Or maybe it isn’t and they are simply being polite to us because they want a little something in return. No, thought Celeste. Don’t be so quick to always assume the worst of everyone. Besides, their music speaks of a deeper commitment than just casual sex and one night stands. Nonetheless, Celeste will not allow herself to get confused on mushy sentiment. She knows they would dang sure take anything that her or Jenny would offer. Men were just that way. Celeste had learned that factoid courtesy of her ex fiancé Tyrone and his new bride Paula.
“Hi,” Mario is the first to speak, standing in front of Jenny and taking her hand into his and pulling it to his lips to place a kiss lightly across her delicate hand. “My name is Mario Scott. It is a pleasure to meet you,” he continues in his sexy baritone voice.
“Hi, my name is Jenny Harris,” Sensing that Celeste is too stunned to utter a word, Jenny continues, “and this is my friend Celeste Brooks.”
“Hello there, Celeste,” Stephen takes h is opportunity to join in the introductions. Reaching out to take Celeste’s hand and kiss it, he notices that her fingertips are cold. That does not last. Instantly a flame sparks from their touch and he feels her fingers melt into the curve of his palm. This is exactly how he imagined it would be when he met his future wife. “My name is Stephen Haule. How do you do?” he inquires.
“Um... Fine. My name is Celeste Brooks.” Way to go Celeste. You haven’t even been here one minute, and you are already embarrassing yourself. “We really enjoyed your performance,” Celeste continues nervously, searching for something to say while she withdraws her hand from Stephen’s fiery touch.
That was always Celeste’s problem around men. She always wanted to say something so that she could join in the conversation and fit in, but whenever she tried to be witty, she always ended up saying something incredibly stupid. The only affect her comments had were to make her wish she hadn’t opened her mouth and stuck her foot in it.
Now, Celeste feels faced with a situation she has never encountered before. Never had the touch of a man caused her skin to spark and spread like a brush fire on a dry summer’s day to the rest of her body; she needs to get a grip on herself. Celeste always prided herself on her ability to stay in control in even the toughest situation. This guy probably dates so many women that he can evoke such emotion from her without actually putting forth any effort.
“All of you were fantastic,” she continues and decides t o shut her mouth then and there before she goes too far. The last thing she wanted to do is to embarrass herself in front of Class One. Undoubtedly, they knew many people, and if they labeled her as a “stupid girl” she would never live it down, and she could just kiss her Vice Presidency with Vines & Robert’s good-bye.
“Well, we’re glad you enjoyed yourselves,” comments Stephen. “Say, Celeste, would you and Jenny like to come to the after party?” he asks.
“No, I don’t think we’ll be able to make it, I...,” before she can complete the statement she was going to make, Celeste feels Jenny step none too gently on her foot.
“What Celeste meant to say is , of course we would. They announced it is going to be at the Four Aces, but we’ve never been there, and we don’t have an invitation,” Jenny amends swiftly.
“Oh, that’s easy,” says Mario who is still standing in front of Jenny. He turns and walks over to the counter where he picks up a cellular phone and rapidly punches in a phone number. After a brief pause he begins speaking into the mouthpiece. “Hi, Paul, it’s Mario. Listen, I want you to add two more guests to the VIP list for the party tonight. The names are Jenny Harris and Celeste Brooks.” There is a slightly longer pause before he adds, “OK. Thanks, Paul. See you in a bit.”
Jenny and Celeste look to each other. Both ladies are wearing different expressions. Jenny is beaming from ear to ear while Celeste is glaring at Jenny and frowning. Why do I let you get me into these things thinks Celeste? Why aren’t they asking how we got backstage? Or what business led them to knock on their door? Or better yet, Celeste wants to ask why were they inviting Celeste and Jenny to their exclusive after party?
Celeste has never considered herself wise to how things work in the music industry, but she is smart in the ways of the world, smart enough to realize that they don’t place just anybody on the VIP list. So why them?
