UNBROKEN (Friends, Lovers, or Nothing Book 5)

by Jackie Chanel

  “Sunny,” she stammered nervously. “You know I didn’t mean—”

  “I don’t give a shit what you meant. Do your fucking job, Jade, and leave your opinion of Aiden out of it.”

  I left Jade’s office with her and her two assistants standing there with their mouths gaping open. When the elevator doors shut, I started laughing. At first, it was just a small chuckle then grew to an all out gut-busting laugh. I probably looked crazy as hell but I was alone in the elevator so it didn’t matter.

  Blowing up like that felt good, like an orgasmic release. Those words not only needed to be said, but it was past time for Jade to hear them. Saying what I’ve been denying for years about Aiden wasn’t only necessary; it was cathartic.

  My head was finally clear enough to think straight…to work out the demons that were keeping me from being the supportive and caring woman that Aiden needed in his corner.

  ***

  Before I could go to Aiden, I had to finish up something that’s been on my mind for weeks. The S.T.Y.L.E.Z studio was closed so I had Clay and Candace meet me there. I haven’t seen Clay since the wedding. While we have some serious catching up to do, I also have a business proposition for him. This ordeal with Jade was just the catalyst to set my plan in motion. Catching up can wait.

  Both of them were already inside when I pushed my way past about twenty photographers camped outside the studio hoping that I’d actually answer one of their dumb ass questions. They should know by now that they’ll never get a sound byte out of me.

  “You better not be breaking my espresso machine.”

  Clay jumped back from the expensive and complicated machine and laughed. “What the hell you need this for? You out here workin’ your staff so hard that they can’t even take a Starbucks break?”

  “Shut up.” I opened my arms for a hug. “Act like you missed me.”

  “You know I did. How are you? Have a nervous breakdown yet?”

  “Almost. Let’s go in my office and talk.”

  Clay laughed and followed me into the sitting room. “Damn. I thought you might have upgraded and got a real office. I was wrong.”

  “Sit down. Hey, Candace. Thanks for coming in on your day off. I really need to talk to both of you.”

  Candace has been handling all of the marketing for RainDrops and the Uninhibited collection since I hired her. She’s amazing and a lot more low key than her flamboyant twin brother. She’s also the only other person besides me that can rein in her brother when he goes off on his many tangents. Kirk probably listens to Candace more than me and I’m the one who pays him.

  “I asked both of you to meet me here because I have to make some changes since we’re moving soon.”

  “Loser,” Clay muttered. “But that’s fine. I did fine without you before. I’ll do fine again.”

  “Hush. Anyway, here’s the thing. S.T.Y.L.E.Z started as an LA-based studio and I want to keep it that way. This studio has to remain open since our biggest events happen in Los Angeles. Instead of moving all these clothes and stuff to Atlanta and making our clients’ lives even more inconvenient, I’m thinking we should duplicate what we’re doing in Atlanta. Clay, I want to lease the unit upstairs, make that the actual studio, and turn this space into a retail store for RainDrops and my collections. It’s time for Kirk to be more than just an associate. I think he can be a stylist. Candace, I’d really like you to stay on and manage the studio and the store. Kirk will be working as a stylist here and you can hire more staff to assist him.”

  “You think he’s ready for all that?”

  I nodded. “I think it’s time. He’s ready and I trust him. I trust you and him to not ruin everything I’ve built in LA. You’re the only ones I trust. Besides, it’s going to be months before the Atlanta space is ready. We need to keep things going here.”

  “Wow, Sunny. I can’t believe it.” Candace was smiling harder than I’ve ever seen her smile. She’s usually so serious, so professional. She’s the only completely professional person in this studio full of caffeine-addicted clothes freaks.

  “Does she get a raise?” Clay’s nosy self asked.

  “Mind your own business. You don’t need to worry about her paycheck. But, yes, of course she’ll get a raise. I haven’t run this by my accountant and business manager yet, but I did run the numbers. I’m sure we can pay you a competitive salary plus benefits and expenses. We can meet with them on Monday.”

