said looking at the furniture and assessing the damage to the apartment. This had been his dream home he had specially built after his first million. He had wanted to shout out something to the whole world. From his fortunes made in the music industry, Eric owned a two million dollar, six-bedroom apartment that came complete with a half a million dollar recording studio. It was worth every penny to Eric.
Eric knew that with his talents and business savvy, there were always fortunes to be made in the music industry. Eric Ascot had enjoyed his fill. With his cup still running over, he could afford to indulge in excess. Eric owned a summer home in the Hamptons along with a Florida pad. He was not lacking for places. He was-n’t living life lavishly but he had the means to do that.
He grew up thinking of the day when he’d have enough money to do whatever he wanted to do. When his brother had been killed and Deedee’s mother was strung out on drugs, Eric Ascot had bought this place. Deedee was coming to live with him and he wanted to move out of the old neighborhood. He was really proud of the place.
That was up until a half hour ago before uniformed officers and crime lab people descended. They left yellow taped off sections and now his dream crib had been transformed into a nightmare. It was a crime scene.
What had occurred in his apartment had been the result of a fatal mistake. Maybe he could erase it but Eric had to talk to Busta. That was important. Somewhere deep in his mind he knew that this was only the beginning of it all.
“Or we could sell it. You know the board is gonna rule against any further stay,” Sophia said. She moved closer to Eric and Deedee. “Besides, my skin crawls whenever I look around this place. It just doesn’t feel right anymore.”
Eric embraced Sophia and kissed her lips cutting off her protest. He rubbed her forehead lightly with his lips. Deedee stood apart and watched.
“Uncle E, I thought you said we could fix it up?” Deedee asked and stared as she waited for an answer.
“Deedee, you don’t understand but he’s got to sell the place,” Sophia addressed Deedee. She turned back to Eric and said, “Promise that you’re gonna sell.”
“Sophia, do we have to sell our home? I mean like Uncle E says, it can be fixed and it won’t cost a lot of money to do so,” Deedee offered in protest.
“It just stirs up this creepy feeling every time I think I’ll have to come here. I don’t want have to think of what happened. Furthermore, the board of trustees probably will vote against him staying.”
“Well, we could still live here until...” Deedee started but her uncle raised his hand averting any ensuing argument.
“You know what? Sophia is right. I’ll sell the place and we’ll buy another one that’s better,” Eric decided and moved to embrace his fiancé and niece. No sooner had he said the words than Deedee dashed off. Sophia turned away from his hug.
“What’s with Dee?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe she really likes it here. It’s a nice place,” Eric said and looked at Sophia for a response but got none, at least not immediately.
She hugged herself before saying, “It was a nice place, Eric.” Taking a sip of his beer, she asked, “What do you make of what happened here?”
It was her turn to wait for an answer. Eric gulped his beer until it was gone. All the time, he knew Sophia’s almond shaped eyes, though soft brown at times, were peering at him. Eric felt the sting of her scorn when she added, “Eric, we’re not taking it back to the streets,” Sophia said. “Are we?” Eric said nothing. Sophia continued, “We’re no longer street people. We can’t take it back there. I won’t let you ruin me, yourself, or Deedee.”
“C’mon, Sophia, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Listen, you’re just speculating. I’m saying, why couldn’t this cat want to just straight up rob me? Or someone out there could be hating and coming at…”
“Did it have anything to do with Busta, huh, Eric?” Sophia dropped the bomb of a question on Eric. She saw his eyebrows draw closer together causing a wrinkle in his forehead. Eric took a detour from his answer and speculated.
“Honestly, I don’t really know for sure if this is related to Busta or not,” Eric said shaking his head and paused for a minute. He knew that Busta was Sophia’s client. Had Busta said anything to let her think otherwise?
As Eric became preoccupied, Sophia’s focus shifted to the worried expression on his face. She reached around to hug him and kissed him hard on his cheek. In her heart, she knew she loved him and wanted him no matter what. Yet, Sophia felt something amiss and desperately wanted to trust Eric. She looked into his eyes. He was the man she had chosen to share her life with. Even though they had not set a date for their wedding, both knew it was inevitable and it was just a matter of them fixing their schedules to accommodate it. Sophia did not want the wedding plans to be rushed but she could not decide on a date.
“Why do you figure I’m trying to ruin anyone here?” she heard Eric ask. Her eyes searched his. Their stares pierced each other’s heart. They stayed that way as Sophia spoke.
“Because he came here to kill you or us. I know it’s definitely not me because I haven’t done anything to cause someone named Lil’ Long to wanna put a cap in my ass, Eric. I’m not a stupid or dumb broad, Eric. Just fess up and tell it all.” Sophia was angry. Eric tried not to push any of her other buttons.
“I didn’t say you were dumb.”
“Well, please stop treating me that way. That guy came here with a plan to kill one of us and I just want to know why?”
“It could be anything. I done told you, people hating on me, you know. There are a lot of people out there who don’t like to see a brother succeed. They wanna see you locked up or hear that you rotting in jail so people come at you.”
“Come at you for what? Why you?”
“Because I’m Eric Ascot and they think I’m holding the bank. There are people walking around who would cut my throat just because they think I’m stacking cheddar or sump’n.”
“I buy that to an extent but there are artists who are always in the public spotlight and this doesn’t happen,” Sophia argued. A thought ran through her head and she quickly added, “Well, rap stars seeking the limelight are always fighting and shooting at other rap stars who they perceive to be in their way. This is not a rap war, Eric, or is it?” Sophia searched Eric’s brown eyes looking for answers. He had known her long enough to sense that she knew he wasn’t on the up and up. It was the way she knitted her brow. Eric saw the sadness in her eyes. He couldn’t see the current of emotions running through her but he knew. “Why?” She asked.
“Honey, if I knew the answer to that then I would be able to tell you. I don’t know why people want to come at me. I don’t know,” Eric said as he felt her unrelenting stare cut right through him. It caused sweat ducts in the nape of his neck to act up but he held his ground. “Sweetheart, you’ve got to trust me,” he said. Eric hugged and kissed Sophia again. “I, we just got to be really careful. I’ll keep my ears open cause you know someone will know something.”
“Please be up front about this, honey, because my reputation with the DA may ride on what you say,” Sophia said and brushed Eric’s lips with hers. “Eric, I’m not gonna stand by and let my career be ruined. I’ve worked long and hard trying to carve my niche in this field and you know how difficult it has been for me. So please try and understand when I tell you to just be level with me‚ alright?”
“Yes, I do honey.” Eric kissed her hard and walked with a trembling heart up the stairs. “Let’s go pack an overnight bag. We’ll stay at your place until tomorrow.”
ELEVEN
Eric Ascot’s apartment was located on the sixteenth floor of a towering high class building. The residents were local stockbrokers