by Deja King
Chantal knew this meant T-Roc obviously had had some sort of relationship with Tyler, but she couldn’t figure just how far it had gone. Whatever it was, he definitely hadn’t gotten her totally out of his system. Her relationship with T-Roc could turn out to be more lucrative than what she’d originally planned. Besides using him to make Andre jealous in an attempt to get him to marry her, T-Roc could make her a star if all else failed.
After finishing up their dinner, T-Roc and Chantal walked out of the restaurant and headed to White Lotus. As soon as they hit the pavement Chantal grabbed T-Roc’s hand and planted a kiss on his cheek. He gave her a quizzical look, but instead of questioning her, he grabbed her face and put his tongue down her throat with a passionate kiss. Chantal’s plan couldn’t have worked out more perfectly. After doing some club hopping, they eventually ended up at Chantal’s hotel room. Chantal couldn’t help but be extremely attracted to T-Roc but she had decided beforehand they wouldn’t have sex. T-Roc would surely rub it in Andre’s face and his ego would never allow him to forgive Chantal, but it was imperative that he stayed the night. She was hoping the sleeping pill she slipped in his drink at the club would have him knocked out before he was able to get it up.
As they kissed and T-Roc fondled her breasts, Chantal told him that she wanted to get more comfortable. She went in the bathroom took off her clothes and came out in a pink lace La Perla bra and panty set. T-Roc couldn’t contain himself. If he didn’t pass out pretty soon, she might have to give him some.
“Damn baby, I knew you were fine but I didn’t know you had all that going on.” T-Roc began kissing Chantal’s stomach until he worked his way up to her breasts. He was squeezing her buttocks as he licked her nipples. She had to admit she was getting turned on and wanted to feel his manhood inside of her. T-Roc lay on his back on the bed and Chantal sat on top of his chest as they passionately kissed. And just when he unclipped her bra, he passed out like a newborn baby. Chantal felt relieved and disappointed at the same time. He had got her pussy wet and she was ready to fuck, but that wasn’t part of her plan, so it worked out perfectly.
The next morning Chantal got up bright and early and called room service. She ordered every breakfast item on the menu. T-Roc was still knocked out cold but she knew he would wake up shortly. Chantal hoped he wouldn’t ask her a million and one questions about his condition, but she had her answers prepared just in case. As she ate her French toast she heard T-Roc trying to snap out of his drug-induced sleep. She picked up the newspaper and looked at it as though in deep thought. She finally heard T-Roc mumble, “Where the hell am I?” Chantal took a deep breath and got her acting chops in order.
“Baby, how did you sleep last night?” she said in a concerned voice. T-Roc looked at Chantal like she was a martian and blinked his eyes a couple of times to make sure his vision wasn’t playing tricks on him.
“Chantal, what the fuck happened last night? I feel like shit.”
“Baby, I don’t know, maybe you had too much to drink. One minute we were kissing and about to make love and the next you were sleeping like a baby.”
“Oh fuck,” T-Roc moaned. “I have the worst fucking headache.”
Chantal offered him a glass of orange juice but he opted for bottled water. She sat on the bed next to T-Roc and gently rubbed his back. He still had on his silk Prada shirt because she wanted to make sure he knew they didn’t have sex. As he struggled to get his thoughts together, Chantal offered him some food, but that was the last thing on his mind. This episode had left him frazzled.
T-Roc finally let out a deep sigh and said, “I did have a lot to drink last night. I need to stop partying so hard.”
Chantal innocently chimed in, “You’re right. Me, too.”
With that T-Roc looked at his watch and said he had a mass of work he needed to get done today. He asked Chantal if they could hook up later on and of course she accepted. Originally this was basically where the plan was supposed to end, but now Chantal wanted T-Roc for even bigger reasons. She wanted him to make her a star.
When T-Roc left Chantal’s hotel suite he knew the vibe was all wrong. He had been around the block enough times to know when someone was up to no good. T-Roc opted to brush it off because he needed Chantal as his sidekick tonight. He also knew whatever game she was playing would eventually be revealed. They always were.
