Power by Joy Deja King Read Free Book Online Page A

conscience. In this business that’s extremely rare. So I’m going to take great pleasure in helping you see all of your financial dreams come true.”

    Chapter 9
    Moment Of Clarity
    Alex couldn’t take his eyes off his iPhone. He continued to read Tierney’s text message over and over again.
    I think it is best we don’t communicate anymore. We’re not right for each other and I would appreciate it if you don’t contact me since we can’t ever talk to each other like two adults. Hopefully one day we can be friends, but right now I don’t see it. You have become more of a distraction than a boyfriend.
    Alex didn’t know how to respond.  He was surprised that Tierney had the nerve to completely cut him off via text. He was pacing the floor, wondering how they had reached this point.  He had known the relationship was finished a long time ago but he thought they were better than this. Alex knew he hadn’t been the best boyfriend in terms of giving Tierney the commitment she craved, but he had treated her good financially and now he felt like she was being ungrateful. He felt a deep anger brewing. The audacity of this bitch cutting me off by sending me some fucked up text.  I was the best thing that ever happened to her and this is how she ends things , Alex thought as he shook his head. He stopped pacing, sat down on the barstool and dialed Tierney’s number. There was no answer. He called again. She didn’t pick up, so he sent her a text:
    Look, I know you said you wanted to cut off communication, but after all we have been through together at least we can talk this out. Breakup over text…who the fuck does that to somebody they cared about?
    Seconds later Tierney texted him back:
    Alex, what is there to talk about? I want something that you don’t want. I want to get married. You made it clear that you didn’t want to get married, at least not to me.
    Alex dialed her number again. “What do you want?” Tierney asked when she answered.
    “I want to talk?”
    “About what?”
    “About us.”
    “We talked about us the other day. There is no us.”
    “Who is he?”
    “Alex, there is nothing to talk about.”
    “Who is he?”
    “I’m so sick of you asking me that same damn question.”
    “Let’s meet face to face.”
    “We were face to face the other day, and by the way Alex, don’t come over here anymore.”
    “Why?”
    “Because we aren’t together.”
    Alex stood and walked over to the vast window in his condo that looked out over the city of Atlanta. He knew Tierney’s new man was out there somewhere. He also knew that her new man was holding her down because she hadn’t asked him for nada in the last few months. As much as Alex hated to admit it, that pissed him the fuck off. He hated that Tierney no longer needed him for shit.
    “So all the time we spent together don’t mean shit to you I guess.” She was silent. “You never loved me?”
    “I’ve always loved you. Always will.”
    “What part of love is this?”
    “Alex, I loved you.”
    “Loved? As in past tense?” Those words stung. Although he never planned to marry Tierney, he didn’t want her totally out of his life. She represented a sense of comfort for him.
    “I was in love with you and I loved you. That will never change.”
    “But there is somebody else isn’t there?”
    There was a long pause, “Yes,” she finally admitted.
    “Who is he?”
    “Alex, I gotta go.” Tierney ended the call and Alex called her right back but got no answer. He walked back into the kitchen and re-read the text message.  Alex felt powerless to Tierney and to the new man. He didn’t like this feeling. The thing was, he wasn’t sure if the hurt stemmed from his ego being bruised or if it was because he loved Tierney.
    The sound of the security desk calling shook Alex out of his dismal thoughts. There had to be somebody downstairs and he hoped it was Tierney, but he knew that was simply wishful thinking. “Hello?”
    “Hey Alex,