“Uh, Damon, this is Andre. Nikola’s brother. We were, um, we were just...catching up,” she said not knowing how else to explain their encounter to her date—a man Andre had just called insignificant not three minutes before.
“How about we go find Mercedes.” She stepped away from Andre and moved towards the staircase. “It was nice, talking with you, Andre,” she said over her shoulder. She noticed his scowl when Damon placed a hand on the small of her back to help her down the steps.
“You okay?” Damon asked as they descended the steps.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, willing herself not to look back at Andre though she could feel his eyes burrowing holes into her back. She took a deep breath, grabbed her left hand with the other and rubbed her thumb across the faint scar.
“Let’s go find Mercedes. I want to see how her honeymoon was,” she said as they rounded the corner. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from letting out a sigh of relief when she knew they were out of Andre’s range of sight. Being around him for just that short period of time unnerved her in ways she hadn’t felt unnerved in a long time. And he wasn’t shy about making his intentions clear.
Chapter 4
“You ready for the Jennings meeting?” Nikola asked as he sat behind his large cherrywood desk in his corner office on the top floor of Excel’s twenty story building.
Andre sat back in the chair and gave his brother a cocky look. “Who do you think you’re talking to?” he asked, half-jokingly, half-serious. He knew Nikola knew him well enough to know he’d have his shit together for what was to be the final meeting before this deal went through.
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m just making sure everything is how it should be. You’ll let me know if you need me--”
Andre held his hand up, cutting Nikola off. “I won’t. And they’re boxer briefs.”
Nikola lifted his eyebrow.
“My underwear. I don’t wear panties. Boxer briefs. Ralph Lauren, in case you were wondering.” A cocky grin spread over his face.
Nikola threw a crumpled up piece of paper at Andre. “Whatever, asshole. I don’t need to know what type of underwear you’re wearing. Just make sure you’ve got your shit together for this meeting,” he said sternly.
Though Nikola’s expression was serious, Andre could see a hint of laughter dancing around in his brother’s eyes.
“My shit is together. You think I’ve spent months working on this deal to fuck it up now? Don’t worry your pretty little head. Stress causes wrinkles. In fact, I think I see some forming already. Maybe you should ask mama for the name of a doctor who does Botox.”
“Mama doesn’t get Botox,” Nikola reminded him.
“I know, but you know some of the women she does all the charity events with do. Maybe you should get their doctor’s number.”
“Keep talking, you’ll be the one in need of a plastic surgeon,” Nikola responded to Andre’s teasing.
“Not even on your best day.”
Nikola merely shook his head just as there was a knock at his door. They both turned to see Devyn standing in his doorway. She was dressed in a black pencil skirt, and a dark blue sleeveless top that was covered by a light, white button up sweater.
“Hey Andre, I didn’t know you would be up here. Am I too early?” she asked. It was Wednesday, which was her day to leave early. Devyn ran an event planning business located on one of the lower floors. Wednesdays, she and Nikola usually had lunch together before she left for the day to relieve their nanny with the kids.
“No, he was just leaving,” Nikola said rising from his chair to greet his wife.
Andre chuckled. “Just like that, you’re kicking me out, huh?”
“Yes,” Nikola stated as he pulled his wife towards his desk.
“It’s okay. I imagine Devyn’s better company than me anyway,” he joked. He gave Devyn a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to head out the door.
“Oh, before I go, Dev are you going to be at the Black Kitty this weekend?”
“Why?” Nikola asked, his eyebrows lowered, staring at his brother.
Andre just grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he laughed as the glower grew on Nikola’s face. “Easy big brother. I just thought it might be time for me to check it out.”
“Check it out or check someone out?” Devyn asked.
Now, it was Andre’s turn to scowl while Devyn chuckled. He wondered if Stacey had told her about their brief exchange the previous week at the Labor Day barbecue. Andre thought of the look of guilt Stacey wore on her face as she descended the steps with her date. He doubted she would have said anything. No matter. Andre went after what he wanted. He just didn’t want his sister-in-law or his brother looking at him like they could read him like a book, the way they were right now.