S E V E N
Scheming
Andre was driving himself crazy wondering where in the hell Chantal was. He couldn’t get her on the phone all day or night, yesterday or this morning. This shit is crazy, he thought to himself. He knew she couldn’t still be holding a grudge because of all the garbage he was spitting to her, especially after the Cartier watch he sent that she loved. Chantal was never one to hold a grudge as long as he kept the gifts and the money flowing.
When Andre spoke to Shari last night she told him that Chantal had just dropped her off and was on her way home. When he called her, Chantal’s cell phone kept going straight to voice mail and the nanny wasn’t picking up the house phone. When he called Shari back, she told him that Chantal had probably gotten home and gone straight to sleep. The entire story was sounding suspect. Andre thought maybe he should catch a flight to Chicago and see what was really good.
Chantal called Shari to see if she spoke to Andre and how the conversation went. To her surprise he called her not once, not twice, but five times. Obviously Andre is irate. Good for him, Chantal thought. This was all part of the lesson she was teaching him. Chantal still had her cell turned off and wasn’t planning on turning it back on until she was about to leave LA. After she spoke to Shari she called home to speak to the nanny. The nanny told Chantal that Melanie was doing fine and Chantal explained that the next time Andre called to pick up the phone and tell him she left early that morning to run some errands. Chantal would be home the next evening, and hoped by then shit would’ve hit the roof.
T-Roc was on his way to pick Chantal up but she had no idea where they were going. She opted to play it safe and put on some Paper Denim jeans and a hot pink, low-cut Missoni top. Her floral print Salvatore Ferragamo heels were the finishing touch.
“So where are we going tonight, T-Roc?” Chantal asked as they sat back in the limo.
“To an acquaintance’s house for an intimate dinner,” T-Roc said nonchalantly. T-Roc hadn’t said more than two words since Chantal had gotten in the car and she didn’t know if he was upset about last night or if something else was engrossing him. After what seemed to be a long ride they finally pulled up to a beautiful beach house. When the driver opened the door, Chantal realized they were in Malibu. Right before they were about to walk through the front door, T-Roc informed her that this was William Donovan’s home. Chantal couldn’t believe her luck. She was about to have dinner with the superstar actor-turned-director, William Donovan. Through her many conquests, he was one man that always seemed out of reach. She would finally have the opportunity to seal the deal.
The maid greeted them at the door. She escorted T-Roc and Chantal to a huge room with Art Deco furniture. Each wall had a fifty-five-inch XBR plasma WEGA high-definition television and each flat screen had something different playing so you could roam freely and watch whatever interested you. What interested Chantal was rubbing elbows with William Donovan, although she noted his layout was top notch.
As Chantal surveyed the room looking for her prey, her eyes zoomed in on a woman in a gorgeous peach-colored negligee-style dress. She admired how nicely the outfit complemented the woman’s beautiful body and wondered who she was. As the woman’s face turned toward the gentleman she was talking to, Chantal realized it was Tyler Blake. Her hair was pulled back in an elegant bun and she looked flawless. William Donovan walked toward Tyler and handed her a glass of champagne and kissed her on the mouth. Could they be a couple? Chantal thought to herself. She knew he was married but that didn’t mean anything in this business. Chantal couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy seeing Tyler Blake stand there looking
like a movie star with William Donovan eating out of the palm of her hand.
Although Chantal and Tyler never ran in the same circles per se, Chantal knew exactly who she was. She was another out-of-towner who came to New York with big city dreams. Tyler quickly got snatched up by music producer Brian McCall and didn’t have to be on the scene fucking this one and that one for a big break. After having a son together they eventually broke up, but by then she was straight and moved on to bigger and better things. Knowing the egos of men in the entertainment industry, Chantal couldn’t help pondering that it must kill Brian to see Tyler doing so well without him. Yeah, Tyler Blake was definitely Chantal’s inspiration. She had kicked Brian to the curb and didn’t look back. Chantal didn’t know if she was ready to leave Andre, but she damn sure was about to show him that she could hold it down with him or without him.
