Jaylin: A Naughty Aftermath

by Brenda Hampton

Genres: African American Urban

Synopsis

Naughty is as naughty always does, and Jaylin Jerome Rogers never disappoints. The aftermath to the Naughty Series picks up nearly three years later, and the tables have clearly turned. Brenda Hampton delivers another pause-resister full of the dramatic antics of bad-boy Jaylin and the women who can't resist him. For the first time ever, Nokea has found true love with another man, while Jaylin remains on the outside, wondering how it has come to this. He could never imagine Nokea falling out of love with him, but Dr. Travis L. Cooper has it all from A to Z. He's perfectly fine with Nokea and Jaylin being just friends, but getting too comfortable may become a setback or a setup for major things to come. Everyone struggles to stay in their own lane, even Scorpio, who is finally preparing herself to walk down the aisle. Before that can happen, she desires one final night, just one, with the man who continues to hold a grip on her heart. Every woman knows that one night with Jaylin can be a game changer, and as Scorpio predicts, their heated sex session concludes with a bang. The only person ready to aim and shoot is Scorpio's man, Mario, whose loyal family has ties to the Mafia. Betrayal isn't something he's comfortable with, and with a billionaire status, Mario is forced to keep his eyes on the money and his woman. Scorpio is way in over her head, and unfortunately, so is Nokea, who gets blindsided by a twist that no one sees coming.

Release date: January 29, 2019

Publisher: Recorded Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

The word was change. Everybody wanted me to be a changed man, but when all was said and done, fuck what anyone else wanted. What mattered in my life was what I wanted, what my heart desired, and as of today, my heart was still where it had always been. That was with Nokea. Unfortunately, though, her heart wasn’t with me. It was on another journey, had taken a different path. Per my own request, she had taken the steering wheel away from me and started to drive her own life. During that time, she met a man, Dr. Travis L. Cooper, who somehow or someway managed to sweep her off her feet. There was no question that Nokea had been swept off her feet before, but this time was different. This time, she wasn’t in a relationship to seek revenge against me. She wasn’t doing this to hurt me or make me jealous. She genuinely loved Travis, and to be more honest than I had ever been before, her love for him was a serious blow to me.

For the past few years, I’d had my ups and downs. I witnessed Nokea fall in love with another man right before my own eyes. She had changed in so many ways. The way she lit up when he came around spoke volumes. Their affection for each other was on display every time I was in their presence. He respected her, and she respected him. In the beginning of their relationship, I’d made a few attempts to keep our family together. I put up a fight, but eventually, I lost the battle. Nokea made it clear that she would never live under the same roof with me again, and as for sex, she’d made a decision to give herself to one man and one man only. That man was Travis. I was shut out and had been out for a very long time.

The bright side was we remained close friends. We put our children first, and that was important to me. Our tedious arguments about where they would live, who was responsible for this or that, everything was all settled. For the majority of the time all four kids were with me and Nanny B. My oceanfront estate in Florida was spacious enough for everybody. The children made a choice to be there, probably because I spoiled the shit out of them. There was never a dull moment in my house. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Nokea came by often during the week, and on many weekends they stayed with her. The same routine applied to Scorpio, who was the mother of Justin and Mackenzie. Scorpio came by to spend time with the kids during the week as well. On opposite weekends as Nokea, the kids were with her. So, in a nutshell, the situation with our children worked out for everybody. My only problem was Travis. I had to admit that there was a tinge of jealousy inside of me. But unlike I’d done in the past when things didn’t go according to my plans, I refused to interfere. I didn’t want to tell Nokea how I truly felt inside. As long as she was happy, I guess, so was I.

With soft jazz music thumping in the background, I cruised down the street in my half-roof Maybach. It was white and loaded with luxury accessories that cost me a fortune. More than anything, it was a custom-made gift I had purchased for myself. I’d been working my ass off. Investing in real estate was the best thing I could have ever done. I owned property in almost every major city. Houses and condos from Miami to the Cayman Islands. I even built a new home around the outskirts of St. Louis, the place where I was born and half-assed raised. As of yet, nobody hadn’t officially moved into the house, but it was fully furnished. Nokea’s parents had parties there occasionally, and whenever I visited that was where I stayed. The kids loved it there, and Nanny B utilized the place when she went to St. Louis to chill with her sister. Owning property and land had become my priority. As a black man, I intended to leave my mark and have as much property and land as I could, for many generations to come. Therefore, whenever I was dead and gone, my family would be riding high. All of those houses and acres of land would be put to good use, thanks to me. I finally woke the fuck up. So did my right-hand man, Shane Alexander. In actuality, he was the one who moved to Florida and helped me kick this shit off. I’d made him a very wealthy man. He was probably the only person on this earth who I trusted with my life.