“You’re getting just as bad as your husband,” he grumbled.
She just laughed. “He’s not so bad,” she said defending her husband. “But to answer your question, yes, Nikola and I are going to be at the club this weekend, but I’m not performing. This weekend is the return of the Black Dahlia since she got married.” Black Dahlia was the stage name for Mercedes.
“Oh, and Stacey will be performing too,” she said flippantly.
Andre already knew that piece of information. He may have spent some time on the club’s website looking over the performers for the weekend, but he’d be damned if he’d let them know that.
“Oh, you don’t say,” he said offhandedly. “Well, I better go. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes and I want to double check everything before it starts.”
“All right, see you this weekend then,” Devyn said.
“Close the door behind you,” Nikola yelled to Andre’s retreating back.
Andre looked over his shoulder to see Nikola pulling Devyn onto his lap. The last thing he heard was Devyn’s giggles before he closed the door.
Forty-five minutes later, Andre found himself seated in one of Excel’s conference rooms with a team full of lawyers, accountants, and consultants. He sat at the head of the long conference table, and at the opposite end sat Mitchell Jennings, current owner and president of Jennings Financial Services. Like Andre, Mitchell’s company had been started by his father who’d passed it on to his son. However, unlike Andre and Nikola, Mitchell had nearly run his father’s company into the ground. The company was hanging on by a thread. Andre had gone over the financials for the company for months before even approaching Jennings for this deal. He knew the company still had a good foundation, but Jennings was lazy. He hired incompetent staff and had basically turned over the running of the company to employees who’d taken advantage of him, hiring unqualified staff simply because they were related. He had every intention of cleaning house once the company was his. That is, if Mitchell Jennings would quit bullshitting around.
“So you see, Andre, we’re just not convinced that selling to you at fifty-dollars a share is the best deal for us. I’m sure you understand our hesitation,” Mitchell said smugly as he sat across from Andre.
A muscle in Andre’s jaw ticked as he attempted to rein in his growing anger. He knew Mitchell would try to pull some shit like this at the last minute. It was the type of sneak he was. He was a spoiled rich kid who rarely worked for anything in his life, and was handed the keys to a financial empire when his daddy died. He’d partied and snorted away much of his father’s legacy and the reputation of his company, but here he sat believing he could play games. He was in way over his head and didn’t even know it.
Andre watched as one of Jennings’ lawyers leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Probably warning him to relax on the smugness, but Jennings wasn’t smart enough to heed his lawyer’s warning. Andre was done with this bullshit. He had plenty of other options for investment. He never put all his eggs in one basket.
“Then get out,” he said before pushing back from the table, standing to his full height, and buttoning the dark blue suit jacket of his Burberry suit,
gathering his papers and strolling towards the door.
You could hear a pin drop as almost everyone’s jaw was on the floor. They all knew how long Andre had worked to get this deal done. They couldn’t believe he would just up and walk away. But, they had another think coming if they believed Andre was one to back down. He wasn’t about to be backed into a corner by some spoiled party-boy who barely knew the difference between an asset and a liability.
“Y-you’ve got to be kidding. You can’t just walk away,” Jennings sputtered just as Andre’s hand reached the doorknob of the conference room.
“I can’t?” Andre asked giving a sideways look to Jennings.
“Well no you-—”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. Not only can I walk away, I can head straight to my office and pull up a list of financial companies who would happily take the deal we’re offering you. Make no mistake, this deal we’re offering you is generous considering the mess you’ve made with your father’s company. Do you even know what your company grossed last year in revenues?”
“Why yes. It was…” Jennings trailed off as he flipped through the papers in front of him, searching for the answer to Andre’s question.
“It was four million, three-hundred and fifty-five thousand, rounded off to the nearest thousand,” Andre didn’t blink as he ran the numbers, staring directly at Jennings.
