when she wasn’t loving me right. I won’t allow her to play games with my baby.”

Kelis’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “So the rumors are true? Are you and Chaz coming to see me about a prenup next?”

“No.” My head fell. Not out of shame, but because I yearned for the man whose baby I carried. “I’m not having a baby with Chaz.”

“Oh.”

“You don’t have to worry. Ishmael isn’t the type of man who would come after my money or assets.”

“Ishmael? Your bodyguard?” She pepped up. “I remember that name on a non-disclosure I filed away the other day.”

“That’s him.” My breast swelled with an inbreath. “How long will it take to serve her the paperwork?”

“I’ll have it handled within forty-eight hours.”

Satisfied, I freed a sigh of relief. It was unfortunate that I had to pay to get out of a toxic relationship, but some things were priceless.

“Since we’re on the subject of contracts, have you figured out how you’re going to handle your liquor contract?”

I sat up in my seat. “Actually, I have. I’ve spoken to my producer, and he’s going to shoot a mini-commercial with my friends.”

She nodded. “That’s a solid plan. The contract only requires you to be in the visual with the product, not use it, so that’s perfect.”

Kelis excused herself, leaving me alone with Sage and his pointed stare.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You’ve been telling everybody who asks that you’re not having a baby with Chaz. When are you going to talk to Ishmael about it?”

“When the baby goes off to college,” I joked.

“Ain’t nothing funny about that. Ishmael is a good dude. He deserves to watch his baby grow.”

“I know. I’m just . . . scared. I don’t know how to tell him since, for weeks, I haven’t addressed the rumors.

Chaz’s stupid ass is fueling the lies, when he knows we weren’t having sex.

” My racing heart caused me to palm my chest. “I’m scared Ishmael will reject me.

Us. I don’t want to hear him declare we’re better off as parents and nothing more. ”

“Then that makes you no better than my mama,” Sage declared. “You can’t keep a baby away because her daddy may not want you.”

“I know,” I spat out. “I wouldn’t do that. I guess I’ve just been hoping he’ll come see me. He’s the one who couldn’t put his ego to the side. I feel like he forced me to make the choice for us. Why do I have to make the first move?”

“Girl, Ishmael is a grown ass man. It’s his job to protect you.

You should have rewarded him instead of punishing him for it.

When you love someone, you put your pride aside, so they’ll have room to feel.

You sacrifice being right for the sake of peace.

The thought of rejection can’t keep you apart. ”

I tilted my head and dressed my friend with a sharp stare. “And how do you know I love him?”

“Because you’re so afraid he doesn’t love you.”

Once I completed my meeting, Sage and I planned to have lunch. Pregnancy cravings weren’t an issue, but my appetite had me eating like an elephant. Almost three months into my pregnancy, I was apprehensive to see how much I’d be eating once I hit my third trimester.

While we waited for our car to arrive, my phone started ringing. I didn’t have the number saved, so I didn’t answer the call, but when the person called back, I answered.

“Hi, Clarke.”

“Mm. Hi.”

The caller smacked their lips before saying, “You don’t know who this is, huh?”

A silent spell gave me a minute to search my memory for the voice.

“I know exactly who this is,” I replied after a while. “How are you, Izzy?”

“I’m okay. Me and Essen are headed to Venice to look for dresses. I know it’s last minute, but you said you would come and?—”

“I got you,” I cut off her rambling. “Where are you stopping first? I have a few friends who own boutiques over there. They can help us out.”

The sound of Izzy’s enthusiasm comforted my heart. I had gotten so used to giving that I forgot what it felt like to feel appreciated.

Izzy continued singing my praises, then dropped her location, which wasn’t far from where I was. I promised to see her soon before I ended the call.

“What?” I griped, seeing the irked expression on Sage’s mug.

“ What ?” He mocked my high-pitched tone. “Clarke, you are not slick. You won’t call the man, but you kicking it with his best friend and little sister? Thirsty.”

“Maybe a little. There’s also a part of me that feels obligated to keep my word. Izzy needs people who can be trusted.”

“Oh. I believe all that.” He nodded. “I also know you want to get your bodyguard back.”

I rested my chin on my shoulder. “Two things can be true.”

On my way to meet Izzy and Essen, I made sure to call the owner of Violet’s Kisses and asked if they could arrange an hour of private shopping. She gave me some pushback, but once I promised to promote some pieces from her store, she agreed to accommodate us.