As I waited for the red light to change, a tall, slender, prissy woman paraded across the street with her poodle. He looked to be every bit the show dog, and his head was held up damn near as high as hers. Swaying palm trees shaded most of the street, and taking advantage of the eighty-five-degree weather, fit joggers got in their daily exercise. Many paused to take a glimpse at my ride, and behind the lightly tinted sunglasses I wore, I peeped my surroundings. From the rearview mirror, I saw a woman who was swerving in and out of lanes in a Porsche pull up closely behind me. Since the right lane was clear, she veered over next to me. I hastily shifted my head, only because she was inches from tagging the back of my car. She lowered her window. A bright smile was on her freckled face.

“Nice car,” she said, chewing gum and showing every bit of her pearly whites. “I was enjoying the scenery, if that’s okay.”

My eyes narrowed behind the sunglasses that shielded my steel gray eyes. My fingertips brushed against my trimmed goatee. I moistened my bottom lip with the tip of my tongue. If only she knew what I was thinking. I didn’t appreciate how close her car was to mine, so it was in my best interest to say what troubled my mind.

“Look all you want, but if you hit this muthafucka, there won’t be a damn thing for you to smile about. Pull your steering wheel to the right and keep it moving.”

Her eyes bugged, and her mouth dropped wide open. Before she could say anything, I pressed on the accelerator, speeding away. I hated to be an asshole, but even though therapy had helped me calm down a little, I was still being me. Arrogant? No. Confident? Hell yes. Out of control? Never. Well, maybe sometimes.

A cool breeze stirred in my car, and as the sun peeked through the palm trees, it caramelized my light skin even more. I was ready to get to my destination, but right as I approached the next light, the call light came on. I hit the button to answer the phone.

“Jaylin Rogers.”

“Where are you?” Nokea inquired in a panicky voice. “I thought you would be here by now.”

“I’m on my way. I should be there in about ten or fifteen minutes. You told me the fashion show didn’t start until six. It’s only four, so what’s the rush?”

“I also told you I needed some help. It’s crazy around here. It seems as if everybody is in a mood to be late.”

“I’m not late at all. Besides, you already know from experience what happens prior to these shows. It always seems hectic, but after things get started everything falls into place. Calm down, all right? I’ll be there in a minute to help you with whatever you need help with.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you soon. Come to the penthouse suite first. That’s where I’ll probably be.”

Nokea was always on edge the day of her fashion shows. All week, she’d had me putting my business on hold just to help her. This was the third fashion show she’d had. Each time, they got better and better. She turned her business into an empire. In less than two years it was already worth millions. She had a good start, thanks to me. But I couldn’t take credit for all of the hard work she’d done. She, along with her team of designers, was off the chain.

I reached the overcrowded, plush hotel almost twenty minutes later. As soon as I stepped out of the car, my polished, two-tone, full-grain leather shoes hit the pavement. My gray, cuffed Canali slacks hung over my shoes, and with a black, crisp linen shirt on, richness defined me. I tossed my keys to the valet guy, who seemed real nervous.

“Just bring it back to me in the same condition I’m giving it to you,” I said, referring to my car.

“Will do, sir. Definitely will do.”

With a smooth and confident stride, I went inside, looking around at the busy hotel where Nokea decided to have her fashion show. People in business suits breezed by me, and there was a long line of individuals waiting in reservations. The smell of cigar smoke permeated the air, and with so many noisy kids running around, it could’ve been a daycare. The fashion show, however, was being set up in a private area, and before I went to the elevator, I took a quick detour to go look at the exquisite room that was almost complete.

The runway was blue and silver with what looked to be tiny diamonds embedded in it. Several rows of wingback chairs surrounded it, and the walls were mostly covered with silky, ceiling-to-floor drapes. Crystal chandeliers lit up the whole room, including Nokea’s name, which was scripted on a wave wall with columns on each side. Blue laser lights also zoomed in on her name, and right at the entry was a circular bar for everyone’s drinking pleasures. Nokea had mentioned something about confetti raining down after the show was over. But when I looked up, I didn’t see anything. I was quite impressed by how everything came together. There was no one, not one person, prouder of her than me.