“That’s a pittance of your company’s annual revenue five years before your father’s death and each year since his death your revenues have steadily declined, last year’s revenues being the lowest. And let’s not even discuss your profit margin. It’s dismal to say the least. So you coming in here with this self-righteous attitude, trying to throw months of labor that went into this deal down the drain is bullshit. You may have the desire to waste your employees’ time with this nonsense, but I do not. I trust you have enough lawyers that can help you find your way out the door. Goodbye,” he said dismissing Jennings.
He turned to the head of his acquisitions department, “Jeff, I’m sorry to have pulled you from your other engagements for this. Let’s meet in my office later. Call my assistant to set up a time.”
Jeffrey nodded and stood, knowing when his boss was and was not bullshitting around. The other Excel employees began gathering their things and rising to leave.
“Good day, gentlemen.” And with that, Andre turned and walked out of the conference room followed by his own team of lawyers and consultants.
A man’s gotta know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. Andre remembered his father’s words as he strolled down the hall to his office.
Jennings sat in his seat, a cold look in his eye. He didn’t move, even after his own team realized Andre wasn’t coming back and began gathering their things. After more urging from his lawyer, Jennings finally rose from his chair and followed his team out the door. When his lawyers encouraged him to go to Andre’s office, he declined, feeling like a child who’d just been chastised in front of his peers. You’re not fit to run my company. The taunts from his own father echoed in his mind. Jennings shook his head as he entered the elevator trying to devise a plan to solve this mess and somehow still keep his father’s company.
****
“This show better be good. And this woman you’re dragging me to see perform better be worth the hype,” Hwan said as he and Andre exited Andre’s metallic brown, BMW ActiveHybrid 5.
“First of all, nobody dragged you anywhere. You decided to invite yourself when I told you where I was going tonight since your husband is away for the weekend,” Andre reminded his friend.
Hwan waved his hand, dismissing Andre’s statement. “Details, details. Listen, so tell me about this woman who has you so smitten that you’ve finally decided to check out a burlesque club.”
Andre looked over at his friend who was only about two inches shorter than he was and shook his head. “Get it right. I’m not smitten. Just attracted. I haven’t dated anyone new in a while, and now that I’m not traveling as much, especially not back and forth to Boston, now’s the time to pursue my options,” he stated casually as they handed their tickets to the hostess at the front door, and made their way inside.
“Uh huh,” Hwan said skeptically, squinting his dark eyes at Andre to let him know he wasn’t fully buying what Andre was selling.
“And speaking of Boston, I can’t believe Jennings tried that shit with you. You think he’ll be back?” Hwan asked. The two men both had MBAs from Stanford. Hwan himself had made partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers a little over a year ago. He knew much of the ins and outs of the Jennings deal Andre had been working on.
“He’s already come back, but I haven’t taken his calls yet, and when I do, I’m only offering forty a share,” Andre stated seriously.
“Wow, he must have really pissed you off,” Hwan whistled as the two men made their way to the bar.
“He did.” Andre motioned for the bartender.
“Serves his ass right. He’s been playing fast and loose with that business for too long,” Hwan said, also aware of Jennings’ reputation as a party boy. “Whatever, that’s enough about work. Order me a martini please,” he asked Andre.
Andre shook his head. “I can’t believe I still hang with you ordering weak ass drinks like that,” he chuckled. He ordered Hwan’s martini and a Samuel Adams for himself. As their drinks arrived, Andre and Hwan were greeted by Nikola and Nikola’s best friend, Raul.
Raul’s wife, Mercedes was also performing tonight. Her first performance since getting married and spending the summer in Raul’s native Brazil.
“Raul, you excited to see Mercedes back on stage tonight?” Andre asked.
Raul, who stood shoulder to shoulder next to Nikola, nodded as a grin spread across his face. Andre recognized it as the same type of grin Nikola wore when the topic of conversation was his wife. Andre thought of the many times he’d seen his typically stern father wear that same grin when he talked about Andre’s mother.
