Femme Tales

by Anne Shade

  “Well, you can enjoy it now except no one will be calling you to fly back for artist temper tantrums.”

  Stephanie smiled guiltily. “Thank you again. Now I have to go fix my makeup.” She wiped away a stray tear.

  Laughing, Cass watched her walk away then headed to the catering tent where she found Chayse reprimanding Ebony for stealing food. Cass smiled as she watched her two best friends bickering and their better halves laughing at their antics. She greeted Belinda and Serena with hugs and kisses and Chayse and Ebony with hearty slaps on the back.

  “Ebony, you keep eating like that you’re gonna bust out of that tux before the end of the night,” Cass teased her.

  Chayse picked up a butcher knife and waved it in mock threat. “She keeps it up she’s going to draw back nubs for fingers.”

  Ebony raised her hands in surrender. “Hey, I was just taste testing. Gotta make sure our guests are getting good food.”

  “All right, don’t let me have to separate you two. Eb, is everything with that favor I asked for taken care of?” Cass asked Ebony.

  “Yep, everything is set for right after Cree’s performance.”

  Eve joined them greeting Cass with a hug.

  “Eve, you did a fantastic job. It’s exactly the vision I had and you brought it to life,” Cass said, followed by applause from everyone around them.

  Eve blushed. “Thank you, now we just have to get through the rest of the night.”

  “I’m sure with you, Chayse, and Stephanie running the show it’ll be great. Ebony told you what I had planned?”

  “Yes, and I think it’s wonderful and you look very much the part.”

  “Let’s just hope someone else feels the same way,” Cass said.

  “What are you supposed to be anyway?” Chayse asked, indicating Cass’s outfit.

  “Can’t you tell? Prince Charming,” Cass did a fashionable turn.

  “And who is the princess our Prince Charming is trying to capture?” Serena asked.

  “She’s more of a Cinderella than a princess,” Belinda said.

  Cass frowned at Ebony. “You told her?”

  “Bro, I tell her everything, you ought to know that by now,” Ebony said.

  Serena looked at Chayse expectantly.

  Chayse shrugged. “Hey, I don’t know anything. I’m just here to cook.”

  Belinda clasped Serena’s hand. “C’mon, I’ll tell you while we grab a glass of champagne.”

  Cass watched them. “Those two becoming friends was trouble from the start.”

  Ebony laughed and placed an affectionate hand on Cass’s shoulder. “They have the right idea. Let’s get you a drink. You need to loosen up.”

  They said their farewells for now to Chayse and Eve and headed back to the main event area.

  * * *

  Ezra exited their car first and reached back to assist Faith. The event’s scheduled start time was just a half hour ago, but there was already a line of people waiting to be checked in.

  “Wow.” Faith recognized some celebrity faces in spite of their costumes as they made their way to the end of the line. “This really is a star-studded event.”

  “I told you. Aren’t you glad I talked you into it and that Stephanie insisted you provide Frenetic and Cree with their shoes for tonight?”

  Faith had been working with Eve and Stephanie, an assistant from Pure Music, and had been hesitant when Stephanie suggested having their new artists wear her shoes because she thought she would be the best model for her own product. Then Stephanie reminded her that the artists would be on stage for everyone to see, what better advertisement. She had met with both artists to find out what their costumes were going to be for the night and customized their footwear to match. Cree planned to dress as a dark fairy so Faith designed a pair of black peep toe rhinestone stiletto ankle boots and Frenetic refused to wear a costume but wanted a pair of leopard print shoes to go with his black leather suit so that’s what Faith gave him. They weren’t the most original design, but they were well made.

  The line moved quickly in spite of the paparazzi crowding the sidewalk. When they walked into the venue space, Faith was thoroughly impressed. It was like walking into another world. A server dressed in a sexy fox costume greeted them at the entrance.

  “Welcome to the enchanted garden. May I offer you a cup of ambrosia?” she asked.

