by Vera Roberts
The song continues and it’s clear it’s not going to happen. Ian is gone from my life and that is it. He’s somewhere in the world, showcasing Sydney’s artwork and acting like the proud art curator while I’m in a private club shaking it for someone’s grandpa.
Ew. Gross.
I twist my slender body around the pole and hold onto it like it’ll somehow protect me from harm. I briefly open my eyes and scan around the room. I do a split along the pole and slide down as several men nod in devilish acceptance.
Proud smiles are some of the faces. A few boast of a quirky smirk. A few have their newspapers strategically placed over their laps even though the bounce of the paper gives it away what they’re doing.
I feel gross. Violated. Dirty.
I decided I’m only this once and that’s it. I already know what’s going to happen after my dance ends and I swallow my emotions yet again. They’re going to want turns with me, I just know it. Maybe if I get drunk enough, I won’t remember anything at all from this night at all and I can just burn it from my memory.
I ease myself down the pole when Todd approaches me. His green eyes are full of curiosity. He knows he’s not supposed this close to me but he doesn’t care. His eyes peruse my body like he’s an X-ray machine and I feel the sudden need to cover up. He holds a large wad of cash to my eye level and smiles.
“Everything.” His voice is low and demanding. His eyes are glittering with mischief and it’s a hefty price he can afford to pay again and again.
I blink once and swallow twice. We both know what he means. He wants to humiliate me and wants to pay for the privilege of doing so. His eyes are intense as if they can read every emotion going through my mind. He knows I need to pay rent. He knows I need to put gas in my car. He knows I need groceries for the week.
He can smell my desperation and put a price tag on it before I said a word.
I start to wonder if this is why Ian kept a rotating door of dates; once he was done with them, he didn’t care what anyone else did to them.
My heart rapidly beats against my chest and my breathing becomes harder. If this is what I need to do to make sure my lights are on, so be it. I’m really going to need to get shitfaced tonight and go on vacation somewhere that’s not in the U.S.
And somewhere far, far, far away from anything Ferguson.
Just as I was about to accept the man’s offer, the music ends and the lights turn on. We instantly turn to the source of it and my heart beats even harder:
Ian and the rest of the Ferguson family are with him. A few other familiar faces are in the small crowd of people I recognize including my bodyguard, Courtney, and Scott Reed.
Ian takes off his jacket and wraps it around me. He presses his body close to mine and kisses my temple. “Are you okay, angel?” He whispers.
I kept saying to myself how much I hated him. In reality, I never stopped loving him and my body is relieved he’s here. He feels furnace-hot and I can feel his heart racing through his shirt. “I am,” I start shaking and tears threaten my eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Did they hurt you?” He asks and I shake my head. “Good. We’re going home.”
“What’s going on?” I softly ask.
“I’ll explain everything at home,” Ian insists. “We need to leave now.”
“Ferguson,” Dwight quickly zips up and stands. He walks with a cane but it’s clear it’s just for show. He hurries over to us and stares hard at Anthony, Ian’s father. “You don’t want to do this. She leaves and your whole family will have hell to pay.”
“I wouldn’t be making idle threats, Dwight.” A younger voice appears out of nowhere and I follow the voice. I instantly recognize the man’s face and I have to do a double take if I’m actually seeing what I’m seeing.
Dressed in a crisp suit that I’m pretty sure is the most expensive out of what everyone is wearing, Senator Jay Edwards smiles. “Especially to friends of the new owner of this place.”
Twenty
“What the hell?” Dwight shouts. “What is going on? I demand answers now!”
“What is going on is that your beloved lapping dog here has been stalking a member of our family,” Anthony approaches Dwight, “and while he has been doing that, he’s also been spreading false rumors about her. That’s simply a no-no to me.”
Todd rolls his eyes. “That bitch is a dime a dozen just like the rest of the whores.”
Ian quickly lets go of me and lands a sharp right to Todd’s jaw, sending the older man flying against the wall. He rushes over to him to finish the job, but Scott and Gerald hold him back.
“The next time you want to make a move on my girlfriend, please be sure of two things: one, I don’t own the property you’re accosting her on, and two, I don’t have the financial ability to make you fucking bankrupt.” Ian spat at him, “when Matt killed my mother, I made a personal vow to her that I would do whatever I could in my power to destroy your family. I hope I made her proud.”
“And while Todd here has been stalking Dominique’s every move, he’s been neglecting their businesses including this one,” Senator Edwards produces a briefcase full of documents. “Here is every deed, title to all of businesses The Christensens forgot about, and the Fergusons now own.”
