Special thanks to XRazorXBladeXKissesX for beta reading!
The Emancipation of Mimi (I Want U, Too) Chapter 3: Just Shake it Off
"Ishida Yamato…
"Junior…
Mimi repeated the words in her mind. Ishida Yamato…Junior…my…son… Her hand shook as she tried to scribble the words on the magazine. After inspecting her chicken-scratch, she noticed the writing was illegible. Not caring, she nervously handed the magazine to Rufus, who passed it to Matt.
Matt grabbed the magazine and frowned at the writing. What in the hell is this? Mimi's writing reminded him of a preschooler's doing. There's nothing but circles and dots all over the damned thing! You think after three years, she could at least write something decent for me.
Scowling, he angrily tossed the magazine on the table, and asked, "Can you write this, again? I can't read it."
"Sorry, no do-over's," Rufus replied gruffly.
Mimi held up her hand, and said, "It's…its okay…Rufus… I'll…I'll write…it…" She still refused to look at the blond frowning down at her. Swallowing hard, she gathered her strength and wrote the words in plain, bold letters.
Matt's frown deepened as he became angry. What is her problem? She won't even look at me! Does she hate me that much? Gathering courage, he placed his hands on the table, and leaned down until his face was only millimeters away from hers. He felt her body heat radiate from her pores, and took pride as beads of perspiration formed along her hairline.
She's nervous, is she? Good! It'll serve her right! "Are you frightened by my face, old friend? Or after three years I still make you nervous?" he whispered huskily in her ear. "When I used to make you nervous, you'd succumb to me so easily. You were very easy back then. Remember our tryst in the hall at school?"
Oh, no… Mimi thought as she closed her eyes and chewed her bottom lip. Goose bumps pricked her skin, and she finally gathered strength to stare at his face. "Matt…" she breathed, barely an audible whisper. Before either of them could respond, Rufus lunged forward in the blonds' direction.
"No," Mimi shouted as she reached over the table and wrapped her arms around her son's father's neck; protecting him from Rufus' attack. "Rufus, don't! I won't let you hurt him!"
"Mimi…" Matt whispered, his eyes widening from shock. He felt a stab of joy pierce his heart, and his arms circled around her back, resting below her spine.
"Wha…?"
"What's going on?"
"Who's that man?"
"Does she know him?"
"I doubt it; look at his clothes! It's obvious he works over there at Kakemono, but who knows?"
Everyone in the store murmured amongst themselves, wondering about Mimi and her connection to the grocery worker.
"Let…me…call…you back…" Michael dragged out slowly as he watched Mimi embracing the blond. He flipped his cell phone closed without waiting for the person's reply, and examined the man's face closely.
Fine blond hair, the same, angled face, except he only appears a few years older, those damned blue eyes… Michael's curious expression immediately turned grim with pent-up fury. Matt… What in the hell is he doing here?
"Rufus," Michael stood up and shouted over the chaos in the store, "get rid of him for me, now!"
"With pleasure," Rufus replied as he balled his fists, cracking his knuckles, preparing to throw Matt out of the store by any means.
"Damnit, I said no!" Mimi screamed, jumping over the table to stand in front of Matt, using her body as shield. She outstretched her arms, glared at Rufus and Michael, and hollered, "You won't lay a finger on him! So just stop it, alright?"
"Mimi, he's causing trouble," Michael replied with a scowl directed at the assistant manager. "He's nothing but trash!"
"Watch your mouth, Michael…" Mimi slowly replied with venom in her brown eyes. "That's no way to talk about anyone! That was completely uncalled for!"
"But, Mimi…"
"But, nothing; I said no' and darn it, I mean it!"
"I really don't want to know what's going on here," the owner of Nakako Music approached Michael and spoke, "but you need to do something about this, now!"
Michael looked at the curious crowd of spectators and knew this was going to be all over the city by tonight. He didn't want any bad press on his favorite client, so he did exactly what any reputation-loving manager would do…
"I'm sorry everyone, but Mimi's not signing anymore autographs, today."
…he cruelly kicked all of her fans out of the store.
Mimi wanted to protest, but she decided it was for the best. She watched horrifically as each of her fans grumbled, shouted, and cried as they were rudely escorted out of Nakako Music from the security guards.
"Hey, that's not fair!"
"I've been standing here for hours!"
"I hate you, Mimi!"
That comment stung, and Mimi slightly cringed at the words. Frowning at Michael, she yelled, "You could've been a bit more cordial, don't you think?"
"Mimi why is he here?" Michael ignored Mimi's question and pointed his finger in Matt's direction. "You see he's the one who caused all of the trouble!"
"I did nothing, but come here to get an autograph for my son." Matt replied defensively, as he folded his arms over his chest; a horrible substitute for punching the daylights out of the smug, cocky blond talking shit. "Mimi is his favorite singer."
Okay, that's a lie as far as I know, Matt thought wryly. But MJ does know who she is, and that has to count for something, right?