I headed to the elevator with many eyes traveling with me. My Rolex with a big face filled with glistening diamonds was visible, and my custom attire was always tailored to fit my tall, muscular frame. I entered the elevator, immediately infusing it with musky cologne. The two women to my left were all stares, and a hating-ass white man to my right had the audacity to cut his eyes at me. I chuckled a bit as he gave the evil eye to the women who didn’t dare look in his direction. He was so pissed that, as soon as the elevator opened, he made a speedy exit.

“What was his problem?” one of the women said. “Weird, man, really weird.”

I didn’t respond. I never did respond, because I had experienced hate at a level that not too many people had ever seen. Over time, the hate grew to new heights. I, however, became motivated by individuals who wished like hell they could be me: the one, the only, Jaylin Jerome Rogers.

The elevator opened at the top floor. The second I made my exit, I could see things were chaotic. Numerous slim and voluptuous models crowded the hallways, gossiping. There were so many cameras flashing that my head started to spin. The one thing I didn’t like was too much attention. I hated for people to halt my steps and ask me questions. I was a very private man, and some of these functions Nokea conducted opened the door for too many people to be in our business. I tried my best to make it to the penthouse suite without being questioned. But after a few bold steps in that direction, a reporter who was there to cover the event stopped me.

“Hello, Mr. Rogers,” she said with her face too close to mine. “Have you had the pleasure of seeing any of the attire your wife will showcase this evening? Or are you in the dark like the rest of us are?”

One of the models who knew that Nokea and I were no longer married replied to the reporter’s dumb-ass question. “Nokea is not his wife, and I’m sure he’s in the dark like we all are.”

She’d answered for me, so I proceeded toward the door to the penthouse. The reporter also knew Nokea wasn’t my wife. She just figured that her question would get a response from me. It almost did. I didn’t think she would’ve appreciated my answer.

I managed to work my way through the crowd, but was stopped numerous times to take pictures.

“Over here, Jaylin,” Jazz said. She was one of Nokea’s top designers. “We need you over here with the ladies. This photo is for the magazine. Pleeeease.”

I was a little moody, but only for Nokea was I willing to do this. I stood in the center, while several of the giddy models surrounded me. The cameras started to flash, but Jazz waved her hands in the air, telling the photographers to pause.

“Wait one minute, okay?” She rushed up to me, removing my sunglasses. “If you don’t mind, I want those alluring eyes in the picture too. Smile, Jaylin. With all of these lovely women surrounding you, you need to smile.”

Many of the models laughed, and just for the hell of it, I smiled. Jazz blew me a kiss, and after the picture-taking festivities were done, she gave my sunglasses back and thanked me.

“No problem,” I said. “Where’s Nokea?”

“She’s upstairs in the penthouse. I think she’s been looking for you.”

I had been trying to get there, but that was a difficult task. When I had finally made my way inside, the penthouse was jam-packed with many professional-looking people I had never seen. I heard Nokea call my name, so I swung around with my hands dipped into my pockets. She was standing on the upper level, looking down from the glass balcony.

“Can you please come up here and help me?” she asked. “I really need you, now.”

I spoke to a few people who said hello to me, and I tackled the circular staircase that led to numerous rooms. On my way up, I heard the whispers, saw the stares. But the only one I wanted to take notice was Nokea. She stood in front of two models, nibbling at her nails. All she had on was a soft cotton robe that cut above her knees. Her hair was in an asymmetrical bob that was long, feathered, and flipped on one side, short on the other. The minimal makeup she wore was on like artwork, and her long lashes made her look even prettier. Every time I saw her, my heart pounded just a little bit faster. Thoughts of our long lives together were always fresh in my mind. I would never settle for anything less. She would always be Mrs. Rogers in my book.

My somber mood changed fast, especially when Nokea turned her head, smiling at me.

“Look at you.” Her eyes scanned me from head to toe. “Come over here and give me a hug before I put you to work.”

I removed my hands from my pockets to give her a hug. Her petite frame close to my towering frame felt perfect. “What’s up, boss lady? What do you need me to do?”

She backed away from me, releasing a deep sigh. “First of all, I’m so worried about my baby, Jaylene. I wanted to go to her gymnastics competition, and I’m so mad that they scheduled it on the same day as this. Do you think she’s upset with me?”

