“Cool.” Moving a mile a minute, she tossed her purse onto the guest chair, and slid her briefcase under her desk. She sat in her leather executive chair and pressed line one and powered up her computer. Her many rows of framed family pictures stared at her. “Hi, Star. Sorry I didn’t answer my cell. I’ve been rushing trying to get up here. I have an open call soon. How are you?”
Without delay, Star said, “Mom, you know my friend out here in Atlanta named Trinity? I think you’ve heard me talk about her. Her mom remarried about ten years ago and I was telling you how Trinity was estranged from her dad and I called you to tell you how much I appreciated you and Dad being together, raising us.”
“I think so, yeah.”
“Trinity’s last name is Todd, but that’s her step-father’s name. Her real dad’s last name is Germany.”
“I see.” Mercedes signed on to her computer.
“And, well, she’s not estranged from him anymore. She reunited with him a few months back, and she was in L.A. visiting him recently. His name is Ryan Germany.”
Pop!
“Ryan Germany?” Mercedes turned her chair away from her desk and faced toward the window view, thinking, small ass world.
“Yes.” Star kind of waited.
“Okay. So what’s up?”
“What’s up is that he’s a member of the city council there in Los Angeles.”
“I know that.”
“You do?”
“Yes.” Mercedes sighed. “Star, get to the point.”
“Trinity was at his house when she came in town. She overheard him tell a friend that he met Mason Wilson’s wife in Vegas.”
“Oh really?” Mercedes crossed her legs and bounced her foot.
“That’s what she heard him say. I mean you would know. Anyway, she heard him say that he wished you weren’t married. That you and him spent time together. That he didn’t go into detail but Trinity knew from what she heard that he was attracted to Mercedes Wilson. You. My mom.”
“Well, first of all, I know my name. And second of all, that’s really interesting, but I can’t tell you that I know what that was about.”
“You can’t? You said you know him.”
“No, I heard of him. I can’t remember meeting anyone like that.”
“But you were in Vegas last month, right?”
“Star, I will tell you one thing. I won’t sit here and let you beat around the bush like some detective, tossing me pieces of a story about some he said she said like this. I am your mother, not some boyfriend of yours you’re trying to bust because you think he’s being unfaithful.”
“I didn’t use the word unfaithful.”
“You might as well. You’re saying he said he spent time with me. That’s just ridiculous. I’m happily married and wouldn’t do that and you know it.” She turned back toward her desk and began clicking the mouse, logging in to her email.
“Mom, I’m just asking.”
“No. You’re not asking, you’re telling, Star. You’re suggesting with a titillating build up of a story and I’m not having it. Just get to the point if you want to ask me something.”
“Are you cheating on Dad with Ryan Germany?”
Mercedes looked up at the ceiling, cut her eyes to the window, and then looked back at the computer screen. “No.”
“Then you won’t mind if I tell Dad then, right?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Okay. Fine.”
“Fine.”
Star continued though her tone had abated. “This is embarrassing. She overhears something knowing the conversation was about her friend’s mom.”
“If he said he was in Vegas, and I was in Vegas too, maybe we did meet. But your friend can’t jump to conclusions anymore than you can.”
“It just sounds weird, Mom.”
Mercedes fiddled with her braided gold necklace with one hand, the other hand on the mouse. “Then maybe she should ask her dad what’s up to get clarification, versus her eavesdropping on him. She should ask him to tell her what he’s talking about, and then maybe you can tell me, and your dad. You know me better than that.”
“I do? Okay. Whatever.” Star could be heard clicking her tongue.
“What does ‘whatever’ mean?”
“I’ve got rehearsal in a few minutes. Bye.” Star shoved her mother with her words and clicked her off with the push of a button.
“Bye,” Mercedes said out loud to no one as she slammed down the phone. “Shit!”
She fought to shift her focus from the thunderstorm she heard approaching, wanting to head back home and get back in bed and wake up again, retrying the day in case it was all a dream.
Vicky sent her an IM. Hope you’re okay. Your nine o’clock open model call is ready to go.
But Mercedes couldn’t go back to bed.
And she couldn’t go back to Sin City to undo her sins.
She prayed Star’s words were only a reactionary bluff.
She got up and mumbled, “Maybe she’s on her damn period.” And then she said loudly to her assistant, “Here I come.”
5
Venus
“Mom, what’s his problem?”
It was a week later.
Venus arrived home from work just before six-thirty in the evening.
She did not need to pick up Skyy from pre-K because Claude had taken the day off, but she did stop at Ralph’s in the Ladera Center to pick up a few things for dinner. Tonight she planned to make her family their favorite dish, shrimp and chicken fettuccini.
“Welcome home,” Claude said, sitting on the recliner in the family room doing work on his MacBook.
“Hello, man of leisure.”
“Hardly.” He looked over at her as she closed the door with her foot, hands full. “You need help?”
“No, I’ve got it. Just a couple of bags. Where’s Skyy?”
He refocused. “She’s next door playing with Faith. Faith’s mom asked if they could play together. Her mom even offered to help out if we ever need back-up during the day.”
“I know. She told me that, too.”
“Yep.”
