Pretty Fly for a White Guy: The Complete Series Collection (42 page)

#Chapter13

“
If you can deal with these crazy bitches in Atlanta, then you can deal with those European bitches even easier.”

Patrice

The next week was full of dealing with my business, coordinating with movers, filling out paperwork and etc. I had settled on the decision to not shut my business down. I hired 2 more contracted buyers beneath me, and promoted one of them to manage everything. My clients would still pay me and my employees would get a check every month for their services. My name was a brand, and it wasn’t hard to find people to jump at the opportunity to work for my company.

That decision also raised my stock in Raphael’s eyes. He loved having a buyer that owned a company on board. I went by and saw each one of my clients, said my goodbyes and introduced them to who they would be working with. I had to guarantee that the quality of service would still be the same as well. What’s funny is that I picked up 2 more clients during that time, they wanted my company to be their buyer simply because I was working in Paris.

Sitting in my empty apartment was a surreal experience, the movers had collected all of my stuff and I was flying out that day. My girls were over, and we were in the middle of my floor drinking wine. I needed it to calm my nerves, and Kenneth was going to arrive in less than a half hour to take me to the airport. Like Michael Jackson once said,
This is it!

“I can’t believe this is really happening,” I said before I drained my glass.

Patrice emptied the bottle into it, “Believe it, it’s your time babygirl.”

“
The two of you are not going to make me cry,” Jasmine said, “I’ve been doing really good so far, and I would like to keep it that way.”

“You better not cry Jasmine; I won’t be able to take it. You know I’m a big ass baby,” I laughed.

“I know, that’s why I’m keeping it all inside. But they’re happy tears.”

“I can’t wait to come over and see your new place. It looks so pretty from the pictures,” Patrice said, effectively changing the subject.

“Yeah, and I picked out my furniture 3 days ago. It’s going to be completely set up by the time I get there. I could get used to this!” I said excitedly.

I was such a confused bundle of emotions but I was choosing to stick with the positive ones. I was going to be in Paris soon, and Atlanta would be a 10 hour flight away and that was a non-stop flight. I was traveling light because everything was already in Paris or was on its way. All I had was one carry on and my purse.

“You’re going to have to get used to it, that’s your life now. You’re going to be living a life of luxury,” Jasmine said dramatically as she swung her hair over her shoulder. We all laughed.

“It’s going to be luxurious but it’s going to be a lot of work. I’m almost afraid of the work load, I read that long ass job description and I couldn’t believe. It was like 5 pages. The thing that I’m looking forward to the most is meeting my new staff. I’m managing a department of 5 and they have teams beneath them as well. Things are going to get real,” I said.

“That’s nothing you can’t handle. If you can deal with these crazy bitches in Atlanta, then you can deal with those European bitches even easier,” Patrice said.

“I don’t know, this is a whole new level. But I’m not going to let anyone walk all over me; I’m nice until a person plays with my money. I plan on getting there and taking over and I’ll steamroll whoever gets in my way,” I said.

“Well alright then!” Jasmine and Patrice said in sync while snapping their fingers.

“The both of you are so silly,” I laughed before I drank glass number 3. I had to be careful I did not get too tipsy before this long flight though. Then again, screw it, I needed it!

We spent the next 20 minutes or so drinking and reminiscing on how things were when we first started in the industry, compared to how they were presently. It had been a long journey for all of us. Soon Kenneth showed up and my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest.

“We’re just going to meet him outside,” I said as I stood to my feet.

“By the way, I’m keeping these glasses,” Patrice said, “It’s not like you can take them on the plane, and I love how big they are.”

“Have it,” I grinned.

We all walked outside and Kenneth was leaning against his car with a huge grin on his face.

“Your chariot awaits madame,” he said.

I smirked and shook my head. I was going to miss him terribly. I walked to him quickly and gave him a huge hug and kiss before I turned to my friends.

“Alright ladies, I guess I’ll be seeing you later,” I pouted.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be coming soon to lie in your house and eat all of your food,” Patrice laughed before she hugged me.

“You better!”

“We definitely will, I love you so much,” she said into my ear.

“I love you too girl. Make sure you call, email, and write me,” I said.

“I will,” she said before she kissed me on the cheek and released me.

Before I could get my bearings Jasmine wrapped her body around mine, “You shut Paris down and show them what you’ve got.”

“I will, and maybe I can even get some of your pieces in the collection,” I said.

“Don’t play with my emotions like that,” she said.

