“Sit down Ilene. I don’t want to hear you pathetic assed appeals now. Tell me this. Do you ever think of the wives and children’s lives that you fuck up when you go after your men?”
Ilene dropped her head and looked to the floor as she sat at the edge of the bed.
“I never meant to hurt any of them, I just needed…”
“More. Right Ilene? You just needed more. My husband was paying you over $5,000 a month and you just had to have more. Well, I put a stop to the payments myself. The sad thing is, Ilene, a Mercedes wasn’t enough for you. Your little country club membership and mansion wasn’t enough either. Now that I think of it, a loving husband wasn’t even enough for you. And now here you are praying that I don’t blow your brains out all over this suite because it would be in bad form in front of your little plastic friends. What a joke! Poor Charles.”
Ilene’s head jolted in Regina’s direction when she heard her husband’s name. She didn’t want to infuriate Regina but hated that she knew anything about her home life and feared she would harm her family. Regina moved to the bed and pointed the gun directly at Ilene’s head.
“Oh yes, I know Charles and all about your little family. He and I became quite close after you exposed my husband. You might even say that we were…intimate.”
Ilene’s eyes widened as tears flooded them.
“Oh, don’t tell me you’re surprised. I left my lipstick all over his pillows. I had hoped that you found the earring I left for you as well. I just know you saw me when your psycho ass ran over the mail box. Luckily, the house is registered in my sister’s name. And Charles, well, I guess he finally had enough of your shit. I loved what you did with the silk duvet and antique furniture. You know I gotta tell you. He was one great screw. So passionate…and a great teacher to boot.”
Ilene’s lips trembled as she responded.
“You have gotten what you wanted. You humiliated me and fucked my husband. Why are you here now?”
Regina pressed the gun against Ilene’s temple and moved closer to her face. She now spoke slowly and quietly to Ilene.
“Oh that’s real simple Ilene. I want to destroy you. Just like you destroyed my marriage and my family.”
Ilene’s world shattered, still she tried to plead her case.
“But I can’t do anything else to you now. The truth is out. Paul stopped paying me and my marriage with Charles is over.”
Regina smiled in amusement.
“You know, you’re right. Your shit is pretty fucked. But there’s just one thing I need for you to do….In fact, I think tonight would be the perfect time.”
Ilene’s mind wandered wildly as she awaited Regina’s next command.
“Tonight is a big night for you. So many of your friends will be there. I think I saw a couple of reporters from the society section of the Atlanta Journal. What a perfect time for you to turn over a new leaf and admit all of your indiscretions publicly. Kinda like a baptism.”
Ilene stared at Regina as if she had said something in a foreign language to her.
“What are you saying?” Ilene asked doubtfully. Regina exaggerated a pout.
“Now, lets not be stupid Ilene. You know exactly what I am saying. Tonight you will announce to everyone that you have slept with several notable men and blackmailed them, stolen from your husband by committing identity theft and securing a credit card that you have charged over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars on, arranged to have your husband attacked, and abandoned two children who you have not acknowledged in Trinidad for over thirty yearsYou have been a busy girl.”
Ilene felt faint.
“I can’t do that. My life will be over.” Regina smiled.
“See, I knew you would understand.”
Ilene finally faced Regina and stared at her incredulously.
“And what if I don’t do this?”
Regina’s smile remained plastered on her face.
“Then I will. But I will leak it to every news agency on the east coast and supply names, numbers, and pictures. Either way, you are screwed. But I guarantee if you piss me off, I can make it so your life will never return to normal. What? Did you think you could get away with treating people like shit and nobody would ever get to you? I guess you can call me the piper, bitch, ‘cause it’s time to pay. Everything has a price Ilene, but you knew that already.”
Ilene was not about to concede, not even with a gun pointed to her head.
“What if I go to the police first and tell them you’re trying to blackmail me?”
“Truly, you have underestimated me. I have already set up a media blitz to be released as soon as my contacts spot you anywhere near the police. Forget trying to do it over the phone, they can’t take statements anywhere except the police station. Like I said, you can try to piss me off, but I promise that it won’t be pretty for you or your family. Who the hell is gonna believe you anyway? Everyone knows that you leaked the information about Paul to the press. And where you’re going, they don’t take kindly to snitches.”
Ilene dropped her head again.
Regina perked up and poured herself a flute of champagne.
“Okay, times a wastin'. You need to go clean up your make up. You look like hell. You got five minutes to get your shit together and then we’re heading down stairs.
“I can’t do it.” Ilene screamed through muffled tears.
The statement angered Regina as she slammed her flute down on the mahogany bar causing some of the champagne to spill.
“The hell you’re not. You didn’t think twice when you fucked over those men and their families. You don’t have a fucking choice. Either you get it together and take your ass downstairs or you wont celebrate this birthday or anymore for after it.”
Ilene could tell that Regina was serious as she attempted to gather her gown and salvage what was left of her makeup. Her hands trembled with every stroke and defied the master piece that she had earlier paid three thousand dollars to achieve.
