by ROD HARLEY
“Who is it, Debbie?”
“It’s Mr. Perkins.” Her response caused me immediate alarm. My first thoughts were of Perkins going postal and shooting up my office, taking me and all my staff out in a hail of gunfire. I jumped up from behind the desk, looking frantically around the office for something to defend myself with. I glanced down at a letter opener on my desk. Shit, that’s not going to do any good against a lunatic with a gun. I thought about calling security. Debbie buzzed in again.
“Mr. Kingsley.” I walked back over to my desk and answered.
“What is it, Debbie?”
“What should I tell Mr. Perkins? Do you want to see him?” I thought about it for a second. Well I guess if he wanted to kill me he could have just burst up in here blasting. He didn’t have to wait out front with my secretary. I exhaled deeply.
“Send him in please.” My office door opened and Perkins stepped in. He was dressed casually in blue jeans and a long-sleeved maroon shirt. He didn’t appear to be deranged or intent on doing anything violent. I stood up and walked around my desk to greet him. He smiled uneasily at me as I approached extending my hand to greet him.
“Kyle, how’s it going?” I asked as we shook hands.
“Good,” things are a lot better now.” I nodded and gestured for him to have a seat. I started to offer him a drink as I did with just about everyone who came into my office, but then I thought about the incident at the 7-Eleven and decided it probably wasn’t a good idea.
“Congratulations on the uhm…the deal.” He couldn’t look me in the face instead preferring to stare at the wall in front of him. I leaned back in my chair.
“Thank you, I appreciate that.” We sat in silence for a minute or so with Perkins still having not worked up the nerve to look me in the eye. Finally I pressed Perkins for the reason for his visit. “So what can I do for you, Kyle?” Perkins glanced up at me briefly making eye contact before quickly glancing away.
“I ahh, I came by to apologize for the way I handled the situation with Intellica,” he said shifting uncomfortably in his chair. “I was wrong for what I tried to do.” He looked up at me and maintained eye contact for the first time since he’d walked into my office. I sat up in my chair as he continued. “I was so focused on how that deal, if I were to pull off, would set me up. I would have been in there!” The expression on his face showed his displeasure at the lost opportunity. “I never considered how it would affect you or your business.”
“Hey man, I understand. That’s business, no hard feelings.” I think Perkins could tell that I didn’t really mean it. He shook his head.
“No, it’s not okay, it was fucked up. I’m man enough to admit when I do some foul shit. I’m sorry for the way I handled that whole situation.” I stood up and walked around the desk.
“I accept your apology,” I answered offering Perkins my hand. He stood up and shook my hand.
“I appreciate that.” I smiled and started towards the door expecting Perkins to follow. I just wanted him out of my office. I accepted his apology even though I didn’t think he was being sincere; but I still don’t like the guy and I would rather not be around him.
Perkins followed me to the door. I opened it and he started to walk through, when all of a sudden he hesitated as if he had something else to say.
“Something else I can do for you, KP?” He turned towards me.
“Yeah, I wanted to tell you that was good looking out at the 7-Eleven the other day.” I waved him off.
“Don’t sweat it man. I knew you were going through a tough time, besides I didn’t want to give that cop the satisfaction of being able to take another brother to jail.” Perkins nodded.
“Yeah, well, after what I tried to do, you didn’t have to let me off the hook. If the tables were turned I probably would have had you locked up. But you looked out for me so I wanted to thank you.” This time I sensed that he was sincere in his appreciation.
“No problem. We brothers have to look out for each other you know what I’m saying?” I stared Perkins in the eye to drive my point home. He shook his head in acknowledgement.
“Well, I’m gonna go. Thanks for taking time out of your schedule to hear me out,” Perkins said again extending his hand for a handshake. I took his hand and returned the gesture.
“Alright, Kyle, take it easy okay,” I offered. He nodded and turned to walk away. “Hey man,” I called after him. Perkins turned back to face me. “You have anything lined up on the employment front?” Perkins smiled.
