by Zi'ere
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblances to the actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
©ZI’EREBOOKS est. 2013
Zi’ereBooks 2016
Prologue
The man had me laid across the top of my desk with my legs spread eagle. The door was locked. There was nothing in the way of business that would make my receptionist interrupt my current meeting. The black pencil skirt I had worn professionally a few hours ago was now bunched up around my waist. My red lace panties rested around my left angle. The bright pink business shirt I had worn was unbuttoned and spread open while my red lace bra cups sat under my breast. It was easy to bite my own nipples that way while I anticipated my man servicing me for the second time that day. It was a little after three in the afternoon and it seemed we both had an itch that needed to be scratched in the sexual department.
“Let me see you do that one more time!” He was requesting to see me lick my own areolas.
It drove him wild when I did that. In the same instance, my new best friend rose to join the party and show out. He was stiff necked, healthy, clean, and dripping wet.
“We gotta do something about this love without a glove thing.” I had to mention my first thought.
I was concerned for a half of a second about becoming pregnant during one of our love sessions.
I lost all clarity and sensibility when the tip of his manhood met the door of my love well. Ecstasy took over. Greed took over. Need took over. I was old enough to know better but my college education couldn’t come up with a strong argument that could convince me that I wasn’t in love with this man who’d just appeared as a knight in shining armor. Yes, I was in love and no one could know about it. My head said that was the best kind of love, when nobody knew your business. No one needed to know except him and me about our relationship. The minute anyone on the outside found out I was getting my freak on with the wrong man: bullets and fists were going to fly. I wasn’t ready to face those types of consequences even though my man was eager. I wanted to be selfish and keep him all to myself. One man could bring a woman a hundred enemies. My hate count was going to triple when the secret was out the bag.
1
“So which one of us is going to break the news to her this time?” Darrell closed his eyes and lowered his head.
He knew three out of four votes would be in his favor of the election.
“Ya’ll got me tired with this shit! Why do I have to be the one to keep telling her over about these money hungry leeches. Baby thinks are good for her but they are only with her for the benefits that comes with who she is.? That shit hurts her! Do you know how long she cried the last time?” He slammed his open hand down on his brother’s desk.
John spoke up, “think about this D. We know we put you in a bad situation but it’s either you or Dad and you know it.”
The other men agreed. The fact was our baby sister was the family’s prized possession next to our mom. Baby Steph, as we called her was spoiled from our mother’s womb. There was no length that the Haywood men would go to keep her safe, including her heart.
“Did Ced handle that problem?” Carlos asked.
“According to the best eraser money can buy, Jermaine is swimming with the fishes for carrying on a roll in the hay with a prostitute in Vegas.” Terrell answered.
“And the bill?” Carlos asked again.
“Twenty five k a piece.” Terrell answered again.
The men all took out their checkbooks. Three checks were handed over to Terrell.
“Guess we might as well get ready for this party. Dad would nail our balls to the wall if we are late.” Darrell spoke truth.
“I hope this mountain of a birthday present and the party keeps her from noticing her well- kept secret has missed her birthday.” John adjusted his necktie as he talked.
“We’re her family, she won’t notice at all.” Carlos answered. “But, if she does….then what?”
Terrell put the folder of pictures in his briefcase. The pictures were of their baby sister’s supposed to man sexing up their baby sister’s supposed to be best friend. Another one of Jermaine’s troubles that made him end up dead. The men all exchanged glances of worry. It didn’t matter what they had to do, making sure Steph didn’t feel any pain was the ultimate goal. That was the goal every day, not just this day but for the rest of her life. Upsetting their sister on her birthday was another catastrophe that had to be avoided. Their father did not play the radio when it came to his wife and only daughter. To the Haywood’s, there was nothing more important than family. It was the way it had always been and the way it always would be in their family crest.
2
“Good evening, Ms. Haywood. My name is Andre, I am with Conner’s Transportation Services and I will be your driver for tonight.” A stout, neatly dressed man in all black greeted me as I answered my doorbell.
I gave Andre a warm smile and accepted his outreached hand.
“Yes, nice to meet you Andre.” I turned around to pick up my duffle bag from the floor.
“Can you take this bag for me, just let me grab my purse, and I will be ready to go.”
I left the door ajar and walked down the long hallway to my bedroom. I stood in front of the six foot mahogany framed mirror leaning against the wall. After a final once over I blew myself a kiss after I had admired my outfit yet again. Today was my thirtieth birthday and I was meeting my family for dinner at my favorite restaurant. Even though I was only going to be with my parents and siblings, I was dressed trendy, yet sexy, but still classy. I had decided on a sleeveless white leather ari studded BeBe dress that stopped just above my knees along with matching silver studded spike stilettos.
