by Anna Black
After three hours, she was finally done, and it was after eleven. She stood back admiring her newest piece, when she heard knocking . . . okay, a loud banging. She put down her color palette and dropped the brush in water and went out to see who was banging at that hour. Her look of frustration quickly faded when she realized it was Levi. She hurried over to the door, unlocked it, and let him in.
“What are you doing here?” she asked with a smile. “What a pleasant surprise.”
“I’ve been calling you and texting you, but couldn’t get you. I mean, it worried me a little, and I went by your place, and since you weren’t there, I figured you’d be here.”
“I’m sorry, my phone is over here.” She went for it. It was on the front counter. “I was in the back working on a piece.”
“I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to make sure you were all right,” he said.
“No, no, it’s okay. I’m happy to see you.” She went over and locked the door. He looked around.
“Wow, your place is coming together; it looks nice, Rose. You have got a lot done in a small amount of time.”
“Well, the sooner I get it together, the sooner I can open the doors. I’m excited,” she beamed.
“As you should be. This place is amazing, and this . . . You painted this?” He admired one of her favorite pieces.
“Yes, about a year ago. I was in a funk when I did that piece, can you believe?”
“Well, they say you do your best work when you are going through the hardest times.”
“I’ve heard that too.”
He walked around and continued to compliment her collection. “Wow, Rose, you are the real deal, baby. I mean, I probably can’t afford any of this, but you are in a prime location, and these rich folks are going to be in here buying paintings and photos left and right.”
“I hope so, and I’d be more than happy to paint some things for you. I have to get more lighting before I start taking pictures again, but when I do, I’d love to take some pictures of you.”
He shook his head. “Naw, worry about your business right now and don’t worry about me.”
“I insist; after all, it looks like you’re working with something really nice underneath that uniform.”
He blushed. “Nah, I wouldn’t say all that, but I feel you, though.”
“Do you want to see the one I just finished?”
“I’d love to,” he said.
“Come on, follow me.” She led him to the back and like her other pieces, he gave her praises.
“Rose, girl, baby, you are one talented sister. This is absolutely stunning. I don’t know what else to say other than, baby, this is it!”
“Thank you.” She took off her smock, dropped it in a hamper, and went to the sink to wash her hands. “Are you done for the night?” she asked. They had hung out, went to breakfast and lunch, and he showed her around L.A. Sightseeing, hand holding, and a couple of good night kisses, but that’s where it ended. Rose didn’t want to move too fast, but she was feeling him, and she did want some dick. It had been long overdue since she had a dick in her life.
“Yes, I’m done. I would have been home, but when I couldn’t reach you, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Yes, I know, and I’m fine. I’m sorry. I didn’t leave my phone up front on purpose.”
“It’s cool, babe.”
“So how about we go to my place for a nightcap? I mean, if you’d like.”
He didn’t respond right away. Instantly, Rose got a knot in her stomach and felt uneasy. She immediately wished she hadn’t asked. “You know what? Never mind. Forget I asked.”
“No, babe, no. I was just caught off guard, but I’d like to come. I’d like that.”
She looked into his eyes. “Are you sure? I mean, there is no pressure, Levi. I’m not trying to rush things. I just wanted to spend a little more time with you tonight. I mean, we can go somewhere else . . . a restaurant, bar, lounge,” she nervously rambled.
“Shhh, no, I want to come over. Like I said initially, I was caught by surprise, but I’d like to come over.” He kissed her softly on the lips.
She smirked. “Okay, well, my car is out back.”
“I’m a little ways down the block. There was nothing close.”
“All right. Do you mind giving me a few minutes to allow me to clean up? It won’t take long,” she said moving toward the leftover paint and brushes she used to create her last masterpiece.
“No, baby, of course not. I’ll wait.”
She smiled brightly. “Thanks, it will only take a couple of minutes.” Once she was done, they went back to the front to prepare to leave.
“So I’ll meet you then?”
“Yes, let me walk you out, and then I’ll be there shortly after.”
