Authors: Tracy Brown
Twisted (5 page)
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Starting Over
I
t was one of those days when winter's crisp wind gives way to a soft spring breeze, and Celeste Styles and her friend Keisha Russell were on their way to a social event. Keisha was so glad Celeste was finally coming to one of the events she'd been inviting her to for months. Celeste was accompanying her friend to a dinner party being thrown by a women's group that Keisha belonged to. The group of female entrepreneurs met each month to mingle, listen to guest speakers, and support one another's business. Among them were publishers, agents, real estate brokers, teachers, lawyers, bankers, and assorted other professionals. Keisha had been trying to get Celeste to join for the longest time, but Celeste was reluctant. To her it sounded like the “Uppity
Bitches Club,” and Celeste knew she wouldn't fit in. After all, she had once lived a lifestyle in which she was surrounded by hustlers and the women who loved them. The last thing she wanted was to sit around a bunch of Ivy League or holier-than-thou women who had nothing in common with someone like her.
t was one of those days when winter's crisp wind gives way to a soft spring breeze, and Celeste Styles and her friend Keisha Russell were on their way to a social event. Keisha was so glad Celeste was finally coming to one of the events she'd been inviting her to for months. Celeste was accompanying her friend to a dinner party being thrown by a women's group that Keisha belonged to. The group of female entrepreneurs met each month to mingle, listen to guest speakers, and support one another's business. Among them were publishers, agents, real estate brokers, teachers, lawyers, bankers, and assorted other professionals. Keisha had been trying to get Celeste to join for the longest time, but Celeste was reluctant. To her it sounded like the “Uppity
Bitches Club,” and Celeste knew she wouldn't fit in. After all, she had once lived a lifestyle in which she was surrounded by hustlers and the women who loved them. The last thing she wanted was to sit around a bunch of Ivy League or holier-than-thou women who had nothing in common with someone like her.
Upon moving to Atlanta, Celeste had gotten back into college, continuing her pursuit of the business degree she had abandoned upon meeting Rah-lo. She had worked at a hair salon in Buckhead and tried to grow accustomed to her new life. But in the beginning she couldn't help feeling like she had taken a huge step backward. After all, she had once owned and operated a successful salon of her own. Suddenly, she was merely working in one. She found that she had
far
less money than she was used to having, and frankly, she missed the lifestyle she had enjoyed courtesy of Rah-lo. But she told herself that she was ready for a new day. She wanted a love of her own, when her heart was ready. One that she would never have to share, or hide, or be ashamed of. She wanted her own success. Success that she wouldn't have to relinquish if a relationship turned sour. What Celeste had pursuedâand gainedâwas a new life, with her own success and triumph to make it sweeter.
far
less money than she was used to having, and frankly, she missed the lifestyle she had enjoyed courtesy of Rah-lo. But she told herself that she was ready for a new day. She wanted a love of her own, when her heart was ready. One that she would never have to share, or hide, or be ashamed of. She wanted her own success. Success that she wouldn't have to relinquish if a relationship turned sour. What Celeste had pursuedâand gainedâwas a new life, with her own success and triumph to make it sweeter.
She worked for a marketing firm in downtown Atlanta and she was slowly moving up the corporate ladder. She owned a condo and a nice car, she went to church with her mama and nana on Sundays, and she had a dear friend and
coworker in Keisha. Celeste had lost about ten pounds as part of the clean slate she had given herself. She was looking and feeling better than she had in years. The only thing missing was a man to share it with. Keisha was also single and having a great time dating man after man in her search for Mr. Right. But Celeste seemed far more hesitant to get out there and find someone to settle down with. She was testing the waters, but she was in less of a rush to find her Prince Charming. And Keisha couldn't understand why.
coworker in Keisha. Celeste had lost about ten pounds as part of the clean slate she had given herself. She was looking and feeling better than she had in years. The only thing missing was a man to share it with. Keisha was also single and having a great time dating man after man in her search for Mr. Right. But Celeste seemed far more hesitant to get out there and find someone to settle down with. She was testing the waters, but she was in less of a rush to find her Prince Charming. And Keisha couldn't understand why.
Tonight, Keisha's group was opening their doors to men. It was a cocktail party/fund-raiser to support AIDS research, and many male professionals would be there to offer information and services related to the charity. Celeste had broken up with her boo Damon only weeks prior. She had dated him for close to a year, and she enjoyed his company. But after being with him for so long, to Celeste it seemed to be going nowhere. The relationship had lost its thrill and Celeste was wasting no time on a relationship that no longer excited her. She was feeling brand-new, after cutting her hair into a cute and sassy style and updating her wardrobe. Ending her relationship with Damon made her feel alive again. Not that he was a bad guyâin fact, quite the opposite. He was a gentleman and a success story. She just couldn't help being bored. Tonight, Celeste looked forward to having fun.
