What's His Is Mine (7 page)

Breakfast with Aunt Vicky and Jade was interesting: egg whites, toast, and some kind of meatless sausage. They weren't vegetarians, but they ate very differently. Really, they didn't eat much of anything.

The rest of the day I sat by the pool and then went to Ralphs market and bought real food. I was not going to be drinking any more soymilk or eating any veggie burgers. It had only been a little over twenty-four hours, but so far I loved LA.

I
let a millionaire fuck me for free. As much as I liked Mark and we had history, that was not acceptable. Angelique asked me how I knew Mark, and she said she knew I had a nice shopping spree afterwards, because he was the biggest trick. How he gave money to everyone and was always trying to boo love somebody. I felt like a fool because I kept thinking about seeing “Good Pussy Groupie” in his phone and that shit hurt. It hurt and I felt so stupid. I promised myself years ago that I wasn't going to let anyone disrespect me, and I did. Since I'd been going out with Angelique and her little squad, everything made sense now. They all behaved as if the world owed them something—even the ugly one. That was a reminder to me that I needed a man who is going to bow down to a queen. I really needed a rich man to pay my bills, take me on trips, and buy my dream house. The next rich dude, I get no games. I was reeling his ass in, I was holding on to that line, and I was not letting go. I wanted a man with money. Lots of it. A man who didn't mind sharing.

What's wrong with wanting half? Some women dream of becoming doctors, athletes, and lawyers. Others dream of marrying them. The difference between the two groups of ladies is that the doctors, lawyers, and athletes are all single, because they were too busy following their dreams to land a good man. Instead of being in the books, I should have been at the games. By now I would be married and rich. The smartest thing you can do is grab an athlete in college, or even better, be their high school sweetheart. That way it doesn't look like it's all about the money, even though it is. Anybody who's NBA or NFL bound, chances are everyone knew they were going to the league since middle school. Their chicks are just premature gold diggers who just jumped on the bandwagon early. If you don't get them early, you are just another chick scrambling to prove that you don't want them just for their money. Why the hell did I do four years of college? And what had my degree got me? Not more than Angelique. She had way more than me. But it is never too late and now I was on my job, because I refused to be working all hard in that nursing home, when I could just have someone take care of me. I deserved to be arm candy at the ESPY Awards. I was supposed to have a Maybach and a mansion. I needed all of that. Clear-ass diamonds adorning my wrists, ears, and hands. The mission was officially on. I needed a ring and a piece of paper making me a Mrs. and making my only job in life to luxuriate.

And back at my job, I hadn't been working as much, and I could tell Dina had attitude with me. I think she thought that I thought I was better than her now. She kept asking me if she could come to New York with me. That would be no. She would not mesh really well with Angelique and her friends. She was cool for shopping, but not partying. If she came out with us, she would be so out of her league.

 

 

I was driving back to New York again. I was going out with Angelique later and I still had to find something to wear. I couldn't have anything average on, because money recognizes money. First I was meeting up with Wesley, an entertainment lawyer. I met him at M2 last week, at an album release party. I talked to him on the phone a few times. I knew he had lots of money, because he had quite a few high-profile clients. I usually tried to stay away from professional men, because they are too reserved with their currency. Hopefully he was different. His only flaw was that he was engaged, but that's not married yet. So until he walked down the aisle, he was single as far as I was concerned. His fi-ancée was a dentist in Harlem and was busy herself. But that was her fault because today I was going to be spending time with her man.

Wesley was always in meetings or on an important phone call. I hinted around about him taking me shopping when I arrived, but I just wanted to make sure we were clear before I got there. I called his phone and he said, “Adrienne, beautiful. I need to place you on hold for a moment.” He came back to the line and I wasted no time asking him what he had planned for us.

“Well, I have a meeting or two and I guess we will do dinner.”

“While you are at your meetings, I can go shopping,” I suggested.

“Yeah, you can go shopping if you want.” He wasn't getting it that I wanted him to foot my shopping bill. So I was a little more direct.

“I mean, like you can give me money to go shopping. I need a new dress.”

“Oh, really.”

“Yes. Really,” I said.

“Sweetie, oh no, I just can't give you money to go shopping.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“I don't have a problem buying you something here and there, but I'm not just going to take you shopping.”

“Well, okay. I guess you won't see me then, because I don't date men that can't do anything for me,” I said as I hung up on him. He had money and he was going to spend it or we weren't going to be friends. I needed a dress and a pair of shoes to wear out tonight. My cards were basically maxed and I wasn't going to be able to get anything I wanted with the three hundred dollars that was in my pocket. A few moments later he called back and said that he would take me shopping.