Rose nodded in agreement, and he waited while she turned off everything and set the alarm. He walked her to her car. “Rose,” he said before he shut her door.
“What is it, Levi?” She looked at him in his eyes wondering what he was going to drop in her lap.
“We don’t have to move too fast.”
“I know,” she said with a grin. She put her key in the ignition. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“I do. And I’ll be there soon. Drive safe,” he said. He leaned in and kissed her again.
“You too, and I’ll see you in a few.” Rose cranked her car and pulled out, then she hit the button on her steering wheel and called Tiffany.
“Hello,” Tiffany answered. Her voice was groggy, and Rose knew it was late.
“I’m sorry, bestie, but I need you.”
“Hold on, let me get up.” Rose heard what she thought was cover wrestling, and then heard Tiffany whisper, “Baby, it’s Rose, I’ll be back in a few.”
Rose knew she shouldn’t have called that late, but Tiffany was her one and only best friend. “I’m so sorry, Tiffany.”
“Girl, it’s okay. Kory and I have been fucking all damn day, and I am tired as hell, Rose. I bet if I tried to open my legs, I’d cramp the hell up.”
“Must be nice.”
“Damn, Rose . . . my bad. I didn’t mean it that way, girl, what’s up?”
“Well, I invited Levi to the house tonight, and, girl, he seemed a little hesitant. Now I’m thinking he’s married, got a woman at home, or something. Girl, I don’t know. We’ve been kicking it for a few weeks now, but no sleepovers, and I still have not been to his place.”
“Rose, don’t try to figure that shit out. Just be up front with his ass and ask. Give direct questions and demand direct answers. You know I’m not for that guessing game madness. Hell, we are too damn old not to be direct.”
“I hear you, Tiff, but I like him so much, it’s like I don’t want to know if something else holding him back. I enjoy him too much.”
“Okay, then, don’t find out; wait until you’re head over heels in love, and then you can’t leave his two-timing ass alone. Rose, this is Basic Relationship 101. You know the drill on this, so man up and get to the bottom of this before you fall for him and things get really shitty.”
Rose didn’t want to admit it, but Tiffany was right. “Okay, friend, thanks for the reality check. I’ll call you tomorrow and tell you how it goes tonight . . . after I confront him for answers.”
“Okay, love, but be careful. I don’t want you hurt. This is the first guy you’ve met in L.A. There are plenty more out there. You don’t have to get with the first one who shows interest, Rose.”
“I know, but I like this one, so wish me luck.”
“Good luck, girl, now, bye. I’m going back to sleep. I have a nine o’clock meeting with Tressa and Mr. Green in the morning, so I need some sleep.”
“Good night, and make sure you stop by the gallery tomorrow evening when you’re done with work, because I want you to see the progress I’ve made. I’m almost ready to schedule a grand opening date.”
“That’s awesome, babe. I will, I promise. Now good ni
ght, darling.” They hung up, and ten minutes later, Rose was at home. She went inside and took a shower. She moistened her skin with oils and smell-goods, put on a cute little nightie, and went for a glass of something to relieve her nerves. With a glass of Pinot Noir, she settled on the sofa and turned on the tube. The clock was ticking, and she didn’t want to call him. After forty-five more minutes and her second glass, she decided to call it a night. She had her answer. He was married or had a live-in and couldn’t do sleepovers. She knew his ass would be a no-show.
She turned off the tube, went into the kitchen, rinsed her glass, and then put it in the dishwasher. “Oh well . . .” she said and headed to her room. Just then, her doorbell chimed, and it made her jump. She couldn’t believe he had actually shown up.
She went to the door, looked out the peephole, and then opened the door. “I thought you weren’t coming,” she said.
“I know, and I’m sorry I’m late, I had to run home first. I wanted to shower and change.”
“Okay, come on in, Levi.” She stepped aside and decided she still had to confront him. She didn’t want to know the truth, but she definitely needed the truth. “You’re married? Have a lady? Come on just tell me before we go any further,” she said immediately after closing her front door.