Keisha was driving her Escalade and Celeste hung on for dear life. Keisha had a lead foot and riding with her was an adventure, to say the least. When they arrived, they parked
and checked their makeup in the car mirrors one more time before going inside. Celeste wore a breezy white Nicole Miller dress and very sexy Stuart Weitzmans. Keisha was sharp in a tailored red Escada pantsuit with a ruffled neckline. She wore no bra or blouse, and the jacket was cut as low as possible for full effect. She was sexy and she knew it. They both looked amazing. Celeste's short hairdo was styled to perfection, and Keisha wore her hair long and wavy, with one side dramatically shielding one eye. They stepped out and headed inside, eager to mix and mingle.
and checked their makeup in the car mirrors one more time before going inside. Celeste wore a breezy white Nicole Miller dress and very sexy Stuart Weitzmans. Keisha was sharp in a tailored red Escada pantsuit with a ruffled neckline. She wore no bra or blouse, and the jacket was cut as low as possible for full effect. She was sexy and she knew it. They both looked amazing. Celeste's short hairdo was styled to perfection, and Keisha wore her hair long and wavy, with one side dramatically shielding one eye. They stepped out and headed inside, eager to mix and mingle.
They were not disappointed. All the ladies from Keisha's group were dressed to impress. Designer labels and pricey baubles were everywhere. They made the rounds with Keisha introducing Celeste to many of her entrepreneurial sisters along the way. With champagne flutes in hand, they worked the crowd, flashing dazzling smiles, cracking jokes, and having stimulating conversations. Dinner was served and several speakers followed as dessert was presented. They all talked about the importance of wealthy, successful black people donating to finding a cure for the number one killer of black people in almost every demographic. The biggest donors received special recognition, and Celeste surveyed the room.
There were a number of handsome men there that evening, although several of them looked as if they may have been homosexual. Still, there were quite a few men with potential. Keisha set her sights on one handsome middle-aged
man seated elsewhere in the dining room. She knew she would meet him before the night was over. The formal part of the evening was capped off by a solo performance by a gospel singer doing a soulful rendition of the Lord's Prayer. After a big round of applause, a deejay took the reins and the party went into full swing. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres flowed and Celeste was having a great time. She couldn't help noticing a tall brother who stuck pretty close by one of Keisha's fellow members. Celeste surmised that they must be a couple, but she couldn't help glancing in his direction from time to time. He was tall and he was well proportioned. His haircut was fresh, his goatee was perfect, and his lips were inviting. She watched him gesture with his big hands while he talked to the sister at his side. He had great teeth, too, which Celeste noticed whenever he flashed his megawatt smile. She was captivated.
man seated elsewhere in the dining room. She knew she would meet him before the night was over. The formal part of the evening was capped off by a solo performance by a gospel singer doing a soulful rendition of the Lord's Prayer. After a big round of applause, a deejay took the reins and the party went into full swing. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres flowed and Celeste was having a great time. She couldn't help noticing a tall brother who stuck pretty close by one of Keisha's fellow members. Celeste surmised that they must be a couple, but she couldn't help glancing in his direction from time to time. He was tall and he was well proportioned. His haircut was fresh, his goatee was perfect, and his lips were inviting. She watched him gesture with his big hands while he talked to the sister at his side. He had great teeth, too, which Celeste noticed whenever he flashed his megawatt smile. She was captivated.
Keisha was holed up in the corner with a man she'd had her sights set on all evening. He was a new district court judge, and she sat beside him with her legs crossed invitingly and her eyes fluttering flirtatiously. He never stood a chance. Celeste chuckled at her friend's aggression and went to the bar to order another drink. “Hennessy this time, please,” she told the bartender.
“That's a big drink for such a delicate lady,” a voice behind her remarked. Celeste turned around to find the beautiful stranger she had been watching standing behind her. She immediately looked for his girlfriend. Celeste had already
gotten out of one relationship where she had been the other woman. She didn't want to find herself in that position again. Instead of responding, she smiled and looked away.
gotten out of one relationship where she had been the other woman. She didn't want to find herself in that position again. Instead of responding, she smiled and looked away.
“My name is Bryson. Are you one of my sister's group members?” he asked, extending his hand to Celeste in greeting.
She took it and smiled broadly. “Is that your sister?” she asked, nodding in the direction of the woman she had assumed was his wife. Celeste was relieved.
Bryson nodded. “She didn't want to come by herself to another charity event. So I got suckered into coming with her.”
Celeste's smile broadened. “My name is Celeste,” she offered, shaking his strong hand. “I'm not part of the group. I came with my friend Keisha.”
Bryson nodded as the bartender brought Celeste her drink. She reached to pay for it and Bryson held his hand up to stop her. “This one's on me,” he said. He ordered a glass of Patron and leaned against the bar. “You don't want to join their group?” he asked. “It seems like you're somebody important, so you'd fit right in.”
Celeste laughed. “Well, thank you. I think.” She wasn't sure if he had given her a compliment or not. “I guess I do all right for myself and I could probably benefit from making the good connections in their group. But I've never really been tight with a bunch of women like that. Most of the women I've encountered are backstabbers or haters.”
“So you have a lot of male friends?” Bryson asked, with one eyebrow raised.
