Cheesecake and Teardrops

by Faye Thompson

  “Absolutely,” he agreed.

  Nate read the promotion list at Monday morning’s staff meeting. Unfortunately, Charisma was not on that list, but Chase was. A fresh dose of bile spewed up in Charisma’s stomach. She headed straight for the ladies’ room. A few minutes later, Lauren came in to check on her.

  “Hey, Charisma,” Lauren said. “I know it’s hard, but there’ll be other promotions.”

  “I know. I’m just tired of losing out to her,” Charisma said.

  “I know, girl, but just remember what my grandmother used to say.”

  “What’s that?” Charisma asked.

  “The higher up you go, the more expensive the toilet paper.”

  Charisma called Nate right before lunch to request a few minutes of his time. She wanted to discuss the promotion list.

  “I’ve been expecting you, Charisma,” he told her as she sat down in his office.

  “All I want to know is why her?”

  “Let’s look at the facts, Charisma. Chase’s performance has been superior. She always takes on extra assignments.”

  He paused for a moment. “And don’t forget, she saved all of our hides on the Madison account.”

  “Which she sabotaged to begin with, I might add.”

  “Do you have any proof, Charisma?”

  “No. Just my intuition.”

  “I’m sorry, Charisma. I can’t run this company on intuition. Female or otherwise. Just because you had your tongue down the boss’s throat doesn’t give you dibs on the next promotion.”

  “Fine. I think you’ve covered all the bases.” Charisma got up to leave. It would be a cold day in hell before she locked lips with him again.

  Chase and her coworkers left work that night and headed for their cars. There was a bitterness in the air, and everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get home. She spotted Nico across the street, checking out Charisma.

  “Hello, handsome.” Chase got to him first. “Did Granddaddy tell you about my promotion?”

  “Hello, Chase,” Nico said.

  “Why don’t I let you take me out to dinner to celebrate?”

  She tossed her hair behind her back and placed her hand on his shoulder. Then Chase slid her other hand up behind his neck. Nico slid his hand up to meet hers and then pulled her hand back down to her side. Neither seemed to notice Charisma walking toward them.

  “Nico,” Charisma said gently, letting his name roll of her tongue. Chase spun around at the sound of another woman calling his name, and her eyes narrowed.

  “Hey, gorgeous.” Nico smiled.

  “Well, hello yourself,” Charisma said, sounding throaty as ever.

  “I was hoping we could go out for drinks,” he told her.

  “How can I say no to an offer like that?” Charisma asked Chase, laughing. Chase seemed to bite her tongue in anger.

  Charisma grabbed Nico’s arm, and they headed for his car just as Nate drove by. Apparently, Charisma had killed two birds with one stone.

  Charisma had her girls over for breakfast. They practically spent the whole day together.

  “Can we help with anything?” Heather asked as they walked in.

  “No, everything’s ready. Come on. Let’s eat,” Charisma said. They sat down at her beautifully set table, complete with fresh flowers. Charisma put the dishes of food on the table. There were scrambled eggs with cheese, home fries, and bacon.

  Just as she was about to sit, she jumped up. “Oops, I almost forgot.” Charisma brought over a dish of salmon cakes and a basket of piping-hot homemade cinnamon raisin biscuits and fresh-brewed coffee.

  Tangie said a super-abbreviated grace and dug right in.

  “Let me tell you the latest. Blade got his ass kicked and had the nerve to call me from the hospital.”

  “No, he didn’t. What happened?” Heather asked.

  “I don’t know all the details but the word around the gym is that Chase’s grandfather had him jacked up. They probably warned him to back off, but Blade always thinks he’s so slick.”

  “Aren’t you glad that’s all behind you?” Heather asked, sipping her coffee.

  “Please, that’s an understatement,” Tangie admitted, turning to Charisma. “You told us all about Chase’s promotion, but how are things with you and big Willy?”

  Charisma shook her head. “Sometimes, I just want to scratch his eyes out. Then he’ll stop by my office and look at me in a certain way and I wanna wet my pants. He’s driving me nuts. But after siding with Chase over me he’ll never, ever taste this again.”

  “What about your revenge?” Heather asked her.

