“Are you saying that you love me?” Chloe questioned with her heart beating fast.
“Yes, I am.”
Chloe walked back to the bed and sat beside Christopher. “And I was praying the feelings weren’t one-sided,” she admitted with a slight chuckle. “Christopher, I don’t want to lose you and you are more important to me than a job. But I’ve never been a quitter and this job represents working through my own personal issues, so please give me the chance to do that. Love is about understanding.”
“Point made. But know that you don’t have to stay at Posh and be disrespected by Kari or anyone else. If it’s so important for you to have a job you can always come work for me.”
“You sound like my father,” Chloe said, immediately regretting she had brought her dad up in the conversation.
“Your father? You never talk about your family. What business is he in?”
“A little this, a little that. We can talk about him later,” Chloe said, giving Christopher a quick kiss on the lips. “But, baby, I have to get out of here. I’ll call you later on when I get home. I’m finally finished with my unpacking, so I can actually take a breather.”
“Excellent. Does that mean I should come over tonight and we celebrate Valentine’s Day at your new apartment?”
“That sounds perfect. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Hold up, let me call my driver so he can give you a ride to your place. He should be right outside.”
“That would be nice. I would look sorta crazy trying to fetch a cab dressed in my evening wear. Thank goodness we stayed at your place in the city, because if we were in Jersey I would have to throw the towel in and forget about work.”
“Interesting, I’ll have to remember that for the next time,” he said, dialing his driver’s number. “Pablo is out front. He’ll take you home and then wait to drive you to work.”
“I think I can get used to being with the music industry’s man of the year. It comes with a lot of perks. Bye, baby.”
“Bye.”
Chloe hurried downstairs and Pablo was waiting in the silver Maybach to take her home. Once she got in the car, the first call Chloe made was to Kari. It was only a quarter to nine and Kari wasn’t in yet, but Chloe wanted to leave a message because regardless she was going to be late to work.
“Hi, Kari, this is Chloe. I’ll be about an hour late for work. Sorry for the delay.” Chloe shut her cell phone and hated having to explain herself to Kari. She reflected on her conversation with Christopher and all the women who had no other options but to put up with crap from their bosses if they wanted to keep a paycheck. It was humiliating to say the least and Chloe knew she was blessed to have other options, because in this world that was the only thing that gave you some sort of power. The more options you had, the more power you garnered, and that was why people would always try to limit you from having any options.
After Pablo dropped Chloe off at work she went to the deli and had herself a breakfast croissant and then stopped at Starbucks for a caramel Frappuccino since she was late anyway. When she finally made it to the office, Chloe was surprised to walk in and see Christopher and Kari in what appeared to be a heated discussion. Kari stopped talking when she noticed Chloe coming near them.
“Christopher, what are you doing here?”
“I knew Pablo dropped you off a little while ago and I wanted to give you something you forgot at my place.”
“Okay? But why are you talking to Kari?”
“We were discussing you, actually,” Kari said with an evil smile. “Since you were late I decided to keep Mr. McNeil company while he waited for your arrival.”
“Well, I’m here now, so you can go.”
“Is your father Leon Johnson?” Christopher asked somberly.
Chloe narrowed her eyes at Kari.
“I had no idea he didn’t know you were ‘the’ Chloe Johnson, heir to Leon Johnson’s fortune. I mean, why else would Posh hire a cosmetics girl if it wasn’t for who your father is?”
“I bust my ass at this job and never was I hired because of who my father is. I work harder than anyone in here just because of that. And, Christopher,” she said, turning to him, “I had every intention of telling you who my father was.”
“When? After your father owned my company?”
“No, I was going to try and change his mind. It’s just that he’s out of town and I was waiting to speak with him before I told you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me from day one?”
“Because I didn’t think it should matter. I didn’t want you to look at me as Leon Johnson’s daughter.”
“But you are. You’re what people would call a real life black American princess. I suppose a person like me is living in poverty by your standards.”
“See, that mentality of thinking was exactly what I wanted to avoid. I’m proud of your success and you have accomplished a lot. That’s my father’s money, but everyone judges me based on it. I have dreams outside of being a Johnson and wanted to achieve them on my own merits, not my father’s.”
Kari clapped her hands, mocking Chloe. “Lovely speech, but the fact is you still lied, if not straight out, then by omission. Well, I would love to stay and listen to you try to squirm your way out of this, but I have a job to do and so do you unless you plan on losing both your job and boyfriend in the same day,” Kari said as she walked off.
“Christopher, you have to believe it was never my intent to deceive you. I planned on telling you who my father was the night we went to Nobu’s, but when you told me he was the one who was trying to buy your company I got scared. I didn’t want you to think of me as the enemy.”
“I hear everything that you’re saying, but trust is essential for any relationship to work. I trusted you and let you in my world, sharing intimate details in my professional and personal life. But for your own reasons, no matter how valid you feel they are, you chose to shut me out because obviously you didn’t trust me enough to let me in. I do love you, Chloe, but I can’t be with someone I can’t trust and who doesn’t trust me.”
