Beauty and the Beast

by Deatri King Bey

  “It won’t work, Karen. I know this is my fault.” He kissed her forehead. “But thanks for trying.” He allowed his head to drop back. “I’ll make the calls, but I’m telling them not to sell to Catherine.”

  “What? But… but she’ll lose controlling interest of Dixon Textiles.”

  “I know. She’s more important to me than Dixon Textiles. I have to save her from herself.”

  “Just get out of the way.” Alexis attempted to push her way past Janis, but a burly female security guard, dressed in dark blue slacks and button up shirt, stepped in her path and blocked the way.

  “Wait a second, ma’am.”

  Alexis craned her head back and snarled at the woman. “Do you know who I am?” she snapped.

  The guard smacked her lips. “No, and don’t really care. Now step out, find yo’ manners, and try this again.” Betty nudged Alexis out and closed the door.

  They heard Alexis fussing up a storm to whoever happened to be on the opposite side of the door.

  “I can’t believe you did that.” Janis giggled. “I like you already.”

  Betty smiled. “Cousin Anna told me to keep an eye out for that Alexis Maxwell. Said she don’t think her shit stanks. You cain’t let that type of person push you ’round, Janis.”

  The doorbell chimes sounded and Janis opened the door. This time Alexis bowed her head slightly and politely said, “I’m here to see my son, Bruce Maxwell. Is he in?”

  “I’m not sure if he is seeing guests today. Please wait in my office, and I’ll check.” Janis motioned toward her office.

  Alexis glared at the guard, then followed Janis into the office. “Why all of the extra security? Can you believe they actually made me show I. D?” She sucked air through her teeth. “Imagine me, Alexis Maxwell, having to show I. D. to gain entry into my own son’s home.” She fidgeted with the leaves of the philodendron on Janis’s desk. “This has Victoria written all over it. She’s always been jealous of me.”

  Janis dialed Bruce’s private line. He’d said not to disturb him, but Janis was in no mood for Alexis today. She had a good mind to turn her over to Betty, Anna’s cousin, for more home training. She finished her call with Bruce and hung up. “He’ll see you, but let me warn you, he’s in a bad mood.”

  “When isn’t he in a bad mood? His mood will change as soon as he sees what I have for him.”

  Taken aback, Janis swore she’d heard wrong. “Did you say you have something for him?”

  “One of my first changes around here will be you,” Alexis promised.

  Bruce returned to his office desk. He’d been watching Nefertiti for the past hour as she sketched in the back flower garden. His heart beat stronger when he saw she’d stopped covering herself like the mummy gone bad dye job. She wore simple peach shorts and V-neck T-shirt, a cream veil that hooked onto her ears and covered from below her eyes to her chin, no shoes, and her hair was pulled up into a giant afro-puff.

  I’m such an idiot. Initially his ego had been bruised when she refused his proposal, yet again. Once he cooled, he realized he was acting like a jerk, yet again. The love that flowed between the two of them was undeniable, but something still stood in the way. What?

  His lips slowly curled up with memories of her calling him a spoiled brat. At the time he didn’t think the assessment was funny or true, but now—he chuckled. Damn I love that woman! After the way he’d acted, he wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to marry him. Though he couldn’t see that actually happening.

  I need to get to work. With Alexis on her way up, he knew he wouldn’t get any real work done until she left. Procurement of Dixon Textiles stock was going better than planned. At the rate he was going, he’d own the majority by close of business tomorrow. Of course, he would continue purchasing stock until he owned all but Catherine’s share. If she considered selling, he’d buy her shares also.

  Over the years, he’d changed. In the past when he bought a family business or small company, he tore it apart, and didn’t give a damn about the previous owners or workers. I’m getting soft. Though he knew he was actually saving Dixon Textiles and the city, he felt sorry for Catherine. She reminded him of the die-hard worker who did whatever for forever, until some interloping busybody had the audacity to come in and change everything.