  Ezra took two glasses of the purple concoction she offered. “Thank you,” he said, then handed one to Faith. “To a successful night in business and the heart.” He tapped his glass to Faith’s in a toast.

  Faith took a sip of the drink. “Whoa, that is strong.”

  “Ambrosia is the drink of the gods, it’s supposed to be strong.” Ezra took a longer sip if his drink.

  Faith chuckled. “Slow down now. I need you to stay sober as long as possible to get me through this night.”

  “My momma’s rum punch would put this stuff to shame, and I’ve been drinking that since I was sixteen so I’ll be good.” He looped her arm in his as they strolled through the growing crowd.

  As they walked around, Faith realized that her costume wasn’t as original as she thought it would be. There were various versions of fairies floating around the room, some with much more outlandish outfits than hers. Eve had asked what she would be wearing so she could be sure to have Stephanie grab her when they introduced the swag bag suppliers. Since they had never met in person, there was no way they were going to be able to tell which fairy was her.

  Cass stood at the edge of the stage peering around one of the trees looking over the crowd arriving. Eve told her Faith was going to be dressed as a fairy, but she should have known better than to think she would be easy to pick out amongst a crowd at an enchanted garden costume party. She had never seen so many fairies in her life.

  “How’s it going?” Ebony asked, peeking around her.

  “Not good. Was there an oversupply of fairy wings somewhere? It seems like every woman in the place is a fairy,” Cass said in frustration.

  Ebony laughed.

  Cass gazed back at her annoyed. “What’s so funny?”

  “I’m just imagining every fairy in the room lining up to try on the shoe. Just like the real Cinderella story.”

  Cass tried and failed not to also laugh at the image of how badly that would go.

  “Why don’t we divide and conquer. You and Stephanie actually know what she looks like, and I’m sure Serena, Eve, and I can google a pic of her, then we can all walk the crowd to see if we can spot her,” Ebony offered.

  Cass sighed in resignation. “That sounds like a good idea.”

  An hour later, Cass stood backstage feeling frustrated. There were just too many people, and she had to MC the show so her plans for Faith would have to wait. She stepped out onto the stage to welcome everyone and introduce the first performer then stepped back into the wings and tried once again to look over the crowd, but she couldn’t see much farther than the stage due to the spotlights.

  * * *

  Faith’s heart skipped a beat when Cass stepped out onto the stage. She drank in everything about her appearance as she spoke, not even hearing a word she was saying. She looked so hot dressed in black leather pants that emphasized her rounded tight behind, a sleeveless fitted silver and black tapestry military style waistcoat that showed off her muscular arms, and a black metal crown with jeweled rhinestones. It was as if she were trying to look like…

  “Is it me or does she look like she’s a prince for the night?” Ezra asked as if reading Faith’s thoughts.

  Ezra turned toward Faith. “Prince Charming, mystery woman, and a lost shoe, does any of this sound familiar to you?” he said with a grin.

  “What?” Faith asked unconvincingly as if she didn’t know what he was getting at.

  “Cinderella. She knew you would be here and probably has your shoes waiting on a silk pillow in the wings until she finds you to slip it onto your foot.”

  “I seriously doubt that,” Faith sai
d.

  “Where’s your imagination and sense of romance?”

  “When did you become such a romantic?”

  “Since I realized my best friend is finally in love,” he said with a grin.

  “In love? I can’t be. I barely know her.” Faith watched longingly as Cass left the stage.

  “Yeah, okay. Come dance with me.” He pulled her toward the dance floor as the first performance of the night began.

  There were about a dozen other couples on the dance floor. Faith allowed herself to relax and let the music carry her away. She loved dancing and Ezra had always been a great partner because he loved it as much as she did. As they danced, the floor became more crowded, and before Faith realized what was happening she was being pulled away from Ezra. The crowd soon separated them, and she looked to see who had grabbed her arm. A man in a phantom of the opera mask was pulling her along. She attempted to yank her arm away, but his grip was too tight.