“Can I at least have a seat first before the interrogation?” he asked.
“Come on in and have a seat.”
He moved over to the sofa, but she didn’t sit.
He went and sat down on the sofa in the living room.
“Can I get you something?”
“A drink would be nice.”
“And then you tell me the truth?” she snarled.
“And then I tell you the truth,” he agreed.
She went into the kitchen. Her heart was thumping so loud against her chest, it was like the beat was banging on her eardrums. She fixed him a vodka and cranberry, and although she didn’t need it, she poured herself another glass of wine. She was afraid to hear his truth, but she had to. She went back and handed him his glass and took a seat on the sofa near him.
“You look pretty,” he complimented.
“Thanks, now out with it, Levi.” She didn’t want to be distracted from the truth and flattery would get his ass nowhere at that moment.
He took a swallow and let out a breath. “I am married,” he said.
Her heart dropped. “Get out!” she yelled and rose up from the sofa quickly.
“No, wait, wait, please . . . let me finish.”
“There is nothing to finish. You are a—” she tried to say, but he put his glass down and stood. He grabbed her by the arms firmly.
“My wife is on life support!” he yelled over her.
Rose stopped and just stared. “Holy shit!” she said in shock. Those were the last words she expected to hear.
The Big News
Episode 12
Tiffany
Tiffany rushed into her office at eight forty-five. She was tired and not herself that day, and she knew it. The day before, she and her husband spent the majority of their day making love. They got in a few glasses of wine, a couple of snacks and dinner, but the bulk of the time had been spent with Kory deep inside of her.
“Mee-Mee, I gotta meet Mr. Green in less than fifteen. Please get me coffee ASAP,” Tiffany commanded in a rush, and then headed into her office. She had finally gotten a weave after some pushy convincing from her stylist, and due to the previous day’s activities with Kory, it was a mess. It had gotten wet in the shower and in the steam from the bath she and Kory took the night before, and the beautiful drop curls that cascaded down her back and draped her shoulders were gone. She managed to slam her makeup that morning, so it took away the attention from her messy ponytail that she tried to pull off, but it was not a good look. She was exhausted and how you feel is how you looked in her world, and she knew she needed to go to her office and give her hair one last herculean effort.
Tiffany fussed with her hair, and then Myah walked into her office with her coffee made just the way she liked it. She was down to six minutes, and she knew her hair was a hot mess. “Tiff, what in the hell are you doing?”
“Mee-Mee, I have no clue. Kory and I did the damn thing most of yesterday, and I’m not used to this weave, and I don’t know how to get it back to how it was.”
“Here, take this coffee and give me that brush,” Myah demanded. “I’ll be right back.” She left, and Tiffany quickly blew a breath to cool her first sip. She needed a pick-me-up, and she needed it quick.
A few seconds later, Myah walked back in. “Now, first of all, I just called Mr. Green’s assistant and told them you’d be there by nine fifteen, now sit back and let me work my magic.” Myah laid a little bag on Tiffany’s desk and pulled out rubber bands, hair pins, and a little miniature can of spray and a travel-sized jar of gel. Less than ten minutes later, Tiffany looked presentable.
“Oh my God, Myah, thank you. This sew-in mess ain’t for me. I need to get this mess out of my head. Who needs all this long mess anyway? Not me.”
“I think it suits you. You just have to take the time to learn how to style it instead of letting these hairdressers in your head every other day.”
“Mee-Mee, please, I don’t have time for that. I have shows to produce and a baby to make.”
“Whatever. Just get to that meeting right now before you are late.”
“Yes, the meeting. I’ll see you later.” Tiffany headed toward Mr. Green’s office, and as much as she wanted to pass Tracy without saying a word, that would have been rude. Was this chick ever on set or in the idea room with her writers? Tiffany would have sworn she waited for her to leave her office because she ran into her too damn many times in a day. “Good morning, Tracy.”
