Chardonnay: A Novel (18 page)

I nodded my head,

“Coo, but I will be at your office at eight-not six. I’ve been up
putting together a party all night.”

“Oh and yeah—thanks for the invite.”

“What?”

“I got it through my Blackberry, maybe we can show up together?”

I couldn’t believe Konstance had done that. But then again I knew
she was inviting all of elite crowd in Kansas City. I prayed Myron wouldn’t
show.

“Um I don’t know about that.”

“Hump....well, might just stop by for a few seconds and then roll
out.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Whatever. See you tomorrow.”

His phone went dead.

So peculiar.

*
 
*
 
*
 
*

SEM offices
were busy! Phones were ringing off the hook, people were rushing here and
there, and no one was sitting on their behind. Yet—it all looked organized.
With the warm colors and eccentric atmosphere, I knew there was now a younger
man in charge. I saw so many diversities and young people running a business so
prolific.

I told Jase’s receptionist who I was. She finally looked up at me
from her desk, revealing her sparkling blue eyes, talking very low and said,

“You know him by
Jase
?”

I raised my eyebrows and said a hesitant,

“Yes. Why?”

She smirked and shook her head, letting her over bleached blond
hair dance around her porcelain cream skin,

“Oh nothing.
I’ll get you his
personal
assistant.”

I waited a minute and then was escorted back to his made for a
king study. It could not be called an office. His personal assistant opened the
door after knocking a few times and his chill yell of,

“Come on in.” had presented us.

I stepped in and she gently closed the door back before she locked
it. It all seemed so strange. I looked at him still looking down at his desk
scrambling on ivory colored paper. His chocolate Valentino blazer was hanging
on the back of his chair and his cashmere and cotton cream dress shirt he had
on was loosen at the top due to a non-strangled tie.

“Sorry, I’m making some final adjustments for an ad campaign I
need to send to the vendor.”

I nodded my head and came around his desk.

“You thirsty, hungry?” he asked.

“No thanks, I ate. In fact my cousin wouldn’t let me leave the
house without doing so.”

He let his pen go and roll off of his desk, leaning back to
stretch. His exasperated sigh smelled of fresh spearmint. He rolled his chair
around and stopped at me. A smirk crept along his distinguished and handsome
face.

“I want you to go over some things with Josh. I have a few packets
I want you two to go over; stuff in there like Black Billions magazine being a
part of MPA.”

“What’s that?” I asked looking at the promising bulge in his
perfectly tailored slacks.

Jase’s eyes grew keen to mine. He leaned back in his seat and
rested his hands at the back of his head.

“If you don’t know what that is—you may have a lot to learn. It
stands for Magazine Publishers of America. It was one of the first things I had
learned when I researched about publications in college.”

Feeling inadequate I mumbled an,

“Oh.”

He pulled me to him, holding me tight, letting his strong hands
massage the tail of my back. Felt so good. But I had more questions, questions
about him. I backed up and asked him again,

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jase sat back up in his chair and ran his hand over his light
stubble.

He stood from his desk and walked over near his book shelf, five
feet away from where his desk sat.

“If I told you,” he began as he sifted through a book his peeled
off the shelf,

“Would you still of left me with my dick wet? Seriously here, is
your anger about this due to my discrepancy or yours?”

I hated how he did that, turned the situation on me. What if I
knew he had a billion bucks, would I of ran out like that on him? I really didn’t
know since if money was my motive—I would have stayed with Myron’s sorry ass. I
looked at Jase as he awaited an answer.

“No ones. It was just really embarrassing to find out that the
internship I’m trying to get, and impress a company for, is
ran
by a guy that’s seen me at my worst.”

“And you were beautiful every time.”

I smiled. Yet I wasn’t through with him.

“Who is Syndi to you?”

He chuckled at the jealousy in my tone.

“Who do you think she is to me?”

“Your girl.
Fiancée.
Hell-wife.”

He carefully paused for a minute before he answered me, his body
language relaxed, his eyes tense.

“What if I told you I had a wife?”

