She walked into the conference room and sat across from William. He was the only one there. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Beautiful. I had an intense weekend.” He stayed quiet, waiting for Venus to inquire, but she had nothing to add. “You know what? I’m thinking about staying here after this project. Los Angeles has some major happenings. I’m digging this town.” He wasn’t really talking to Venus, but more to himself.
“What’s so great about it?” She wasn’t really talking to him either. They were both determined to answer their own questions. “Too many dreamers here. Everybody thinks something great is supposed to happen. Sometimes life just is. No miracles.”
William smiled. His honest boyish charm seemed to shine through only when Legend wasn’t around. Nothing to prove, no image to maintain. “I met someone,” he confessed.
“Did you say something?” She adjusted her sight to see him and not the crystal ball filled with her and Jake laughing and running on the beach.
Jake walked in carrying his coffee with Beverly Shaun right behind him.
Legend walked in and slapped hands with Jake. “Was that a party last night, or what?”
“Off the hook, slave. Off the book,” Jake agreed with a full dreamy cast, replaying his role in whatever happened last night. He sipped on his coffee.
“And Beverly, girl you gonna put somebody’s eye out with all that.” Legend made an imaginary slap go near her backside. “Was that the move, Jake?”
Venus felt like pinching herself to wake herself from this nightmare. She looked at Jake, then Beverly. Neither had anything else to say on the subject. She was dying to ask what Legend was talking about. Dancing? Last night? She regretted not paying closer attention to what William had to say. They’d all been together, partying? She had no right to be jealous.
“All right, man, it was definitely one for the memory books, but now it’s time to make things happen. We’ve got exactly twenty-six days till the Magic Show. No more testing grounds, it’s got to happen.” The tone was infectious. Everyone began to sit up straight and focus on what he was saying. “Beverly, how’re we doing with the breakout?”
“I’m on schedule, but we’re going way over budget with the overtime. The models’ weight fluctuates from one day to the next; it’s like we’re constantly starting over.”
Jake had a disbelieving look on his face, something edging toward “Have you lost your mind?” He readjusted, letting his first response slide away, replacing it with something more civil, “Beverly, is this a common problem?”
“Well, it happens, but not every one of them at the same time. It’s like today, they’re all size 8, tomorrow they’ll be back down to 4’s and 6’s. That’s hard to work around.”
“Sistahs got to stay away from those fries and shakes,” Legend chimed in, grinning with his bold white teeth.
“I’m not one to be biased against our own people, but he’s right. If I had my regular girls, this wouldn’t be happening.”
Venus felt compelled to speak, but not before giving Legend a hard criticizing look. “Take control, Beverly. Call a meeting with your fit models and explain that we have a major deadline and they have to stay consistent with their weight. Let them know how important it is.”
“It’s not like we’re dealing with professionals here.” Beverly shifted her eyes to Legend. “Somebody picked them out of a lineup of a wet T-shirt contest, bringing them in talking about, oh here are your new models.”
Jake stood up, leaning on the desk with his arms firm and flexed. “Beverly, make it happen. Twenty-six days. That’s all.”
“Well, you were the one that asked how we’re doing, and I told you.” She crossed her arms over the two midgets hiding underneath her sweater. Even Venus felt it hard to resist staring.
“Call a meeting, Beverly. I’ll talk to them.” Venus looked at Jake so he’d understand it would get taken care of. “The proposal, how’s that coming?”
William volunteered the information. “All points are covered; there’s not one reason for the royalty not to see this as gold. Lila Kelly is worth about twelve million in unit dollars. We’re asking for a hundred thousand shares at market value, which translates to $2 million. If this thing flies, her gain could be upward of $5 million, easy.”
Venus leaned forward in her seat; it sounded like an offer neither party could refuse.
Jake, who was still in a full grimace, said, “That’s a lot of money to stand around smiling.” He held up his hand and started counting down. “She can’t sell the shares for six months. When and if she does decide to sell, it can be in increments no larger than five thousand per quarter. Her contract is for a fall year. Nine different shoots. Concert appearances in that span all in Feline and JP Wear rags.” He leaned back. “Damn, for $2 million, she needs to be putting something else out, too.”
Venus found the comment offensive, but the rest of the group erupted in laughter.
“Fax it over, Legend.” She stood up gathering her things. “We need to get the ball rolling.”
“I think that’s something you can handle, don’t you?” Jake leaned back in his chair, still carrying his devil-may-care attitude. The room became quiet. The others obviously noticed the tension between them.
“This meeting is over. Beverly, take care of your floor.” Jake left the room without another word.
Venus felt the sting of his resentment. She followed him out the glass doors. She knew Legend, Beverly, and William were watching with amusement and wonder. It didn’t stop her from grabbing Jake’s arm. “Wait a minute. We can’t work together like this.”
“You know what, you’re right about that I think we can take it from here.”
“We? That’s my team. If I go, they go.”
He raised his shoulders, giving a shrug. She followed him down the stairs, trembling behind each of his heavy steps.
