Wifey: Part 1

Jasmine began to tremble uncontrollably. “I just hate him so much that I can’t understand why this decision isn’t easier for me.”

“He put his hands on you, didn’t he?”

She shook her head, emphatically.

“Jasmine, don’t ever lie to me again. I can look at you and see he hurt you. When we were making love I could feel your body tense up from pain when I’d grab your waist or arms. Tell me what he did to you.”

Jasmine looked aloof. Instead of answering me, she said something better. “Just tell me how to pull it off, and I’m with it.”

I looked at her, slowly nodding my head.

“Don’t shit on me if I do this for you, Nico. Just promise me that.”

“I put that on everything,” I assured her. “I got you.”

CHAPTER 15

Mia

By the time the sun rose and Nico still wasn’t home, I knew he was going to stand me up and not make it to the spa date I had planned for us. Regardless of the comfortable lifestyle that being with Nico afforded me, I was getting so tired of the blatant disrespect, I had been seriously considering leaving him.

Many people thought I was just with Nico for his money. Was his money a good thing? Absolutely it was. But I was with him because I sincerely loved him. Now I was getting to the point where I was going to have to make a decision. Either leave and do me, or stay and tolerate his cheating ways and his lack of respect for me.

At seven in the morning I was still laying in bed, feeling a bit depressed. I flipped on the television. I was thinking about calling my girlfriend Sharmel and telling her that something had come up with Nico, and asking her if she would take his place and go with me to the salon. I was sure Sharmel was probably comfortable and cuddled up next to her man and probably didn’t feel like going, but if I called her, I knew she would have agreed to go with me, since she understood how I often felt like a lonely widow.

Before I could make up my mind on what to do, I heard the doorbell ringing. Immediately I got nervous and started to think back to the break-in that had occurred. My cell phone started to ring, and I felt at ease when I recognized it was the armed security guard that Nico had hired. He was calling to tell me that it was safe to answer the door.

I smiled and quickly hopped out of the bed. I threw on my slippers and ran downstairs to open the door. Although I only had on a nightie, I didn’t bother to throw on a robe because I was certain it was Nico at the door, making good on his promise and surprising me with roses or something. When I got to the door, I didn’t even look through the glass partition to see who it was, and I just opened it with a smile and eager anticipation.

My smile quickly evaporated when I saw two white guys in suits standing at my front door.

“Can I help you?” I asked as I quickly positioned myself behind the door to hide my body. Only my face was exposed as I peered around the door.

One of the white men slid his suit jacket to the side and exposed his gold badge that was clipped to his belt buckle. He introduced himself and his partner and told me that they were detectives with the New York City Police Department and that they were looking to speak with Nicholas Carter.

“What is this about?” I asked.

“Miss, is Mr. Carter available?” the lead detective asked.

“No, he’s not.”

“Is he home?”

“I just said no,” I replied with an attitude.

“Do you know when you can expect him home?”

“You asking a lot of questions, and I’m just trying to find out what this is in reference to.” I chuckled, out of nervousness and disgust.

“His fingerprints were found on spent shell casings at a crime scene in Queens, and we just want to ask him some questions with regard to that,” the detective explained to me in a matter-of-fact manner.

“What?” I said, a frown of confusion on my face.

“Miss, do you mind telling me your name?” the detective asked.

“Mia,” I replied short and crisp.

“Can you give me your last name and your relation to Mr. Carter?”