by La Jill Hunt
He put the phone to his ear and answered. “Hello?”
“I finally decided to call you as a man and see what your reason for breaking my daughter’s heart was.”
“Mr. Clout, it’s nice to hear from you too.”
“Don’t humor me, boy. When my daughter called me crying Wednesday evening, asking me to book her a flight back to Milwaukee, I wanted to wring your neck.”
“I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt Alecia.”
“I always told her that she was too good for you. You were never nothing more than just a thug from the hood. But no, she didn’t listen to me, and now look at what you did. You left her for your secretary. What was it? You used her up until you couldn’t anymore, is that it? You are lucky the board outvoted me on Wednesday, otherwise the merger would have never happened.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Clout.... Actually, no. No, I’m not sorry.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m done apologizing for deciding what is and isn’t good for me in my life. You’re right about one thing: Alecia should have never been with me. Not for the reasons you’re saying, but because eventually I would grow enough balls to leave that controlling bitch alone.”
“You motherfucker! Don’t you ever call my daughter a—”
“I want to thank you so much for your business with Etco, Mr. Clout. I look forward to our future endeavors. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an e-mail. See you at the welcome banquet tomorrow.”
Edward was still bumbling out insults when Keelan disconnected the call. He tossed his phone on the desk and felt a tickle at the back of his throat. When he opened his mouth, a loud laugh escaped his lips. Well, at least now he knew the reason why the merger had happened. He couldn’t believe he used to be intimidated by Edward. Keelan had been so worried about getting on his bad side, but now that it had actually happened, he could truly say that he didn’t give a shit.
Ping!
The noise came from his computer. It was an e-mail from Teeka, and he was still smiling when he opened it.
Lunch?
He opened the reply box and began to type away.
I was starting to think that you forgot about me. And yes, lunch would be great.
After about thirty seconds, his computer sounded again with her reply.
How could I forget someone as amazing as you? And perfect. I was thinking we would try that new Mexican spot on the corner down the street.
Keelan had seen the spot that she was talking about and had also wanted to see what their tacos were about. It was supposed to be authentic Mexican food, nothing like the bubble guts on a shell that Taco Bell served.
Sounds good. I’ll meet you at your desk in fifteen. I have something to tell you.
He sent his message and closed out of his e-mail so that she couldn’t bombard him with questions about what he was talking about. He wanted to tell her face-to-face so he could see the smile on her lips. Alecia had gone back to Milwaukee, he was the vice president of a company he hadn’t even been at a full year, and he had a good woman by his side.
“Ahhh,” he said like he’d just taken a swig of soda. “Life is good.”
And the story of love is a long, sad tale, ending in a grave.
Chapter 14
Teeka
The night of the banquet had finally arrived, and Teeka was giddy like it was the prom she didn’t get to go to. She had come to the home she’d grown up in and was in her old room, getting ready. She sat in front of the vanity, messing with her hair. She’d gotten a fresh flat-iron, and it would be the first time that Keelan had ever seen her hair straightened. She hoped that he liked it, and her dress, for that matter. She’d opted for a blue velvet off-the-shoulder dress. It came all the way down to her feet, which she loved, since her feet would be hidden. It would seem as though she were gliding.
“So, I heard you done messed around and fallen in love.”
The voice came from behind her, and when Teeka looked in the vanity mirror, she saw her mother standing in the doorway. She was dressed in a way that let Teeka know that she was in for the night. Her pink bonnet was neatly in place on her head, and the cream-colored satin nightgown underneath the matching robe looked all too comfortable. Rashanda’s smile was contagious, and Teeka felt the corners of her lips fighting to slant upward.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mm-hmm.” Rashanda placed her hand on her hip and used the other to wave a finger. “I don’t see any other reason for you to be dressed like a pageant queen. I’ve been watching you since you sat down in that vanity, fussing with your hair. You look gorgeous, my young queen. Absolutely darling.”
“Thanks, Mama,” Teeka said and grabbed the golden pin to put in her hair.
“Here. Let me,” Rashanda said and took it from her hands. “My grandmama always wanted some diamonds to wear in her hair, so my granddaddy worked day and night. It took him two months to save, but finally he had enough money to buy this for my grandmama. She gave it to my mama when she turned eighteen, she did the same for me, and I—”
“You did the same for me,” Teeka finished for her.
She couldn’t remember how many times she’d heard the story in her life; definitely more than a hundred. Sometimes she thought that Rashanda reminded her so often so that she wouldn’t do something crazy like sell it—which she would never do. She cocked her head slightly so that her mom could put the pin in place. When she was done, she reached in her pocket and pulled out a diamond choker and the bracelet to match.
“Mama, those are your favorites.” Teeka gasped as she let her mother place the choker on her neck.
“Exactly why they better come back in one piece! Your daddy got me those, but I know he would have loved to see you in them tonight.”
“Oh, Mama!” Teeka kissed Rashanda’s hand after the bracelet was buckled in place. “Thank you. Tonight means a lot to me.”
“Because of that boy?”
“Yes.” Teeka sighed and playfully rolled her eyes. Her mom was relentless. The subject wasn’t going to be dropped until she got the information she wanted. “His name is Keelan.”