Son, Michael thought unbelievingly as he stared at both Mimi, who still remained rooted in her spot in front of Matt, and the man in question.It can't be… I remember on Christmas she told me she was pregnant by that…street trash three years ago, but when she came home she wasn't pregnant anymore; and there was no baby. That means his son can'tbe hers!
But why is he reallyhere? The son-of-a-bitch is probably after her money! Well, he's not going to use his voodoo charmsto take advantage of her like he did in the past, I'll make sure of it because I'm here to protect her, now!
"I also need to talk to Mimi…in private…" Matt continued, although he knew he wasn't going to be allowed anywhere near Mimi, but it was worth a shot.
"No can do, buddy," Rufus shook his head dismissively, his voice gruff and hard. "If you have something to say to Mimi, you can say it in front of all of us."
Matt looked around the store and glanced at Michael, Rufus, Mimi, a few more bodyguards, and the store's owner, and sighed. As much as I would loveto humiliate Mimi about our son in front of everyone, it just wouldn't be…right. What would be the point in destroying her reputation? I love her too much to do something so...vile…
Wait a minute? I loveher?
"Don't…don't worry, Rufus," Mimi looked down at her feet and whispered. "Nothing's going to happen to me…"
"Just where exactly do you plan on taking Mimi?" Michael tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for Matt's reply. "I just don't understand what's so important that the two of you need to talk about privately, when it can be discussed publicly."
"Michael, I already said that's enough," Mimi looked up and glared at her manager. "I heard enough out of you for today." Turning to Rufus, she said, "If you'd come with us so he can tell me what he needs to, I'd be more than glad."
Matt wasn't exactly comfortable with another person tagging along, but if that was the only way he could get Mimi alone, then so be it. "No, I don't mind. This will be real quick."
Rufus nodded without replying.
Together the trio exited the music store, leaving Michael dumbfounded. "What the…?"
- - - - -
The group rode in silence in the back of Mimi's limo, waiting to reach their destination. Mimi toyed with the strands of her hair, nervously anticipating what was going to happen, next.
Is he out for revenge? Is this some scheme he's been plotting, waiting for the right time to unfold it? Why did I agree to come along with him so quickly?
Matt folded his arms and closed his eyes, reaming as cool and calm as possible; or as calm as a person could get when they had a six-foot, two-hundred-plus pound bodyguard with a pistol in his lap sitting directly next to him, waiting for the right chance to attack.
In a few more minutes, Mimi's going to meet her son for the first time, he thought. Oddly enough, Matt wasn't happy about the situation, but he wasn't upset, either. Considering how their relationship ended three years ago, he thought he would be after revenge, but that isn't the case. He also thought that he would bombard the mother of his child with a bunch of "why" questions, but asking "why" wouldn't change the past, would it?
"Were here," the driver announced as she parked the limo in front of a small apartment complex.
Mimi looked out the tinted glass and nearly fainted as she recognized the familiar apartment building. This is the apartment Matt rented for us years ago… Tears clouded her vision as nostalgia filled her heart, tearing away at her soul. After all of these years, why hasn't he tried to move somewhere nicer?
Guilt immediately ate at her conscience. She was living the lap of luxury, enjoying the spoils of her labor, and her family was stuck living in a run-down, low-income section of her old hometown. Why?
Rufus tucked away his pistol and exited the car, followed by Matt, and the bodyguard held the door open for Mimi so she could climb out.
"What do you need for me to do, Miss?" the driver asked as she stuck his head out of the driver's side window. "Do you want me to wait here?"
Mimi shook her head, "no". "That's not necessary, Kurumi. I'll call you and let you know when you can pick me up."
"Okay," the strawberry-haired driver replied with a shrug. She revved the engine and drove away.
Inspecting the worn brick buildings, Rufus frowned and said, "Nice area you live in."
"Well, we do what we can afford," Matt replied sarcastically. "My apartment's this way." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and led the way.
Rufus shielded Mimi's body with his own, just in case a few nosy people were peeking through their blinds.
Mimi reached in her clutch and pulled out her sunglasses. She covered her eyes with a pair of large, dark Christian Dior shades, and stayed close behind her bodyguard as he followed behind Matt inside the apartment building.
The trio walked up the rickety, weakened steps of the hall, and they had to hold their breaths to prevent the stale, musty air from entering their lungs. As Mimi tagged behind Rufus, she held his arm with one hand, and used the other to hold on to the stair rail. Steam escaped her clothes, as sweat build inside of her, anxiously waiting for the moment when she'd see her son for the first time since he was born.
I don't know how to feel; my body is numb. I don't know what he looks like. Does he look like me, Matt, or a mixture of both of us? Will he be happy to see me? Or will he hate me for being a bad mother? IsRufus going to keep this a secret? Do I want it to be kept a secret any longer?
"We're here," Matt spoke as he pulled out his key from his pocket and inserted it into the lock.
"Hey there, buddy," Rufus growled at the assistant manager. "We didn't agree to come to your place."
