Simply Complicated: Ellison Brothers (Ellison Brothers Book 2) Read online

  I stop and stare for a moment, studying how each man has taken his position. It’s not a faux-trial mockup, nor is it them being passionate about the football game. Something serious happened between the pair and I’m curious as to why Savior acts like he wants to kill his father.

  “They always get into it,” Marc comes up from behind, “it’s nothing new. You get used to it, really.”

  I remember Savior’s eyes when he briefly talked about being embarrassed by a parent. I had no idea he referred to his father. “What’s this one about?”

  Marc shrugs. “The weather? Parking? A potential case? Who really knows? They’ll fight it out for a few days and then it’ll be back to normal like nothing ever happened. They’re complicated. There’s a lot of love between them but there’s also a lot of resentment. One day, you’ll know the full story.” He turns to me. “A few of us are going out for Happy Hour. Do you want to join?”

  I finally peel my eyes away from Savior. He looks like he’s about to cry but pride is stopping him. “Yeah, that sounds great.”

  ~~~~~

  “Why is a sista from Inglewood here at this law firm?” Marc begins over beer and wings.

  I chuckle as I munch on an onion ring. “We all gotta leave the ‘hood one way or another. Everyone keeps talking about leaving the hood but no one ever does.”

  “I feel you. I grew up in Baldwin Hills. It’s not a bad place and I still have a lot of great memories there. My mom and pops still live there. But man, growing up…I couldn’t wait to get out of there!” Marc exclaims.

  “Whatever, dude,” another attorney, Paul Rios, comments. He’s a Latino man in his forties and specializes in immigration law. He’s between being portly and muscular and can honestly go either way. “Imagine growing up as one of the few Mexicans in Compton back in the 80’s. Yeah, there’s a dime a dozen Mexicans there now but back then? If I didn’t prove my loyalty, I would’ve been a goner.”

  “It’s not how you start,” Marc holds up a beer and clinks it with Paul, “but how you finish.”

  “Word.” Paul agrees.

  “So do you have any advice for me?” I cautiously ask. “I could really use some.”

  “Mmm…” A Filipina lawyer, Primalyn “Lyn” Medina, chimes in. She’s a petite woman in her forties and always wears her hair in a perfect French roll and red lippie. She specializes in employment law. “…watch your back from some of these ruthless bitches.”

  My eyes widen at Lyn’s blatant honesty. I didn’t expect it from her. “Oh wow.”

  “Girlfriend, I’ve seen some shit,” she nods, “the higher up you go, the worse it gets. They’ll sell you out for a cheeseburger. Real talk.”

  My beer became harder to swallow. Is a legal career something I really want?

  “You just have to fight it out. The best survive,” Lyn chews on a mozzarella stick, “and the others never cared that much.”

  “Don’t forget to tell her the real truth, Lyn,” another lawyer, Yun Hee Ha, gives her opinion. She’s an older Korean woman with shiny black hair and a soft face. She often uses that to her advantage because I’ve heard she’s a real pit bull behind the scenes battling it out about discrimination.

  She’s also a bit of a fashion plate, matching her accessories based on how shiny her wheelchair wheels are. “Some will fuck their way to the top. They are the worst ones.”

  “Damn straight,” Lyn shakes her head before something catches her attention, “kinda like that one right there.”

  I glance over to what Lyn is talking about and my heart bottoms out. Rosa showed up to Happy Hour – with Savior.

  Five

  Savior locks eyes with me as he approaches our table. There’s a small storm brewing between them and I’m not sure if he’s unhappy to see me or if it’s leftover from the blowout with his father.

  There’s a sensual energy that is present between us that wasn’t here before and I hope it quiets down before people start figuring out what’s going on. Rosa already went ahead and did her standard hellos with all the ass kissing a girl could muster. Her lips must be tired.

  “Lyn, Yun, Marc, Paul, nice to see you.” Savior greets everyone before he turns his attention to me. “Keisha, great to see you here as well.”

  His voice is clinical without a hint of emotion. I don’t know why I’m surprised by it nor do I know why I’m acting like the world is about to fall apart inside. Savior’s made it very clear I was not his girlfriend and we were in an arrangement of sorts.

  Still, if he wanted me to be exclusive with him, I guess he doesn’t necessarily have to be exclusive to me. Fuck my life.

  “If it isn’t the wunderkind of the firm!” Marc held up a beer. “I’m glad Daddy was gracious enough to let you out to come play with us.”

  I glance over at Marc, who blows Savior a kiss. Clearly, they have a more personal relationship because I can’t imagine talking to the boss like that and being okay with it. “We go back a very long time. Undergrad at USC, both pledge to Kappa Alpha Psi, and now I’m a partner in his law firm.” Marc smiles. “I put up with his shit in a way no one else can.”

  “Lucky you,” Yun rolls her eyes, “lucky you.”

  “So, what did I miss?” Savior takes a pull from his beer. “My ears feel fine so I take it I’m in the clear.”

  “Nah, we were just giving Keisha life advice.” Lyn nods, “preparing her for the real world.”

  “Keisha, have you started looking at four-year universities?” Paul asks.

  “Starting to. I haven’t really been that focused on them until recently.” I turn towards him. Savior and I both knew he’s the only reason why I started looking at colleges. “I do know I want to get as far away from L.A. as possible, though. I want to see what’s out there. I don’t think there’s anything here that’ll keep me.”

  “Oh, there has to be something here,” Savior interjects. His eyes glitter with an amusement. “Your family?” He pauses for a beat. “A love interest?”

  I meet Savior’s eyes again. There’s a small crowd of us at the booth, yet it seems we are the only ones at the bar. Savior’s brown eyes are brilliant, with the light shining just perfectly on the ambers.

  He wants an answer from me. He wants to know if I would actually leave him here in Los Angeles while I go out and explore other places in the world. As I thought about my answer and consider the fact he arrived to Happy Hour with Rosa, Yun chimes in. “Girl, do not get caught up with any dude here. All they want is a wet ass and a dumb brain. All they’ll leave you with is a wet ass and a dumb brain. Save your energy for when you’re out of school.”

  With a declaration I never felt before, I continue to look at Savior. “Nothing is keeping me here in L.A.”

