Strategic Seduction

by Cheris Hodges

  “How about I pour the wine and you get cooking.” She winked at him as she pulled the shirt on.

  “I’m going to teach you how to make at least one meal. Just so we can have something else that we do in the kitchen together.”

  Alicia stood on her tiptoes and kissed the end of his nose. “Umm, no. But I will always make sure your coffee is brewed to perfection.”

  “I couldn’t ask for anything more,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “So, when are we going to start waking up together?”

  “Maybe that’s something we should talk about later,” she said. “You should never make a decision on an empty stomach.”

  Richmond shook his head, but let the conversation drop. Maybe he was getting ahead of himself asking her to move in right now.

  * * *

  Alicia sat at the bar watching Richmond prepare dinner. Was he serious about her moving in with him? This thing was moving too fast, and she couldn’t help but wonder what his ex’s appearance had to do with the sudden urge for him to invite her to live with him.

  “You’re quiet over there. Everything all right?” he asked.

  “Yeah, just thinking about work.”

  Richmond shook his head. “Nope. Too soon,” he said. “We’re not worried about work or anything else until we eat. And maybe watch a full movie this time.”

  She grinned at him. “Really, Mr. Multitasker?”

  “You know I had to give you my full attention.” Richmond crossed over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “And you know that you always come before Bond.”

  “I better.”

  Richmond dropped his arms from her waist. “But this food isn’t going to cook itself, and since you’re not going to help me, I better get busy.”

  “I tell you what,” she said. “I’ll take care of dessert. Just let me get dressed and I’m going to get you the best and sweetest Southern treat.”

  “You mean that’s not you?” He winked at her and turned back to the food he was cooking. Alicia headed for the living room and grabbed her discarded clothes. When she pulled her pants on, she noticed his phone on the side of the sofa.

  She wanted to ignore the message on the screen, but she couldn’t help it. Alicia picked up the phone and saw the message was from Vivian.

  Stop ignoring me and call me. We have to talk.

  Alicia saw red. Everything that he said about his ex was a damned lie. Richmond was no different from Tyson. Why would she be texting him talking about they need to talk? No one does this if there isn’t a reason. If he wanted his cake and ice cream, Alicia was going to bow out.

  She snatched the phone up and stormed into the kitchen. “Tell me again how you don’t have anything going on with your ex.” She waved the phone in his face.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Why is she texting you? You know what, it doesn’t even matter, because I’m not playing this game with you two.”

  Richmond took the phone from her hand and set it on the counter. “No one is playing a game. If there was something going on, do you really think I’d be stupid enough to leave my phone out so you could see it?”

  “Accidents happen. When you get things together with your ex, let me know.” She stormed out of the house, leaving Richmond confused and pissed off.

  Once she was in her car, Alicia broke down sobbing. She hadn’t wanted to believe that Richmond was lying to her, but things just weren’t adding up. The last thing she wanted to deal with was a man who had this much baggage. She came to Atlanta to start over, and she would be damned if she’d fall into the same trap again.

  * * *

  Richmond listened as the door slammed and wondered if he should go after Alicia or just wash his hands of this madness. If she wanted to believe the worst about him, what could he do to change her mind? Moreover, why did he have to be the one to explain what was going on when he hadn’t done a damned thing wrong? Richmond was sure there were some demons in Alicia’s life that she was making him pay for. This was a check he wasn’t willing to cash. But he wasn’t willing to lose this woman, either.

  Putting the knife down, Richmond decided that he needed to make this right with Alicia and get Vivian out of his hair. One way or another, he was going to get peace tonight. He headed upstairs, dressed, and then called Vivian.

  “It’s about time that you gave me a call back,” she snapped.

  “We’re ending this tonight. I’ll meet you at your hotel and we’re putting this to bed—forever.”

  “Richmond,” she said, her voice a little softer. “I’m in trouble and I don’t know what to do.”

  “If this is some sort of game or some—”

  “Please, it pains me to need you right now,” she said.

  Part of him wanted to believe that she was telling the truth, but Richmond couldn’t help but wonder if she’d just added another layer to her game playing. “Where are you staying?” he asked.

  Vivian told him the hotel she was staying in and he hung up the phone. He called Alicia, but her voicemail picked up. He knew he was being ignored, but right now he was going to give her time to marinate in her feelings.

  It was time to put Vivian in her place once and for all.

  Chapter 20

  Alicia sat in the bar of her hotel, nursing a vodka and cranberry juice. She hadn’t wanted to go up to her room when she arrived at the hotel. Then Richmond called and she ignored him. What took him so long to come up with an excuse? She was about to take another sip of her drink when her phone rang. Seeing that it was Serena, she answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Have you let Richmond up for air?” Serena laughed. “How was Paris?”

  “Paris was a lie and Richmond can kiss my entire black ass,” Alicia said. “So, what’s going on with you?”

  “Whoa. I wasn’t expecting that at all. What happened?”

  Alicia took a sip of her drink, then sighed. “I don’t want to talk about that right now. Are you and Antonio pregnant yet?”