  “Let me go!” she shouted to no avail.

  The music was too loud and no one was paying them any mind as she was dragged along.

  They ended up on the sundeck of the High Line where it was less crowded. The man finally released her, and she stepped back to avoid being grabbed again.

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” she asked angrily.

  She was shocked as he removed his mask.

  “Craig? What are doing here? Are you following me?”

  “I’m just as surprised to see you here,” he said, not answering her question.

  Faith turned to walk away but was blocked by another woman dressed as a fairy. It didn’t take her long to recognize Monet, Craig’s oldest daughter.

  Monet sneered at her. “Look at this, we get to hit two birds with one stone.”

  “What are you both doing here?” Faith asked.

  “We came here to talk to my cousin Cass and happened to spot you in the crowd. I suggested we have a little chat with you before we speak to Cass. You owe us,” Monet said angrily.

  “Owe you? For what? You’re lucky I don’t have you all locked up for what you tried to do to my mother. What you’re trying to do to me. I don’t owe you a damn thing!” Faith moved to walk past Monet who reached out her birdlike talons and grabbed Faith’s arm.

  Monet yanked her back and put her face so close to Faith’s she was practically kissing her. “You bitch! You think you’re better than us, you always have. My father did more for your mother than he ever did for any woman and you treat him like a common thief.”

  “That’s because that’s what he is. In spite of everything, in spite of what my mother learned about him, she still took care of him. Still left him more than enough money and assets for the three of you to live off for quite some time yet you’re too greedy to see how lucky you are,” Faith twisted her arm in a move she learned in her self-defense class to release Monet’s grasp and backed away.

  “If either one of you touch me again I will hurt you,” she said, taking a defensive stance. She didn’t know how much she could do in stiletto heels, but she wasn’t going down without a fight.

  Monet took a step toward her, and Faith raised her hand to strike.

  “Monet!”

  Both Faith and Monet turned toward the sound of her name being called. To Faith’s relief, Cass, Ezra, and two security guards were walking toward them.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Cass asked, looking angrily from Monet to Craig.

  “Are you all right?” Ezra asked Faith.

  “I’m fine,” she said

  Craig stepped forward. “Cass, Chanelle has been trying to reach you, but you haven’t been returning her calls.”

  “Yeah, that’s on purpose. The only time one of you reaches out to me is for money. I’m done bailing you all out of whatever schemes you have going,” Cass said angrily.

  “Cass, we’re family. We’re supposed to be there for each other in time of need. If I don’t get ten thousand dollars to some people they’re going to hurt me,” Craig whined.

  “How did you all get into the party?” she asked.

  “We had to buy tickets like some common nobody.” Monet looked at her father in disgust. “Daddy, we didn’t come here to beg these people for shit. Let’s go.”

  “Monet, shut up!” Craig shouted. “We’re in this situation because you act like money grows on trees. Spending thousands of dollars on clothes, half of which you don’t even wear. Now let me handle this!” He turned back to Cass.

  “Look, Cass, I know I did your mom wrong, but this is serious. You know I wouldn’t come to you if it wasn’t. I owe some bad people money and they are coming to collect. If you won’t do it for me, then at least do it for Chanelle. She never asked for or took a thing from anyone. I’m begging you, niece, please,” Craig said pitifully.

  Cass looked at Monet and Craig. “Chanelle might not have done anything directly, but she was complicit in everything you all did which makes her just as guilty. No, Uncle Craig, I’m not helping you, and if I ever see any of you anywhere within my vicinity, I will have you arrested. Now get out.” Cass signaled for the two security men to escort them out.

  If looks could kill, Faith and Cass would have died a painful death by the look Monet gave them as they were manhandled out the party.

  Cass walked over to Faith and cupped her face in her hands. “Are you all right? Did they hurt you?” she asked.

  “No, I’m fine. Just a little shaken. How did you know what was going on?”

  Cass turned to Ezra. “Ezra had one of the security personnel find me and let me know what was happening. How do you know my uncle and cousin?”

