You Know My Name (BWWM Romance) (The Good Girls and Bad Boys Series Book 1)

by Stacy-Deanne

  “Really? You think I wanna put up with your judgmental mother and the way she looks down at me? No, but I play the part, and I’ll keep playing it until I get my money. Now give me your fuckin’ hand, Sweet Potato Pie.”

  “No, and I hate it when you call me that.”

  “Give me your damn hand.” He snatched it and forced the ring on her finger.

  “Max.”

  He gave her a smothering kiss.

  “Ewe,” she mumbled, clawing at his shirt.

  The others walked up as Max let her go.

  “Ugh.” Osana turned around, wiping her mouth.

  Kel beamed. “Looks like Osana accepted the proposal.”

  “Mrs. Spears?” Max licked Osana’s lipstick from his lips. “Osana told me you don’t agree with my proposal.”

  “That’s right.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way.” He walked to her. “I love your daughter, and we are getting married.”

  She exhaled.

  “I realize I’ll have to prove my intentions to you.” He kissed Wanda’s hand. “All I ask is a chance. Will you give me that?”

  “Max, my head is spinning right now.” She took her hand from his. “I can’t even comprehend all this.”

  “I understand.” He went back to Osana and pulled her close. “But I’d love your blessing. Osana will also need help planning her wedding. It would be horrible for her to do it alone.”

  “We’re not having a big wedding,” Osana said. “Justice of the Peace will be fine.”

  “No way.” Max put his arms around her waist. “I want you to have the most beautiful wedding in the world.” He kissed her. “You deserve it. I want everyone to know how much I love you.”

  “Any idea when you want this travesty, I mean wedding to take place?” Wanda asked.

  “The end of July would be ideal,” Max said. “The thirtieth. It’s my mom’s birthday. She passed away two years ago so it would be the perfect time as a way to honor her.”

  “You’ve gotta be kidding.” Osana’s face dropped. “Max, that’s in two weeks. You can’t plan a wedding in two weeks.”

  “Sure you can.” He whispered in her ear, “I can’t afford for you to chicken out so we’re doing it as soon as possible.” He looked at the others, smiling. “I don’t want a long, drawn out engagement. I wanna marry you as fast as I can.”

  “Two weeks is definitely fast,” Kel said.

  “But it can be done.” Max hugged Osana. “As long as I have my Sweet Potato Pie anything is possible.”

  Osana groaned in his arms.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Two Weeks Later

  “Osana?” Leslie tapped on Osana’s bedroom door. “You still awake?”

  “Yeah,” she said, barely above a whisper.

  Leslie came in and sat on the foot of the bed. “You can’t go through with this. Call it off.”

  She closed her eyes, sighing. “You know I can’t.”

  “I can’t believe this.” Leslie tugged on the sheet. “By this time tomorrow you’ll be Max Ace’s wife.” She twitched with a distorted expression. “And he’s moving in here. I can’t stand him. He’s so slimy. How are we gonna put up with him for a year?”

  “You wanna quit?” Osana laid her head on the thick pillow. “You don’t have to go through this just because I do.”

  “I’m your friend, and I won’t leave you when you need me.” She touched Osana’s foot through the sheet. “How are you feeling?”

  “Sick to my stomach and nervous.” She stretched out her fingers, the engagement ring weighing down her hand. “Life is something else, isn’t it? I never would’ve guessed I be in this mess. If I’d gone to the police when Kinard was killed this wouldn’t be happening.”

  “You can still go then Max wouldn’t have anything over you.”

  “Too much time has passed.” Osana focused on the metal leaf art scattered across her golden walls. “No one would believe I’m innocent after sitting around for months.”

  “If only you had proof against Max.”

  “Wishful thinking.” Osana yawned.

  “I’m so sorry you’re going through this.” Leslie got up and hugged her. “We’ll find a way out of it.”

  “It’s silly.” Osana fought tears. “But, I keep having this dream that Shad would walk in the door and rescue me somehow.”

  “When’s the last time you talked to him?”