“No. She’s not upset with me either, and it’s the first time we’ve missed her competition. Nanny B is there with her. So is your mother. They’re going to record the entire thing so you won’t miss a minute. Now, what’s next?”

“I need you to make a few phone calls for me. The last time I checked, the people who were supposed to do those confetti drops hadn’t shown up. I also need it to be much brighter in that room, so I need to get some extra lighting set up quickly. Lastly, the waiting room for the models is too small. If you could find the manager and ask if he could open up another room for us, that would be great. Other than that, I still need to get dressed, I still have to get all of those outfits over there on those racks downstairs, and I haven’t even heard from your son. I know he’s with Kyle and his parents at the amusement park, but why isn’t he answering his phone? Have you spoken to him?”

“Yes. He dropped his phone in some water. It’s not working anymore. He’s spending the night at his friend’s house, and you need to stop all of this unnecessary worrying. Give me the number to the people who are supposed to hook up the confetti. I’ll go talk to the manager about the lights and using an additional room. As for those clothes, with all these people in here, you need to tell them to cease all this yakking and start moving some of this shit downstairs. I didn’t . . .”

I paused as Nokea peeked over my shoulder, showing her dimples. When I turned my head, the good ol’ doctor was coming up from behind, dressed in a casual blazer and slacks. He said a quick, “What’s up,” to me before reaching out to embrace Nokea.

“Sorry I’m late,” Travis said with a wide smile. His dark chocolate skin, meticulously cut, short afro, and light brown eyes turned many heads too. With those big, white teeth, though, one would assume he was a dentist instead of a doctor. He continued to explain his tardiness to Nokea. “Late because I got tied up on an important phone call at home.”

Nokea laughed. “I guess that means you were talking to your mother.”

“Yes, for almost a whole thirty minutes, nonstop. She told me to tell you good luck tonight. She also wants you to call her when you get a moment.”

“Will do. I think I already know what she wants.”

Travis leaned in to kiss Nokea. This time, it was his tall frame instead of mine against her. They indulged as if I weren’t even standing there. When he lowered his hand to take a light squeeze of her ass, I swear I wanted to grab his damn hand and break it. Nokea backed away from him, then wiped his lips to remove the lip gloss she’d put on them.

“Sorry about that.” She pecked his lips again. “I don’t want you around here looking like one of the models. But with that being said, I need your help too.”

Travis rubbed his hands together. “Use me, baby. Whatever you need me to do, I’m here.”

I had to intervene. “The number, if you don’t mind. Give me the number so I can call about the confetti.”

That fast, Nokea had changed her mind. “I’ll get Travis to call, but please go see about the lights and talk to the manager for me. Thanks, Jaylin. I owe you one, okay?”

She owed me a lot, but now wasn’t the time for me to go there. I walked away, and within the hour, the room had been brightened, and another room had been unlocked for the models to use. Several people started to bring down numerous racks of clothing, and when I saw Travis pulling one of the racks toward the room, I turned to look away. He came right up to me, patting me on the back.

“Jaylin, I didn’t get a chance to say much earlier, but I hope all is well. Nokea has been so excited about this day, and to be honest, I’ll be glad when it’s over so she can finally get some much-needed rest. I don’t think she’s had any sleep for the past two days. I keep telling her that’s not good, but you know how ambitious women are.”

“I do know how ambitious some women are, but I know more about how determined and ambitious Nokea is. I’m sure she appreciates you helping out. It appears that she needs all the help she can get.”

“I agree,” Travis said, nodding. “Because there are definitely some lazy people around here. My patience is running thin with all of this gossiping. If the ladies would come out of that room, maybe they could get something done.”

I certainly agreed with Travis’s assessment. There were plenty of slackers lurking around. Too many pictures were being taken, and in my opinion, it was time to get this show on the road.

Travis walked away, and just like me, he got busy helping Nokea make this a memorable and successful event. I was finally able to take a seat, and with a glass of Rémy in my hand, I looked up and saw Mackenzie enter the room. Scorpio was with her. As soon as they spotted me, they headed my way. I put the glass on a round table beside me before standing to greet them.

“Hi, Daddy,” Mackenzie said, wrapping her arms around my waist.

I kissed her forehead, hugging her back. Every time I saw her, I couldn’t believe she was already twelve. “Hi, sweetheart. Nokea is waiting for you. She’s in the room over there, so go see if she needs your help with anything. I’ll save you a seat next to me.”

