by Anna Black
“And Kory?”
“He’s well, Mr. Green. How are you and Mrs. Green?”
“Better. It gets a little better each day,” he said softly. Mr. Green had had a few health issues, but that day, he looked good.
She grabbed his hand. “That’s good to hear,” she said giving him a warm smile.
“And you, Mr. Harrington?” Tiffany turned her attention to him. She never hated Mike and never thought anything ill about him, but that day, she wanted to slap his face.
“I’m doing well . . . considering.”
“Well, let’s get down to business,” Mr. Green suggested.
“Yes, please,” Tiffany said, eyeing Mike.
“So where do we begin?” Langley asked.
“Let’s start with today’s events, shall we? Mr. Green, did Mike tell you that he created a bogus title and promoted one of the absolutely worst, most inexperienced producers at the company?”
“Yes, Mike told me everything. Tracy has blackmailed my friend, and we are already working on that matter as we speak.”
“So you were sleeping with her?” Tiffany scowled.
“Yes, I was, and I am ashamed of my behavior, and I am now ready to sell my shares, step down, and let the chips fall where they may. Tracy recorded us in some . . . let’s just say highly personal acts, and I’d rather that information not be leaked. I’m taking some extremes measures as we speak to assure this doesn’t get out. I have some pretty efficient people that will make sure Tracy doesn’t become my worst nightmare.”
“So instead of facing the music, you’re going to cover it up?”
“What would you do, Mrs. Banks?” Mike countered.
Tiffany turned to Mr. Green. “So why am I here?”
“Listen, Tiffany, how Mike decides to handle himself has absolutely nothing to do with me or you. In over thirty years, I’ve never cheated on my wife, so morally, I can’t stand the sight of him, but as my business partner, I have a responsibility to protect my company. I’m not happy with what Mike has done, but it’s not my business. My only concern is TiMax. Mike will announce his resignation, and I will introduce you as our new CEO. I will also announce my retirement, and you will step into your role as the head of TiMax. You will have a top-notch staff to help you along the way, and until I’m resting in my grave, you know I’m a phone call away.”
Tiffany looked from Langley to Mike and back to Langley. “So what if the Tracy situation doesn’t go away?”
“Let me deal with Tracy,” Mike interjected.
She looked at Langley. “Well, sir, I believe that I am ready, and I’m more than honored to fill your shoes. You and Mike did something truly great, and I will do my best to make sure TiMax continues to thrive and be as successful as it has been.”
“Good,” Langley smiled. “Now if there is nothing else, I’ll be in touch, Tiffany. I want to chat with my old friend and partner for a bit.”
“I understand.” Tiffany stood. “Oh yeah, and by the way, your little side piece bugged my office. She thinks today is my last day.”
“Let’s keep it that way. She’s at the spa getting a head to toe makeover on me, just so my guys can get what we need.”
“Good luck with that, Mike,” Tiffany snarled and rolled her eyes. She didn’t have any respect for men who two-timed their wives.
Tiffany bent over and gave Langley a kiss on the forehead and gave his neck a tight squeeze. He was truly a father figure to her, and she knew she wasn’t a replacement for Tressa, but she thanked God that she was able to be there for him and his wife. “Thank you, again, sir, and I’ll talk to you soon.” She left feeling good. She had no idea what Mike had gotten himself into, but that was of no concern of hers. She would go and clear her office and wait for the call from Mr. Green. She was going to enjoy those days off while Tracy floated around TiMax like a boss. The look on her face come announcement day would be priceless, and Tiffany couldn’t wait.
Tiffany headed home and called her husband. She brought him up to speed on what occurred in the meeting with Langley and Mike, and then she reminded him that they had to go to TiMax and grab a few of her personal things from the office just to make it look real. They went over lines of what they would say as they gathered her things, and by the time Tiffany pulled into her drive she was laughing hysterically. She hung up with Kory, and as soon as she got off with him, Rose called. Tiffany answered. “Hello,” she said. “I was just about to call you.”
“Before you say a word. I’m pregnant.”
“What!” Tiffany screamed in the phone.
“Yes, are you home?”
“I am, I just walked in.”
“I’m on my way.”
This Is the Life
Episode 31
Tracy
Tracy lay on the massage table and enjoyed the deep-tissue stimulation. She had her earbuds in her ears, and Joe was letting her know it must be magic and how she likes the way he gives her the magic, as he serenaded her with his smooth lyrics. Two highly skilled masters worked her over as they kneaded the back of her calves, thighs, buttocks, back, shoulders and arms. She had dozed off a couple of times, but she fought her eyelids to stay awake, because she wanted to experience every moment of her day, including her body treatments. Mike had set her up to have an all-day experience, and she figured making him hers was going to be her next task.
Taking him from his wife and becoming part owner of TiMax was just a couple of fucks away, and she was up to it. One of the masseuses tapped her and told her to turn over. She obliged and welcomed their hands as they made her front side feel as good as they had made her backside feel. The track changed to Jaheim’s “Finding My Way Back,” and she thought of her ex, Blair.