  “Don’t try to change the subject, but since you asked, there is a possibility.” Serena’s excitement seemed to bubble through the phone. “I’m going to the doctor in the morning to confirm the six pregnancy tests that I’ve taken this week.”

  “Six? Really?” Alicia laughed.

  “My period is late. Antonio is cautiously optimistic about it.”

  “And how do you feel?”

  “I’m scared as hell. What if I’m not pregnant or I can’t get pregnant?”

  “Don’t think like that. You and Antonio are going to be great parents. I’m going to be the best fairy godmother ever, because I’m going to have nothing else to do after I get off from work but spoil other people’s kids.”

  “Okay, so what happened with you and Richmond that has you drinking and throwing in the towel?”

  Alicia raised her right eyebrow. “How do you know I’m drinking?”

  “I hear the ice clinking in the glass and you don’t normally have ice in wine. What is it? Vodka or whiskey?”

  “Vodka and cranberry.”

  “You are really in your feelings. What happened?”

  Alicia downed the rest of her drink and told Serena what happened with Vivian showing up at the office and then finding her text message after they’d made love.

  “Wow,” Serena said. “I can’t believe he would be that dumb.”

  “Me either,” Alicia said. “I thought things were going to be different with me and Richmond. He—”

  “You don’t understand what I’m saying. I can’t believe that he would slip up like that if he was trying to have both of you.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  Serena sighed. “Because Richmond is Solomon Crawford’s brother. I think he would’ve hidden his tracks a little better. And of course his ex is sniffing around. Think about it, she had New York in the palm of her hand and now she has nothing. Please, she’s going to pull out every trick in the book.”


  “What if those tricks work? They were together for a long time and—”

  “People move on. I did.”

  “But how long were you and that creep together? You didn’t marry him and—”

  “Will you stop! You keep making every excuse in the book to believe the worst of him. Every man is not Tyson.”

  “I can’t tell, because I’ve yet to be proven wrong.”

  Serena groaned. “I was scared to have a baby and look at me now. I’ve been doing everything I can to get pregnant. Do you know how many yams I’ve eaten?”

  Alicia laughed. “What do yams have to do with getting pregnant?”

  “Yams are a natural fertility food. I ate so many. I don’t want to see another one for a while,” Serena said with a laugh. “But back to you, don’t write Richmond off all the way yet. Remember this is the same man who knocked out a stranger for you.”

  Alicia started to tell Serena that it didn’t mean anything that he was good with his hands. “Maybe you’re right,” she finally said. “Or maybe I should’ve listened to Kandace all along. This man had been married for years and I was just a rebound so that he could get his feet wet and get back into the game.”

  “So, you’ve made up your mind and you’re not going to consider anything else?”

  “Yes! I’m tired of being some man’s victim and getting hurt in the end. This whole love-conquers-all bullshit isn’t for me.”

  “Bitter much?”

  “You don’t get it,” Alicia said. “And how can you? You’ve always gotten what you wanted.”

  “And you always ran from things because . . . Why do you do that? When it comes to business, you can’t be stopped. You’re a beast. Were it not for you, Hometown Delights would’ve closed down after everything that happened there. But you let anything—any little thing—ruin a relationship. It’s been that way since college.”

  Alicia shivered as her mind went back to that night with Felix and how it changed her life. All of the self-doubt that she carried for years and how she tried to get over it, but it haunted her into adulthood.

  “Something happened in college that I never told you all about and I guess the more that I think about it, the more that I’ve been affected by it because I never reached out to get help.”

  “What happened?”

  Alicia sighed and recounted the night that Felix attacked her. And how he told her if she ever told anyone they wouldn’t believe her.

  “That son of a bitch, and he had the nerve to seek you out at the reunion. Did he try to apologize?”

  Alicia sucked her teeth. “No. He was disrespectful, and that’s why Richmond punched him.”

  “Damn, had we known, Felix would’ve—”

  “I know, and that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t tell you guys.” Alicia sighed. “But I have to stop living in the past and—”

  “Give Richmond a chance to love you the way you deserve to be loved?”

  “I don’t want to make another mistake and end up the one with the broken heart.”

  “Well, if it makes you feel better, if Richmond breaks your heart, I’ll break his nose.”

  “It’s good to know that you’re still ready to resort to violence in a pinch,” Alicia said. “I’m going to go now.”

  “All right. Let me know what happens and I hope that means you will end up in his arms tonight.”

  “Whatever. I’ll talk to you later.” After hanging up the phone, Alicia pushed her empty glass away and waved for the bartender.

  “What can I do for you, beautiful?” he asked.

  “Just let me cash out and have a glass of water,” she said.

  He nodded and smiled. Alicia spun around on her bar stool and was immediately disappointed when she saw Felix walking toward her.

  “Fancy meeting you here,” he said.

  Rolling her eyes, she kept her mouth closed. She wasn’t going to let this bastard ruin her already shitty night. When he sat beside her, Alicia knew the silent treatment might not be enough.

  She rose to her feet and Felix grabbed her arm. “You mean to tell me that two college classmates can’t share a drink together?”

