Chardonnay: A Novel Page 17

  “Whatever. See you tomorrow.”

  His phone went dead.

  So peculiar.

  * * * *

  SEM offices were busy! Phones were ringing off the hook, people were rushing here and there, and no one was sitting on their behind. Yet—it all looked organized. With the warm colors and eccentric atmosphere, I knew there was now a younger man in charge. I saw so many diversities and young people running a business so prolific.

  I told Jase’s receptionist who I was. She finally looked up at me from her desk, revealing her sparkling blue eyes, talking very low and said,

  “You know him by Jase?”

  I raised my eyebrows and said a hesitant,

  “Yes. Why?”

  She smirked and shook her head, letting her over bleached blond hair dance around her porcelain cream skin,

  “Oh nothing. I’ll get you his personal assistant.”

  I waited a minute and then was escorted back to his made for a king study. It could not be called an office. His personal assistant opened the door after knocking a few times and his chill yell of,

  “Come on in.” had presented us.

  I stepped in and she gently closed the door back before she locked it. It all seemed so strange. I looked at him still looking down at his desk scrambling on ivory colored paper. His chocolate Valentino blazer was hanging on the back of his chair and his cashmere and cotton cream dress shirt he had on was loosen at the top due to a non-strangled tie.

  “Sorry, I’m making some final adjustments for an ad campaign I need to send to the vendor.”

  I nodded my head and came around his desk.

  “You thirsty, hungry?” he asked.

  “No thanks, I ate. In fact my cousin wouldn’t let me leave the house without doing so.”

  He let his pen go and roll off of his desk, leaning back to stretch. His exasperated sigh smelled of fresh spearmint. He rolled his chair around and stopped at me. A smirk crept along his distinguished and handsome face.

  “I want you to go over some things with Josh. I have a few packets I want you two to go over; stuff in there like Black Billions magazine being a part of MPA.”

  “What’s that?” I asked looking at the promising bulge in his perfectly tailored slacks.

  Jase’s eyes grew keen to mine. He leaned back in his seat and rested his hands at the back of his head.

  “If you don’t know what that is—you may have a lot to learn. It stands for Magazine Publishers of America. It was one of the first things I had learned when I researched about publications in college.”

  Feeling inadequate I mumbled an,

  “Oh.”

  He pulled me to him, holding me tight, letting his strong hands massage the tail of my back. Felt so good. But I had more questions, questions about him. I backed up and asked him again,

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Jase sat back up in his chair and ran his hand over his light stubble.

  He stood from his desk and walked over near his book shelf, five feet away from where his desk sat.

  “If I told you,” he began as he sifted through a book his peeled off the shelf,

  “Would you still of left me with my dick wet? Seriously here, is your anger about this due to my discrepancy or yours?”

  I hated how he did that, turned the situation on me. What if I knew he had a billion bucks, would I of ran out like that on him? I really didn’t know since if money was my motive—I would have stayed with Myron’s sorry ass. I looked at Jase as he awaited an answer.

  “No ones. It was just really embarrassing to find out that the internship I’m trying to get, and impress a company for, is ran by a guy that’s seen me at my worst.”

  “And you were beautiful every time.”

  I smiled. Yet I wasn’t through with him.

  “Who is Syndi to you?”

  He chuckled at the jealousy in my tone.

  “Who do you think she is to me?”

  “Your girl. Fiancée. Hell-wife.”

  He carefully paused for a minute before he answered me, his body language relaxed, his eyes tense.

  “What if I told you I had a wife?”

  I tossed my right hip, in harmony with my furrowed eyes gleaming to his. But just like his sleek swagger and genius pout made lips—I figured Jase was putting fifty on ten. He slowly bit his bottom lip and let it slide out as he leaned back on his book shelf.

  “She’s my little sister.” he said with a grin.

  “You little sister?”

  “Yeah—she’s your age and she models for SEM. She believes for some reason you’re going to be the next best thing...she does that—guess things and somehow they become reality. I get that from a lot of folks—she’s simply protective of me.”