“Good morning, Tiffany. Looking good, girl.”
“You too,” Tiffany said, not knowing what else to say. She had just thrown her look together, so the last thing she expected was a compliment, especially from Tracy. She took rapid strides to the elevator, dismissing Tracy. When the doors opened, why did Colby have to be the one to emerge from it?
He stepped out. “Tiffany,” he said.
She wanted to say fuck you, but instead said, “Colby.” She figured he was on his way to Tracy’s office. He was the lead in her series. “Whatever,” Tiffany said once the doors closed. She made it to Mr. Green’s office at exactly nine fifteen.
“Tiffany, come on in,” Mr. Green said. He attempted to stand, but Tiffany could see that he wasn’t his old self.
“No, Mr. Green, sit; no need to stand.” She went around and leaned in to give him a hug and a soft kiss on the cheek.
Tressa spoke. “I remember a day when that would have made me ready to fight you, Tiffany Banks,” she giggled.
“What, Isa?” Mr. Green inquired.
“Tiffany hugging you like that, but now I know we are on the same team and why you admire her so much.”
“We are, Isa, and I also admire you. You have made your daddy proud.” Mr. Green smiled at Tressa.
“Tiffany, have a seat please,” he said. She went and took the seat next to Tressa.
“Now, ladies, let’s get down to business. I wanted to meet with you two because I’ll be stepping down soon.”
“Mr. Green, why?” Tiffany asked. She knew he had some health issues, but not bad enough to leave. Not 100 percent, but she thought he looked well and still had it in him to work a couple more years.
“Awww, come on, Tiff, you’re a bright woman. You know my health is fading, and I want to go home and enjoy my wife before I leave this place. Mike and I have been partners for a long time, and this meeting has to stay in this room, young ladies,” he admonished.
“Yes, sir,” Tiffany said first.
“Of course, Daddy,” Tressa said.
“Well, Mike is going to sell me his shares, meaning there will be only one owner of this company really soon. His children have no interest in taking his place, so he and I have come to a handsome agreement f
or him to sell.”
“Mr. Green, that is a lot to take on in your condition, sir,” Tiffany interjected. “I mean, Mike is a brilliant man, and why would he leave now? Why would he even consider sharing?”
“He is planning to sell, and that’s why you two are here. I’m so grateful that my daughter has turned her life around, and now I want to teach her the business. I want you and Tressa to both run this company when Mike and I are gone. Mike agreeing to sell is something we’ve thrown back and forth for a very long time. Like me, he wants to spend time with his wife and family, just like I do. With his son being an architect and his daughter a surgeon, this is not what either of them want to take on, so I want you two to keep this company running as long as you are young, and hopefully, my grands and your offspring, Tiffany, will eventually, take over after you.”
“Daddy,” Tressa said shocked, and then Tiffany chimed in.
“Mr. Green, us . . .” she pointed back and forth at the two of them with her thumb, “I know producing and directing and creating shows. This is a huge company. I don’t know if we are capable of doing this. I mean, this company is your and Mike’s baby . . . to trust us,” Tiffany said doubtfully. She knew she was brilliant and destined for success and maybe becoming a CEO of her own network someday, but she was sure she wasn’t ready.
“Yes, Daddy, Tiffany is right. You can’t be serious about putting this network in our hands. I’ve only been here a few short weeks, and I’m trying to grasp as much as I can as it is.”
“Yes, I know, but I’ll be bringing in help. I, myself, will be active in the process, but you two will learn this business, and in a year, you two will be the heads of this company. I know you two are able to do this, Isa. You are the shining star I’ve always known you could be, and Tiffany is one of the hardest working, most dedicated women I know, other than your mother,” he joked. “The bottom line is . . . I chose you two, and that’s what I want.” His tone was serious.
Tiffany swallowed hard, and then looked at Tressa with a terrified look. A look Tiffany knew she had never before displayed in a public place. Tressa hunched her shoulders. Tiffany knew she was just as unsure as she was.