Chapter 11: My apologies

The waiter came by immediately, it was indeed a luxurious one. We made our orders, within minutes we were served in no time. Jamal and I ate without lifting a brow nor a Saying word then he broke it

  "Danni!" He called almost whispering

I shunned, I didn't care if he was hurt or not, it was time for him to feel pain, a piece of it.

  "Dan....." He tried to touch my knuckles

  "Don't touch me!" I resisted

  "Jeez Danni, are we doing this right now? Creating a scene?" 

  "If you want." I shrugged struggling with the beef on my plate

  "I'm not going to let you be, except you talk to me man. What's up?" He asked again, now remorseful

  "Can I have a good treat without you ruining it? That's if you don't want a scene...." I pondered

  "That's the attitude I'm talking 'bout. I-don't-care, ok?" He ignored my actions

  "Really?" I walked out the watery

Jamal paid off our bills then followed behind.

I was waiting at the car, he came running like he was being chased by a psychopath.

  "Look! Whatever it is that i did to you earlier, I didn't mean it. I'm going to learn how to control myself around you, your friends just whoever. I promise....." He pleaded

I shrugged turning my face away folding my arms, I'm pretty sure I looked I looked cute 

  "Danielle I'm sorry. I swear on my life that I've been a jerk lately but from now on, its a NO-NO for me. I won't do that ever again" he pleaded again

I still shunned, it wasn't enough torture after all. This time he held my arms tightly

  "Babe, are you even listening? I'm really sorry. I don't think you understand that I do, tell me anything then I'd do it.......Danni, I'm so sorry-i really am...." He looked miserable this time, his eyes watered looking to the ground.

Ok, this time i was moved. If it was fake, it really got me besides its not. I was really shamed, I didn't know what else to do, so I cupped his face into my fragile palms lifting his face looking up to me. Then I did the magic, I kissed him. 

He was really surprised and proud at the same time, I finally said something

  "You've always respected boundaries, now cannot be an exception. You trust me and I trust you." I simply made my point

He was speechless at the moment, he hugged me real tight

  "I'm choking tho..." 

  "I'm really sorry!" He apologized

I was this the gentleman this time

  "The keys" I asked simply

 I collected the car keys then unlocked the car, we hopped in. This time I took the driver's seat and he sat at the master seat looking way too humble.

I started the engine, we drove out of  sight.

  "Jamal!" I called rubbing his beard swiftly, with a fixed smile

  "Yeah?" He gave a faint reply

  "Cheer up man!" I focused in the road instead

  "Cheer up? You made a mess out of me lately and all you say is cheer up? No c'mon, tell me you're sorry. That's civilization, in this century" he replied smiling

  "Oh really! Hey, I'm sorry ok! How do I make it up?" I asked

  "You're really some work, tho! Still getting to know you better...." He said

I remembered West saying he would've known me better, was I really that bad or it was out of anger.

  "You know me Jamal, I don't take shit, and you don't either." I smiled

  "Ok then, i really can't talk right now, I'm sore! I just need some massage!" He teased

  "Let's get home, i'ma do just that honey!" (I brightened) "you ain't got no Adele Adkins? Someone like you, huh?" I demanded

  "Why not! You asked for it last few months ago, remember?" He said trying to sort it out

  "It's best for the moment..... I want someone like you huh!" I teased, I winked at him smiling then I turned away

  "You keep doing that all the time. Its really sending chills down my spine, Miss!" He said turning the music loud

  "Don't you like it?"

 I swayed following the rhythm of the song, I had to lip sync as well taking the drive to another tour level

To my shock, as though the past horrifying events were not done yet, Jamal and I met West sitting on his car trunk parked at the corner of my apartment.

  "Your boyfriend's here, Danni!" He teased, taking our shopping bags inside the house. I helped Jamal taking them in as well

  "Jamal.....uhm....can i...uhm....." I stuttered, I couldn't find the right words that instant

  "Its ok! I got you. I'm going to be on my best behavior a'ight?" He kissed me and walked away 

Whatever that meant, it felt good and crazy as well. I went outside to meet West.

  "Hey!" I said hoping he wouldn't react to bad

  "So he's your man now?" He asked getting all tense

  "Calm down, West. There's a better way to talk about all of this, so can we....." I tried to explain, he cuts in

  "No there isn't. This is what its about, Jamal? Like, you stepped on me for this guy...." He stirred

  "That guy----- is my man. Don't start a'ight, don't." I defended

  "Ok! Hands off!" He stepped away

  "I'm deeply sorry for what I said to you. I was wrong, totally wrong about you. I was misled and I wasn't myself at all...."

