by Toya Wright
His father was white, but his mother was Sicilian. She had thick, jet black hair with ice blue eyes. So did Hamp. He was a male clone, except his skin was darker than hers. Maybe from sun bathing in the Mediterranean. He and his mother were always photographed together. She was the second coming of Jackie O.
He went by Hamp, he wanted to be cool with the rappers and ballers. Beyond the fact his family owned an NFL team, he was all about popular culture. It was nothing to find Hamp hanging out in strip clubs, back stage at concerts and private parties of the born wealthy and nouveau riche.
Hamp saw Sade and did a double take. Then he winked. She smiled and looked back at the game. He thought she looked familiar, but he didn’t know her name. He also didn’t know if she was famous or someone he had seen around.
“Who is that, down there on the front row?” he beckoned his assistant.
“That is Sade Dorsett. She acts.”
“What have I seen her in?”
“Nothing you would remember, but her dad is Lonnie Dorsett…”
“From The Miles Boys. Ok…ok,” he shook his head like he was putting the connection together.
Sade kept glimpsing up to see him work the room. That’s what I need right there. A man who can help me get where I’m trying to go. I’m fucking with the help, she thought. Hamp bumped into Doc during half-time. They were bonding over ice cold brews and mini gourmet pizzas being served. Whatever Hamp said to Doc, it worked. Doc walked Hamp over and introduced him to Sade.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Hamp said kissing her hand. Doc was grinning from ear to ear.
“Your husband told me he saves lives over at Atlanta Mercy. Me and my wife are huge benefactors there,” Hamp looked over at Doc. “I probably paid your salary for the next five years!” Hamp joked to Doc. They all started laughing. Hamp never let go of Sade’s hand.
“What do you do?”
“I’m an actress. You may have seen Another Monday and Passion Principle.”
“Mmm hmmm,” Hamp had seen the movies, but had no idea she was in them. He thought she played a secretary or maybe the nanny.
“Well, with a face like that, you should have been playing the lead roles!”
“Yes!” She eagerly agreed.
“Doc,” Hamp said, “is it ok for me to get your wife’s information? I’d love to introduce her to Lee Goldheimer. You know every movie he does smashes the box office.”
“Umm, sure.” Doc said hesitantly. It was such a random request, but how would he look standing in the way of his wife’s dream?
“Ok, Mrs. Sade. I’ll talk to my peeps and slide this on over to ‘em.” Hamp was really trying to be down to earth. He was easily the wealthiest person in the entire stadium.
Whatever hold Titus had over Sade was released at that moment. If Hamp hadn’t winked at her, she would have believed he honestly wanted to help her. He invited her to lunch the next day. When she arrived at the restaurant, she was escorted to the wine cellar. Hamp was waiting for her.
“Ciao Bella!” Hamp stood up from the table and greeted her. Sade wore a beautiful hot pink flowy dress with a plunging neckline. A solid gold choker type necklace about three inches wide sat around her neck. Her makeup was simple, but radiant. It looked like she had been sprayed with a hint of gold dust.
“Ciao,” she spoke seductively.
“It was such a pleasure to lay eyes on you last night. You looked like an angel.”
“Thank you, Hamp,” she looked down shyly.
“Tell me about yourself.” They got to know each other. Sitting in the wine cellar, they were away from the prying eyes of other restaurant patrons. Sade waited on the magic words to fly out of his mouth, that he would put her in touch with Lee Goldheimer. The Lee Goldheimer. At this point, she was crunk just to be associated with Hamp. That already said a lot. After wining and dining, Hamp was ready to get to the reason he asked her to dinner.
“I hope you can be discreet.” He stared at her. She responded in kind. “I think you are beautiful. I would like nothing more than to help you get to the next phase of your career. What are you willing to give me in return?”
“Hamp, you met my husband.”
“And I can buy his whole life with the cash I have on me right now. My wife knows that a man like me has needs. She understands that every now and then, I like to swim in a different pond.” Hamp spoke slowly as he ran his middle finger down her arm. “She’s ok with that.”