  “A few weeks ago.” Osana propped up her leg. “He was so distant. I felt the anger in his voice, and I can’t blame him. He’s not staying in Italy all this time for his friend. He’s punishing me.”

  “Shad loves you.”

  “What good is that doing me if his ass isn’t here when I need him? I wanted to tell him about Max blackmailing me but how can I?” She covered her eyes as tears fell.

  “Sh.” Leslie held her. “It’s okay.”

  “I’ve ruined everything. I should’ve given him what he wanted, but I was so damn afraid.” She wiped her eyes, sniffling. “I’m such a fool. I had the perfect man, and I didn’t appreciate him.”

  “Run.” Leslie moved from the bed. “I’m serious. Run off. Anything is better than marrying Max and carrying on with this charade.”

  “I don’t run from anything.” Osana dabbed her eyes with her palms. “Besides, that won’t get Max off my back. He won’t stop until he gets the money.”

  “How are you gonna be married to this guy for an entire year and not go insane?” Leslie screeched. “Insane?”

  Osana lay on her back. “I have no fuckin’ idea.”

  ****

  Osana stood behind the room divider in the dressing room of the hotel, moments before the wedding. “You ready, Leslie?”

  “Ready.” She giggled. “Let me see.”

  Osana floated from behind the divider in her ball gown-style wedding dress.

  Leslie’s mouth hung on the floor. “Jesus.”

  Osana spun. “Do you like it?”

  The white, full bell skirt boasted a strapless drop waist bodice that hugged Osana’s small midriff. Tiny pearls flowed throughout the fabric.

  “Say something.” Osana held the sides of the dress.

  Leslie’s eyes watered. “You look like a princess.” She circled her, touching the dress. “It’s the most beautiful gown I’ve ever seen.”

  Osana looked at it. “It’s Vera Wang.”

  “This dress makes me wanna get married.” Leslie shuddered. “But, not to Max.”

  “You ain’t the only one.” Osana got her veil off the dresser. “Would you clip it on for me?”

  “I’d love to.” Leslie took the veil and clamped it into Osana’s braided bun. “I wish I was putting this on you for the right reasons. It should be Shad out there.”

  Osana exhaled in the constricting dress.

  The door inched open and Wanda poked her head inside the room. “May we come in?”

  “Momma?”

  Wanda and Georgia sashayed inside.

  Wanda’s sleeveless, sky-blue dress showed off her magnificent bone structure.

  “What are you doing here?” Osana asked. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

  Wanda straightened Osana’s veil. “Georgia reminded me how silly I was being.”

  Georgia smiled, wearing some neon-pink prom-looking thing with the gaudiest silver heels Osana had ever seen.

  “I don’t want you to do this, but I don’t want you to be alone either. It’s still your wedding day.” Wanda raised her hand. “God help us all.”

  Osana smiled. “Thanks, Momma. It means a lot you came.”

  “You look sensational.” Wanda held Osana’s arms out. “Every bit as beautiful as I always knew you would on your wedding day.”

  “Makeup and hair is flawless isn’t it?” Leslie asked.

  “You look nice, Osana.” Georgia smiled. “Kel came too. He’s already seated.”

  Osana pulled at the veil, smiling.

  “We got you some gifts,” Georgia
said. “We put them with the others.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.” Osana flashed an awkward smile at Georgia, appreciative that they’d come.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” Osana called out.

  A skinny white man who worked for the hotel entered. “Ms. Royal, it’s time for you to take your place.”

  “Thanks.” She grabbed the skirt of her dress, shuffling to the door.

  “Who’s gonna walk you down the aisle?” Georgia asked.

  Osana stopped. “I hadn’t thought of that. I guess I’ll go alone.”

  “You can’t walk down the aisle alone,” Leslie said. “The bride is supposed to be ‘given’ away.”

  “Well, there’s no man to give me away.”

  “I don’t think it has to be a man.” Wanda held out her arm.

  “Momma.” Osana gasped. “You wanna walk me down the aisle?”

  “No, I don’t want to give you to Max, but you’re my daughter. No one better to do it but me.”

