Veronica sighed. “I miss my family.”
Dexter pulled back a little. “I thought I was your family.”
Veronica leaned into his chest so she wouldn’t have to look into his eyes. “You know what I mean,” she said. “I miss my mom and my sisters. I should be sharing this experience with them.”
Dexter leaned back so he could look down at her. “That was Plan A, but Plan A didn’t work out. Now we’re on Plan B. And it’s a pretty darn good Plan B, if you ask me.”
“I know,” Veronica said. “And I am grateful, but I still miss them. It’s been more than two weeks since I’ve spoken with them. I can’t believe they haven’t called, not even to say they received the checks. Heck, I still can’t believe they didn’t come to my going-away party.”
“Want to know what I think?” Dexter asked.
She nodded.
“I think you’re being selfish. You want your sisters to be happy for you, to share this experience with you, but that’s not possible right now. In some ways, you left them high and dry, Veronica, regardless of the checks you sent. You went for a chance to achieve your dreams. Unfortunately, when you chose to take your shot, you took away theirs. That has to be hard for them.”
Veronica wiped at the tears that puddled in her eyes. “I know you’re right, but I still miss them.”
“Give them some time,” he said. “They’ll call when they’re ready.”
“But—” Veronica began.
“Mr. Washington is here,” Tia called. “He wants you to meet him in his study.”
Dexter looked down at her. “You ready?”
She nodded and put her hand in his. “Let’s go.”
“Just Veronica,” Tia clarified, with a smirk on her face. “You can wait here, Dexter. We can continue our tour after I get Veronica to the study.”
Veronica felt her husband’s body stiffen and knew he didn’t like being left out. His full, but fake, smile covered his disappointment well. Tia probably bought it, but Veronica knew better. “It’ll be all right,” she said to him. “I’ll tell you everything he says.”
Dexter nodded and let go of her hand. “Knock him dead,” he said.
She took his offered words of comfort with a smile. “I’ll try.” Then she turned to Tia. “Lead the way.”
Veronica followed Tia down a long marble breezeway to a set of brass double doors. Tia pulled both doors open, and Veronica followed her in. Charles Washington was seated behind a huge gold-edged glass desk. He stood when they entered. “Welcome, Veronica,” he said. “I’m sorry I was late. I hope you enjoyed lunch and that Tia made your wait interesting.”
“Lunch was delicious,” she said. “And you know Tia, she’s always on the job.”
“I never doubted her for a minute.” Mr. Washington looked at Tia. “Why don’t you leave us alone so that Veronica can update me on the first week of her journey to stardom? We’ll join you and Dexter on the east terrace when we’re done.”
Tia nodded, and was gone.
“Have a seat,” Washington said, pointing to the chair in front of his desk.
Veronica did as she was told. Then she waited while he made his way back around the massive desk and into his own chair.
After he sat, he leaned back and steepled his fingers across his nose. “So how has the week been?”
Veronica said the first words that came to her mind. “Exhausting, exhilarating.”
Washington chuckled. “And frustrating?”
She shook her head. “Not really. Tia prepared me well for what I was going to face, so I was ready for it.”
He lifted a brow. “So none of it was off-putting?”
She pushed the thought of the suggested breast implants from her mind. “Not really.”
“Not even the recommendation for the breast augmentation?”
Veronica took a deep breath. “What do my breasts have to do with my singing? Beyoncé doesn’t have big breasts. Neither does CeCe Winans.”
He dropped his fingers from his face. “So you see yourself in the same league as Beyoncé and CeCe?”
Veronica squirmed in her chair. “Not really. I’m just saying that they didn’t have to go to such extremes.”
He leaned toward her. “Let me give you a piece of advice, Veronica, based on my tenure in the music business.”
She nodded, but she also held her breath, anxiously anticipating what he was going to say.
“Never compare yourself to established artists. The comparisons are never good ones. You’re trying to get to where they are. In order to do that, you’re going to have to do more than they did and work harder than they did. Things don’t get easier in this business. They get harder. You’re trying to build an audience, so you first have to get their attention. And getting their attention takes more than a voice. It takes a brand. That’s what Legends wants to make for you—a brand. And a brand has a voice and a look. Veronica Y has to be special. Legends only deals in special. So you’re either going to put yourself in our hands, trusting that we’re doing what’s best for you and your brand, or you’re going to fight us. There’s no middle ground. I thought I made that clear before you signed the contract. Have you changed your mind?”
“No,” Veronica said, “I haven’t changed my mind. I just—”
Washington lifted his hand, effectively cutting her off. “No ifs, ands, or buts. You’re either in or out. Which is it?”
“I’m in,” Veronica said, but her heart really wasn’t in her answer. She hoped her broad smile hid her uncertainty.