  I nodded my head. I couldn’t find anything on him...besides that good juicy thickness between his thighs. And those eyes...enough said. I went to the door to make sure it was locked.

  “I wouldn’t do that...” he whispered.

  “Why?” I said, sauntering back over to him.

  “I wouldn’t put you out like that...make you a hoe. You’re too special to me for that.”

  I ran my hand through his locks, they felt like silk to me.

  “You’re sweet. But I need this.” My mind told me this was good for me. His touch was the only thing that made me feel alive—or wanted.

  I knew the friction between us was real. He looked in my eyes with passion—a passion I had never seen before...not even in Myron’s eyes. The fine space between us became void and his girth pressed into my pelvis.

  “Chardonnay,” he said grazing his lips with mine.

  “There are things I want to do to you I can’t even began to describe...just enact. But this isn’t the place—I run a business here.”

  I saw the seriousness in his face and from the scene I saw when I came in his offices, I knew he was all boss when he was confined in these walls. He pulled away from me and that made me want him more. Before I knew it he was on the intercom speaking with his receptionist telling her to send his personal assistant to escort a Miss Chardonnay Houston to her eight o’ clock meeting in Josh Payton’s office. He sat on the corner of his desk, after doing so and glance his eyes up at me. I felt put off but I knew better somehow. It was the lust in his eyes and then I felt content. To me I was experiencing the difference of a man. Jase’s dick was under control, and even though I couldn’t have it right now, I knew eventually there would be a chance that it could be controlled only by me.

  * * * *

  Josh’s desk was in an assortment of mess, in a sense. It was all documents and papers she needed but they had no particular order or organization to them. Not what I expected from a woman who prided herself at being the best in her industry. Her editing job was tough—getting writings for fashion columns, beauty tips, or anything that had to do with words for Black Billions magazine, which was everything, made for a lot of work. She started by giving me the basics. Letter heads, punctuation...baby stuff, and then went on to copy editing and so on. She didn’t leave any leaf unturned. After describing to me what my intern duties would be including filing, cold calling, and making personal errands, I was a bit put off. While she was talking I began to wonder if this was the career path I wanted to follow. She must of saw the disinterest because before I knew it she was grabbing files and stuffing them in her “homework suit case” she introduced me to in the earlier part of her introduction as Josh’s stuff. I didn’t know I would be under her. Now Jase...I could be under. Professional and well...personal.

  She snapped me out of reality when I heard,

  “So you must not want this. You look—blah.”

  “No it’s not that...I just thought I would be doing more—”

  “What? Of my job? Honey some of the best experience comes from just watching. And believe me with the credentials you already have with SEM and BB your well on your way to the golden office.”

  “Excuse you?”

  �
�Excused,” she stood from her desk and turned her pointy nose up high before I could ask her what she meant by that. I stood and tried to speak but she put her hand up.

  “You seem like a girl that has a keen penmanship and intellect for this type of career. But don’t think you’ll get any handouts because you hand out some pussy. Jasen Vonseigneur is a proud and dignified man that comes from a long line of hard working men that didn’t have but a dime to invest in a now multi-billionaire company. Even you can’t come in between that.”

  I looked on aghast by her accusations and took a step back to look at myself. I hadn’t thought I’d come off so...gold digger like. I began to not bother with her insult until I thought about her assumption as to Jase and I’s whereabouts.

  “You don’t know me. And who said I was doing this without such as a prose? I want this more than anything and I’m honored that SEM has given me the opportunity, Ms. Payton.” I turned to leave. Before I could walk out the halfway opened door, Josh walked quickly and pressed out the cluttering chatter and hard strike of key boards in the outlying office. She took a deep breath and let it out with,

  “Okay, I was just testing you...but Jase and I have been talking and he is very fond of you.” she twirled my hair and let go with,

  “So he hasn’t told you...”

  “What?” I asked a bit scared of what he hadn’t told me.