  “This is crazy. Yeah, I’ll do it. Of course, I will!”

  “Since you’re in a giving mood,” Clay teased.

  What I had to ask Clay was one of the most selfish things I could ask him and I wasn’t as sure he’d be so inclined to do it like Candace was, but I had to ask. I know he’s been perfectly content working for his dad selling high-end real estate. Lately, I’ve noticed that he’s not putting in as much effort as his brothers. That’s probably the reason Matt was given the opportunity to run the Boston branch. I’m hoping his heart isn’t in real estate anymore.

  “I do have something for you,” I said to him. “Jade has a $300,000 deal on the table with Project Runway. After the ink is dry on that contract, I’m getting rid of her. I know you have a job, but would you be interested in managing my career?”

  Clay sat back on the sofa and exhaled dramatically. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, Mrs. Tyler? What makes you think I can be an agent?”

  “Because you’re charismatic, connected, and if you can sell multi-million dollar homes to celebrities, I’m pretty sure you can find me jobs. I knew nothing about talent management when Roxy got sick and I had to take over for Aiden. However, who landed him his three-album deal with Power? With no experience, just sheer belief in his talent, I launched the career of an international superstar. I’m already the best in the city. Repping me should be easy. Besides, I want more than what I’ve been doing. I want more jobs like Project Runway. I want magazines, movies, televisions shows. We both know I’m too good just to focus on dressing celebrities.”

  “She is, Clay. I’ve been telling her for months that Jade is holding her back. Plus, she needs someone who knows her on a personal level.”

  “Yes,” I nodded. “Someone who appreciates that my family comes before anything. Someone who won’t threaten to quit or call me stupid when I turn down a job because it’s not good for my girls or my husband.”

  “Then let me make a few calls,” Clay said. “ScreenGems in Atlanta just picked up Ava’s new show. I’m pretty sure I can get you hired as the creative director. I sold the producer his place on Robin Drive. Saved him three million. He owes me a favor.”

  Just as I was about to throw my arms around my friend, the phone in the back room began to ring loudly. It was after hours and all my clients have my cell so it couldn’t be an emergency. I was tempted to let it go to voicemail but chose not to. Bad decision. The voice on the other end annoyed me more than surprised me.

  “Why are you calling me?”

  “Don’t you think there’s a conversation that needs to be had?”

  “Not between you and me.”

  “I think you’re wrong.”

  “And I think you’re a manipulative and deceitful bitch. Is that enough conversation for you?”

  “And I think the same about you. But we’re in a lose-lose situation now.”

  “So, what do you want?”

  “I just said what I wanted. Maybe step one in this resolution is for you to start listening to me.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m in my car outside. Can I come in?”

  “Fine. Come in.”

  I hung up the phone and gave my studio a quick onceover to make sure there weren’t any sharp objects readily accessible. This impending conversation was needed but definitely not wanted. I didn’t need a shiny pair of scissors sitting out in the open tempting me to grab them and jabbing them into Ramey’s throat. I’m way too cute for pre-meditated murder.

  “Oh shit,” I heard Clay gasp a few mi
nutes later. Candace must have opened the door for Ramey.

  I stayed seated at my desk. She wasn’t a friend or client so I wasn’t about to get up and greet her like one.

  “Where’d she go?” Ramey asked.

  “She’s in the back. Sunny!” Candace yelled. “Do you want us to stay? Do you need witnesses?”

  “I’m good. I’ll be up there in a sec. Y’all can leave. I’ll call you both tomorrow.”

  “Don’t call me from jail!” Clay yelled then I heard the studio door shut.

  I took a deep breath, put on my game face, then walked into the sitting room. Ramey and I were alone in a room for the first time ever. The desire to wrap my hands around her throat on sight was only stifled by the gorgeous little girl standing by her side and the adorable toddler in her arms.

