“Don’t throw me under the bus like that,” Jade said. “Besides, we failed and she’s ready to move back to Atlanta.”
Alicia waved for the bartender. “Can we just enjoy the rest of this reunion weekend and stop worrying about my life?”
“Sure. Did you happen to see Felix Thompson?” Jade asked. “When you hightailed it out of the conference room, he was looking for you.”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “He can keep looking, that asshole.”
Kandace glanced at her friend. “What happened between the two of you that has you holding a grudge this long? Even Serena was nice to her former nemesis Yolanda Perkins. This is so unlike you.”
“I don’t want to talk about it or him.” Alicia turned her attention to the bartender and ordered a vodka and pineapple juice.
“Fine, but if you see him tonight, please don’t cause a scene,” Jade said. “We can’t get an award and then have you get arrested.”
“I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.” Alicia crossed her legs and thought about Felix Thompson, the man who ruined her senior year in college.
It had been her senior year at Spelman, and Felix, a Morehouse student, had been one of the most attractive guys in the Atlanta University Center. He’d been a star basketball player and chemistry major.
Over the last two years, Alicia had been trying to downplay her attraction to Felix, with his curly black hair and caramel brown skin. She’d gotten a chance to get to know him when they’d worked together in a study group. His brilliance made her fall deeper for him. They had grown closer, and one night in the library, Felix asked her to come back to his room and watch a movie.
Everything in her screamed yes, but she’d said no. He smiled and she’d thought everything was fine. She was wrong. When he’d offered to walk her to her dorm, Felix had tried to kiss her. He’d been forceful as he’d pushed her against a tree. She kneed him in the crotch and pushed him to the ground. Alicia almost stomped him in the face; instead she ran to her dorm room and vowed to never tell anyone about what had happened.
She’d dropped out of the study group and for the first time in her scholastic career, Alicia made a C.
Because she knew her friends would’ve been livid, Alicia never told them about what happened with Felix. Now that he wanted to talk to her? He could really drop dead.
“Are you going to have a drink with him? He’s still fine,” Jade said.
Alicia rolled her eyes. “I’m good with that.”
“But you used to have a huge crush on him, if I remember,” Serena said as she reached for her drink. “Whatever happened with that?”
“There was nothing ever going on with us and . . . Just know that I don’t want to talk to or about him.” Alicia rolled her eyes and took a big gulp of her drink.
The ladies exchanged confused looks. “Doesn’t sound like nothing to me,” Jade said as she stroked her growing baby bump. “Maybe this could be your second chance and . . .”
“Leave it alone,” Alicia said, then rolled her eyes. Her mind went back to the next time she’d seen him.
“Alicia, can we talk?”
“No.” She kept walking, but he caught up with her and grabbed her elbow. She snatched away from him and prayed someone else would walk through the quad.
“About the other week . . .”
“When you tried to assault me?”
“Girl, please, you know that it wasn’t even like that. I need you to not tell anyone about it. I’m already on probation and I don’t want to—”
She hauled off and slapped him. “You son of a bitch. Don’t you dare stand there and ask me not to tell people that you’re a sexual predator!”
“I’m thinking about you. No one would believe your story. It’s not as if you’re Serena; no one is beating down your door. People are going to think you came on to me and I said no. It’s going to look like sour grapes.”
“Go to hell, you piece of shit.” Damn him for tapping into her insecurities when she was the victim. Alicia knew that people looked at her differently than her best friends, in image-conscious Atlanta. She’d heard all of the You’re pretty for a dark-skin girl comments, and she was sick of it. But for this bastard to wrap his assault in colorism was the lowest blow she’d ever received.
She gave him a sardonic grin. “You’re right, I’m not Serena.” Alicia kicked him in the groin and as he fell to the ground, she delivered a blow to his face. “And I’m guessing you’re not going to tell anyone where you got this black eye from either!” She stomped away and vowed that if she saw him again, she’d give him another black eye.
Alicia never reported the assault, but Felix never approached her again either. He’d made comments about her to his friends, though. That became clear one night when Alicia sat in the library, studying for finals, when Keith Brown sat down across from her.
“What’s up, brown sugar?”
Alicia looked up from her books. “What do you want?”
“A taste of you. Felix said you got that fire.” He winked at her and licked his lips.
Alicia slammed her book shut. “If you don’t get out of my face, I’m going to slip this pencil through your eye.”
“Hold up, babe,” he said as he threw his hands up. “I didn’t mean any harm, but I love me some dark chocolate.”
Alicia tossed a pencil at his head. “Go drink a bleach cocktail. Better yet, go get some from Felix. He’s had a crush on you for years.” Packing her things, Alicia headed to her dorm room and slammed the door behind her. She was pissed and ready to knock Felix out. But Serena walked into the room and started talking about how she was so over finals. They spent the rest of the night drinking tequila and counting down the days to graduation.
Alicia finished her drink, then rose to her feet. “I’m going to freshen up and get ready for this event tonight.” She sighed and thought about facing the demons that she’d kept hidden for so long.
