This isn’t happening again, she thought. “I’m going to let you two handle whatever this is. I have things to do.”
Alicia dashed out of the office and headed for her car. She was glad that she’d left her phone at the office when they’d gone to Paris. Now she could escape without having to wait for Richmond and listen to his excuses for why this woman had strolled into the building as if she had a right to be there.
Bitch, she thought. When her phone rang, Alicia ignored it because she didn’t want to talk to anyone. She was halfway down Peachtree Street when her phone rang again. Sucking her teeth, she pressed the talk button on her steering wheel.
“What?”
“Who pissed in your cornflakes?” Kandace asked. “First you go off to Paris with Richmond and don’t say a word, then you come back and I still don’t get a call. What’s going on, chica?”
Alicia sighed. “Richmond’s wife is in Atlanta.”
“What?”
“Umm-huh. Right now, she’s in his office batting her eyelashes at him and calling me a fucking employee. I thought he was divorced.”
“From what I understand, he is. But why would Vivian be in Atlanta? She never wanted that man when they were in New York. I can’t even say that I’d seen them together more than once.”
“She’s a piece of work, and if I could beat her with a bat and not end up in jail, I’d do it.”
“What has Richmond said?”
“Who cares what he has to say? I’m not going through this again.”
“You can’t judge him by what Tyson did. I know Richmond, and he’s not a jackass. But don’t you think that you should be focused on business and—”
“Don’t start with me right now. I keep making the same—”
“Wait,” Kandace said. “I’m not saying you’re wrong about falling for Richmond. I saw it coming, but he better be ready to do right by you. And if that divorce isn’t real, I’m going to hurt him for bringing you into a jacked situation. I’ll beat him with a giraffe.”
“A what?”
“Long story, but before I get into that, tell me what happened.”
Alicia sighed and told Kandace how wonderful everything was in Paris. How she and Richmond hung out with Devon and Marie and made love.
“Pause. You and Richmond . . .”
“Yes,” she said with a sigh. “And it was amazing! I haven’t felt that way in years.”
“And you’re willing to give that all up without hearing him out?” Kandace asked. “Personally, I think Vivian is trying to cause trouble and if you let her, she will. She’d a hardcore bitch from what Solomon has always said about her.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“And I don’t see Richmond as the kind of man who would try to keep two relationships going at once. Especially after all that he and Solomon have been through this year with secrets.”
Alicia knew her friend was right, but she needed a little while to think. “I still need a little time to myself right now.”
“Don’t take too much time, because I know how you roll. You’ll make up a scenario in your mind and won’t talk to Richmond again.”
“It’s not like I have a choice here,” she said. “We work in the same building, a building that he owns, and he’s a client.” Alicia slowed down and shook her head. “This is why I don’t mix business with pleasure. Why did I ever listen to Jade?”
“Jade? What does she have to do with any of this? According to her, she was against you and Richmond too. I knew she couldn’t help herself.”
“But she made perfect sense. When I was hanging out with him and showing him the city, I saw another side of Richmond, and it struck me. I liked it. Liked him. I didn’t want to fall for him but it happened. Now . . .”
“If you feel that way, then you need to fight for him. Don’t let his messy ex come to your place and ruin your future.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I want you and Richmond to be happy, and if you two make each other happy, then damn it, fight for it.”
“Wow. I—”
“Didn’t expect me to be on your side? Girl, do I need to come to Atlanta and relive some of our undergrad days, because I will.”
“I can handle this one. And I’m sure Solomon doesn’t want his wife to come down South and pretend she’s gangsta. You know we used to throw rocks and hide our hands.”
Kandace laughed. “True. But, just know that you can take the girl out of the AUC, but you can’t take the AUC out of the girl.”
“And I’m hanging up with you now,” Alicia said. Feeling a little better about Richmond’s situation with his ex-wife, she decided to hit a U-turn and head back to the office.
* * *
Richmond glared at Vivian. “I don’t know what your game is, but it needs to stop!”
“What? I don’t have a game. You can make me go away with a cool million dollars and the payment of some of my expenses for the rest of my life. I don’t want much, just what I’ve earned.”
Richmond snorted. “That doesn’t sound as if I’m getting rid of you, that’s me having to deal with you as if we’re still married. Till death do us part doesn’t last past divorce.”
“I won’t be an outcast in my own city. I will not allow my friends to pay for my dinners because you want to flex and pretend you’re a big man now. You think you can be the new Solomon?” Vivian laughed. “I know the truth about you and your sordid little history. Do you think people down here are going to take you seriously when they learn that you aren’t even a real member of the family? And then there is the arrest in Los Angeles that you all covered up. You’re in the Bible Belt, and when the people of good old Atlanta find out that you like hookers, no one is going to want to deal with you.”
Richmond snorted. “You keep singing the same song and doing nothing. If you want to play your trump card, then do it.”
“I’m not the one who’s going to suffer, so don’t force me to show my hand.”
“You can do what you want to do, because I’m not going to let you blackmail me.”
“Want to play this game? You’re going to lose.”
“The only loser standing here is you. Why don’t you get on your broom and fly back to New York?”