“My husband is not.”
“But…are you?” Sade took a drink of her wine. She didn’t know what to say. During the years, she had been propositioned, but never by anyone with as much clout or respect as Hamp. He really could help her get to the top.
“I think I’ll pass. Thank you for a nice lunch.”
“My pleasure. Non è divertente…you will change your mind.” Sade gathered her purse and walked toward the door. Hamp grabbed her wrist and pulled her over to him. He kissed her hand, stood up and kissed her neck ever so gently. “Please consider my offer.”
In the meantime, another guy got her attention. He was a singer, Tony B. They met on the set of a movie and became close. Her father asked her to help show him the ropes and keep him company on the set. She was able to negotiate a role for herself which worked quite well. Doc was excited for her, she seemed to be happiest when she was on somebody’s set. They spoke every day and he sent flowers to her hotel room.
Doc flew out to see her two of the weekends she was there. The other two, she was in the bed with Tony B., her newest conquest. Titus was fighting to get some time, but she kept brushing him off, telling him her husband was spending a lot of time with her. He had no choice but to believe her, however letting her know that he was ready to see her as soon as she had even a one hour window.
Tony B. was just like Titus and Drew. Hot shit. He had singles firing up the charts and was on the scene hosting parties all the time. They posted one picture together and Sade gained 10,000 followers in one day. He was trying his hand at acting, like most of celebs test the waters to leverage their fan base to make money in other markets.
The sex was real good! He sang R&B and made love like she imagined he would when listening to his songs. They were equally attracted to each other. Living on opposite sides of the country, they had to skirt around to see each other once the film wrapped. Doc noticed that she was glowing more than usual and all she talked about was how popular she was becoming. Popularity didn’t exactly equal paychecks, but she was getting close. She could just feel it.
Doc didn’t question the shopping she did. She lived in the malls and at boutique stores. He didn’t ask where anything came from. He was able to do nice things for her as well on his healthy salary. Especially being that neither of them had any kids. Doc treated his wife to a shopping spree and she treated him to a sexy show. Sade’s ol’ freaky ass loved showing off her body. She would dress up for him and perform. That was the one thing she kept sacred.
Going to a wrap party for a new season of a groundbreaking sitcom, Sade ran into Hamp. The funny thing was, they had never been in the same circles before, but this was probably the fourth or fifth time she’d seen him since his proposition.
“Sade, come sei bella. I knew you’d be here.”
“Is that right?”
“Yep, got a little something for ya,” he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her around the corner. It was cramped, but they were alone. The new, trendy restaurant was poppin’. The DJ blasted music, the lights were low and drinks were flowing. Hamp knew nobody would miss them for a few minutes.
He handed her a black box with a silver ribbon on it. Sade looked very surprised. Hamp stood behind her, wrapped his arms around hers and coaxed her to pull the ribbon. Inside she found six bracelets, three shiny platinum and three platinum with sparkling diamonds. Her mouth hit the floor.
“There’s more where that came from, Sade. Much more.” Hamp spun her around. She opened her mouth to take a breath and he lunged his tongue in her
mouth. Instead of pushing him away, she found herself palming the back of his head.
It was so exhilarating. There they were kissing out in the open at a restaurant hoping not to be seen. And they weren’t! Hamp pinned her up against the wall and kissed her wildly.
“Mi manchi, tesoro mio!” His hand found its way up the black sequined skirt she wore and pushed her panties to the side. At any second, someone could have come around into the little nook in the room, yet they were both excited.
“Siete incredibile,” Hamp was on his knees in a split second. He came up after only a few minutes.
“That is just a taste. I have the whole world to offer you, Sade.” Hamp’s reach was far too wide for them to even attempt to meet in public. They used his guesthouse, his condo and houses in any city he had.
Doc noticed that she was starting to spend even more time away from home. True to his word, Hamp had been getting her more auditions and putting in words for her. “I can’t audition for gigs at home,” she’d say. Doc knew she was right.
