Any Way the Wind Blows - E. Lynn Harris [55]
Didn’t Yancey remember who I was? Maybe she needed to be reminded I wasn’t the only one with threatening secrets. With the right embellishment, LaVonya might be more interested in a pop star who gave up a baby than who I was sleeping with.
• • •
As I was checking my messages, I was reminded of my other problem. Bart, the flip side of Yancey. He left a message: You’re going to be sorry for messing with me. Do you think you can just kick me to the curb like day old bread? I don’t think so. You did it once before and I let it slide. I’m going to get me a lawyer and I’m suing you for sexual harassment, so I hope you got a good lawyer.”
What was Bart, with his dumb ass talking about suing me for sexual harassment? Had he lost his mind? Could he be serious? I didn’t harass him for shit. I thought about the last part of his message, about having a good lawyer.
I looked at my watch and then picked up my phone and called Raymond’s office. I needed to find out if I had any reason to worry. I’d certainly never heard of a case of a man suing another man for sexual harassment, and I didn’t want to be involved in the test case.
“Professor Tyler’s office,” a sweet-sounding voice said.
“Is he in?”
“May I tell him who’s calling?”
“Basil Henderson,” I said. A few moments later, Raymond was on the other line.
“How you doing? Two calls within the month. I can’t believe this.” Raymond laughed.
“You must be living right,” I said.
“What’s going on? I know you didn’t call me just ’cause you were thinking about me,” Raymond said.
“Why can’t I do something nice?”
“Come on, Basil, whatsup?”
“Got a quick legal question. Can one man sue another man for sexual harassment?”
“Sure,” Raymond said quickly and confidently
“They can?”
“Sure. Who’s suing you?”
“Who said it was me?”
“Oh, I understand. It’s a friend,” Raymond said in a knowing voice. I told him a real quick version of meeting Bart, our two-night stand, and how when he wanted to get serious I’d given him the old heave-ho.
“I don’t think he can sue you. Depends on what the New York law is. Now, if he was working for you he might have a chance, but I don’t think you have to worry since he wasn’t an employee,” Raymond said.
“Thanks. That’s good to know,” I said as I breathed a sigh of relief.
“It doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods. We live in a country where people can still file a lawsuit if they feel like they’ve been wronged. There’s no law against doing that. The courts are filled with frivolous lawsuits. If he finds a lawyer who’s willing to take his case, with or without merit, you could find yourself in court. Look, I don’t think you should worry. I got to run. I have a class to teach. Keep me posted,” Raymond said.
“I’ll do that. Thanks, Raymond.”
“No problem. Be good.”
“Always,” I mumbled before I hung up the phone.
The Lawyer and the Liar
Now, Mr. Dunbar, who did you say recommended me?” Gail Dennis asked as she looked over some notes from her large glass desk.
“LaVonya Young. You know, she writes the column ‘Lines from LaVonya.’ She said you were one of the best sexual-harassment attorneys in the country,” I said.
“Oh yeah, LaVonya. How could I forget her,” Gail mumbled.
“So will you take my case?” I asked. Gail remained silent as she leaned back in her chair, studying me while twisting a silver pen in her hand. She was an above-average-looking white woman. She was tiny, with reddish blond hair, high cheekbones and a prominent chin. Gail’s makeup was perfect and pale and brought attention to her piercing blue eyes.
“I don’t really do a lot of sexual-harassment cases. My notes say you’re a model and a waiter. Who do you want to sue?”
“John Basil Henderson.”
“Then why are you suing his firm, XJI?”
“Didn’t your assistant or whoever I talked to tell you?” I wanted to know why whoever I had talked with was wasting my time.
“Oh yeah, it’s all here in the notes. But I want to hear what you have to say,” Gail said.
“Let me see, where should I start?”
“Why not from the beginning.”
“Okay,” I said. Right when I