Celeste sipped her drink. She wasn't sure what Bryson meant by the question. “Keisha is my best friend since I moved to Atlanta. I like her. We get along real well. But I don't think I could stand meeting with fifty women once a month talking about women's issues.”
Bryson smiled. “You're from New York, right?”
Celeste nodded.
“I can tell by your accent,” he explained.
Celeste wanted to tell him that he was the one with the accent. But she didn't want to hurt his country pride. “Everybody says New Yorkers have an accent. I guess it's true.”
“How long have you lived in ATL?”
“A few years. I like it. I needed a change of pace.”
“You got a man?”
“You get straight to the point, don't you?”
“Well, I thought New Yorkers don't like to beat around the bush.” Bryson downed his shot of tequila.
Celeste smiled flirtatiously. “Nope. I don't have a man. Why? You wanna take me out?”
Bryson smiled back. “Yeah.”
Celeste nodded. “Okay. I'd like that,” she said. He was confident, straightforward, and he seemed to be pretty intelligent. So far, Celeste was feeling optimistic about this man.
The bartender brought Bryson another drink and Celeste watched, impressed, as he handed the bartender an American
Express Centurion card. The black card spoke volumes about his wealth, and Celeste's curiosity was piqued. “So what do you do?”
Express Centurion card. The black card spoke volumes about his wealth, and Celeste's curiosity was piqued. “So what do you do?”
“I'm an entertainment attorney with a prominent Atlanta firm. Reed, Maxwell, andâ”
“Forrester,” Celeste completed his sentence. “I'm a junior executive with a marketing firm downtown. Your firm represented us in a case against a rival company.”
Bryson smiled. “It's a small world. I've been practicing for twelve years and been a partner at the firm for two of those years.”
“Wow,” she said. “Sounds interesting. Who is your most famous client?”
He shrugged. “I have a few famous clients. After a while they don't impress you with their fame and wealth as much. They're human just like the rest of us. The famous clients are no different for me than the average Joe.”
“All of their money is green, right?” Celeste asked, sipping her drink.
“That's right. It's all the same,” Bryson said. “So how do you like working in marketing?”
She sat on a bar stool and crossed her legs, perching her clutch bag on her lap. “The work is exciting, I get to travel often, and the pay is competitive. I like it.”
“That's great. When you get paid to do what you love to do, it's a wonderful thing.” Bryson sized her up and liked what he saw. Celeste was a beautiful woman, stylish and
sophisticated. She was successful and intelligent. And she had a fat ass, just the way he liked. “So,” he said. Why are you single?”
sophisticated. She was successful and intelligent. And she had a fat ass, just the way he liked. “So,” he said. Why are you single?”
She sighed. “Actually, I just got out of a yearlong relationship.”
“So is it too soon for me to ask you out? I don't want to be your rebound romance.” Bryson smiled as he said it.
Celeste laughed. “It's not too soon. It wasn't a bad split. In fact, we're still friends. The whole relationship just lost its thrill for me, and I got tired of going through the motions.”
Bryson looked at her, wondering what man would be foolish enough to allow a woman this beautiful to get bored. “So, you're a thrill seeker, huh?” he asked facetiously.
She smiled. “Yeah,” she said. “I guess you could say that.”
Keisha came over, looking exasperated. The man she was trying to snag had turned out to be gay and she was dismayed. “This party is wack!” she spat. “I'm ready to go.”
Celeste looked at Keisha, confused. “What happened? I thought you were having fun!”
Keisha looked at Celeste sidelong. “Don't ask.”
Celeste turned back to Bryson. “She's ready to go,” she said, nodding in Keisha's direction. Celeste handed him her business card. “Call me.”
Bryson nodded. “I definitely will.”
Celeste grabbed Keisha's arm gently and they headed for the exit. She felt bad that Keisha's night hadn't gone as well as hers had. But she was thrilled that she had connected with
Bryson. He had a sexy swagger about him and a law degree to match. It seemed like he may have potential. Celeste wasn't that interested in the white-collar suit and tieâwearing men she came into contact with most often. But Bryson might be an exception. She still wanted a bad boy, only without all the bullshit that went along with it. She was finished with guys who went to jail, had crazy baby mamas and multiple kids.
Bryson. He had a sexy swagger about him and a law degree to match. It seemed like he may have potential. Celeste wasn't that interested in the white-collar suit and tieâwearing men she came into contact with most often. But Bryson might be an exception. She still wanted a bad boy, only without all the bullshit that went along with it. She was finished with guys who went to jail, had crazy baby mamas and multiple kids.
Since Celeste had left New York, the closest she had come to finding a roughneck who fit the bill was her ex, Damon. She had met him at the gym where she worked out regularly. In the beginning, their relationship had been purely physical, with no strings attached, and Celeste liked it that way. The two of them shared occasional movie nights at her place or his, which were always capped off by great sex. Then they'd talk and have a few drinks before round two of their passion began. Celeste was content with them being friends with benefits. But eventually, for Damon, the relationship grew more serious. He began to want to see Celeste more often, he called numerous times each day, and Celeste got scared. When he started dropping hints about wedding bells, Celeste made herself scarce. Marriage and families were the furthest things from her mind.
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