As she walked away, she heard Kandace ask, “Is everything all right with Alicia?”
Chapter 3
Richmond flipped the channels on the TV in his bedroom, hoping to fill his mind with something other than Alicia Michaels. Nothing was working, not even his favorite pundit on CNN. All he could think about was his walk with Alicia.
Make sure you get a good look.
Sassy and classy. She’s the kind of woman who made men stand up and take notice, and Richmond was definitely on notice. Rising from the bed, he crossed over to the closet and pulled out his tuxedo. He was going to attend the AUC gala because he wanted to meet some of the movers and shakers in the city. Seeing Alicia again was going to be the icing on the cake.
He hoped she wore something strapless.
Richmond was about to make a quick meal when his cell phone rang.
“What’s up, Solomon?” Richmond asked when he answered.
“Nothing much. Just wondering how things are going in Atlanta.”
“How things are going, or how Kandace is doing?” Richmond chuckled. “Your wife and her friends are some badass women. It’s amazing what they did as college students and how they got started in their business.”
“Nice, but are there any exes lurking around my wife?”
“Get over yourself. There are a lot of people who are in awe of your wife and her friends. And I think folks are a little scared of your wife.”
“They should be. Anyway, what’s going on with the business plan? Adrian and I were wondering if we should add a club to the hotel since Atlanta is a hub for entertainment.”
“Let’s get the hotel up and running first. But that is a great idea. They do like to party and eat around here.” Richmond laughed as he thought about dancing with Alicia tonight. Because he was going to dance with her and hold her real close.
Richmond couldn’t understand why everyone thought he and Alicia would be such a terrible idea. All he wanted was to get to know the beauty, and the city of Atlanta. She knew her way around and Richmond knew he was going to need
some assistance making headway in a town that didn’t, according to what he’d heard, take kindly to strangers. But if they were going to be in business together, he would have to tamp down his want for her.
He had to admit, though, he liked being a stranger. Since he’d been in Atlanta, no one had mentioned Elliot Crawford, the man who he thought was his father, Adrian Bryant, Elliot’s secret son, or even Solomon. Richmond felt revitalized and ready to take on the world. Richmond felt as if he could do anything in Atlanta once he made the right connections.
It was a new venture for him that would allow him to create a legacy for himself that wouldn’t be tarnished by the lies his family created. He’d be able to remake his image and make some money at the same time. Smiling, he realized this would be the first project that he and Solomon would have created without the influence of Elliot. Failure was not an option.
Turning his attention back to his brother, who had been going on and on about the Pamela Bryant project—named for Adrian’s mother—that he and Adrian were heading up in Los Angeles for single mothers looking to go back to school, Richmond realized he needed to get off the phone if he was going to make it back to midtown in time for the gala.
“Hey, I have to get off the phone and get ready for this gala,” Richmond said. “And for the record, I’m not going to the grand opening of whatever y’all are doing in LA.”
“Did you just say y’all?” Solomon chuckled. “You haven’t been down there long enough to be talking like a Southerner.”
“Whatever. Saying y’all is the best way to make friends down here. You already know that, being that you slip in and out of Southern drawl all the time.”
“Blame my wife. You’re just trying to make Southern women fall for the new Richmond Crawford.”
Richmond smiled, thinking there was only one woman he’d actively try to impress, but now wasn’t the time to pour on the charm. “Whatever. My mind is on business right now. I’m going to get ready for the gala and I won’t tell your wife that you’re checking up on her.”
“For the record, Kiana was asking about her mother and her uncle. That’s why I called.”
“I hear that lie and I don’t believe it at all. I’ll send you my market report in the morning, and do me a favor: Don’t call me until after eleven.”
Solomon chuckled. “Got it. You’re going to kick her out around ten.”
“Everyone isn’t a player like you used to be. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Former player. I’m just trying to see how the game is played these days.”
Richmond laughed, thinking how the tables had turned. Solomon was the happily married man, and he was the single one who could have any woman he wanted. But the only woman who’d caught his eye was Alicia.
“I’m not even getting involved in games.”
“I’ll talk to you later. I need to get a quick bite to eat before I head out.”
After hanging up with Solomon, Richmond ate a quick dinner, then showered and dressed. He was kind of wishing that he had stayed in the city for the weekend. It would’ve given him a chance to see how hospitality worked in Atlanta and what he could do to make the Crawford hotel stand out. There was always next weekend. Since food was such a part of the landscape in Atlanta, he had to make sure the Crawford hotels had the best. Maybe Alicia had some other famous chef friends. Shaking his head, Richmond knew that he was just making excuses to find reasons to get closer to this woman. It could be so simple for him to hire a headhunter and find a chef. He didn’t need Alicia—he simply wanted her.
But how was he going to make that happen when he couldn’t understand what was happening between them? Was there an attraction there or was it in his head?
“I need to focus on my business,” he muttered as he stripped out of his clothes and headed to the shower.
