“I’m not here to cause any trouble. I really just need to speak with you, Averie. Please!”
Laila moved towards Jennifer.
“Laila! It’s okay. I will speak with her.”
Laila had still been with me acting as a personal assistant but actually being my personal security.
Laila was as tough as she was beautiful. She could produce a sugary sweet smile or a hardcore grimace depending on how she felt. She was excellent at her job and very rarely let me out of her sight.
Initially, Liddy, my secretary, was intimidated by Laila. She thought Laila was coming for her job. Now they work together beautifully. Liddy was still not aware that Laila was my security.
“Fine but we are doing it off this floor, and I will be in the room. She cannot pass security without an appointment. I don’t care how much she begs,” she looked Jennifer up and down and rolled her eyes.
“Okay. Give me one second.”
I went to retrieve my phone in order to record the conversation. I honestly didn’t know what type of conversation I was about to have with the wife of the man that tried to kill me.
Laila followed me back to my office.
“Averie, this is not a good idea. Have you ever had a conversation with this woman before?”
“Only in social settings. That’s why I find it strange for her to be here.”
“You don’t have any idea what she could want?”
“I don’t know what she could possibly want, and I need to know.”
“Alright but if she tries something…”
“Take her ass out!”
“Damn straight.”
I followed behind Laila as she ushered Jennifer back onto the elevator and down to the first floor. We entered a room situated near the security office.
“I will have to pat you down again for Ms. Patterson’s safety,” Laila said.
Jennifer held her arms up in the air while Laila patted her down closely resembling an overzealous TSA agent.
“Have a seat,” Laila motioned to a set of chairs across from where she and I were standing.
Jennifer sat down. Laila stood off to the side watching Jennifer like a hawk.
“What do you need Mrs. Leathen?”
“I want to know why you baited my husband to your office that night and then did something that made him angry enough to attack you?”
“Ex-the-fuck-cuse me?”
I had honestly been working on my mouth since Samuel didn’t cuss, but that was the best response I could give her.
“I knew it was you that was sending him text messages at all hours of the day and night even when he was with our family. He told me about you when you worked with him. He told me how ‘fond’ he was of you,” she used air quotes, “I knew something was going on because lately, he’d been distant and edgy. So what did you do?”
Bitch was the first thing that popped into my head. I knew better, so I chose a different start.
“Mrs. Leathen…”
“That’s right, Mrs…”