  Technically, he did want to change everything, to tell her how to run the company—where it should be run to be exact. Tunnel vision hadn’t impaired his vision as it had hers. He could see how this win-win situation benefited both of them. He knew if something didn’t change at the mill soon, she’d drown and take the workers and even the town with her. He could see she had become too attached to the way things used to be instead of dealing with the way things were now.

  “Bruce.” The door creaked as Alexis cracked it open and peeked in.

  He waved her in. “Hello, Alexis.”

  “Hello, darling.” She practically floated into the office.

  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her with a genuine smile when he hadn’t just handed her a check, cash or bought her something. “What can I do for you?” Suspicion colored his voice.

  “Oh no, baby. This time Mommy’s doing something for her little boy.”

  He cringed internally. His first memory was of being left on Victoria’s porch by his “Mommy.” Though only three at the time, he’d known something was desperately wrong.

  “Now, Bruce, I expect you to be a good boy and play with your toys until your Auntie Vic comes home from work.”

  “Where you going, Mommy? I don’t want to stay by myself.”

  “But you’re not by yourself.” She took several Marvel action figures out of a small cardboard box she’d brought along. “See, all of your heroes are here to keep you company. Stay on the porch, and they’ll keep you safe.”

  His little brows furrowed. “Where you going? I want to come.”

  “Now look, Bruce. I don’t have time for this. I have to be across town in twenty minutes.”

  He glanced at the grocery bag of his clothes and his box of toys. “You’re coming back for me, right?”

  “Of course,” she snapped. She drew in a few breaths, then stretched a tight smile across her face. “You’re Mommy’s little boy.”

  Fortunately and unfortunately, someone came for Bruce before Victoria arrived home several hours later. The Department of Children and Family Services sent a caseworker to investigate immediately when one of Victoria’s neighbors couldn’t get Bruce to leave the porch and stay inside with her until his aunt came home from work. He’d said his mother was coming for him and wouldn’t be able to find him if he left the porch.

  He was taken into custody, kicking and screaming, and handed over to Victoria that evening. Alexis wasn’t a perfect mother by any standards, but she was his mother. He loved her, and he wanted her. For weeks, he watched out the window for her, but Victoria finally made him stop. For months, he cried himself to sleep, but Victoria had been there to comfort him. For years, he thought he’d chased his mother away, but Victoria helped him realize Alexis had the problem, not Bruce.

  Contained in his box of toys was a letter. At the time he couldn’t read, but he knew his mother had written her “little boy” a note. He’d hid it in his room for later and forgot about it. When he was nine, he discovered the letter while cleaning his room. Over the following years he’d read it so many times, he could recite it by heart.

  Victoria,

  I know you’re angry about the way I left Bruce on the porch, but you would have talked me out of leaving, again. I can’t handle that beast. Last night he threw a fit and tore up my new issue of Ebony. I can’t believe such a demon seed came out of me. He’s horrible. I swear to God, they must have given me the wrong baby.

  Bobby said he’d marry me, but Bruce ruined that, too. A man don’t want to raise no other man’s child as it is, but Bruce kept acting the fool when all Bobby was doing was teaching him a little discipline.

  I hate to say it, but
Bruce just ain’t no good, and I’m not putting my life on hold for him any longer. I deserve more. I’m leaving him with you, but if you give him to the state, I fully understand.

  I love you and will write to let you know how I’m doing.

  Alexis

  Bruce remembered Bobby well. The man used to smack Alexis around. When Bruce tried to intervene, Bobby beat him also. Bruce’s mood was quickly moving from depressed to something far worse.

  “It’s not a good time for me to talk.” He pushed away from his desk and stalked over to the wet bar.

  “But you’ll love my surprise.”

  “Please, Alexis,” he bit out. “I need a few minutes to gather myself.” He grabbed a bottle of water out of the mini-fridge, twisted off the cap and poured the water over his head. The cold water trickled over his face and body, and stopped the progression toward rage. Dealing with whatever Alexis had in store for him required a shift in his mood.