I was a perfect size six and desired to live every waking moment in high heels. To be honest whether it was my birthday or not, I was always dressed for a fashion show. The smell of wealth oozed from my pores along with Flora by Gucci fragrance. As with most girly-girls, all my accessories were complete with earrings, necklace, bracelet, watch, and clutch bag. My hair was smoothed back in a slight pompadour look but hung bone straight down my back past my shoulder blades.
I’d made it halfway back down the hall before I realized I didn’t have my cell phone. The business woman in me had a constant need to be connected to the world twenty four- seven. I grabbed my phone off the charger, set the house alarm, and locked the door. Once seated in the cool backseat of the car, I decided to attempt to contact my best friend. The call rolled over to voice mail and I disconnected the call without leaving a message. I felt my eyes began to mist, then I shook my head swallowing the lump in my throat. It was my birthday and my best friend had neglected to contact me. Instead here I was trying to reach out to her. This was the first birthday she’d missed in eighteen years and it hurt like hell. I wasn’t about to let her bad attitude ruin my good mood for the night so I shifted my focus to the real constant joys in my life: my family. I quickly regained my ever present smile when I began to think of the endless possibilities of gifts I could receive that night.
3
I was the baby and only daughter conceived as a last effort after four boys being born to my parents, Greg and Anna Ha
ywood. My daddy held out for a baby girl he could spoil and treasure to no end every day of his life. Finally I came along wrapping him around my pinky finger with an eight year gap between me and the baby boy, John. I was a daddy’s girl from the womb and to further seal the deal I was born on my late paternal grandmother’s birthday. I was an even mix of heredity genes from my parents. My brothers on the other hand were all spitting images of our father. In the beginning my brothers had a hard time getting used to the delicate handling of a little girl.
I suffered a broken ankle at six years old playing football like one of the boys. I was sure the police would be needed to pull daddy off my brothers after he’d come home from a business trip to find his princess in a leg cast. That very day was the end of horse-playing for me, forbidden to play with the boys from then on. My brother Darrell would frequently cut his outside play time in half to come inside and play with me. It was during those one on one play times that a tight bond was formed between us. All five of the Haywood children were close, but Darrell and I were the closest.
By the time my brothers had started high school, each of them had stretched towards the heavens in height that either met or exceeded daddy’s six foot four frame. Each of my brothers was equally handsome, equally arrogant, and equally irresistible. I was approached everyday by one woman or another with hopes of locking one of the Haywood boys down in a serious relationship. The truth of the matter was they were too busy building their empires, spoiling the Haywood women, and playing the field to settle down with any one woman. Those men had no use for a woman that expanded the standard twenty-four hour limit they set for relationships. I wasn’t clear how a woman could plan a future in a day but some kind of way women around the world fell for the bachelors and they fell hard.
Mom was actively seeking suitable spouses for all five of her children that would surely yield her four daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, and enough grandchildren to keep her occupied Anna was known to work herself into frenzy and harass her sons by phone calls, visits, and more than enough blind dates to keep their social calendars booked. My brothers were no longer surprised to see beautiful strangers seated next to them at family dinners. There was no sense in attempting to change Anna’s thoughts about getting her sons married off.
Daddy on the other hand wasn’t the least bit enthused about handing his daughter over to any man in holy matrimony. He did not mix words and he had an upfront approach on his feelings. Each of the Haywood offspring were Historically Black College educated and brought in seven figure incomes not to mention the yearly stipends that still channeled in from our parents. True to the princess ideology that my parents and brothers hold for me, I received monies from my parents and all of my brothers monthly.
Terrell, the eldest is a distinguished attorney to the rich and famous. He’d managed to build a firm with at last check fifteen attorneys under his title as CEO. Carlos, the second oldest by little over a year, owns several high end restaurants that he has established as result of his profession as a chef. He is also a chain owner of several fast food franchises. Next there is Darrell, who is the owner of several car lots in three different states. Darrell’s lots sell and service every type of automobile available to mankind. Each lot has fresh off the assembly line and used vehicles for purchase or lease. The baby boy, John is a worldwide known and heavily decorated neurosurgeon. He has his own office in our hometown of Chandler, Arizona but he also spends quite a bit of time traveling the world issuing care and making ground breaking discoveries in neuroscience. As the official baby and princess, I, Stephanie Haywood hold a master’s in business with a minor in accounting in addition to a realtor’s license to run the largest African American owned real estate firm in the entire state. In my spare time I take great joy in flipping business properties that virtually made double profits in my sleep.
4
Instead of exploring the options of settling down, my brothers and I enjoyed life while spending time with those we all loved the most: each other and our parents. It was nothing to drop everything and get away for a long weekend or maybe even a week when John’s schedule allowed. Our bond was super tight from the start and continued to grow. As far back as I could remember I was always regarded as the girl with five males who protected her like a precious diamond. Our bloodline was only penetrated once by an outsider and that was Angel Stevens, my best friend since middle school. The Haywood’s had accepted her into the family when she and I were younger as one of our own without a second thought, all on the account of my feelings for her as the sister I would never have. Both of our parents were well of and there was nothing denied to us. Our families even vacationed together sometimes even though she was an only child.
