I stuck my tongue out.
“Do that again,” he replied, touching his zipper.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re sick.”
He dropped his hand and sighed. “You know how I feel about this show.”
“Yes, but, I thought you were going to let me make my own decisions.”
“You can, and nobody is stopping you. Speaking of decisions, I also have a very important one to consider. Now,” he stood up. “I need to make some phone calls. I’m sorry, babe, but I won’t get to see you until you’re on stage.”
“Why do the judges get to make phone calls, but contestants aren’t allowed to make even one?”
“Because, you’re contestants.”
“That’s not answering the question.”
“I don’t really have an answer.”
“It’s ridiculous.”
“It’s Icon. Like I said, this is just the tip of the ice-berg. If you get chosen, you won’t be able to shave your bikini line without getting permission. Speaking of,” he smiled wickedly. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
My cheeks turned bright pink. I’d been bored one night and had decided to give myself a ‘Brazilian’.
He leaned over and kissed me. “I love the way you blush even more.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Thank you.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
“In my profession, it is. Speaking of which, what song are you singing tonight?”
I grinned. “It’s a surprise.”
“Not going to tell me, huh?”
“No, and if you tell me I suck, I’m going to jump off of the stage, and kill you.”
He feigned a look of shock. “You do know that threatening or bribing a judge is not only against the rules, but illegal?”
“If I go to jail,” I said, opening up my robe. “Will you pay me a conjugal visit?”
He dropped his phone on the floor, picked me up, and tossed me on the bed. “You wicked, wicked girl.”
Chapter Thirty
Tiffany
“You’re up next, Tiffany.”
I stared at myself in the mirror, and felt a sense of calmness that I hadn’t felt in the last few weeks.
“You look exquisite,” remarked the makeup artist, Renee, who had a slight French accent.
Our eyes met in the mirror. “Yes. Thanks again for not over-doing the eye-makeup.”
He smiled. “Eyes like yours look better without.”
“Thanks,” I replied, standing up.
Tonight I had on a long red dress that tapered to my waist, showed a hint of cleavage, and flowed down to a small train. I felt like I was ready for the Oscars.
“Be careful that you don’t step on the dress,” he said, helping me spread the bottom out.
“I’ll try.”
This time my red heels were only two inches, nothing compared the previous week when I wobbled in the other ones.
“I’ll walk you to the stage,” he said, lifting the back of my dress off of the floor.
“Thanks,” I replied as we were escorted towards the stairs leading to the back of the stage. When it was my turn to take position, I started getting another panic attack.
“What’s wrong?” asked Renee, spreading out the skirt of my dress.
“Nerves,” I said, waving a hand frantically by my face, trying not to sweat.
“Just remember, you are beautiful and you sing like an angel. Nobody can take that away from you.”
I smiled. “That is so sweet, Renee.”
“Actually,” he smiled sheepishly. “I agree with the sentiment, but these words are not from me.” He reached into his suit pocket, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to me.
I opened it up, pulled out the piece of paper inside, and read the message.
You are beautiful and sing like an angel. Nobody can ever take that away from you. I love you, Taffy. I just wanted you to know.*R.
My eyes filled with tears as the realization of how much I loved him made my heart swell. Truthfully, I’d already known that I’d fallen in love with Ransom, especially during those weeks he’d stayed away. Missing him had killed me, even though it was what I’d requested. But now, to know that he also loved me. It was an incredibly awesome feeling.
I grinned stupidly.
Ransom loved me.
“Sorry,” said Renee. “I was told to memorize it, in case I couldn’t hand you the envelope. It was important to him that you knew.”
With a squeal of joy, I threw my arms around Renee and hugged him. “Thank you.”
He laughed as I pulled away. “Well, I think I need to be the postman, more often.”
I wiped a couple of tears from under my eyelashes. “Is my makeup, okay?”
He patted my shoulder. “Are you kidding, you look beautiful.”
“Renee, get off the stage!” hollered one of the crewmen. “Vite!”
Renee saluted him, winked at me, and then scurried from the stage.
I took a deep breath.
This round, we’d been given the freedom to select a favorite love song. The song I’d chosen was the one I used to listen to as a teenager, when I’d lay in bed at night, fantasizing about Ransom. Now, it truly represented everything I felt in my heart. He was, and always had been, the man of my dreams.
As the curtain began to open, I took another deep breath, and allowed myself to relax.
“Tiffany!” the crowd roared, and began to clap.
I waved and smiled.
Then the familiar music began to play. I raised the mic and directed most of my attention towards the dark silhouette of the only judge in the room that mattered.
