Cherry’s Jubilee (Lunchtime Chronicles: Season 7)

Chapter 22

Cherry

I’m the one who is late this time. My meeting went over by an hour because Mr. Jubilee had a lot to say, and lots of advice to give. My client didn’t mind, and neither did I. I can use his suggestions on most of my clients going forward. Beyond that, he says he’s only a phone call away if I need advice, and he’ll be happy to talk me through any issues. Afterward, we walk back to the building together, but he tells me to go on after he gets a phone call. I’ve met my boyfriends’ parents before, and I’ve always gotten along well with them, but I’ve never earned their respect the way I have with Daniel’s father.

I walk through the lobby and nod at security. They know me and let me inside Daniel’s private elevator, which takes me directly to his floor. I hear laughter and chatter coming from the large conference room. There are balloons, and I assume it’s Ashley’s goodbye party. I don’t see anyone until I nearly collide with her. She smirks and she blocks me when I try to go around her. I stop and wait to hear what she has to say. She takes out her phone and types something before she puts it in her pocket.

“I know you’re behind me losing my job,” she whispers.

I roll my eyes and go around her without responding. She follows me to Daniel’s office, and since he told me I never have to knock, I push the door open. My steps stop at the scene in front of me .

Amira and Daniel are in the middle of the office, and she’s in his arms. He pushes her away when he sees me, but I don’t miss the lipstick on his chin.

“What the hell are you doing, Amira?” he asks, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

I stare at them without a word, but when I notice the smug satisfaction on Ashley’s face, I know she’s behind this. This is who she texted, and she stopped me to give Amira enough time to wrap herself around Daniel like the snake she is.

“Cherry, this is not what it looks like. I don’t know what Amira’s doing, but—”

I tune out the rest of Daniel’s words and take slow steps toward Amira. She won’t make eye contact with me, but she’s blushing and looks embarrassed. Without a word, I reach back and slap her across her face. She screams and stumbles into Daniel. Her body touching his again sends me into another rage. Daniel reaches for me, but I move away and slap Amira in the mouth with the back of my hand. Blood oozes out the side.

I turn to Ashley, and her smug look is gone now. It’s replaced with something I’ve never seen from her before. It’s fear. She’s not as dumb as I thought because she should be scared.

“Cherry, don’t,” Daniel says. He steps between me and Ashley, but I’m far too gone to see reason. If I wasn’t, I’d know that this could get me in serious legal trouble, but I refuse to think about the repercussions.

“You bitch,” Ashley says. “You’re going to get arrested.” The smugness is back in her voice, and I assume it’s because she thinks Daniel has saved her from the consequences of her actions. Stupid mistake.

“If the police are called, Amira’s getting arrested for assaulting me,” Daniel says, and that smugness leaves Ashley’s face.

“What?” Amira asks while she holds one cheek with her hand. “I told you and Mom I didn’t want to do this, and now I’m going to get arrested because you both are jealous of Cherry. ”

“Shut the hell up, you stupid idiot,” Ashley says.

“What did you say?” Daniel asks. When all Amira does is cry, he walks to her and says, “Answer me.” While his back is turned, I smack Ashley across the face like I did to her sister. I smile in glee. I’ve been wanting to do that since I was a kid.

“You bitch,” she whispers.

“We’re going to end this once and for all, whore.” I slap her face again. “Let’s go. Here’s your chance. I’ll let you throw a punch,” I taunt. “Come on, Ashley. You’ve waited your whole life for this. Let’s make it count.”

She takes a step toward me, and I sucker punch her in the face. I hear a crunch, and blood gushes out of her nose. She falls on her ass, and I grab her by her hair and twist.

“Let me go!” she yells as I yank her to her feet. Blood is now gushing from her nose and dripping down her chin.

“Come on,” I taunt. “Hit me.” But all she does is step back like the insecure coward that she is. So, I walk toward her, eager for my fist to meet with her face again. I raise my hand to strike. Ashley screams but Daniel grabs my wrist before I can make contact.

“Cherry, enough,” Daniel says, but I ignore him and try to lunge for Ashley again. He easily lifts me off my feet and holds me with one arm like I’m a football.

“She broke my face,” Ashley says before she starts to hyperventilate.

Daniel walks to his desk, picks up his phone, and yells at someone to get to his office. I move against him, hoping he’ll drop me, but his grip tightens.

Seconds later, his door swings open, and two members of his security team rush inside. Daniel gestures towards Ashley and Amira, and they rush to them.