The look of love. Count me out, He mused.
“Hell yeah,” Raul responded, “she’s excited to get back to it too, and a happy wife makes a happy home. A very happy home,” he said wiggling his eyebrows. All the men laughed.
“Where’s Dev? I thought she wasn’t performing tonight?” Andre asked Nikola.
“She’s not. She’s just helping backstage.” Devyn performed under the stage name Black Pearl, but this was her weekend off from performing.
“Let’s go find a table,” Nikola suggested.
As the men sat down, the lights in the club began to dim. Andre looked around the room as the audience members began to take their seats. The club was large, able to accommodate at least a hundred audience members. The hardwood stage at the front of the room drew his attention as the spotlight shone on it. A petite woman emerged from behind the curtain, known around the club as Mistress Coco, but Andre knew her real name was Diane. Apparently, she and his mother went way back when both of them had danced burlesque. Andre nor Nikola even knew their mother had ever danced burlesque until the night of Nikola’s wedding.
The light shone, showing off Mistress Coco’s smooth, latte-colored skin that contrasted perfectly with her silver hair. Andre suspected Mistress Coco had been the motivation behind Iris finally letting her hair go grey. Coco was dressed in a sleeveless, black chiffon dress adorned with beaded fringes that swayed with every step she took in her four-inch stilettos.
“Well, isn’t she something?” Andre heard the approval in Hwan’s voice. “I see why she and Iris are such good friends.”
Andre had to admit, Mistress Coco and Iris were quite a pair when they got together.
“All right, let's get the show started!” Coco’s voice came through the speakers. The crowd lit up in applause.
“Now, I know y’all been missing this first performer which is why I put her at the top of the show. Unfortunately for you horn dogs out there, this performer has recently married.” Some male audience members booed at that, which made R
aul chuckle.
“Oh, calm down! She wasn’t ever going home with any of you anyway,” Coco teased. The audience burst into laughter.
“All right, I know you’re all ready to see this old lady get off the stage. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back to the Black Kitty stage, the phenomenal, overwhelmingly sexy yet sinfully sweet, Black Dahhhhliaaaa!!!!” Mistress Coco announced before quickly exiting the stage.
Mariah Carey’s Emotions began to play as Mercedes emerged adorned in a blue, purple, and black peacock costume. She completed the look with a top hat and black cane. The audience roared.
Andre sat back and watched as Mercedes strutted across the stage and shook what her mama gave her. He had to admit, she was good and had a way with the crowd. He could tell she enjoyed it. Still, as he peeked over at Raul who seemed to be enjoying the performance as much as his wife was, Andre shook his head. He couldn’t imagine having his woman strut across a stage half-naked in a room full of men he just knew were itching to get their hands on her. Luckily, he wasn’t in it to make Stacey his woman, just a couple of memorable jaunts in the sack and maybe some fun dates to get her out of his system.
As Mercedes finished her set, the crowd showed their enthusiastic appreciation. Andre watched as Raul rose to go greet his wife before she headed backstage. When he returned, a huge grin covered his face while his wife’s glossy pink lipstick covered his lips. Andre shook his head and smiled. He knew what the newlywed couple would be doing later on that night.
After a brief intermission, Devyn and Mercedes greeted the men at the table. Their husbands immediately made room for them to sit and watch the rest of the performances from the audience.
Two performances later, it was Stacey’s turn to hit the stage, or Jazmine Noir, as she was referred to in the club. This was the performance Andre had been waiting to see since he arrived at the club.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this next performer I like to call sexy flexxy ‘cause she can bend and move in ways that will make you smack your own mama!” Mistress Coco’s voice was filled with laughter and mischief. The audience, as usual, ate it up. “Ladies, you might want to take a few pointers for later, if you know what I mean,” Coco teased, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively to the crowd.
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