Mackenzie darted off to go find Nokea. Scorpio stood with her arms crossed. She rocked a pair of hip-hugging, tight jeans that could barely contain her shapely, meaty ass. The strapless top she wore showed her toned midriff, and with stiletto pumps on, she was nearly eye level with me. Her wavy hair was parted down the middle and brushed into a thick ponytail in the back. Nude gloss made her lips shine, her brows were arched perfectly, and like Nokea, Scorpio’s long lashes added beauty.

“You know I’m not staying,” she said. “I have a lot to do before my big day, and I need to get back home before Justin wakes up.”

“I take it Loretta is there with him, right?”

“Yes, and so is Mario. I hope you still plan to come see the new house with us on Friday. If you’re unable to make it, please let me know now.”

“I will be at your penthouse bright and early Friday morning. And when you get home, tell Loretta not to give Justin any more damn soda. I know she’s giving it to him, because that’s the first thing he asks for when he comes to my house.”

“I told her about that soda. But he persuades her to give him whatever he wants. One can only wonder where he gets that from.”

I had no comment. All of my kids were the product of me.

“It looks spectacular in here.” Scorpio examined the room. “Nokea has really outdone herself. Tell her I said congrats and let her know that when I get a chance, I’ll stop by her shop to see what’s new.”

I wasn’t sure why Scorpio wanted me to tell Nokea, especially since they conversed a lot. It wasn’t as if they were best friends or anything close to it, but for the sake of the kids, they got along well. They stayed committed to their weekends with the kids, and whenever one of them had something important to do, they made plans to work things out. I appreciated their efforts. It damn sure made my life a whole lot easier to have my children’s mothers getting along.

Travis came in, strolling alongside another rack of clothes to the room where the models were. He waved and smiled at Scorpio. She waved back.

“Every time I see him, he reminds me of Lamman Rucker. He got that lean and tight upper body. And his smile is very charming. What do you think? Do you think he looks like Lamman too?”

“I don’t know nor do I give a damn who he looks like. I do know that he may need some Valvoline motor oil to tackle those dry-ass lips he got.”

Scorpio laughed and threw her hand back at me. “Ooooh, you need to stop hating, Jaylin. I can’t believe you’re hating on that man like that. And, uh, those lips would be considered thick and juicy to me.”

“I don’t hate, baby. I only speak the truth. Besides, why do you care who he looks like? All you need to be concerned about is Mr. Rico Suave, Mario, and your wedding. Are you almost done with everything?”

Scorpio sighed. “Yeah, right. I have so much to do. That’s why I can’t stay, so have fun and don’t forget to tell Nokea what I said. By the way, and before I forget”—she moved closer and whispered softly in my ear—“Travis is fine, but he doesn’t have anything, not one single thing on you. I would take a handsome man like you with money and a big . . . well, don’t let me go there today. And don’t get happy about my opinion, because when it comes to my man, the Latin lover, you and Travis fall waaaay short.”

I cocked my head back with a smirk on my face. “When you’re ready to come fully correct, let me know. Until then, you’d better tell Nokea yourself about visiting her shop. Knowing me, I’ll forget.”

Scorpio laughed while swaying her hips from side to side as she sauntered away. I didn’t think it was possible, but she had gotten even sexier. It was confirmed by the heads of many men turning, hypnotized, as she walked by them. I guessed her twenty-carat diamond ring was being ignored. Mario had spent a fortune on that ring. I predicted it cost way more than the one I had given to her years ago when I’d proposed.

It was funny how things didn’t work out for us, but they had come together for her and Mario. From what I could see, things had been looking up for Miss Valentino. She was getting married, again, next weekend. I’d had some issues with her man, but unlike Mackenzie’s biological father, Bruce, who Scorpio was once married to, Mario seemed much better. My concerns revolved around my kids. I had to be sure that Mario was good people. After a while, he started to prove himself to be just that. I couldn’t say I considered him a friend or anything like that, but he and Scorpio had my blessings. Yet again, she had hooked up with a wealthy man. He was deeply in love with Scorpio, but I wasn’t so sure about her. She said she loved him, but from my perspective, I thought she loved his money. Mario was sitting on more paper than me. That in itself made her wake up and rethink some things, like who she wanted to be with in the future. We still had a connection, but sex between us wasn’t happening either. It had been years since I’d hit that, but make no mistake about it, I hadn’t shut down my sex game completely. Every now and then, I tampered with females I’d met here or there. Nothi. . .