Love, Lies and Scandal (7 page)
Read Love, Lies and Scandal Online
Authors: Earl Sewell
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #General
"Yeah, I do," Will said. His mind immediately thought about Shantel's succulent lips and long legs. "What are you guys doing?"
"We're just listening to the radio and talking."
"Are you talking about me?" Will asked. He wanted to know if DaNikka was thinking about him the way he was thinking about her.
"No. We're talking about stuff."
"Stuff like what?"
"Just stuff. I was thinking about trying to get my GED."
"You don't need a GED. You have me to take care of you."
"But--"
"But nothing, DaNikka. I'm everything you need. And right now, I say you don't need a GED."
"I hate it when you talk like that," DaNikka said.
"You just remember what I told you. You don't need to worry about an education because you have me."
"Are you still going to do what you promised?" DaNikka asked.
"I'll still come through for you as long as you remain loyal to me," Will assured her.
"You know I'll do anything for you. Why do I have to keep proving it to you?" DaNikka asked.
"Because I want you to," Will answered. There was a long moment of silence between them.
"What do I have to do, make another video of us making love?" Will could hear the nervousness in DaNikka's voice and it brought a smile to his face.
"Nothing right now. We'll talk about it when I get back. Have a good time with your friend."
"Okay," DaNikka answered. Once Will had finished talking to DaNikka, his wicked ego told him that he was a better player than his brother had ever been.
ANGELA
A
ngela and Bobbi Franklin had just been seated for lunch at the Le Bistro French restaurant in Walnut Creek. Bobbi was a woman in her late fifties who was originally from Jackson, Mississippi. She had a mocha complexion, was tall and a little overweight, but not by much. Angela could tell that her hair had been recently braided by the way Bobbi kept playing with the cascading braids. Angela had met Bobbi several years ago at a fund-raiser she'd attended with Will. Angela had always admired and respected Bobbi for her business savvy and intelligence.
"Order whatever you'd like. This one is on me," Bobbi said as she looked over the menu. Angela took her time to review the menu and decided to order the stuffed prawns. Bobbi settled on the pan-seared salmon.
"As I was saying to you earlier--" Bobbi rested her elbows on the table "--my entire team is very excited about producing your show,
Love, Lies and Scandal.
I truly believe that the show will draw a large numbers of viewers."
"I believe that women and men who watch television don't just want to watch some contestant try to win a prize. They want to be active participants. They also want to know about issues that others are afraid to talk about," Angela chimed in.
"I agree with you and so does the director of programming. We want to launch the show this fall, so that means we want to begin taping before the ink dries on the contract." Bobbi laughed. "I have the advertisers lined up and your time slot will be nine o'clock on a weeknight. I know this show is going to be a hit. You'll be a superstar."
"This is so exciting," Angela exclaimed. "I can see the show going on for no less than ten seasons."
"Well," Bobbi said, smiling, "we can hope for that. By the way, how does your husband feel about you hosting such a racy show? Is he okay with it?"
"Of course he is. Will has always supported me." Angela thought it was odd that Bobbi would ask such a question.
"Well, here's to a wonderful business relationship." Bobbi held up her glass of water. Angela did the same and they both toasted to their partnership.
Several weeks had passed during which Angela had handed in her resignation at the news station and focused on launching her television show. She, along with a team of programming directors, producers, writers, marketing experts and designers, hammered out everything from show topics to set design. The first episodes of her show covered the topics of men who watch too much pornography, dating while divorcing, why men and women cheat, turning Rambos into Romeos and sleeping with coworkers.
Before Angela's first taping, Will decided to treat her to a day of pampering. He'd made reservations for brunch and dinner and scheduled a couples' massage for them at the Claremont Resort and Spa in Berkeley. Angela was thrilled about spending time with Will because they'd been missing each other due to their work schedules. Angela had been on Will's back about making time for them to focus on each other, and now that they were about to have brunch together, she planned to remind him not to forget to make time for each other.
"Hey, stranger," Angela teased him as he sat down at the resort's dining table.
"Why are you calling me stranger?" Will asked as he unfolded his napkin.