  Nefertiti. Who could have known making love could be so sweet? I should have pursued her years ago. After Alexis finished playing whatever mind game she had in store for him today, he had some serious making up to do—for lost time and affection with Nefertiti. He drew in several ragged breaths, and his body hardened in anticipation of—

  “Bruce!”

  Ripped out of his daydream, he snapped, “What?”

  Face scrunched and head tilted to the side, Alexis neared him, apprehension clear in her cautious steps. “I… I thought you were having some sort of attack.”

  Confused by the concern in her voice, he could only stare. He recovered and shrugged off his surprise. Alexis didn’t care about him. She was up to something. He was no longer a little boy who put his faith in his mommy. In his heart, his mommy had died when he was nine—the first time he’d read the note.

  “I’m fine.” He tossed the empty bottle in the trash. Visions of Nefertiti had redirected his mood, and he didn’t want to ruin it with Alexis’s games. “What do you want?”

  “Well, Bruce.” She smoothed down her powder blue skirt, then sat on one of the barstools. “I… I want to apologize.”

  Instead of laughing in her face and throwing her out, he decided to wait and see what exactly she was up to. Janis had already told him she’d pitched a fit about Victoria being the owner of Maxwell Manor. Victoria could hardly support herself when she took Bruce in, yet she’d never hesitated. The way she’d bolted into the observation room and snatched him into his arms the first night, he knew at least one person loved him.

  Last night he’d heard Victoria and Anna trying to convince Nefertiti not to come to him. For a brief moment, he’d been transported to the porch again, being abandoned by someone he thought loved him. He’d gone to the corner to die emotionally, if not physically. If Victoria was afraid of him, then—

  That’s it! Now he truly understood how Nefertiti felt about her parents’ rejection. Dr. Herman had planted the seed, and though Bruce knew in his mind what Nefertiti was going through, it hadn’t registered with his heart until now.

  “Bruce, are you paying attention? I said I apologize,” Alexis said so nastily she negated her apology.

  “Apology accepted. Now have a nice life.”

  “Don’t you want to know what I’m apologizing for?”

  “I’m a busy man. I don’t have time for your games.” White dress shirt drenched, he unbuttoned it. He hadn’t bothered to wear his suit coat.

  “Look, I’m sorry about the way I left you with Victoria. At the time I wasn’t ready to be a mother, and I knew Victoria would provide a good home for you.”

  … if you give him to the state, I fully understand, ran through his mind. He’d never shown Victoria the note, and Alexis obviously had no idea he’d seen it. “Oh please, Auntie Vic was only eighteen, had to drop out of college and worked herself half to death to support us. Yes, she provided me with a downright outstanding home, but she shouldn’t have had to give up her dreams for minimum wage jobs to raise your child.” He swiped the residual water off his face and head with his shirt, then tossed it to the side.

  “I apologized for what I did to Victoria years ago. Whether you like it or not, she has forgiven me. I’m not here about Victoria. I’m here about you.”

  At a loss for words, he watched her round the bar and embrace him. The water from his T-shirt soaked into her powder blue blouse, but she didn’t seem to mind. She hadn’t touched him since he was three. This felt forced, but he thought he might be projecting. Nefertiti had been correct last night, and his jumbled emotions didn’t allow clear thinking. Though he’d told himself she was dead to him, a teeny-tiny part of him still wanted his mother’s love.

  “I’m worried about you. Mommy’s back, and I’m here to take care of my little boy.”

  “Worried about me?” He drew back. “What are you talking about?”

  “My only child hates me, and my only sister barely tolerates me.” She turned away from him. “I’m lonely and I truly regret not being there for you. I don’t want you to end up like me.”

  “I don’t hate you. I just don’t like you.”

  Her bitter laugh saddened him. “I guess I deserved that.” She returned to her seat on the stool. “I’m going to start being someone you can like.”

  “I didn’t mean to…” He hadn’t spoken out of anger or to hurt her, but from his heart. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “It’s all right. Six months of therapy has shown me that I’ve given you more than enough reasons not to like me, but you’ll see, I’ve changed.” She perked up and lightly tapped the padded stool next to hers. “Which leads me to my surprise.”