“Yeah, I have a job lined up in New York. My cousin put in a good word for me at his investment firm; I’m flying out this afternoon.” I nodded at him before he turned and continued towards the elevator.
I watched him walk into the elevator before closing my office door and heading back over to my desk. Even though I disliked Perkins I was glad that he landed on his feet. I didn’t get any satisfaction out of his misery; I just hoped he learned a lesson from the whole thing. You can’t keep fucking people over without repercussions. Sooner or later that shit comes back and bites you in the ass.
Back at my apartment I was sitting in front of the television typing away on my laptop. I took a sip of the glass of Courvoisier I had chilling on the table next to me. So far my day had been as uneventful as any I can remember having in a long time. Even my surprise meeting with Perkins went without incident. I hoped this day was a sign of things to come. It would definitely be a welcome change from the way things have been going the last few months.
I finished checking and answering my e-mail before signing off the internet and shutting down my computer. I stretched out on the sofa, feet kicked up on the table, with the remote in one hand and my drink in the other. I figured I would have little trouble getting to sleep. I was knocked out before nine which was way early for a nighthawk like me.
I pulled up to the valet at Calango’s party all set to meet Michelle. She’d called about thirty minutes prior to let me know she was leaving her room and heading downstairs to the ballroom. Michelle was staying at the hotel where Calango was throwing his party. I stepped out of my Jeep and handed my keys to the attendant, straightened out my navy-blue tux, and strutted up the stairs to the lobby.
Inside, I made my way through the crowd stopping occasionally to greet the few people I recognized. I was looking all around the ballroom for Michelle but so far had been unable to locate her.
I made my way to the restroom, stepping in to make a quick check of my tux. One last chance to make sure everything was in place. On the way out I ran into Fred Stephens. We stood around for a few minutes shooting the shit before I spotted Michelle. She looked absolutely gorgeous chilling against the bar like a Cover Girl model on a photo shoot. She had on an elegant, tight fitting, violet colored dress.
I quickly ended my conversation with Fred and started making my way over to Michelle. About halfway there, as I was weaving in and out of the crowd, Michelle spotted me. We made eye contact and exchanged smiles. Her eyes were alluring, almost hypnotic.
“Michelle Timson,” I said as I approached. “What’s up, lil momma?”
“Hey, Mr. Kingsley,” she returned extending her hand towards me. I looked at her like she was crazy.
“Please, you better go on somewhere with that Mr. Kingsley mess.” Michelle burst out laughing. “You gonna show a brother some love or what,” I said opening my arms to her. Michelle came over and hugged me like we hadn’t seen each other in thirty years. Right after we let go of our embrace Calango walked up to where we were standing extending his hand to Michelle.
“Good evening, Ms. Timson, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” As they were shaking hands Calango glanced over at me. “Mr. Kingsley.” Calango and I shook hands.
“Good evening, sir.”
“This is a really nice party,” Michelle said. Calango laughed.
“You call this a party,” I had more fun at my mother’s funeral, God rest her soul.” Michelle and I smiled uneasily, uncomfortable
about getting a laugh off of someone’s dead mother. Calango sensed our discomfort. He slapped me on the shoulder and burst out in laughter. “Ouch, tough crowd. I was only kidding. “My mother is alive and well, happily retired in Ft. Lauderdale.” Michelle and I were still apprehensive. Calango continued. “I’ve got the bills to prove it. I feel like I’m paying her child support she’s costing me so much money.” This time Michelle and I laughed.
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone. I’m going to be paying alimony too if I don’t get back over to my wife. She hates when I leave her alone at these types of gatherings. The people are way too stuffy for her taste.” He turned and blew a kiss over to the table where his wife was seated talking to two other women. She gave Calango a look that said get your ass back over here now! Calango turned back to Michelle and me. “Yeah, she’s pissed. I’ll talk to you two later. Enjoy the rest of the party.”
“You too,” I returned. Calango frowned.
“I won’t be here much longer. I’m leaving right after the announcement. The real party starts when I get home.” Michelle and I smiled. Calango winked at me as he walked away. I turned to Michelle.