“Hey baby, would you like a glass of champagne?” Chantal was so deep in thought, she barely heard T-Roc ask her the question.
“Oh, thanks,” Chantal replied while reaching for the glass.
“This is a pretty happening party, wouldn’t you say?” T-Roc said with a big grin on his face.
“Damn sure is, these Hollywood bigwigs sure have class.” Chantal knew that T-Roc wanted to be a part of this world and she was hoping he would bring her along for the ride.
“Let’s go say hello to William Donovan.” T-Roc grabbed Chantal’s arm and pulled her toward the side of the room where William Donovan was standing. Chantal knew the real reason T-Roc wanted to talk to William Donovan: Tyler Blake was standing with him. T-Roc was not fooling anybody.
T-Roc reached out his hand to shake William Donovan’s hand.
“I’m glad you could make it,” William said.
“I wouldn’t miss one of your parties for nothing in the world. Let me introduce you to a friend of mine, Chantal Morgan.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Donovan,” Chantal said nervously.
“Call me William, Mr. Donovan is for my father.” He gave a slight laugh and Chantal felt herself blushing. William then introduced Chantal and T-Roc to what he referred to as his star, Tyler Blake. Tyler smiled graciously and acted like she didn’t even remember T-Roc. Chantal could tell T-Roc was offended.
Tyler looked amazing. Chantal remembered her being a beautiful girl, but now she was unbelievably gorgeous. That was what Hollywood money did for you. They chatted with them for about twenty minutes as T-Roc went on campaigning for a part in William’s movie Angel. William casually told T-Roc that he was about to start auditioning young men to play Tyler’s love interest and if he was serious, he would schedule him an audition. T-Roc assured him that he was dead serious and William told him to call him Monday. It didn’t seem to Chantal that William was taking T-Roc’s interest in the big screen seriously, but from the spark in T-Roc’s eyes, Chantal knew otherwise. And something about the way he gazed at Tyler told her he was truly smitten with the woman.
As T-Roc was walking away he couldn’t help but be excited about the audition. He knew this was the type of role that could launch his acting career. But more important, it could open the doors to a relationship with Tyler. He laughed to himself at how she acted as though she didn’t remember him or their brief but intense fling. It was all good though because she was in the big leagues now and you have to play the game. T-Roc was hoping they would play the game together.
“That so-called history you shared with Tyler Blake must have been awfully intense,” Chantal said in a bid to be nosy.
“Don’t go worrying about matters that don’t concern you,” T-Roc replied as they got in the car.
“I think it does concern me.”
“Why is that?” he asked, sounding half-interested in what her answer would be.
“Isn’t Tyler the reason you brought me to this shindig? I know it isn’t because you love my company. You thought her seeing you with a beautiful woman would spark all sorts of jealous feelings and she would beg you to come back to her. Well, T-Roc, I hate to burst your bubble but it’s going to take more than a pretty face, even one as gorgeous as mine, to make that happen. Tyler is in the big leagues; she’s playing footsie with fucking William Donovan. Your only chance at getting between those legs again is to snatch that role in her movie, so good luck because you’re going to need it.” T-Roc knew Chantal was right, and it pissed him the hell off.
Early the next morning when Chantal woke up she was still fantasizing about her evening at William Donovan’s house. When they left the party, T-Roc had dropped her off at the hotel and didn’t even try to make a move. He claimed he had to catch an early flight back to New York so he needed to get some rest. After she had stated her opinion, T-Roc seemed preoccupied; she assumed he was scheming on how to secure his role in the movie and bagging Tyler Blake at the same time. They briefly discussed getting her some modeling work and he gave her a kiss on the cheek and said they would speak tomorrow. Chantal felt more than a twinge of jealously knowing T-Roc was fantasizing about another woman. She was almost tempted to invite him up to her hotel room so she could bless him with the skills that at one time made her the most sought-after vixen in the music industry. But this was a business trip and Chantal refused to lose focus on her ultimate goal. Maybe in the future, if Andre continued to dog her out, she would get naked and take a dance with the infamous T-Roc. Chantal didn’t have time to dwell any further on that because her flight was leaving in a couple of hours and she had to make some stops and calls to make sure her initial reason for the trip was still in effect.
