“That’s what he said, but men lie to women all the time, Ravie.”
“You’re right. But don’t you want to confront the man and look into his eyes while he explains what was going on in that picture?”
“No. He’s just going to lie and try to wiggle out of it like Tobias did. Only this time, I don’t want to hear it and I won’t forgive him. Ravie, please understand that I’m not upset with Hayden for hiding his career from me because I did the same thing. I’m pissed about him staying in Frankfurt on New Year’s Eve instead of visiting me in Atlanta, claiming he had to work when he was really there hooking up with his ex. And what kind of drugs was he taking?”
“First of all, Hayden ain’t Tobias. Let’s get that straight. And you don’t know for a fact that he was fooling around with his ex. If any man deserves the benefit of the doubt, I think it’s the one who made you feel alive again on that damn mountain. And as far as the drugs go, take your ass to Munich and ask Hayden about it. You need to go over there and face the man. He’s been dying to see you since y’all parted ways. Please go see him, Eesh. Hell, I’ll even let Chip go with you.”
“I don’t want to go. And even if I did, it’s too late because you already canceled the flight. I’m sure the pilot has already turned the plane around.”
A few moments of silence ticked by and I got a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. “Ravieeeee ?!”
“I…um…I didn’t exactly cancel the flight.” She laughed nervously and backed away from the bed. “See, I thought I would be able to talk you into going, but…” She shrugged and laughed again.
“Well, you thought wrong ! It’s a damn shame that Hayden’s pilot is flying all the way over here for nothing because I ain’t going.”
“Excuse me, Miss Zyeshia.”
I looked up and saw my housekeeper, Isadora, standing in the doorway of my home studio. I turned off the skinny track I had just laid and was playing back. “Yes?”
“Mr. Ellis is on the phone again. It’s the fifth time he’s called this hour, ma’am. What should I say to him?”
“Tell him the same thing you told him last time. I’m not here and you don’t know when I’ll be back.”
“Yes, ma’am, Miss Zyeshia.”
Big Quad didn’t know it, but he was a hot minute away from getting a pink slip because he was working my nerves, frowning and shaking his fat-ass head at me. I couldn’t fire Ravie because she was family and I didn’t trust any other person on earth with my secrets. And she knew every last one of mine. But she and Big Quad had been giving a girl the cold shoulder for the last three days because I didn’t go to Munich to kiss Hayden’s ass and I refused to take his calls. I didn’t give a damn, though, because Eesh had had it up to her eyebrows with no-good, unfaithful, lying-ass men, which included Hayden slash Viper Drachenberg. I loved him, but I wasn’t willing to be his fool. I was done with love. From here on out, I was flying solo.
I turned the track on again and started vibing to my fresh beats and lyrics. After my breakup with Tobias and Hayden’s shadiness, I was going to throw myself deeper into my music and acting. Everything else would have to take a back seat. The song I had written the night I was supposed to have flown to Munich to visit Hayden was the first step in my new beginning. “Fool No More” would be my lead single on my next CD titled “Lady Z: Fast Forward.” I was putting my past far behind me and anticipating a wonderful future ahead minus the heartbreaks and disappointment from men. Zyeshia was about to live life for Zyeshia . Fuck men.
Ravie, Big Quad, and I stared at my cell phone when it started vibrating and flashing on the wooden slab next to the control board. The picture I had taken of Hayden our last night on Blue Ridge lit up the screen. His expressionless mug was so damn sexy with his eyes piercing straight through my soul. My breath hitched in my throat. I missed him so much and I wanted to hear his gravelly, bass-bottom voice drowning with his seductive German accent, but I was determined to get over him. And I couldn’t do that if I became weak and allowed him to get inside my head. So, I would continue to ignore his calls until he stopped calling once and for all.
Ravie stood from her seat on a barstool when my phone stopped ringing. She smoothed her lime green maternity tee over her six-month baby bump and narrowed her eyes at me.