Chapter 33
The Sunday night late show ended around midnight, but Roxanne didn’t make it to Empress Deck until around two in the morning. After an especially good show, she liked to wind down with the cast. Tonight had been a very good show. She’d been anxious about coming back to the ship after losing the Sing for America contest, but the cast had welcomed her back with an honest show of disappointment that Delilah’s Daughters hadn’t won. Their warm reception had reminded her how fortunate she was to be able to return to the ship and continue the work she loved. She didn’t plan on being with the cruise line forever, but for now it provided a safe haven of steady work. While she, Alisha, and her mother had tossed around the idea of relaunching Delilah’s Daughters, with her mother taking Veronica’s place, Roxanne knew the idea was a long shot. Their best chance of success was with Veronica in the group, but that was no longer an option.
Roxanne grew depressed every time she thought of Veronica and her Legends contract. It stung that her younger sister was enjoying the success that she always believed would be hers. It stung even more because she knew she had more talent than Veronica. Sleep hadn’t come easy for her since her less-talented sister had gotten that Legends contract. It really wasn’t fair.
By the time she reached Gavin’s stateroom, she had worked herself up and needed to be calmed down. She needed Gavin to tell her how great she was and how her time was coming. Their relationship had its problems—namely, he was married—but she could always count on his encouragement and support when it came to her career. She needed that encouragement and support tonight.
She pulled the key card out of her purse and slid it in the door. She’d expected him to greet her as soon as she opened the door, so she was surprised when he didn’t. “Gavin,” she called out, “it’s me.”
She stopped in her tracks when she fully entered the stateroom and saw Gavin seated on the suite’s orange leather couch next to a thin, blond woman who she could only guess was his wife.
“Now the fun can begin,” the woman said. She turned to Gavin. “Don’t be rude, darling. Introduce us.”
Gavin met Roxanne’s eyes, and she read the apology in them. “Roxanne, this is my wife, Darla. Darla, this is Roxanne.”
Darla twisted a lock of Gavin’s blond hair. “You can do better than that, Gavin. You told her who I am to you, but you didn’t tell me who she is to you.”
Gavin met Roxanne’s eyes again. “She’s a f
riend,” he said. “A very good friend.”
Darla laughed a dry laugh, clearly not believing her husband.
Roxanne knew she should turn and leave the stateroom, but it was as though her feet were glued to the floor. “Yes, we’re friends,” she stammered out.
“Friends, huh?” Darla said. “I’d say friends with benefits is a better description.”
“That’s enough, Darla,” Gavin said, glaring at his wife. “You’ve had your fun. Now leave us alone.”
Darla lifted a brow. “Why should I leave?” she asked. “I’m the wife. In all the movies I’ve seen, the mistress is the one to leave.”
Gavin bit down on his lower lip. “You’ve gotten what you wanted,” he said through clenched teeth. “Now go back to our suite. I’ll join you shortly.”
Darla laughed. “I’m sure you will.” She stood and brushed her hands down her cashmere slacks. “Don’t take all night,” she said to Gavin. When she reached Roxanne, she said, “I hope you didn’t think this thing between you and my husband had any future. You look smarter than the other ladies he’s had, and he’s had several. Gavin’s what I call a serial adulterer.” She fingered the pearls around her neck. “But he’s my serial adulterer, and I intend to keep him. Next time you want a married man, you shouldn’t aim so high. Pick someone in your league, socially and culturally. You stepped way above your station with Gavin.” With those words, Darla brushed past Roxanne and out of the stateroom.
Roxanne released a deep breath that seemed to shake her out of her stupor. She looked at Gavin, but couldn’t find any words to speak. “What am I doing here? I’m leaving,” she said, turning toward the door.
Gavin jumped up from the couch, grabbed her shoulders, and turned her around. “You can’t leave,” he said. “We have to talk.”
“What’s left to say, Gavin? I think your wife said it all.”
Gavin sighed. “I didn’t want this to happen, but Darla is a drama queen, and she had to turn this into a theatrical performance with her as the star.”
Roxanne shot a glare at him. “From what she said, I gather she’s very familiar with her role.”
Gavin pulled her to him. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to end like this.”
Roxanne wanted to laugh, but the pain and shame were too deep. She had no room to rant or rave. She’d known for a long time that Gavin was married. That she hadn’t stopped seeing him as soon as she found out was on her. She had no one to blame. Not Gavin. Not his wife.
“Look, Gavin,” she said, stepping away from him. “You don’t owe me a thing, not even an apology. I’m a grown woman, and I’m responsible for my actions. There was never any future for us. I think we both knew that from the beginning. I do thank you, though, for helping me land this job. I’ll always be grateful to you for that.”
Gavin stuffed his hands in the pockets of his trousers. “Please sit,” he said. “We need to talk about you, me, and the cruise line.”
Roxanne’s heartbeat raced. “I don’t want to sit,” she said. “Tell me what you have to say, and I’ll be on my way.”
He met her eyes and then looked past her right ear. “Darla doesn’t want us working together.”
Roxanne folded her arms across her chest. “Well, you’d better quit, because I’m staying put. I like working here.”
Gavin took his hands out of his pockets and put them on her forearms. “You’re not understanding me,” he said. “The guy who hired you is Darla’s uncle. He has already prepared your separation papers.”
Roxanne did sit then. If she hadn’t, she was sure she would have fallen flat on her face. “What are you saying?”
Gavin sat next to her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry, but tonight was your last performance for the cruise line.”