“Just give me the money and you won’t hear from me again.”
Richmond folded his arms across his chest. “That is, until you need more money or you can’t get a seat at your favorite restaurant.”
“What are you saying?”
“Do your worst. I’m done with your bullshit. You walked away from our marriage, and by doing that, you walked away from my money and everything else you got as a benefit of being my wife.”
“So that’s what this is all about? You got my attention. Want to get remarried?”
Before Richmond could tell Vivian to get on the highway straight to hell, Alicia walked in. Vivian turned to her and smiled. “Did you get all of that, sweetheart? Richmond wants me back and I’m going to give him what he wants.” She crossed over to him and kissed him slowly.
Richmond pushed her away. “Don’t do this.”
Alicia looked from Vivian to Richmond and didn’t know what to make of the scene she saw unfold in front of her. “Have I interrupted the reunion?” she asked.
“There is no reunion, and Vivian was just leaving.”
“Doesn’t look that way to me,” Alicia said. “What’s going on with the two of you?”
Vivian smiled. “I don’t think I can make it any clearer. I’m here to get my husband back.”
Richmond rolled his eyes. “Get out.”
“Is that true? She’s back for her husband?” Alicia asked, focusing her stare on Richmond. “Because I don’t want to stand in the way of a good love story.”
Richmond crossed over to Alicia. “You’re joking, right? Do you think I would’ve spent these last few days with you if I had bumped my head and decided I wanted this vile woman back? She wants money and will do anything to get it.�
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Vivian shook her head. “If it’s a battle you want, you got it. And I didn’t come to this humid hellhole to lose.” She headed for the door and Alicia stepped aside. As she watched Vivian leave, she couldn’t help but wonder what Richmond ever saw in her. She might be pretty on the outside, but Alicia could see her insides were uglier than a wicked witch.
Once she was gone, Alicia focused her stare on Richmond. “If you and your ex have some unfinished business, don’t let me stand in the way . . .”
Richmond drew Alicia into his arms. “You’re not in the way at all.” He brought his lips down on top of hers. She gave him a quick peck, then turned away from him.
“What?” he asked.
“I need to know the truth. Are you and your ex done?”
“Like an overcooked steak.”
She elbowed him in the stomach. “Be serious. I don’t want to walk in here and you decide one day that you’re in a New York state of mind and want to give your marriage another chance.”
“I tried to give my marriage a chance for years, and now that I’m moving on to better things, she’s missing what we had. And by what we had, I’m talking about access to my money.”
“And she’s not missing you?”
Richmond stroked Alicia’s cheek. “She didn’t miss me when I was sleeping in the same bed with her. Vivian wants a million dollars and she’s been threatening to go to the media with stories about my family if I don’t give it to her.”
“Is that why you’ve been so reluctant to do the interview with Atlanta Scene? You know what,” Alicia said with a smile. “That’s why you need to control the narrative. Tell your story the way you want to and don’t give her a chance to use her ammo to hurt you.”
“I’m not sure I want to talk about all of that. But it makes sense. If I tell my story, my way, no one else has the power to hold it over me.”
“So, we can beat her at her nasty little game before she gets a chance to know what hit her.”
“All right, let’s do it. But before we do that, I need to know that we’re good.”
Alicia nodded. “We’re good.” He took her face into his hands and rubbed his nose against hers. Alicia smiled. “Richmond.”
“I just have to check. Because you owe me a week in my bed,” he said. “I’m ready to get it started.”
Chapter 19
Vivian walked around her hotel room wondering if Richmond would give her the money she needed to get Felix off her back and go back to New York and live the life she was accustomed to living.
More than anything, she had to make sure that sex tape didn’t get out. It would be so hard to keep the moral high road if something as damning as a romp she couldn’t even remember got out. Something didn’t feel right about that time she spent with Felix. She wasn’t one to hop in bed with a stranger who couldn’t do something for her. And on a principal’s salary in the South, there wasn’t much that Felix could do for her.
“Maybe I can get back into his place and delete the video. Then when I get my money from Richmond, I won’t have to share a dime with anyone.” Vivian paused mid-stride. Now, she just needed to make her way back to Felix’s place. Pulling out her phone, she called Felix.
“I was wondering when I’d hear from you again,” he said in lieu of hello.
“I’m sure it was worth the wait. I have your cut. Let’s get together at your place and celebrate.”
“I can meet you at your hotel.”
“No, because I want to see you delete that damned video. This is not a game.”
“Neither is my money,” Felix said. “But I’m a man of my word. I get my money and the video goes away.”
“I don’t know you like that to blindly trust you. Look what happened the last time I tried that.”
“You loved every minute of it,” he said. “Every single minute. Would you like to watch it?”
“You’re a slick bastard,” she said.
“I’ve been called worse. What time should I meet you to get my money? And, by the way, how many zeroes should I expect?”
“Let me call you back,” she said, then ended the call. This was going to be harder than she thought.
* * *
Richmond opened the door to his house and ushered Alicia inside. “I’m going to order us something to eat, and you relax on the couch,” he said as he nodded toward his sofa.
“Don’t you think we should get started on our media plan?”