“I never thought I would ever say anything like this to you, but you’re a punk-ass little girl, Natalie Zyeshia Taylor! You forgave Tobias after you caught his lowlife, snake ass cheating with that video scrubette, but you won’t even give Hayden the opportunity to confess or deny if he actually cheated at all. You’re a coward-ass chick!”
She stormed out of the studio, mumbling under her breath and shaking her head. I rolled my eyes at her before I turned to see what Big Quad had to say. He wouldn’t even look in my direction. His fake ass was pretending like he was reading “Judge Me Not,” one of my urban fiction books by my girl, Honey.
Determined to live my life the way I wanted to and ignoring everybody else, I increased the volume on my playback and allowed the lyrics of my new theme song to take me away.
“What’s up, early-morning listeners? Thank you for tuning in to WPIX FM-105.5, the station that puts you in the mix with all the hot and popping pix . This is your boy, Osiris J., host of The Morning Mix Up, and man, oh, man, have I got a delicious treat for y’all this cold winter Friday morning in the ATL. We’ve got a special guest in the house. So, grab another cup of java and hurry up and butter your toast. If you’re on the road, fighting that crazy Atlanta morning traffic on your way to or from work or school, put your whip on cruise control and roll with the flow because royalty is amongst us, and you don’t want to miss it. Are you ready to greet your fans, your highness?”
“You know I am.”
“Listen to her sounding all sweet and spicy, listeners. Girl, you’re about to have brothahs running off the road.”
I cracked up and shook my head at Osiris J. Ravie, who was sitting right next to me, didn’t crack a smile. She was all into her iPad, reading gossip blogs, I supposed.
“Hey, I don’t want to delay this interview, but I’ve got to tell y’all something, listeners,” the radio host went on to say. “The show’s producers had to book this music powerhouse like a year out because she’s always on the move. That’s why we’re so excited and blessed to have her here with us right now. So, without further ado, live in the WPIX-FM 105.5 studio this morning, we’ve got a sensational, mega quintuple threat. That’s right. Y’all heard me. One, two, three, four, five … This lil’ mama is multi-talented, and she slays in all five categories. She’s a three-time Grammy-award-winning singer who writes all of her own hits. And she’s a delectable piece of chocolate eye candy for the fellows. Welcome, singer, songwriter, dancer, pianist, and acting diva, Zyeshia !”
“Good morning and thanks for having me.”
“It’s my pleasure, gorgeous. How are you and what are you up to?”
“I am fantastic. I took a little time off over the holidays, but I’m back on the grind, making things happen. My crew and I are currently in the studio working on a new CD, and the material is hot .”
From that point on, the interview was smooth as brown gravy. Osiris J. led me into a conversation about my background in music and how I’d been discovered and landed in the music industry. I gave listeners a glimpse into my family life and I even talked about my designer shoe fetish. I took a few questions from callers who mainly wanted to know about my upcoming music project. Others wanted me to confirm or debunk the rumor that I’d been cast to play legendary R&B singer, Ruth Brown, in the HBO biopic drama currently being developed by Medallion Studios. I didn’t touch that question because although I had received the script and I’d been offered the role, nothing had been etched in stone yet.
I was enjoying connecting with fans and receiving praise for my musical and acting accomplishments. But shit got a little shaky when a female caller asked me about my past relati
onship with Tobias, our breakup, and how I felt about his life with Jian and their new baby girl. Ravie signaled for Osiris J. to cut the caller off. It was the first time she’d shown any sign of life during the entire interview. I patted her hand and smiled at her to calm her down. There was no need for her to act a fool because I had expected someone to bring up Tobias and Jian, so I was more than prepared to respond.
“What’s your name, sis?” I coolly asked the caller.
“This is Rashaunique from Decatur where it’s mo’ greater. Hey !”