The answer came to Celeste ’s mind in a blinding flash. Mario intends on getting Jenny into bed and Stephen plans on seducing me. Well, well. They’ve got another thing coming if they seriously expect us to feel so grateful to them that we’re willing to sleep with them in order to thank them. Humph… Well, they’ve got another thing coming.
However, Celeste does n’t lay all the blame at their feet. There had to have been more than a few women on whom this bait and hook routine has managed to work. Enough that these two men accept it as everyday practice. See the female you want, show her a bit of the glamorous life you lead, and then bed them.
Pinning a sweet innocent smile on her face, Celeste comes up with a plan of her own. She intends to show them that this is not how to treat a real lady. Celeste certainly knows that she as well as her best friend, Jenny, are ladies.
We, Celeste came up with a plan, will just be ourselves, and when we grow tired and decide we’re ready to go home, we will do just that. Alone. Celeste and Jenny will leave the members of Class One wondering what went wrong in their routine.
“Well, I don’t know what to say, Mario. I guess a thank you is in order. Thank You,” Celeste says, trying to hide her hidden agenda. She had taken acting for one semester while in college and with the class had put on a summer production of A Raisin in the Sun. Celeste had played the role of Beneatha. That semester, Celeste had discovered that she is quite the actress. By the time Jenny and herself depart their company tonight, Class One will not know what hit them, Celeste remarks to herself.
“Well then, I guess it’s all settled. We will see you at the after party tonight,” Stephen remarks glancing over his shoulder to give Mario a look to express his approval of Mario’s quick thinking. Stephen turns to gaze once again at Celeste’s beautiful face. This woman is unnerving him. Never had he met a woman like her before. Although he had only met Celeste a few minutes ago, he could tell that she is not the kind of person who allows people to neither walk over her nor disrespect her in any way. This is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. A woman with class and style. Presence.
Oh, yeah. Celeste unquestionably has presence, Stephen thinks to himself. So much, in fact, that he had noticed her in the crowd as he took his bow. She is going to be the mother of his children, the woman he will take home to meet his mother. Stephen has no doubt that his mother will love her. Celeste is a far cry from the women he usually met who threw themselves at him, women who had no respect for themselves nor their bodies.
“And you need directions to Four Aces, correct?” Stephen asks, trying hard not to let his thoughts choke his words. He could perform in front of thousands of people at one time yet he is having trouble asking one woman a question? But Celeste is not just any woman. She is the future Mrs. Haule.
“Yes. I don’t even know what city it’s in,” Celeste answers.
“I have a better idea,” Mario interjects, “Why don’t you ride with us. I’d be more than happy to have one of the security guys bring your car to the club.”
Oh, they are smooth, Celeste thinks. If she hadn’t caught on to their game and strategy, she would have been delighted to accept the offer that Mario is lying on the table in front of them.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary. We can just meet you there,” says Celeste.
“Well, Celeste,” Jenny says, looking at Celeste while tilting her head to the side the way she usually did when she is trying to include Celeste in one of her wacky plans. “Since Mario has been kind enough to offer, I see no reason why we can’t take him up on it.”
“No, Jenny,” Celeste exclaims but then smoothes the roughness of her tone before continuing, “I certainly d
on’t want someone that I don’t know driving my car. You know how I am.” Looking at Stephen she adds, “It’s no trouble really. We don’t mind meeting you at the club.” Celeste feels that it is supremely crucial for Stephen to know that she is not the kind of woman who can be cosseted or easily manipulated.
“In that case,” Stephen says while turning his back to Celeste and reaching for the pen and note pad that sat on the counter where the cellular phone that Mario used once laid. “I’ll write down the address and directions. It won’t take us long to shower and change. The hotel we’re staying in is not far from the club. How about we meet in the VIP lounge in about an hour?” he turns to face Celeste.
