Read Online What Goes Around by Denene Millner - Free Book Online Page B

“Perfecto,” she said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. Sydney sprayed her neck and wrists with the L’Occitane perfume, grabbed her lip gloss, and headed back into her bedroom to pack her purse.
    â€œOh, so I guess you think you cute,” sneered Keisha Duke from the open doorway as Sydney stood by her desk disconnecting her iPhone from the charger.
    Refusing to make eye contact with her mother, Sydney simply focused on the phone and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    â€œYou don’t know what I’m talking about?” questioned Keisha as she stepped into Sydney’s bedroom and closed the door firmly behind her. “Well, please, let me break it down for you. I’m talking about that little boy sitting in my living room waiting on you. For some reason, he thinks that the two of you are going on a date.”
    â€œHis name is Jason,” Sydney retorted as she turned away from her mother to throw her wallet and cell into the silver Balenciaga bag on her bed. “And for your information, we are going out on a date.”
    â€œIs that so? ’Cause it seems to me, I already done told you how I felt about that situation, months ago. But maybe I wasn’t clear enough,” Keisha sneered. “Here’s the deal, princess—your father and I donated a lot of damn money to Councilwoman Green’s campaign. Not just this past election or even the last; I’m talking on a continuing basis. Donations, dinners, gifts, you name it, we gave it. And it all equals way too much for you to be ’going out’ with someone other than her beloved only son.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œOh, no, you heard me correctly,” Keisha continued as she walked up directly behind her daughter. “Every hand greases the wheel. The security and longevity of our family business depends on making the right connections. And be clear, your little star quarterback sitting in my living room looking crazy ain’t part of the program. So you can play dumb as long as you like, but at the end of the day a winning pass ain’t gonna save none of our asses from jail!”
    Sydney turned around slowly and looked at her mother from head to toe with newfound contempt. “You know what? I really don’t care how much money you and my step -father donated to Marcus’s mom’s campaign. Everything done in the dark eventually comes to light. And there’s no amount of money or greasing palms that’s going to save either of you. And remember, I said you, not me!”
    â€œOh, please, who the hell are you kidding?” Keisha laughed. “You are me, little girl!”
    â€œNo, I’m not,” Sydney retorted angrily.
    â€œWow, I always thought you were the smart one,” Keisha mused nastily.
    â€œWhatever, Mother. You may be able to dictate what goes on in this house, but you can’t tell me who to be in a relationship with. And I’m certainly not about to stay with Marcus to help save you, when you wouldn’t even stay in your marriage to help save my father!” Sydney snapped.She grabbed her bag, stepped around Keisha, and headed for the door.
    Jason sat nervously on the edge of the living room couch where Sydney’s mother had left him. Looking at his watch, he increasingly regretted his decision to arrive five minutes early. Suddenly the door connected to the kitchen swung open and Altimus’s figure filled the entire frame.
    â€œGood evening, Mr. Duke,” Jason said as he jumped to his feet to offer his hand.
    â€œI don’t believe we’ve met,” Altimus replied gruffly, choosing to dismiss both Jason’s greeting and outstretched hand.
    â€œUm, no, we haven’t. I mean, not formally,” Jason replied nervously. “My name is Jason. Jason Danden. I’m a friend of Sydney’s from Brookhaven. I was at the holiday party at Lake