  “Well, more so he hadn’t asked you. He’s called in a professional photographer and celebrity makeup artist from New York to do a test shoot with you!”

  “WHAT! He didn’t tell me at all.”

  She smiled and whispered in my ear,

  “I guess I just ruined a small part of a big surprise. Don’t tell him I said a thing. Just take this internship package home with you—think about it and if it’s something you want to do fill the form out and we all can go from there.”

  Josh became extra nice to me. I didn’t understand the force Jase could be reckoned with, but it had to of been one with thrust.

  16

  The Main Event

  Champaign bottles of Cristal and pink ladies were carted on crystal trays around by men in pink tuxes while loud music blasted out the surround sound system throughout the dance hall and pool area at the back of the Byer’s Estate. Laughs and implacable chatter casted as white noise, sending a sure sign that Konstance had done a great job at getting a crowd of over three hundred people at our annual summer party. Everything was pink. From the ice sculpture of a KCZ standing for all three of our names and as well, Kandi, Cream, Zest, names Myron, Denim, and Gehvoni came up with to describe us as the perfect desert years ago. It was a joke but we liked it. So Konstance thought of it and went with it as our theme this year since it was just the three of us. Candy jewels hung from everywhere and there was just about anything from edible flowers to some of the men statures we had that were naked and filled with cream. And the glitter that sparkled darn near everything except the guest pertaining to be a spice of flavorful zest was all over the place. Pretty but Willy Wonka would of envied us. I wore a House of Dereon pink, silk type hoodie with cut off sleeves and fur on the hood and very low rise jean that accentuated my back side something fierce. With no gut and much butt, I was the queen of sexy chic. The heels I wore were pink shiny leather stiletto baby doll pumps. My auburn coils with my natural golden high lights showing through, was pulled into one loose ponytail on the left side of my head.

  Through the urban music I found my heritage ticking my hips from side to side. Konstance was on the other side of me getting down too, gyrating in her pink Gucci body suit and shades. I tapped her on her shoulder and pulled her off the dance floor for a minute.

  “Nay! Didn’t you see me grooving with that fine ass quarter back Kasey Price from the Kansas City Chiefs?! What?”

  I laughed at her and nodded my head,

  “Yeah and I was dancing on his boy Lamar Black—running back of the Chiefs, and model of the R-O-C-so what! I need to talk to you.”

  She sat her drink on a passing crystal tray and pulled me over to the huge kitchen.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’m expecting Jase at this party—please tell me that Myron’s not coming.”

  She blinked her eyes as to say opps! And that’s when I felt some one wrapping their hands around my waist, but it wasn’t Jase or Myron. It was Slim. I turned to face him and pry his hands from around my waist.

  “Hey you,” I warily said looking to Konstance for help. Yet, she was on her way back to the dance floor.

  He kissed me on my cheek and hugged me until I couldn’t breathe.

  “Damn I miss you! What’s up, you really playing me off?”

  I tisked and thought for a minute. Seeing him did strike feelings...very little—but feelings. His baby face turned serious.

  “I have been very busy with myself—okay. Nothing personal, I just need to do me.”

  “Coo—but you could call a brotha sometimes and tell him you alive. I do love you Chardonnay.” Slim said pulling me into him.

  I let out a breath wishing I never heard those words, I couldn’t return the gratitude.

  “Look we can hang out later on tonight, I just need to be greeting my guest.”

  “Coo, y’all have a close mens room?”

  I pointed him in the direction and he kissed me one more time on my cheek before he excused himself.

  I walked back out into the dancing hall and Zasmyth and Konstance both had that funny look on their faces with the wide eyes and raised eyebrows. I laughed and ran over to them.

  “What?”

  “Jasen Vonseigneur is here...and I just remembered I left my drink in the kitchen.” Zasmyth blurted out and rushed off to get her drink..

  “What?! No, no, no. He said he might show up.” I said shaking my head.