“I know.” Rashanda winked at her daughter through the mirror. “Sandy called and told me everything yesterday.”
“Oh my God! Steve told her?”
“That’s his wife and you’re like a daughter to him. Of course he told her. And she told me,” Rashanda gloated. “I heard he was a fine young man, too. Well, I guess I’ll see for myself when he picks you up. He is picking you up from here, right?”
“Yes. He should be here any minute now. The banquet starts at eight.”
“Perfect,” she said and gave Teeka a suspicious look.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing,” Rashanda said and smiled slyly. “I just also heard that he put an end to his engagement for you. Is that true?”
“No!” Teeka spat out a little too suspiciously. “I mean, no. We’ve been spending time together for the past seven months, and when she came back into his life, he thought the right thing to do was go through with the wedding. But he loves me, and not her. Soooo . . . here we are.”
She thought she’d done quite a good job of summarizing the last month of her life, but seeing the bewildered look on her mother’s face, she started to second guess that theory. She burst out laughing and put her hands up.
“Mama, relax. He’s a good guy. What is it that you always tell me? Every man comes with some shit; you just have to decide which shit is worth it. Isn’t that right?”
“I really hate when you use my own words against me.” Rashanda sighed. “Well, Steve vouched for this man. I still have questions about the situation, but you’re grown and can make your own decisions. At least he has a good job. Sheesh. I just want to see you happy, baby.”
“And I am happy. More than that, actually.” Teeka stood up and whirled around in her dress. “What do you think? Is the dress too tight? Does it look like too much?”
“You look like Cinderella,” Rashanda said and put her hand on her chest. “Oh, my goodness. You are absolutely stunning, darling. Let me go grab my camera.”
“Mama,” Teeka complained.
“Oh, hush, girl. You didn’t go to prom, remember? You owe me!”
Rashanda bustled out of the room and down the hall to grab her digital camera. She hadn’t even been gone for a minute when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Teeka called out and hurried to the front door of her mother’s one-story ranch-style home. “Put some pants on, Mama!”
“Girl, this is my house!” Rashanda called back. “And don’t leave until I find this damn camera!”
Teeka was shaking her head when she opened the door. Her knees threated to give when she got the first glance of Keelan Metoy. The brotha was already naturally fine, but that night he was looking godly. Her heels gave her an extra three and a half inches, but he was still taller than her. The shirt under his black suit was the same color blue as her dress. His hair was freshly cut, and in each ear was a square-cut diamond that glistened in the moonlight. She was almost blinded by his pearly whites before he licked his lips.
“You clean up nicely. Did you do something new with your hair?” he joked as he eyed her head.
“Very funny.” She grinned, and her eyes fell on a single rose in his hand. “Is that for me?”
“Nah, it’s for this other girl named Teeka,” he joked again and handed it to her.
“Thank you, baby,” she said, taking the rose and putting it to her nose. “And you don’t look too bad yourself. Come in. My mom is trying to find her camera. I’m sorry. She’s about to drag this out. I didn’t go to my prom, so she’s going to make up for lost time.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Keelan laughed and stepped through the doorway so Teeka could shut the door. “If my mom was here, trust me when I say she would be doing the same thing. Why didn’t you go to your prom, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“No one wanted the fat girl as their date, I guess.” Teeka pointed to one of the pictures her mother kept hung up.
It was of her during her junior year in high school. She was in a size sixteen back then, and she could see it all in her face. She was happy that puberty had finally caught up to her and rounded her out. She was truly an ugly duckling that had turned into a swan. Teeka shuddered slightly looking at the picture. She wished her mother would take it down.
“Well, we can make up for all of that tonight, can’t we? And if they don’t know yet, the entire office is going to know that we’re the makings of a couple after tonight.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Teeka asked and leaned into him.
“No,” he said and pressed his nose against hers. “But you better stop. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that it seems like you’re trying to get into some trouble right here in your mother’s doorway.”
“What if I am?” Teeka asked and kissed him.
There was a sudden bright flash of light, and the two of them broke apart quickly to see where it had come from. Rashanda must have finally found her camera, because there she stood, at the end of the hallway, with it glued to her eye.
“Okay, I got that one. Now do something else,” she instructed and waved her finger around.
“Mama, aren’t you even going to introduce yourself?”
“I will after I get these pictures. Now, pose and do something cute. Keelan, put your arm around her waist.” She told Keelan what to do as if she’d known him for years.
He must have known not to make Rashanda ask twice, because he did as he was told without protest. They took at least twenty pictures before Rashanda was satisfied. When she finally put the camera down, Teeka stopped holding in her stomach and took a deep breath.
“Okay, Keelan, this is my mom, Rashanada. Mama, this is Keelan.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Keelan said and kissed Rashanda’s hand.
“Mm-hmm,” she said. “You are very handsome. I can see why my daughter likes you. I can only guess what the other reasons are. You better not break her heart, though. Her daddy might not be here, but I sure got me a forty-eight tucked nicely under my mattress.”
“Mama!”
