Black Butterfly (4 page)

             
Mother had asked me over a hundred times why I still wasn’t in a serious relationship. This was during the short time I was over for dinner. I pointed out that Seantay was not in a serious relationship either. Mother pointed out that Seantay was only twenty. When she said it she had a sour look on her face. If only she knew what I’d been through. It was too bad that she didn’t know. Nobody knew about what had happened to me. She thought she could fix everything by buying gifts for us. I still hadn’t opened the boxes. She could try and buy Seantay and Seandra’s love, but I wasn’t falling for it.

Chapter 4

Seandra

              Boy was my life chaotic. I was the star of the number one sitcom on UXZ and I had a whole month off before the new season started. I really needed it. Maurice and I were still having a great time in LA. We would be leaving the next morning. We had reservations at a Soul Food restaurant that I loved call Mr. Ribsy’s. It wasn’t fancy on the outside, but it had a nice atmosphere and good greasy food. Celebrities ate there all the time. As a matter of fact most of the clientele were among the elite due to its very expensive menu. My career was not on my mind, nor was it the time to be stressed. I’d just gotten engaged to the love of my life and I wanted to enjoy the moment.

             
I still hadn’t told mother yet, but I would tell her and father when I returned home. Maurice and I stopped fooling around long enough to get dressed and make our 8:30 reservation. We went out dressed casual and comfortably. Ribsy’s was very laid back and I wanted to kick my shoes off and act “common”. Maurice was from the hood, but he’d made millions in the hip hop game. He reminded me of my father. Just like daddy, the streets could come out of Maurice at times. Sometimes he would rub off on me. I could not let Tameah Beauvois see me act like that. She would have a heart attack. Mom felt that it was extremely important for a lady to carry herself in a prim and proper manner. “You are of class and you must always act like it.” She gave us that speech almost every single day of our lives. She also reminded us that the media always had their eyes on us.

             
“You represent your father and I every single time you step out of your homes. Do not do anything to destroy what we have worked so hard for,” she would say. She always cared about our family’s public image. Seantay and I loved being famous. Renell stayed to herself, and out of the spotlight. We arrived to the restaurant on time and were shown to our table.

             
“Let’s start with a bottle of Moet,” he told the server. His eyes were glassy and he was sniffing a lot. I could tell that he was high.

             
I suddenly felt the chaos warning go off in my head. I made a mental note to not provoke him. He became agitated very easily when he was high. The server walked away and Maurice held my hand on top of the table. I could see a lone paparazzo outside flashing away. I really had to avoid doing anything to piss him off. Not only was my reputation on the line, but his was too.

             
“You’ve been quiet all night. What’s wrong baby?” He kissed my hand.

             
“Nothing. I’m okay. I guess our last few nights of passion have me tired.” He softly kissed my fingertips. I felt my body tingle.

             
“Well, it’s not over yet sweetheart. There’s plenty more to come. I hope you have more of that sexy lingerie.”

             
I couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, I do. As a matter of fact the outfit that I will be wearing tonight is going to drive you crazy.”

             
“Mmm, shit I’m already crazy. I’ve been crazy about you for a long ass time. The first time I saw your face I knew I had to make you mine. When you turned around and I saw that fat ass it sealed the deal baby. I’m glad I asked you for your number that day. Now you’re finally going to be my wife.” He grinned at me as the server filled our champagne glasses. We ordered our food and sent him on his way.

             
“And I’m so glad I said yes.” I smiled at him lovingly.

             
“I’ll toast to that.” He smiled raising his glass. I raised mine too. Maurice and I had our problems, but I loved him. Mother taught me that a piece of a rich man was better than no rich man at all. I stuck by my man through it all, and I would continue to stand by his side. I just couldn’t understand how he could make me feel like I was the only woman on the Earth at times. Then I would find strange numbers in his cell phone and panties that even my thick ass couldn’t fit. Oh yeah, he loved a big ass. He was a black man from the south to the bone. I refused to let those heifers have my man. I didn’t care what he did as long as he saved his heart for me.

*
              *                    *

Seantay

              I was taking a needed break from my work out with Randy when my cell phone rang. It was Antwan, so I sent him to voicemail. I’d met him that night at Club Eternity, but wasn’t interested. After a short conversation I made an excuse to leave and went to see Reco.

             
I took a drink of Evian as Randy walked into the room. He was gay and always excited. “C’mon girl! Get your ass up!”

             
“C’mon my ass. I need a break. My abs have been burning enough for one day.” I gulped down more water. I loved Randy, although he was vicious as hell with the workout. He was sexy and milk chocolate with a perfect body, but had no interest in women. He was twenty eight years old with a long list of rich clients. He made beaucoup, money. I knew it, because my parents paid him twenty five hundred dollars a session. I would have two hour long sessions twice a week. Sometimes Randy gave me an extra hour.

             
“Sweety pie, mommy and daddy aren’t paying me top dollar for you to take breaks. You know that Mrs. Beauvois wants her baby to be nice and toned.” He imitated my mother’s voice.

             
“Fuck that.” I rolled my eyes and sat down.

             
“So, have you seen your big sisters?” Randy asked wiping his face with a towel.

             
“Yeah. Nell came over yesterday and Seandra just got back from LA today. I haven’t seen her in a few weeks though.”

             
“Mmm, is she still with Maurice’s fine, gorgeous ass?”