“You’re really serious about me being a stay at home mom again, aren’t you?”
“I am.” He glossed over the topic. “How was your day?”
“Busy.” Venus, wearing an olive green pantsuit, had even pulled out the emerald earrings and matching heart-shaped ring Claude bought her while they were in Italy for their anniversary last year. “Our talent team got Steve Harvey to let one of our kids come on his radio show and guest host for ten minutes next month. The girl is HIV positive. Those ten minutes aren’t only going to make her day, they’ll make her life.”
“That was nice of him. Congratulations.” He looked over at her again. “You look nice, by the way. I’m feeling that jewelry. Where’d ya get it?”
She winked. “My man bought it for me.”
“Oh really. He must really love you.”
“Oh, he does.”
Claude grinned.
“And your day? How was it?” she asked.
“I picked up Skyy from school and took her to McDonalds. She played most of the time. Barely ate.”
“I’m not at all surprised. I’m sure she was excited.” She took the groceries from the bags and put them on the sink. “Give me about forty-five minutes. I’m making your pasta.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” He pressed the keys on his laptop. “So, you think maybe you’ll be able to pick her up one day next week?”
“I’ll see.” She slipped off her shoes near the kitchen table.
“Venus, dear, what about if you just tell them you need time off?”
“I have to fit it in.”
“Fit your daughter in?”
She took a large skillet from the cabinet. “Claude, leaving early is gonna be tough. It depends on meetings.”
“You’re a director.”
“Yes, I am. And?” She watched his fingers work while he talked. She frowned. �
��And what are you working on, anyway? You’re affixed to that laptop.”
He spoke while reading. “I just got this email from Attorney Sampson. He’s still working on getting Cameron’s issues cleared up. Cameron will be home tonight. For now, it looks like the school is holding steady about his expulsion. It’s gonna be a damn fight.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Turns out there’s a girl who searched that mess for him on the Internet. Basically did his work for him. Cameron says he didn’t know she copied it from a website. But when the school interviewed her, she admitted it. It’s his girlfriend.”
“Not Candy.”
“Yes.”
She took the almond milk and shrimp from the refrigerator. “Actually, I guess I’m not surprised. Damn, those two. First they got in trouble for joyriding in someone’s car. Then, she pawned stolen merchandise to buy him an iPhone for his birthday. And now this. She’s a mess.”
“He needs to cut her loose. She’s crooked as a question mark and messy as a soup sandwich, if you ask me. She’s gotta go.”
“I agree.”
“Hey, Pops,” Cameron said, coming in through the kitchen door. He wasn’t alone.
“Hey, Cameron.” Claude turned around looking very reserved.
“Hi, Mom.”
Venus said, “Hi, Cam.” Then she saw his girl behind him, closing the door. “Hello, Candy.” Cameron dwarfed her petite frame, even with her trendy high heels.
“Hi there, Mrs. Wilson. Love your shoes. And your ring is beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Venus examined Candy’s mature figure. She had the porcelain face of a twenty year-old and the sexy body of an Atlanta stripper.
“Hello, Mr. Wilson.”
Claude leaned forward and placed the laptop on the table. He turned toward the kitchen. He tried not to look at Candy. “Son, come here for a minute.”
Cameron, tall and thin, walked into the family room. “Yes.”
“Looks like you’ve got some mess going on.”
“Yeah.”
“This could mean you don’t return to Berkley. You know that?”
Candy stood next to Cameron. “If he doesn’t go back, I won’t either.”
In his mind Claude shook his head. He cut his eyes to her. “Candy, does your dad know what happened?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“And. What did he say?”
“He knows I found the information online. I didn’t copy it word for word though.”
“But the school’s Honor Council found that three distinct paragraphs of Cameron’s research paper were plagiarized from a Wikipedia article. Basically a copy and paste. They found him guilty. But did you get kicked out, too?”
“No.”
“And why not?”
Cameron said, “Dad, it wasn’t her homework. It was my responsibility.”
Claude looked at his son with impatience. “See, this crap has taken valuable time out of my days. This thing is costing me money.”
“Then don’t put any more time into it. I’m cool. Even if I have to go somewhere else.”
“Then you can pay for that ‘somewhere else.’ And tell me, what will you do if you find that the majority of your classes aren’t even transferable?”
“Why wouldn’t they be?”
“That’s just how it goes.” He looked at Candy but spoke to Cameron. “Why don’t you have her check the Internet to find out? But I’m not paying for your last year of school. That’s on you.”
“School can wait a little while. I’m ready to work full-time anyway.”
“Waiting is guaranteed to mean you’ll never finish.”
Candy said, “Mr. Wilson, I’m sorry.” Her eyes were downcast like a sad puppy.
Claude stood and then walked to the front door, opening it, “Candy, would you mind? We need some family time before I go get my daughter.”
“Dad, she was coming up to my room.”
Venus just watched from the kitchen, pulling rotisserie chicken from the bone.
Claude shook his head, holding on to the nickel doorknob. “No. Not right now.”
Candy said, “It’s okay.” She gave Cameron a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll talk to you later.” She walked to the door, switching in her four inch gladiator heels.