“You want to get something to drink?”
“Yesss! I need something.” On our way over to the bar I glanced over towards the door and got a glimpse of a couple entering the ballroom. I stopped in my tracks and did a double take. I had to blink and refocus my eyes to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. What the hell is she doing here?
There was Toya draped all over Malcolm’s arm making her way through the crowd. She was wearing a gorgeous, red, silk dress; styling like a mug. I continued over to the bar and ordered a sex on the beach for Michelle and a Courvoisier on the rocks for myself. While I waited for our drinks I glanced back over at Toya and Malcolm. Malcolm was looking dapper in a black tux, and he had the finest girl in the whole place on his arm. He had that proud, check out the queen I’m with twinkle in his eye as they continued making their way through the crowd. It seemed as if all eyes were on them; both male and female. The dress she was wearing fitted her like skin and definitely made you stop and take notice. Stop, stare, and drool if you were a man and admire or hate if you were a woman.
I glanced around the room and Michelle appeared to be the only person in there not gawking at Toya and Malcolm. She was busy with her eyes closed, moving her head to the music. The bartender brought our drinks over. I handed Michelle her drink and took a sip of my cognac. Then I turned my attention back to Toya. She glanced over and noticed me staring. She turned and tapped Malcolm on the shoulder whispering something in his ear. He looked over at me, studying me briefly before waving. I acknowledged him with a nod. Toya turned back and started walking towards me. Malcolm was still staring at me when I turned to Michelle.
“Hey, I’ll be right back, I’m gonna go say hi to someone.” Michelle opened her eyes long enough to acknowledge me before returning to her grooving. I put my drink on the bar and walked to meet Toya. I walked up to her looking her up and down.
“You look good tonight.”
“I look good every night.” I laughed.
“Don’t get the big head.” Toya smiled.
“It’s called confidence.”
“Yeah, whatever. I see you brought your boy along with you.”
“No, Malcolm invited me to be his date tonight. The mayor couldn’t make it and asked him to represent the city.” I jokingly sucked my teeth and glanced over at him. He was still standing there eyeing me like he was trying to read my lips. I turned away and looked over at Michelle. She was still grooving.
“So when are you going to kick this clown to the curb?” Toya giggled.
“And why would I want to do that?”
“Because, it’s time for you to stop fronting so we can hook up. And when we do I don’t want to be running into an ex-boyfriend of yours everywhere we go you know what I’m saying. You need to chill out with all this dating stuff.” Toya chuckled.
“I should be telling you that, all the women, no my bad, hoochies you’ve been with.” I playfully rolled my eyes at her. “You probably have a couple of your ex-lovers up in here right now.”
“Whatever,” I said while intentionally turning my head and looking in the opposite direction of where Michelle was standing. “Well remember one thing; just because I did something doesn’t mean you have to do it too. I know I said I’d wait for you, but that doesn’t mean you get to play the field in the meantime.”
“Booby, please. You know it’s not even like that. That’s not even my style.” I knew Toya wasn’t that type. I was just messing with her. “I’m just having fun, enjoying my time with Malcolm,” she added. I looked away before turning back and staring into her eyes.
“Well don’t enjoy it too much because it’s only temporary.” Toya’s facial expression became serious. “It’s only a matter of time before you and I get together.”
“Booby, when you and I…I mean if we get together. I want it to be because that’s what we both want. And I want the both of us to be ready to completely commit to each other.” I reached out and held Toya’s hands as she stood facing me. I glanced over at Malcolm before turning back to Toya.
“Your date is over there getting pissed.” Toya turned and looked over at Malcolm.
“He’ll be alright.” I glanced over at him. He was eyeing me suspiciously, shifting his body nervously from side to side. He was probably over there thinking I was stealing Toya away. I laughed to myself as I thought about what must be going through his mind. It would kill any man to lose a woman like Toya. I had firsthand knowledge of it.
In the midst of my thoughts I suddenly remembered Michelle. I looked over to where she was standing by the bar. We made eye contact and she smiled at me. I turned back to Toya.