“Sounds great,” says Celeste while Stephen approaches her holding out the sheet of paper on which he has written the information. Celeste accepts the paper he offers and is surprised by the look in his eyes as their hands touch. But Celeste is not in the mood for trying to guess what is going on in his head, so she quickly dismisses the thought. “Well, I’ll see you there. Thank you again for the invitation,” she adds as she turns and reaches for the doorknob.
Celeste stands out in the hall for a few minutes by herself as she waits for Jenny who was looking devilishly goo-goo eyed at Mario after he had kissed both of her hands. Celeste decides that she will tell Jenny what she suspects is going on when they reach the car. That is if Jenny can tear herself away from Mario so that they can get to the car, thinks Celeste.
Chapter Three
“Man, can you believe how beautiful Celeste is? I have never seen anyone with that much beauty,” Stephen says, singing Celeste’s praises.
“Well, I think Jenny is the bomb. Her eyes are entrancing. A man could get lost in eyes so wide and revealing. I think she likes me, man,” says Mario.
“All right, all right, already. You two sound pathetic,” Jeffrey says, joining the conversation. “Stephen, I think you have undoubtedly met your match this evening. That Celeste has spunk. I bet you my car that you don’t even get her phone number. Mario, on the other hand, I think Jenny is an easy game.”
“It isn’t like that, man. I think I might like Jenny,” says
Mario.
“And, as for Celeste,” Stephen says, growing bored with
the conversation, “You might want to reconsider that bet
you just placed on the table. I plan on getting a lot more
than just her phone number by the time this evening is over.
I plan...”
Before he could state his intentions, Jeffrey interjects
with a massive laugh and his hand in the air waiting for
Stephen to give him a high five, “I know exactly what you
plan. You certainly had me going there. For a while I
actually believed all that crap you were spouting about
wanting to find a wife and settle down. You sly dog you. I bet if you tell that to Celeste it just might work. Maybe I
should reconsider that bet after all.”
Stephen feels like he has to settle this argument once
and for all. “Look Jeffrey,” Stephen began, “And I’m really
serious here. You should reconsider that bet but not for the
reasons you are thinking. I meant everything I said about
wanting to find a wife and settle down. And I WILL,” he
continues, putting emphasis in his voice, “get more from
Celeste before this evening is over. Tonight she will agree
to be Mrs. Haule. And if I were you, I would watch what
you say about my future bride.”
With the finality of Stephen’s last statement, all that
Mario and Jeffrey can do is look back and forth between
themselves and Stephen. While Mario and Jeffrey stand
staring at one another, not quite knowing what to make of
Stephen’s new attitude, Stephen wonders what to make of
Celeste’s attitude.
Celeste had held his attention since he first saw her. She
didn’t seem like the money grubbing or push over type he
use to get his way with, except for the comment she made
about Jenny knowing how she is with her car. Stephen only
hopes that she isn’t a materialistic woman.
Not that Stephen can’t afford to buy her anything she
wants, he only prefers that the woman he marry will take
pleasure from the little things in life. Such things as a
private joke shared only between the two of them, romantic
candle lit dinners, holding hands, and the love of family.
Stephen wants the whole package and not just pieces of his
dream to come true.
It only takes ten minutes for Jenny and Celeste to reach Celeste’s vehicle because there is no longer a crowd waiting outside the back stage curtain trying to gain entrance. We’re on our way to the after party now, Celeste thinks to herself. Short of standing them up, there is nothing Celeste could do but put in an appearance. She resides to herself that she won’t stay long. Her plan - an hour or so after they arrive, Stephen will be so bored with her not drooling over the lavish lifestyle that he would be flaunting in front of her face that he would be happy to see her go, and she would then take her exit.
“I can’t believe how you were acting in there, Jenny!” exclaims Celeste as they finally make it to Celeste’s midnight blue BMW,“You were acting like a love starved teenager.”
