by lanie love
“Have a safe flight.”
****
Aaron looks on as I eat the last peanut from the little bag, then turn around in search of the flight attendant.
“You okay, Baby?”
“Any more peanuts,” I ask, looking around as I drink the last of my glass of Sprite. “I don't know why they tease you with these little bags and then disappear so you can't get any more.”
“There is nothing to be nervous about.”
“Easy for you to say. You're not the daughter of public enemy number one.”
“Neither are you.”
“Aaron, can you honestly say you don't hate my mom?”
“No, Baby, I can’t. But I can honestly say it has nothing to do with what I feel about you.”
I shake my head, turning around to find the flight attendant.
“I need those damn peanuts.”
Aaron turns on the light, summoning her for me. This is going to be a long flight
.
Chapter Three
Manhattan, New York City
Sage Turner’s Apartment
Sage Turner
I breathe a little easier now that Allie’s gone. I love the girl to death, but I was glad to see her go. She belongs home with Aaron, no matter what. I wanted to wring her neck when she kept ignoring his phone calls. The poor fool was as hot of a mess as she was. When she first showed up at my door, all crying and hopeless, I was ready to fly to LA and chop his dick off, until she told me it was because of her mom.
I couldn't believe it. I know firsthand how much parents can mess up and then mess you up, but Julia seemed decent enough. I met her once when she came to visit MIT and then again at graduation. She just looked to me like a cool mom that was half Carrie Underwood and half Lorelai Gilmore, with a dash of Martha Stewart sprinkled in. I never would have pegged her as the type that would steal her best friend's husband and I can usually spot those types from a mile away. Hussies is what people back home called them. I wanted to kick Allie’s ass when she told me she felt guilty about what her mom did. I told her to give me a freaking break. Like she had any control over her mom and she needs to give the finger to whoever thinks so. I hope she toughens up because as much as she belongs with Aaron, I still have a bad feeling that it’s going to get messy somewhere down the line with their families. In fact, if my family is any barometer of which to judge, I can almost guarantee it.
I curse Allie’s name as I trip over an empty Coke can she missed picking up. I don’t remember her being this much of a slob back in college, but then again, she wasn’t crying at every Sex and the City episode because it reminded her of cuddling with her boyfriend either. Being in love must be one hell of a drug and heaven help you and everyone around you when it all goes wrong. The risks seem to be more trouble than they’re worth, but I still want my turn at love. Even if in the end, I’ll end up-rooted on my best friend’s couch with a pint of chocolate ice cream weeping over my favorite comedy.
My parents, Antoinette and Virgil, divorced when I was five. There was so much hate between them, I’m surprised one didn't end up dead. They thought I was young enough to forget, but I wasn’t. I still remember how they fought. How dad would storm out and mom would cry. How the police ended up being called when he didn’t storm out. As bad as it was, I still didn’t want them to divorce. It felt like I was going to lose one of them and to this day, I feel like I’m always choosing between the two of them. Secretly, and very guiltily, I always choose Dad because he’s the easier of the two.
I can be in the same room with him for more than five minutes without it turning into a war. Mom says it’s because he lets me get away with whatever I want. She thinks he spoils me, but that's not true. He and I just have similar personalities. We see things the same way. Mom likes to fly by the seat of her pants. She never plans where her day takes her. She just makes it up as she goes and whatever happens, happens. To me, that's just crazy. I need to have a plan of action.
My whole life is in my day planner. I suppose Mom just finds that boring, but I need the structure. Dad is exactly the same way. He likes everything to be in order and lives should be led by tradition. None of the “new age crap” will do for him. He settled down again, while mom, well, she’s trying… again. I think her new husband Cedric makes this her third attempt.
Dad has a longtime, live-in girlfriend, Maggie. I keep reminding him how that goes against “tradition”, but it works for them. The funny part is that mom and dad live clear across the country from each other, but still manage to get on each other’s nerves. Ironically, I think they both still believe in true love and I suppose that's why I do too.
I sit on the couch, take out my day planner from my bag and erase the name of my so-called new boyfriend. Thank God, I only penciled him in. He turned out to be a joke. And thank God, again, I had the good sense not to tell Allie about him. I would never have heard the end of it. Not that my yoga class cover fooled her at all. It wasn’t a complete lie. He does teach yoga and I was taking his class.
Tossing the planner on the coffee table, I take a minute to rethink this whole operation: A Him for Sage thing Laura and I initiated a few weeks ago. The plan is to find the “perfect” man for me. Of course, we came up with bullet points and boxes we must check off. He has to be accomplished, sexy as hell, and as sweet as the Pralines my Mamie Symone used to make when I was little. I need him to be a hot one that keeps a hard-on for me all day, but still loves to play catch with the kids in the backyard and coach their little league. Allie and Laura would laugh in my face if they ever found out that little miss posh NYC go-getter, wanted to settle down so mundanely, but I am who I am and I will make it happen someday.
