Page 38 of Finesse
“Leave.” Cameron orders and Claire and Robert quickly rush out the door. Cameron waits until they’re out of earshot and folds his head into his hand. I don’t know if it’s exhaustion, guilt, or annoyance. Maybe all three.
“I’ll get the security gate back up tonight and get an estimate on replacement in the morning.” Maria says to Cameron. “It won’t be a thang at all.”
“Good, good.” Cameron rubs his face. “I’ll deal with Robert in the morning. I need to talk to him about his wife’s behavior. It’s not the first time she’s done this but we’re putting a stop to the bad habits.” He stands up and turns to go upstairs. We meet eyes and Cameron is not happy with me. “I told you to stay in the bedroom.”
“A woman sounded threatening and I wanted to see what was going on.” I cover myself upon seeing his security follow Cameron’s lead. “I had a right to know.”
“I was handling it and you didn’t need to know about any of it.” He repeated, his voice flatter than before.
Cameron’s demeanor is different. He’s not the nice Cameron with the charming smile. This Cameron is threatening and intimidating. I’m not deterred. “Because you didn’t want me to know you’re a pusher?”
The reality of the situation hits both of us. Cameron can no longer hide what he does from me. His eyes are full of anger and regret. “She is my brother’s wife and she needed help.” The way it comes out of Cameron’s mouth, it sounded like he was pained to say that much. “Go to bed, Tay.”
“Go to bed, Tay?” My voice is naturally louder and more spiteful to match his tone. “That’s how you handle shit? Something I don’t need to see or know about, it’s ‘take my ass to bed, Tay?’”
“Woman, watch your tone in my house.” Cameron climbs up the stairs and his voice is flat. We’re facing each other and Cameron’s face has no emotion. “Go to bed, now.”
“Fine. I’ll go to bed. In my own bed.” I storm back upstairs and quickly start packing my items. I get dressed and call an Uber to come get me. I know better to stay around to see what will happen and I’ll be damned if I’m going to have Cameron act like he’s my damn daddy. Fuck him and fuck his crew, too.
As I’m waiting, I hear Cameron’s bedroom door open and close. I have nothing to say to him. If he wants to treat me like crap, he can find another girl to do it with. I’m not the one he wants.
“Girl, put down your bags.”
It’s not Cameron; it’s Tesh. She’s looking at me with her arms folded and she slowly sucks on a piece of candy. “You’re not going anywhere tonight or period.” The way she saysperiod,it’s clearly with a T.PERIODT.“Stop.”
“This has nothing to do with you, Tesh.” I sniffle and adjust the bag strap. “This is between me and Cameron. I’m leaving him for good.”
“You’re not going anywhere and stop the games.” She walks over and removes the bags from my shoulders. “You’re staying put.” She takes my hand and leads me to the sofa by the fireplace. She pats my hand and shakes her head. “You’re not the first woman he’s brought over here. You’re not the first who’s threatened to leave him at any time.”
“Thank you for reassuring me Cameron is a class-A asshole.” I retort and Tesh only smiles in response. “My Uber should be here any moment.”
“Cameron has business that has nothing to do with you. He has family issues he wants to protect you from. He may come off as distant, but it’s for your own good. The less you know, the better.” It’s a foreboding warning.
I’m sure manydown-ass chicksdon’t care about what their man does as long as he keeps her laced up. I don’t want any of that on my conscience. “I’ve had family members who’ve struggled with drugs, Tesh. I’ve had friends die of overdoses. This is not something I can just mind my own business to.” I shake my head.
Everything is starting to make sense. The way he spoke to those guys on our first date. That business meeting on the private jet that made his heart race. The long meeting at the jewelry store. How he and Que always had something to do and somewhere to go.
Cameron has extra security not because of his dad but for his own protection. “How many people has he strung out? How many lives has he ruined?”
“Cameron is doing nothing different than the numerous doctors all over the country who gladly fill out needless prescriptions and put someone else’s child or parent under duress.” Tesh rolls the candy in her mouth. “Are you going to do the high and mighty act with them as well?”
“Oh, fuck you.” I reply and Tesh chuckles. The longer I stay, the more irritated I become. “This isn’t funny. Real lives are at stake here.”
Tesh is quiet for a long moment before she speaks again. “No one has more to lose than Cameron.” She softly replies. “He would never put you in harm’s way.”
“I’m sure many drug dealer girlfriends thought the same thing before the first shootout or robbery.” I roll my eyes.
Tesh smiles at me. “If you want to leave, Cameron won’t make you stay. Keep in mind, this is his lifestyle, take it or leave it. He’s a busy man with a lot of connects all over the world. I’ve never seen him do drugs and he barely likes to drink liquor. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drunk.”
He lives a clean lifestyle in comparison to what he does for a living. The irony isn’t lost on me. “What about his sister? Where does she fit in all of this?”
Tesh sighs a deep, spiritual Negro sigh. “She wants nothing to do with the family. She only shows up for photo-ops and that’s it. Heather and Eric are lucky if they get a Christmas card from her.”
There goes those smoke and mirrors again. The perfect, happy family isn’t so much in reality. As long as they present a clean-cut image for the family, that’s all that matters. “I need to leave.”
“If you insist,” Tesh gets up and I follow her. “I hope you don’t think he’ll change because it’s you. Many women have thought the same as you and here he is.”
I sense a guilt trip vibe from Tesh and I don’t understand it at all. Why am I being guilted for leaving a drug dealer? My Uber has arrived and I pick up my bags. I walk down the long, spiral staircase and pass his security. I don’t see Cameron and it’s for the best.