Matt gave the bodyguard a hard look, and replied, "You agreed to come with me wherever I wanted, and this is where I wanted to go."
Rufus held Mimi back as he reached in the waistband of his jeans to retrieve his pistol…
"Oh, and another thing," Matt held up his hand, stopping Rufus' movements. "I have a three-year-old son in there, and I don't want any guns around my child. Understand?"
Stretching his fingers, Rufus grunted an "hm", and rested his hand at his side. Turning around, he faced Mimi and asked, "Are you ready, Miss?"
Tears formed against her eyelids, but Mimi blinked them back as she nodded. "Yes, I'm ready," she whispered.
Hearing those words, Matt unlocked his front door, and opened it. After entering, he opened the door wider and allowed Rufus and Mimi to enter.
"Take off your shoes," he ordered them while taking off his, "and leave them at the door."
"No can do, buddy," Rufus shook his head, but frowned disapprovingly when Mimi removed her Jimmy Choo's from her feet.
If he calls me "buddy" one more time… "Fine, but you have to stay by the door," Matt growled at the bodyguard. "I don't like it when people step on my carpet with their shoes on."
Mimi stayed silent as she observed the furniture in the living room. He still has the same furniture I bought with the money I used to sell my shoes! I can't believe it! A single tear escaped her right eye, but she immediately swiped it away, hoping no one noticed.
The act didn't go unnoticed by Matt. Good; I'm glad that she's crying. I want her to hurt just as bad as I did all those years ago.
"Matt? Is that you?" a female's voice called from the bedroom.
Mimi clenched her fists, and silently fumed as she thought about another woman raising her son; another who her son called, "Mommy".
Don't tell me Matt brought me all this way just to flaunt another chick around our child! I guess it's obvious he doesn't love meanymore. How can I blame him? I hardly love myself, either. I should've fought harder for my family. I shouldn't have allowed my parents to intimidate me to such a degree. I should've chosen my family damnit!
"Yeah, it's me," Matt shouted back.
"You're home from work mighty early," the woman yelled, again.
Immediately hearing his voice, a small, chubby boy dashed from the back, around the corner, and thrust himself in Matt's arms. "DADDY," the small child squealed as Matt scooped the boy in his arms.
"What's up, little man?" Matt playfully ruffled his son's sunshine, blond hair, nuzzling his chubby cheeks, causing the child to giggle, and squeal in delight.
Quietly, Mimi looked on through the dark shades and choked back several sobs. He looks just like Matt, she told herself. He has the blond hair, the blue eyes and everything, right down to a tee. He's beautiful. I'm in love with him, already. His laughter is music to my ears.
Her head immediately jerked when the female's voice got closer to the living room. She wanted to see the she-devil who wrongfully made herself at home with her family!
Sora rounded the corner and wiped her hands on her summer dress. She smiled warmly at the father-son display as she casually leaned against the wall, folding her arms over her chest.
Sora, Mimi mentally screamed out her former best-friend's name. The wrench who wormed her way into my family's life is no other than my so-called best friend? I can't believe this! What happened to Tai? I knew theyhadgottenengaged on Christmas when we were in high school. She swore up and down she'd wait for him no matter what! Yeah right, what a load of bull that was! She and Matt were probably planning this all along!I bet neither of them could wait until Tai started college so they could pick up on their broken relationship where they left off! IfMatt wanted his revenge, he certainly got it!
Mimi thoughts dissipated for the moment when she heard her son speak for the second time.
"I'm fine, Daddy," MJ happily replied.
"That's good, that's good," Matt nodded as he grinned lovingly at his child.
"Ahem," Rufus coughed, interrupting the tender moment between father and son.
All three heads turned towards the two guests standing by the front door.
"As touching as this is, I believe you brought us here for a reason," Rufus spoke sarcastically.
"Mmm, hmm," Mimi nodded in agreement, her plump, Bobbi Brown covered lips were now in a deep, menacing scowl—mainly directed at the redhead who stood against the wall. She spread her legs, and placed her hands on her hips, baring her teeth at Sora.
"Oh, Matt," Sora fidgeted under the woman's hard scrutiny. She was glad she couldn't see the woman's eyes, but she didn't have to. She knew the woman was angry with her, but for what, Sora didn't have a clue. "You didn't tell me you brought company…"
"Ah, yes," Matt's lips curled up in an eager grin as he headed towards the angry guests standing by the door, cradling MJ. "Sora, I brought someone I think you'll be very surprised to see…"
"Cut the bull, Matt," Mimi spat at her son's father. She removed her shades in her haste, and set her cold, hard, brown eyes on her former friend. "I get it, you're mad at me, but this is low."
Matt looked at the mother of his child confusingly. "Wha…what are you talking about…?"
Sora narrowed her eyes as she tried to focus on the angry, blue-haired woman. "You look…familiar… Do I know you?"
Before Mimi could reply with a scathing response, MJ leapt from Matt's arms, and ran towards the pop star.
Stretching out his arms, he hugged her knees, and shouted, "MIMI!"