“Why would this guy who doesn’t even know you put you on like that?”
“Wouldn’t you put me on…if you could?” She asked seductively. She made light of his accusations whenever they arose. Sade was careful to take care of home first.
Sade flew out to L.A. She and Hamp had already arranged to meet there. She arrived at the gate, he buzzed her in. As the chauffeur took her bags out of the truck, Hamp whisked her down to the guest house. He looked like a sexy Italian with his shirt open, gelled curls in his head and a gold chain around his neck.
“Talk to me,” she whispered, “I like that.”
“Voglio fare l'amore con te, bella.” In no time, he gently laid her on the couch and got right to business. He moved in a way that she had never known. He was so loose and fluid, his hips rhythmically pulsating on top of her. Hamp was really making love to Sade.
“Mi fai eccitare,” he whispered in her ear. She came instantly. Remaining in control, he turned her over, licked her from her vagina on to the crack of her ass all the way up to her neck in one, slow successive movement. Then slid himself inside of her again. “Che cosa desideri? Sei come l'acqua nel deserto. Ho bisogno di te.” Sade climaxed again. When they were both satisfied, he lay holding her in his arms.
“What were you saying to me?”
“Very, very sexy things.”
“Like what, Hamp?” She giggled.
“Does it matter? I could have been saying, take out the trash, it stinks and you would not know because you don’t speak Italian.” He kissed her on the shoulder again. It was true, she had no idea what he was saying, but it got her off.
The thrill of having a man like Hamp in her pocket was better than anything she thought it would be. He was passionate, urgent and didn’t mind flashing what he had in front of anybody. Tony B. let it be known that he wanted Sade, never letting on that they had already been romantically involved. Titus was still crushing shit on the field. He had a girlfriend, she was pretty and the fans loved her, but he was calling Sade every chance he got.
Who was at the top of her list? Drew. He was never far from her mind. All the guys she dated were in his likeness. Good looking with power, fame, and money. They all thrived on attention. Just like her daddy, Drew still had his claws in her heart. In all those years, she never got over him.
Any girl he claimed or he was rumored to be with, didn’t hold a candle to her. Or so she thought. She always wondered what her life would have been like if he were a part of it. She thought about whether or not they would be happy. Sade just could not accept that she had been nothing more than a conquest to him. She was a stepping stone on his way up. She believed that he cared about her…just couldn’t figure out where they went wrong.
Unlike the relationships with Titus and Tony B., Hamp hung in there for a while. They had been kicking it for two whole years! Except for the fact that Drew was not a part of her life, things were great.
Doc sat in his office at the hospital catching up on some paperwork. A rap at the door caught his attention. “Dr. Miles, I’d like you to meet someone.” It was one of the members of the trustee board of the hospital. He was always there in one capacity or another. There was a whole wing named in honor of his wife.
“Yes, Mr. Chetzky. How may I be of service to you today?” Doc stood up. Mr. Chetzky didn’t throw his weight around, he was always pleasant.
“I’d like to introduce you to Mrs. Hampton Rivers, III. She is one of our biggest benefactors.” Mr. Chetzky stepped aside. Anybody else would have used their own name, but she knew the impression of her husband’s family.
“My name is Lyla,” she smiled. Lyla was pretty, not gorgeous as one would have thought. Modestly dressed.
“Lyla,” Doc shook her hand. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Likewise, Dr. Miles. I would like to speak to you in detail about some of the work you have been doing. You are starting to make a name for yourself in the medical community.” Doc smiled. “I know your work days are frantic, how’s dinner tonight? 8?”
“Yes ma’am, Mrs. Rivers.”
“Lyla.”
“Lyla, that will be fine.”
Doc arrived at the restaurant that night at five minutes to eight. He could not wait to hear what Lyla wanted to talk about. He was sure she wanted to invest in research he had been fundraising for. This was going to be an awesome opportunity. He was escorted upstairs to a private room. Lyla had not arrived yet.