  "For him?" He added

What is wrong with this dude, he wouldn't let me finish 

  "Let me finish.... You were nowhere close to taking him away, I'm really sorry." I said finally

  "So what exactly do you think of me? Tell me where I stand?" He asked

This is tough, we stood 10 seconds staring at each other, it got awkward then I blurted

  "You are a good man, a very good one. You were there for me when it got awkward, I needed to spill my mind....."

  "Then spilled it on me..." He concluded, he came close

  "That's why I'm apologizing very dearly. Let it go, I'm not going to let them get to me, I promise." I assured

  "Its good! We are good! But I got two questions to ask" he said

  "Go ahead!" I snapped

  "Do you think I'm a hitman?" He looked at me demanding answers

I stopped for over a minute then I answered

  "No. Do I have a reason to believe that?" I asked again

He smiled, this smile depicted a dangerous and unsure one, he ignored

  "Do you love me?" He asked again

  "I love you as a good friend not a lover...." He explained, he cuts in again

  "But you love him as a lover, don't you?" 

  "Of course West. What is this about though?" I asked being pissed

West didn't say a word, leaned over to kiss me then I pushed him as far as I could. Jamal called from the door, few inches away. Then he came forward

  "Danni are you ok?" He scanned my body, making sure I was ok

  "Yes Jamal I am!" I sounded low key

  "Can you just give us a sec? I'll be there! Go!" He motioned

  "You're unbelievable West!" I said then walked into the house hastily

West turner to leave as well when Jamal called

  "Dayo West?" He called fully. getting his attention

  "And you are..." He sounded rude

  "Ever heard of 'Khaleefa', that's my blood......"

  "Daddy's......" He tried to mock Jamal

  "Don't cut me short, I'm still talking. That woman over there, ain't yours so stay off.... Don't try that kiss shit again, nor coming close. I warned you" Jamal turned to leave, West blurted

  "What are you going to do? You want war? You earned it!"

  "I don't want no war, if you stay off then we good and if you don't....your call"  He walked away

West turned away disappointed, we then drove off in speed, good thing it was a free road.

Jamal met me in the bath tub as always, unknowingly to me a tear dropped while he watched from afar

  "Really Danni? (he drew closer) where's the strong girl I always knew? Don't do that to yourself, all for him?......" He started

  "That's the same thing he said to me about you. What makes you different?" I looked at him waiting for his response

  "Nothing.... I'm never going to hurt you, not once that's a promise!" He dropped a kiss on my forehead and left my room entirely.

Jamal always had his way og getting at me but nothing changed about me asking if he was different, the answer wasn't what I expected, I was moved indeed.

Jamal was in  the living room watching Netflix, he loves Netflix for real. I wore a red baggy shirt and a three quarter black jean as usual. I leaned on his right side holding my cell, then I got a call from Ada

  "A second, Jamal!" I stood up heading to the kitchen while Jamal was fixated on the movie he was seeing a movie titled 'Monster Hunter' I guess.

  "Hey Addy! What's up?"

  "You're pathetic tho! Jamal returned yet you kept mute? Is it fair? You waited like the coming of....." She spilled then i cut her short

  "C'mon Addy, it was only yesterday. I'm sorry ok, he's back and sound" I added

  "Mm-hmm. Great to hear. How about West, did he drop by?" She asked

  "Oh him, no he did not. Why?"

I really love to keep my private life private, at least for the moment

  "Danielle it's impossible he didn't. Be honest!" She emphasized

  "He didn't at all..... Why?" I asked again

  "Ok! Did you think about what I said to you?"

  "No I didn't. I don't want to get involved in this again, he had nothing to do with Jamal as well. Can you run your Attorney stuff while I run my business please?" I pleaded

  "Ok, are you sure? Coz a lot could be damaged at the moment...."

  "Addy let's not go there ok. If I see or hear anything, you'd always be the first to know, count on that!" I assured

  "Nope you ain't. How come I didn't know about Jamal?" She pointed out

  "I wanted to, trust me." I added

  "Ok then.... Say hi for me!" She added again

  "Yes..... And uhmmm, are you still working on the murder issue about Dr Theo?"