After praying desperately, Ilene walked to the door, closely followed by Regina, who had now concealed the gun in the beautifully adorned gift box. As they closed the door to the suite, Regina looked assuredly at a crestfallen Ilene.
The contrast of Regina’s exuberance and Ilene’s dismay appeared cartoonish. She threw her arm around her and walked close to Ilene like they were girlfriends engaged in a private conversation. After warning Ilene not to try anything stupid, they approached the beautifully decorated ballroom.
When they reached the entrance, the crowd erupted in applause. Regina allowed some distance between herself and Ilene as media people snapped pictures. Just as Ilene prepared to enter the ballroom, she whispered in Ilene’s ears.
“Buck up bitch, it’s show time.”
She then disappeared into the crowd and awaited the festivities.
Ilene offered the only smile she could manage as she mentally prepared herself for what she equated as suicide. The shiny gun that was pointed at her prompted her to move with purpose as countless well wishers approached her. She knew that she only had a little while before Regina’s deadline and was not going to do anything to endanger her family. It was her lone act of unselfishness.
She closed her eyes as she approached the head table and requested that she be given the microphone to greet all of her guests. The room hushed as the spotlight shined on her and she parted her lips. Finally, she was in the spotlight that she had craved for years, just not the way she wanted it.
Chapter 47 Marc
Marc stood peering at a woman who looked vaguely like Sherise. “She wouldn’t do that shit.” Marc said to himself as he dismissed the shadowy woman engrossed in conversation. “Man, I’m trippin.”
He continued to survey the room of extravagantly dressed mannequins who attempted small talk. He couldn’t help but compare the women to Natalie and wanted to call her again just to hear her smooth voice.
His father seemed rather content despite the fact that the glitzy pomp of the affa
ir was not his style. It appeared that he caught the ear of a few philanthropic white haired men interested in giving a hefty donation to some youth organizations. It was, after all, election season. Marc decided that his father did not need rescuing and headed for the bar.
As he ordered a shot of Patron with a twist of lime, he found himself doubting his decision to drink. Alcohol helped to usher his nightmare with Sherise in and God knows he didn’t want to ever have a repeat of that fiasco. Just as he was about to put the shot glass to his lips, he noticed a blinking light indicating that he had a new voicemail. He quickly swallowed the shot in one gulp as he prepared himself to listen to another outlandish threat left by a now desperate Sherise.
He was pleasantly surprised to find that it was Reggie’s voice. His tone defied his normal sprite demeanor.
“Dawg. Man I got some shit to tell you about that broad Sherise. Get at me ASAP.” Beep. End of new messages. Marc’s heart raced as he speed dialed Reggie’s number. Surprisingly, he answered on the first ring.
“Man, what took you so long to get at me?”
“I had my phone off for a minute because that chick is out of control.”
“Dawg, you aint gonna believe this shit. I told you this broad had game….” Just as Reggie began to inform Marc of his findings, Ilene appeared in spotlight requesting everyone’s attention. Marc wasn’t sure, but he thought that she appeared disheveled and upset…like she had been crying. His attention returned to Reggie.
“Dawg, I gotta hit you back in like five minutes. Somethins’ goin’ on with my mom.” With that, he ended the call and headed in the direction of the stage where his mom stood looking like she was worn and tired. He listened as the crowd hushed wondering exactly what his mother had to say on what she called one of the biggest nights of her life.
Chapter 48 Natalie.
It had been raining for four days since Natalie stormed out of the restaurant. Heath had attempted, in vain, to reconnect with her. She listened to his heartfelt messages about being taken with who she was as a woman, but refused to let herself believe it. He was, indeed, too good to be true. No man could still be attracted to a woman that he knew was certified crazy. Right? How dare he make her feel vulnerable and exposed and then promise to care for her, no matter what her past suggested.
“You could at least call him back.” Elise sang into the phone as she attempted to coddle Natalie into happiness.
“For what Elise? For him to say it’s cool now, and then a few days or months down the road decide that he can’t deal with my mood swings or crying fits. Thanks but no thanks.”
“So, what? You’re saying you are just gonna have meaningless flings with dudes who could care less about you?”
“Why not? Pussy is all they really want anyway. It’s all a game. Who’s gonna get what they want first.”
“I can’t believe you are trying to sell me this bullshit like you actually believe it. Bitch, you been planning your wedding since you were ten. And I know your crazy ass already bought the dress, cause I saw it when I borrowed-kept your black Kenneth Cole slings for my showing the other day.”
“Heifer, I didn’t even notice they were missing, so I imagine they will be back by this week.”
Natalie said in a half serious tone, half chuckle.
“And I bouht that dress a long time ago, when I still believed in happily ever after. Now I know, it’s about the sex. Nothing less, nothing more.”
Natalie heard Elise take a drag from her forbidden cancer stick.
“Hey, you know I am always down for an occasional fling with a nameless brother, but we both know that’s not what we really want.”
“Speak for yourself. I am not waiting for him to reject me. Hell no. I am gonna get out before the shit gets too complicated.”
“What if he really likes you, Nat?”
“Then I guess it will work itself out.”
Another drag.