In the meantime, I’m more than happy to focus all my attention on my career that’s finally taking off. I cannot believe that I, Sage Turner, who thought she’d end up cooking in her families Creole restaurant, managed to land a job in LA and at a major network like Strong Studios. But it’s not just any job. I’m set to be an anchorwoman for their evening news. The lead anchorwoman once I’m done with probation and training. The only drawback is having to give up my life here. I love The City so much, I was almost willing to stick it out and see what happens, but things aren't moving fast enough. In Journalism, you only have a small window of time to be the next Jessica Savitch and right now things are at a snail’s pace. I have to make a move and that means moving on from here. Damn, I feel my heart breaking.
I grew up listening to stories about New York from my Aunt Janelle and she was right. This is the perfect place for people like us to be. For hours, I’d sit and listen to her talk when she would come home to New Orleans to visit. She’d tell me all about the Broadway shows and the art museums. Art was her passion and New York is teeming with it. She may as well had been talking about another planet when I compared it to New Orleans. She made me want to be here. Suddenly, my whole world was NYC and it still is.
I still dream of being on the Today Show or the NBC Nightly News. I picture myself in a sleek dress, complemented with beige red-soled heels, and hair to kill for. I’m sipping from my big fancy coffee mug, trying not to mess up my lipstick while I chat away with my co-host. He’s some hunky guy who retired from football and needed a career change.
When I was little, it all looked easy enough on TV. All they seem to be doing was hamming it up for the camera. That was before I landed at MIT and saw the side the camera never pans to. The side where you have to work your ass off just to be considered worthy of sitting at that big desk. It’s still where I want to be and I will do whatever it takes to get there.
I look out the window at the sun going down. I can almost hear the wine glasses clinking together at the new club that just opened up a few streets over. I’m going to have to stop in there before I leave. I cringe at the thought of leaving. One thing is for sure, My Aunt was right about this place being food for her soul. She was an artist and she always said New York was like “A big ol’ helping of Grandma’s
crawfish soup on a rainy day,” and she was spot on. It does feed my soul. I blend in so well here, but that’s a double-edged sword because as a journalist I need to stand out to be discovered.
Like I told Laura and Allie, you’ll trip over a struggling journalist on every street corner. Some are just as blonde and some are just as eager, but none with my passion. That’s for damn sure. I didn't work my ass off to graduate second in my class with the pleasure of being voted top anchorwoman of the MIT newsroom my final year for nothing. I’m determined to make it all mean something. So, LA, ready or not, here I come.
Chapter Four
Pacific Palisades, California
Aaron Wade’s Apartment
One Months Later
Allison Moore
“Baby, you ready,” Aaron calls to me from the living room for the third time in less than ten minutes.
“I'm ready,” I answer back, taking off my necklace and putting it in my jewelry box for safekeeping before joining him in the living room. “What do you think?” I look down at my outfit and then up at him, hoping he likes it. I’m not so sure about it, but I’ve changed three times already and I don’t want to make us late.
“What do I think?” He lifts my hand over my head and spins me around. My emerald-green knee length dress has caught the wind and is twirling up, showing the cheeks of my ass that are sticking out of my matching panties.
“Baby, if we had the time, I’d show you just what I think.”
I’m secretly loving the thought. Especially with him looking all scrumptious in his suit.
“Are you nervous,” I ask, straightening his tie and jacket.
“Nope.” He lies. He tossed and turned all night. “It's just more of the same.”
“Okay, good. But if you get nervous up there, remember, picture everyone naked.”
“Baby.” He flashes me a grin. “That’ll be fine for everyone else, but once I look at you, I'm going to get hard, then what?”
I roll my eyes.
“Well, that will certainly break the ice. And these pants,” I say, running my palm along the seam of his zipper, feeling the start of his erection.
“Damn, woman,” he growls.
We’re on our way to the groundbreaking ceremony for the Los Angeles Concert Hall. This is on the heels of the grand opening for The Strong Media Center just three weeks ago, so he’s getting a lot of press.
Aaron has been fielding offers left and right since he won the bid and it has only gotten better. He recently had to hire a P.A. to help out with the day-to-day business operations. Things have gotten to be too much for just him and Tuck to handle on their own.
Wade Construction business offices are now located on the nineteenth floor of Wade Plaza. Moving- in day, he threw a big party for the guys and kept playing Darth Vader’s theme song. He called it The Rise of Wade Construction. I’ve never seen a group of people so happy to work in my life.
The good news is that Kent moved his new baby, Wade Works Digital Arts, there last month so now Aaron and I are working in the same building. Not only that, but the ballet company and the L.A. Orchestra are both still housed there, so I get to wander down and watch them practice on my lunch breaks. How cool is that?
Hands down, the absolute best part is walking into that beautifully modern high-rise and looking at the sign that reads Wade Works, Inc., Wade Construction, and Wade Digital Arts. I still remember how pissed I was when I found out Kent was the new owner of Trailblazer Technologies.
Apollo had gathered us into the large conference room so that we may all meet the new boss. Even he was nervous, having no idea who this person was. We were all under the impression that we were about to be swallowed up by a bigger company. More than half the staff had already packed up most of their stuff, me included. I had been discreetly looking for other employment, but nothing inspired me. It was depressing. Aaron thought I’d be better off starting my own business. I thought he was crazy at first, but the more it rolled around in my head, the more I liked the idea. Luckily, it wasn’t something I had to seriously consider because in walked my new boss.
