Ignoring me, he looked straight ahead. I reached over to press the volume button. Before I could touch it he grabbed my hand and squeezed. “Don’t touch my shit!” He yelled angrily.
“Let my hand go!” I yelled wincing in pain.
“If you want to control some shit we can turn around and you can get in your car and drive yourself to your mother’s stupid ass birthday party! I don’t want to go to that motherfucker anyway! I can take my black ass back home!” He was out of control and obviously high as a kite.
I pulled my hand away from him and turned to look out of the window. Tears burned my eyes and fell down my cheeks. I was tired of him. This time I wouldn’t let him see me cry. I wiped the tears away. I hated him. I mean I really fucking hated him.
* * *
Seantay
By nine thirty the monotony of the party had me yawning. The decorations were beautiful and daddy even had a fireworks show. He would be presenting the car to mother at ten o’ clock. There were over two hundred fifty guests to share the moment with her and that did not include the press and photographers.
My sisters were both looking gorgeous. Renell was wearing a sexy, short cream Michael Kors dress with cleavage and legs for days. Her neutral foundation and nude lipstick looked flawless. The smoky eye makeup set off her gray eyes and made her look mysteriously sexy. As she strutted like a model in three inch heeled Anne Klein sandals all eyes were on her. Her long hair was pinned up in a bun and wrapped in a silk, beige ribbon. She looked like Cleopatra.
Seandra was stunning in a soft pink Prada dress that looked good against her sun kissed skin. The dress was asymmetrical with the back out and a low cut V-neck that showed off her full cleavage. The dress was very flattering to her petite, but voluptuous frame. Her long hair flowed into loose curls that bounced with every movement of her body.
Although Nell and Seandra weren’t talking we all still managed to pose for plenty of pictures. Mother was very curious and inquisitive about Raheem.
“Who is he?” She asked once she’d gotten me alone. Raheem was talking to Renell and Ricky when my mother pulled me aside. They were all tripping because their names started with the letter R.
“He’s a very close friend,” I said keeping my answers as vague as possible.
“What does he do?” She asked.
“He’s a student. He’s from Miami and I met him a few years ago.”
“Who are his parents?” She was sipping Dome P. from an expensive crystal goblet. I admired the ruby earrings. They looked great with her dress.
“You don’t know them,” I said quickly. Praying that she’d just drop the subject would be futile, because I knew better.
“You don’t know that young lady. I know plenty of people. Are they members of the Miami Den Club?”
The Miami Den Club was a very influential country club for wealthy African Americans in Miami and surrounding cities.
Glancing at my watch I realized that it was ten minutes until ten o’ clock and I was relieved. The brand new Porsche would take her mind off of Raheem. Daddy hadn’t even asked all of the questions she had. Upon initial introduction Raheem was polite and well spoken and that was enough for him. Raheem seemed clean cut enough. When I told mother his name she wrinkled up her nose as if something smelled horrid. “What kind of name is that?” She asked ignorantly.
It didn’t seem to bother Raheem. He simply explained to her that his mother was born and raised in a Muslim household. The name really had a meaning in their religion. “It means merciful and kind,” he’d said as he kissed her hand. “It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Beauvois.” The gesture had gotten a small smile from her.
My father was standing on a built stage asking for everyone’s attention and I was gracious for the distraction. I knew that my mother would interrogate me later, but the break was appreciated. I made a mental note to promptly disappear before the party ended. Raheem suddenly appeared behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. My mother saw our show of affection and visibly flinched.
“Tameah, will you please join me sweetheart,” he said gesturing for her to come to the stage.
She walked up to the stage and he helped her up the steps. “Okay honey. I am going to blindfold you.”
“Are you being freaky in front of our guests?” Mother giggled jokingly. Everyone laughed.
Daddy winked at the crowd of spectators. “You’ll see.” The laughter continued. They were all in awe of the fascinating couple.