“You!” Dwight shook his finger at Senator Edwards. “You let this happen! You’re just as responsible for this! I hope you don’t think you’re going to get away with this, Jacob!”
“Oh, but I already have,” Senator Edwards calmly replied, “as of right now, your membership along with Todd’s, is revoked. Have fun, Dwight.”
“I’ve been a member of this club long before you could even walk!” Dwight grabbed his cane. “If you go through with this, I will make sure you couldn’t even get elected to the PTA!”
Senator Edwards stepped closer to Dwight and grinned at him. “I will take great pleasure in ruining your legacy if you even make a futile attempt.” His eyes had an unmistakable twinkle within them. “Have fun. I know I will.”
~~~~~
We arrive back at the penthouse and Ian immediately fixes me a cup of warm tea. He sits beside me on the sofa and kisses my hand. Though I’m confused by everything, I’m comforted in his touch.
He lets out a sigh and softly shakes his head. “Believe it or not, I was trying to protect you from knowing all of this but Todd’s actions were making it difficult.” He lets out another sigh. “I didn’t want to get you involved at all but I had no choice.”
“So what happened?” I take a sip of the chamomile. “You might as well explain everything now.”
Ian nods and sips his tea. “It started before the Great Gatsby gala. When I tagged you in the photo, I received word we were back on their radar. Honestly, I don’t think we never ever left. We hadn’t heard from them in years, not since Matt died and Naomi got married. Once they saw you were more than just my assistant, however, that’s when things became interesting.
“I knew what they were doing when they came over to introduce themselves. We’ve been politely ignoring and avoiding each other for years then suddenly both couples approached us. They only did so because my brother and father weren’t around. Had they been there, I believe, their presence only would’ve delayed the inevitable.
“When Todd kissed your hand, I saw the look he gave you and I knew I only had a short amount of time before I had to put everything in motion. So, little by little, I kept track of everything he did – his daily schedule, to where he lunched at, to who he associated himself with. It was very easy get him distracted and keep him there.
“I would casually mention where you would be and in gross detail to a mutual friend, who relayed everything to them as I knew he would. Todd’s surprise visits to you really weren’t. He knew you would be alone and I wouldn’t be around. What he wasn’t planning on I had eyes on him from the moment he boarded his plane to the moment he returned home.
“I kept making up excuses that I had to go to the restaurants to take care of things
and this was why. I couldn’t tell you the family history so I had Emma do it on my behalf.
“While he was busy stalking you, Gerald and I, along with our father, started buying up various properties Todd had long forgotten about. We started fixing them up and renting them out to various businesses. Before all of this mess started, Todd owned or had a share in close to 100 properties and businesses. Now he owns ten, if that. His family is still rich, but their power and influence has greatly diminished, and that was our ultimate goal. Now they’ll be lucky if they can get a table at McDonald’s.”
I think back to all of the times Ian had to be at Sentiment or 3121; when he wanted to go to my video shoot but he had to stay behind because he was about to purchase property and hold onto it. He didn’t want to tell me and for good reason.
He and the rest of the Ferguson clan were in the process of destroying whatever legacy the Christensens had left.
Ian pauses for a moment and lets out a deep breath. He says it only started a few weeks ago but honestly, I think this burden of his mother’s death has impacted him on a deeper level. He’s exhausted from the mind games and I don’t believe he’s ever properly mourned Lula Jean.
“When he spread those rumors about you and stalked you at the studio, I knew time was quickly running out. Emma came up with the idea of the dance. I told her you would never go through with it but you know how Emma is? She told me to start a fight with you so you would in spite of me.”
I truly believe the real genius of the Fergusons is Emma.
“It was never my intention to have you know any of this and I regret you do. I didn’t want you to get involved. I didn’t mean to use you the way I did and I’m deeply sorry for that. But that’s our family in a nutshell. If this is too much and you want to leave for good, I completely understand.” He turns to me. “I only had your best interest involved, Domi. I didn’t want to do this at all but Todd and Dwight gave me no choice.”
I silently nod. I feel so stupid for doubting Ian’s love and loyalty to me, when he was silently proving it all along. I will never doubt him again. “I understand why you didn’t tell me but I do wish you’d clued me in prior.”
“I didn’t want you to be distracted as you were opening your studio. Your business is top priority and I wanted you to be focused on that.” He explains.