 

 

He wanted to have dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House. Luckily Bergdorf Goodman was in the same neighborhood. I walked into the expensive department store and went straight to the dress section. I held his hand and picked up a few dresses, took them into the dressing room with me, and came out and modeled them for him. I looked in the mirror—this black dress was perfect. “I want this one,” I said, smiling at him.

“This dress is like seven hundred dollars,” he said, noticing the price tag attached.

“But it looks good on me. Don't it—right?” I said as I modeled it for him some more. I asked him to unzip the dress for me so he could get a feel and look at my naked back. Maybe that would hype his engaged ass up.
He better buy me this dress,
I thought. I pouted a little. If I didn't walk out of the store with the dress and shoes, then he could forget he met me. I looked at him. And then he caved in and bought the dress.

It felt good to get him to buy me the dress without lying on my back. I felt like I could manipulate and get money from any man I wanted. Call it materialistic or whatever you like, but the world revolves around money.

I met up with Angelique and the girls at the party. It was at the art gallery. I knew I was going to meet someone, because I looked good in my new dress. The art gallery was nice, but too crowded. There were sculptures and paintings, but no one was paying attention. Shavone and Nytika went about their business from the very beginning. They left the table holding hands. I hated that girlfriends-holding-hands crap, but I watched them mingle through the crowd and I studied their mannerisms. Shavone didn't have anything on Nytika, but she just oozed confidence in her walk.

She went up to this strange-looking guy and the next thing I knew he was pulling out money, giving it to her. I watched the man count out hundreds and then hand them over to Shavone. I calculated about two thousand. Shavone came back over, placing the folded money in her bag.

“Look at her. I don't know why she deals with that guy, he is so local—and look at him pulling out a knot, in the middle of the club. Who does that? That's how you can tell he doesn't have any money.” Angelique sighed. “Shavone, how can you mess with him? He looks like a gargoyle with those 3-D eyeballs. I could never wake up next to that,” she said in disgust, shaking her head.

“Shut up, Angelique. Fuck it, I don't care. He just gives me money and I never had to do anything for it,” Shavone said.

“You ain't never fuck him?” Angelique asked, twisting her lips to the side.

“No, I didn't have to. I told him I'm saved and he believed me.” We all started laughing at that lie. It was official: If just-okay girls were getting paid, it was time for me to get back on my job.

I spotted someone I was interested in. He played for the Knicks. I recognized him from his Adidas commercial. The only problem was there was a three-layer ring surrounding him. He was tall enough to see above most of the crowd of heads. But it would be hard to infiltrate without looking like a groupie. I needed him to come over to me and say something. The first outer ring were groupie girls obviously trying to get noticed. The middle ring were friends of his friends and were talking to the groupies. The inner ring were his real boys and security. There was no way I was going to walk over to him. I had to get him to notice me. I stared in his direction until I got his attention. When I saw him looking at me, I smiled. He smiled back and waved. I said, “Come here,” and he did. He made a part through his entourage, and grabbed my arm gently.

“What's your name, sweetheart?”

“Adrienne,” I said seductively.

“Okay, Adrienne. So what's going on after this?” he said, straight and to the point.

“I don't know—you tell me,” I said, smiling and taking a sip from my glass. Right as he was about to tell me what was up after this, this tall Hispanic woman with long wavy hair came up to him and whispered something in his ear. He smiled and then held up his finger to say “one minute” to her. Then he turned his attention back to me and said, “I'm having an after party back at my place—maybe you can come through.” I was thinking no, but I would go out with him another time. I was going to just give him my number, but before I could, the woman returned, more desperate to make her point this time. She grabbed his dick and kissed his neck and whispered something in his ear. He laughed and said he would be right back, but shortly after I looked over and he and his entourage were leaving the building. What a waste of a cute dress and night. I only met one young dude.

T
he buzz circulating in the newsroom was that I slept with Paul to get my new position. I wonder who started that rumor. It didn't matter because it wasn't true. However, it probably appears a little suspicious that I was new and inexperienced in sports and still got a new position. But anyone who was paying attention knew that it was a lateral move.

I wasn't the most knowledgeable person about sports, but I was going to prove them wrong. Tonight I was covering the Thrasher game at the Philips Arena. We were sitting in the press box. I hated hockey—it wasn't really that I hated it, I just really had no idea what was going on. It was very noisy and rowdy and the crowd was into it, but I didn't get skating on ice while swinging a stick. I was about to interview the team, which had just lost to the Ottawa Senators. I really was out of my league. Gary being an avid hockey fan was a plus, because he gave me pointers and tips. I didn't know anything about hockey. But I was going to cover the game with so much enthusiasm and act like I knew what I was talking about. “Okay, Gary, now what is it called again when the puck goes into a net?”

“A goal.”

“And tonight he had three in one night, so that's called a what trick?”

“A hat trick.”