Shari was coming out of church with Alex when her cell started going off. “Damn, I just turned this shit back on and it’s already blasting,” she said to her six-year-old son, as if he were one of her girlfriends.
“Where the fuck is Chantal?” Andre screamed before Shari could even get out a proper hello. It was now Sunday afternoon and Andre was livid that he hadn’t spoke to Chantal in three days. Shari tried to pretend as though he and Chantal must be playing phone tag, but Andre wasn’t buying it. Right when Andre was about to go postal on Shari, his other line beeped and it was Chantal.
“Hi, Andre,” Chantal said in a low sweet voice.
“Where the fuck have you been? I’ve been calling you nonstop since Friday and haven’t been able to get you on the phone. So what the fuck is up?”
“Well, Andre, I’ve had a lot on my mind. There were some things I needed to sort out.” Chantal was mentally preparing Andre for the bullshit that was coming his way. She had to plant the seed of distress so when shit hit the fan he would reflect on this conversation for answers.
“Sort what out? You had to get missing for damn near three days to do some thinking? That shit don’t sound right. You need to have a better explanation than that, or you gonna have a problem in the medical sense.”
“Baby, we can talk about it later when I get home. Right now I have to go.” Before Andre could say another word he heard the phone click.
“That fucking bitch!” Andre screamed as he walked upstairs to his bedroom. Andre couldn’t believe that Chantal was putting him through these mind-playing games. What in the hell did Chantal mean by when she gets home? I know she wasn’t gone this whole weekend. Maybe she went away to a spa or something. But what in the hell could be on her mind? She don’t do shit. She doesn’t have a job. Melanie’s nanny takes care of all the domestic duties. What the fuck could she possibly be stressed out about? Andre felt like hopping on a plane and beating the shit out of Chantal just for having him so worried about her whereabouts, but he had way too much to do. He decided to see what was going on in her head later.
As Chantal sat on the plane buckling her seat belt in preparation for landing, she couldn’t help but feel fear and excitement about the results of her plan. She wasn’t sure of the final result but it had to work out perfectly. She closed her eyes and hoped for the best.
Seeing Tyler again had had a heavier impact on T-Roc than he’d anticipated. Tyler looked damn near
flawless and even though they didn’t engage in a conversation, her aura seemed so much more mature. Time had passed and of course she was older, but the confidence Tyler exuded was almost intimidating—even to a self-assured man like T-Roc. He was more determined than ever to win her back and had no doubt auditioning for Angel was the way to start.
E I G H T
The Pleasure Principle
Tyler Blake was feeling on top of the world. She was the new It Girl of Hollywood, which was no small feat. With her newfound success came tons of perks, but it also came with constant scrutiny. William had basically made her a star overnight. After he convinced Albert Moore to let her be the star of his upcoming movie Angel, there was a full-fledged publicity blitz to make her the most sought after young actress in Hollywood. At first she got small parts in major motion pictures with stars like Tom Cruise, Will Smith, and Leo DiCaprio. That led to the job as the new face for the Revlon cosmetics ad campaign. She was now sharing screen time with her idol, Halle Berry. All her dreams were coming true and she had William Donovan to thank for all of it.
“Good morning, Ms. Blake,” the secretary smiled as Tyler walked toward William’s office. Tyler never waited to see William, as so many other people had to. It was well known but discreetly discussed that she was William’s love interest. The fact that he was married only added to the gossip and curiosity of how serious their relationship was. She hadn’t meant to fall in love with William—it had just happened. It was almost an incestuous relationship because in a lot of ways William was like a father figure to her. William discovered Tyler at an acting workshop in New York City and soon after brought her to Hollywood. He literally spent every day and night molding her into a Hollywood starlet. Their relationship quickly went from mentor-student, to falling in love. Although William wasn’t ready to leave his wife, Tyler knew that he was in love with her and eventually they would be husband and wife. Until then she decided to remain loyal to him, because no other man could compare.