  “Get your damned hands off me,” she snapped as she snatched away. “We’re not having anything together.”

  Felix grinned and tilted his head to the side. “You didn’t always feel that way. Maybe it’s time for me to make your dreams come true. Let me make love to you so that you can get over your silly feud with me.”

  The bartender brought over Alicia’s bill and her glass of water. He looked from Alicia to Felix. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Alicia said as she grabbed her glass of water. “This guy here is just a little overheated.” She tossed the contents of the glass in Felix’s face and threw the glass at him. “There. Everything is better now.”

  “Bitch,” Felix muttered.

  “And you’re the same bastard that you’ve always been. I guess you’re here trolling for women in a hotel bar tonight?” Alicia kicked off her heels and stood up on the bar. “Excuse me, excuse me! Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make.” She pointed her finger at Felix. “This man is a predator. I let him get away with assaulting me years ago and I’m always going to regret that. But if I can save anyone from his filthy clutches tonight, then it will be well worth it. Don’t be fooled by a pretty face and a nice smile, this man is a snake and just like any snake, given the chance he will strike at you.” Alicia hopped off the bar and Felix glared at her.

  “This isn’t over, and you and your new boyfriend are going to pay dearly for this,” Felix growled before storming out of the bar. Alicia was baffled for a minute. Was he just trying to save face? Then she realized that was a dig at Richmond.

  Boyfriend. Yeah, right, she thought as she paid her bill and gave the bartender a huge tip for not calling the cops.

  “Miss,” he said as he handed her the credit card back, “I’ve always had a bad feeling about the guy. He comes in here like he has a room, but he never does. I saw him put something in a woman’s drink once, so I believe you.”

  “Why didn’t you call the police?”

  “No proof. I just accidentally spilled the drink. Maybe now I can get my manager to ban him from the place.”

  “That would be a good start.” Alicia headed for the elevators, looking over her shoulder just to make sure that Felix was nowhere around. Seeing that he wasn’t, she pressed the button on the elevator and stepped on quickly.

  * * *

  Richmond stood in the lobby of Vivian’s hotel, waiting for her to come down. He wasn’t going to meet her in her room because he didn’t want to set himself up to be caught in a compromising situation. He already needed to get things straight with Alicia, which he was going to do tonight.

  Before Vivian came down, Richmond saw a familiar sight—Felix. Ducking behind a tall potted plant, he listened as Felix made a call.

  “Hello, New York. I’m still waiting on my money, and I’m not a patient man. I’m in your lobby, so you either come down here or give me your room number so that we can have some more fun . . . What do you mean, you’re waiting for someone else? Bitch, we have a deal, and I’ll release that video if I don’t get my money. This is not a game.”

  Richmond wondered if he was talking to Vivian. Was this what she needed help with? And how did she get involved with this jackass? Pulling out his phone, he called Vivian. While the phone rang, he listened to what Felix said.

  “No, I will not hold on. You’re playing games, lady, and you don’t want to play with me.”

  Richmond sent Vivian a text and asked for her room number. I think I know what you need help with.

  After she gave him her room number, he headed for the stairs. Part of him wondered if this was a setup or if Vivian was really in over her head with Felix. Why did she get involved with him anyway?

  Richmond knocked on the door and waited for her to open it.

  “Thanks for coming,” she s
aid.

  Richmond walked in and folded his arms across his chest. “What’s going on with you and Felix?”

  “How do you know about that?”

  “He was in the lobby talking about the money you owe him. What’s going on?”

  Vivian inhaled sharply, then threw herself on the bed. “I met him when I arrived here,” she began. “We had a drink and recognized that we had a common link.”

  “Me?”

  She flipped over on her back. “Yes. Richmond, I told him that I would be able to get a million dollars from you and I’d give him a cut.”

  Richmond shook his head and laughed sarcastically. “You’re a . . . Vivian, you’re the biggest fool I’ve ever met in my life. So, you decided that this stranger was going to help you bilk me out of a million bucks and now you have nothing.”

  “And he has a video of us having sex. He’s threatening to release it.”

  Richmond ran his hand across his face. “My God. Why should I care or help you with this bullshit that you’ve gotten yourself into?”

  Vivian rose to her feet and shook her head. “Whether you like it or not, we’re linked for life, ex-husband. So, my skeletons are going to bring yours out.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong,” he said. “I can write my own story without you in it. You just don’t want your ass spread across the tabloids. You came to Atlanta to ruin me, and you’re the one who’s suffering. It would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic.”

  “Are you going to help me? Richmond, if you ever loved me . . .”

  He placed his hand on her shoulder. “That’s not going to work, love. We haven’t had any love between us for a long time. You know that. I don’t clean up your messes anymore, and after the crap you pulled with Alicia—” Richmond shrugged. “I don’t give a damn if your sex tape is broadcast on every network and cable channel out there.”

  “You bastard,” she said as she pushed him in the chest.

  “We’re divorced, our marriage has been over for years, and you wanted to come down here and ruin my real chance at love. Turns out that you’re the one who got played. You need to figure this thing out with Felix and leave me alone.”