  I studied the boy like rare painting. I couldn’t help it. His head rested against his mother’s shoulder comfortably as she balanced him on her hip. At first glance, it was obvious that he was Ramey’s son. He had her eyes and white blonde hair. A closer look revealed the same nose, lips, and jaw line as his father. He was only eighteen months old and clung to his mom in the presence of a stranger.

  “He’s normally not shy,” Ramey stated. “But he hasn’t been to sleep since we left New York this morning and you’re a stranger. Gia, Hendrix, say hello to Sunny.”

  Gia was simply a striking little girl. Her wavy dark hair and dark eyes gave away her Italian heritage and complemented her olive skin. Whoever her father was, he had some strong genes. But it was the way she stood straight up with her head held high that impressed me. That child was a supermodel in the making, just like her mother.

  “Hello,” Gia said softly. “Can I watch your TV?”

  “You sure can.”

  I picked up the remote and turned on the television. After showing her how to work the remote, I turned back to her mother. Ramey nudged the boy with her shoulder.

  “Say hello, Hendrix.”

  “Hello.”

  “He’s normally a chatterbox. But like I said, he doesn’t know you.”

  “Have a seat, Ramey. Let’s talk.”

  “I know you have something you want to say to me, so say it,” she replied but sat down anyway.

  “Oh, you don’t even know, Ramey. I take it you brought the kids because you don’t want me to say everything that I would like to say to you.”

  “Or to keep me from saying everything I’d like to say to you. The hate goes both ways, Sunny.”

  “You have no reason to hate me,” I said. “I’m done being your scapegoat. You ruined your relationship with Aiden. When Aiden was with you, he was yours and I didn’t get in the way of that. I made a point of not getting in the way of that. Maybe you need to read your own book again. You wrote about how happy you two were together. You even wrote that you thought I was happy in my relationship.”

  “It seemed that way at first.”

  “It was that way always. I loved Xavier. I was going to spend my life with him. Aiden and I had put our issues aside so we could be friends and happy in our own relationships. You were the one who had the problem.”

  “Maybe so,” she shrugged nonchalantly. “But you’re not so innocent. Let’s face facts here. You and I aren’t ever going to be friends. I’m cool with that. I don’t like you and you don’t like me. Nevertheless, we can’t have this animosity between us now because this little guy didn’t ask to be here. My personal feelings towards you and Aiden don’t matter when it comes to my son knowing his father. Your feelings towards me don’t matter, but if you can’t get past them, then we’re going to have a problem. I won’t have my son around you. I won’t have him in an unsafe or unstable environment. It’s just that simple.”

  I really wanted that pair of scissors right at the moment. How dare this bitch imply that I’d ever do anything to a child just because his mom is a royal pain in my ass.

  “You don’t have to worry about that,” I said shortly.

  “But I do,” she said. “You think this is what I wanted for my children?”

  “Don’t act, Ramey. If you wanted your kids to believe that Gio was there father, why would you air out your dirty laundry in a book? This is all your doing. I don’t know why you’re on a never ending quest for attention, but you got it.”

  “That’s not what I’m talking about,” she fumed. “When I got pregnant the first time, I had this ideal image of what my family would be. I know what I’ve done to change the perfect picture I had in my head and I’m dealing with that. When Gio finds out that Hendrix isn’t his son, I just want to ensure that there isn’t going to be anything keeping my son from having the relationship with his dad that he deserves.”

  “So, you came to my studio because you think I’m going to be the one that keeps Aiden from his son? You came here thinking that I’m going to be the problem?”

  “When haven’t you been?”

  “When haven’t you been?” I was trying not to lose my cool in front of her children but it was difficult. “Let’s get one thing clear. Your business with Aiden is your business. But I’m a mother just like you. I have two children that you and him have inadvertently involved in this mess. My daughters have a brother, and if you think I’m going to stand in the way of Winter and Summer knowing Hendrix, you really have issues, Ramey. That’s not my place and I’d never do anything like that to my kids. The only thing I want from you is an apology.”