Blair was the love of her life, but when she let her position at KCLN slip through her fingers, he abandoned ship. He was the bridge to Bill Keiffer. He planned and schemed with her to get into the door, but she fucked it all up by being late. “Fucking Tiffany,” she said aloud and caught herself. She hated her so much, and she had moments when she wanted to just choke the life from her body. She lost everything and all the work she invested with getting into KCLN with a show she knew could be number one, then Tiffany swooped in and took everything. Her body tensed. She knew she should not have been entertaining thoughts of Tiffany, especially now. Not in front of people, because she’d want to inflict pain on herself.
She’d beat her thighs, slap her own face, or run into a door or cabinet to discipline herself for losing something so important. Her life turned upside down in a blink of an eye, and Tiffany Richardson Banks was the only person that made her see red. She was the only person that she knew she could actually kill with her bare hands. “Harder,” she instructed the professionals working out her kinks. The thought of Tiffany sent her into a space she hated to be, and until Tiffany was eliminated from the team and down to nothing like she had left her, Tracy would not be satisfied.
After her two-hour massage, she headed for a mud bath, and then after that came the beauty treatments. She showered and before she went to have her nails and toes done, she had her lunch; salad with a cocktail made her feel like a queen. After nails and toes, she was waxed, after waxing, she went for hair, and before hair, she had a snack and then makeup. She enjoyed a relaxing six hours of pampering, and when she dressed in the beautiful evening dress and sparkling shoes, she knew life with Mike would be a dream.
His car picked her up and took her to one of L.A.’s most exclusive restaurants. She and Mike had been out before, but that night, he was laying out the red carpet, and she had no complaints.
“Wow, Mike, this is beautiful. I mean, what will you tell people if they ask?”
“This is business, Ms. Simms. That is what we will say.”
Her face beamed. “If that’s what works, okay,” she glowed. “Thank you so much for the spa treatments today. They really pampered me and treated me like a queen, and from my head to my toes, I feel like a million bucks.”
Mike smiled. “Well, enjoy it, baby. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
He cleared his throat. “Nothing, sweetheart. You look beautiful. When I look at you, I sometimes still can’t believe my luck,” he expressed.
She grinned. “Well, I’m glad you brought that up, Mike.”
The server interrupted. They both put in their drink orders and appetizer selections, and then Tracy dove back in. “What I was saying, Mike, is . . .” she paused. “I’ve fallen for you. I know I wasn’t supposed to, but I have, and I want you to leave your wife.”
“Come again?”
She sat straight up in her chair and boldly repeated herself. “I’m in love with you, Mike, and I want you and me to be together. I want you to leave her and be with me.”
Mike scratched his head and picked up his menu before replying. “Tracy, you know what it is. Now, I will wine you and dine you and fuck you appropriately, but leaving my wife is not a subject that you and I will have.”
“Why not, Mike? Is it because you love your old-ass wife so much, or is it because my pussy isn’t good enough to make me Mrs. Harrington?” Her voice rose, and the look on Mike’s face was displeased.
“Lower your voice, Ms. Simms, and understand this. I fuck with you because you make my dick hard. I fuck with you because no other bitch has turned me on so much. I fuck with you because your pussy is good. And I am not leaving my wife. If what I give you isn’t enough, get your conniving ass up and walk up out of here.”
“You don’t know who you are fucking with,” Tracy calmed and brought her voice down. She gave him a cunning smile with her words.
He returned, “And you too, my dear, have no idea who you are fucking with. I can buy dozens of bitches like you with a finger snap. I met you. I was feeling you, and you turned me on. Now you think you can blackmail me and hold my balls in your little pocketbook. You are wrong, and you got me mixed up. Now what you are going to do is be good company, fuck me properly after dinner, and if you don’t want to be on the do-not-hire list in the U.S., you will not threaten me again.”
“You bastard,” she spat.
“You dumb bitch,” he returned.
“I can bury you. I will expose your dirty little secret.”
“You try it. See, the difference between you and me is, I am a man with wealth, influence, power, and money, and if I wanted you to disappear, you’d be gone. That shit you pulled the other night was real cute, and I forgive you. Now, I got you where you wanted to be at the network so you can feed your little need to be in power, and you are still at the top of my fuck list, so look over your menu and figure out what you want to eat. This conversation is done,” Mike spat.
Tracy almost fell out of her chair. She didn’t fight or argue. She would have to show him better than she could tell him. She would simply go to the media and expose his ass, and then sue him. He wanted to play rough, then she would play rough. The recorded videos were her meal ticket. Oh, she’d play it cool and fuck him that night because his dick was damn good, but Mike aka Mikey had just checked the wrong bitch.
“The pasta looks yummy,” she replied.
“I was thinking the same,” he returned.
“Baby, let’s not fight,” she offered to break the hostile mood.
“Let’s not.”
“I’m looking forward to fucking you tonight.”
“And I look forward to fucking you too.”
She let out a breath and figured she’d handle Mike like she’d handle Tiffany and hold on to her footage a little while longer. It was some leverage, and she really didn’t want to piss Mike off. But why had he been so cocky now? The other night, she had forced his tail between his legs. Whatever had gotten into him sent her into a brief panic, and she now had to reorganize her plans. She had to find a way to get back on top of the situation; and in the meantime, she had to chill.
