“That’s good. I’m still not sure if I could get used to all of this. I like it out here, but I want to get my daughter home with me.”
“Once you have her back, are you staying?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I miss her like crazy and we have never been apart.”
“You’ll get her back. My father knows a lot of people in Atlanta. I’ll call one of my uncles, he knows all the judges and attorneys. I’ll ask him to go with you to your next court date.”
“I have an attorney. I know the court made a mistake because he lied, but yeah I need as many people as possible to help plead my case. I have a job, took a drug test and parenting classes. I just need them to reinstate my full custody back.”
Dinner was picture-perfect. Everything about Warren was perfect. I almost couldn’t believe how my life kept getting better and better.
“This is all very impressive, Mr. Joseph.”
“Thank you. I try I go all out when I’m trying to impress a woman that I’m really interested in.”
“What happens after they are impressed?”
“We go back to my house and have passionate sex and then whatever you want from there.”
“At least you are truthful, but that only happens in the movies.”
He licked his lips and said, “I think it can happen in real life, too.”
We left the restaurant and headed to his place. He said he had to pick up something. I knew he just wanted to get me to his house. His home was huge, but slightly smaller than Morgan’s. He showed me pictures of his parents and all his awards and trophies. He asked me did I want anything else to drink. I declined, because I knew he was trying to get me to stay. I’m sure he had to have had plenty of women and I had to be different than the rest of them. Under no circumstances would I allow him to convince me to sleep with him. So I played uninterested as he left and told me he would be right back. He got what he needed from the house and then dropped me off at my door.
“Good night, Adrienne. I’ll see you when?”
“Call me tomorrow.”
* * *
The next morning Warren asked me out for an early brunch. However, I didn’t know we would be dining at his house. He had breakfast delivered and we ate on his back deck.
“I thought we were going to a nice restaurant. I got dressed for nothing.”
“We were, but I am still a little tired from last night. You shouldn’t have left. I don’t know why you didn’t stay.”
“I couldn’t, but I’m here now.”
“You are. So can I at least get a kiss this morning?”
“You can.” He came over to my end of the table and then stood me up and leaned me back and brought me forward.
“How was that?”
“That was a cute movie kiss.”
“It was? How about this? You have to close your eyes.” I closed my eyes and felt his tongue in my ear, his hands on my thighs. Then his tongue was on my navel and swept both of my nipples, teasing them both and making them perk up. And then he stopped.
“How was that?”
“Very sensual, but more than a kiss, but interesting,” I said, opening my eyes and shaking off the orgasmic rush. He caught me off guard and kissed me again. This time he didn’t stop and removed my clothes while he was doing so.
Everything was happening so fast. He guided me into his bedroom and slid on a condom and soon he was inside of me tearing walls down from the front. Then he stopped, flipped me over, arched my back and spread my ass across the deck. He re-entered me, took three long hard thrusts, and then went completely limp midstroke.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him, kissing his neck and massaging his dick to get it revved up again.
“I don’t know. I think I’m just too excited. Give me a minute, it will come back up.” He left the room and walked to the bathroom. I heard him punch the wall and then water ran. He came back in and said let’s chill for a while. He turned the television on and pulled me in to his side while I took a nap waiting for round two. A half an hour later I felt him turning me over. Once he was back in, he was nonstop. It was crazy. He would eat me, fuck me, then I would suck him and then we repeated the cycle for hours.
It was almost five in the afternoon when I got up and found the bed empty. My body was tender from our marathon sex session and Warren was gone. I grabbed my bag and checked my phone. I had seven missed calls from Morgan. I put my clothes and shoes on and called out for Warren. I stood at the top of the steps when I noticed his friend Edwin was downstairs with another woman. They all looked up at the top of the staircase.
“You’re finally up,” Warren said. They all laughed. I didn’t. I came down the steps.
“Adrienne, they wanted to see if we want to go running with them at the canyon.”
“I didn’t bring any workout clothes.”
“No problem, we can call over to the cycle shop and I’ll have them send some over. Tell Edwin your sizes.”
“No, I need to go home and do a few things.”
* * *
When I got back, Morgan was sitting on the sofa watching television. I tried to talk to her but she kept looking straight at the television.
“About time you returned.”
“What’s the emergency, Morgan?”
“I haven’t decided yet. Did you check my e-mail? Has anybody contacted you about interviews for me?”
“No, not yet.”
“Oh, and by the way, be proud of yourself. You made it to the blogs as a mystery woman.”
“I did?” She showed me her phone and I saw a picture of Warren and me entering the restaurant.
“He must like you. Fancy dinner and he let the cameras capture your date.”
“I guess.”
“Since you’ve been slobbing knobs with my next costar, see if you can get me a part in his next movie.” I could take her last comment personally or I could keep collecting my check. I didn’t feel like being her on-call slave anymore, but I would play along with her until I didn’t have to anymore.
CHAPTER 45
Monique
“Go, Kadir! Go, son! Yes!” I yelled as my son caught the rebound and took it down the court. When everyone thought he was going to the basket, he passed it to Thaddeus Franklin and he slam-dunked on the Pacers. They were about to secure their tenth win in a row!
