Heart of Stone Emery and Jackson - Chiquita Dennie (summer reading list txt) 📗

your relationship please, and let her tell the rest of the story,” I told Angela before turning back to Jordan.

“His name’s Damon Adams, and he has one daughter. She’s beautiful, and my dumbass hasn’t even asked if he’s still seeing her mother. We’ve been texting back and forth since yesterday.”

“Sounds like you like him. Just give it time and see where it goes. Besides Angela is right about one thing, we both get a chance to get the cobwebs cleaned out.”

I smile, and we all burst out in laughter. After we calmed down, Angela put her hand on Jordan's arm.

“I'm sorry, you still love me?”

“Yes, do I like you right now, uhh nope. But you can buy drinks to make up for all the drama.” Jordan smiled at Angela, we finished our lunch, changed, and left going our separate ways.

I pulled up to my apartment and see Anthony sitting on my porch. Blowing out a breath in aggravation, I grab my groceries, purse and lock my door. He met halfway and took the bags out of my hands as I shook my head in disbelief at his arrogance to come to my place. Putting my purse and jacket down on the table, I follow him into the kitchen and stand at my door with my hands crossed against my chest. I wait for him to finish with his little game of being helpful before addressing him.

“I made a mistake.”

“It’s too late Anthony.” Turning and walking to my bedroom, I went to change clothes. He followed behind and grabbed me by the arm. I jerk away, and he raises both hands in surrender.

“Sorry. Listen, Emery can we talk, please? I know this situation is messed up. But we love each other, and we can get through this if you give me a chance.”Turning away from him I continue toward my bedroom and shut the door. As I take my shirt off, he opens my bedroom door, and I rush into the closet surprised by him following me.

“GET OUT!”

“I’ve seen you naked before baby,” Tilting his head to the left, a small smirk comes across his face as he sits down on my bed.

Rolling my eyes, I continue changing my clothes. Hearing my phone ring, I walk out of my closet and see Anthony answering my phone.

“Who is that?”

“You’re calling my woman- “

I snatched away my phone before whoever was calling could hang up. “Hello?” 

“Who’s that answering your phone sweetness?” Hearing Jackson calmly speaking into the phone gives me chills wondering if his bite is worse than his bark.

I smacked Anthony’s hand away and walked toward the window. “No one.  Are you at the office?”

“Don’t dismiss my question. I suggest you answer me before I come to where you are.”

“Can I call you back?”

“No.”

“Jack—”

“Who the fuck is Jack?” Anthony questioned demanding.

“Please, Jackson...I’ll call you right back.”

“I’m giving you three minutes to get rid of your company for good before I do it for you.”

“Fine.”

“Emery don’t make me show my ass. I told you, sweetness, you are mine. Don’t let the suit fool you; my reach is wide. Do you understand me?”

Feeling the lump in my throat, I close my eyes and nod my head in understanding as if he could see me. I hang up and run my hands down my face.

“Emery, we can make this work.” Anthony pulls me into a hug and kisses my forehead, then my cheek and lips. Falling deeper into his arms, I raise my arms around his neck and return his kiss. I pull away abruptly when I realize I’m with Anthony and not Jackson.

“I can’t do this with you. Anthony, you repeatedly cheated with my best friend and got her pregnant. YOU BROKE US!”

“Babe, please... I’m sorry, we can get past this. Just give me a chance. I promise.”

Pacing in front of my couch and watching him walk closer to me, I push him away and sit down in the chair taking deep breaths to gather my thoughts.

“I don’t think—”

“Emery don’t. You know me; we’re meant to be together. Yes, I made a mistake. At the time you were working so much, and I was missing you and hearing what you were doing at work and around all those guys.”

“Wait, what does me being around guys and working have to do with you cheating on me?”

“Teresa said you—”

“Before you finish that statement, I want you to think about what comes out of your mouth. Because if you’re about to say that Teresa told you I was cheating with guys at my job, then you automatically believed her.”

“What was I supposed to do Emery?” Anthony knocked all the papers on my table to the floor.

“You were supposed to come to ME,” Standing up getting into his face I pointed my finger and furrowed my right brow.

“She was there for me.”

“And I was your girlfriend.” Feeling tears in my eyes, I wipe them with my shirt and shake my head in disappointment. Swearing to myself to never cry over him again. Feeling my blood pressure rising, I knew I needed to calm down before I passed out and Anthony found out about my secret. Hearing knocking at my door, I walk over and open it shocked by the person standing on the other side.