The way we handled things in our family were out of the ordinary. We strived to be a different type of family. We understood the motives behind it and that was all that matters. Even though we were all grown up, there was nothing more important than making memories with our parents. My family name went back generations. The Haywood’s were always a big family. The seven of us were also very interested in what the other was doing, we didn’t keep secrets. I was raised with cool parents with money. I’d more experiences in life than the average seventy old.
The car came to a complete stop and Andre swiftly opened my door reaching for my hand to help me out of the Lexus sedan. He also held onto my elbow carefully as he walked me to the entrance doors of the restaurant, swinging them open boldly for me in a true gentlemen’s gesture. Once both feet were planted inside the restaurant I noticed the lights were out. Suddenly the lights came on and I was greeted by a hearty “SURRRRRPPPPPRIIIIIISSSSSSSEEEEEEEEE!”
I was completely caught off guard only expecting a quiet dinner for seven. Instead I saw the faces of business associates, sorority sisters, and childhood friends all clapping for me. I couldn’t help but notice Angel standing off from the crowd in a corner. She did not look excited enough to celebrate anything, let alone my birthday. Before my facial expression had a chance to react to the sour look on her face I was swarmed by warm wishes. My daddy was the first to break ranks and pull me into his arms.
5
“Happy Birthday Baby, I love you so much!”
“Awww, thanks daddy. I love you too!” I said as I tried to return a kiss to his cheek standing on my tip-toes.
Even as an older man, his face didn’t show his true age. His goatee shaped up as if he had just got out of the barber’s chair. Never to be outdone by his swagged out sons, dad was fitted in all black. Armani from neck to feet. Daddy possessed the looks and pockets that would give the most notable man in black Hollywood heated competition. His perfect white teeth, salt and pepper low fade haircut, and his grown man scent had me in love with him. But as smooth as he was, he only had eyes for his wife of forty years, my mom. Next in line was his little girl, his list continued on after that with his womanizing sons no necessary order. I was my daddy’s favorite, everybody knew it, and he didn’t try to hide it. Any man who wanted serious consideration to be with me would most definitely have to compete with Greg Haywood for my heart. Following Daddy’s lead, my brothers never missed an opportunity to show me love and spoil me even more.
Daddy released his hold on me as I was greeted by mom and my brother’s one by one, each giving me hugs and kisses.
After cocktail hour, I danced, and had a sit down dinner with more than fifty of those closest to me. Shortly thereafter my favorite part, the gift-giving commenced. Being a part of Arizona’s African American elite definitely had its perks, not to mention being a total daddy’s girl. I received gifts ranging from bottles of wine and liquor, hand bags, jewelry, to good old fashioned U.S. currency. My brothers unveiled a mountain of shoe boxes tied together with a turquoise bow that amassed to thirty pairs of designer high heeled shoes. In the midst of all the giving, my family had given me a gift without knowing it, I was sure.
Cedric Goldman was not only invited but had shown up looking as debonair as ever. Ced was my latest
and most secretive attempt at having some sort of social life outside of my family. If ever there was a worthy candidate to run against the Haywood men, Ced was it. It saddened my heart that I had to keep our friendship a secret. We kept conversation to a friendly minimum, danced to a couple upbeat songs together, and flirted without any of my daddies noticing. We were however, unsuccessful at keeping out of Angel’s sight. She’d had an obsessive crush on Cedric since our freshman year off high school that only tripled when he became a professional basketball player.
As I worked the room, expressing my thanks I noticed that whenever I got close to Angel she moved out of my path. I couldn’t understand her presence at my birthday celebration if she had no intentions of celebrating me. Each of my brothers avoiding her did not go unnoticed either. I double checked the time and confirmed she’d left without a ‘hi or goodbye’ at the stroke of nine-thirty. Angel’s behavior was about to be brought to her attention when my college roommate Simone Montgomery made her way to me. For eight years Simone and I shared an off campus apartment as we lived the lifestyle of privileged college women. Simone was no stranger to the way the Haywood’s partied. I was completely elated that she was able to make it in for the surprise party. My family had really reached far and wide to invite people that were near and dear to me. An even bigger surprise was that Simone was obviously pregnant. I was positive my name would go into the hat for the title of godmother even though I had missed that important phone call.
Daddy was always on top of everything, planning and executing down to the smallest detail. He’d obviously foreseen me being toasted after the party and I did not disappoint. After enjoying myself almost a little too much, my dad deposited me into the backseat of his black on black Benz 475. I napped briefly until I was lifted out of the car and brought to the door of my childhood in my parent’s home. I’d caught a sideways glimpse of my gifts that Andre had already unloaded into my parents den before our arrival.