Carl came to town for the game and he finally stopped talking about us getting back together. He said he had met someone and I was happy for him. Although Kadir was grown, we could learn to be friends and co-parents. And little Ms. Trailer Park, Abigail, was at the game, too. She spoke to me, but she was scared to say anything else. I tried to be nice to her since it seemed Kadir really liked her.
“So how’s your son?” I asked.
“He’s fine, but I’m trying to potty train him. So I won’t have to buy anymore Pampers.”
“I remember I made Kadir sit on the potty the entire weekend, until he went. And I never bought another diaper.”
“I might have to try that,” she said, and we continued to make small talk the rest of the game.
Once the game was over, everyone was congratulating the team on their win. News cameras and reporters rushed the floor to discuss the victory. Kadir was out of breath and his face was covered with perspiration, but the reporters were still sticking microphones in his face. He was able to share the stage with Thaddeus Franklin and be a star in his own right.
“Hey, our guys won, right?” Thaddeus Franklin’s wife said. I ignored her. I never forgot her comments from the charity event and I wasn’t interested in being her friend.
Dele was signing autographs, but then he walked over with Kadir. I was beyond nervous; my hands were trembling.
“Mom, Dad, this is my teammate Dele.” I extended my hand out to shake his. “He looks out for me. He helps me cool down when I get too hype.”
“He does? That’s nice.”
“Nice to meet you, Mom,” Dele said, then Dele shook Carl’s hand a
s well. He knew he was making me nervous, but he didn’t care.
After all the interviews were over, Kadir came out of the locker room, took my hand and said, “Mom, I want you to meet somebody.”
“Who?”
“This is my brother Phillip.”
I did see Kadir in his face. But knowing that didn’t stop me from being upset with Kadir for pushing this child on me.
“I don’t want to meet him.”
“That’s mean, Monique. He can hear you,” Carl butted in.
“I don’t care. I’m surprised you are cosigning this foolishness, Carl. Kadir, you can be a fool if you want to. I already warned you. You’re already sneaking around to help your grandmother out. I don’t care, fly all of them down here and when they rob you blind, don’t come running to me.”
“I am and I will. And I already went to Philly and met my family. I have money, Mom, so what’s the problem? I look out for you, so why can’t I look out for them? They say I look just like my dad.”
“Your dad’s name is Carl, Kadir. That’s who raised you. Them Henderson folks are greedy people that just want a free ride.”
“Mom, give him a chance. Please, for me? I want to take us all to dinner like a family.”
* * *
I met Kadir, his long-lost brother Phil, Abigail, and Carl for dinner at Del Frisco’s. I was already angry about all of this, but my night went from bad to worse when I spotted Dele sitting three tables away with a beautiful young woman. She had light brown skin and had natural, long honey blond curly ‘fro. She was wearing a body-hugging taupe-colored dress that made her almost appear to be nude. She couldn’t be any more than twenty-three. They were laughing and smiling at each other. I wanted to go over there and choke him, but I couldn’t. I had to play it cool, but he would have to explain this ish to me. How was I supposed to enjoy my meal?
“Mom, are you all right? You look like you might be getting sick,” Kadir asked.
“I’m tired.” I glanced over at Dele’s table and he smiled at me. I gave him a “fuck you” face. Meanwhile, I caught Carl catching Dele looking at me, which made me look over at Phil.
“So, Phil, what do you with yourself?”
“I’m a junior at Morehouse. I’m studying microbiology.”
“Mom, he’s real smart. He started college a year early on an academic scholarship.”
“Oh, that’s real nice. I’m impressed.”
Kadir shot me a look like “I told you.”
“Who is your mom, Phil?”
“Her name is Stacy, but my grandparents raised me. My mom was in the streets, back in the day.”
“Oh, okay.”
“But she’s getting herself together now.”
“That’s good.”
“I didn’t know I had a brother. People start telling me this guy Kadir Hall looks just like me. Then my grandmother told me and my cousin that we were actually brothers. I’ve been an only child my whole life, so I’ve always wanted a brother.”
“Just like me, Mom.”
Kadir was right. Phil seemed to be pleasant and intelligent and he did look like my Kadir—from his height to his mannerisms. He actually might be a good influence on his younger brother.
Carl was quiet and Abigail was on her phone and my eyes wandered back over to Dele’s table. He had now put his arm around the young woman. I couldn’t take much more, but it got worse. Dele up and walked over to our table. My heart was in my stomach. I didn’t look up.
“Hey, Kadir. I didn’t know you were coming here,” Dele said.
“Remember, you told me about this place. I wanted to check it out.” He said nice to see everyone again and went back to his table.
I waited exactly ten minutes and then rose from the table.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Phil. I’m not feeling well and I’m going to go home.”
“We all gonna chill. Pops, you gone make sure Mom good?”
But I cut off Carl before he could say anything. “You can stay, Carl. I’m going to drive myself home. Y’all have fun.”
* * *
I couldn’t get out of that steakhouse fast enough. I pushed start on my car and pulled off. I called Dele’s phone. I knew he was still at dinner, but I didn’t care. He answered, still being smart and said, “Bonsoir.” Which meant good evening.