“You’ve got to be shitting me. Why are you here Teresa?” I watched as she rubbed her pregnant belly in my face. Thinking it would make me jealous.

“I came to take my fiancé home. Seeing as how you keep calling and begging him to get back together.” Teresa pushed me aside and walked into my apartment.

“Teresa go home. I told you already, Emery and I are working on our relationship.”

“WHAT!” Teresa and I shouted at the same time.

Watching her walk up to him and smack him across the face, I wanted so bad to slap her like that. Seeing her pregnant, I needed to keep my cool and get them both out of my apartment.

“Keep your hands to yourself, T”

“I’m here because we have a doctor’s appointment. If you’d stop running behind Emery and focus on our baby and engagement, you’d see she’s not good for you.” Teresa plopped down on my couch and crossed her legs while shooting an evil glare at me.

“You and I both know that’s not my baby. You’ve been sleeping with every guy at your job.” Anthony went to help her up from the couch, and she smacked his hand away.

“So, you cheated on me with her, and she cheated on you with someone else, and she’s possibly not carrying your baby?” I asked hoping to get final closure on this situation between the three of us.

Glaring at me and positioning herself toward Anthony, she raised up off the couch and walked toward him.

“This is your baby, stop telling that lie.”

“I don’t know that for sure. Until you have the baby, I’m single and working on my relationship with Emery.”

“Um, I think not. Anthony, you need to leave and take Teresa with you. I’m so over this situation. I couldn’t care less about what you two do. I have plans tonight, and you’re both holding me up.”

“I’m not going anywhere until my fiancé leaves,” Teresa stated and walked in front of me crossing her arms and poking her lips out.

I reach for my ringing phone and answer it as they continue to argue.

“Are you alone?”

Feeling butterflies in my stomach, I walk over to the window and look outside. Seeing a car parked outside down the street, I close the drapes and walk to my door to get rid of Anthony and Teresa before Jackson comes upstairs.

“No Mr. Pierce.”

“Emery...” Hearing the strain in his voice and thinking back to the other night with him between my thighs and the push and pull of our bodies against each other.

“Yes... Mr. Pierce?”

“Are you determined to make me angry sweetness?”

“There’s a lot of things I’m determined to get from you, Mr. Pierce. Angry isn’t’ one of them. Are you outside my apartment?”

“If I said yes, will you escort your guests out before I come up there and throw them out?”

“I’d rather not have the police at my door over you and Anthony fighting.”

“Baby, one thing you won’t have to worry about is calling the police.”

“Give me one second, Jackson.”

“Emery. Who the hell is Jackson?” Anthony stepped right into my face with flaring nostrils and his chest heaving up and down.

“Ohh... she’s stepping her game up. I knew you were a gold digger. Jackson’s a billionaire owner of a race car franchise. She just got the account from Brent.”

“Are you sleeping with him? Baby, we can work this out. I forgive you okay. We both made mistakes, but I know we can make this work.”

“I need you two to leave and stay away from me. Teresa if you see me at work, go the opposite way.” Pushing them both out the door, I slammed it shut and locked it.

“Sorry about that. I didn’t invite Anthony over if you were thinking that.”

“I know. But you need to remind your ex I don’t play about what belongs to me.”

“I don’t recall saying I was your woman.”

Hearing his laugh on the other end of the line, some of the stress I was feeling left as I lay back on the couch; pulling my hair out of the bun on top of my head.

“What are you wearing?

“I’m not having phone sex with you, Jackson.”

“I just asked what you are wearing and if I wanted phone sex, you’d give it to me.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because you’d do anything to please me and I’d do the same for you.”

“I... I...” I stuttered out.

“Listen. How about we do lunch tomorrow after our meeting? I know a place by my office that would give us privacy.”

“Why would we need privacy? Besides I won’t be at the meeting long because of back to back meetings. Dominique is leading it. I’ll be there for backup.”

“You’re going to deny me.”

“Yes. Unlike you Mr. Pierce, I must work for a living. I don’t own a billion-dollar company.

“In due time sweetness. I’ll let you get some work done. Oh, and Emery, I suggest you keep your ex out of your face before something happens.”

“Jackson, nothing is going on between us. He’s getting married, and I’m a grown woman. I can date whoever I want.”

Walking to the kitchen to pull out a steak and potato for dinner tonight, I listened as something was shuffling on the other end of the phone.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetness. Wear something sexy.”

Smiling at his suggestion, I start to reply but instead, I hung up and continued making dinner. After eating and cleaning up the kitchen, I grab an outfit for tomorrow and set my alarm.