Page 1 of Art of Love
Chapter 1
Jia
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Ipressed the phoneto my ear and winced. Gripping on to it tight. I felt like screaming. Screaming and crying.
I couldn’t believe what Bernice was telling me. It couldn’t be true.
“Please, there must be something you can do,” I begged, wincing and trying to keep some level of control over myself.
The last thing I wanted to do was break down in the streets in a new town. Well... newish. I’d lived in L.A before but closer to Burbank, where the studio was. Not Echo Park.
Echo Park was a little different. I got the feeling I needed to watch my back a little more here, and I probably shouldn’t make myself look vulnerable.
Bernice sighed, and her breath made the line sound a little staticky.
“Jia, I wish I could say there were something else I could do, but I’m afraid I’ve used up all my ideas and resources.” Bernice at least sounded sad for me. She was the best lawyer I knew. The woman could wipe the floor clean with you, but she also had a heart. I’d always known her to be like that, right from college, and I guessed because we were friends, she went the extra mile for me. “I knew that the minute Bane left Atlanta with that much money, we’d be limited to what we could do. I hoped he would circle back. The cops picked him up in New York with a trunk full of drugs. It’s all out of my hands. It’s a federal matter now, and there is absolutely no sign of your money.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“I know Sam’s your best friend, but Jesus Christ, if I were you, I’d try to get some money back from her, and I would disown her. She’s too careless, Jia. It’s not the first time something bad has happened to you because of her. This is the worst, but fuck, how many more chances are you going to give her?” That was the angry side of Bernice.
Today I was in full agreement. I just wished I had the balls to disown my careless, reckless so-calledbest friend.
The overarching question was indeed, how many more chances was I prepared to give her?
Bane was her latest boyfriend. Sam had a tendency to go for men who took the meaning of rough around the edges to the next level. They all looked like they’d be more at home in prison. Like a secure unit where everyone was in solitary confinement. The minute I’d seen the tattoos on Bane’s face and all over his shaved head, I’d known the man was trouble. I wasn’t surprised when we found out he’d robbedher. But, to find out he’d robbed me too was... There were no words to describe the feeling.
Sam said she didn’t know how in the hell he managed to get into my savings account, but that shemighthave let it slip that my pin number was Brad Pitt’s date of birth.
Might?My ass. My so-called best friend used my Brad Pitt obsession against me in the worst way possible
Two weeks ago, the total savings in that account had over fifty thousand dollars. All hard-earned from work over the last three years.
Now I had nothing.
“Jia, are you still there?” Bernice asked.
Her voice broke into my thoughts.
“I’m here. I’m freaking out, but I’m here.”
“Look, I know you’re going to refuse, but I’m going to put some money in your account.”
“No, you can’t,” I darn right refused. I was grateful for the offer, but it would make me feel worse.
“I am. I’m your friend, and I know what going back to L.A means for you. If you want, you can pay me back when you’re able to, but I’m doing it.”
“You shouldn’t have to.” I was trying so hard not to cry. I really was, but a tear ran down my cheek. It just felt like everything was against me.
Every time I bounced back from the shit life decided to throw at me, something would happen. I didn’t know what I was going to do now because I’d had so much plans for that money.
“Well, I am. Hey, I got to go. I have court in twenty minutes, and I have to go through some reports. Call me if you need me.”
“Thanks, Bernice.” My voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Anytime.” I could almost imagine her nodding in her usual positive way with her long curly hair bouncing as she moved. “And chin up. You’re going back to what you love most. Focus on that.”
