TAINTED LOVE (PART 1) by Kiera Thomas (the reading list book .TXT) 📕

A long the Last supper looking table stretched across the living room with every food you can imagine .. Collard greens, mac-n-cheese, turkey, Ham, Pot roast, Stuffing , Baked Potatoes and a million other Black folk foods filled 1 half. The other a bunch of Desert choices . Mama Char's Dinners was always on point ,and Laila’s stomach growled to the sight of all the delicious food.

So many people filled the house , like they did every Sunday no matter where they was from Aunts, Uncles, & Cousins all ready to throw down and already picking their seats. Just as Mama Char took her seat Laila spotted Ebony in the kitchen on the phone

She walked over and Mouthed Hey while washing her hands in the Sink.

"Damn she looks worse from last week" Laila thought to herself .

Ebony had to be going on 230 pounds, she hasn't reached sloppy yet but she was a bite away. She always was a chubby girl since Grade school and her weight only spiraled from there. Ebony had a Son Yasin and a step Son Malcome from her baby Father she so dearly Loved. Ebony was the same color as her Father, Dark. she wore a short cut like Rihannas Her cheeks were thick and her eyes were as big as the Sea. Cute for a Chubby girl like they would say all her life but she always was Fly and her outfits colors always matched from head to toe today the color Pink she rocked a hot Pink Maxi skirt and light pink Crop Tank with her Pink flip flops and pink eye makeup .

"Hey sister" Ebony hugged Laila

They chatted on their way to the table where now Tasha , the family and Ebony's brother Sat.

Charmaine didn't talk to Laila’s Father who lived somewhere in Ohio, or Tasha's father who wanted nothing to do with her after the nasty Divorce. The only one She was still good friends with was Mikey and Laila to this day was confused by their friendship because of the way his Father and Char’s Marriage ended but brushed it off.

Everyone filled their plates and stuffed their mouths

"So Laila Ali" Uncle Ronnie spoke across the table , He's been calling her that since Birth

Laila nodded taking another bite of Mac-and-cheese

"When you going to settle down and Marry missy" He continued

Laila nearly choked when Mikey kicked her from under the table .

She swallowed hard and replied

" Now Ronnie you know I'm in No rush but hopefully soon I'm actually seeing somebody " Laila kicked back

Mikey nearly chocked this time

" Thats good, get to them babies Laila Ali " Ronnie chuckled

Laila nooded and smiled . The thought of babies scared her, since Her mother had her at 15 Laila did all she could not to be the next to give birth at such a sensitive age. She'd been having sex since she was 18 using all the percaustions in between years . The dinner went on and everybody talked until they were too full to speak. On the way out As Tasha and Ebony and Laila were talking and catching up Laila saw Mikey and Her mom slip away from the crowd together . She knew for sure she'd confront him on it later .

Everybody else stayed to help clean up as Char ordered and left close to midnight.

EBONY

"What is his code" Ebony spit out sitting at the edge of her bed while the Boys played in the next room.

She was going through a lot with Her Boyfriend Charles and he'd been sleeping out too many night lately at a Friends house. Last night after Mama Char's dinner she came home to his clothes on the bathroom floor and as she picked them up off the floor a used condom fell out his pants pocket, and all hell broke loose. Ebony cursed him out into the next day and accused him of a million things but got nowhere on the accusations . But this Monday Morning she was Sure as hell going to get to the bottom of this! She tried her hardest to pry open the password to his Voicemail , she already checked his email and got nowhere .

"Mommy can I have some juice" Yasin whined from the kitchen

His sweet voice broke her concentration , she remembered how Charles loved his family but these days didn't feel like it. She felt horrible and didn't want to continue this relationship if he was going to be cuttin up like this .

"Yes baby " Ebony yelled from the bedroom.

Here she was 23 years old with a 5 year old Son and a step son who she didn't even sign up for . She was in love with Charles since she was 15 he was her first so when he got her pregnant and she was Married to him she knew her life would be set. But when Charles lost his job as a police officer in Queens , 4 months ago everything went down hill from there. Lately he sleeps at his friend Reggie's apartment near his old job because he "can't deal with Ebony" but even Ebony knows that's a lie because she hasn't did shit to his Sneaky ass!