“It is but you’re also my top priority, too!” I argue. “I’m not completely dependent and helpless but you’re everything to me, baby. When you’re in pain, so am I. When you’re happy, so am I.” I grab his hand and hold it tight. “We’re in this together.”
Ian kisses my hand and I feel relaxed already. In so much drama with the E(mma), A(nthony), G(erald), I forget I have probably the most sane Ferguson right next to me. He’s mysterious, a bit wicked, incredible in bed, and he makes the most awesome pancakes. What more could a gal ask her?
“There is one more thing,” Ian digs into his pocket and pulls out a ring box.
HOLY SHIT! HE’S ABOUT TO PROPOSE!
I’m marking out inside but I’m as calm as I can be on the outside. “Yes?” I calmly reply.
He opens up the ring box and it’s this small, dainty ring with the tiniest diamond I’ve ever seen. “The real reason I gave up Sydney’s tour was because I knew how uncomfortable it made you I did the tour with her. It was fun traveling but being here with you is where I really want to be. Your happiness is paramount to me, Domi. I promise to honor you in your absence like I would in your presence.” I can’t help the tears falling down my cheeks now. “I wasn’t suppose to fall in love with a woman so much younger than me and I tried to avoid it, but I can’t help it. You’re everything I could ever want and then some.” His use of slang brought a chuckle out of me. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Hell, yes!” I shout and Ian gives me a hug. I’m shaking and anxious to get the ring on my finger. I don’t care how small it is; my man just freakin’ proposed to me! “Put the ring on, baby!”
“Actually, not this one,” Ian takes the ring and crumples it up. What the…? “It was a fake ring, angel. The proposal was real but the ring was fake. Amazing what those 3-D printers can do nowadays.”
“Okay, so where’s my ring?” I already said yes, so…
Ian pulls out another ring box and opens it. Before me is the biggest freakin’ ring I’ve ever seen. Holy crap! I think my finger might need its own security guard. “This is your ring.”
It’s a cushion-cut diamond, the exact ring I’d picked out and showed to Emma, who must’ve relayed it to Ian. No matter what angle the ring is at, it sparkles. It’s truly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
He slips the ring on my finger and I can’t stop staring at it. I’m going to be Dominique Ferguson and hopefully soon.
“Do you like it?” He asks.
“Baby, I love it!” I give him a big hug. “It’s perfect!”
“Whatever you want, angel,” Ian’s voice caresses my ear as his arms wrap around my body, “you can have. The biggest wedding. Destination wedding. Whatever you want.”
I have no clue what I want. I don’t think a wedding is even in my peripheral right now. “You know what I want right now?”
“What is it, angel?”
“I want fried catfish, hush puppies, and hot water cornbread,” I nod, “yeah, that sounds hella good right about now.”
“Okay,” Ian chuckles, “let’s go. I’ll tell the pilot to meet us at the airport.”
“Airport?” I pull back from him. Um, Inglewood is only a few miles away… “Where are we going?”
“There was a soul food restaurant I wanted to check out in Atlanta. For some reason, I have a taste for soul food now.” He winks at me. “So let’s go, angel.”
I grab my purse and interlock fingers with my now fiancée. “Let’s go, baby.”
Bad and Bougie Playlist
Bad and Bougie Playlist as chosen by the readers:
Candice Satchell - Feenin' by Jodeci
Courtney Purifoy - 69 by Marsha Ambrosius
Courtney Purifoy - Closer by Kings of Leon
Courtney Purifoy - Redbone by Childish Gambino
Erica Cooper - Nasty Girl by Vanity 6
Keisha Thomas - I'm A Mess by Anthony Hamilton
Keisha Thomas - Veins by Jazmine Sullivan
LaShana Avery - SZA – Love Galore
LaShana Avery – Kelela – Floor Show
LaTonya Abernathy - Red Light Special by TLC
Loette DeeDee Johnson - Kiss It Better by Rihanna
Maria Tratas - Bootylicious by Destiny's Child
Monica Taylor Mahle - Often by The Weeknd
Monica Taylor Mahle - Two Weeks by FKA Twigs
Pamela J-w - Anytime, Anyplace by Janet Jackson
Reagan Curtis - Partition by Beyonce
Shavon Augustine - Damn by Jamie Foxx
Shavon Augustine - Feel It by Jacquees
Stacy Kindles - Freak Like Me by Adina Howard
Tesh Diggins - 6 inch by Beyonce
Tesh Diggins - Rockstar by Rihanna
Yolanda Atkins - Say Yes by Floetry