Once he was dressed and ready to head to the gala, Richmond headed out the door, got into his waiting Uber and started toward the Georgia World Congress Center. He wondered if he was making a fool of himself, going to this gala. The main reason he was going was to see Alicia again. Of course, hobnobbing with the cream of the crop in Atlanta was a good idea, but how much business would he get done tonight, when no one even knew him? Yet.
Supposing the evening didn’t go as planned and Alicia ended up reconnecting with some ex from college? This wasn’t supposed to be about romance, but there was something about Alicia’s smile and her sexy walk that had awakened something in him that he thought was dead. Not even when he’d first fallen in with Vivian had he felt this way. Something about Alicia was different, and he wanted to see if it was everything that it was cracked up to be. However, he knew there would be hell in his family if things didn’t work out between them.
This isn’t about me and Alicia. I need a footprint in the city of Atlanta and she can provide that for me, he thought as he smoothed Burt’s Bees lip balm across his lips. Besides, that woman is here to enjoy her reunion, and I’m starting a new business. We’re not looking for anything else.
* * *
Alicia couldn’t wait for the moment when the dog and pony show was over. She and her friends had shaken hands with the same people who’d said they’d never amount to anything other than be someone’s wife or mistress. And while her friends had made the marriage part come true, it seemed as if people had been overlooking her accomplishments as a businesswoman. Alicia grabbed a champagne flute from a passing server and glanced out into the crowd. College had been fun for her only because of her friends and the things that they did together.
“Alicia,” a deep voice said from behind her. Whirling around, she stared into the face of the man she’d hoped to avoid for the rest of the night.
“Felix.” She took a step back from him, not out of fear but from loathing.
“You look really good.” He reached out to touch her elbow and she took another step back from him.
“What do you want?” Her words were terse and low.
“Just wanted to say hi. I was hoping that I’d see you this weekend.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “Why?”
“Because I owe you an apology for what happened all of those years ago.”
“Apology noted. Excuse me.” She took a step and he reached out and grabbed her arm. Alicia gasped. “Please don’t touch me.”
“Girl, are you still holding on to—”
“Fuck you then and fuck you now,” she snapped.
“Maybe that’s the problem, we never had a chance to do that.” Felix licked his lips. “That night could’ve happened differently then, and tonight we could—”
“Are you kidding me? Are you seriously kidding me right now?” Alicia gritted her teeth and thought about slapping him, but the last thing she wanted was to cause a scene. That’s why she’d never reported the assault in college. Now this bastard wanted to make light of the situation—just like he did when they were in school. Just breathe, she thought as she turned to walk away from him.
“Dark skin is in now, so you could definitely get it now without any issues.” He winked at her, then gave her a soft pat on the bottom. She turned around and glared at him—her eyes blazing with years of anger.
“If you don’t get away from me, you slimy bastard,” she muttered as she glanced around the room. Everyone seemed oblivious to the hell she was going through right now.
“I said I was sorry, what more do you want from me?” He ran his index finger down her cheek and Alicia quivered. His touch made her ill; the memory of that night flooded her brain and made her body freeze.
“Alicia,” a voice said from behind her and a warm hand on the small of her back brought her to the present. “This dance is mine, right?”
Turning around, she gave Richmond a coy smile. “Of course.”
Felix snorted. “Nobody wants this black bitch anyway.”
Shaking her head, Alicia was ready to head to the middle of the dance floor with Richmond, but he stopped and squared up with Felix
and punched him in the face. Alicia gasped but was relieved to see that bastard fall to the floor.
Then Richmond drew her close. “I believe you said this dance was mine.” Sade’s soulful voice filled the air as they made it to the middle of the floor and swayed together. His lips brushed against her ear as their bodies merged together. He spun her around and Alicia looked into his eyes and whispered, “Thank you,” as the song ended.
He nodded and brought his face close to hers. She could feel the heat of his breath against her lips, and his hands still on her back made her feel comforted.
“Let’s get a drink outside on the patio. It’s a little hectic in here,” he said as he watched two men lead Felix out the back.
“Good idea,” she replied, her body trembling slightly as they walked. Richmond took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.
Alicia closed her eyes and let him lead her to the bar.
Richmond knew something wasn’t right with Alicia, but he didn’t want to add to her discomfort. Handing her a scotch neat, he smiled. “Scotch always cures what’s bothering you.”
“Or gives you a hell of a hangover.” Alicia took a slow sip. “Have you had a good time so far?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m just getting here. Everything looks nice. Seems as if these colleges and universities are very important in the social structure.”
She nodded as they leaned against the bar. Alicia pointed her glass toward a tall man talking to a group of young alumni. “That’s city councilman Lawrence Moore. He’s one of the most influential men in city government. There’s some talk of him launching a mayoral campaign, but the current mayor is really popular with the people.”
“What makes him so special?” Richmond gave Alicia a slow once-over. She was acting as if nothing had happened in the ballroom.
“He knows the right people and doesn’t abuse his power. Can’t ask for anything more than that.” She set her glass on the bar. “I’m pretty sure you want to . . .”
Richmond shook his head just as Kandace and Jade walked over to her. “What in the world is going on?” Jade asked.
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