  ~~~~~

  It was nice to see Savior out of his element.

  He laughed and smiled with his colleagues and his best friend, Marc. Everyone talked about anything than legal matters and they didn’t care how stupid or mundane it was. Paul , Lyn, and Yun talked about the latest Stranger Things season while Marc and Savior talked about football games.

  That left me with Rosa.

  I watched her in awe, really. She tried so hard like the little engine that could as she interjected herself in every conversation. She listened to what the lawyers were talking about when they referenced an episode on Stranger Things. She knew what play Marc and Savior referred to when they talked about Sunday’s game.

  She worked the group like a pro, making sure she was always involved somehow in the conversations. It was no surprise the entire time she was at the happy hour, she never left Savior’s side.

  Jealousy raged inside me like a wild beast. Rosa wasn’t a threat but the fact Savior let her hang onto him like a lap dog waiting for his owner bothered me something fierce. I mentally claimed Savior as mine, possessing him, putting him on lock.

  I’m pissed at myself because I knew this was going to happen. He gave me some awesome head, buys me a brand-new car, and he can fuck me anytime
he wants at his bidding, not mine. All I can do is just wait for him to approach me because I already know where my place is.

  I sigh and start to gather my things. I’ve been at happy hour for most of the hour and I still need to go home and study. Maybe I can kill off what’s leftover of my moscato and wonder how did I go from being a bird to one guy to being a bird to another guy. At least Jalen was honest with me – he always told me there were going to be others.

  I say my goodbyes and head out to the ladies’ room. After I do my business, I’m surprised to see Rosa, once again playing with her hair and putting on yet another ton of makeup on her face. I bet she looks like a completely different person in the morning hours and her real name isn’t Rosa but some backwoods name like Brittany Lynn. Must investigate this. “It was great seeing you here tonight!” She beams. “Are you taking off?”

  “Yeah, I have a lot of homework to do so I need to head out.” I wash my hands.

