Steve Marlone, I believe I just saw your heart jumping. What was that? Dolly asked narrowing her eyes. Come on Mrs P, I’m just messing with her.
Careful with her, she could completely destroy you.
How so? He asked curious.
You saw how everyone followed her when she walked out of court?
Mhmm
She has an ability to start war on her own that one, that’s why we need her on this team.
You sound certain about that, is there something you not telling me? Steve had thought about the way the audience was cheering Aziza in court. It was almost like she was an inspiration of some sort.
I’m late for a meeting Steve, just don’t mess with her, okay.
Yes Ma’am, he said but deep down he knew there was no way he was going to honour Mrs P’s wishes. Aziza had piqued his curiosity and he had no intention of letting it go.
A tall teenage boy with small round eyes was sitting behind the counter tapping frantically on the phone screen. Hearing the door close startled him that jumped to his feet almost dropping his disproportionate huge eyeglasses. Welcome to LL cleaners, your laundry is precious to us. He recited the sentence he had said a million times before. He took a deep breath. I’m James, he smiled revealing a row of teeth with braces.
Steve looked and smiled at the teenager, he was a typical geek. He handed over the navy suit coat. Hi James, can you clean this for me?
Where did you get this?
James was looking at him suspiciously, like he committed a crime. Excuse me?
You better start answering now or I am calling the police? James said bravely already tapping on his phone.
Come on Dude, Aziza asked me to bring it here.
Why would she give you her coat? He asked, his hands not moving from the screen.
She’s a friend, okay.
James tapped okay and waited for the phone to ring. I am the only white friend she has. That’s it, I’m calling the police.
There’s hundreds of laundry services around here, if she didn’t give it to me, how would I know she uses your services? Steve asked, trying to find a way to diffuse the situation.
James hesitated before dropping the call only to make another call. Steve was about to snatch the phone away when he heard her voice on the other side. Hi Az, there’s a white dude here with your coat.
Hi James, yah I know. Can’t talk right now. Caught me during my afternoon run. A breathless voice answered before dropping the call.
Steve folded his arms on this chest. He heard the response she gave him. Are you happy now?
How did you even get her coat? I saw you on TV the other day, she hates you. James asked, curious.
Steve narrowed his eyes focusing on the teenager in front of him like a predator about to pounce on a prey. How did this teenager manage to have Aziza’s personal phone number and even the way he addressed her on the phone was very informal. Don’t believe anything you see on TV kid, that was just our foreplay, he said winking.
James laughed. Oh, please. Dream on dude. You are white, there’s no way she will go for you and she would have told me about it.
You are white too you little prick and why would she tell you about our sex life?
She’s my friend, she would have told me. He said proudly.
Steve was getting irritated and jealous that the teenager knew Aziza more than him. He wanted to remove the smug on his face. His phone rang. Hey babe, he said charmingly. No, I didn’t get lost. Yes I met James. Are you sure this kid does not have a crush on you? You will make it up to me later, can’t wait. Bye. He looked at the teenager, satisfied that the fake call achieved the intended results.
Is she as fierce in bed as she is in court?
What the fuck? You not having wet dreams about my woman, are you? Steve asked getting closer to James.
Come on, she’s hot. It’s a complement. James said running to the other side of the counter.
Steve now had James where he wanted. I won’t tell her about this if you tell me how the two of you got to be friends.
Two hours later Steve knew a bit more about Aziza. He knew that she owns at least 21 very expensive custom made designer suits, he knew her laundry schedule and that she played computer games with James while waiting for her laundry. He knew about the handsome rapper Jerome Lorgan, her ex fiancé who intimidated anyone that came close to her and he now had her phone number.
Getting to his office, he turned on the computer and typed her name. Being in the legal department had its benefits. He could gain access to anyone’s information without raising any flags. He could not suppress the desire to know more about her. He tapped search, waited for results and was shocked. Besides the legal career that began four year ago, nothing else was on the files about Aziza. No birth records, no assets, no tickets, and no social media accounts. It was like she did not exist at all. He could not access her university files, they were sealed and password protected. Even Jerome’s very active social media wall never even posted her once. The engagement four years ago only showed a hand with a ring. He would have missed it if James hadn’t told him about it. The song he released that became a hit addressed her as Az and alluded to the fact that they had been through a lot together. Someone had gone through a great deal to keep Aziza a secret. Now he couldn’t stop until he found out why.