  “Remember the con artist my mother married?” Faith said.

  Cass shook her head. “My uncle.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m sorry,” Cass said.

  “For what? You had nothing to do with what they did. As the old saying goes, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your family,” Faith said with a grin.

  Cass laughed. “I missed you.” She grasped Faith’s hands.

  Ezra cleared his throat. “Faith, you’re in good hands. I’m just going to go get a drink. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”

  “Okay. Thank you, Ez.”

  Cass led Faith over to a nearby lounge chair.

  “Faith, what happened in Turks and Caicos? Why did you leave?” Cass asked.

  Faith looked down in embarrassment. “While you were fixing us breakfast, your phone rang. I happened to look over and saw the pic of you and Chanelle come up and her name on the caller ID. I couldn’t imagine how you would know her and remembered you telling me about your uncle and cousins. I stupidly jumped to the conclusion that us meeting wasn’t by chance and that maybe you were helping them get to me.”

  “Wow,” Cass said.

  “I know I should have probably just stuck around and asked, but having just said good-bye to my mom my emotions were still very raw. When I finally did realize my mistake and went back to talk to you, Serge told me you’d left.” Faith felt too guilty to meet Cass’s eyes.

  Cass gently grasped Faith’s chin and raised her head so she could look into her eyes. “I think we both made mistakes that day. I should have called you once I got back to find out what happened.”

  “I’m sorry.” Faith took Cass’s hand in hers.

  “I’m sorry too. For what you went through with the loss of your mother and what my relatives put you through. But I am not sorry for what happened before the misunderstanding. Faith, I have never felt about any woman the way I feel about you. From the moment I saw you on that train you had my heart.” Cass brought Faith’s hands to her lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

  “Ezra thinks I’m in love with you,” Faith said with smile.

  “And what do you think?”

  Faith released Cass’s hands and cupped her face. “As impossible as it seems, I think he might be right.” She brought Cass’s face toward hers for a kiss that was so sweet and gentle it m
ade Cass’s heart skip a beat.

  When their kiss ended, Cass stood and pulled Faith up along with her. “Come with me. I have to take care of a few things, but afterward I have a surprise for you.”

  When they finally reached their destination, which turned out to be backstage, Cree was finishing up her performance.

  “There you are,” Ebony said. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.”

  “I got sidetracked,” Cass said.

  “Yeah, security informed me what happened,” Ebony said then turned to Faith.

  “Hey, I’m Ebony. I’m assuming you’re the woman who’s got Cass all twisted.” She held a hand out in greeting to Faith.

  Faith stared in surprise for a moment then took her hand. “Uh, yes, and nice to meet you. I’m a big fan.”

  Ebony chuckled. “Yeah, I heard.”

  Faith frowned at Cass. “You told her?”

  “You quoting her song was too awesome not to mention. I’ll be right back. Don’t disappear on me,” Cass said with a wink.

  Faith smiled. “You’re not getting rid of me that easy now.”

  “Good.” Cass gave her a quick kiss before heading back out on stage.

  She thanked all the artists that performed, talked about Pure Music artists with upcoming tours, and announced how much the event had raised so far for the Pure Music Children’s Fund.

  “The night is young, the liquor is free, and DJ Harmony is ready to get you all out on the dance floor so enjoy yourself everyone!” Cass said in closing before walking off the stage.

  “Now, my fairy princess, I have something special for you.” Cass took Faith’s hand and led her from back stage.

  Cass took her to the sundeck where a private table was set for dinner for two at the far end of the deck.

  “What is this?” Faith asked as Cass pulled out one of the chairs for her to sit.

  “It’s our own private celebration,” Cass said, grinning happily.

  “You planned all of this? What if I had not shown up?”

  “I would have been heartbroken and probably gifted this lovely private dinner to Ebony and Belinda in honor of their engagement,” Cass said.

  “Well, I’m happy for them but happier that I decided to attend,” Faith said.