The Score

by Demetrius Sewell

  She laughed. She didn’t stop exactly when he told her, but she did stop.

  Tatum lifted herself up so he could fit inside her. She gasped with the pleasure of being complete. Then she began her magical dance. She played with her breasts as they moved up and down in front of him. He was like a boy in a candy store, his eyes wide with anticipation. Then she rested her hands on the headboard, trying to get a better position.

  Seth put his arm around her waist, lifting both of them up. He withdrew and began to thrust with a grunt. Rapture overtook her with each powerful white-hot plunge.

  Tatum resumed control. Her pace quickened as fire mounted within her. She had to quench her thirst. She was like a starving woman fighting for a meal. Tatum needed to conquer the fire within.

  She heard him struggle to hold back, but his breathing was becoming more ragged. He wasn’t going to last much longer. Tatum screamed his name. His body tensed, and he held on to her helplessly like she was a life preserver. Tatum jumped. She’d never felt a man spill into her before. It was exciting because it was Seth. He was completing her world.

  It was the middle of the night when she heard her cellular jingle. Looking at the digital clock on the nightstand, Tatum knew there had to some emergency. Seth, who used his arm to encircle her, tightened his grip.

  “Don’t answer it,” he whined.

  “I have to. It may be an emergency.” Tatum struggled out of his grip.

  “Lawyers don’t have emergencies in the middle of the night,” he told her.

  Tatum covered herself with the comforter before rushing to the phone. It was Karla. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I thought he was on the up-and-up, you know. Girl, now I’m starting to wonder. That son-of-a-bitch is going to get me fired.”

  “What? Who?” Tatum didn’t understand.

  “Seth,” Karla angrily screamed.

  “Seth? What are you talking about?” Tatum lowered her voice to a whisper.

  Karla hesitated. “Girl, are you at his place?”

  “Yes.” She glanced at a sleeping Seth.

  “I tried calling you at your apartment…are you living there now?”

  “No. Tell me what’s going on between you and Seth.”

  Karla hesitated again. “I’m worried about this damn account.”

  “What’s wrong?” Something told her to go into the other room and continue the conversation.

  Tatum stared at Seth. She wasn’t worried. She could tell when he was sleeping.

  Karla took time to find the right words. “Seth told Mr. Page I was in the running for the account. Now he’s angry because his firm’s not keeping the account. Seth tells him to give me some work, and you know what he does?”

  “What?”

  “He gives me flyers and tells me to stand on Fountain Square and pass them out to the lunch crowd. Now he wants me to go to Peebles’ Corner and do the same thing. Do you know how humiliating that is?”

  Tatum couldn’t feel the humiliation Karla was talking about because she wasn’t in that world. However, she did sympathize. She knew Seth didn’t want her knowing about the business, but her friend was more important.

  “I, uh, I overheard Seth talking to someone, and I think he’s about to give you the account.”

  She was ecstatic. “Are you serious?”

  “Please,” Tatum begged, “don’t say anything. I could be wrong.”

  “No, no I won’t say anything.”

  Tatum ended the call. She tried to be as quiet as she could when she returned to bed. Tatum relaxed when Seth didn’t stir.

  “Adam?”

  Tatum jumped. She didn’t look at him. “Something like that.”

  “Look at me.”

  She did.

  He stroked her hair and face before he spoke again. “You should really rethink your friendship with Karla. I think, one day, she’ll let you down.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m saying…she’s making you break rules in this relationship just to be her friend.”

  Damn. He heard. “So you were listening?”

  “Babe, I couldn’t help it. You practically screamed my name. Besides, usually when you’re screaming my name, I have something to with it.”

  Tatum let him kiss her, but she wasn’t forgetting the conversation. “Are you going to hire her to represent you?”

  Seth rested on his back. “I thought we had a deal about business.”

  “I know you don’t want me to know—”

  “Do I ask you about cases?”

  “No.”

  He glanced at her. “Then don’t let Karla’s bitchy mood make you break that promise to not ask me about business.”

  Tatum, insulted, sat up, making sure she was covered by the sheet. “Are you calling my friend a bitch?”

  Seth sat up too, angry. “Listen, we’re arguing over something trivial. Something Karla started.”

  “She didn’t ‘start’ anything. She was hurt about something she thought you did.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” he bitterly remarked.

  She folded her arms over her chest. “So are you going to give her the account?”

  He left the bed. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

  He left the room and returned with two sodas. He approached her with one, but she declined.

  “Why are you making such a big deal about giving her this account?” she asked.

  He ran his hand through his hair.

  “I read that article. You said you don’t base your hiring decision on race but on the applicant pool. So, hire her.”

  He angrily shook his head. “Listen babe, I…this is why I have a policy on not mixing business with pleasure.”

  “It’s not Karla’s fault everyone thinks your hiring practices are shady or racist.”

  “I’m not going to hire her to make people feel better about their positions in life.”

  Now, Tatum was frustrated. “You are the most inconsiderate, stubborn, and one-track minded man I’ve ever known.”

  “If you’re trying to sweet talk me, you need to change your approach.”