You could have knocked me over with a feather when Kent came in just as cool as you please. He stood cocky in front of the large crowd, demanding full attention.
“Good morning, everyone,” he said to us. “My name is Kent Wade. I am the new owner of what will now be known as Digital Arts. I've spent the last few months going over the inner workings of how this company runs and I must say that I am impressed. I don't plan on making many drastic changes, but as it always goes with these sorts of things, there will be a few.” We all braced ourselves for what was coming next. “The major one being I’ve sold this building. You have exactly two weeks from this date to transition to your new home at Wade Plaza. That shouldn't be much of a problem for any of you since the commute is only a few minutes away from here to the former California 1 Plaza building. Are there any questions?”
I waited for someone to raise their hand, but everyone sat either stunned or too afraid to speak what I knew damn well was on everyone's mind. It’s all we’ve talked about since we found out TBT had been sold. Throwing myself on the grenade, I raised my hand.
“Yes, Ms. Moore. It's great to see you again. How may I help you,” he said, smirking at me and I wanted to give him the finger so bad I could taste it. I cleared my throat.
“Thank you, Mr. Wade. I was just wondering about your ultimate goal. You've already changed the name from Trailblazer Technologies to Digital Arts. Are you going to hire new staff to go alone with the new name?”
Everyone looked at him for the answer.
“As I've said, I’m quite pleased with the staff as it is. Apollo Blayze is doing a wonderful job. There may be need to trim the fat as time passes, but right now my focus is to make this transition as painless and profitable as possible. Although, I will not be hands-on with the day-to-day operations, I have great plans for this company. I’ll need a competent staff to move us forward and I right now, I have every confidence that everyone here is that staff.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wade,” I said.
“Any time. If there’s nothing else, I have breakfast waiting for all of you in the employee lounge. Please, go enjoy yourselves and welcome to Wade Works.” I got up to follow everyone out to the lounge.
“Ms. Moore, a moment, please,” Kent called to me.
“ Mr. Wade,” Apollo started to defend me.
“It’s fine, Apollo, really,” I told him. He reluctantly left me to what he assumed would be an ass ripping for daring to question the new boss.
“What the hell, Kenny,” I whispered through gritted teeth at him while closing the door.
“Will you please sit down so I can explain.”
“I will not sit down. If this is some sick shit to get me away from Aaron—”
“Trailblazer Technologies was on life support, Allie and I chose to save it. Yes, I did it for you, but no, it wasn't to lure you away from my brother. Now, will you please sit down?”
“Fine,” I told him, sitting down with my arms folded.
“Last we spoke about your career, I asked you if you liked your job for a reason,” he told me. “When I researched the company, I saw that its bottom line wasn't working. I was planning on letting it go until you told me how much you loved working here. You said it was your dream job and you didn't want to be anywhere else.”
“That’s true,” I told him, remembering the conversation.
“You had maybe two years left the way things were going.”
“You went to all of this trouble to buy this place because I said I liked working for the company?”
“Absolutely.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to help you and because I can. I’m an eCommerce guy and I wanted to buy a web company. It’s not that big of a stretch.”
“Kent,” I started.
“I'm not in love with you, Allie.”
“Really,” I said a bit too relieved a
nd he laughed at me.
“There are worse things than me loving you.”
“No, I didn't mean it that way. You know I love you to death, Kenny. It’s just that—”
“I know,” he said. “I know you’re in love with Aaron. I don’t know if he told you, but I've been seeing a therapist and he's helped me to realize a few things about myself.”
“Like what?”
“Like going after a girl I knew I couldn't have because I don't believe I deserve to be loved,” he told me. I sucked in a sharp breath as my heart felt the pain of his words.
“Please, tell me you know better now.”
“It took some doing and I’m still working on it, but I do know better now. I'm beginning to come to terms with something that happened in my past and I think I just might be okay. Me helping you by buying this place is no different than what I would have done for Aaron or Brooke if they needed it. Now, if you can find it in your heart to stop being mad at me, I'm hungry and would like breakfast.”
“Mad,” I said to him. “I could kiss… I mean, I could shake your hand for saving this company. Thank you, Kent. You won't regret it. It's really a great company. You'll see.”
“I know,” he shrugged full of cockiness. “I own it.”
“Oh, brother,” I said to him. I walked away as he laughed.
…..
Now, I’m on the main lawn in back of the Concert hall, sitting in the front row with Tuck, Brooke, and Kent as Aaron sits on a stage next to the Mayor and the restoration committee. All the traffic has been redirected to make room for the hordes of news vans and contributors.
Neither Kathleen nor Jay came out to support Aaron today. They wanted to, but they didn't want to ruin things for him. The gossip mill has been churning out story after vicious story about the details of their divorce. Kathleen was set to give an interview on Fox News talking all about the affair until he got a gag order put in place. It came a little too late because she’d already spilled the beans with every major tabloid and news source she could find.
