Power, Seduction & Scandal

by Angela Winters

  But she couldn’t bother with that part of it right now.

  “Can you find it?” he asked. “A way around it? I want help. I don’t ever want to hurt someone again, but the guilt I feel over all of this . . . it makes me want to drink.”

  Sherise sighed. “I have my own shit to handle, Stephen.”

  She could see the look of despair on his face.

  “Fine,” she said. “I’ll figure out what we need to do for you, but I have to figure out how to get Maurice’s hold off your dad first. Until then, you don’t get in a car for anything! I mean anything!”

  “I promise,” he said. “I’ll help you however I can.”

  Sherise knew she should have told him not to get more involved, but at this point, she was pretty sure she needed all the help she could get. She knew what the blackmail was about now, but that was only her first task. Her next, and seemingly impossible task was to somehow neutralize the power of Maurice’s blackmail over Jerry so she could get rid of him and not risk him exposing Stephen’s extreme fuckups and Jerry’s attempts at covering them up.

  Sherise left the mansion feeling overwhelmed. Usually, when faced with a challenge, she was already contemplating options for solutions before the challenge was even fully realized. Right now, she was drawing a blank, and that scared the hell out of her. How was she going to do this? Did she even have this in her? Had she finally met her match in Maurice Blair?

  13

  Billie needed today so badly. After the office visit disaster, she and Michael barely spoke. When she’d woken up today, her only consolation was that at least Darina had left D.C. She tried to get her mind off the whole situation and looked forward to today.

  Today was her day with Tara, and the two of them had a ball. They’d gone shopping for new boots, and to Tara’s extreme embarrassment, bought the exact same pair. It was followed by a trip to the National Zoo to look at the new baby panda and Sumatran tiger cubs. Although the zoo was her idea, Tara made Billie swear not to tell anyone they’d gone. That was until she saw four of her friends there with their parents.

  They ended the afternoon with an early dinner at Medium Rare in the Cleveland Park neighborhood before Billie dropped Tara back at home. As she pulled up to the sidewalk in front of the condo that used to be her own home, she was sad to see the day end.

  “You okay?” Tara asked as she looked at her.

  Billie nodded. “I just hate it when you have to go.”

  “I know.” Tara smiled. “But we’re going to the Wizards game next month, right?”

  “Can’t wait.” Tara reached out and gently touched Tara’s cheek. “You okay? You know, with everything we talked about today?”

  “You mean about you possibly moving to Atlanta?”

  Billie nodded. “I’m sorry you didn’t hear it from me first.”

  Tara shrugged. “Whatever, I guess. I’m not worried.”

  “Not worried?” Billie asked. “I thought you’d be upset.”

  Billie had been a little concerned about Tara’s reaction. Porter was the one who told her Billie might move to Atlanta when she was married and, according to Porter, Tara was extremely upset. However, when she and Tara discussed it today, adding the discovery of Duncan and what that might mean, Tara seemed calm. Billie wondered if it was just delayed reaction.

  “If you’re upset,” Billie told her, “you can say so. Tell me how you feel.”

  “Like I said before, I guess we’ll see.”

  “You know it means we won’t be able to see each other as much as we do now.”

  “I doubt it.” Tara casually took her sunglasses off and placed them on her head, looking not at all bothered.

  Just as Billie suspected, Tara was in denial. “Honey, trust me, things will be different.”

  “If you go,” Tara said. “But I don’t think you will.”

  Billie sighed. “I don’t know yet, Tara. With Duncan in the picture now, moving to Atlanta is even more of a possibility than it was when we got engaged.”

  “I think Michael is going to go to Atlanta, but I don’t think you will.”

  Billie was shocked. “Tara, you know I love you, but I’m going to live with my husband no matter where he is.”

  “But Duncan changes everything,” Tara said in a very nonchalant tone. “With his mom wanting to get back with Michael, I don’t even think you’ll probably get married.”

  “What are you talking about?” Billie asked. She hadn’t told Tara anything about what she suspected about Darina.

  “That woman,” Tara explained. “She’s using Duncan to get Michael back. I think she’s gonna screw things up.”

  Billie was suddenly second-guessing everything she’d said earlier that day. Had she actually railed against Darina and not noticed? No, she would never say that to Tara.

  “Where are you getting this from?” Billie asked.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” Tara assured her. “I don’t want you and Michael to break up. I know you love him and he makes you happy. And . . . I guess I know you and Daddy aren’t getting back together.”

  “Tara answer me. Where did you get this idea that Darina is trying to break me and Michael up?”

  “Daddy,” Billie answered as she pointed toward the building.

  As Billie turned to see Porter, dressed in a Georgetown Law T-shirt and sweatpants, walking out of his building toward them, Tara hopped out of the car.

  “That’s impossible,” Billie said.

  Billie hadn’t said anything to Porter about Darina or Duncan. She hadn’t even spoken to him since telling him that she was in engaged.

  Despite being double-parked, Billie turned off her ignition and got out of the car. She followed Tara over to Porter, not sure if she should be angry or worried. She was both.

  How did he know? Was he spying on her again? Porter had been getting information on Billie’s private life, comings and goings for a long time after they were married. He even had a spy at the law firm she previously worked at relaying her work schedule to him.