Aziza climbed the stairs slowly, she had no intention of getting her there on time. She had to show the white boy her irritation in using her favourite coat as bait to make her come to some stupid meeting. She still couldn’t believe that he actually called her a racist as if she was capable of being one. She opened the door to the conference room, intentionally banged the door and took a seat near the exit.Steve noticed her the moment she walked in. She was wearing black suit that fitted her perfectly. The peach silk top underneath her coat complemented her flawless skin. Her hair was neatly tied in conrows, he could see the precision of the straight lines on her head. Thank you Advocate Grey for finally joining us. I would appreciate you being on time on our next sessions. He said with a smile. The rest of the guest turned to look at her, clearly disapproving of her being late.Aziza glared at him, she did no
Steve and the rest of conference guest rushed out to investigate the commotion outside.Aziza was standing proudly in the centre with Seth and at least forty bikers riding their bikes slowly around her. She was surrounded but didn’t look bit worried.Steve swallowed hard, sweat already coming down his brow. He retied the strapping to secure Naomi who was fast asleep on his chest. If Aziza, a black woman was injured or worse in front of states department by a group of white bikers, there will definitely be war and his vision for the city and country would be completely destroyed. There was no sign of police, he had to do something but what could he do?Aziza looked at her watch and smiled. It was
Steve walked around for the the third time through John’s basement. He forced himself to look at the horrific pictures, read through the horror stories and the shocking end of Aziza’s family. He wiped the tears from his eyes with his shaking hands. How does anyone get over this? he wondered, her words echoing in his head “We are the generation that saw it all, felt it all and we lived with the physical and psychological scars”. Dolly was right, Aziza could start war on her own. She was the gasoline that would fuel the racial tensions and the recent targeting of blacks by Seth’s bikers and framing of John was enough to tip her over. Now she was a time ticking bomb that could go off anytime. He had hoped that knowing more about her would help him confront and reason with her but now he was terrified to even look at her in the eye.He walked up slowly, emotiona
It was a Sunday morning, Aziza was seating with James eating popcorn, playing computer games while waiting for her laundry.Do you really think we are all racist? James asked uneasy. Aziza was on the news a lot lately and he thought some of her views were extreme.Who is we? she asked.Us, you know, white people. He said shrugging his shoulders.No, just the ones whose parents were born here. Your parents moved here six years ago, I don’t have a problem with you.What about Steve, he asked curious.What about him?He was born here, his parents were born here but you like him.And what gave you that crazy idea? she asked, stuffing
Aziza turned off the alarm and got out of bed. She had no work to go to since Judge Laymore suspended her practicing licence for six months but Dolly and John had called her a multiple times last night begging her to come to Steve’s meetings at the state department. She had eventually agreed but she was already regretting that decision now. She was getting tired of meeting, listening and hearing about Steve. Her mind seems to be also playing tricks on her. Not only were images of him playing in her mind, now there was also that kiss. Even when thinking about something else, he just creeped in. She has to actively block him from her mind, it can’t be that hard, she told herself.Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and braced herself for the comment Steve was going to pass about her being late. She looked around expecting to find everyone seated but everyone was standing and chatting over tea. John saw her
Where are you taking me? Aziza asked. Steve had insisted that she leaves her car and drive with him. Small talk was exhausted and the conversation between them was becoming awkward. They had been driving for two hours already on a route she was not familiar with and she was getting suspicious.Are you always this impatient and suspicious? he asked amused. He was caught off guard when she took a photo of him. What are you doing?Sending my friend your photo incase I go missing, she said typing on her phone. His heart sank, her words piercing deep through him. Do you really think I would do you harm Az? he asked, unable to hide the hurting in his voice. At that moment he wanted her to say it was all a joke, that she trusted him but she just stared at him. He sighed, why would she trust him after everything some sick psychos put her and her family through because of their skin colour. Tell your friend we are going to Joe’s at P
Bra Joe and Angela left Steve and Aziza with a menu to tend to other customers. Steve turned his focus on his date whose mood had completely changed from the time they walked into Joe’s. What is it Az? he asked softly.Aziza didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Steve had the audacity to ask her what was wrong. This country became democratic ten years ago Steve, she said calmly.I know that, he said paging through the menu.Before that, there was no mixing of races. You couldn’t have spent your childhood in Joe’s house. He is black, you are white, that was not allowed, she said doing her best to remain calm.Steve narrowed his eyes, the implications of her statement starting to kick in. What are you trying to say to me Az?You are lying to me to prove that you are not a racist. You hav
Jerome was cursing and breaking everything his hands landed on. He had hired someone to keep tail on Aziza for sometime now and had just received images of Aziza and Steve kissing outside Joe’s. There was no way of telling that their kiss was meant to keep Brenda off Steve’s back.Veronica put her hands on her ears to block the sound from the other room. She had been staying with Jerome for three years now but he has always made it clear that he will only settle down with Aziza. He believed that they were fated and will end up together no matter what. She was trying her best to impress him but sometimes he made her feel like she was not good enough. She did not need to ask what was wrong, whenever Jerome became like this, it had something to do with Aziza and was best if she stayed away until he settled down.The drive back to Palmvile felt faster to Aziza. She got off Steve’s car as s