  “What, you want me to make you a deal?” Tatum joked, sarcastic. “You want me to offer you my body to give her the job or something?”

  Seth approached the bed. He wasn’t smiling. “I find that a very tempting offer.”

  She played along. “What? You want something from me?”

  “Yep.”

  “What?”

  “You.”

  “You have me.”

  “Do I?” Seth challenged.

  “What are you talking about? We’re in a relationship.”

  He put his soda can on the night stand. “I have your body and your mind, but do I have your soul?” Seth held her hand in his, caressing it. “When you look at me, are you still seeing a white guy?”

  “What does that have to do with my soul?”

  “You have my soul. Did you know that? I’m in love with you.”

  Fear leapt into her heart. He’d told her he loved her. Was this part of the set up? Some dark and elaborate scheme to hurt her? Would he break her heart by saying he was lying later?

  “Fuck it.” Seth let go of her hand and lay in bed.

  Tatum wanted to kick herself for hesitating. She should have told him right away she loved him too, that she didn’t just see his color, but him. Not when she wasn’t sure.

  “Seth.”

  He turned away from her. Tatum kissed his shoulder and neck. He tensed. This was not working.

  “I have to go into the office early.”

  In other words, don’t bother me.

  “Seth.” She tried again. He exhaled. “Seth, you can’t tell me something like that and not give me a chance to think.”

  “You shouldn’t have to think. I don’t. I know.”

  “Yeah,” she agreed, “and we’re different. You make snap decisions. I don’t.”

  “Love isn’t
a snap decision. Trust me. I’ve loved a lot of women, but I’ve never been in love with them.”

  She decided to try a new approach. “No man has ever said he loved me before. Can’t I savor the moment?”

  He finally faced her. “I was willing not to hear whether you love me or not. That’s not the question I asked you. I asked how you saw me.”

  Damn, what was she going to say?

  “Seth, you have to remember where I come from. I’m not going to get to the point where race is a moot point overnight.”

  “The last time I checked, almost a year isn’t overnight.”

  “You know what I mean.” Tatum kissed him. “I don’t know if that’s a good answer, but it’s the only one I’ve got.”

  He kissed her. Tatum prayed the answer was good enough for him. She tried to relax in his arms, but she couldn’t. It was the second truth she was keeping from him tonight.

  Chapter 13

  Legacy’s tenth anniversary created more excitement than anything seen in Cincinnati in a long time. Everyone was dressed in their party best. Councilmen, local celebrities, and anyone who was anyone were in attendance. Tatum was excited and surprised Seth had wanted her to accompany him to the event. She’d assumed he wanted to keep their relationship a secret, which was another thing they’d told her would happen.

  Seth made her stand with him for photographs as they exited the limo. Then he made sure all the reporters spelled her name correctly. She couldn’t believe how uncomfortable it felt. During the party, everyone introduced her as Seth’s girlfriend. Tatum didn’t have her own identity apart from that role, and now everyone was interested in her. Tatum saw Karla and her boyfriend mingling in the crowd, but they didn’t talk. She hoped she was wrong, but she got the feeling Karla was avoiding her. Seth often disappeared to talk to reporters or other people, and her excitement turned to boredom.

  “Are you having a good time?” Gabby asked her.

  Tatum looked around to see where she’d come from.

  “You must really feel great about tonight.”

  “I’m happy for Seth.”

  Gabby tried to be overly friendly. “Speaking of Seth, I’m happy he’s finally got a love life. I thought he was going to continue to slip in and out of beds forever.”

  Tatum refused to take the bait. “I’m happy you’re happy.”

  “Wow. You must be happy a lot.” Gabby laughed. “I’m surprised he decided to date an…African American. But like I said, I was happy to hear he’s finally taking someone seriously.”

  “If you’ll excuse me for a moment…” Tatum needed to get away from Gabby before she cursed at her.

  She decided she officially hated that woman. She’d tried to be nice, but there was something about her that was destructive.

  She went to the bar and ordered a drink. The bartender told her that only the champagne was free. All other drinks had to be paid for, and she’d forgotten her money at home. For the first time, she wanted to say, “Do you know who I am? I’m Seth Carter’s girlfriend.” Then she realized she needed a plane ride back to reality.

  “Don’t worry, it’s on me.”

  Tatum glanced at the gentleman beside her, an older man with graying hair and a cynical look. He lit a cigarette. “Do you mind?”

  She shook her head. He paid for their drinks.

  “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “Jay Light.”

  Tatum didn’t recognize the name. The man didn’t seem too upset about it.

  “I do the entertainment column for the Inquirer. You must be Tatum Fox.”

  She nodded.

  The columnist took a drag off the cigarette. “I swear, I used to have two bad habits keeping me up at night—my nagging wife and smoking. One night, I knew I had to give one of them up.” Tatum laughed as she watched him put out the cigarette. “How are you doing tonight?”

  “It’s fun.”

  “You like the business side of Mr. Carter.”

  She knew enough about the media to ask, “Is this on the record or off?”

  He shrugged. “It’s up to you.”