Once the blindfold was on one of the valet workers parked the Porsche a few feet from the stage. Everyone gasped and whispered at the sight of the extravagant vehicle. Mother kept her poise on stage pretending to not care about the spectacle. She knew that she’d be pleased when the blindfold was removed from the reaction of the guests.
“Baby, we’ve been together for a long time. We have it all. Success, wealth and three beautiful daughters are enough. What more could you ask for? You have me…a loving, adoring husband.”
Laughter filled the room and father beamed at mother. “I love you Mrs. Beauvois and I can’t wait to spend a hundred more birthdays with you. I never promised you the world, but I did promise that ours would be filled with all the little trinkets your heart desire.” He removed the blindfold and mother looked around aimlessly. Once she spotted the car she jumped up like a woman half her age.
“Oh my goodness… Sean,” she said giving father a big hug and kiss. She made her way over to her car and got inside. The crowd hurried over as she admired her new wheels. Father walked off stage and joined the crowd. She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. He lived to please her.
* * *
Renell
The car was beautiful and I knew it was only one of many extravagant gifts that father would pamper her with. It wasn’t everyday that your wife turned fifty I guess. My grandparents had gone inside and the party was winding down. The press and photographers had left after mother took her new car on a short spin into the multi car garage. I yawned ready to leave myself, but it was time to open the gifts. The rest of the celebration was for family and friends only.
There was something strange in the air and I wondered why I suddenly felt so uneasy. Fifteen minutes into my mother’s favorite part of her birthday parties and I’d noticed that Maurice and Seandra appeared to be having an argument. They were away from everyone, so their words couldn’t be heard. I could tell from their body language that the conversation was heated.
“They’re arguing,” I whispered to Ricky. His eyes followed my gaze.
Waving his hand in their direction he said, “Ignore them.”
I glanced in their direction one more time before I focused my attention back to the birthday girl. Mother was showing off the black Jimmy Choo sandals I’d bought for her.
“Thank you baby girl.” She smiled and blew a kiss at me. I smiled and threw a kiss back.
Seantay walked over to me with her cute little boyfriend Raheem on her heels. He seemed to be a sweetheart. I didn’t know much about him, but my first impression of him was good.
“What’s going on with them,” she asked averting her eyes in the direction of Seandra and Maurice.
Shrugging my shoulders I admitted my ignorance to their situation. “I have no idea, but it looks serious.” I was nervous as hell. I had a feeling that the argument pertained to my past with Maurice. The moment was the wrong time for the truth to come out. As long as I was an old maid he’d kept it on the hush. Now that I’d moved on he was ready to confess. I hated drama and I didn’t need it in my life. How would I explain everything to Ricky?
* * *
Seandra
Maurice was high as hell. When he made his way inside to go to the restroom I followed him. I caught him sniffing that shit like his life depended on it. I was pissed off, but I tried to keep my cool. Once he’d realized that I had followed him he went off. That was how the argument started. I interrogated him on the way out of the mansion and then the quarrel shifted to a
nother subject.
“Why the fuck do you keep on taking up for Renelll all of a sudden? Are you fucking her or something? Shit, I thought the bitch was a lesbian,” I said angrily. At that point I didn’t care if the guests heard me.
“I don’t want to marry you Seandra. That shit was killing me at first, but I don’t want to marry you.” He had a satisfied smirk on his handsome face.
“What? You don’t want to marry me?” I was livid. I couldn’t help but yell at the top of my lungs. “What the fuck do you mean you don’t want to marry me?! After all that we’ve been through?!”
“You’re starting to make a scene,” he said calmly.
I could see my mother’s face as she descended the steps of the stage.
“Fuck that! What the hell happened? Huh? What happened?” I asked acting irate.
“I don’t know. I love somebody else. I’ve loved her all this time.” He’d lowered his voice. He was acting all calm and I wanted to slap him so bad. I felt a hand on my arm. I hadn’t seen my parents walk over, but my father was beside me.