  Rosa nods and plays with her hair some more. She’s a woman who’s in love with her hair. I wonder how she’ll feel if I just happened to produce a pair of scissors? “What do you think of Savior?” She asks.

  The question takes me by surprise. Earlier she warned me to stay away from a very married Marc (like I would’ve approached him, anyway) and now she’s asking me about Savior? Is this bitch sizing me up? “I have no opinion. I don’t know him.”

  “Didn’t you two go out to lunch the other day?” She continues to play with her hair. “I thought I saw the two of you come back in his Audi.”

  Rosa already had a scope on me and she’s itching to pull the trigger. “It was a business meeting.” I answer.

  Rosa nods and plays with her hair even more. It’s clear her hair is her selling point and she’s probably wondering how my baldheaded scallywag ass got her grand prize. Magic is owned and can’t be taught, sweetheart. “I’ve done my research on the Ellison family. They’re very particular and quite private about who associates with them. They don’t just let anyone in their circle.”

  I can deal with blatant racism. It’s in your face and you don’t have to wonder what someone means when they call you a fucking nigger. But the thinly veiled, below the belt type? That one cuts to your soul.

  I’ve had it with Passive-Aggressive Conchita and she’s about to learn the real meaning of ghetto-ass bitch. “I’m sure they also don’t let ass-kissing suck-ups in their circle as well, but that won’t stop you from trying, huh?”

  Rosa finally stopped playing with her hair and she slowly turns her head towards me. “What did you say?”