  Ramey scoffed. “For what? I’m not apologizing for anything that I said or did that upset you.”

  “But you will apologize to Aiden,” I sneered. “You kept his son from him for eighteen months.”

  “Didn’t you do the same thing?”

  “Doesn’t make it right, Ramey. And since I did do the exact same thing, I know how hurt he is, but he’d never tell you that. Therefore, you will apologize to my husband for keeping this from him then springing it on him like this in order to revitalize your career. I don’t care if it’s the hardest thing you ever had to do. I’m not going to let you or anyone else play games with him anymore.”

  Ramey rolled her eyes but there was a hint of a smirk on her face. “I’m not playing games with Aiden. I’ll tell you like I told him. I don’t need his money or his spotlight. I didn’t want this.”

  “Are you willing to put that in writing?”

  Ramey’s ice-blue eyes darkened. She looked as if I’d managed to lose my mind and offend her in the process. Not that I cared or was really asking. I just wanted to see if she was telling the truth.

  “This has nothing to do with Aiden’s money. I don’t want his money. I don’t want his name. I had all of that and walked away, remember? And I’m not going to sit here and allow someone who isn’t my son’s father to speak for him. If Aiden wants me to sign something, he’ll have Paulie or whoever is his lawyer now send something to my lawyers. It’s that simple. And I’m getting sick of people thinking this is all about money. Money is the least of my problems. You don’t need to worry about my bank account.”

  Motherhood or rehab had definitely changed Ramey. Any other time, she would have been screaming at the top of her lungs about how unfair everyone was treating her and how no one seemed to care about her feelings. She hadn’t raised her voice at all during our conversation. I still think she’s a bitch with ulterior motives though.

  I looked over at Hendrix. His eyes were droopy with exhausting but the poor baby was fighting sleep with everything in him. Ramey had him dressed in a white polo shirt and seersucker cargo pants. He was too cute for words.

  “Has Aiden seen him yet?”

  “Not even a picture. We haven’t talked since the day he ambushed me at my book signing.”

  I stood up and picked up my bag. “Follow me to the house then. You can’t get in the gate and I know there isn’t anyone home that would actually let you in. You should let Aiden meet his son before he gets on the road.”

  I don’t know why it was so important to me that this meeting happen ton
ight. Maybe because I wanted to be there when Aiden saw his son for the first time. Maybe because I was listening to the words Ramey didn’t say and could relate. She’d essentially done the same thing that I’d done and it wasn’t fair. We’re the two women he has to trust the most now, and we’d hurt and disappointed him the most. It was a fucked up attribute to have in common but this is our life, our reality. We both had some apologizing to do. Might as well do it together.

  Chapter 40: Things are Changin’

  I PUSHED A BUTTON on the soundboard and the control room filled with the most soulful voice singing my mother’s favorite song.

  “Please take me back. Oh baby, I can’t go on. I’m not happy in my life without you. I’ll do whatever it takes. I gotta get you back with me again. I’ve realized I need you here in my life.”

  Shay was in the booth at CMG belting out a mind-blowing rendition of Anita Baker’s ‘No One in the World.’ Joey and his original band were playing with her while Mikey, the sound engineer, Apryl, Cash, and I sat in the control room. I wanted to run in there and hug her. With a live band behind her, she sounded whatever word in the dictionary that means better than amazing.

  “I literally have goosebumps,” Apryl said after I waved my arms at Joey so he could cut the band off.

  “Joey, come out! I think we got it.”

  After months of little shows, guest appearances, and vocal training, Joey and I were confident that Shay was ready to record her album. Day one in the studio and she’s delivered tenfold.

  “She’s going to be a star.” Apryl turned in her chair to look at me. “What white girl do you know has that kind of vocal range?”