I tossed my right hip, in harmony with my furrowed eyes gleaming
to his. But just like his sleek swagger and genius pout made lips—I figured
Jase was putting fifty on ten. He slowly bit his bottom lip and let it slide
out as he leaned back on his book shelf.

“She’s my little sister.” he said with a grin.

“You little sister?”

“Yeah—she’s your age and she models for SEM. She believes for some
reason you’re going to be the next best thing...she does that—guess things and
somehow they become reality. I get that from a lot of folks—she’s simply
protective of me.”

I nodded my head. I couldn’t find anything on him...besides that
good juicy thickness between his thighs. And those eyes...enough said. I went
to the door to make sure it was locked.

“I wouldn’t do that...” he whispered.

“Why?” I said, sauntering back over to him.

“I wouldn’t put you out like
that...make
you a hoe. You’re too special to me for that.”

I ran my hand through his
locks,
they
felt like silk to me.

“You’re
sweet. But I need this.” My mind told me this was good for me. His
touch was the only thing that made me feel alive—or wanted.

I knew the friction between us was real. He looked in my eyes with
passion—a passion I had never seen before...not even in Myron’s eyes. The fine
space between us became void and his girth pressed into my pelvis.

“Chardonnay,” he said grazing his lips with mine.

“There are things I want to do to you I can’t even began to
describe...just enact. But this isn’t the place—I run a business here.”

I saw the seriousness in his face and from the scene I saw when I
came in his offices, I knew he was all boss when he was confined in these
walls. He pulled away from me and that made me want him more. Before I knew it
he was on the intercom speaking with his receptionist telling her to send his
personal assistant to escort a
Miss Chardonnay Houston
to her eight o’
clock meeting in Josh Payton’s office. He sat on the corner of his desk, after
doing so and glance his eyes up at me. I felt put off but I knew better
somehow. It was the lust in his eyes and then I felt content. To me I was
experiencing the difference of a man. Jase’s dick was under control, and even
though I couldn’t have it right now, I knew eventually there would be a chance
that it could be controlled
only
by me.

*
 
*
 
*
 
*

Josh’s desk
was in an assortment of mess, in a sense. It was all documents and papers she needed
but they had no particular order or organization to them. Not what I expected
from a woman who prided herself at being the best in her industry. Her editing
job was tough—getting writings for fashion columns, beauty tips, or anything
that had to do with words for Black Billions magazine, which was everything,
made for a lot of work. She started by giving me the basics. Letter heads,
punctuation...baby stuff, and then went on to copy editing and so on. She didn’t
leave any leaf unturned. After describing to me what my intern duties would be
including filing, cold calling, and making personal errands, I was a bit put
off. While she was talking I began to wonder if this was the career path I
wanted to follow. She must of saw the disinterest because before I knew it she
was grabbing files and stuffing them in her “homework suit case” she introduced
me to in the earlier part of her introduction as Josh’s stuff. I didn’t know I
would be under
her
. Now Jase...I could be under.
Professional
and well...
personal
.

She snapped me out of reality
when
 
I
heard,

“So you must not want this. You look—
blah
.”

“No it’s not that...I just thought I would be doing more—”

“What?
Of my job?
Honey some of the best
experience comes from just watching. And believe me with the credentials you
already have with SEM and BB your well on your way to the golden office.”

“Excuse you?”

“Excused,” she stood from her desk and turned her pointy nose up
high before I could ask her what she meant by that. I stood and tried to speak
but she put her hand up.

“You seem like a girl that has a keen penmanship and intellect for
this type of career. But don’t think you’ll get any handouts because you hand
out some pussy. Jasen Vonseigneur is a proud and dignified man that comes from
a long line of hard working men that didn’t have but a dime to invest in a now
multi-billionaire company. Even
you
can’t come in between that.”

I looked on aghast by her accusations and took a step back to look
at myself. I hadn’t thought I’d come off so...gold digger like. I began to not
bother with her insult until I thought about her assumption as to Jase and I’s
whereabouts.