  “Bitch, I didn’t motherfucking stutter. You worry about you and I’ll worry about me. But if you ever want to talk slick about me on some supposed behavior you have witnessed, please keep this in mind – this is an internship that neither one of us are getting paid for, therefore it would not make a fucking difference who I’m blowing and who you wish you could. And while you’re at it, keep your micro aggressions about my race and class, before you and your relatives get a surprise visit from ICE and our deportation-happy orange president. Good evening.”

  ~~~~~

  I’m three hours into studying when I finally take a break. Alexander Hamilton is one wordy motherfucker. God bless the dude who created a play off his name. I don’t know how he could’ve done it. He deserves all the rewards and blessings for sloughing through 400 years of bullshit to get a three-hour show.

  I walk out of my bedroom and hear the familiar muffled sounds of Tasha and Junie getting it in and I don’t even give them a second thought. Hell, at least someone in this house is getting some action. With the way I reacted tonight and I’m sure Rosa’s ass ratted me to Savior and everyone else, our arrangement is over before it could begin.

  Oh well. I have a sweet Beemer out of it. And I didn’t even have to suck his dick. I say that’s a win.

  Just when I was about make some messed-up cocktail that would guarantee me not to remember anything tomorrow, I get a phone call on my cellular. It’s not the person I want to hear from but if he wants to break me off, I won’t fight it. “Hello?”

  “I didn’t think you were going to answer,” Jalen replies. “I thought you would be sleeping now.”

  “Nah, I have to study. I have a test tomorrow so I don’t have too many options. I’ll be up all night.” I reply.

  “That sounds tempting,” he purrs, “could you use some company?”

  “I don’t know,” I tease him, “it’s already ten o’clock now so by the time you come over, it’ll be midnight.”

  “You said you were going to be up all night?”

  “I did say that,” I reply, “studying.”

  “I got something you can study.” Jalen laughs.

  “I bet you do.” A knock on the door interrupts me. “Hold on. Someone’s knocking.”

  “You expecting company?” He asks.

  No one ever really comes to visit me this late at night unless they’re asking to get put into a body bag. That’s the nature of the neighborhood. “No, but I need to see who it is.”

  “Just don’t open the door,” he advises, “and where’s that strap your dad gave you?”

  “I got it,” I retrieve my Hello Kitty 35 mm, and hold it behind me. I told my daddy if he was insistent to get me a gun, it should at least look cute and match my pink Jordans. I look through the peephole and my special guest visitor takes me aback.

  I slowly open the door and see Savior Ellison in his dressed-down finest. Even when he’s not wearing a business suit, he still looks like the best Bel-Air has to offer. The sultry look in his eyes, however, suggest he doesn’t want to talk to me about what happened earlier.

  He wants to fuck all of the micro aggressions out and you know what? I’m about to let white boy get this work. “Jalen, let me call you back. My cousin’s here.”

  Six

  Savior raises an eyebrow and gives me a smile full of sexy wickedness. Desire courses through my body like a maze and arousal appears, strumming along my skin. “Cousin?”

  I shake my head and toss the phone on the sofa. “Long story not important enough to tell. Did you want to come in?”

  “Sure,” he steps inside and glances around. I once again inhale his delicious cologne and my knees weaken. His blondish-brown locks are loose and wet; the result of perspiration than a shower. His hair color reminds me of wheat fields. The amber within them is almost so perfect and glossy.

  His chiseled face is relaxed and I smell the faintest sniff of bourbon mixed with that intoxicating cologne he’s wearing. I felt an uncontrollable urge to touch him, possess him like he’s mine, and never letting him go.

  “Your gun,” he motions and I hide it behind me. “Can I see it?”

  I wasn’t embarrassed by my Hello Kitty glock so I don’t know why I am now. I slowly produce it from behind and Savior grins when he sees the safety on. “Nice. It’s pretty.” He grins as he holds it. “You know how to use it?”

  “Unfortunately,” I reply. When you live in the ‘hood, you learn how to use a gun before you know how to drive. “My daddy takes me out to the gun range once a year to brush up on my skills. He wants to make sure I’m protected at all times.”

  “Smart man.” He nods as he admires the gun before he hands it back to me. “I want to go out to a gun range with you. It’ll be fun.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever put gun range and fun in the same sentence but if you say so,” I grin. “Did you want anything to drink? To eat? I can fix something up.” I have no damn food in my house.

  “No, I’m fine. I won’t be long.” He sits down on the sofa and I remain standing. Just as he sits, he emanates power that I haven’t felt since my father. He easily controls a room without saying a word. His stance, his look, his nonverbals say it all.

  Awareness wraps around my body, feeling his sexual magnetism that could bring me down to my knees. Primitive instincts come out of me and I force myself to control my feral urges. My nipples tighten and my skin becom
es heated to the touch. Zig-zag breathing almost chokes me into a stuttering and bumbling fool.

  I inhale his scent that’s lingering in the room, and stare at him with a longing I never knew I had. My heart rate is out of control and goose bumps form along my arms. I picture him naked and on top of me, wondering if he would be a hard or gentle lover. My skin heats up thinking about it and desire coats my panties.

  Who is Savior Ellison and what is he doing to me?

  Savior looks up at me and his lips curve into a delicious, sultry smile. I can’t tell if he’s completely oblivious or he knows the affect he has on me and is playing it low-key. He’s over there looking all sexy and good, and I’m just like, damn.

  “Is everything okay, Keisha?” His voice is smoky and deep, with a lazy drawl.

  “Oh yeah,” I feel like a plum fool just staring at him like a groupie. I sit on the other sofa and I bide my time with Savior. I’m not sure if he’s here for sex or because he wants to let me go in person after my confrontation with Rosa.

  He’s slightly inebriated and it didn’t occur to me how he arrived here. It doesn’t really matter nor does it matter if he’ll be here all night or a short while. Funny how I didn’t want Jalen to come over to stay all night but I’m sad Savior won’t.

  “So, what are you studying?” His eyes are closed and his head is resting on the back of the sofa.

  “The Federalist Papers,” I yawn. Just thinking about them makes me bored. “I have to summarize what they are and how they could apply to today’s current political climate.”

  “How long is your paper?” He asks.

  “It’s not a paper. It’s an essay final. I already have notecards and the like. I just have to really study them. The final is tomorrow.” I tuck my feet underneath me. “So I have a lot to do between now and then.”

  There’s a small silence between us and I’m wondering what to say next. It’s not like I can make conversation about the Lakers and how I hope the Dodgers win the World Series. Despite how intimate we were just a few days ago, I still don’t know who Savior Ellison is. Google alerts do nothing but satisfy my nosey, gossiping cravings.