  “Off the record,” she told him. Jay nodded. “It’s fun, but a little boring sometimes.”

  “Do you work on his staff?”

  “No. I work at a law firm.”

  “Humph, I guess he’s serious,” he muttered under his breath.

  “What do you mean?”

  He hesitated. “Off the record, you can’t tell Mr. Carter.”

  “Yeah,” she said, wanting to know what information about him could be so secret that she would be forbidden to repeat it to Seth.

  “Everyone knows his serious relationships are with women who aren’t in the business.”

  “You mean, not working for him.”

  “I mean they have no connection to the nightclub business at all.”

  “Do you know why?”

  Jay paused. “Let me just say this. Rumor has it that he doesn’t want anyone starting the way he did.”

  Tatum was shocked. She remembered his cookie-cutter story about the woman who hired him for his summer job in the nightclub business. Seth had slept with that woman to get where he was?

  “That’s why I didn’t understand Ms. Lopez’s fairytale.”

  She double blinked. She was still thinking about what he’d said earlier when she was shocked again.

  “Fairytale?”

  “Poor Gabby really thought she meant something to Mr. Carter. Rumor has it she was blindsided when he broke it off. She called it love, and he called it business with sex on the side.”

  “When was this?”

  The columnist thought for a minute. “I heard it back in May or April.”

  That was around the same time they met. Seth and Gabby had a relationship. She tried to envision it, but it made her sick. Ill.

  Remembering she was talking to the columnist, Tatum said, “You’re very interested in rumors.”

  He wasn’t insulted but amused. “Honey, I’m the entertainment columnist in Cincinnati. I know more secrets about the bigwigs than all the priests in the archdioceses.”

  Tatum should have been tired when they arrived at her apartment, but she was too worried to be tired. Everything Jay had said raced through her mind. She didn’t know why it would make a difference. She had no illusions Seth had only a few relationships before they met. She’d had more than a few herself. It shouldn’t make a difference.

  Sighing, she realized it did matter. It made her angry Seth never told her about Gabby. He acted like this charismatic, great person. Now, she questioned everything.

  They were having breakfast at his apartment the next day when Tatum decided to broach the situation.

  “Did you like the party?” he asked.

  Tatum nodded, sighed and pushed around her food before politely asking, “How long has Gabby been working for you?”

  Seth shrugged. “A while.”

  “How long?”

  “Like I said, a while.”

  “Have you ever mixed business and pleasure?”

  “Very rarely. You know how I feel about it.”

  “Is one of those rare times when you were sleeping with Gabby?”

  Seth choked on his orange juice, coughing until he turned red. Tatum almost thought she should call some emergency hotline. However, she just waited for the answer.

  Seth composed himself. He cleared his throat and stared at her. “Where did you get this idea?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Is it true?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “I don’t know. Tell me the truth and I’ll decide.”

  “Why is it so important to you?”

  She lied. “It wasn’t a big deal until you made it one.”

  “How did I make it one?” Seth stopped raising a piece of toast to his mouth.

  “You didn’t answer the question.”

  He threw his toast on the plate and grabbed a napkin off the table. “Listen, I just want to focus on you. The past
is the past.”

  “So that means yes?”

  “It means anyone who may or may not have been in past should stay in my past.”

  “I understand that…”

  “If you understood that, we wouldn’t be talking about this.”

  Tatum shook her head. “Seth, I just want to make sure everything is on the up-and-up. I don’t want some big shocking secret coming out.”

  He threw the napkin on the table so hard it bounced off and landed on the floor. Then, he stared at her. “Trust me, if there are any surprises, it won’t come from me. Now that we’ve finished our breakfast, can we get ready to have some fun?”

  An hour later, Seth was out of the shower, but his mind was still in the earlier conversation. He wondered who’d told her. If Gabby had let Tatum know about their relationship, she would have told him by now. She loved to boast about her destruction.

  Maybe it was Ralph. Maybe Ralph wanted Tatum. After all, he’d caught them talking together more than once. He countered his own assertion as he wrapped the towel around his waist. But only Tatum had looked guilty.

  He stood in front of the mirror and put on shaving cream. Seth could tell her the truth. It wasn’t a big deal. Tatum didn’t have to worry. He wasn’t interested in Gabby. But then, he’d be a hypocrite. He was the one who boasted about not mixing business and pleasure.

  “How long are you going to take?” Tatum walked into the bathroom dressed in a t-shirt and shorts.

  “I had to cool off some way.” He was referring to her lack of interest in having after-breakfast sex. Seth had promised to get more condoms and told her not to worry about it, but that was weeks ago. Now she was worried because her cycle was close. Honestly, Seth didn’t care. If it happened, it happened. They had enough money to take care of any child.

  “Did it work?”

  Seth’s tone was both slightly serious and slightly joking. “Don’t worry about it unless you’re willing to help me out with this issue.”

  She laughed. “You haven’t finished shaving?”

  He glanced away from the mirror. “I haven’t started.”

  “I’ve always wanted to shave a man’s face,” she remarked. “It’s so sexy.”