“Right,” I said as I pulled down my skirt and fixed the collar on my jacket and practiced in my mind what I was about to say.

“You'll do fine, Cherise.”

“I sure hope so,” I said. “Gary, how do you say that player's name again–Aper-chock-o-nov?” I said phonetically. Russian last names were so hard to pronounce, but I was determined to get it right.

“That's it.” Gary laughed. It was time for me to get ready.

When the game was over I walked back to the locker room, trying to not pay attention to all the butts halfway covered with towels, wet muscles, and missing teeth. I kept telling myself that I was a professional and I had a job to do, and I couldn't stare or laugh at the absent teeth or naked bodies.

 

 

I was on my way to Ms. Ellerbe's luncheon. Her home was a big, beautiful mansion that sat by itself in Duluth. Every house in the neighborhood was easily over a million dollars. All the other women were out on the large deck—they were all in their mid to late fifties. They had this very classy elegance to them. I felt honored just to be in their company.

“Thank you for inviting me to your home,” I said as we walked out back on her deck.

I continued to walk to the back where all the other women were seated. I was the youngest woman there. I didn't see anyone else I recognized.

They were speaking about things I wasn't interested in. I thought they were going to inspire me and I was going to make new alliances with professional women, hear about changing the world. Instead, I had to hear about menopause, how much they hated their husbands, and why their children didn't call. The conversation was boring me, so I excused myself and went to the ladies' room. It gave me more time to look around her stunning home. On her mantel were pictures of her with famous people and politicians. There were other photos of her standing in front of the Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Eiffel Tower in France. In all the pictures I saw her alone or with her friends. I didn't see any pictures of a husband or children. I knew she had to be married. Before I could make it back outside, Ms. Ellerbe was back inside asking if I was okay.

“Yes. Your home is very nice.”

“Thank you.”

“I was looking all around and I noticed you don't have any pictures of your family.”

“No, I dedicated my life to my career. I guess I missed out on the family. A husband and children are not for everyone. I have godchildren. It's very hard to have it all. I chose a career over a family.”

“I see,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment.

“Yeah, if you want a long-lasting career, don't get caught up with that sports director Paul DeSantis. There is no way to sleep your way to the top. Paul is the kind who will use you up. Sell you a dream and then get in a meeting and turn on you.”

“Really? I didn't get that impression. However, I have heard rumors about myself that aren't true.”

“I wouldn't worry about it. The best advice I can give you is cover the news—don't become the news.” I thanked her for her advice and followed her back to the deck. I stayed for a few hours and then I left. I was no longer inspired by Ms. Ellerbe. She seemed lonely. What was the purpose of being rich and successful, having a huge home and no one to share it with? I didn't understand it. I wanted a family and children. She had everything but nothing at the same time. I didn't want to end up like her. Just as I was leaving, Toni called.

“How was your big diva luncheon?” she asked.

“It was nice. I just left. Actually, it was kind of depressing.”

“What was depressing about being invited to a successful woman's beautiful home?”

“Well, she had all these possessions, but no family, no children or husband. She had all these things and no one to share them with. I don't want to be in my seventies and be alone. It just gave me a reality check—I want to settle down very soon, get married, and have children.”

“Now you are going to listen to me. I've been trying to tell you this all along that it was time for your name to be hyphenated.”

“I still don't need a man, Toni, but I think I am ready to at least try to find someone.”

“So what are you about to do now?” she asked.

“Go to the house and get ready for work.”

“Well, how about this? Don't go home. Come and get me and let's go out and have a few drinks. I'm meeting up with Lou, the guy I met the other night in Atlantic Station. I'm going to ask him if he has a friend you can meet.”

At first I was going to say no. Toni wasn't slick; she was using me as an alibi to meet her young guy. I wasn't going to be an accessory to cheating.

“Okay, I'll come and pick you up, but I can't stay out late.”

 

 

I pulled up to Toni's single-family home. It was very nice, the kind of home I was going to buy when I settled down. Everything from the outside looked perfect. Inside was another story. Dave opened the door for me. He had a big brown round face with a trim mustache and beard. He was wearing sweat pants, a T-shirt, and old sneakers.

“Were you working out, Dave?” I joked.

“No, just cleaning out the basement. I don't have anything else to do—business is real slow. This economy is crazy,” he said, sighing.

“Things will pick up.”

“It has to. Everything that goes up must come down. Vice versa.”

“Yeah, very true,” I said as Toni came rushing down the steps. It was so obvious she was being sneaky.

“Babe, you know it is girls' night, so don't wait up,” Toni said as she grabbed her jacket and we walked out the door.

 

 

TL Zone was a bowling alley that had billiard tables and an arcade. We were going to grab a table and wait for Toni's friend Lou to show. I wanted to see what he looked like. Before long, he came up from the side and gave her a kiss.