“Well I can’t believe how you were acting either, Celeste. Although, for different reasons. You might as well have thrown yourself down on the floor and started kicking and screaming like a two year old having a temper tantrum ‘I don’t wanna go with the mean man, mommy!’” Jenny acts out.
“A two year old having a temper tantrum?” Celeste questions. “So, just because I think it would be a waste of time to spend it in the company of three grown men who act as if they have no more control over their hormones than a lustful teenage boy, you accuse me of behaving like a toddler?”
“No, because you have prejudged them on the basis of what?” asks Jenny.
Celeste takes a moment to think about Jenny’s word before commenting. “Yeah, maybe I have prejudged them, but I have seen their type before. They have lots of money to spend, and they enjoy flaunting it in front of any woman who’s naive enough to be impressed by it. But I have given my word that I will go with you to this after party and you know I never break my...”
“Of course. Everyone knows that the honorable Celeste never backs down once she gives her word,” Jenny interrupts.
“So I will go,” Celeste continues as though she had not been interrupted by Jenny’s smart mouthed comment, “But don’t expect me to fall all over myself trying to get their attention. And I hope that you don’t embarrass either myself or you trying to get them to pay attention to you. Let’s just make the most of it.”
Jenny and Celeste remain silent for the rest of the drive except for the directions that Jenny reads from the sheet of paper on which Stephen had written for them. Traffic is a little heavier than it usually is for a Sunday night in downtown Los Angeles. Celeste suspects the reason to be that most people are on their way to the after party.
As they make the last right which will take them to the club, they notice the crowd of people that stand in front of the door waiting to gain entrance to the prestigious club.
“Listen, Jenny. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or anything. I just don’t want to see these guys hurt you. I apologize for not saying it a little kinder,” says Celeste, feeling rather lousy about her friend’s quietness. Jenny is a talker. The only time she doesn’t talk is when something is wrong. She even talks in her sleep.
“I know, Celeste. I’m not mad at you. I know you mean well. I just want to have a good time. If we wanted lectures we would have gone out with our mothers,” says Jenny, making an attempt to lighten the mood. “No more lectures. OK?”
“OK,” echoes Jenny.
Having things settled between Jenny and herself makes Celeste feel a lot better. When Celeste stops the car in front of the club, she is greeted by a valet attendant who patiently waits for her to unlock the door and retrieve her purse from the floor of the back seat. The attendant gingerly helps Celeste from the car while another attendant helps Jenny. After sticking her valet card into her purse, Celeste and Jenny head for the valet booth.
“Excuse me,” says Jenny, “Our names are supposed to be on the VIP guest list.”
“What are your names?” asks the valet attendant looking down his nose at Jenny and Celeste.
“My name is Jenny Harris,” offers Jenny, “and this is Celeste Brooks,” she motions towards Celeste.
After checking the list and confirming that their names are indeed on it, the attendant says, “Of course. May I please verify your identification?” The attendant waits patiently for Celeste and Jenny to produce their IDs.
After scrutinizing their identification extremely thoroughly, he retrieves two bands from under the podium he is standing behind. The bands look a lot like the ID bands one wears while in the hospital except that these are gold. “If you will give me your wrist, I will put these on you, and you may enter the club,” says the attendant.
It only takes a moment for the attendant to secure the bands on Celeste’s and Jenny’s wrists before they are ushered towards the door. There, they show the security guard at the door their bands and are then urged forward to a second security guard that checks their purses.
Celeste feels like a cow that has just been stamped ‘Grade A’ and given a proverbial ‘Seal of Approval’ after being determined free from ‘Mad Cows Disease’. Apparently Celeste and Jenny have now been given a clean bill of health and can now enter into the club.
“Man, can you believe the security in this joint?” Celeste asks Jenny. “I still can’t believe we made it this far on that cockamamie story that you told. I’m half expecting some of those wrestler looking security guards over there to come and grab us by the collar and toss us out of here.”
A Wife for Stephen Page 2
