The Scammer(32)

“Let’s not let it happen again. The mission is too important for carelessness. That’s how the white man wins.”

Vanessa gives me a sympathetic smile, mouthing, “It’s okay.”

I flip to page three, noting the simple mistake. Devonte’s scolding has a familiar air to it, similar to my parents. An A– on a test would result in a lecture on attention to detail. The same seething annoyance I have had for them begins to bleed through. I dig my nails into my palms.

“Willie Lynch was a slave master in Virginia, who gave a speech telling other slave masters how to control their slaves. The secret was setting the slaves up, pitting them against each other. Dividing us . . .”

The suite door flies open and Loren rushes in.

“Hey,” she says, winded. “I know. I’m sorry. I was waiting for notes from—”

“Excuses are tools of incompetence,” Devonte says. “We’ve been going over this in our sessions, haven’t we?”

Loren’s eyes widen and I can’t hide the shock on my face.

Sessions? What sessions? Is he having private sessions with her too?

I glance at Kammy, who looks like she’s having the same thought.

Loren swallows, choosing her words carefully. “Yes, but . . . it wasn’t my fault. I got held up after class.”

Devonte stares at Loren then slowly rises to his feet. The room collectively holds its breath.

“Do you know that Muslims wash their face, hands, arms, and feet before performing their prayers? It’s a beautiful purification practice. To show respect to God, to pray in a pure state. See, cleansing the body and soul leads to enlightenment. That’s why I clean and fix everything around here. Because I’m trying to save your souls. Rappers pay thousands of dollars for the guidance I’ve been giving you for free. Teaching you to be pure!”

Everyone nods, tension in the air rising.

“So why is this queen sitting here, talking to me . . . with makeup on her face?”

Loren gasps, touching her bright pink lips. A beautiful color on her. Until now.

“Kareem, why don’t you help her get rid of it.”

Kareem blinks, pointing at himself. “Me?”

“Yes you, help her. Get a rag from the bathroom, my black soap, and water.”

Kareem looks nervously at Vanessa, but she nods in approval. He scurries into the bathroom, procuring the items.

Loren sighs, holding her hand out to Kareem, but Devonte pushes it away.

“Not you. Him. You wash it off her.”

Kareem’s eyes bulge, casting another panic-stricken look at Vanessa, her mouth gaping in shock. He takes a deep breath and begins to softly wipe Loren’s face, as if hesitantly petting a feral dog.

“Scrub harder,” Devonte orders, grinning.

Kareem, unsure, moves a little faster. Loren whimpers.

“Harder!” he barks, and Kareem’s muscle flexes as he overpowers her. Loren cries out in pain.

Time seems to slow to an aching pace, Loren whimpering with each stroke. Kammy reaches over and holds my shaking knee still.

“Stop,” Devonte says. Kareem stumbles back, panting.

Loren’s face is bright red, rubbed raw, eyes flooded with tears.

Devonte brightens. “Ah! There you are, Loren. Now we can see you.”

Loren nods, tears streaming down her face as she takes her seat. My stomach clenches with guilt.

He’s right. I’m not a good friend.





Ten




On Monday, Mercy is at the front desk in the FUSA office.

“Hey y’all,” I say as I enter, testing the waters, flashing a giant grin.

Principle number five: Smile.

“Hey,” Mercy says dryly without looking up from her phone. Brianna doesn’t speak at all.

They can’t still be upset about the party? Their sober thoughts must have caught up to them by now, telling them it was a bad idea to take advantage of a drunk guy. If the shoe was on the other foot, Nick would’ve been arrested and canceled within forty-eight hours. But their coldness speaks volumes.

Nick walks out of the office. I hadn’t seen him since he ran out of the suite. His eyes land on me, face blanching.

“Uh, Jordyn. Hey.”

“Hey?” I gulp, fidget awkwardly with my bag. How am I supposed to act around him? Do we even acknowledge what happened?

He points a thumb at the conference room. “Would you help me with expenses from homecoming tonight? I’m looking for a specific amount of savings and Neveah said you’re good with numbers.”

“Tonight?” He wants to be alone with me again? “Um. Yeah sure.”

Mercy snatches her bag under the table.

“Later,” she grumbles. She walks out of the office, shooting daggers with her eyes, Brianna following.

Nick frowns. “Something I missed?”

“Nope! Ready to start?”

Nick spreads out worksheets and invoices on the conference room table while I input them into the ledger. But whoever put the ledger together before made a mess of it. I spend most of the evening recalculating and reinputting with one eye on the computer and one eye on the wall clock.

“What’s up?”

Across the table, Nick stares, his eyebrow raised. I almost forgot he was there.