"You're always gone and I'm always working. I feel like the only time we get to see each other is to have sex. Hopefully with the show's production schedule, my time will be a little more flexible, which means we'll get to spend quality time together." Angela reached across the table and placed her hand upon his. "Maybe we can even find enough time to schedule a vacation to the Virgin Islands."
"You know how busy I am. I'm constantly--"
"Too busy to spend time with each other?" Angela wanted Will to think carefully about what he was about to say. He seemed to have read her thoughts.
"A vacation would be nice. But right now is not a good time. I have too much going on."
"Well, then, find the time. I want to go the Virgin Islands. I've been talking to you about it for months and you keep putting it off."
"Don't start with me, okay?" Will warned.
"I haven't started anything with you. Why are you so defensive?" Angela leaned back in her seat and folded her arms.
"I hate it when you do that. Don't try to make me feel guilty. It won't work."
"I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, Will. All I'm saying is that I'd like to spend a little more quality time with you. What's wrong with that?"
"We do spend quality time together," Will corrected her. "We were spending quality time last night if I recall correctly." He gave her a lusty smile.
"Will, having lazy sex is not spending quality time, so don't get it twisted."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Angela was silent for a long moment as she navigated through her feelings.
"Well?" Will wanted her to speak up.
"Will," Angela whispered. "We shouldn't talk about this here. It should wait until we get home." Angela searched for an exit out of the conversation.
"Oh, no. Tell me now. It's too late to back away."
"Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Yes, I want to hear it. Lay it on me," Will said sarcastically. He leaned back in his seat and stroked the tip of his nose a few times.
"Will," Angela whispered. "I feel like I'm just some sex object to you. When we make love, you don't talk to me, you don't look at me and you don't pay attention to me."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Will said with irritation.
"I'm saying that it would help if I knew what you were thinking. It would help if you'd open your eyes and look at me. You keep your eyes closed so tightly...at times I think you're fantasizing about another woman. Do you fantasize about having sex with other women when you're making love to me?"
"That's ridiculous and you know it. I'm not even going to dignify your comment with a response." Will dismissed her statements. At that moment, his cell phone began to vibrate. Will removed his phone from its holster to check his message and grinned as if he'd just won an exquisite prize.
"What's that look for?" Angela asked.
"What look?" Will stopped grinning.
"Who just sent you a message? What did it say?"
"Why are you being so nosy?" Will asked curtly.
"Because as soon as you read that message, an expression washed over your face that I'd never seen before."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Angela. I think you're being paranoid or something. The message was just a joke someone forwarded to me," Will said as his phone vibrated once again. She could tell that her husband was trying hard not to let his excitement show.
"Either you put that damn phone away or I'm going to take it from you," Angela snapped at him. She didn't like the fact that Will wasn't paying attention to her. She was trying to have a meaningful conversation with him.
"See, that's your problem, Angela. You think that you can boss me around. I've told you a thousand times that I'm not the one. You don't threaten me on any level." Will raised his voice at her.
"I'm just trying to talk to you, Will," Angela defended herself.
"No, you're not. You're trying to break me down. Here I am, planning to take you out for a nice dinner and a little pampering and you want to attack me by saying I don't pay attention to you. Here is a news flash for you, honey. If I wasn't paying you any attention I would not have planned an afternoon like this for us." He waved his arms around.
"You're taking this all wrong, Will," Angela said in a loud whisper.
"No, I'm not, Angela. You're sitting here acting all sanctimonious, complaining about me not paying attention to your needs. Have you ever stopped to think about my needs and what I'd like? Maybe there is a
reason
I don't look at you when we make love. Maybe you're not
satisfying
me the way I need to be satisfied." Will glared at her. "I didn't think so." Will's cell phone vibrated once again.
"Let's just drop this conversation and enjoy the rest of our afternoon together," Angela suggested, trying to bury her hurt feelings.
"You know what?" Will removed his wallet from his back pocket and placed a one-hundred-dollar bill on the table. "I don't even want to spend the afternoon with you anymore. Enjoy yourself." Will got up.
"Will, don't you walk away from me," Angela warned him.
"Your threats mean nothing to me," Will said and continued on. Angela followed him. When they reached the parking lot, Will went to his car.