“You can’t do this to me,” she said. This can’t be happening to me, she thought. “The cruise line can’t do this to me. Why do I have to go and you get to stay?”
Gavin could only shrug. “It’s a family thing,” he said. “You understand family.”
Roxanne could only stare at him. She wanted to rage at him, hit him, but the only anger she felt was directed at herself. She had been in two family competitions in less than a month and had come out on the losing end in both. What did she really know about family? “I signed a contract,” she said, trying to find some leverage that would allow her to keep her job. “The cruise line has to honor it.”
“It has a morals clause. They’ve invoked it.”
Roxanne refused to roll over for Gavin as she had rolled over for Veronica. She stood and looked down at him. “I’m going to fight for my job, Gavin. You and your wife will have to deal with it.”
“You’ll lose,” Gavin said as she opened the door to leave. “You’ve already lost.”
She slammed the door shut behind her.
Chapter 34
Sit down, Delilah,” Tommy told her as she paced back and forth in front of his office windows on Monday morning. “You’re working yourself up over something you can’t control.”
“He had no right to contact her, Tommy. No right at all.”
“He’s her father.”
Delilah stopped pacing and stared at him. “Rocky is her father.”
“In all ways but one.”
“In all the ways that matter. Sperm does not a father make.”
“Don’t be crude.”
She shot him a glare. “The truth is the light. I’m only speaking the truth.”
Tommy got up, walked to her, and pulled her into his arms. She leaned into him, willingly accepting the comfort he offered. “How did he find her at the conference? It’s more than a coincidence. Do you think he has someone checking up on us?”
“Come over here and sit down,” Tommy said, guiding her to the couch. “I have to tell you something that I know you don’t want to hear.”
Delilah sat as she was directed. “You’re scaring me, Tommy. Tell me already.”
“I was the one who told him Alisha was going to be at ASCAP.”
Delilah blinked twice, fast. “What? How?”
Tommy took her hand. “He calls every now and then wanting to know how she’s doing, so I tell him.”
Delilah eased her hand out of his. “How long has this been going on?”
“Years,” he said.
Her eyes widened. “And you never thought to tell me?”
Tommy shrugged. “I knew that knowing would hurt you, and I didn’t see a reason to hurt you needlessly.”
“Needlessly,” she repeated, her voice rising.
“Yes, needlessly. All he wanted was to know how she was doing. He never once considered breaking the agreement he had with you and Rocky. He just wanted to know.”
“He had no right.”
“I felt sorry for him. I know how it feels to love someone from a distance. There’s a hole there, Delilah. You don’t know that feeling. I do. Morgan does. I had to help him, but I wouldn’t have done it if I thought it would bring harm to you or your family.”
“It seems you were wrong,” she spat out, wanting to hold on to her anger. His words about loving from a distance made that difficult, though, since she knew he was talking about himself and the secret love he had carried for her while she’d been married to Rocky. “Why is he bothering her now? He has a wife and kids. Surely, he’s not trying to bring her into his family, so what does he want?”
Tommy reached for her hands again. “He’s dying, Delilah.”
“Dying.” She sank back against the couch. “Morgan’s dying? I don’t believe it. He’s making it up to gain your sympathy. He knows he’s wrong for going back on his word, and he wants you to feel sorry for him.”
Tommy shook his head. “It’s true. The doctors give him less than a year. He wants to do right by Alisha before he goes. He’s already told his wife and children about her and about what he wants to do. He didn’t want her or them to find out when his will was read.”
/> “Will?” she said, still trying to get her mind to grasp the idea that Morgan was dying. “Alisha’s in his will?”
Tommy nodded. “He’s treating her like a daughter in his will because that’s how he thinks of her.”
None of this makes sense, Delilah thought. “But he doesn’t even know her.”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s his blood. Besides, he wants to get to know her in the time he has left.”
Delilah felt as though someone had thrown a bucket of ice on her. All she felt was cold. And empty. How could she be angry at a man who was dying? How could she accuse Tommy of betraying her when she knew that was not his intention? “You should have told me, Tommy. I shouldn’t have had to find out this way.”
“I know,” he said. “I know. I just couldn’t think of a way to tell you that you would understand and accept.”
“You should have tried.”
He sighed. “I know. And I’m sorry I didn’t.” They sat silently for a few moments. Then he asked, “What are you going to do?”
Delilah closed her eyes. “I only have two choices. I let him tell her, or I tell her first.”
“He won’t tell her,” Tommy said. “He knows that’s your decision. If all you’ll let him be while he’s alive is her mentor, he’ll take that. He won’t like it, but he’ll take it.”
“Then after he’s dead Alisha will learn that he was her father and that I never told her.”
“That’s about it.”
Delilah sighed. “I have to tell her and her sisters.” She rubbed her hands down her face. “How can I make them understand?”
“You trust your love for them and their love for you.”
Delilah squeezed her eyes shut to block out the tears. “That’s easy for you to say.”
He didn’t respond, only held her closer.
“I should probably talk to Morgan first so that we can get on the same page.”
He still didn’t say anything.
“The girls are not going to understand,” she told him.
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