“You don’t know me. And who said I was doing this without such as
a prose? I want this more than anything and I’m honored that SEM has given me
the opportunity, Ms. Payton.” I turned to leave. Before I could walk out the
halfway opened door, Josh walked quickly and pressed out the cluttering chatter
and hard strike of key boards in the outlying office. She took a deep breath
and let it out with,

“Okay, I was just testing you...but Jase and I have been talking
and he is very fond of you.” she twirled my hair and let go with,

“So he hasn’t told you...”

“What?” I asked a bit scared of what he hadn’t told me.

 
“Well, more so he hadn’t
asked you. He’s called in a professional photographer and celebrity makeup
artist from New York to do a test shoot with you!”

“WHAT! He didn’t tell me at all.”

She smiled and whispered in my ear,

“I guess I just ruined a small part of a big surprise. Don’t tell
him I said a thing. Just take this internship package home with you—think about
it and if it’s something you want to do fill the form out and we all can go
from there.”

Josh became extra nice to me. I didn’t understand the force Jase
could be reckoned with, but it had to of been one with thrust.

16

The
Main Event

Champaign
bottles of Cristal and pink ladies were carted on crystal trays around by men
in pink tuxes while loud music blasted out the surround sound system throughout
the dance hall and pool area at the back of the Byer’s Estate. Laughs and
implacable chatter casted as white noise, sending a sure sign that Konstance
had done a great job at getting a crowd of over three hundred people at our
annual summer party. Everything was pink. From the ice sculpture of
 
a KCZ standing for all three of our names and
as well, Kandi, Cream, Zest, names Myron, Denim, and Gehvoni came up with to
describe us as the perfect desert years ago. It was a joke but we liked it. So
Konstance thought of it and went with it as our theme this year
since it
was just the three of us. Candy jewels hung from everywhere and there was just
about anything from edible flowers to some of the men statures we had that were
naked and filled with cream. And the glitter that sparkled darn near everything
except the guest pertaining to be a spice of flavorful zest was all over the
place. Pretty but Willy Wonka would of envied us. I wore a House of Dereon
pink, silk type hoodie with cut off sleeves and fur on the hood and very low
rise jean that
accentuated
 
my
back side something fierce. With no gut and much butt, I was
the queen of sexy chic. The heels I wore were pink shiny leather stiletto baby
doll pumps. My auburn coils with my natural golden high lights showing through,
was pulled into one loose ponytail on the left side of my head.

Through the urban music I found my heritage ticking my hips from
side to side. Konstance was on the other side of me getting down too, gyrating
in her pink Gucci body suit and shades. I tapped her on her shoulder and pulled
her off the dance floor for a minute.

“Nay!
Didn’t you see me grooving with that fine ass quarter back Kasey
Price from the Kansas City Chiefs?! What?”

I laughed at her and nodded my head,

“Yeah and I was dancing on his boy Lamar Black—running back of the
Chiefs, and model of the R-O-C-so
what
! I need to talk to you.”

She sat her drink on a passing crystal tray and pulled me over to
the huge kitchen.

“What’s up?”

“I’m expecting Jase at this party—please tell me that Myron’s not
coming.”

She blinked her eyes as to say opps! And that’s when I felt some
one wrapping their hands around my waist, but it wasn’t Jase or Myron. It was
Slim. I turned to face him and pry his hands from around my waist.

“Hey you,” I warily said looking to Konstance for help. Yet, she
was on her way back to the dance floor.

He kissed me on my cheek and hugged me until I couldn’t breathe.

“Damn I miss you! What’s up, you really playing me off?”

I tisked and thought for a minute. Seeing him did strike
feelings...very little—but feelings. His baby face turned serious.

“I have been very busy with myself—okay. Nothing personal, I just
need to do me.”

“Coo—but you could call a brotha sometimes and tell him you alive.
I do love you Chardonnay.” Slim said pulling me into him.

I let out a breath wishing I never heard those words, I couldn’t
return the gratitude.

“Look we can hang out later on
tonight,
I
just need to be greeting my guest.”

“Coo, y’all have a close mens room?”