“I’ll be by,” Cameron said back to her.
She exited.
Claude closed the door. “No you won’t. What you’re gonna do is put some work into this. The work you didn’t put into that research paper. I’m done. And if you stay here I want rent.” He cut his eyes and walked in the kitchen. “Actually, Venus, we need to make a decision on moving to Laguna. My new office will be open soon.”
“New office?” asked Cameron.
She said, “Your dad is opening a second real estate office. It’s in Laguna Hills.”
Claude looked serious. “I’m ready to move up and move on before our past catches up with us.”
“What past?” Venus asked.
“Venus, we need a change and you know it.”
She said, “Honey, I’m fine with that, but for me, my only concern would be my commute to work.”
He interjected as though certain, “Not if you quit. And as far as schools for Skyy, Parent Elementary out here is cool, but there’s an elementary school called Valencia I hear is excellent. I sent you a link to the school site.”
“I know. I opened it at work but didn’t get a chance to check it out like I wanted to. I do think we need to do some serious research and go out there, too.”
“I agree. But overall I think the schools out there are better. Less crowded. Plus, Cameron, you can go to school and work out there.” He looked at Cameron. “Get you away from that fast-ass girl.”
Cameron looked at his dad like he wanted to say something but he didn’t. He just stood in place.
“The new office will be open next month. I already have a list of houses lined up for us. Plus, I feel some mess is about to blow up. I just know it.” Claude walked away and took his cell as it vibrated from his pocket, holding it to his ear. “Hello?” He headed toward the back of the house.
Cameron walked over to Venus in the kitchen. “What’s his problem? I swear Dad is going through man-o-pause.”
She fought off a laugh and turned on the water to wash her hands. “Sheesh. You know how he is. But you must admit you messed up. You violated the school contract. He’s disappointed.”
“That contract applies to situations I knew about. I didn’t know it was plagiarized. They didn’t even give me a fair chance. They could have suspended me but they expelled me. That’s not fair, especially since it’s my first offense.”
She dried off her hands with a paper towel. “Bottom line, Cam, you knew you turned in work you didn’t write.”
He shook his head. “Okay, I did.” He looked frustrated. “Anyway, Mom, please tell me you’re not gonna quit your job.”
“I don’t know.”
“Dad’s trippin, if you ask me.”
“He’s not. He just tired of B.S.” Venus walked out of the kitchen and toward the front door, turning her head to talk loudly toward the back of the house. “Claude, I’m gonna go ahead and get Skyy.”
“I’ll go with you,” Cameron said right away.
Claude yelled back, “Yeah, you do that. And check the mail while you’re at it. Might be some more mail in there for you. And Cameron, don’t you bring Candy back up in here. Candy ain’t always sweet, you hear me?”
Venus looked forward and opened the door.
“Yes, Sir.” He rolled his eyes, sighed, and then said to Venus as he followed her out of the door, “I’ll check the mail. Adios Mio,” he said, insinuating Good Lord, in Spanish for only Venus to hear. The Spanish she had taught him through the years.
“No, lo conseguiré,” she replied, letting him know she would get it herself.
He closed the door behind them.
Both of them had a moment of much needed fresh air all to themselves.
6
Sequoia
“That would be a hot mess.”
The house in Baldwin Hills on Coliseum Street where Sequoia grew up was a remodeled, tri-level monster, with rust stucco and green shutters. It had many large rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. Sequoia’s mother, Ruby Smith, had since passed on, but years earlier she had lost the property to foreclosure. Sequoia moved her mother in with her in Culver City before she got married to Torino. But recently, Sequoia was proud that she had the means to buy the house for nostalgic reasons when it came on the market. She turned it into her own catering location.
She had transformed the kitchen into a restaurant-style chef’s dream, complete with commercial appliances and a ten-by-ten island with copper cookware hanging from stainless steel pot racks. Having learned how to cook from her grandmother, Sequoia and two of her employees, her cook and her young assistant, were hard at work that Thursday, getting ready for a weekend event at a businesswoman’s home in Brentwood.
Sequoia sat on the upholstered chair in the formal dining room across from her sister-in-law, Mercedes. The sound of pots clanging and a low volume hip-hip radio station played. The smell of something hearty was coming from the kitchen.
“So, Mason’s serious. I mean, about running for city council?”
“He seems to be.” Mercedes looked relaxed, sipping from her glass of ice-water.
Sequoia looked over some invoices and asked, “What would he have to do in order to run?”
“From what he tells me, since there’s a vacancy and it’s not actually election time, he wouldn’t run. He’d need to get appointed to the post by the council members. Looks like the council is about to interview candidates. Not sure if he officially applied, though. I think it’d be temporary until the election in a couple of years. It would take a while to find out.”
“Interesting. But he met with someone already?”
“He met with Eric Garcetti. And someone else.” Mercedes picked up her phone from the table as it rang, reading the name on the screen. “Oh Lord,” she said to Sequoia, “Excuse me.” She greeted the caller. “Hello? Hi, Colette.” She raised her brows, mouthing to Sequoia, “What the hell?”
Hot Girlz: Hot Boyz Sequel Page 4