  “Hey!” Porter leaned down to kiss Tara. “Glad you’re back. I was just gonna run down to the store and rent a DVD for us to watch. What did you buy?”

  “Boots.” Tara held the bag up. “Wanna see them?”

  “Sure.” He turned to Billie. “Hey, Billie.”

  “Tara,” Billie said. “You can show Porter your boots after he returns from the store. Go inside now. I need to talk to Porter.”

  Tara’s eyes widened as she looked at her confused father. “I didn’t mean to get anyone in trouble.”

  “Who’s in trouble?” Porter asked.

  “Tara, please. I need to speak to Porter.”

  “Ugh.” She sighed, annoyed by the entire situation, then turned and went inside the building as ordered.

  “What did I do now?” Porter asked.

  “Are you spying on me again?” She approached him closely, her tiny frame a stark contrast to his large, muscular body. “Porter, I thought we had gotten past that shit?”

  “We have,” he said. “Calm down, Billie. I’m not spying on you. What’s wrong?”

  “Tara is telling me she thinks my fiancé’s baby mama is gonna keep me from getting married. She got that idea from you. How did that happen, since I never told you about Darina?”

  Porter nodded in recognition. “I was going to get around to telling you about that.”

  “At your convenience, I guess.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Spill it, Porter.”

  “She contacted me,” he said. “Darina.”

  “How?”

  “That’s what I asked her,” Porter said. “She didn’t want to answer.”

  Billie felt a sense of dread in the pit of her gut. “Start from the beginning.”

  “She showed up at my firm claiming to be a close friend of yours who had information that I needed to know. When I came to the lobby to greet her, she told me that she was actually Michael’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child.”
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  “When did this happen?” Billie asked.

  “About two days ago,” he answered.

  Billie slapped him on the arm. “And you’re just now telling me this?”

  “I’m a busy man, Billie. I’m sorry if I don’t make your boyfriend’s baby mama drama my priority.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Go on.”

  “It didn’t last long,” he said. “The second she told me that you were trying to keep Michael from being with his son, I knew she was full of shit. You’d never do something like that. Can I at least get credit for that?”

  “Yes,” she said impatiently. “Go on.”

  “She asked if I had any interest in making sure you and Michael don’t get married. I said no. I warned her not to mess with you.”

  “Did she offer to work with you to break us up?”

  “Not exactly, but I’m assuming that’s what she meant. Why else would she ask me that? I shut her down and told her to leave. That was it.”

  Billie put her hand to her belly and shook her head in disbelief. This woman was diabolical.

  “So,” Porter added, “you’re welcome.”

  “I can’t believe this bitch,” Billie said. “She’s worse than I thought.”

  “I shouldn’t have said anything to Tara,” Porter said regretfully.

  “You really shouldn’t have,” Billie said. “She doesn’t need to hear that shit, Porter.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “How did she say she knew who you were?”

  “Like I said,” he stated, “She wouldn’t answer that. She probably asked Michael about you and your past.”

  “He would have never told her about you. At least not without asking me if it was okay first.”

  “Then how else?” Porter asked.

  “She did her research,” Billie said. “This woman is calculating.”

  Without saying good-bye, Billie headed back to her car, already calling Michael on her cell phone. She was fuming when the call went straight to voicemail without ringing at all. That meant he’d turned his phone off. She had no choice but to leave a message.

  “Michael, you have to call me. I’m coming home now. It’s urgent. Darina has been checking up on me and she basically tried to recruit Porter to help break us up. You can’t trust her at all. Call me!”

  “Hold on a damn minute!” Erica yelled in response to the hard knocking on the door to her apartment.

  When she reached the door in her bathrobe, she checked the peephole. It was Corey. She sighed, not wanting to deal with this, but knowing it was inevitable. She stood at the door, trying to get her head straight.

  “I know you’re there, Erica. Let me in!”

  She took a deep breath and opened the door to see his handsome but very angry face.

  She pointed a finger to make a point. “If you think you have it like that, so you can show up without warning, you don’t, Corey.”

  “Stop trying to put me in my place.” He barged in, brushing right past her. “That won’t work with me.”

  “Hey!” she yelled. “I didn’t invite you in.”

  He stood in the middle of her apartment, looking at her. His expression made it clear he wasn’t there for games.

  “No more bullshit,” he demanded. “No more avoiding me. I swear to God, Erica, I want answers now or I’m out that door and never coming back.”

  “You’re giving me ultimatums?” she asked, closing the door behind her. “Who do you think you are?”

  He pointed to his chest. “I’m the guy who’s been putting up with your mixed messages who deserves better!”

  “I don’t have to tell you—”

  “I talked to Justin,” he said. “You didn’t get no damn bonus, Erica.”

  She was mad now. How dare he? “Why are you going to other people about me?”

  “You haven’t given me any choice,” he answered. “You lied to me, girl. I can accept you not telling me everything. We haven’t been dating that long, but lying to me is fucked up. I don’t deserve that.”

  Erica was hit with the guilt that accompanied the truth of his words. “I know I’ve been avoiding you and I’m sorry for that. It’s just that everyone has been giving me a hassle lately.”