“You are so cave bitch.”
“Thanks.”
After a pause in the conversation, Elise garnered the nerve to ask what had been on her mind from the beginning of their conversation.
“You’re not dissing Heath because he’s not black, are you?” Natalie’s eyes stretched about two centimeters.
“What the hell? Why is everyone acting like him not being black disqualifies him? I mean, we are in the fucking twenty second century.” Elise sighed in exasperation.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. And some of my best friends are white. Spare me the speech, Condoleezza. You said yourself that you hated the way the brothers looked at you when you were with Heath.”
“No, I said it made me uncomfortable at first, but that’s their problem.”
“Well, why aren’t you just kicking this Marc dude to the curb? Isn’t he a man just like Heath?”
“Yes, but this is different.” Elise sucked her teeth in protest.
“You are so full of shit. The only difference is that Marc is black, and Heath is Jewish.”
“Heath is not Jewish, he is Greek.”
“Sorry, you say potato. I say pah-tat-o. It doesn’t make a difference. You are a racist, plain and simple.” “
“I am not a racist, jack ass. Marc and I connected on another level.”
“Yes, I know. Yall connected on the bed, yall connected on the floor, yall connected on the dresser…”
“It’s not like that. I mean, the brother can eat some chocolate like nobody’s business and God and the people three floors under know that he is hung like a horse, but I think I would like him even if we didn’t have sex.”
“And my name is Oprah.”
“Really, it’s different with him. It’s…comfortable.”
“Was it comfortable enough for him to know about your medical history?”
It was Natalie’s turn to pause. After a moment, she responded softly.
“No, I haven’t mentioned it yet. But he’s coming out here soon and I am going to put everything on the table.”
“Humph.”
This was all Elise could muster. She had to ask the burning question.
“So what if he turns out to be a jerk and decides that he can’t deal with you and your past?”
Natalie swallowed hard before she answered. “Then I don’t want to be with him.”
Natalie said the words, but could not make herself believe them. Marc was a mature man. He understood that everyone has a past and she would do the same if it were him. It was him who made it a point to call her every night just to hear her voice. It was him who called every morning to wish her a good day and promise that he would make love to her to make up for every second he couldn’t see her face. She never questioned his intent, though she knew he could have any woman that he wanted. She needed to believe that it was more than sex. It had to be.
“So, how is your case going, anyway?”
Elise was a genius at switching the momentum of the conversation. Natalie was still distracted by her thoughts of Marc.
“It’s going good…Hey Lise, let me give you a call back later.”
“Why? What are you about to do? It’s pouring outside.”
Natalie smiled.
“I have to see a man about a horse.”
“Trick!”
Natalie blushed.
“Gimme twenty dollars!”
“I aint got, I aint got it.”
“Broke assed ho!”
Both women hung up the phone. Natalie fell back into the comfort of her plush bed and pretended Marc was there with her. She relived each moment of their first encounter, stroke by stroke. Just as she was about to explode, the phone rang. She hesitated but decided to answer it and forego her pleasure. Just as she pressed talk, she realized that the number did not appear on the display unit of her cell phone.
“Hello?”
Natalie was hoping to finally discover who her mystery caller was.
A feminine voice provided an answer to her lingering question.
“BITCH.”
/> The caller summarily hung up the phone. Natalie couldn’t decide if she was annoyed more by the disruption of her pleasure or the rudeness of the female caller. She decided that whoever SHE was, if she ever called back, she would get an earful. She looked out of the window at the pouring rain, and decided to try it again. This time, she turned her ringer off.
“Back to you Marc.” She thought as she made their night happen again and again in the privacy of her own home.
When Natalie woke, the rain had stopped. The sun was an interesting blend of orange and reds as it threatened to retire for the night. She decided to treat herself to a trip to Starbucks to celebrate the press conference she coordinated the day before to announce her new and very wealthy client’s minority home ownership program.
Before talking to Elise, she had received the call from the office congratulating her on her stroke of genius.
“Now let’s see what those stiffs over at La Casa have to say. Hell, they can protest all they want now. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of ‘em don’t try to get on a crew to help build those suckers.”
Natalie managed to offer a compensatory chuckle to her managing partner’s blatantly racist comment. Oh, how she hated corporate America.
She managed to slip her sweats on and readied herself for the caffeine rush a trip to Starbucks promised when her house phone rang. It had to be a member of her family, as they were the only ones with the number.
“Hello mother.” Natalie managed. Her attempt to veil her apprehension was fruitless. Her mother did not let it go unchallenged.
“I don’t know why you got an attitude. I’m the one that should be mad. You aint returned none of my calls, and I said it was important when I left a message on that voice mail.” Natalie rolled her eyes. It became commonplace when she spoke with her mother.
“Sorry mother. I have been real busy.” Rosemary didn’t respond. The line was quiet for what Natalie thought was an eternity.
“Momma, you there?” Natalie asked, noting that she addressed her mother with a genuine concern that she had not expressed in years. It was then that she heard Rosemary’s sniffles. “Momma, are you crying?”
A Price to Pay for Everything Page 31