“Dele, don’t fucking play with me.”
“Monique, do not speak to me in that manner.”
“You’re lucky cussing is all I’m doing. What was that all about? Huh? Who is that girl? Why were you having dinner with her?”
“Would you have gone with me? I can answer the question for you. No, you wouldn’t have wanted me to go to dinner, to celebrate my team’s win. As for the young lady, she is a friend. She’s my friend’s cousin in town from Paris. Maybe she has a crush, I am not sure. But don’t ask any questions unless you are ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Ready to be out in the open with our relationship.”
“Dele, you know I can’t do that.”
“Then you will not question me.”
I went to say something else and noticed he had disconnected the call. I had no idea what I was going to do. I loved Dele, but I couldn’t hurt Kadir.
CHAPTER 46
Adrienne
“Adrienne, I need to see you before I go to New York. Let’s get something to eat and then I have a day party to attend. I’ll meet you at Casta on Wilshire Boulevard in an hour.”
Warren had a busy schedule, but he was making time for me and I couldn’t wait to see him. He’d been consistent with his time. He called me and texted and I’d spent the night several times. I knew we were only dating, but I liked him a whole lot and I knew it had the potential of being more.
I showered and pulled out a sexy aqua-colored dress. My hair was pinned up and I had put a little bit of makeup on and I was on my way out of the door.
Morgan came behind me in the mirror. That crazed look had returned. “Where are you going? I need you to go over my lines with me. I have an audition on Monday.”
“I’ll help you when I get back. And, Morgan, we have to talk about my hours. I can’t be on call all the time. I need a day off. Or I can work from seven to seven or something like that,” I said, applying mascara.
“No, that is not possible. Actually, you are fired. You have two weeks to move out.”
“I’m fired? Okay, Morgan.” I wasn’t thinking about Ms. Tucker. I would handle her when I returned. I couldn’t wait to see Warren. However, I was extremely disappointed when I arrived at Casta and saw that it was a group date. His entire team was there, including his agent, Edwin, his stylist, Tayman, his publicist, Simone, and her assistant. He explained that they were going over his schedule and the movie company’s marketing plan. That was nice, but I was wearing a sexy outfit for nothing. I immediately asked him if I could have a word with him.
“Why did you invite me to this strategy session?”
“Oh, because I’m going out of town and I wanted to give you this before I left. Here.”
“What is this?”
“The money for your script.” I looked down at a check for forty thousand dollars.
“But we didn’t sign anything yet.”
“I have the contract at the house. This is just to option the script, but if I can get it bought, I’ll put you on as one of the producers.” I didn’t want to cry.
“Warren, I’m glad you liked it. This is perfect—it came at the right time. Morgan just fired me and told me to be out in two weeks. This is perfect. I can get my own place now.”
“Just stay at my house while I’m gone. When I get back we will find you a place.”
“Okay.”
I came back to the table in a better mood. I was grateful. We ordered appetizers and we were all startled by the flash of multiple cameras. The paparazzi were up at the table snapping pictures, which alerted passersby that there was someone famous seated at our table. People started comin
g over and asking Warren for his autograph. He signed photos and took pictures with a half a dozen people. Once the pandemonium was over, Warren had a seat and apologized.
“You shouldn’t have to apologize. Don’t they see that you are eating? I mean I can’t understand how people can come over and interrupt your meal,” his stylist Tayman said.
“It’s not right, but I understand it. If I were to see Will Smith walk into this restaurant, I would have to ask him if I could get a picture. When is the next time I’m going to see Will Smith again?” I said.
“I see Will all the time. Him and Jada jog in my neighborhood,” Simone stated.
“I’m talking about everyday tourists.”
“I agree that makes sense. You guys are disconnected. I understand what she is saying. It’s not normal to see celebrities just run by you,” Warren added.
“The media is a necessary evil; you can’t want it on Monday and then ask why they are following you on a Thursday. It is a part of the job,” his publicist Simone said.
* * *
From lunch we all went to a day party where Warren was making an appearance. There were beautiful people drinking and dancing everywhere. It was a different experience—it felt like a club but it was the middle of the day. We were escorted to a roped-off area off of the pool area to a huge white cabana. A bottle girl brought over our drinks. I caught Edwin gazing at me a few times. And then he came over and sat next to me.
“Hey, beautiful, are you enjoying yourself? Do you want another drink?”
“No, I’m fine. I had enough.”
“So are you going to be at the house while Warren is gone? I’ll come and keep you company.” He grabbed my hand and stroked it. I was alarmed, but I didn’t want to overreact, so I let it slide. Everything was going so well, I didn’t want to tell Warren his best friend was hitting on me if I wasn’t absolutely sure. And then he was unmistakably flirting with me when his hand started stroking my thighs under my skirt. No one could see his hands under the table, and I didn’t want to create a scene, but I had to get away from him. I stood up, but he followed me. And then he grabbed my ass.
“So what’s up?”
“There is nothing up. I don’t know why you just did that, but I want you to never put your hands on me again.”
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