“Christopher, please don’t go, I love you.”
“But not enough to tell me the truth.”
Chloe watched with tears filling her eyes as Christopher walked out of her life.
“Chloe, are you okay?” Lily asked, noticing a visibly shaken Chloe on her way back to her desk.
“No, I think my boyfriend broke up with me.”
“I’m sorry, what a bummer…especially with it being Valentine’s Day and all.”
“Everybody seems to have remembered that day but me. My day can’t get any worse.”
“Well, I was going to tell you later but since you’re already in a bad mood, no sense in holding back.”
“What? I’m not going to get the promotion?”
“It’s not looking good, Chloe. As I told you, Leslie thinks you’re perfect, but the higher-ups are afraid you may not have enough experience and are leaning toward Kari. I hate to be the one to bring you more bad news but I wanted you to be prepared.”
“Thanks, Lily. I appreciate you letting me know.”
“Of course and don’t worry about your boyfriend. You’re Chloe Johnson, for heaven’s sake. Your father has more money than God.” And those were Lily’s departing words.
When Chloe got back to her desk, there was a box and an envelope that said Happy Valentine’s Day. Chloe opened the card and read it out loud, “To our first and what I hope will be many more Valentines we will share together, because my heart officially belongs to you. Love, Christopher.”
Chloe opened the box and the twenty-four-carat pink diamond earrings and bracelet she thought were loaners were inside. “I guess this was what Christopher was talking about when he said I forgot something at his place.” Chloe closed the box and sat down.
“Oh, is the poor little rich girl upset?” Kari teased.
“Kari, please get out of my face. I’m not in the mood for this.”
“Wh
at? You blame me for revealing your secret to your boyfriend? Hell, you weren’t going to be able to hide it much longer. A picture of the two of you from last night’s event is in the New York Post Page Six section. Someone was bound to recognize you and inform Christopher who you are.”
“That’s not the point. You were being malicious and in turn you ruined a relationship with someone I care a great deal about.”
“Get over yourself, Chloe. Don’t blame me for your deceitful behavior. You try to pretend that you’re so sweet and upstanding, but you’re not. I’m glad your boyfriend dumped you. You got exactly what you deserved. And when I become the new features editor I’m going to make sure you get fired, too, because you don’t belong here.”
“I’ll save you the trouble, Kari, I quit.”
Kari’s mouth dropped open as Chloe picked up her laptop and a few other belongings and left her standing there without saying another word.
“There’s no place like home,” Chloe said, staring out the window of her new apartment. She noticed the girl from the garden apartment getting in a taxi, and idly wondered where she was going. Probably to meet her Valentine’s Day date. The thought depressed Chloe even more.
Chloe walked over and sat on her couch. “I have no man, no job, but I’m living in an incredible brownstone…one out of three isn’t too bad.”
Just then Chloe heard a knock at the door. She figured it was Margie.
“I’m sure I was the last person you expected to see,” Christopher said.
“Yes, but you’re also the only person I wanted to see. How did you get in?”
“As I was coming up the stairs a young lady was coming out and I caught the door before it closed. She gave me the screw face like she was a tad suspect, but I guess because I don’t look like a serial killer she didn’t make any noise.”
Chloe let out a slight laugh. “That’s funny. That must’ve been one of the other girls that moved into the building. I’m sorry, please come in.”
“This place is outstanding. But then I’m surprised you didn’t buy the whole brownstone instead of renting one apartment.”
“Christopher, don’t do that.”
“Do what? Chloe, whether you want to deny or hide it, the fact remains you’re Leon Johnson’s daughter and it’s something you should be proud of.”
“Excuse me? I thought you hated my father.”
“Hate him? I don’t even know him. What I said to you was about business. I have a great deal of respect for your father. It’s men like him who paved the way for up-and-coming businessmen like myself. If anything, your father is a blueprint to success. Am I furious that he wants to take over my parent company and put me out of business? No doubt. But I will deal with that on a professional level. But having a problem with your father doesn’t change how I feel about you. What does concern me is that you don’t trust me.”
“Maybe it’s not that I don’t trust you but that I don’t trust myself. It’s so hard living your life being known as Leon Johnson’s daughter.”
“Yeah, and I’m sure it has a ton of advantages too. Chloe, you should stop fighting the fact that you were born into privilege. It’s a blessing and in turn you should use that to bless others. Don’t be ashamed or feel that you’re not worthy, because you are.”
“You think so?”
“If I didn’t I wouldn’t have come back for you. I can deal with you being the daughter of Leon Johnson, but what I can’t take is you working at Posh magazine. You seem to turn into a different person working there. It’s as if you’re so determined to prove your worth that it eats up your self-esteem.”
“You might be right. But it doesn’t matter because I quit today anyway.”
“What brought that on?”
“That vapid spirit of Kari’s and constantly feeling I’ll never measure up.” Chloe heard her cell phone ringing and noticed it was a Posh number. “This is Posh, I wonder what they want. Hello.”