“What’s the problem?” Father asked.
“This is my birthday celebration Seandra. You two need to discuss your private matters elsewhere,” mother chimed in.
“I’m leaving,” Maurice said. “I am so sorry Mr. and Mrs. Beauvois. Excuse me.”
He walked off and I followed him. Hurrying to keep up with his long strides I asked the burning question. “Who is she Maurice? Who the fuck are you in love with?”
He stopped and turned to face me. “Do you really want to know?”
“Hell yes. I wasted years of my life with you and I want to know who the bitch is,” I said with anger dripping from every word.
Mother and father had returned to their adoring fans and nobody could hear us. The celebration continued as Maurice proceeded to tear my heart out and stump on it.
“I had met her before you. I’m just a man and I got caught up in the physical with your ass. Shit, your pussy’s fucking amazing, but you have no substance. You’re nothing like her. When I first met you I preferred you. Now I realize that I don’t want that anymore. That’s why I am always pursuing other woman. The truth is that I don’t think I ever loved you,” he explained with not one ounce of guilt or remorse.
The words he uttered shattered my heart into a million pieces, but I still had to know.
“Who the fuck is she?!” I screamed hysterically, letting the hot tears fall down my cheeks.
Clearing his throat he said, “Renell. I was with her before I knew you. After we got together I continued to sleep with her. She fulfilled me in so many ways and I was a fool for letting her go for you. Not only is she strong and intelligent, but she’s independent. Oh, and believe me when I say she’s not a lesbian. She ended things with me because for some reason I couldn’t shake your freaky ass off. I was fine until I saw her with Ricky. Now I realize that I still love Renell. So there, it’s out. I guess that’s it for us.” After he’d said his piece he walked away and left me standing there stunned. He jumped into his burgundy E-Class Benz and drove off.
No words could describe how I felt as I watched Maurice speed off. Did he just tell say that he was with Renell before me? I felt sick and I couldn’t return to mother’s party. I ran into the house to get Edwin to take me home.
* * *
Seantay
A week had gone by since mother’s birthday party and everyone was still pondering about Maurice and Seandra’s argument. Whatever it was had caused her to leave without saying a word to anyone and we hadn’t heard anything from her since. Nell considered Seandra’s silent treatment toward her as normal, but she would have called our mother by now.
Mother had gone so far as to call the director of Cinammon Star. He informed us that Seandra had been coming to the set as scheduled, but her work was suffering. She had been forgetting her lines and snapping at other cast members. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her,” Ahmad had said. “I just decided to give her some time off to get herself together.
Maurice had returned to Atlanta and informed us that the engagment was off. His announcement had shedded some light on Seandra’s strange behavior. He’d told us a day after he leaked the news to the press. Once we saw the story in all of the gossip magazines, newspapers, and on internet sites we knew that Seandra would only crawl into a deeper funk. Even Renell felt bad for her. I for one was glad the engagement was off because Maurice was no good for her.
“Girl, they’re still talking about Seandra and Maurice’s split on TV. Don’t ya’ll get tired of the press?” Reba asked.
We were leaving the nail shop after getting manis and pedis. “Yeah, the break up is big news considering the fact that they’d just gotten engaged. She must’ve gone out of town to let things cool off. I guess she wants to stay away from the media.”
“I can understand why she’d stay out of the public eye. A break up is bad enough when noone is around. I can’t understand why she’d stay away from her family,” Reba said.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess she just needs a little time alone. She really loved Maurice.” Rolling my eyes I added, “For whatever reason.”
We’d made it to my car when I saw a familiar looking car approaching. The windows were tinted, but I didn’t need to see the driver to know who it was. The window slid down as the car came to a complete stop.
Sucking my teeth and rolling my eyes were obviously signals that he misunderstood, because he had a huge grin of his face.
Reba couldn’t help but laugh.”Hi Nafis,” she said shifting her gaze from him to me.