“No, I think we need to relax. Merlot or a crisp white?” He winked at her, then started for the wine cellar. Alicia slipped her shoes off and reached for the remote control. Part of her wondered if Vivian had tucked her tail between her legs and headed back to New York. That would’ve made things a lot easier. But when has life ever been easy?
Flipping through the channels, Alicia stopped when she came across a James Bond movie. At least they could finally watch their movie together. Alicia hated feeling like an insecure teenager after she and Richmond had shared such a special time in Paris. But something about Vivian’s appearance didn’t sit well with her.
“I got the merlot,” Richmond said as he walked into the living room. Holding up the bottle and two glasses, he smiled when he saw the Bond movie on TV. “And we’re not doing anything until this movie is over.”
“You can’t multitask?”
He nodded as he set the glasses on the table and went to work opening the bottle of wine. “I can, I just choose a different task.” After pouring the wine, Richmond handed Alicia her glass and took a seat beside her.
“We have something serious to take care of,” she said. “You need—”
“To relax. It’s The Spy Who Loved Me. One of the best Bond movies ever.”
Alicia took a sip of wine and nodded. “Okay, fine,” she said. “I’m going to relax and watch this movie with you.” She set her glass on the table and cozied up to Richmond. He kissed her forehead before setting his glass down. Drawing her against his chest, Richmond stroked her hair and smiled. “Remember I said I could multitask as long as I get to pick the task?”
“Yeah, I remember that.”
“Here’s the task I’m about to do,” he said, then captured her lips in a swift motion. Their tongues danced a slow tango and Richmond’s hands inched underneath her shirt, reveling in the smoothness of her skin.
Alicia moaned and arched her body into his touch. She wrapped her legs around his waist and immediately felt his arousal.
“Mmm,” she moaned as he ground against her. “You’re teasing me.”
“Yes, I am.” He leaned forward and kissed her collarbone. “But I’m teasing myself even more. I feel how wet you are.” Richmond reached for the waistband of her slacks and pulled them down. In a swift motion, he pushed the crotch of her panties aside, buried his face between her legs and lapped the sweetness of her juices until she screamed his name.
“Damn, you taste so good,” he said as he tore his mouth away from her. “I need some more.” Richmond licked her slow, sucked her tender bud until she exploded in his mouth. Her body shook with satisfaction as James Bond knocked out a bad guy.
“Ooh,” she moaned. “I like the way you multitask.”
Richmond unbuttoned her shirt and ran his index finger down the center of her chest. “Wait until you see my next trick,” he said as he pushed her shirt off her shoulders. He kissed each piece of skin he exposed. Alicia moaned, wanting nothing more than to rip his clothes off and make love to him until the sun rose again. But Richmond was in no rush. He unsnapped her bra and feasted on her hard nipples. Alicia stroked the back of his head as he took her pebble between his teeth. Intense waves of pleasure washed over her body as he slipped his hand between her thighs and stroked her wetness.
“Richmond,” she moaned.
“Come for me, baby, come for me.”
“No, I want to come with you. Take your clothes off and make love to me,” she moaned. Richmond pulled back and stripped his clothes off. Alicia’s mouth watered as
she drank in the image of Richmond’s naked body. Inching toward the edge of the sofa, she reached for his erection, stroking him until his knees went weak.
“I pride myself on giving as good as I get.” Alicia captured his erection with her lips. She licked the head of his cock and Richmond groaned in delight. But when she took him deep down her throat, Richmond tossed his head back in delight and he nearly exploded.
Their eyes locked as she gave him one last lick. “Damn,” he muttered. “You are amazing.”
“And you talk too much. I need you inside, now.”
She didn’t need to ask him twice as he scooped her up into his arms. Richmond carried her to the stairs and dashed into his bedroom. Falling back on the bed with Alicia in his arms, Richmond was ready to melt with her, but Alicia mounted him. She kissed his neck, using her tongue to traverse his body. Goose bumps dotted his body as she continued her tour. Unable to take another minute of her sensual torture, Richmond grabbed her hips. “Let me in.”
She spread her thighs and Richmond dove inside. They rocked back and forth, grinding slowly against each other. He pulled her against his chest as he thrust forward. Alicia matched Richmond stroke for stroke. She felt herself getting wetter and wetter. When he ran his fingers up and down her spine, Alicia couldn’t fight the explosion growing inside her. She collapsed against his chest as sweat poured from their bodies.
“I can’t move,” Richmond said.
“Good, because neither can I. How long can we stay here like this?”
“I want to say forever, but knowing you, you want to get some work done at some point.”
She ran her index finger down his bicep. “What’s work?”
Laughing, he kissed her gently. “Let’s see how long that lasts.” Moments later, they’d drifted off to sleep.
When they woke up, Richmond and Alicia decided that it was past time to order dinner. “Why don’t we cook,” he said as he glanced at the clock. “By the time a delivery gets here, we might be busy—again.”
“Really? Do you think you’re going to be that lucky?”
“Oh, I know I am.” Richmond pulled on a pair of boxer shorts and handed Alicia a T-shirt. “Let’s get cooking.”
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