CHAPTER 4
Yosiah
“Isaw an article about your father-in-law. You see it?” Roman questioned as I threw a few more jabs at the punching bag he held from behind.
“What article?” I asked, never slowing down my hits.
I planned on going out to the mountains to get some biking in, but it began to rain once I left the office. Instead, I came to Solace Health & Fitness, a twenty-four-hour health fitness club owned by the Monroe family. Normally I would get my cardio in at my home gym when I couldn’t get on my bike, but I agreed to meet Roman here instead.
“About him being in a financial crisis. Rumor is the IRS is looking into him for tax evasion and embezzlement. They said there’s a whistleblower that’s been working against him and is now bringing everything to light.”
I paused for a second, giving him a glance before throwing another punch. “Good. Sounds like karma is finally catching up to the asshole.”
The news about Phillip didn’t move me one way or another. Anyone looking at him from the outside could see he was crooked and it was about time his wrongdoings caught up with him. For the past five years, I’d lived as if he didn’t exist. Henever bothered to visit his daughter, and if they spoke, I knew nothing about it. I had done more research on Phillip after I married Xylina, and his hands were dirty, it wasn’t hard to find if you knew where to look.
“I’ve never met the guy, but my dad said he’s built a shit ton of enemies over the years, and he was surprised it took this long for someone to start trying to take him down.”
My jaw clenched as I hit the bag with a quick three-piece combo. “He probably finally fucked over the right person.”
Roman was quiet for a second. “How you think wifey is gonna react once she learns Daddy’s money is drying up?”
I barely batted an eye. Roman made a good point, because of the prenup once the divorce happens we leave the marriage as we came in. I made sure to have all my assets protected so Xylina wouldn’t be entitled to anything once we separated.
“She’s got two trust funds waiting for her. She’ll be fine.”
I threw a few more jabs.
After a few seconds, Roman laughed and spoke again. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re tryna take me out instead of the bag.”
Ignoring him, I moved over a couple feet before throwing more jabs.
“The wife must be stressing you out again.”
Pausing from my jabs, I stared blankly at my long-term friend. “Why every time I get stressed out you think it’s because of my marriage?”
He laughed. “Because most of the time it is! Yo’ ass acts like you’re a hostage in a kidnapping situation with no way to escape.”
“Close, but it’s not that bad.”
I got in position to hit the bag again. “I don’t know what your problem is with her. Your wife is bad as fuck. She reminds me of one of those seen but not heard wives, I can get with that.”
Throwing my final punch, I rolled my neck between my shoulders before moving to the bench next to us to grab my towel and wipe the sweat from my forehead.
“That shit might be a turn on for you, but it’s irritating as fuck to me. Who wants a ditzy ass woman at his side.”
“Hell, that’ll mean less nagging. Why you think my last relationship didn’t work out?”
My eyes cut into slits. “I thought you said it was because she was too clingy.”
He waved me off. “That too, but it was mainly because she was too combative. Everything was a damn fight. We’d finishing fucking and she’ll want to have some deep conversation. Couldn’t even enjoy my nut in peace.”
My nose scrunched. “Something is wrong with you. I know Mama Chelle didn’t raise you like that.”
Roman walked over to me and grabbed his water bottle. “I’m just saying, women nowadays always want more from you. You spoil them, fuck ’em right, and it’s still not enough for them.” He shook his head and squirted some water in his mouth. “Shit don’t make sense to me. After being at the lab all day, I want to come home to a homecooked meal and my girl waiting for me butt naked preferably, is that too much to ask?”
“Yeah, well, my wife wouldn’t know her way around the kitchen, even if you gave her a handwritten tutorial. If me or the chef didn’t cook, we’d starve.”
“One minor flaw.”