  “Well might became did. He’s looking for you over in VIP.” Konstance said. But before she could escort me over a loud break of excited screams went over the room and camera phones began to click and flash. We looked towards the front entrance with pink carpet (yes Konstance went there) and my heart jumped.

  “Oh girl! Don’t look now but Myron, Denim, and Gehvoni just walked in!”

  And they all were so fucking sexy walking in to a dirty south beat, yielding everyone’s groove, and acclaiming all the attention. Female attention. And I knew none of these bitches was about to disrespect me up in my party. Call it what they want, but I still had raw feelings for Myron and seeing him on another girl…too late for that thought. Girls rushed past me; hustling to get a glimpse at the New England Patriots NFL draft pick Myron Kent.

  “Girl that’s him!”

  “Oh my god! I told you he was gone be here!”

  “You better watch out that’s Chardonnay’s man!”

  The second girl cut her eyes over at me and just went about her own business, hawking Myron out like a hawk. Konstance shook her head and said,

  “Good thing Denim is only in law school and it’s not broad casted he’ll be worth a good million in the future.”

  “Bitch please! They chasing him too.” I hissed.

  Myron’s eyes fell over the crowd as commotion went on from the still flashing camera phones, loud screams into cell phone conversations, and pieces of paper and pens were being thrown at him. I knew what he was doing. And for the first time in his career, for the first time in a situation like this where I usually was swallowed into the shadows while he got his fame…he was looking for me. I thought about an emergency exit and believed in the fire exit plan in any emergency. Stop, drop, and roll. But I faced my fears and Myron’s fine ass. Then I noticed there was a female walking with her arm around his. Jealously called my name. And it wasn’t like when I found out he had cheated on me. That was a broken heart. But this feeling was…weird. Then it dawned on me. I had never seen him with another girl. At least not like this. Not as if she was his prize and he’d deck a fool for trying to step to her. They were all cuddle-cuddle and complemented each other well. That I
had to admit.

  “Where is Slim at?” Konstance peculiarly asked.

  “In the men’s room. Hell, Myron shouldn’t trip. You see that tramp on his arm?”

  “I know Myron isn’t going to trip but Slim might. That’s his sister Cristy.”

  “That bastard! How you know that’s her?”

  “She and I did some volunteer work for a program together awhile back for college credit. I thought you knew what she looked like.”

  “She looks like a model.” I said as I looked to Zasmyth but she suddenly was nowhere in sight.

  “You do to,” said Konstance out of defense. “I don’t think Myron gets serious with a girl unless she’s top notch.” she finished.

  “They aren’t serious!” I spat out.

  Zasmyth walked out of the kitchen and spotted Gehvoni. She evidently thought the same thing I did and made a U-turn back in the kitchen. Myron gazed over the crowd of people at me and began to walk over to me. Gehvoni pulled him back and pointed to a busty chested female.

  “Look at them. Dogs!” I said.

  “Why do you care—you have a billionaire in VIP, remember.” stated Konstnace.

  “I’m just saying.” I said, not taking my eyes off Myron, passing through the crowd. He had on a brown thick threaded tank top with Bob Marley’s face on it, some baggy sand washed Phat Farm jeans, brown Tim’s, and his hair was curly and cropped to perfection. He even grew his side burns out that he knew I loved and was blinged from his big Gucci belt, iced out medallion of a Jesus hanging on a cross, his Rolexed wrist, and R. Kelly diamond stud ear rings. I tried not to look too hard.

  Zourtni, Zasmyth’s little sister, tapped me on the shoulder.

  “Why you stunting him?”

  “What? Little girl, I ain’t tripping on that loser.”

  “Yes you are. You and my bitch ass sister. She in the damn kitchen hiding like she’s Ann Frank in the damn Holocaust.”

  I looked over at Konstance, who was laughing so hard she was about to piss in her pants.

  “How old are you again?” I asked. I knew she had to be about the same age my sister Jersey was. They hung out and had their own little crew.