A few paparazzi were hanging out on the popular block when I arrived, so I kept my head down when I entered the store.

When I checked my surroundings, I was happy to see the boutique was empty except for Essen and a few employees.

I waved at the ladies behind the counter, then joined Essen in the lobby near the fitting rooms.

“Hey, love! I’m sorry I’m late.” I hugged Essen tight.

“No apology needed. After the lady at the front desk told us that you arranged for us to have private time in the store, you were forever good in my book.”

I blushed. “Yeah, I didn’t want Izzy’s moment to be filled with my photo requests. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Mind?” Essen’s brows twitched toward each other. “Girl, I’m a princess, too. I love exclusive shit.”

I pointed to the Chanel bag sitting on her lap. “Oh. I’ve been a witness.” I snickered. “Where’s Izzy?”

“In the room, trying on her first choice. She should be out in a second.”

“Sounds like I’m right on time. I really appreciate the invitation. I’m an only child, and thanks to working at a young age, I missed out on school dances and picking out looks with my friends.”

“It’s my pleasure. Besides, Isabella was adamant about calling you, even when her brother told her not to.”

“Damn.” I shook my head. “I didn’t even think to ask if Ishmael was okay with all of this.”

“Well, I can tell you he didn’t have a problem with it. He just assumed Isabella was being worrisome.”

Though I was unsure if Essen was being truthful or if she was just trying to put my mind at ease, I put my worries to the side and chose to leave it alone.

“Would you ladies like a glass of champagne?” One of Violet’s employees came over, holding a serving tray.

Essen raised her hand. “I’ll take one.”

“I’ll take water.”

For a second, I felt Essen’s gaze haunt me. I didn’t appease her curiosity by explaining my drink choice. Today was all about Isabella, and I wanted to keep it that way.

Right as my worries got the best of me, Isabella appeared from behind the curtain in a teal, strapless dress covered in stones. I thought the cleavage was a bit much, and I could tell when Essen shook her head that she thought the same.

“That’s beautiful, but I think it’s showing a lot of skin,” I proposed. “An older lady once told me: A classy woman shows legs or shoulders but never both.”

Isabella wagged her finger at me. “That’s a good one. Somebody needs to tell the girls at my school. They always look slutty in halter tops and booty shorts. Next one!”

While Isabella changed into the next dress, I decided to post a few pictures of myself in the boutique. I was only able to snap a few pictures since I became distracted by a message from an unsaved number. Whoever sent the message also put me in a group chat with Ishmael.

Superman: Who is this?

(616)331-0908: You know who the fuck this is, bitch boy!

“This nigga has lost his mind,” I grumbled as I responded to who I assumed was Chaz.

(616)331-0908: Fuck you, Clarke! You think you’re Kim Kardashian. Well, bitch, I’m Ray J!

The video Chaz sent to the group chat caused air to escape my lungs. I remembered the day clearly, and though I wasn’t doing anything other women hadn’t done, I didn’t want it on display for the world to see.

Instead of texting him back, I sent a voice note explaining how I was sending him to jail.

(616)331-0908: I don’t give a fuck about that. I’m going out with a bang, baby.

Superman : Keep me out of y’all shit.

I responded, trying to convince Ishmael we didn’t have anything going on. I also reminded Chaz he wasn’t supposed to contact me.

(616)331-0908: I’m not stopping until I’m ready. You want me to share you with the world? I got you, bitch.

I didn’t know if Chaz’s warnings were honest, but they were staggering. Tears chased one another down my cheeks as the weight of Chaz’s threat slammed into my chest. My vision scattered around the room, landing on my horrid reflection in the three-way mirror.

“Clarke!” Essen yelled. “Are you okay? Talk to me!”

I fanned myself as I sat back on the couch. “I’m all right. Water. I just need water.”

One of the ladies dressed in all-black switched off when I spoke my request.

In between slow blinks, I saw Essen hike up her dress and kneel at my side. “Is there anyone I should call?”

Embarrassment shimmied up my bones at the idea that I had no one to call in case of an emergency. My mom and I weren’t talking. Simone was still unreliable and upset. Sage was my only option, but I had leaned on him so much in the last few months, I refused to call him.

“Clarke, I think you should go to the hospital.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that bad.”

“Aren’t you pregnant?” Essen quizzed in an unsure tone. “I didn’t want to pry earlier, but if you are, maybe you need to eat or lay down.”

“I just need . . . ”

Those were the last words I remembered saying before everything went black.