“Dr. Miles,” she waltzed in 15 minutes later. This time, she appeared slightly different. She looked more the type to grab Hamp’s attention. Her lipstick was red and her bandage dress looked painted on.
“Lyla! How are you?”
“Well. Have you ordered?”
“Of course not. You weren’t here.”
“This won’t take long. I have ordered a dessert. Would you like one?” She asked as the waiter brought in a decadent plate of sweets. “The brownie sundaes here are my favorite, which is why I decided to bring you here. For a celebration. This brownie is topped with rich truffle chocolate, handmade ice cream and sprinkled with 18 carat gold flakes.” Doc just looked at her. He knew was worth a few couple thousand dollars.
“Why did this crazy woman invite me all the way here to eat such a preposterous dessert? You ask. We are celebrating, my divorce.” Doc still could not understand what this had to do with him.
“Lyla, with all due respect…” she slid over a manila folder.
“It seems that your wife, Sade, is having an affair with my husband, Hamp. You see, I’ve known about his little flings and indiscretions through the years. Sade…she’s different. She isn’t just some skank who he fucked and threw a wad of cash at or some groupie who gave him head for tickets on the 50-yard-line. Sade is special to him.”
Doc adjusted himself in the seat. He could not believe what he was hearing. It wasn’t far-fetched, he’d asked his wife why Hamp was trying to help her for no viable reason. He just didn’t want it to be true.
“I knew I couldn’t come to you without proof. Those are pictures of the two of them in my L.A. guest home. They were taken last week, three months ago and oh, about five months ago. It’s been going on for a while. I had stills printed from the security cameras.”
“Damn.”
“That’s what I said, too. Until I remembered that according to my pre-nup, I get 5 million for every year that we have been together if the marriage ends due to adultery. And…another 15 million per child. I think Hamp forgot about the money part.” Lyla offered Doc a golden spoon, he declined. She could see tears welling up in his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Miles, but I’m pretty sure this is going to be news. I didn’t want you to be blindsided when the whole world finds out. I’ll give you three days to figure out how you want to handle your end before I file my paper work.” She took a bite. “Twelve years of a failed marriage never tasted so good.”
Doc had worked too hard and too long
to wild the fuck out about Sade and risk losing everything. He was a man of class. His wife would be away for another two days. That gave him time to pack his shit and leave. That’s just what he did. He left a copy of the pictures on the coffee table in the living room.
Sade had lost her husband.
MADISON
on the yacht, we were sailing the open seas. Paris poured us all drinks and we were ordered to down them before we got off.
“Whoever is the last person to empty their glass, has to drink another one!” Paris yelled loudly over the music blasting from the yacht’s speakers. “And…if I see one drop of liquor spill, you have to drink another glass!” Man, when I tell you we were taking those drinks straight to the head! We knew Kennedi was going to be the last one. British pushed my cup up so some would spill. Kennedi then tipped British’s cup so hers would spill too! British jumped and dropped her whole glass, spewing what liquor she had in her mouth out on to the boat. We all burst out laughing and Paris poured everybody another round of drinks.
We all put on bathing suit cover ups of some sort. Some were long and flowy, like mine and Madison’s. British and Paris were barely covering their asses. British wore mess like that all the time, but for Paris, I think it was more of a cry for attention. Sade was basically wearing floss and a see through top. It didn’t matter though; it looked like her cocoa skin was glistening under the Caribbean sun. We got a taxi truck and asked where we could find a restaurant with good authentic island food. He recommended this restaurant at the top of the island and made a call on his cell phone.
There wasn’t a straight shot up the mountain, because it was so steep. So we had to go around and around, up and around, it was so crazy to me! The roads were tight and the drivers carried on like they were the only cars on the road.
“What the hell is going on in these here islands?” British blasted.
“What do you mean?” Madison asked.
“These damn drivers, that’s what I mean!”