Friends Forever Or Not 2 The Betrayal Continues

Chapter 9

Cristiano enters the bedroom, talking to himself about Casian having a boyfriend. “Holding my daughter’s hand. I might have to go to that school and have a boy-to-man talk with him.”

“Talk with who? Why were you yelling my name? “ Americus sits up, stretching.

He’s pointing toward the hallway. “Your daughter has a boyfriend. Casian is allowing that little boy to hold her hand. Did you know about that? Yep, Little Americus has a boyfriend.”

She looks at him, confused, “Little Americus? Who is Little Americus?”

“Casian Nakita Silverheels. Your daughter.” Cristiano's still pointing toward the hallway. "Talk to her."

“It’s fine. It’s not like she can get pregnant. So there's nothing to worry about. She and her friend look so cute holding hands. You should see them."Americus looks at her watch. “Did Ferris tell you what he and Zuleyka wanted to discuss with us?”

"No, he didn't." Cristiano looks at her, shaking his head. “How is everything fine? No, it’s not going to be fine. Pregnant.” He threw his arms up. "Cute, see them. I don't want to see them holding hands. Why is my wife acting as if this is normal?"

Americus walks into her dressing room. "Babe, you need to get dressed. We don't want to be late." She picks up two dresses, holds them up to her, while looking in the mirror. "It’s normal. Trust me.”

He nods, “Okay, but Casian isn’t going away for college. When she starts dating, I’ll be her chaperone; if I’m not availalbe, she’ll have to go with a bodyguard.”

“Help my husband. Poor Casian. Her father is hiring a bodyguard to guard her body. I should say to guard her virginity.” Americus shook her head.

Cristiano smiles proudly, "Yes, ma’am, I am."

“My father didn’t hire a bodyguard for me.” Americus looks back at the dresses.

“Exactly. Think about all the things we did when he wasn't around.” Cristiano is walking into his dressing room. "Remember the night under the dock, after everyone had gone to bed."

Amrericus smiles, thinking about her and Cristiano when they were dating. “Maybe he’s right. Now that I think about it. We may need two bodyguards for little Americus."

*****

Arizona and Osvaldo are having dinner with Kathani, Hamilton, and Seeley at Crustacean. Osvaldo and Arizona were planning to go to dinner and a movie after Dexter's funeral. Hamilton asked the couple to join him and Kathani for dinner.

As soon as her parents sit down, Kathani yells, "We're pregnant." She's dancing in her chair.

"I had a feeling you were. Yes, young lady, I saw you run to the bathroom at Kaleigh's house." Arizona hugs her and Hamilton. "There isn't too much I don't see. I see a major shopping trip for us. Congratulations."

"Congratulations, you two." Osvaldo shakes Hamilton's hand and hugs his daughter. So she’s cutting back on her work and won't be traveling. "More grands for us to spoil."

"Thank you, Father," Hamilton knew about the new addition to their family. But not about her cutting back on her workload was news to him. He’s thrilled because he has been trying to think of a way to bring the subject up. Hamilton remembered her reaction when he suggested she do that when she was pregnant with Seeley, and that didn’t turn out well. Kathani decided for herself when she was six months into the pregnancy.

"Mutherfucker." Hamilton points at a 5'5" medium-complexion man with long dreadlocks.

Osvaldo glances at the man, "JaQuan O'Connell. Let's see how big your balls are. We may not find out tonight, but we will soon. Cristino and Americus were right about those two relationships." He rubbed his goatee, chuckled, and thought, "Americus was also right, you would be here tonight. I'm glad I suggested this restaurant."

JaQuinn noticed them as soon as he and Lacy entered the restaurant. He noticed Kathani staring at them. He looked down at his and Lacy's hands entwined and yanked his hand from hers.

She frowns, looking at him. "Why did you do that?"

"We don't need to draw attention to ourselves." JaQuan sits down and cuts his eyes at Hamilton and the others.

Lacy doesn't care who knows about JaQuan and her affair. She figures the sooner people know, the better it will be for her.

Kathani looked at the opposite side of the restaurant. "When sis JaQuan and Ellexis get a divorce?"

"They haven't that I know of. They were at a charity event together last week. She isn't the first and won't be the last. That man is known for spreading his oaks." Arizona picks her glass of wine. "Ellexis hasn't been able to catch him becasue he keeps her pregnant all the time. I don't believe any of their children are a year apart. They have eight, and she's pregnant as we speak."

"So that's how he keeps her under his thumb." Osvaldo mumbles.

Kathani smirks, thinking, "Maybe it's time I informed Ellexis's parents. If her father knew, he would stop backing JaQuan." She looks around he restaurant for cameras and sees several. "Gotcha."

Hamilton kisses her cheek, "Sweetheart, I know that look. It can only mean one thing. You're about to do something that we'll love."

"Yes, I'm about to remove one of the stones that's in our path." Kathani takes a few sips of her water.

****

Rod didn’t waste any time hopping on his plane after Bayley’s funeral. He called Jewel right before the plane took off. Bryton did as he said. That was that he wouldn’t travel with Rod; he went home.

Jewel has been counting the minutes for Rod's arrival. She had decided that her secret would remain a secret. It's not like Rod would ever discover the truth. "So what's the big deal if she keeps one thing from him?"She says while reading a message from Technica

She tells Jewel to drop the lawsuit against their father. It's a losing battle. If she follows through with it, she'll end up with nothing and will be written out of Xander's Will.

Jewel laughs as she texts ."b***h, my father doesn't own a damn thing. Everything was my mother's. We'll see who ends up with nothing." She hangs up, calling Technica and Aubrey greedy, along with every name she could think of. Jewel stops her venting when the door opens.

Rod enters the condo and stumbles back from Jewel, jumping into his arms, wrapping her legs and arms around him. Every time he starts to talk, Jewel kisses him. "I'm glad you missed me, " He says when Jewel repeats his lips. Rod walks over to the sofa, sits down with her still wrapped around him.

"Yes, I missed you." Jewel kisses him again.

"Have you spoken to Kaleigh again? " He cups her face.

She frowns, "No. I'm not calling her afian. Kaleigh had become mean. It's like she's an Americus in training. Also, Aunt Alycia told me not to call or approach Kalrigh again." Jewel lay her head on his shoulder.

Rod tells her maybe it's for the best. He doesn't know all the details about hr and Kaleigh's relationship. But he knows enough to know that it can't be saved becasue of what happened at Americus and Cristiano's anniversary dinner. He saw the disappointment on Jewel's face and thought, 'I love you. But you shouldn't have f****d her husband."

Jewel gives him her cell phone. He read the message from Technica, and his left eye started twitching. "That woman has some nerve. She and her illegitimate daughter have already lived off your mother's wealth. Now they think they have the right to continue after you know the truth. b***h had lost her damn mind. I don't like anyone threatening you. Hell, you withdrawing the lawsuit is the least of her damn problems. She should be more concerned about her and her daughter's health. One day, neither one of them might not wake up."

Her mouth is open; she has never seen this side of him. Jewel thought about asking him to clarify what he meant until she heard Xander's name. "Today isn't a good day to ask. If something does happen to that man, it would save me a lot of time." She thought as she nodded at him.

Rod is talking about dealing with Jewel's father, stepmother, and half-sister.