Night of Seduction (46 page)

“Eric?
”
Ty said,
“
You still here
man?
”
he laughed.

“Are you all
right Eric?
”
Kerri reached up and touched his
arm.

He sat down on
the closest chair and looked at her.
“
May I have your
daughters hand in marriage?
”

“I would think
so,
”
Kerri replied.

“I promise to
protect and love her and all our children with my
life.
”

Smiling Kerri
replied,
“
I know you will.
”

Kiki began
laughing.
“
I wish I had a video
camera. You should see the expression on your
face.
”

Eric, Ty and
Kerri all turned an angry expression her way.
“
No,
”
Ty shook his head,
“
You really don
’
t wish
that.
”

Looking at Ty,
Eric smiled.
“
Phase two. I want her
behind bars before I get married.
”

Raising a
questioning eyebrow.
“
Any idea when that
will be?
”
Ty asked.

“As soon as I
can convince Siri to say yes,
”
Eric
replied.

“I
’
ll set things
up.
”
Ty turned to Kiki.
“
Are you with
me?
”
The realization that she could say no had his heart
racing. In a short period of time, she
’
d stolen a piece
of his heart. And he wanted her to say yes. But there were going to
be times when their professional lives would interfere with their
personal lives. This was one of those times. The question she had
to answer was could she deal with that? He extended his hand hoping
she would take it.

“Damn?
”
she exclaimed as she took his
hand.
“
I can see now you are going to get on my
nerves.
”
He wrapped his arms around her and smiled.
“
I
’
m not going back for you. My car is in
Atlanta.
”

Eric and Kerri
smiled at each other as they watched the couple walk down the
hallway.
“
Mmm-hum.
”
Kerri
laughed.

♫

By noon that
day, Ty had gathered all parties needed to bring the Latoya Wright
situation to an end. Back at the condo, he and Kiki barely had a
chance to shower and change clothes before the meeting was set to
start. Because Siri had not given him permission to discuss
anything with Kiki, she sat outside the office with Wendy as the
men filed into the office. Once the door was closed Tyrone
Pendleton laid out his plan and ended the meeting with one
statement.
“
Make no mistake in my
meaning. One way or another, the Latoya Wright situation ends
now.
”

With that
directive given, the meeting was adjourned. Kiki walked into the
office.
“
You really don
’
t waste any time do
you?
”

“Wasting time
gives the other side an advantage. It gives them time to plan, to
strategize. I like to strike when they don
’
t see me
coming.
”

“Hmm,
I
’
m scared of you,
”
Kiki replied with a
smile.

He walked over
to her.
“
No need to be. I
’
m putting you on
notice,
”
he pulled her by the waist to him.
“
I
’
m coming after you KiKi Simmons, with guns
loaded.
”

Wrapping her
arms around his neck, she grinned,
“
I think I like
that.
”

“Good,
”
he kissed her.
“
Now, how
would you like to go to lunch and be my secret weapon?

She pulled
back.
“
What do I have to do?
”

“Be your sassy
self.
”

“I can do
that.
”

Thirty minutes
later, they were seated at one of the most exclusive restaurants in
downtown Atlanta when two women approached the table.
“
Well, well, well, if it isn
’
t the one and only
Tyrone Pendleton. I would think you wouldn
’
t have time to
entertain a female.
”

Kiki took an
immediate dislike to the woman addressing her man in front of her.
Ty didn
’
t stand or look at Latoya and the woman he knew
from the picture to be Tina Melton, the technician.
“
Latoya it didn
’
t take long after
Jason for you to venture to the other side, did
it?
”
The flash in her eyes revealed she had taken a direct
hit.

“That
’
s funny coming from
you. Still bending over for Eric?
”

“Whoa, hold up
my sister?
”
Kiki began.

“I
don
’
t recall speaking to you?
’

“You
didn
’
t, however, you invaded my space. Therefore, I have
the legal right to address you.
”

“Latoya,
”
Ty interrupted.
“
How many
places have you been escorted from in the last week? If you
don
’
t want to add this one to the list, I suggest you get
the hell away from my table.
”

“I
’
ll leave. But I
strongly suggest, you have your client contact me before the
day
’
s end or his business will be all over the
internet.
”

“My client
instructed me to meet your terms, I just choose not
to.
”

“Yeah,
”
she replied with hands on her hips
and head twisting.
“
I suggest you rethink
your position.
”

“We
’
ll discuss this at a
later time. My office in an hour.
”

“After what you
and Roy did, I
’
m not coming to your
office.
”

“Then there
will be no discussion.
”
He raised his hand
to get the waiter
’
s
attention.