             
“Uh huh and he is still sorry as hell. That’s why I don’t ever get into one man. I keep my options open.”

             
“I hear you sweet thang,” he said and got up to turn the stereo on. Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love” blared out of the speakers.

             
I jumped up and did all of Beyonce’s booty dances from the video.

             
“Work it girl! Do it! Do it! Girl, you are working your bootylicious ass better than Miss Beyonce!” Randy cheered me on.

             
We worked out for about thirty more minutes. After Randy left I soaked in the sauna, took a shower and fell asleep on top of my comforter butt naked. I had two hours before my rendezvous with Reco.

*
                *                 *

             
I was fierce as hell later that night in a soft yellow corset that accentuated my small waist, and a short, black pencil skirt. My ankle length boots were the same color as my top. I wore my black diamond bracelet, black diamond studs in my ear and platinum, black diamond ring. I would have to get a necklace to set off my black diamond ensemble.

             
After putting the finishing touches on my hair, I applied brown lip liner and natural hued MAC gloss to my lips. I applied a light layer of Mac foundation and some yellow and gold eye shadow. My stylist Ambrosia had hooked me up with the outfit.

             
I sprayed some Burberry perfume behind my ears and on my wrists. I was ready. I called Reco on his cell phone on my way to my black CLK 430 Mercedes. Daddy had gotten it for me for my birthday two months before. I waited for him to answer before I turned the key in the ignition. My car was a five speed and I loved driving a stick shift. It made me feel dominant.

             
“Yo, what’s up baby girl? How you feeling?” Reco asked.

             
“Hey baby. I’m fine. How are you?” I looked through my CD case for something to listen to.

             
“There you go bragging again,” he joked. “You know I’m good baby. I’m just waiting on you. Are you on the way yet?” He sounded anxious.

             
“You’re already at the club?” I asked putting Trey Songs in the CD player. Reco owned a very popular club in Miami called The Heat. It was a hot spot, but I didn’t have to worry about any papparazi being there. He’d put me on the VIP list of course.

             
“Yeah, so get your ass here. You got me waiting on you. How long you gonna be baby?”

             
“Oh, I’m almost there,” I said just buckling my seatbelt. We said our goodbyes and then I hung up and drove off. Make his ass wait for me.

*
                      *                     *

Renell

             
“You tell them yet?” I asked Seandra over the phone. She’d called to brag about her vacation and her dream man. That woman just fronted so damn much.

             
“They’re not home right now and you know Seantay’s fast ass is out.”

             
“How’s your fiancé’?” I asked dryly.

             
“He’s great. We are great. He’s really changed Nell. I’m convinced now that I can trust him. He’s been really good and I know that he loves me.”

             
Was she trying to convince me, or herself? She reminded me so much of mother when daddy had affairs. She’d make excuses for him and justify staying with him. They couldn’t get a divorce. If it weren’t for granddaddy father wouldn’t be where he was today. I guess my parents felt some kind of obligation toward one another.

             
“You hear me Nell?” Seandra asked. Her voice had raised almost ten octaves in irritation.

             
“Yes girl. I heard you. He loves you. Is he also drug free?” I asked annoyed with her clueless ass.

             
“Yes, he is. He controls himself Nell. He’s not a drug addict. He used to do coke occasionally when he would go out. It’s never been a habit. Why the hell are you all up in my personal life anyway? You wouldn’t understand how it feels to love someone and have someone who loves you in return. Since you insist on dipping in my business, let’s dip in yours. Are you a lesbian Nell, or are you just punishing yourself? You haven’t had a man in I don’t know how long? What is it Nell? Is the lack of dick in your life the reason you’re so damn uptight?”

             
I couldn’t believe she’d spoken to me that way. She’d said some foul things in the past, but she’d just crossed the line.

             
“Fuck you Seandra. You can be an evil bitch at times.” I hung up the phone.

             
I couldn’t believe she had the audacity to ask me such an offensive question. I could see her smiling on the other line. She was just like our mother. When it came to her man she’d go to war. It was after ten p.m. and I needed to get some rest. I had a presentation in the morning and I needed a full night’s sleep. I turned the lamp off and rested my head on my down pillow. I tried to not let Seandra’s accusation bother me. Plenty of thoughts rushed through my head. Of course I wasn’t a lesbian. I just couldn’t trust men. I did not deal with them on a personal level. Not that I hadn’t in the past. I was not a virgin or anything. When I was in undergrad at Harvard I met a man named Nathan. Nathan was very intelligent, warm hearted and handsome. He reminded me of my father with his beige skin tone, light eyes and black wavy hair.

             
He was in his senior year as an accounting major. We had met at a café near campus and sipped on mochas until the sun had set. The café was closing and it was raining out. My dorm was a long walk and he was driving. He offered to give me a ride and in the pouring rain I didn’t refuse. We sat in the car and talked until midnight. During that time I learned that he planned to get his Masters and then open his own accounting firm. He was born and raised in Harlem and had heard of my father. His parents were both lawyers and his older brother was in law school. He was not interested in the family business.

             
A few months later we were inseparable and I was ready for him to meet my family. Another month later I met his family. They seemed to be very warm, loving people. Our relationship was great for the next year. Soon Nathan began to change for the worst. He became very controlling. At first I brushed it off as simple acts of jealousy, but it became worse over time. I loved him though. He was the first man I’d ever introduced to my parents. I had been faithful to him, so he had no reason to be suspicious of my actions.