I Can't Help Myself

The early morning flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia was about to take off...People were scrambling for seats...Not that there was anything to scramble for...There was scarcely 50 people on this flight....

Attorney Kayla Bennett had one carry on bag....She was reaching to put it in her overhead when a handsome brown skinned man offered to help...

"Here...let me help you with that...Uh...do you mind if I sit next to you?" he asked..

"No...Uh...No...Not at all...but uh...There are several empty seats on this plane...I'm bettin there is less than 50 seats on this flight and you want to sit with me?" she asked and smiled while giving him the side eye....He was handsome...She thought...

"I can't help it...I'm attracted to beautiful things...I like to be around them...You might say I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame."he said and smiled..

"Ohhh my..you really throw it on thick...You sound like the guys I grew up with in my hometown."she said laughing...

"And where might that be?" he asked..

"Philly....Where we are going?" she said...

"Well I'll be damned...That's where I'm from....I was uh visiting some friends in Atlanta and I'm uh on my way back to Philly." he said as they sat down...

"I've lived here in the ATL the past few years and now I'm headed back to Philly...I have a job offer." she said..

"Oh yeah? What line of work are you in?" he asked..

"I'm an attorney....I have a job offer with a law firm that will be representing the Harris Group."she said..

"Oh My God...This is too much of a co-incidence....I'm an Attorney...I work for Blockley and Naugle and associates..I'm headed home...I'm going to be representing a very wealthy and well heeled client who has uh gotten himself in a little trouble..This could be a career altering case for me...My name is Ryan...Ryan St.John...and you are?" he asked..

"I'm Kayla...Kayla Bennett." she said.

"Pleased to make your acquaintence Kayla...Pretty name for a pretty woman..."he said looking at her salaciously..

"Same here..So ,uh where do you live in Philly?" she asked..

"I live in South Jersey...Right outside Cherry Hill...For now...but I work in Center City as you know...How about you? You say you're moving back...Need a place to stay?" he asked ,staring at her cleavage leeringly..

Kayla gave him the side eye and smiled..

"Yeah, you're a Philadelphia native....you don't waste time or mince words.."she said and laughed...

"Or opportunities..."he said..

"I'm staying with my cousins until my place is ready.....My things have already been shipped up here and are in storage..." she said.

"Oh I see..."he said..

"You didn't think I was just coming up here with no place to stay did you?" she asked...

"Nah,I guess not..that wouldn't have made any sense...and I see you're a sensible girl.."he said smiling..."So uh look...I know you have a phone...Let's trade information...Maybe we can get together for drinks or something..."he said.

"I don't even know you."said Kayla..

"You'll never know me if we don't trade information and go out for drinks.."he said.

"For all I know you're married."said Kayla..

He showed her his hands...no rings and no ring mark on his ring finger where a ring had recently been...

"See..No marriage...Haven't had that pleasure yet..."he said...

"You didn't ask me if I had a man." she said.

"Oh I know you don't...You would have mentioned him by now....Plus you're moving back to Philly to start a new job and you're staying with your cousins...Who I suspect are women...I think you had a man in Atlanta...and something went wrong...real wrong and you're leaving that whole situation behind..."he said.

Kayla was stunned at how perceptive he was...

"You think you know me....but you don't."she said kind of coldly....

"Heyyy sorry...I was just making conversation..."he said...

"It's cool...I'm sorry...you just hit so close to home...I uh got kind of emotional..I'm sorry.."she said...

"Relax...I understand...besides..It aint none of my business...I hardly know you, but uh..I still want to go out with you and have that drink once you get settled."he said.

"That's all you want?" she asked.

He laughed...

"I'm going to plead the fifth on that one."he said...

They both laughed as the plane pulled off....

She liked him...He was slick as oil.....but he was confident and handsome...She liked that....

The flight was only an hour and a half...but by the time they landed in Philly...They were nearly best friends...

II-

Beverly was the first person Kayla saw when she got off of the plane and into the lobby....

"Heyy baby."said Beverly....

"Cousin Bev...Cousin Livy.....Uncle Donnie Ray.." she said as we hugged her...

"Heyyy Kayla..."said my wife Olivia....