  “I’m giving you a hassle?” he asked. “I’m trying to talk to you. I’m trying to understand you!”

  “What makes you think I need understanding?” she asked. “I’m not some case for you to solve.”

  Corey threw his hands in the air. “Well, what the fuck am I supposed to do, Erica? You keep secrets. You tell lies.”

  “I warned you about me.” She walked over to the living room sofa and sat down.

  “Yeah, and the cuteness of that wore off a while ago. I want some answers and I want them now.”

  “You seem to think making demands is going to get you what you want,” she said. “Good luck with that.”

  “I don’t need luck, because I’m not leaving here without what I came for.”

  “And what is that?” she asked.

  He looked around the apartment. “Let’s start with all the shit you have in this apartment. All this expensive stuff that wasn’t here the last time I was here. How about that hotel room that you paid for with your bonus, the bonus that Justin said he hadn’t even given you yet and wasn’t going to be enough to afford that room for an hour, let alone a whole night including room service.”

  “Oh, I get it,” she said. “This is about your ego. It just kills you that I’m not letting you pay for everything.”

  “Where is the money coming from?” he asked. “Erica, I care about you, a lot. More than I even expected to this early in our relationship, but if you’re doing something illegal, I—”

  “Illegal?” She shot up from the sofa. “How dare you accuse me of . . . Do you really think I could be a drug dealer or something?”

  “I don’t know what the hell you could be,” he answered. “My gut, my instinct says no. You’re a woman of deep morality and principle. But the secrets, the lies and erratic behavior. Something is fucked up here.”

  “Then why did you come?” she asked, touched by his original assessment of her. “If you know something is fucked up, why come? Why not just run away?”

  He walked over to her and looked her deeply in the eyes. Standing only inches from her, he grabbed her and pulled her to him. His lips came down on hers hard and his kiss was angry.

  It sent Erica’s head reeling. She was frozen in place as his mouth’s possession took her over. Her mind told her he was trying to dominate her and she needed to fight it. But her body was instantly ablaze, telling her to give into it. She craved this intense connection.

  Just before deciding to give into her body, Erica was jolted when he pushed her away. He looked at her with fierce intensity. She could tell from the look in his eyes, the set of his face, and the feeling of his hands gripping her arms that he was serious. And so was she, about him.

  “Fine,” she said, quietly. “I’ll tell you the deal, but remember, you asked and it ain’t pretty.”

  As Erica told him the truth about how she met Jonah and found out he was her father, Corey’s reaction was subdued. She didn’t tell him exactly everything. She briefly touched on her painful memories of his attempt to have a secretive relationship with her, his underhanded deeds to control her and those around her. However, she left out his affair with Sherise, and while she told him about Alex, she left out exactly how close their relationship had really been.

  She skipped straight to his death and will, the one million dollars, and how she had to fight his family to get the money.

  “So that’s the ugly story of me,” she finally said. “Can you understand why I don’t want people knowing?”

  “I won’t tell anyone,” Corey said.

  They were both sitting on the sofa at this point and he reached over, placing his hand gently on her thigh.

  “And you’re wrong,” he said. “This is not the ugly story of you. Even
in the short time I’ve known you, I can tell there is much more to you than anything that has to do with him.”

  She smiled appreciatively. “So you understand me now?”

  “I understand what you just told me,” he said. “You found out you had a dad, who turned out to be an asshole, died and left you a bunch of money. That’s easy.”

  “Easy?” she asked.

  He nodded. “What I don’t understand is why you’re acting so defensive, so impulsive?”

  She rolled her eyes and slid away from him on the sofa. “I don’t think I am, but let me guess. You disagree and you want to tell me why.”

  “What I think is you told me the CliffsNotes and there’s still some unresolved shit that’s expressing itself in you buying a bunch of stuff, quitting your job, and pushing away anyone who is trying to help you.”

  Erica threw her hands in the air with a labored sigh. “Here we go again with someone trying to help poor little ghetto Erica. She’s got no college education and she’s never had money, so she needs to be told what to do. She can’t handle having more than enough money to pay her bills and—”

  “Enough.” He held up his hand to stop her. “I don’t know what conversations you’re having with other people, but don’t put their words in my mouth.”

  “Fine,” she said. “Maybe not you, but everyone else is accusing me of going nuts, acting like I need to ask permission and approval before I do anything.”

  “What does that have to do with quitting your job?” he asked.

  “I’m just tired of putting up with bullshit, and for the first time in my life, I don’t have to.”

  “How long will that last?” he asked, looking around. “Because it looks to me like you’re spending as if you’re gonna need a job again real soon.”

  She looked around her place, noticing her new tobacco brown coffee and end tables. The leather ottoman and turquoise glass table lamps that had been in her wish list at one of her favorite websites for a very long time. Her eyes moved to the shiny sterling silver coffeemaker, deep fryer, and the $300 bright red Kitchen-Aid mixer on her counter. The beautiful stoneware on the new dining room table that had been delivered just the day before cost a few hundred dollars, but was likely not going to be used more than once a month. It was all just a drop in the bucket.