I pointed him in the direction and he kissed me one more time on
my cheek before he excused himself.

I walked back out into the dancing hall and Zasmyth and Konstance
both had that funny look on their faces with the wide eyes and raised eyebrows.
I laughed and ran over to them.

“What?”

“Jasen Vonseigneur is here...and I just remembered I left my drink
in the kitchen.” Zasmyth blurted out and rushed off to get her drink
..

“What?!
No, no, no. He said he
might
show up.”
I said shaking my head.

“Well
might
became
did
. He’s
looking for you over in VIP.” Konstance said. But before she could escort me
over a loud break of excited screams went over the room and camera phones began
to click and flash. We looked towards the front entrance with pink carpet (yes
Konstance went there) and my heart jumped.

 
“Oh girl!
Don’t look now but Myron, Denim,
and
Gehvoni just walked in!”

And they all were so fucking sexy walking in to a dirty south
beat, yielding everyone’s groove, and acclaiming all the attention.
Female attention.
And I knew none of these bitches was about
to disrespect me up in
my
party. Call it what they want, but I still had
raw feelings for Myron and seeing him on another girl…too late for that
thought. Girls rushed past me; hustling to get a glimpse at the New England
Patriots NFL draft
pick
Myron Kent.

“Girl that’s him!”

“Oh my god!
I told you
he was gone be here!”

“You better watch out that’s Chardonnay’s man!”

The second girl cut her eyes over at me and just went about her
own business, hawking Myron out like a hawk. Konstance shook her head and said,

“Good thing Denim is only in law school and it’s not broad casted
he’ll be worth a good million in the future.”

“Bitch please!
They chasing
him too.” I
hissed.

Myron’s eyes fell over the crowd as commotion went on from the
still flashing camera phones, loud screams into cell phone conversations, and
pieces of paper and pens were being thrown at him. I knew what he was doing.
And for the first time in his career, for the first time in a situation like
this where I usually was swallowed into the shadows while he got his fame…he
was looking for me. I thought about an emergency exit and believed in the fire
exit plan in any emergency. Stop, drop, and roll. But I faced my fears and
Myron’s fine ass. Then I noticed there was a female walking with her arm around
his.
Jealously called my name.
And it wasn’t like when
I found out he had cheated on me. That was a broken heart. But this feeling
was…weird. Then it dawned on me.
I had never seen him with another girl.
At least not like this. Not as if she was his prize and he’d deck a fool for
trying to step to her. They were all cuddle-cuddle and complemented each other
well.
That I had to admit.

“Where is Slim at?” Konstance peculiarly asked.

“In the men’s room.
Hell, Myron shouldn’t trip. You
see that tramp on his arm?”

“I know Myron isn’t going to trip but
Slim
might. That’s his sister Cristy.”

“That bastard!
How you know that’s her?”

“She and I did some volunteer work for a program together awhile
back for college credit. I thought you knew what she looked like.”

“She looks like a model.” I said as I looked to Zasmyth but she
suddenly was nowhere in sight.

“You do to,” said Konstance out of defense. “I don’t think Myron
gets serious with a girl unless she’s top notch.” she finished.

“They aren’t serious!” I spat out.

Zasmyth walked out of the kitchen and spotted Gehvoni. She
evidently thought the same thing I did and made a U-turn back in the kitchen.
Myron gazed over the crowd of people at me and began to walk over to me.
Gehvoni pulled him back and pointed to a busty chested female.

“Look at them.
Dogs!”
I said.

“Why do you care—you have a billionaire in VIP, remember.” stated
Konstnace.

“I’m just saying.” I said, not taking my eyes off Myron, passing
through the crowd. He had on a brown thick threaded tank top with Bob Marley’s
face on it, some baggy sand washed Phat Farm jeans, brown Tim’s, and his hair
was curly and cropped to perfection. He even grew his side burns out that he
knew I loved and was blinged from his big Gucci belt, iced out medallion of a
Jesus hanging on a cross, his Rolexed wrist, and R. Kelly diamond stud ear
rings. I tried not to look too hard.
 