"Heyy girlie..how you doin?" I said and hugged her and spun her around...

Her new friend looked at her and smiled...

"Kayla...These are your cousins?" he asked..

"Yes...Beverly West....Olivia Bennett-Alexander...They're attorneys too.! This is Ryan St. James..We uh met on the plane..He's an Attorney too." she said.

"Ohhh I know who they are...I've seen them both on Television a few times...Bennett...You said your name is Kayla Bennett...I didn't pick that up...WOWWWW!" he said..

'And this is my cousin Olivia's husband...Donnie Ray Alexander...He's an investigator for their law firm." she said.

I shook his hand...

"Pleased to meet you.."I said.

"The pleasure is mine...Didn't know this young girl was related to such ballers.."he said smiling...

I smiled...Something about him...I liked him....

"So Ryan...You visiting or you're from here?" asked Olivia...

"I'm from here...I uh live in Cherry Hill..I work for Blockley and Naugle & Associates downtown...Grew Up in Mt. Airy..Went to Central High and Howard....Got my J.D. from Temple Law School right here.." he said.

"Ouu Cousin...You did well."laughed Beverly...

"Stop....I just met this joker...He invited himself into the seat next to me and talked me to death the entire flight."laughed Kayla ,playfully punching Ryan St. James on the arm..

"Surrrrre...She talked you to death didn't she Ryan?" asked Beverly, jokingly giving her cousin the side eye...

"You know it...I was helplessly slain by her pushy charm."he joked...

We all laughed...

"Well we are all going to get a bite to eat..Do you care to join us Ryan?" asked Olivia..

"No...No....I don't want to get in the way of your reunion...I'm in a rush to get home and relax...but I do hope to be seeing you guys in the nearby future..You ever heard of a spot called Josies?" he asked.

"Heard of it...We live within walking distance...I play trumpet there some nights."I said..

"You don't say? That's my spot....Listen...I'll be there tomorrow night..If you guys come through...Your first drinks are on me...Promise...and uh Kayla...That drink I was askin you about...Is not the one I'll be buying you at Josies...See ya around darlin....Nice meeting you good people."he said...

We waved and he headed towards long term parking...

"Ouu Kayla girl...you mack you...Just got back in town and already you've hooked a hottie.."laughed Beverly...

"I just met him...He's very slick....and too good to be true...I'll hold my judgement for later." she said with a sardonic smile..

"Well come on folks..I'm famished...Let's go eat." said Olivia..

"Good Idea.." I said.

"Uncle Donnie Ray?" asked Kayla...

"Before you ask...you know I'm on it baby girl..I'll check him out and have the results back to you before you finish unpacking.."I said.

Kayla kissed me on the cheek..

"Cousin Liv, you hit the jackpot with this man."she said.

Olivia smiled at me...

"Oh I know Kayla...I know.." she said.

Beverly hugged me and kissed me on my other cheek.

"We both know.." she said.

III-

We had a great meal the night before and then a nice quiet day, the next day...No case work...Just filing a few briefs and finishing up some paper work...Olivia, Beverly and Kayla were sitting in the office with Josie,laughing and talking when I walked in around noon..

"Heyy Mr. A." said Josie as I walked into the office...

"Heyyy Josie." I said with a smile to our Office manager...

''And how is my handsome hubby this fine afternoon?" said Olivia ,who placed a soft kiss on my lips...

"Wow!  I'm good." I said..

Beverly laughed....

"You two need a room.." she said.

"We have one." joked her aunt, Olivia...

"Oh yeah,that's right...you do." she laughed....

"Kayla..I have good news for you....You truly have hit the jackpot...I did a little snooping into your new friend...and he seems legit... Mr. Ryan St. James did grow up in Mt. Airy...attended Philadelphia Public Schools...Graduated from Central High about two years before you and Bev graduated from Girls High...Attended and graduated from Howard University.. BA. in Public Administration...Got his J.D. from Temple Law School...Been a junior partner with Blockley and Naugle for some time...Listed as an up and comer...Never been married...no children...listed as a "rising star" at the practice...Has lived in Cherry Hill ,New Jersey for the past year...Mother and Father still live here in Philly...Has one sister...She's a school teacher here in Philly."I said.