“Go on back over there to your boy. He looks like he’s about to have a nervous breakdown.” Toya struggled to keep from laughing out loud. “Tell him you’re working on a case for me and we were discussing it,” I suggested.
“Like he’s going to fall for that. And you need to start worrying about what you’re going to say to your date.”
“What date?”
“The one over at the bar all in my mouth.” I looked over at Michelle. I didn’t realize that Toya had seen Michelle and me together.
“Look at you all up in my business. I don’t have a date, I came here alone.”
“So who’s the woman you were with?”
“Michelle?”
“Yeah, Michelle.”
“She used to work for Intellica; she was already in here when I got here. Now you on the other hand walked up in her like you were permanently attached to Malcolm’s arm.” Toya laughed.
“Well, I guess you have a point.”
“Now if you want to ditch him you and I can hang out for the rest of the night.” Toya studied me as if unsure if my offer was authentic.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah, shorty, we can go to the Beach Club and chill for a while, then maybe go grab some breakfast.” Toya smiled. “As long as I’m going to get some booty afterward you know what I’m saying.” Toya slapped me across the arm and laughed.
“You are so silly.”
“I’m serious. If ya scared say ya scared.”
“Scared of you? Please! You couldn’t handle this and you know it.” I looked over at Malcolm. He was damn near blue in the face from anger. He kept adjusting the thin-framed glasses with the oval shaped lenses he was wearing, pushing them back up onto his nose. I turned back to Toya.
“Whatever you say. Go on back over there with Mr. Peabody before I wind up turning you out tonight.” Toya eyed me seductively.
“Yeah, I better go because your girl is over at the bar giving me the evil eye.” I looked back at Michelle who seemed to be unconcerned with what was going on between Toya and me.
I turned back to Toya and pulled her to me, hugging her tightly. She squeezed me back even tighter.
“Later, shorty,” I whispere
d in her ear before releasing my embrace of her and walking back over towards Michelle. Toya walked back over to where Malcolm was standing resuming her position on his arm.
Later that evening, right after Calango had made his official announcement of the buyout and slipped out the backdoor with his wife, I glanced across the room to where Toya stood with Malcolm, his arm nestled around her neck. I wanted to walk over there and snatch Toya from his clutches. I exhaled and looked away. Michelle who was still standing next to me began to rub the small of my back. I looked over at her.
“You want to get out of here?” Michelle smiled like I had read her mind.
She took my hand and started leading me towards the exit. I was relieved to be getting out of there. I’d had more than enough of watching Toya and Malcolm fawning all over each other, snuggled together like Siamese twins.
I opened the door to the ballroom and waited for Michelle to walk through into the hotel lobby. In the doorway I turned and looked back at Toya. Her eyes were glued to me. I figured she was wondering why Michelle and I were skipping out early together. I stuck my pinky to my mouth and my thumb to my ear to signal Toya to call me. She nodded and blew me a kiss before I turned and headed after Michelle into the lobby.
We took the elevator up to Michelle’s room on the twenty-ninth floor. As soon as we entered the room Michelle grabbed her cell phone off of the table and called up Mae-Lin. She plopped down on the bed talking softly into the phone. Her face was aglow with affection and I was jealous as hell. I strolled over to the window and drew the blinds back. Glancing out over the city all lit up like a Christmas tree, my mind was working overtime on Toya. I was deep in thought when Michelle interrupted me.
“Kalem.” I turned to see her still stretched out on the bed holding the phone away from her ear towards me. “Mae-Lin said hello.”
“Hey, Mae-Lin,” I called out. She laughed and went back to yapping. I turned and continued staring out into the night sky. My mind was somewhere out there with the Big Dipper. At that moment I felt like Toya and I were galaxies away from being together. Even though we were back to speaking to each other, she was still down at the party with Malcolm. And when she leaves the ballroom tonight it will be with him not with me like it should be. I was still engrossed in thoughts of Toya when I felt Michelle’s hands slowly wrap around my waist. I continued glancing out at the night.