Page 62 of A Trial of the Heart
I always felt things were off with Lauryn the few times I did encounter her, but I assumed it was her trying extra hard to be white for her father’s love.
“So how was their relationship, and what made it take a turn?”
“At first, it was like any other normal, healthy relationship until Lauryn’s true colors started to show. She would pick fights with Rashad for no reason. She accused him of sleeping with other people. If any female looked his way, she was ready to fight because she felt they were trying to take him. Rashad handledher with care most times, but I guess he got tired of coddling her, so he ended things.” Anita shrugged.
“Why did the two of y’all stop being friends?”
Anita’s eye twitched as she uncrossed and quickly recrossed her legs.
“She accused me and Rashad of sleeping together. When we both assured her we hadn’t and would never, she tried to fight me. Once I left the long-term friendship she and I built, she started harassing and stalking me. The stick that broke the camel’s back was when she flattened all of my tires and busted out my windows. I had to press charges and get a restraining order. Sadly, the charges didn’t stick because of who her father is.”
Lauryn was more unstable than I knew. “Can I ask you something?”
“Kinda been doing that already.”
“Touché. Do you think Rashad is guilty of what he’s been charged with?”
“What are his charges?”
I gave Anita the rundown of Rashad’s charges, and the more I told, the more scrunched her nose became.
“I didn’t know Rashad well, but what I did know was anything dealing with those kids and his center… he wouldn’t jeopardize losing it all for no amount of money.”
“What do you think may have happened?”
“Did you not hear me? Lauryn is bat shit crazy and will do anything to get Rashad back or even make him pay for breaking things off. I’m positive that she didn’t take the breakup well, so she had her fat ass father to help get a case against Rashad.”
My thought process was all over the place, but it made sense why Arthur pulled me from the case. He knew from my reports that I was on the fence of Rashad being guilty. Arthur knew thathad I represented for the office, I’d tell the judge my findings, and he couldn’t have that.
“So, Lauryn caused this?”
“I’d bet my last dollar she did. She’s done worse and has gotten away with it, so her causing Rashad to go to jail due to lies doesn’t surprise me. Lauryn just does not care.”
“That’s crazy.” I was so flabbergasted that I couldn’t say anything else.
“Very. I don’t know how important Rashad is to you, but Lauryn, her father, and even her brother don’t play fair. They will go through great lengths to ruin someone’s life. Look at me for example.” She seemed to get sad instantly.
My brows dipped in confusion “What do you mean?”
“I guess me staying away from them all this time wasn’t enough. They put out lies and had me fired from my job.”
So, that’s why she’s not with the company, I thought. “How do you know they were the reason?”
Anita scoffed. “I have been with that company since college. I moved up in positions quickly because I knew my job and could do it in my sleep. I have never been late, never called out, and never missed a beat in all those years…” Her words trailed off. “I had been the perfect employee, yet I was let go as my position was no longer needed at the company. I even volunteered to work in another position since I knew how to do the duties. They came at me with budget cuts, offered me a huge severance, and saw me out the company without a second look.”
I didn’t have to question whether or not Anita was telling the truth. For one, I knew Arthur would go above and beyond to ruin a person’s life if needed, and two, Anita had no reason to lie to me.
“Any idea what you’re going to do about the situation?”
Anita sucked her teeth. “What is there I can do? I mean, you work for her father, so I am sure you have seen firsthand howthey get down. I’meducated but have no connections. Anything dealing with them is always not about what you know. Instead, it’s who you know. So, there is nothing I can or will do.”
The more I listened to Anita, the sorrier I felt for her, her life, and Rashad’s life. More than likely, mine had been ruined because of racist people.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Anita’s eyes had been shifting everywhere but on me as we talked, but that quickly changed. For a brief moment, she only stared at me, causing things to feel a little awkward.
“Nothing you can do for me, but for you… like I said before, get away from those people and never look back. Also, I’m not sure what the relation or level of care for Rashad is, but he’s an innocent, upstanding guy. He doesn’t deserve what they did to him. If you can, help him.”