  Osana hooked her arm in her mother’s arm. “I guess we’re ready.”

  They left the room.

  ****

  “Are you okay?” Wanda whispered as she and Osana waited at the entrance of the elegant ballroom under a luminous arch decorated with roses.

  A top Santa Barbara designer had turned the room into a glittering sea of pink roses, organza, and satin.

  “You can pull out of this now, honey,” Wanda whispered. “It’s up to you.”

  “I wanna marry Max,” Osana said under the veil. “I love him.”

  Wanda glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “How can I believe that?”

  “It’s not up to you to believe it.”

  The organist played “Here Comes the Bride”, rescuing Osana from the conversation.

  Wanda exhaled, shaking as if she were the one getting married. “Okay, here we go.”

  She and Osana crept through the walkway between the guests.

  A little over five hundred of the Spears’ family and friends stood with exuberant expressions and wide smiles.

  She couldn’t look at these people while portraying this colossal lie. She kept her eyes straight and on the shrewd groom in the blue tuxedo who stood by the preacher across the room.

  Each step Osana made brought emotional turmoil. She was the biggest hypocrite on the planet. Her family and friends loved her because she stuck to her morals and possessed a strength most women forfeited to make others happy. At her job, people considered her a pillar, and her family considered her a rock.

  How could she do this? Marrying Max on a lie went against everything Wanda and Anthony had taught her.

  Max’s smile got bigger in his navy blue, Sebastian tuxedo.

  He had a muscular, wide frame but the side vents of the tuxedo gave him a straighter, slimmer presence.

  Wanda and Osana stopped at the podium.

  Max patted his shiny, mousse-plastered hair. His muscular chin jutted over the bow tie, leading the eye to satin notch lapels and besom pockets.

  Osana shook away thoughts of Shad as the preacher asked the guests to sit then began. “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

  Wanda opened her mouth but nothing came out.

  “Momma,” Osana whispered. “Say something.”

  Max fidgeted, clearing his throat.

  “You sure you wanna do this?” Wanda whispered.

  The fat-faced, rosy cheek pastor batted his eyes over his glasses. “Who gives this woman?”

  “I do,” Wanda spoke the words as if someone pulled them from her lips then sat beside Leslie, Georgia and Kel in the first row.

  Osana claimed her spot in front of Max.

  He leaned into her, smelling of mint julep. “You look amazing.”

  She exhaled, clenching the bouquet to her bosom.

  “Now.” The preacher raised the bible. “Let us begin. Dearly Beloved...”

  Good, God.

  Osana closed her eyes.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Osana squirmed through the pastor’s blessings. She couldn’t have been more nervous if she were heading to her execution.

  That annoying smile remained on Max’s face the entire time. Of course, his ass was happy. He’s getting millions. What the fuck would she get except putting up with his ass and trying not to throw up when they were together?

  The pastor pushed up his glasses. “Now the moment we’ve all be waiting for. The vows. Maxwell Edbert Ace…”

  Edbert?

  Osana scowled under the veil.

  “Do you take Osana Kathleen Royal to be your—”

  “Pastor, excuse me.” Max pulled folded papers from his pocket.

  Oh, God no.

  “I’ve written my own vows.” Max opened the papers. “I’d like to recite them now if it’s okay?”

  The pastor stood back.

  Are you kidding me?

  Osana choked the bouquet as Max began his long-ass, boring speech about his love for her.

  ****

  Thirty minutes later, Max rambled on as if he delivered the State of the Union Address. It took the power of God himself for Osana not to rip the bouquet into shreds.

  Max got to the last sheet.

  Thank goodness.

  Even the decorations were falling asleep.

  He finally finished, folding the papers. “I love you so much, Osana.”

  She forced a painful smile only because the preacher was staring at her.

  The preacher resumed the traditional vows and instructed them to exchange rings.

  Leslie stood from the front row and handed Osana Max’s ring. A guy who looked like a reject from The Sopranos, handed Max Osana’s ring.

  They put them on; ending any chance, Osana had to call this off.