Zourtni, Zasmyth’s little sister, tapped me on the shoulder.

“Why you stunting him?”

“What? Little girl, I ain’t tripping on that loser.”

“Yes you are.
You
and
my bitch ass
sister.
She in the damn kitchen hiding like she’s Ann
Frank in the damn Holocaust.”

I looked over at Konstance, who was laughing so hard she was about
to piss in her pants.

“How old are you again?” I asked. I knew she had to be about the
same age my sister Jersey was. They hung out and had their own little crew.

“Shiit!
Old enough to be up in here.”

“You need to wash your mouth out with a bar of soap. Konnie next
time, make sure the pre-schoolers don’t get in the college age party. Damn
toddlers say everything they hear!” I said pushing Zourtni in the direction of
the pool house. After I negotiated with Zourtni to go on the notion she could
come back after an hour, I noticed Denim slipping something to Myron discretely.

I walked a little closer careful not to pry, when Jase slipped his
arm through mine. I knew it was him when I smelled his scent of Mamba colonge.

“I’ve been looking for you.” he whispered in my ear through the
loud music. I turned to him and kissed him on the lips sensually. Jase licked
his lips after I pulled back and chuckled out,

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Do what?”

“That kiss was
fake
. You’re
fronting...For
who
?”

I looked down at my shimmering pink heels and shook my head. I
couldn’t even shake my feelings for Myron when Jase was around. He put his hand
under my chin and caressed it up.

“Kiss me for real.”

I smiled and before our lips could touch, Gehvoni came over to
interrupt us.

“What’s up Nay, I ain’t seen you since I been back!”

He cut in between us and gave me a hug. Gehvoni never hugged me. I
chuckled and shook my head glancing over at Myron...he was looking dead at me.
I snatched my eyes back but I knew Jase had already
peeped
it.

“Sup Voni?
You find Zasmyth?” I knew striking a cord with
him would get rid of him. Gehvoni tended to be sensitive, hence taking some of
Zasmyth’s bulling.

“Naw,” he shook his head.

“Not really looking.”

“Well if you don’t mind,
me
and the lady
were having a moment.” Jase cut in.

“I don’t mind but I know someone else that does.” Gehvoni said
cutting his eyes at me and then walked off.

Jase mugged him and then looked back at me.

“I’m sorry about that.” I quickly let out.

“What was that all about?” he asked.

I shook my head and tried to take his hand, he had stiffened it,
waiting for an answer from me.

“Jase—”

“Chardonnay!”
Zasmyth called from the kitchen.

“Excuse me.” I said rushing off.

“What are you doing in here hiding from Gehvoni?” I said.

“I’m not hiding.
Just cooking some more wings.”

“Girl, he off on some other trick.
And umm,
Zas, the wings are piled so high they about to fly away out there. Go kick it!”

“I haven’t seen him in a while.
Can’t go out
dere.
You know your ex can’t pop out of nowhere on you. Your
heart start
pumping and shit. I can’t...do it.” she said
holding her chest.

“Yeah, Myron did look and smell so good. Forget about the very
reason you broke up and turn into Stupid in love again. But you can’t stay in
the kitchen.”

“He knows every-ting ‘bout mi. Nay, he was mi first everything. If
mi
go
out dere he’ll see right through me.”

“So what, maybe he’ll realize what he had.”

Little did Zasmyth know, Gehvoni would find her
anyway.
Myron and Gehvoni walked into the kitchen smiling at us and licking their lips.

“Hello ladies.” said Gehvoni.

“Hi again G. Nice to see you.”
I said
sarcastically

“Fuck you Voni! Why ya just showing now? Leave mi here wondering!”
said Zasmyth. She scared us all with that outburst.

“Baby look—”

“From what mi hear I ain’t ya’ baby. Heard ya’ marrying dat girl
now! Don’t lie to me!”

Gehvoni held his head down and bit his top lip. He looked back up
at her and she smacked him.
Hard.
It echoed five
octaves. He touched his face.