"Does he have another girlfriend?" asked Kayla jokingly....

"I'm afraid that wasn't mentioned..."I laughed...

"Girllll you better go for it...He's cute..and he's crazy about you." said Beverly...

"Oh, I don't know about all of that just yet....but...I'll go out with him...I want to start my new job in two weeks and get into my new place...It's going to be so nice living back in the city with my two favorite relatives." she said and hugged Livy and Beverly..

She then turned to me...

''Come here you and get some of this...You're family now too Donnie Ray." she said.

Lawd have mercy...What did I do to earn all this??...Married to the woman of my dreams and living with her and her equally foxy niece and now being embraced by her beautiful cousin....I tell you it's a dream come true I mused as I smiled sheepishly...

IV-

And while our happy reunion with Cousin Kayla was going on...Another meeting was taking place...One that would wind up drawing us into a very heated legal battle...

The Attorney Morris Blatt ,who we had faced off against a few months ago in the "Rape Chef" case was talking to a young attractive Black woman who was sitting in his office...

"Now Veronica...I need you to tell me everything that happened..don't leave anything out.."he said..

The woman, Veronica Seldon, a twenty four year old budding Tennis pro began to speak softly...

"Well Mr. Blatt...it happened a month ago...I was at a tennis meet...One sponsered by Mr Crawley's foundation...I won the tournament and Millionaire Socialite, Rollie Rollerson presented me with the trophy...

''Veronica....I have someone who wants to meet you...This is Mr. William Crawley Jr. I'm uh sure you've heard of him." he said.

"I've.heard of him all my life...His Pudding company, His foundation...His charitable work for the Black community...Yes..."I said...I had heard the reports in the newspaper about him and the women he allegedly assaulted too...but there was no more talk about the cases and he never was arrested or tried in court for them, so I didn't mention it or allow myself to think about it..."

"Hello young lady...You've got quite a mean serve....I saw you on the court and I was quite impressed." he said and he smiled...I felt a little uncomfortable because he was talking to me, but looking at my chest and my legs...Perhaps we might meet for lunch and talk about your future young lady...I have contacts in the College and Pro-Tennis circuit...perhaps I can get you more visibility..."he said..

"Gee Mr. Crawley that sound swell." I said.

The afternoon dragged on and I realized that my ride had left without me...Mr.Crawley was johnny on the spot...

"Oh...No problem..I'll drive you home..Where do you live?" he asked..

I told him and he smiled...

"No problem...I'm going that way.."he said..

Mr. Rollerson looked concerned and he said..

"Veronica wait...You sure you don't want me to get my driver to take you home?" he said...

Mr. Crawley gave him a stern look and said...

''Rollie...I SAID THAT I'M GOING HER WAY!! NOW THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS MATTER!"

I was kind of frightened at his tone of voice...but then he smiled and assured me everything was alright...

As we drove ...Mr. Crawley asked me if I was hungry....I actually was...I hadn't eaten all day,so he said..

"I know a great place..."

and we drove there...

The food was off the chain...It was delicious... He asked me what I drank....I said a Vodka with Cranberry Juice...Now Mr. Blatt..I didn't see him put anything in the drink, but that's because he went to the bar and got the drinks...

But after I drank the Vodka and Cranberry Juice , I remember going to the ladies room and coming back and drinking some more and finishing the meal....After that ,I recall feeling a little woozy...
"You Okay Ms. Seldon" he asked...
"Wowww.....That drink is a little...wooooh, A little strong..."I said...
He smiled...
"Hmmm...You need to come up to my room...Sleep it off...It's been a long day....You've played all that tennis .you're tired..you must be exhausted."He said..


"No....Nooooo..I should go home...." I said...but I was woozy...

He gave me a pill...

"Here...Take this...It'll make you feel better...It's like Alka Seltzer.."He said.

He gave me a glass of water and I took the pill....and that's all I remembered for awhile...

 "When I woke up Mr. Blatt , I was in a strange room...The lights were dimmed and soft music was playing...Mr. Crawley was lying next to me in just his boxers...but I was too weak to move...

"Shhhhhh....Just relax...Everything is okay...Just relax...." he said...

"Where Am I? What Am I doing here...You were supposed to drive me home.." I asked...