“Hi, Chloe, it’s me, Leslie.”
“Hi, Leslie.”
“Kari told me that you quit today. I hope that isn’t true since I wanted to offer you the job as our new features editor.”
Chloe let out a scream, unable to hold back her enthusiasm.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Of course! Thank you so much, Leslie.”
“No, thank you. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Omigosh, Christopher, I got the job! I’m the new features editor at Posh magazine,” Chloe said, jumping up and down. Chloe realized Christopher wasn’t sharing in her excitement and calmed down. “Aren’t you happy for me?”
“Less than a minute ago we both agreed that working at Posh was no good for you. But now you’re jumping up and down acting like a five-year-old who’s visiting Disney World for the first time.”
“Excuse me for being happy about my job promotion.”
“But you quit Posh today and for a good reason.”
“That was before I knew I had gotten the job. I never would’ve quit if I had known.”
“Nothing has changed, Chloe.”
“Yes, it has. I will no longer be working for Kari and I’ll have a position that requires a lot more from me.”
“Yeah, like time. When you’re working those long hours, when are you going to find time for us to be together?”
“I’ll find the time. We’ll make it work.”
“No, you won’t, because you’re consumed with this job. I understand that now. Proving to your father and everyone else that you can establish a successful career without his help is more important than anything else, and that includes love. I wish you luck, Chloe, and I hope you find everything you’re looking for.”
“Christopher, wait! Are you ending things between us again?”
“No, because in all actuality it never really began. But we’ll always have our dance.”
Christopher kissed Chloe on the forehead and walked out the door, this time for good. Chloe stood paralyzed for a few minutes, not fully comprehending what had just happened. When it sank in that Christopher had left her she ran out of her apartment to beg him to come back. But when Chloe got outside she saw the back of his car as he drove off.
“Child, why are you running out here in this cold weather with no shoes on?”
Chloe looked up and saw Margie leaning out her window, cigarette in hand.
“Not that it’s none of my business,” the woman said as she flicked an ash. “Not my business at all.”
“I had a falling-out with my boyfriend, and I was hoping to stop him from leaving.”
“Listen here, you can’t make nobody stay, especially not no man. If he wants to leave, let him fly like a bird, and if he comes back you know he’s yours forever.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I know I am. Shit, I been running these streets long enough to know how to handle my business and yours…trust. What you do is go back in your place, put on one of those freakum dresses like they say, have a couple of drinks, and have yourself a good time.”
“I don’t know, Margie. I’m not in the mood.”
“That’s why you need to make yourself do it. If not you’ll get stuck up in that apartment feeling sorry for yourself and there ain’t no happiness in that.”
“You’re right. Do you know of any place you’d recommend around here?”
“Damn sure do, MoBay Uptown. Right on 125th Street, near Fifth Avenue. Make sure you tell the bartender that Margie sent you and have him make you one of them Harlem mojitos.”
“I will, and, Margie, thanks for the pep talk.”
Chloe went back inside and slipped on her fiercest red Stella McCartney freakum dress and four-inch stiletto heels. She glistened her lips with lady vamp lipstick, wrapped herself up in a black Dolce & Gabbana shearling, and hit the pavement headed to MoBay.
It was only a little after eight, but the place was packed when Chloe walked in. She looked around, hoping to find a seat, but knowing she wouldn’t
.
“May I get a mojito?” she said after she squeezed in between some people at the bar and got the bartender’s attention.
The bartender nodded. “One mojito, coming up.”
“Wait,” Chloe said, suddenly remembering Margie’s instructions. “Make that a Harlem mojito.”
The bartender smiled. “No problem.”
Chloe looked around the club again after she paid for her drink. “Oh God,” she said out loud to no one in particular. “That can’t be Jerome over there, can it?” She wrinkled her nose and was turning back to the bar when she saw two more familiar faces. Is everybody from 119th Street here tonight? she wondered. The women were engrossed in conversation and didn’t notice her, which was good. Being cordial to them in the building was one thing—after all, it was just being neighborly—but having to actually spend social time with them was another. Chloe never was good with female friends; they always seemed to get jealous after a while and she couldn’t be bothered.
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the one who lived on the first floor, Tamara, waving to her. She continued to sip her drink, pretending not to see. But then the Dior chick got in the act, practically climbing up on the table and waving both arms in the air.
“Hey! Hey! You live in our building. Come on over. We’re saving you a seat!”
Chloe sighed and picked up her drink after giving the bartender a tip. I’ll just walk over, say hello, then go on my way, she thought as she headed their way.
“Hey, neighbor! Happy Valentine’s Day,” Dior said when she reached them. “You’ve got to join us.”
Dior’s voice was slightly slurred, yet so cheerful and upbeat that she was actually funny. The girl picked up her almost empty glass. “Drinks are on the house!”
Tamara smiled and shook her head. “No, Dior. Drinks are on the house means the club is giving away free drinks, remember? What you mean to say is you’re treating.”
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