“You
don
’
t want to play with me Ty,
”
Latoya stated
getting angrier by the minute.

“Do I look like
I play games?
”
The waiter reached the table.
“
May I see the manager please?
”

“Is there
something wrong, Mr. Pendleton?
”
Ty looked around the
waiter and raised an eyebrow at Latoya.

“All
right.
”

“May we have a
bottle of champagne? Thank you.
”

Latoya waited
until the waiter was gone then turned back to Ty.
“
I
’
ll accept a meeting, but not with you, and
definitely not at your office. I want to meet directly with
Eric.
”

“Girl, do you
value your life?
”
Kiki asked.

Latoya looked
her up and down.
“
A-B
conversation.
”
She said turning back to Ty.
“
I set the place and time. There is no negotiation on the
terms. If they are not met by midnight, Sunday morning will be the
beginning of an up close and personal look into the life of
Eric
“
Silk
”
Davies.
”
She smiled, thinking
she had scored, and then walked away.

“Did you get
all of that?
”
Ty asked.

“Yes, I did.
But, this is circumstantial. There was no mention of the exchange
of pictures for money. Therefore, extortion does not
exist.
”

“True, however,
she did threaten to reveal an up close and personal look into
Eric
’
s life if he does not meet her
terms.
”

“It
’
s still iffy. It will
have to be up to Eric to get her to say, pay me or I will reveal.
Now, that
’
s good old fashioned
blackmail.
”

Ty smiled. She
might be young and feisty, but she knows a little something about
the law.
“
You, I
’
m going to like
having around.
”

♫

Siri was moved to a room sometime after
seven in the morning. Eric and Kerri remained at the hospital
waiting for her to wake up. The doctor indicated it was good for
her to sleep, but waiting was killing him. Not only was he
concerned about Siri, but the baby as well. His telephone buzzed
and he stepped outside the room.

“She wants to
meet with you
—
one on
one
—
tonight. At midnight the pictures go
live.
”

“I
’
ll be
there.
”

“Eric!
”
Kerri called out.

“Got to
go,
”
Eric ran into the room to see Siri
’
s eyes
open. He ran to the side of her bed and smiled.
“
Hey.
”

She stretched
and smiled back.
“
Hey,
”
she whispered as she took his hand,
placed it under her chin, and went right back to sleep. He laughed
out of sheer relief and looked up at Kerri who was smiling right
back.
“
She
’
s going to be
okay,
”
he said more to himself than anyone else. Nodding
his head, he pulled the chair up and sat beside the bed.
“
She
’
s going to be
okay.
”

Kerri smiled
knowing her daughter was in good hands. Now all he had to do was
convince Siri. She sighed.
“
I
’
m going
home to get some sleep and I
’
ll return in a little
while.
”

“I have a
meeting later tonight in Atlanta,
”
he said as he laid
his head on the back of the chair and closed his eyes.
“
After that, I
’
m not going
anywhere.
”

♫

The jerking
motion of his hand awakened him from fretful sleep. Opening his
eyes he saw Siri turning over.
“
Siri,
”
he called out as he stood over the
bed.

“Mmm,
”
he heard her say.

“Siri wake up
babe.
”
He kissed her forehead,
“
Open your eyes
for me please.
”

“Okay,
”
she groggily replied, blinking a few
times as if trying to come fully awake. She smiled and reached out
and touched his face.
“
Hey.
”

Smiling like a
Cheshire cat he replied,
“
Hey
you.
”
He gently kissed her lips.
”

“Mmm,
”
she moaned.

“What are you
doing here?
”
she asked, still not quite
awake.

Rubbing her
temple he replied,
“
I
’
m here
because you
’
re
here.
”

She stretched
again and looked around. A puzzled look appeared on her face. Eric
pushed the button to call the nurse in.
“
Where are
we?
”
she asked looking confused.