"Will, wait a minute." Angela stopped him by holding on to his arm.
"I don't want to talk, Angela. I'll see you later. It's a good thing we met up here and drove in separate cars because right now, I don't like you very much." Will walked away and got into the car. He pulled off before Angela could say another word.
J
O
A
NN
J
oAnn rushed across the parking lot of Sandburg Junior High School to get out of the pouring rain. Once she stepped inside, she slid her umbrella closed and shook the excess water off of it.
"Oh, I can't believe how hard it's raining outside," she said to herself as goose bumps blanketed her skin. She headed toward the gymnasium and took a seat on the bleachers next to a handful of students and several parents. Once she got herself situated, she began searching for her daughter, Trina. She spotted her stooping down and lacing up her gym shoes.
Once Trina was done, she and her teammates formed a circle and yelled out in unison, "Let's go, Wildcats!" and then trotted out on the court for a game of volleyball against their cross-town rivals, the Winston Warriors. JoAnn watched with enthusiasm as the teams volleyed the ball back and forth, scoring points against each other. She watched as her daughter dropped to her knees several times to keep the ball in the air in order to keep it in play.
"Way to go, Trina!" JoAnn yelled out from the stands. Trina had her father's natural athletic ability. She was tall like Jesse and had a very competitive spirit.
Trina looked at JoAnn and smiled. JoAnn acknowledged her by waving. It was Trina's turn to serve the ball. Her team was down by five points and JoAnn was on the edge of her seat, hoping that all the time Jesse had spent with his daughter working on her serve would pay off. Trina hoisted the white ball in the air and struck it with just the right amount of force to send it rocketing across the court and over the net. The ball was moving so fast that the opposing team didn't have time to reach it. JoAnn clapped for Trina and shouted out her name once more. Trina went on a nine-point scoring streak before one of her teammates made an error and gave the opposing team one last opportunity to catch up.
"Work as a team, Wildcats!" Trina and her teammates howled out their battle cry.
Too bad they're not playing for money,
JoAnn thought,
because I'd certainly put my money on my daughter and her teammates. With Trina and her killer serve I know they'd be unstoppable.
JoAnn tried to get thoughts of gambling out of her mind, but she couldn't. They were like concrete pillars securely cemented in the chambers of her mind.
"Damn it, JoAnn. Stop thinking about gambling," she mumbled to herself as she watched Trina and the Wildcats defend their lead over the Winston Warriors to win the game. After the game, JoAnn hugged her daughter and said, "Congratulations."
"Mom, don't hug me in public. I'll look like a baby." Trina unlatched herself from JoAnn and sat next to her.
"Well, you're
my
baby," JoAnn said defensively.
"I know, but we're in public and I don't want all of my friends to see."
"Oh Lord, girl. I'll hug them, too, if they come over here."
"Oh, please don't do that!" Trina looked horrified.
"You look just like your father," JoAnn said. "You certainly have his eyes and facial expressions."
"Where is Dad? I thought he was coming."
"I don't know. He's probably down at the store working," JoAnn said. She and Jesse hadn't been speaking much since they'd returned from Las Vegas several weeks ago.
"Are you guys getting a divorce?" Trina asked.
"No," JoAnn stammered. "Why would you ask that?"
"Well, he's been sleeping in the spare bedroom next to my room for, like, forever. And my friend Stephanie said that her parents slept in separate rooms before they got a divorce."
"Trina, stop worrying yourself about that. Your father and I are doing fine."
"Well, will you tell him to sleep in his own bed because his snoring is keeping me from getting a full night's rest." JoAnn chuckled and Trina asked, "What's so funny?"
"
I've
been sleeping beautifully since he's been in the spare bedroom. I don't have to hit him or make him roll over." JoAnn laughed out loud.
"That's TMI, Mom," Trina said as she waved goodbye to one of her teammates. "Too much information. Are you sure you guys aren't getting a divorce? I've never seen Dad this angry with you."
"No, Trina. We're not. Don't ask me that again, okay?" JoAnn got defensive. She hated the fact that her daughter was so perceptive at such a young age.
"I'm going to go change my clothes. Where did you park?" Trina asked.