“I have a table over here, babe,” he said. He was tall, with coal-dark skin and a beautiful body. I was mad for Dave's sake. If this young guy was his competition, he didn't have a chance.

“Cherise,” I said as I extended my hand.

“Cherise, Toni told me you were looking for a man. I was trying to bring one of my boys, but they were all tied up.” I gave Toni a look like
what?
She smiled and Lou asked if we wanted anything to drink. Toni answered for us both and said two Cosmos. Lou took our drink order and walked over to the bar. Lou was cute, but he also seemed like he was very young.

As soon as he stepped away, I grabbed her arm. “How old is he, Toni?”

“Twenty-four.”

“Twenty-four? Are you crazy?
I
wouldn't date a twenty-four-year-old.”

“You wouldn't and I would, and remember—I'm married, so I'm not dating him, I'm just hanging out being a friend to a younger guy.” She laughed.

Lou came back and placed our martinis in front of us and gave Toni another squeeze and kiss on the cheek. He was overly affectionate, which made me very uncomfortable for Toni and myself. I just kept thinking,
What if Dave walked though the door?
He would beat me, him, and her.

“Why is it so crowded here tonight?” Toni asked, looking around.

“The Falcons are having a charity event,” Lou said, not taking his eyes off of Toni.

“Oh, that's nice,” I said as I looked around, noticing the extra crowd.

“See, this is a good event for you to be at. You should know about this event, Miss Sports News Reporter Lady,” Toni said.

“You're right, but when I'm not at work, I'm not at work,” I said as I winked at her and drank the last of my martini.

“But, Cherise, there are a lot of nice men in here. I want you to pass your business card out. You better start self-promoting, or I will.”

“Please don't,” I said as I got up from the table to go to the bar to get another drink.

The bar was crowded, and the bartender looked like he was either new or wasn't used to dealing with a large crowd. It took him fifteen minutes to take my drink order.

I handed him my credit card and began sipping the drink he placed in front of me.

“That's my drink,” a deep male voice said.

I looked down at the drink and said, “I am so sorry.”

“It's okay,” the man said, laughing. “I didn't drink out of it, but you didn't have to steal my drink. I would have bought you one.”

I laughed. Ms. Nosy came up beside me whispering, “Who is that?” I told her I accidentally picked up his drink.

“He's cute—talk to him,” she said, trying to nudge me to him.

Toni took matters into her own hands and said, “Hi, your name is?”

“Tim Hughes.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Hughes. What are you doing here tonight, and why do you look so familiar?” Toni asked.

“This is my event. Did you give a donation or bid on anything at the silent auction?”

“No, we didn't know about it. So do you play for the Falcons?”

“Yeah, I do. And you ladies need to take a look at some of the items we have. All the proceeds benefit my organization, Brothers Helping Themselves.”

“Well, you need to talk to my sister. I know she looks familiar, too. You don't recognize her from the news? She is the new sports reporter for Action 7 News—Cherise Long.” I was uncomfortable with Toni's big sister pushiness and bragging. But the man's demeanor did change when she told him who I was. Immediately he went from being slightly defensive to asking me for my business card.

“Really. Oh, can I have your card? I would like to let more people know about my organization, which I've been running for about a year.”

A dark man came up. “Bruh, what's taking so long?”

“Man, this bartender. And I'm talking to these nice ladies about doing a story on the house.” The man turned to us and spoke. Tim was handsome, but the guy he introduced us to was even better looking. He was muscular, and you could tell he was an athlete. His body was amazing and smile perfect. His jewelry was a little flashy.

After Tim got his drinks, he was back, talking more about his organization.

“I want to give back to the community that helped me. Brothers Helping Themselves—my organization—is everything. It's job training for ex-offenders, help preparing résumés. Eventually we want to include women, but right now, you know, we need to get corporate sponsors. DeCarious has a studio and employs some of the youth, and I've poured a lot of my own money into it. But I would like to get more sponsors and mentors on board. People always ask me if I'm scared of getting robbed. Hell no, I'm from Zone One, Bankhead. But it is hard trying to save the hood alone. Do you think you can do a story?”

“Yes, it sounds very doable and interesting. Yeah, let me talk with my boss and we will see what we can do.”

Toni couldn't wait until we walked away before she was asking me, “Did you give the dark-skinned cute one your card, too?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Good, because he was looking at you.”

“That's nice, but I don't date athletes. Especially now that I am covering sports.”

“Does it say somewhere that you can't?”

“No, but hello—conflict of interest. You can't be objective if you are a part of the story.”

“If you say so.” Toni sighed.

We enjoyed the rest of the night bowling, laughing, and having a good time with Toni's boy toy, Lou. I didn't know how I felt about my sister being a baby cougar. I wanted her to just make up with Dave and live a happy life.