I just had to make sure nothing was coming on again

  "Its twisted somehow honestly. Zafar's brother was found dead..... Random assassins maybe, so its really not straight. If the sender is out of sight, the culprit has nothing on him somehow. No proof yet, I'll just get back to you A.S.A.P!" She assured

  "Ok Addy, thanks a lot ok. I love you!"

  "She loves you more.....a'ight bye"

She hung up finally. Now was the right time to talk to him about Dr Theo.

I went over to him and interrupted

  "Danielle not now, c'mon!" He groaned in disappointed

  "Its important you listen! We got one more problem." I sat down

  "Which is? Money? I'll get you my card or write you a cheque, how's that?" He offered and sheepishly smiled

  "For a movie? You're crazy"

He turned to me finally

  "So what are we doing?" Teasingly

  "Talking about!" I corrected even if I knew he was being silly

  "Dr Theo!"

  "There!" His mood changed

  "You know Ada? Eric's girlfriend."

  "Yes I do, what's wrong" he looked bothered

  "She's an attorney which you know about, and she's on the murder case which means...."

  "I'll be going behind bars? I thought about that already. It's no surprise" He reluctantly said

I felt pressed, I was trying to get the upper hand for him instead, unknowingly he had it all planned, we can't always solve the problem, someone has to.

  "I can see that you're prepared for this huh?" I had a long face

  "Yes and No."

  "Tell Dad, he'd do something ASAP. It's going to be the last quest I promise"

  "No Danni, I won't. I will turn myself in or wait to get knocked off, its justice right? He didn't deserve what I did to him. I had no option... I wasn't in the right state of mind, I was high! I really didn't mean it, for once" I confessed

  "Who made you do it?"

  "Danni, its bygone ok!" He turned away

  "Its not! Look at me!" I cupped his face "share it! We can do something to get you out totally"

  "Did Ada ask you to do this? Its not worth it!"

  "Not at all. She's trying to help. Confess everything and you'd be a free man forever!" I try to persuade 

  "No, I'll take responsibility for what I've done. I'm ready for that..... So let's not ruin this last moments, we should go for the best...."

  "I'm not buying this shit....I'm not letting it go..." I defiantly said

  "You specifically mentioned, I take responsibility for everything I've done, too many lives are inclined, no one has to die for my sins, remember?" He reminded

I was caught, I did mention all of that but I didn't realize it would be intertwined. After I have fallen for Jamal, after we have agreed to do the right thing, go five steps forward, no way.

  "Yes I said all of that, in the case of Vinnie not Dr Theo" I wanted a twist

  "The truth remains the truth, actions remains actions, don't worry I'm good" he smiled

  "Ok Khaleef!" I teased

  "Not working, can I Netflix now?"

  "Eat it!"  I groaned

He turned on the TV to continue from where he stopped while i headed for my laptop, I had some work pending. I sat on my work table just beside the window. I got a call, this time it was business

  "Hey Omar, long time!"

  "Yes Ma'am, Mr Akin Harvey dropped us...."

  "No greetings? that's how you act, all tensed over nothing" I blurted

  "I'm so sorry ma'am, its really deteriorating...."

  "Get him back!" I ordered

  "I think his mind is made up, all up." He added

  "So who threw it away?"

I knew someone had messed up my contract

  "Uhm...." He stuttered

  "You're are officially fired, how about that?" I teased seriously

  "Ma'am! Its Jacinthe, she kinda spilled the beans somehow...."

  "Nice work y'all, just a few days y'all are ruining our work, are ya?" I scolded

  "Our apologies. How can we make it up? Anything." He offered 

  "Meeting at 10am, Jersey hotel unfailingly" 

  "Sorry ma'am, just me?" He sounded sheepish

  "No, including your grandad.....of course not just you!" Jacinthe, Kabir and Catherina."

  "Yes ma'am" he answered almost trembling

  "Y'all are the mastermind behind messing up" I jabbered and hung up

  "Keep it low, right there. I'm seeing my fave!" Jamal screamed teasingly

  "Lazy poke! Bunch of  nuisance." I insulted

  "That you love? And still employ?" He teased again

   "Yes I love 'em. But they don't have to ruin my company, fair enough?" I screamed back

  "Total silence please, I can't hear a thing"

  "Whatever!"

This guy is really a jerk sometimes, if he goes to jail how am I going to cope? 

Just a simple task Omar and others played the wrong cards, they ruined it due to negligence. I can't have a stress free casual leave. In my own terms, that's what you get for being boss. It's worth it.