Big News
Episode 32
Rose
It had been two days since Rose had learned she was pregnant and six hours since she was informed that she was approximately eight weeks along. She had a vaginal ultrasound, and still, even after seeing her little fetus on the screen, she could not believe she had gotten pregnant. She thought her chances would be never since she rarely had a period. If she got a period, she was amazed, because her body didn’t act like a future mother. She never even thought much about being a mother. She was elated that Tiffany would be having a baby, but the thought of being a mother hardly ever crossed her mind.
She and Levi had never addressed that subject head-on, but he had mentioned he wanted to be a father one day. When he said those words, Rose smiled and didn’t comment and didn’t tell him that she may not ever be able to give him children. Now she was pacing the floor, waiting for him to come home so she could tell him the big news. They were pregnant. His family had welcomed her and made her feel like family, but they hadn’t told them that they had plans to wed . . . and now a baby. Rose imagined that that wouldn’t go over well.
She wanted a drink, a glass of Riesling or Pinot, but now that she was expecting, she refilled her glass of lemon water and waited for her lover to walk through the door. He spent at least six nights a week there with her, and they both agreed when his lease was up he’d move there.
She saw the headlights of his Mustang pull into the driveway. Her heart thumped against her chest, and her hands shook. “Ahhhh, I need a shot. I can’t do this. I can’t tell him. He is going to hit the roof. We’re not married,” she cried to herself, and then she heard his keys. She stood by the island in her tank and boy shorts. Her natural locks had a fresh shampoo and conditioning and the mango scent her stylist used on her hair was still loud and filled the air. She had a few squirts of her Very Sexy by Victoria’s Secret, and she hoped he’d be happy and not walk out on her.
He entered. “Hey, gorgeous,” he said.
“Hey, baby, how was work?”
“You don’t want to know. I promise you these teens are getting worse and worse. I had to arrest a kid today that thought it was okay to beat up his grandmother—her own grandson. What would possess a person to do something so evil?”
“I don’t know, babe,” she answered and took his lunch bag. “Are you hungry? I made a pan of lasagna for you.”
“Yes, baby, please.” He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “You look so beautiful. You are glowing and your skin, baby . . . Did you go to the spa today?”
She laughed lightly. “No, I got my hair done, though, but that’s about it.”
“Well, you look so beautiful, baby. You are a sight for sore eyes. Baby, I promise you, if we ever have kids, I’m going to be a dad that is on it. I’m not going to let the streets raise my kid.”
“Baby, our lives are not like some of the people you come across every day at work. The crime rate here is what . . . not even on the radar. Our children will have different opportunities than some of the kids you see on the streets at work.”
“I know, Rosy. Meeting someone like you so classy, so put together, so educated . . . I never thought I’d have a key to a spot on this side of the fence. I’m grateful, and I’m not going to be doing this street work too much longer. Once I make detective, things will be different, baby, and I’ll be able to do more around here. Once I get rid of my spot, every dime that goes there will go to you.” His words were sincere, and Rose believed him.
“I know, Levi. I admire your drive. I respect what you do, and I will be honest, I want you to make detective, because every day when you are doing police work, I worry, and we need you, honey. We can’t lose you.”
He looked at her confused. “We? Baby, what do you mean we?” He put his holster on the island and sat.
She swallowed hard. “You remember the other day when you told me to stay off the scale?”
“Yes, I have told you pounds don’t matter, baby.”
“I know, Levi, but you know me. I overthink things, so I went to a nutritionist.”
“Okay and . . .? What type of advice did they give you? I’m sure it was no different than what I’ve already been telling you.”
“You are right, but she told me something that you had not.”
“What? We’ve covered it all. Diet, exercise, and I showed you different techniques to target the areas you’re not happy with.”
“You did, baby, and everything you said was right.”
“So what did I miss?”
“I’m pregnant.”
He paused. He tilted his head to the right, and his brows furrowed. “What did you say?”
She swallowed hard and repeated herself. “I’m pregnant.”
His eyes welled. He stood, paced the floor a few times, and Rose froze in place. He didn’t say a word, and she had no idea what thoughts went through his mind.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He turned to her. “Sorry, baby?” he said and walked over to her. She trembled, and he embraced her and held on to her tightly. “That is like the best news I’ve ever heard a woman say to me, baby, I am . . . I can’t believe it. You are having my child?”
She looked up at him and nodded her head. He wiped her tears. “Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus,” he said holding her face next to his. “Baby, I’m so happy.”
“You are?”
“Yes, yes. You are beautiful, and I want to marry you now. Let’s go to Vegas. Let’s get married now.”
“Right now, Levi? We can’t. I want Tiffany there. I need my girl to be there.”
“Call her,” he said going for her phone. It was on the island. “Call her and Kory and tell them we need to go tonight.”
“Levi, do you know what time it is?”
“I don’t care, Rose. I want to marry you. I want to be with you, and if we have to do it tomorrow, that’s fine too, but I want to marry you.”
Rose dialed Tiffany. She was shocked she was wide awake. “Hey, girl. Did you tell Levi?”
“I did, and he wants to go to Vegas right now.”