  As she brooded, murmurs traveled through the audience, and heads turned.

  Osana laid her eyes on the striking billionaire who walked from the doorway.

  Shad gazed at Osana then sat in the corner of the last row boasting a golden tan and sexy Van Dyke beard.

  Osana envisioned throwing the bouquet and running to him.

  Leslie stared at Osana, shrugging.

  Wanda, Georgia, and Kel gaped at Shad.

  Shad’s face didn’t show a hint of distress, which devastated Osana more than marrying Max.

  “Osana?” Max tugged on her hand. “You okay?” He squinted as if to warn her.

  “Osana?” The preacher touched her arm. “Are you able to continue?”

  She sensed Shad’s gaze without looking at him. It melted through her skin, dissolving the remains of her soul.

  “This is what emptiness feels like,” she whispered, catching the veil in her lips.

  “What?” Max whispered. “Everyone’s waiting, honey. Let’s do this.” He flashed a smile to the guests.

  Inside, Osana screamed, ranted, and cried as the preacher finished the vows.

  “Maxwell and Osana, you are now husband and wife,” the preacher shouted. “Maxwell, you may now kiss your bride!”

  Max lifted Osana’s veil and gave her a respectful peck on the lips.

  “Ladies, and gentlemen!” The preacher raised his arm. “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Ace!”

  “Yay!” The audience jumped from their seats, hooting and clapping.

  The organist played with heavy hands.

  Max and Osana walked down the aisle, holding hands.

  Everyone celebrated the couple instead of Leslie, Wanda, Georgia, and Shad.

  “We did it,” Max whispered. “Can you believe it? We pulled it off.” He swung Osana around and the guests went wild.

  “Put me down before I throw up everywhere.” She jumped from his arms.

  “This is supposed to be a celebration, remember?” Max shook hands as if he were the president. “Can’t you look on the bright side?”

  “What bright side?” She whipped the veil from her face while throwing fake smiles. “I hate you,
Max. I’m the one that’s gonna go through hell not you.”

  “You think it’s gonna be a cakewalk for me?” He frowned, receiving a kiss on the cheek from an elderly female guest.

  “Congratulations.” The lady hugged Osana and pinched her cheeks. “I wish you two many years of happiness.” The woman faded into the crowd.

  “This is gonna be hard for me too,” Max said.

  “Oh please.” Osana concentrated on Shad who dissolved into the crowd. “You get to stay in the lap of luxury and get my money. How is that hard?”

  “We’re married now.” Max placed his arm around her waist. “You gotta accept it.” He waved at guests. “Play the part and everything will be fine.”

  “Let go of me, Max.” She pushed him away not giving a damn who noticed.

  “Cool it,” he ordered. “You want people to gossip? Even the press is here.”

  “I don’t give a damn who’s here. I need time away from you.” She ordered a vodka on the rocks at the bar in the back of the room.

  Max clapped and danced in a circle among guests who kissed his feet.

  “Here you go, Mrs. Ace.” The bartender smiled.

  “Ugh.” She slurped the drink, cringing from being referred to as Max’s wife.

  Wanda and Georgia walked up.

  “Drinking already, Osana?” Georgia joked.

  “Hell, I wanted a drink before the wedding.” Wanda ordered a vodka too. “I still can’t believe this, Osana. You gonna come clean and tell us why you did this?”

  “Momma, please. I’m not in the mood right now.”

  “You can’t fool us,” Georgia said. “We saw your face the entire time. You don’t have a speck of love for Max.”

  “There’s different love, Georgia.” Osana sipped.

  “What about when your mystery guest got here?” Wanda rested her hand upon her waist. “Your face lit up more than the lights.”

  “Did you have something to do with Shad being here?”

  “Don’t look at me,” Wanda said. “I didn’t know he was back in town until he walked in the door.”

  “You didn’t know either, Osana?” Georgia asked.

  “Hell no.” She set the glass on the counter. “How did he know I was getting married?”

  Shad emerged from the crowd and headed toward them.

  “Maybe you can ask him,” Georgia said.