“This is ridiculous. What is the problem, Jake? It’s not like I didn’t tell you the truth. I told you from the very start I was seriously involved with someone. Why …”
Jake stopped at the bottom landing and faced her. His eyes went soft for a moment, then sharp again. “This is neither the time nor the place. You want to talk to me, you know where I am.” He walked off, leaving Venus feeling like the last leaf on the tree. Any slight breeze would send her spiraling to the ground.
Legend came from behind, his black-coffee skin glistening, his eyes dancing with expectance. “You two got issues?” He let one leg ride the stair, while the other stayed straight and grounded. His locks looked freshly twisted, hanging past his shoulders. “Mixing business with pleasure? Now what?”
“Now, none of your business.”
“Smart. Very well thought out on your part. I expected better of you, Ms. Johnston,” he called after her while she did an about-face and headed back up the stairs. She restrained her middle finger from riding up. She’d expected better from herself as well.
BEVERLY was still in the conference room, overlooking the sample floor. Her soft long mane was pushed up into an I Dream of Jeannie ponytail. She turned to face Venus when she heard the door swing open. A smile, or something that resembled satisfaction, settled around her face.
“He’s a handful, huh?”
“Who?” Venus gathered her notes and case. It was too late to ignore the high school drama scene everyone had witnessed. Still, she was old enough not to have this conversation if she didn’t want to.
“Jake. He can be a little testy.” Beverly pulled out the chair she was sitting in earlier, ready to get a full story in return.
“I wouldn’t know.” Venus closed her case and secured the strap over her shoulder. “Is now a good time to call your models together?”
Beverly checked her watch, disappointment replacing the satisfaction from earlier. “Actually, they’re probably all in the snack room.”
“Well, there lies the problem.” Venus followed her out, determined not to leave the building without a gained ally. �
�We’ll unplug the vending machine for the next couple of weeks.” They both let out soft nervous laughs.
“I didn’t mean to be nosy.” Beverly offered an apology with the tone of her voice. They continued walking side by side. Venus slowed down as they passed the stairs. “There’s an elevator over here.”
Venus followed, now having to skip to keep up with Beverly’s long strides. The red octagon-shaped door opened to a cool interior of white shiny walls with chrome trim. Her reflection next to Beverly made her immediately feel small and unimportant
When the doors closed, Beverly wasted no time getting to the point. “How long have you known Jake?”
Venus adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “Since this launch. I know it probably looks like we’ve known each other a lot longer. I was thinking the exact same thing. I actually feel like I’ve known him forever, like a brother. You know the way a brother and sister take each other for granted, not getting along, but then they make up and forget what the fight was about.” She checked Beverly’s face to see if she was buying the brother-sister excuse.
“When I first started working here, Jake and I had our share of problems. Sort of like what I witnessed today between you guys.” The elevator came to a smooth stop. The two women stared at each other, wondering what the other’s real story entailed. Venus wondered if Jake had held her hand while they walked on the beach or had run a hot bubble bath for her with lit candles and soft music. She wondered if he’d slathered Beverly’s feet with rich warm cream, then held her in his arms all night while she slept. Venus easily pictured the two of them together. A perfect couple like the ones between the pages of magazines, laughing, heads thrown back with gleaming white teeth and noble chins.
“It looks like you guys get along now,” Venus said with no real proof for the statement. Their signals were as mixed as a can of Planters nuts. The only way she would know what she wanted to know was to ask. “Were you … the two of you ever more than working colleagues?”
Beverly stuck her hand out to stop the doors from reclosing. Venus followed her out, the gravity of information pulling her along like a leash attached to her neck.
“Jake and I have an understanding. A mutual promise to keep a safe distance from each other.”
“Why?”
She cut her eyes to Venus walking by her side. “ ’Cause I’m a match and he’s gasoline. Very dangerous.” Beverly would have won if there was a staring contest. Her large almond-shaped eyes traced with liquid liner did not waver. Venus was the first to turn away. They finished the length of the hall to the sample floor without another word on the subject.
AFTER lecturing the models for fifteen minutes on maintaining weight and exercise, Venus went straight to the vending machine and grabbed a Snickers bar. She needed a burst of energy to go back and tackle Mr. Jake Parson. She couldn’t let the day end on this note. There was too much work to be done.
She stood at his closed office door, knowing he was inside, as if she could hear his heart beating where she stood. She put a hand to her chest to see if it was her own rhythm she detected. No. Not nearly strong enough, not nearly passionate enough. She took a step back; she wasn’t ready for someone like Jake Parson. Someone willing to pour himself whole into a relationship. She was used to doing the chasing, being the one who wanted more than she would ever receive.
“VENUS.” Legend’s voice caught her off guard. She took a wobbly step backward, when the door opened. Embarrassed but still grateful it was the wall and not the floor she fell into. He grabbed her arm, “Hey now, you all right?”
“Fine.” She gathered her balance. “Is Jake inside?”
“I’m right here.” They both turned around to see him standing in the open doorway. The bright sunlight settled around him in his office. His face was a silhouette, offering no hint as to his mood.
“Can you spare a minute?”
She felt Legend watching, enjoying her humbleness.
Jake stepped aside, making room for her to enter. He closed the door before Legend could reenter.
