Web of Deception Chapter 18
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee woke Keesha from her sleep. After a quick shower, she put on a purple sweat suit and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
The sound of James Brown's, I Feel Good was playing on the oldies station. The sight of Victor dancing around the kitchen, cooking and singing made Keesha laugh and temporarily forget her problems.
Victor turned around and extended his hand for Keesha to join him. He used the spatula as his microphone, while Keesha pretended to be the horn section. After the song ended they laughed and embraced each other.
"I hope you don't mind that I spent the night here," she said taking a seat at the kitchen table.
"Why should I mind?"
"Well, I am a grown woman. I shouldn't be running home, just because I have an argument with my finance."
"Keke, this will always be your home. You can come back anytime."
"Thanks, daddy."
"It must have been some argument, if you're calling me daddy," Victor replied. "Why don't I make us some pecan pancakes and you can tell me the whole story."
"Sounds like a plan. But shouldn't we wait for mama?"
"You're mother got up early to run some errands," he replied flatly.
"I gather you two had an argument as well?" she asked.
"Yes, we did and don't change the subject."
Over pancakes, sausage, eggs and coffee, Keesha told Victor everything that happened in the last few weeks. Victor sat quietly, listening and observing Keesha's expressions and body language.
As Keesha continued talking, Victor's mind drifted to the day they began to bond. He and Lorraine had been married for a few months and Keesha was enrolled at Lake View High School.
Since Lorraine was away in Europe, so he intended to use this opportunity to get close to Keesha.
Victor sensed something was wrong, when Keesha came home from school one day in tears. After some coaxing, he managed to get Keesha to open up. Apparently, three boys at school had been verbally harassing her for several weeks. She reported the incidents to the Principal, who only gave the boys a slap on the hand. That only made things worse.
One day they managed to corner her in an empty classroom and tried to rape her. If the janitor hadn't showed up and startled them, they would have succeeded. Keesha didn't tell Victor or her mother, for fear of not being believed. Victor was livid and promised to take care of everything.
First he confronted the Principal, who all but tried to shift the blame on Keesha. Since the young men were from prominent families, the Principal didn't want to make waves. He then confronted the parents of each boy, who rudely tried to imply that Keesha all but seduced their sons.
It was apparent to Victor that these assholes didn't know who they were dealing with, but they'd soon find out that no one fucks with Victor Mansfield's family and gets away with it.
In two weeks time, the Principal abruptly resigned and moved to parts unknown for health reasons. One of the boys had a freak car accident, which ended his football career. One of the other boys had a breakdown, after finding the severed head of a pig in his car. With this chain of events, the remaining boy begged his parents to transfer him to another school, for fear of retaliation.
Just as Victor promised, everything was taken care of and the remainder of Keesha's four years at Lake View was smooth sailing.
By the time Lorraine returned from Europe, she was pleasantly surprised to see that Victor and Keesha were thick as thieves.
"So that's the whole story. I left Malcolm alone at the restaurant with his ego to keep him company."
"Victor couldn't help but laugh. "You're definitely your mother's daughter."
Keesha looked down avoiding Victor's gaze. Too bad I'm not more like her," she said with a slight lack of self-confidence.
Lifting her chin, Victor looked her directly in the eyes. "Let me tell you something and I don't ever want you to forget it. You are a queen and don't deserve to be treated any less than that. Do you understand?"
"Oh daddy!"
"Do you understand me?" he said in a more serious tone.
"Yes, I understand."
"If Malcolm can't appreciate the woman that you are, then he doesn't deserve to be your husband."
"Thanks daddy," Keesha said hugging Victor tightly. "You always know how to make me feel better."
"I know something else that will make you feel better."
"What would that be?"
"Well, if your not afraid to be seen with your old man, what do you say we do a little shopping."
"Daddy, you don't have to buy me anything."
"Who's talking about you," Victor teased. "I was talking about me."
"Well, excuse me," Keesha laughed.
"As I was saying, we could go shopping, have a little lunch and maybe a movie. I'm even willing to sit through a chick flick."
"I'm up for everything, except the chick flick. I want to see some kick butt action."
"You've got a deal," Victor said.
An hour later, as Keesha and Victor were preparing to leave, the phone rang. "Keesha it's Malcolm. If you're there please pickup. Baby, I'm really sorry about last night. Please call me so we can talk. I love you."
Keesha walked over to the machine and erased the message.
"So how long are you going to make him suffer?" Victor asked amused.
"Until he realizes that I'm a queen," she said holding her head up high.
"That's my girl," Victor said bowing as they walked out the door.