After several Attempts Ebony gave up and layed down on her Queen size bed. She had a nice little apartment in Brooklyn that was color coordinated , She quit her job as a Teacher when Charles told her she didn't have to work. Now A days they were living off of his unemployment check and it wasn't much . Interrupting her thoughts, a phone rang . She jerked up and not understand where it was

" I know that ain't his phone or my house shit so where the fuck is it" Ebony said Face down ass up in Charles closet. As she searched she realized it was coming from inside Charles bathroom closet since he insisted they have separate ones. There it was a silver flip phone ringing in a basket full of other shit in the top right corner of the closet.

"What the Fuck" Ebony thought

She flipped the phone open and the name "Regina" popped up . Instantly her eye brow raised, she opened the message & read " we still on for tonight leaving that Wifey shit at home" followed by a winky face. Ebony furiously yelled "I fucking knew it, I knew that son of a bitch was cheating . Block head ass! Ohhh I can't wait to beat "Regina's" ass ol' dumb bitch I got your "Leave wifey at home" Ebony threw the phone back in the basket and paced across the floor.

she needed a plan, better yet she needed someone to roll with to catch this motherfucker in the act . She knew exactly who to call .. Tasha

LAILA

"Ms. Morgan you have a call on line 1" a voice called from outside Laila’s office. It was Samantha , Laila’s White girl assistant . She'd been saying that same line for an hour. Laila knew who it had to be .. Mikey. He's the only 1 who she allowed to call line 1 if it was important. She was getting annoyed and took the call It was the end of May and Mikey’s drug habit had turned out of control, He became needy and very ugly quick

"I'm sorry I thought I told you to only call Emergencies, this better be good" Laila spoke sternly

"Baby .. b-b-baby i miss you when you gettin off work " His voice was low barely words she could make out

Laila knew he was high and was no longer beat for his shit!

"Micheal get a fucking life. Y'know the drugs are making you sound a bit crazy . This isn't a emergency . Lets cut to the chase, what were you and My mother talking about when y'all stepped out the other day at dinner"

"Bitch! What did I tell you about calling me Micheal. You bitches never listen . What me a-a-nd your mama talked about is My business! Stay In your place"

His tone pissed her off, her anger rised to the tip of her tongue .

"Motherfucker call me another bitch and I'm done with your crack head ass. My place? Was I in my place when I was riding your dick? No! So fuck you & don't call my job again " Laila slammed the phone on the hook. She sat in her big Business chair, and put her hands in her head

Why was she still fucking with this nigga? He wasn't shit anyways, no job but a drug habit out of this world . He's burnt out and old looking now and she wasn't about to let him disrespect her for no damn 20,000$ even if that was extra spending money! Laila pulled out her mirror and fixed her makeup . Today a smokey eye and light shimmery pink lip gloss, her face was beat. She wore a tight Black pencil skirt with white button up tucked tightly in not buttoned to the neck to show off her cleavage With the Fitted blazer to match . Her Silver toed 7 inch Heels gave the Business look spunk . Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun showing off her 20 carat earrings she brought herself last Christmas .

Laila applied an extra coat of lipgloss as the knock on her door made her Concediate session end. It was the day she was taking meetings for new Workers she needed in order to get her Real Estate business all around the word . She stood by her desk

" Ms. Morgan this is the first Person meeting with you today" Samantha stated handing her the paper work as the young woman sat down .

Her resume was hit and nearly empty . Before she could even speak Laila thanked her for her time and sent her on her way.

That process went on for a hour, a bunch of nobodies that couldn't benefit Her company in any way. She had given up when A Young Man walked through the door

"The Meet and Greet is over" Laila declared before raising her head to look at whoever it was.

Suddenly Samantha came rushing through the door

"Ms. Morgan I-Im so sorry! He got pass security and insisted on seeing you"

Laila looked up to what looked like the handsomest man she had ever fucking seen. Baffled Laila spoke with a smile "it's fine Samantha, I can take 1 more" the Man shook Her hand and sat down

He Had to be 6 feet tall, dressed in what looked like a designer Suit His creamy tan skin glistened and he Resemble the Rapper the Game a whole hell of a lot . His short cut had waves and his goldtee on his chin was well shapped . He had hazelbrown eyes and a crooked devilish smile .

"Damn he fine" Laila thought sitting in her chair.

He sat in front of her desk in 1 of the 2 chairs she had available and waited . Laila looked over his résumé , He graduated College in Business , it says He played basket ball for a while then became a person trainer for about 6 months. He was never unemployed and from what she read he never been to jail . He was the total package . Almost too good to be true!

" So Mr. Johnson, what brings you to My office" she smirked

He starred at her before answering he admired how drop dead gorgeous she was to him as well

"Lets