The whispers in the morning
Of lovers sleeping tight
Are rolling like thunder now
As I look in your eyes
I hold on to your body
And feel each move you make
Your voice is warm and tender
A love that I could not forsake
'Cause I am your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
Lost is how I'm feeling lying in your arms
When the world outside's too
Much to take
That all ends when I'm with you
Even though there may be times
It seems I'm far away
Never wonder where I am
'Cause I am always by your side
'Cause I am your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love
The sound of your heart beating
Made it clear
Suddenly the feeling that I can't go on
Is light years away
'Cause I am your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love
I lowered the mic, and the audience stood up, clapping and calling out my name.
It warmed my heart.
I brushed away the tears under my lower lashes, as Taylor walked towards me, his fake smile plastered across his face. When the clapping stopped, and the lights grew brighter, I stole a glance towards Ransom, whose expression was stoic.
“That was amazing,” said Taylor. “I think that if Celine Dion, herself, was in the audience, she’d be giving you the thumbs up.”
“Thanks,” I replied, my face flushed from seeing the grins and even a few tears on the audience staring back at me. Then, when I noticed a sign that said, “We
love you Taffy!” and Jesse and Sinclair’s beaming smiles below it, I raised my hand to my lips, and blew them a kiss.
“Deidra,” said Taylor, turning towards the judges. “What did you think of our ‘lady’ tonight?”
Her eyes were shining brightly. She clasped her hands together and nodded. “Tiffany Banks. You know, you just keep getting better and better, my dear. That was superb. I don’t think you could have sung it any better. Cheers.”
“Thank you,” I said. “That means a lot.”
She tilted her head. “Well done. I know in my heart that you’ll be voted to the next round.”
“I hope so,” I replied.
Taylor spoke into his mic. “Tyrone, what about you?”
“I’ve said it before, Tiffany Banks has the talent to go all the way. She’s beautiful, talented, and America loves her. I don’t know about you guys out there,” he looked back towards the crowd, “but when she stepped out of the shadows and opened her mouth, I wanted it to be me that she was singing to.”
Claps erupted in the crowd and I felt my cheeks turn red as a guy in the audience howled.
“Thanks, Tyrone,” I replied.
“You keep it up, girl. You’ve got what it takes.”
“I hope so.”
“Ransom,” said Taylor, his voice slightly strained. “Are we going to get another ‘no’ from you, or has she finally proven herself to our most critical judge?”
The crowd grew quiet.
Ransom and I stared at each other. I smiled but he didn’t return it, nor did he give anything away in his expression. “Ms. Banks. I want to say that your performance tonight was crap… that it was horrible, that you should forget this contest, and walk out the door because you just don’t have what it takes to win. I would really, really love to say that.”
The crowd began to ‘boo’ him.
He raised his voice. “But, I’d be doing you a grave injustice.” He smiled. “You blew me out of the water, and so far away, that I’m still trying to find my bearings.”
I exhaled and began to breathe again.
“I’ve never heard anything so amazingly beautiful in my entire life,” he said, his own eyes glimmering. “You deserve everything you want in life, whatever it is. You, beautiful lady, deserve to go all the way, and there is really nothing else to be said.”
The crowd stood up and clapped, chanting Ransom. He lifted his hand and waved at the audience in appreciation.
With a smile, I raised the mic to my mouth. “I disagree, Ransom. I think there is definitely more to be said.”
He turned back to me and raised his eyebrows.
Taking a deep breath, I tossed away the mic, picked up the train of my dress, and headed towards the edge of the stage, where the judges were all seated. I lowered myself down, and then ran to where Ransom sat, staring up at me in shock.
“Taffy?” he asked, standing up. “What in the hell are you doing?”
Tears filled my eyes. “I love you, Ransom, and I don’t care about this contest or anything else, for that matter,” I said, launching myself at him before security could stop me. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him hard on the lips.
The crowd roared in delight.
“I love you, too,” he replied, wrapping his arms around my waist when I came up for breath. “Tiffany Banks.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Tiffany
Obviously, I was kicked off of the show. So was Ransom. He was ecstatic, and well, I didn’t care either. I had what I wanted, Ransom, and it was more than I could have wished for. Plus, I’d received several offers from other record producers, interested in hearing me sing, none of which were associated with Icon, so my musical career wasn’t over quite yet. Funny thing was, it just didn’t seem as important as it did before, so I decided to wait.
Instead, I returned to the salon while Ransom moved back to his mother’s house, with his sister. Unfortunately, after breaking his contract, he lost everything, including the friendship of his band members, all of his property, and the rights to the songs that had really made him famous. In other words, he was flat out broke. But, in all honesty, I’d never seen him so giddy and excited, especially after he started practicing in his parent’s garage again, with the old members of his band. The ones he’d grown up with. They’d buried the hatchet, and although most of them had careers now, they were all eager to jump back into the swing of things, especially after Sonia, Ransom’s agent, started negotiating deals with other record companies still very much interested in him. This time he even promised his old friend Robby, that he’d never abandon the band again.