“Mmm,” was all I said as I opened my car door.
You g’won speak baby?” Nafis asked in that Jamaican accent that used to make me horny instantaneously. He was gorgeous and I’d gotten caught up in his web about a year ago. It’s funny how I managed to sneek around with some very infamous men without being spotted. The secret was that paparrazi were not lurking around the type of men I was attracted to. They were hood stars and I liked being incognito. In Nafis’s case my secret had almost been exposed.
Nafis was a very infamous drug lord who was known for moving major weight all over the east and west coasts. He’d gotten involved in the family business at a young age and was already a multi millionaire at the age of 23. His skin looked like caramel silk, with deep, penetrating eyes, full, sexy lips, and long, neatly groomed locks. Yeah, I loved those bad boys.
“Ya know you hear me talkin’,” he added giving me one of those sexy looks that used to captivate me.
“Yeah, I hear you. I just don’t care to listen. C’mon Reba,” I said not able to get in my vehicle to drive away fast enough.
“What’s wrong Seantay. You still mad at me?” The innocent expression that flashed across his face disappeared instantly. All that was left was a menacing glare.
A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled the reason his good looks and bad boy charm had not been worth the trouble. Shit, the events that took place had kind of scared me straight. I’d promised myself I’d stop playing with fire. Upon meeting Nafis I had no idea he was as deep in the drug game as he was. He had at least 75% of the state of Florida on lock down with his pure, raw, uncut bricks of that pure Columbian blow. That was only the beginning of his product’s reach. He was a master con man and I’d found out the hard way. After him I decided that I’d stick to harmless hustlers like Raheem. My daddy was rich, so I didn’t need the biggest fish anyway.
Ignoring the fine creature I started the igntion and peeled off. I was mad as hell all over again when I thought about the last time I’d seen him. How in the hell had I run into him again?
“What happened with that anyway? Everytime I asked you just brushed it off.” Reba broke the silence.
“Okay, of course he’s sexy as hell and you know his accent turned me the fuck on. You have to know he did some foul shit for me to stop fucking with him right?”
She nodded. “Uh huh, so tell me girl. I’ve
been dying to know.”
“Of course I knew he had to do something illegal because of his luxury cars, nice big house, and the money he’d toss around with no damn job. When I was fucking with him he had this hot ass red old school Rolls Royce that he was getting some work done to. He asked me if I could pick it up from the detail shop. I agreed to get Edwin to drop me off and I drove the car to his crib. He’d given me a key to his house, so I just decided to chill until he got there. He didn’t get home until after three a.m. and I was pissed because I’d been there since three that afternoon. We go to the car so he can see the paint job and he is going on and on about how great the car looks. Suddenly he goes over to the car and just pulls the grill off. I’m just standing there looking at him like he’s crazy. You just got a new paint job and grill put on the car and now you’re destroying it? Next thing I know he’s out there with tools taking the damn car apart in the garage. I asked him what the hell he was doing and he says ‘Nothin’ babe.’ Next thing I know he’s pulling out brick after brick of cocaine.”
“What?” Reba shrieked in astonishment. “No he didn’t.”
“Oh yes he did. I was just standing there watching him, shocked as hell. I asked him if he knew that the bricks were in there. Of course I knew the answer to that question. The detail shop was a cover up for his drug operation. He’d gotten me to pick the car up because noone would search Sean Beauvois’s daughter. Why? I could afford a Rolls Royce. I was just a rich cover up for his ass. I went off on him and took a taxi home. It was a good thing the taxi driver was foreign and barely spoke any English. I hadn’t talked to or seen that fool since. Had me driving around with enough drugs to get me locked up for life. Hell no,” I said shaking my head.
“That’s some crazy shit, but you were smart enough to fall back and avoid prison time.” We laughed making light of a situation that could’ve been a really serious one.
“Where to now?” I asked checking my text messages. There was one from Rah declaring his eternal love for me. The smile covered my face without me even trying.
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