“I’m not playing, I’ll be calling you within a few months and we can set up some meetings,” I said.

“Oh, well girl you better get out of here so that we can make our money,” she laughed.

I kissed her on the cheek, “I love the both of you so much. Thank you for spending the morning with me.”

“
There is no place else that we’d rather be,” Patrice said, “Now get out of here before you miss your plane, you’re already cutting it close.”

“Alright alright.” I made my way inside of the car, Kenneth was holding the door open for me.

They all exchanged pleasantries and soon after we were driving to the airport. The ride was incredibly tense, and I didn’t know what to say. Neither of us was completely happy with what was going on but we were moving forward anyway. Ken seemed like he wanted to say something to me but he kept quiet. He would keep opening his mouth to start but nothing came out.

I was excited about my new life that was right around the corner but I knew in my heart that if he asked me to stay, I would have. I wanted to ask him what was on his mind but something wouldn’t allow me to speak either, maybe things were better that way. But if he asked, then I would have stayed, happiness is way more important than money. I didn’t mind putting my dreams on hold, if he wanted to take the marriage journey with me. But I couldn’t allow myself to settle for anything less.

We arrived to the airport and Kenneth stood by me as I checked in. Before I went to the boarding gate we kissed. I looked up at, him and we didn’t need to say anything. He brought his lips down to mine and they trembled, it was something that I never experienced from him before. I understood how he was feeling because I felt it too. One of us had to make a life changing decision if I was going to stay, and neither of us were willing to do it. Everything that I wanted to say was in that kiss. Shortly we parted ways.

I fought back my tears by blinking repeatedly but one tear escaped. He wiped it away with thumb, “Don’t cry Nikki, I’m coming to visit you soon.”

“You promise?” I asked.

“I’m going to look for plane tickets and an open week in my schedule as soon as I get home.”

“Okay,” I sniffled before I rested my head on his shoulder. “It’s not going to be the same without you.”

“I know babe,” he kissed the top of my head, “But you were born for this. This is something that you have to do.”

I nodded my head in agreement and grabbed my carry on from his shoulders.

“I love you.”

“I love you more,” he replied before I turned and headed through to security.

The whole time that I was at the security line I kept looking back, half hoping that he would chase or call me back like in the movies, but nothing happened. He was no longer where I saw him standing, he was gone. He was walking quickly out of the door and he never looked back. The fact he never looked back hurt me more then anything. Tears streamed down my face as I waited for my carry on to come off of the conveyor belt.

“Are you okay ma’am?” Security asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I said as I grabbed my bag and walked towards my gate. My bag felt so heavy even thought I packed light. It felt like all of my worries were packed in that bag and they were weighing me down. My flight started boarding when I arrived and I was first to get on because I was flying first class.

I sat on the plane and hoped that some twist of fate would happen. I wanted a “
Friends
” moment, I wanted him to delay the plane somehow like Ross did when Rachel was leaving for her job. I deserved a moment like that. Him and I had been through the wringer, we deserved a moment like that.

I was numb as the flight attendants talked about safety.  I was ready for the plane to take off so that I could order a drink. The plane took off, and that was the end of it. Nothing dramatic happened, Kenneth didn’t come to save my day, and it was over. I was plagued by sadness, but my strength took over. This was real life not some romance novel. Things like that simply did not happen in real life.

*

I didn’t want to let her go when I held her in the airport. Everything within me wanted me to beg her to stay. I wanted to pull the ring from my pocket and propose to her right there in the airport. But I couldn’t, I couldn’t ruin her dreams. I know that it’s what she wanted me to do but it wasn’t what was best for her. She needed this; she needed her opportunity to catapult her career. She belonged in Paris. She belonged at the very top, it was always her destiny.

The ring was burning a hole in my pocket the entire time that I was driving her to the airport. I’d brought it along just in case I changed my mind about letting her go without a fight. Over the course of the drive, I kept willing myself to say something. I kept willing myself to beg her not to leave. I wanted to turn the car around and take her home with me. But then I thought of what her life would be like ten years down the road. I didn’t want to be the reason that her career never took off, and so I stayed silent. This was for the greater good.

I couldn’t watch her walk away from me, not without crying like a toddler in the airport. So as soon as she walked away from me, I turned around and headed out of the door. I couldn’t look back because I knew that I would have changed my mind and I didn't want Nicole to see the tears in my eyes. I couldn’t allow myself to succumb to the weakness and selfishness that fueled that decision, she deserved better than that.