“Well, Rashaunique, The Terror and I are no longer together, as everyone already knows. Apparently, he found a better life and a deeper love with Jian instead of with me, and now, they’re the proud parents of little baby girl. But I ain’t mad at them because life is all about happiness and I assume they are happy. Therefore, I wish them all the best and so should you.”
“I hear you, girl, but he’s a damn fool to leave you for Jian ‘cause every rapper in the game done been up in her. He swapped sugar for shit and— ”
“Whoa! Whoa!” Osiris J. cut the caller off, but he was laughing like crazy. “You’ve got to keep it PG, Ma. You’re about to have the FCC on a brothah’s back.”
“Oh, my bad,” Rashaunique quickly apologized. “All I’m trying to say is I love you, Zyeshia. The whole world loves you, girl. You are a very talented and giving woman and you’re a good role model for little brown girls like my three daughters. You’re pretty, smart, and hella gifted, and I think The Terror was a fool to pick a video chick over you. That’s why his single flopped.” She cracked the hell up, laughing. “The Comeback” was whack!”
I thanked Rashaunique for her compliments and scribbled a note on a piece of paper, asking Osiris J. to discontinue all incoming calls for questions. The remaining minutes of the interview were cool and laidback, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hayden
Munich, Germany
Allianz Arena
I had never been happier to hear the final practice whistle blow. I high fived a few of my teammates and took my time walking over to the touchline, mindful not to put too much pressure on my left knee. It was throbbing due to the strenuous practicing and exercising I’d done over the past two days. My personal trainer was going to meet me at my estate later today for a massage, heat and ice therapy, and a compression wrap. Then I would relax and keep my leg elevated on pillows until tomorrow morning. Hopefully, my knee would stable by game time. My fans were expecting me to rule the field tomorrow evening in my first game since returning from suspension, and I could not disappoint them. Despite the deep and painful hole in my heart, I would play to the best of my ability for all the people who loved and believed in Viper Drachenberg. I only wished that the one woman who Hayden Ellis believed in would also believe in him.
My instincts had told me that the picture of Ilsa kissing me at Club Mirage New Year’s Eve was the reason for the disconnection between Natalie and me. And if she had seen that picture, she now knew the alternate side of my life. The thought of her finding out who I was in Germany and other parts of the world through the media instead of by my confession troubled me a great deal. But the notion that she believed I had been unfaithful to her ripped my soul out. I had hidden my professional identity from her, and she had done the same to me. Therefore, I was confident we could successfully work through that issue. But the presumption that I was in a relationship with another woman was something altogether different, especially considering what that useless rapper imbecile had done to her.
I imagined Natalie was devastated and humiliated by that goddamn picture. That’s exactly why I had been trying so desperately to reach her. It’d felt like someone had driven a sharp dagger through my heart when my pilot, Brunon, contacted me to inform me that she wasn’t at the private airstrip at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport when he’d landed in Atlanta. Short of hopping on a commercial flight to Atlanta and going to her house, Selig and I had exhausted all efforts to reach Natalie, but she didn’t respond to our calls, text messages, or emails.
Holding on to a sliver of hope, I’d asked Selig to secure a hotel room for Brunon overnight in Atlanta just in case my inability to contact Natalie was just an unlucky fluke, but by morning, I knew that wasn’t the case. The constant media coverage of that dreadful picture of Ilsa kissing me and the ridiculous rumor that we had reconciled stoked my instincts, forcing me to accept the truth. Natalie knew I was Viper Drachenberg and she had seen that repulsive picture. The love of my life evidently thought the very worst of me, and I felt like my world had come to an end.
A good night’s rest was a luxury of the past, and I only forced myself to eat whenever my hunger pangs became unbearable to the extent that it felt like my belly was chewing itself. And if it wasn’t for football—practicing, conditioning, and watching video footage of past games—Selig would’ve had to commit me to an asylum for the severely insane five days ago. God knew that I inched closer and closer to losing my mind every day that passed that I couldn’t hear Natalie’s voice or see her image on a cyber screen. My life was a living hell without her in it. But it wouldn’t be that way much longer.