"You're someplace safe, someplace relaxing baby..."he said and he leaned over and kissed me in the lips and put his tongue down my throat...

"Heyyy, Mr. Crawley...What are you doing?" I asked...Still very weak and woozy...

"Shhhhhh..Ms. Seldon,everything is alright...Oh My goodness..I-I had no idea you were so...so womanly...Your breasts are sooo round, your hips...Oh My God....I have wanted to get you in the bed since I first laid eyes on you this morning at that tennis meet, with your little short skirt...Those tight little undershorts you girls wear that look like panties...oh my goodness..ouuuuu"he moaned...

"Mr. Crawley please...Please...I don't feel good..Please just take me home..."I said..

"Take me home first...Ummmmmmm take me home baby......yessssss....."he moaned...He had unbuttoned my top, taken my bra off and was kissing and slobberin all over my breasts....He had unzippered my skirt and taken it off and had me in his bed...

 "Oh Veronica...Veronica...It doesn't make any sense for a girl to be built this well and be so young...lawd......My goodness gracious..look at you...You are driving me crazy.....I can't help myself...I just can't...I have a weakness for fine young women...lawddd!" he said, moaning and breathing heavy...I could see that he had a huge erection...His boxer shorts were stretched out...I couldn't believe this was happening to me...I couldn't believe I was in this situation...But I was so weak, so loopy...I couldn't fight him off,plus I kept blacking out and waking up in a state of dizzyness....
''Mr. Crawley please...you don't have to do this...Please don't"I pleaded..
"Shhhhhhh..it's alright...It's alright...Just let me ease on in...yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss... ease on in....."he moaned as he slipped my panties down and mounted me....
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Mr. Crawley please.....Don't do this...please.." I moaned...
"Yessssssssssssssssssssss..." he moaned..."Yessssss...ahhhhhhh this feels soooo goood....lawd girl, you drivin me crazzzyyyyyyy..ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..Shhhhhhh..it's alright...It's alright...Just let me ease on in...yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss... ease on in.....Ouuuuu, you don't know how long I've wanted to get you in the bed....ohhhhhhhhhh..."he moaned...
 "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Mr. Crawley please.....Stop, don't do this...Don't do this...ouuuuu.." I moaned...
and that's all I remember...

 "I woke up some hours later....I was completely nude...Mr. Crawley was fixing his tie and putting on his suit jacket...He looked over at me and smiled...He passed me my skirt, my blouse, my bra , my panties.. and my heels.They were all folded neatly...As though I had folded them myself..
"Here are your clothes...Get dressed....There is a cab waiting for you outside..."he said very non-chalantly and he tossed five hundred dollar bills on the bed...Like we had had an arrangement or something...He didn't feel as though he had done anything wrong or out of the ordinary..
I looked in the trash can next to the bed and there was a loaded condom...and a torn condom wrapper..Semen was everywhere .....  On the sheets, on the floor.....on my legs...I felt so icky.....and I hated myself....I hated myself for being so stupid as to let myself get put in this situation...I couldn't believe he had done this to me..."

"You raped me...You-You raped me.."I said...I was crying...He rubbed my back..

"Now...Now...Don't say that...You don't know what I did or didn't do..."he said.rather coldly..

He gave me money for a cab and the cab took me home...." she said.

The Attorney Morris Blatt asked her...


''Ms. Seldon, why didn't you go to the police?"

''With what?, Against him?? Plus I showered when I got home....and he used a condom...There was no evidence we even had sex...Who was going to believe me?" she asked..

''Who would believe you now? It's been a month?" said Morris Blatt, then he smiled..

"But....He's done this before...To others...many others....If I can get their testimonies ,plus yours...I'm gonna bury that bastard once and for all...Bankrupt his raping ass..." he said aloud..

''Were they your cases Mr.Blatt?" she asked..

He smiled..

"No..but I know both of the attorneys who represented him last...Olivia Bennett-Alexander and Beverly West.. and they don't know it yet...but they're going to help me win the case of my life!"he exclaimed...

He might not be able to help himself...but when I get through with him...Ohhhhh he'll learn...he'll learn..." he said smiling..

(TO BE CONTINUED)