Never.
It would be all or nothing.
Remy broke it off with Taylor, after we’d finally convinced her of what a real shit he was. In the end, she’d admitted that it hadn’t been that much of a shock, considering he was away so much, and that she wasn’t getting any sex when they were together. Instead, she started hanging out with Julian, who eventually talked her into signing up for a mission trip to Uganda during Christmas time.
Ransom and I spent all of our free-time together, and although I’d offered to let him move in with me, we both decided not to jump into anything. At least until I turned twenty-five. He hinted that it would be a good age to get married and have kids.
Yeah, life was going very well.
Then, six weeks after being kicked off of Icon, I was sitting in the break room at Tangled, stuffing my face with the leftover pizza that Ransom had brought over the night before, when Sinclair sat down next to me.
“Notice anything different on me?” she asked, smiling secretly.
I stared at her face. “Not… really.”
She raised her left hand and waved it next to her cheek. “Now?”
My jaw dropped. “Oh my God! Is that an engagement ring?”
“Yes,” she beamed. “Reed asked me to marry him last night!”
“I thought you guys were separated?” I said.
“We weren’t really separated. I mean, I wouldn’t answer his phone calls, or see him for a couple of weeks.”
“That sounds like a separation,” I replied dryly.
She smiled and stared down at the ring. “Anyway, he insisted on seeing my last night and well, presented me with this beautiful ring.”
I stared down at it and smiled. “It is beautiful.”
She held it up to the light and nodded.
“So, um, did anything ever happen between him and his assistant? Isn’t that what you were so worried about?”
She turned back to me. “He swore up and down that nothing happened. He also told me that he couldn’t live without me.”
“Do believe that?”
“I do. Truthfully, he didn’t give me any reason to think that he was cheating. He’s a lawyer and works long hours. He warned me about that. So, his assistant has the hots for him, and is a total bitch, that doesn’t mean he’s going to cheat.”
“That’s true.”
“Besides,” she grinned, “he said he’d let her go if it really meant that much to me.”
I leaned forward. “Are you going to make him do it?”
She giggled. “Well, I wasn’t, but then Jesse called the office early this morning. Apparently they started arguing, and then she hung up on him, really pissing Jesse off. He got a hold of Reed on his cell phone, and I guess he ended up firing her anyway.”
I held up my hand and she slapped it. “Nice.”
“I know, right,” she grinned. “Now, I don’t even have to feel guilty about it.”
“I hope he starts spending more time with you.”
Her eyes lit up. “He’s going to have to. See, that’s the other thing… I haven’t even told him yet. I was going to do it tonight.”
“Tell him what?”
“I’m pregnant.”
I stared at her in shock. “You’re pregnant!”
“Shush!” she whispered. “Nobody else knows yet, not even him.”
�
��Congratulations, again. How far along are you?”
“Almost three months.”
My jaw dropped. “What? And you haven’t told him?”
“I was going to but then, we separated.”
I chuckled.
She laughed. “So, what’s going on between you and Ransom?”
I sighed dreamily. “Great. Better than great. I love the guy.”
“Do you think you two will get married, some day?”
I blushed. “We kind of talked about it. But not now, maybe in a few years.”
“That’s wise. I wouldn’t jump into anything this soon.”
“I know. I’m really not ready for marriage right now, but if he asked, I definitely wouldn’t say ‘no’.”
She pushed a curl behind her ear. “He seems like a really nice guy. Nothing like the media made him out to be.”
Felicia stepped into the break room. “You have a call on line two, Sinclair.”
“Oh, maybe it’s Reed,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “He’s getting off early. Oh my God, I’m so nervous about telling him.”
“Nervous about what?” asked Felicia.
“About telling him what I want for my birthday,” she lied, winking at me.
Felicia frowned. “It’s a guy on the phone, but definitely not your man, Reed.”
Sinclair picked up the phone on the table. “Hello?”
I watched as her face turned white and the smile fell from her face.
“What is it?” I whispered, staring her hand that held the phone. It was trembling.
Her eyes filled with horror. “You leave me alone or I’ll call the police, you sick son-of-a-bitch.”
Whoever was on the other line said something else.
She slammed down the phone.
“Who was that?” I asked.
She clutched her stomach with both of her hands. “I need to find Reed.”
“What’s wrong? I asked. “Who called you?”
Her lips trembled. “It was that freak that kidnapped me last year. Michael. Oh my God, he isn’t dead…”
The End
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Tangled Mess Page 18