Thursday, I would be eligible to miss a practice right before International Break, in which the German national team had no rival to compete against. Only the devil himself could stop me from boarding my jet immediately after Friday morning’s team meeting. And it would take him and all of his minions to keep me away from Natalie once my jet landed. Make no mistake about it. I would see her by any means. No matter what had happened between us or the secrets we’d kept from each other, she was mine , and I refused to live life without her. Truthfully, without Natalie Zyeshia Taylor, Hayden ‘Viper’ Drachenberg Ellis had no life.
When I finally made it to the touchline with the rest of the team and the coaching staff, my favorite ball boy handed me a towel and my water bottle. My attention drifted in and out as I gulped down ice cold water and listened to the head coach fire off last-minute pointers and instructions on tomorrow evening’s game. I couldn’t get Natalie off my mind no matter the effort I put forth. She was a permanent resident in my head and my heart, but I wanted the woman in my life, my arms, my home, my bed…hell, in my entire world forever. And by Friday night, Eastern Standard Time, she would be.
After a quick huddle and our unity chant to fire us up, the team dispersed and headed for the tunnel in the stadium that led to the locker room. I saw a group of reporters with microphones and cameras ahead waiting to pounce on me for a statement. I hated the media and I avoided them at any cost, and they knew it. And because I was always resistant to reporters and led such a private life, it fueled their fire. Oftentimes, I felt they were obsessed with me. They were greedy for the tiniest morsel of information about my life outside of football, but I would never feed their hunger to expose my privacy. Never .
Selig rushed to my side and placed his hand on my shoulder. “The media is here, sir.”
“So what? I’ll ignore them as I’ve always done.”
“No. Not this time, sir. I think you should talk to them.”
I laughed and wiped perspiration from my face with the towel. “I don’t have any— ”
“You need to put the rumor regarding your love life to rest once and for all. Your silence isn’t helping the situation the least bit, sir. It gives the gossipers such a broad canvas to create more colorful lies about you. If you really want the world to know that you and Ms. Göbel have not reconciled and the kiss was not a mutual act where you’re concerned, you must denounce the relationship myth.” He tapped a finger against his chin and gave me a sly grin. “Tell the truth about your status. For once in your life, throw caution to the wind, sir. Pour the tea, as the Americans say. Give the entire football world and everyone else something to talk about. I dare you.”
I considered Selig’s advice as we approached the tunnel. Perhaps he was right. Maybe after ten years in the league and the recent
loss of the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, it was time for me to address the media. What would be the harm at this point? A little bit of honesty was always honorable. If these desperate reporters wanted a goddamn statement from Viper Drachenberg, I had a hell of one to give them, and they wouldn’t even have to beg me for it.
“Viper!” a young male reporter shouted. “How do you feel about returning to the field for competition tomorrow?”
“How long have you and Ilsa Göbel been back together?” a tall female reporter asked. “Will there be a wedding in the near future?”
The middle-aged reporter from the press conference a few days ago raised his microphone in the air and shouted, “Do you have an injury? Are you and Ilsa Göbel engaged? Will you remain in Bundesliga or seek a new contract in another league?”
Selig and I stood in place, facing the group of eager reporters as they continued shouting all kinds of questions at me. The buzz of cameras capturing my image filled the air and video cameramen sharpened their aims and zoomed in on me. I noticed a few faces that had hunted me down like blood hounds my entire career. They’d been determined to crack my code of privacy as if I owed them a front-row seat inside my personal domain off the football field. They didn’t deserve the statement I was about to make, but Natalie did.
“Good afternoon. This is new to me even after being in the league for ten years, so you’ll have to bear with me and allow me to do this my way. I’ll give you a brief summation on a few events that have taken place in my life in recent days. After I tell you what I feel is important for you to know, that will be it. I won’t entertain any other inquiries.”
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