“I didn’t want to leave things the way they were, from earlier.”
The shares were down in his office windows, but light still pushed through. The walls weren’t white, she was happy to see. A soft touch of green, beaming energy and fuel for the brain. He walked around to the center of his honey-wood L-shaped desk. On top sat matching accessories. The pen holder, calendar, and clock were all trimmed in the same deep wood hue. He sat down and leaned back in his chair, then twirled around so his back faced Venus.
She stood up, then sat back down on the leather couch. “Jake, I’m sorry. I treated you wrong.”
“Past tense is the key here.”
Venus leaned her face in her hands. “I should’ve called you, somehow. Left some type of cryptic message … anything, instead of having you worry.” She let her eyes drop to the plush Oriental rug when he didn’t respond. She looked up and had an intense urge to turn his chair around to face her. She missed him, sitting less than a few feet away and having no view of the delicate lines of his slim beard, the honest square of his chin. “I’m sincerely sorry, that’s all I can say.” She stood up and moved her feet with great effort to the door. She should say more, that it was all her fault. What he’d taken as a sign to pursue her was real but her heart and mind had sent out conflicting signals. She wanted nothing more than to feel the warmth of his touch.
“I just wanted you to know how bad I felt. Okay,” she said again, as she reached the door.
She felt the heat of his body come up behind her. “You don’t have to go.” He put a slow, careful arm around her, followed by the other, wrapping her tightly. He managed to turn her around without loosening his grip
She pulled away briefly, to look into his eyes, and there it was. Venus had scratched it off her list, accepting simple things in its place, honesty, understanding, and compassion. But to feel weightless, empowered but still light as a feather, she had relinquished that to the sickening fairy tales and romances on the big screen. But now, right here, she felt it. Now she understood those moments when the heroine looked into her man’s eyes announcing whole and complete submission, because here she was safe, protected. Loved and needed.
Jake kissed her softly on the forehead, then the bridge of her nose, and was heading for her lips when a knock at the door spoiled the moment. Venus moved swiftly and found a corner to concentrate on while she strained to hear the voice of the visitor.
“Hey, can I talk to you?” Beverly’s mellow tone crept past him. He stood between any view she may have had of his office or of Venus.
“Now’s not a good time. Give me a call in about an hour.” The door closed. Jake was back by her side. His hands cupped her shoulders without reserve. He no longer felt like a trespasser on someone else’s territory. He was now in his own garden, inhaling the sweet scent of her neck, trailing the line of her collarbone.
“Don’t start thinking too hard,” he whispered behind her ear before turning her to face him.
“That’s what I do. I think.”
“Sssh,” his finger touched her lips then pressed to the center of her eyes.
She understood what he was saying. She could think her way into an ending, an inevitable bottom line. What he hadn’t known was that she’d already played out the complete scenario, in those short seconds when the door opened to Beverly. She’d seen the beginning, the middle, and the end.
“I better get going. I still have time to make it over to the hospital for my mother’s appointment with her new doctor.” Venus had begged her mother and father to let her come; it wouldn’t make sense to be late, or not to show up at all.
“Let me drive you.” Jake held her hand while he walked her out of his office, stopping in the middle of the corridor.
“No. That’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
“Do me a favor and call as soon as you get a chance. Give your mother my well wishes.” He lifted her chin, kissing her lips lightly.
&nbs
p; “Someone might see us.” She pecked him one last time. “I’ll call as soon as I’m done.” Her legs were moving, but she couldn’t feel them. Intoxicated. She twisted around and gave him another wave because she knew he was still watching.
She staggered out of the JP Wear studio still high from his kiss, from his touch. The noise of street traffic, cars, and people all filtered down to a low hum. She could only hear Jake in her ear, whispering that he’d see her later. Couldn’t bear the thought of waiting till tomorrow. Call me as soon as you possibly can.
“Nice.”
She looked back to see a homeless man grinning at her with bared yellow teeth. The man’s voice was enough to bring her back to reality, knock her off the cloud she’d been sailing on while walking to her car. He was still staring at her when she got inside and put her key in the ignition. With all the dirt and grunginess around his face, his eyes still managed to gleam, light bouncing off his pupils.
Venus pulled off, her stereo blaring loudly. The man was still smiling as she drove by, as if the two of them shared a secret. Misdeeds and malice. Wrong against Airic. Wrong against her own good sense. Wrong. She knew she was, and all things done in darkness would eventually come to light.
SMALL THINGS
THE waiting room was sparsely populated. Smooth classical music played through the hidden speakers, and the long couches pushed against the wall benefited only a young woman with wispy hair and deep-set eyes sitting alone staring into space. Venus saw the receptionist behind the partition, sitting in the middle like the chair umpire of a tennis match. She stood up with a look of recognition as Venus came toward her.
“Your mother is here. She’s waiting for you.” Her pretty dark eyes stayed wide with her smile. She came around and opened the entry door. “I didn’t introduce myself the first time; my name is Lettie.” She stuck out her hand to shake. Venus hugged her instead. It was becoming a habit, reaching out for confirmation, holding on to another person, close to her heart, to know she was alive and well and that life could be as wonderful as she made it
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