“Put me down,” I order.

“No,” is all he says. He walks to where the security guard is helping Ashley while he is still carrying me. “I want you out of this building in the next fifteen minutes. If you’re not gone by then, I’m having you arrested. And do not return on Monday. You don’t work here anymore.”

“She’s the one who assaulted me,” she says, but her voice breaks, and she bursts into tears.

“That’s not how I see it. Amira sexually assaulted me by forcing herself on me, which is the absolute truth. If either of you ever step foot in this building again, I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”

“That’s it? I’ve worked here for three years, and you’re getting rid of me because of her?” She talks as if the idea of someone not choosing her over me is unthinkable.

“Get the hell out of here and take your sister with you.”

“Feel free to warn your mother. She’s about to get her ass whooped too,” I say as they’re escorted out.

After they leave, Daniel goes to the back of his office and puts me down.

I shove at his chest. He doesn’t budge, so I shove him again. “You kissed that bitch. It will be a cold day in hell before you touch me again.”

He grabs both of my wrists and pulls me to his desk, where he picks up his phone. He orders whoever it is to send a doctor immediately. He lifts my wrists and starts to examine my hands. His phone rings, and he lets me go. He explains the cuts on my hands to whoever is on the other line. While he’s distracted, I run out of his office.

“Goddammit, Cherry,” I hear behind me. I run to the elevator, and it opens after I hit the button. The doors close before he can catch it.

It’s not until I get to the lobby that I realize I left my purse in his office. Since there’s no way I’m going back to get it, I go outside to his waiting car. The driver smiles.

“Ms. Cherry,” Ari says, but his phone rings before I can respond.

After saying hello, he doesn’t say another word. His eyes widen with understanding while he studies me, and instead of opening the door, he stands in front of it .

“I need you to take me somewhere,” I tell him. He gives me a fake smile, and I know he’s not taking me anywhere. “Fuck,” I say, cursing myself for not grabbing my purse. I start to walk away, but he runs ahead and blocks me.

“Get your ass over here,” Daniel yells from behind me.

“Leave me alone.” I walk away, determined to go to Karen on foot. I only make it a few steps before he grabs my wrist and spins me around. I shove him, but he doesn’t move.

“Don’t play with me,” he says. “The doctor is on his way. He’s going to examine your hands. We’re going to talk and then go to lunch like we planned.”

“If you think I’m going anywhere with you after you and Amira were upstairs sucking face—”

“Boss!” Ari says, outraged on my behalf.

“Me and Amira nothing!” he yells. “Don’t ever say that to me. I’m in love with you. Do you think I would jeopardize that to be with your cousin? What you’re not going to do, Cherry, is take this shit out on me. So, you can either walk your ass back inside that building or I’ll carry you.”

I scoff and start to walk away. In an instant, I feel his arm around my waist. He lifts me off my feet and walks us back inside the building. No one says a word as he carries me into the elevator. He doesn’t put me down or speak.

“Let me go,” I order.

He ignores me until we are inside his office where he drops me on the couch like a bag of dirty laundry. I try to stand up to leave, but he puts a hand on my shoulder and pushes me down.

“Sit your ass down and wait for the damn doctor.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” I ask as he stands over me.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” he throws back in my face. “Maybe I’ve been too nice since we met, and you got the wrong impression. You’re going to get examined, and then we’re going on about our day. You’re not going to get arrested for assaulting your aunt.” He walks away and sits at his desk.

His face is red now and his nostrils are flared. His words make sense, but the image of walking in on him with Amira in his arms continues to anger me. I stand, making sure to grab my purse this time. I look at him, and he’s typing furiously on his computer, so I run to the door. When I try and turn the knob, it’s locked. I pull at it and nothing happens.

“I locked us in. It’s an extra security measure in case of emergencies,” he says as if he’s only telling me the weather outside.

“This is kidnapping.”

“File a police report,” he says without looking up.

I pull on the door again before stomping back to the couch and dropping myself on it. “I’m pissed at you.”

“That’s fine because I’m pissed at you too.”

I cross my arms and look away from him. Neither of us speaks for the next thirty minutes until the doctor shows up. Daniel’s father follows soon behind him. It only takes Dr. Newsom a few minutes to check my hands to determine that nothing is broken. He says my right hand is sprained, and he binds it with a compression wrap, telling me to keep it wrapped for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

When the doctor leaves, Mr. Jubilee says, “So, it’s true. You beat the shit out of Ashley and Amira? That’s what Whit called to tell me.”