"I'm right out front by the door. You'll see me when you come out."
"Okay. I'll see you in a few minutes." Trina turned and walked down the bleacher steps and ran across the gym toward the locker room.
JoAnn exhaled before rising to her feet. As she walked back to the car, her heart began to feel heavy. Jesse had emotionally severed himself from her. Over the last few weeks, she'd tried several times to make up with him. He'd rejected her at every turn--even sexually.
In her car, JoAnn turned on the radio. Anita Baker was singing her hit song "I Apologize." As JoAnn listened to the words of the song, she had to laugh a little in order to keep herself from crying.
JoAnn really wanted to move forward, and the only way she could do that would be to return the money she'd foolishly gambled away. The sound of Trina drumming her knuckles against the glass of the passenger window interrupted JoAnn's thoughts, and she unlocked the door so her daughter could get in.
"How come you had the door locked?" Trina asked as she rushed to get in out of the pouring rain.
"I'm sorry, honey, my mind was someplace else," JoAnn answered as she fired up the motor and began driving toward home.
"Have you called Daddy yet?" Trina asked.
"No. I haven't spoken to him," JoAnn admitted. "Go ahead and call him. Ask him what he wants for dinner." JoAnn knew that Jesse wouldn't refuse to talk to Trina. She listened as the child told her father about the game and how her team had won.
"You should've been there. I was serving up some monster serves. Coach said that if I keep playing in high school, I may end up with a college scholarship. If I get an athletic scholarship, can I have the money you've been saving up for me to go to school to buy myself a car?" Trina asked.
An idea on how to return the money she'd gambled away suddenly entered JoAnn's mind. While driving, she began calculating, plotting and mapping out how she could execute her brilliant idea. By the time she was pulling into the driveway, she had everything all figured out and was looking forward to the moment she'd be able to present Jesse with the money she'd lost.
"Dad said that he wouldn't be home for dinner," Trina said as she got out of the car and entered the house.
"Wait, what did you say?" JoAnn trailed behind her daughter. She needed to make sure she'd heard Trina correctly.
"He said that he wouldn't be home for dinner," Trina repeated.
"Did he say why? It's not like him to not come home for dinner." JoAnn was sharing a little too much worry with her daughter, but she couldn't help it.
"He didn't say why he wasn't coming, but I would appreciate it if you guys started speaking to each other again because I hate being in the middle of your argument."
"We're not in a dispute," JoAnn lied.
"Could've fooled me," Trina mumbled as she raced up the staircase.
"What did you just say?" JoAnn had become irritated and wasn't about to put up with any wisecracks from Trina.
"Nothing. Don't worry about cooking for me either. I'm not very hungry."
"Not now, but what about later?" JoAnn asked, although at that moment her main concern wasn't Trina.
"I'll eat some fruit or something," Trina said. "I just don't have an appetite."
JoAnn placed her car keys on the granite countertop and began pacing the kitchen floor nervously.
"It is so unlike Jesse to not come home. We've had plenty of arguments and disputes before, but never to the point that he stopped coming home," JoAnn said to herself. "Could he have begun an affair over this?" JoAnn began thinking about all of the Barbie bitches who she thought would leap at the chance to seduce Jesse during this shaky time in their marriage. The list was rather long. She knew for a fact that several of his young female employees at the sporting goods store would spread their legs for him in a heartbeat. Jesse was a handsome and successful man, and JoAnn had always felt if he were a man whose values weren't strong, he would be out sleeping around with scores of women.
"But Jesse is not like that." JoAnn tried to convince herself that her husband wouldn't betray her the way she'd betrayed him. Her thoughts began playing tricks on her. "The hell with it," she finally said and opened her purse. She removed her cell phone and called him. His phone just rang. Clearly he was refusing to take her call. She decided to call the store directly but then held the thought.
"No, I'm going down to the store to talk to him face-to-face," JoAnn said aloud. "Trina," she called.
"Yeah?" Trina answered.
"I'm about to run down to the sporting goods store to see your father. I'll be back in a little while. Come lock the door." JoAnn gathered up her belongings and walked back out to her car.
"I'm going to straighten this entire situation out," she said as she drove off.