“I’m just playing with him.” Rashanda chuckled but shot Keelan a look that told him she was serious. “I’m not going to hold the two of you up, though. You both look lovely and are going to give the other couples a run for their money tonight.”
“Thank you, ma’am. It was nice meeting you, and I will be sure to steer clear of that forty-eight. I promise.”
“Bye, Mama. I love you.” Teeka kissed her mother on the cheek before she ran back into her room to grab her clutch and shut off the light. “Okay, I’m ready!”
And with that, she and Keelan were off. She couldn’t get rid of the butterflies in her stomach. What would everybody say? Especially since he had just broken off his engagement. Would they judge her, or call her a homewrecker? She hoped not, because that would be the day she had to smack an ETCO employee.
She and Keelan rode in silence all the way to their job, but he reached over and grabbed her hand on the ride. If only he knew how the simple gesture of him rubbing her hand with his thumb had calmed her nerves. Who cared what anyone else thought? What was understood didn’t need to be explained.
“We’re here,” Keelan said finally. “Aw, man. Valet? They pulled out all of the stops tonight.”
Keelan pulled his car to the front of the building and waited patiently behind another car. From the looks of the visitor parking lot and from what she could see of the parking garage, the place was pretty packed already, and it was only twenty minutes past eight.
“Yeah, you should have seen the invitation list that Steve had me send out. Anybody who is anybody is here tonight, not even including the people from Clout Enterprises.”
The valet got to their car and held Teeka’s door open. Keelan came around the back of his car and helped her out. He handed the valet his car keys and gave him a fifty-dollar bill as a tip. Teeka linked arms with his and let him lead the way.
As soon as they stepped into the banquet hall, her breath was taken away. There were ice sculptures in the center of the huge space, and along the far wall were tables full of food and drinks. There were at least a hundred tables set up, and they all had blue or white tablecloths with snowflake-shaped plates in front of each seat. It was like a winter wonderland, and strobe lights bounced off the walls. Music played in the background, and Teeka recognized the song as “Promise” by Jagged Edge. She hummed the tune as they made their way through the crowded room until they reached their table.
Steve and Sandy were already there, and at the first sight of Teeka, Sandy jumped out of her seat. She was wearing a rose-colored dress with long sleeves and the back completely cut out. To be in her early fifties, she looked great. Her body was still pretty fit, and she loved to show it. That was probably why she and Rashanda got along so well. They were the true definition of “black don’t crack.” She rushed over to Teeka and grabbed her hands so she could get a better look.
“Oh, T. K., you are a sight to see!” she gushed and embraced her. “Steve, doesn’t she look lovely?”
“Of course she does!” Steve’s voice boomed from where he sat at the head of the table.
“You must be this Keelan that I’ve heard so much about.” Sandy offered him a kind smile. “It is nice to finally meet you. Wow, I see what all the fuss is about over you.” She nudged Teeka and whispered something that only they could hear. “You better hold onto him, T. K. Steve is giving him a fifty thousand–dollar raise and another one in six months.”
“Sandy, leave that girl alone and let them sit down.” Steve motioned to two seats beside him and Sandy.
Across from them was a man Teeka didn’t recognize. He was a brown-skinned man, and although he had a head full of black hair, his age showed in his face. He looked like he was trying to keep a pleasant expression on his face
, but in reality, he didn’t want to be there at all.
“You missed the speech,” Steve told Keelan when they were all seated.
“That’s my fault,” Teeka butted in. “My mama wanted to take a hundred pictures of us before we left.”
“And why wouldn’t she? I mean, look how good the two of you look together,” Sandy said.
The man across from them coughed slightly, and when Teeka glanced at him, she saw him glare at Keelan briefly.
“I hope that this doesn’t affect our business ventures, Mr. Clout.” Steve addressed the man. “I know that Keelan was engaged to your daughter at one point in time.”
“No problem. You see, Keelan has actually done me and my family a favor,” Mr. Clout responded. “I don’t let anyone who will never be in my tax bracket affect my business. My Alecia saw that she deserved better and acted on it. I do, however, wish the two of you the best.”
“Thank you,” Teeka said as Mr. Clout offered her the fakest smile she’d ever seen in her life.
“But I must get out of here,” Mr. Clout said, standing to his feet. “My flight leaves tonight at eleven. Thank you for the lovely event. I hope you have a great time as I make my exit. If you have any other questions, please find my assistant, Elizabeth, before she finds the tequila table.”
“Let me walk you to the door.” Steve stood up as well.
When they were gone, Sandy grabbed the cocktail in front of her plate and threw it back. “Boy, if his daughter is anything like him, you sure dodged a bullet. I haven’t met a man more into himself than that in so long. Oh my goodness, it’s a wonder why he isn’t just married to himself!”
They all shared a laugh, but Teeka saw the serious expression on Keelan’s face. She placed a gentle hand on his cheek and kissed him softly on the lips. “Hey, fuck him,” she said. “He’s nobody.”
“Yea, he’s a prick,” Keelan said and glanced at the liquor table. “He never thought I was good enough to date his daughter. Always found some kind of way to put me down and remind me that I’m from nothing.”