  Leery, he sat on the stool. She hadn’t given him anything but heartache since the action figures he received on his third birthday, and he wouldn’t be surprised if Victoria had actually given them to him.

  “You’ll never guess who I met a few weeks ago,” she said excitedly. “Elaine Gamble!”

  His enthusiasm didn’t match his mother’s. Actually, he wasn’t enthused at all. Elaine was a black American princess and raised to marry well. He knew Elaine through social events he’d attended with her husband. Eugene Gamble, one of the country’s top defense attorneys, adored his wife. She was an attractive woman, but Bruce couldn’t see himself married to someone who thought deciding which designer dress to wear any given day constituted a hard day’s work.

  Nefertiti came to his mind. She owned six art galleries in America and two overseas. Like him, she’d made it through college on scholarship and clawed her way to the top of her profession. Now that he could admire!

  “I’ve heard she’s very nice.” He glanced at his watch. Nearly noon, and he still had a few more calls to make regarding Dixon Textiles before he could spend the rest of the day in bed making Nefertiti scream.

  “Oh, that isn’t the half of it. And her daughter… Oh my, I couldn’t believe how stunning she is. She’s going on twenty-three. Young and full of life.”

  “I’m sure she’s nice. I know I’m at home, but I work from home. I’m busy. Can we get on with this?”

  “I’m coming to that, Bruce,” she said with cheer in her voice. “I know how busy you are. That’s why I’ve made arrangements for you.”

  “For me to what?”

  “I’ve spoken with Elaine, and she agrees.”

  “I’m happy for you, but agrees on what, Alexis?”

  “That it’s time for the Maxwells and the Gambles to join forces.”

  What little patience he had deserted him when she started babbling about Elaine Gamble. “I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about. You know what? Keep your surprise. I don’t even care anymore.”

  “Just two more minutes. Please.”

  “Fine, but get on with it.” He wondered if Nefertiti was still in the flower garden and could he convince her to take a stroll over to the creek. Before the weather turned chilly, he’d make love to his water ninja in the creek.

  “Tiffany Gamble, th
at’s Elaine’s daughter, was raised to be the wife of a powerful businessman. She’d stay out of your way while you conduct your business, she’d be there for you to grow old with, and she’d give you as many children as you’d like.”

  I know I’m not hearing what I think I’m hearing. He replayed her words, yet each time they sounded as if she had arranged for him to marry some kid barely old enough to drink legally. Nah, I couldn’t have heard right. Alexis is crazy, but not that crazy.

  “Excuse me?”

  She held out her perfectly manicured hands. “I know this is a bit of a shock for you, but you aren’t getting any younger, and you’ll never find a wife cooped up in here. She is perfect.”

  She’d arranged his marriage?

  “I was thinking an October wedding. The grounds of the estate will be so beautiful then.”

  “Is Candid Camera back on TV, or am I being punked?”

  Alexis looked confused.

  “This isn’t funny,” he continued.

  “I’m not joking, darling. I know this is coming at you from out of the blue, but give it a chance. You’re a healthy, red-blooded man. Once you see her, I know you’ll know how fortunate you are I claimed her for you before someone else could snatch her up. Do you know how much the Gambles are worth?”

  A sad chuckle shook him. He’d known Alexis’s apology and reconciliation were too good to be true. She had her eyes on Gamble money, and would pretend she loved her “demon seed” to obtain it.

  “No thanks, Alexis.”

  “Just meet her once.”

  “No.”

  “Please, Bruce. Let me at least try to bring a bit of happiness into your life. She’s in the flower garden waiting for you.”

  “Oh shit! Which one?”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Nefertiti darkly shaded the top left corner of the page and worked her pencil with a lighter touch the closer she came to the center of the page. The doctors are wrong. With practice, her stroke would return. She’d already seen serious improvement in the weeks since she’d left the hospital. She would regain a hundred percent of her mobility and be a better artist.