  “Oh, I’ve already started my revenge.” Charisma smiled while taking a bite of her salmon cake. “She’ll get everything that’s coming to her.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Tangie asked between bites of bacon.

  “Nico Antonelli,” Charisma said, gloating.

  “Got it,” Tangie laughed.

  “Who?” Heather asked.

  “Nico is her family’s attorney. Their very attractive, very single attorney who I just happened to go to school with.

  Miss Crappuccino has the hots for him.” She paused. “But he has the hots for me. Do you see where I’m going?”

  “But you’re not into white men. Tell me he looks like Matt Lauer,” Heather said.

  “No, he doesn’t, but in this case I may have to make an exception.” Charisma swallowed her home fries.

  “Why, because he’s all that or because of the Chase factor?” Tangie asked.

  Charisma thought for a moment. “Does it matter?”

  “Yes, it does,” Heather admitted. “You’re compromising your principles just to get back at Chase. You can barely stand the sight of biracial couples, and now you’re ready to become one?”

  “I never said I couldn’t stand the sight of biracial couples,” Charisma said.

  “Charisma, you mean to tell me that if you were to see my parents walking down the street, you wouldn’t thumb your nose up at them?” Heather asked.

  “No, I wouldn’t. Just because I don’t practice interracial dating doesn’t mean no one else can. To each his own. Everybody deserves to be happy.”

  “Well, if you don’t practice interracial dating, why start now?” Heather shot back.

  “Drastic times call for drastic measures.” Charisma shrugged.

  “You’d just be using him,” Heather said.

  “Not exactly. Our association would be mutually beneficial,” Charisma decided.

  “How?” Heather asked.

  “Well, he’d be doing me a favor as far as Chase is concerned in exchange for the pleasure of my company. Lots of white men have a thing for black women. He wants some of this stuff real bad, and sometimes you have to use what you got to get what you want.” Charisma laughed.

  “So you’re willing to sell yourself,” Heather told her.

  “I’m not selling myself,” Charisma insisted.

  “Then what would you call it?” Heather asked.

  “A business transaction.” Charisma sipped her coffee.

  “But he doesn’t know that,” Heather reminded her.

  “Ignorance is bliss,” Charisma said.

  Charisma and Chase collided in Freeman LTD’s ladies’ lounge Tuesday morning. Charisma knew it was just a matter of time before they had it out—again.

  “So Nico’s slumming,” Chase said. “Unbelievable. How do you two know each other anyway?”

  “Girl, you are wearing that green, brings out the blue in your eyes. It’s very becoming. I love it.”

  “Me, jealous? Of you? Don’t flatter yourself. I can have any man I want, including Nico.”

  “Too bad he doesn’t want you.”

  “Charisma, you should know by now that whatever Chase wants, Chase gets. Haven’t you learned that yet? What are you, dyslexic?”

  “That’s what I love about you, Chase. You’re so . . . What’s the word? Optimistic,” she said patronizingly as she put the finish
ing touches on her makeup and zipped up her bag of tricks. “Keep hope alive.”

  “You’re nothing but a cheap bitch,” Chase said, staring at the minute diamond earrings in Charisma’s ears. “And I see you have the jewelry to match.”

  “Chase, I’m just a woman who doesn’t need a million bucks to look like it. You, on the other hand, do. Money can buy fashion, but take a good look in the mirror. Evidently, it can’t buy style. Maybe if you had some, Nico would be chasing you instead of me.” Charisma left Chase to pick her face up off the floor.

  Just before lunch, Nate called Charisma into his office.

  She wondered what was up this time.

  “You wanted to see me, Nate?”

  “Sit down, Charisma. Let me get straight to the point. You did an impressive job on the Smyth account. In fact, Bob Smyth told me to personally thank you. And off the record, Charisma, are you dating that guy I saw you with the other day?”

  She grinned as he stood and walked toward her. “Off the record, does it matter?”

  “Off the record,” he repeated, his face just inches from hers. “I think you could do a lot better.”

  “Let’s see. Who could you possible have in mind?” She didn’t move an inch. “How about a hint. I’m clueless.”

  “Tell you what. You think about it awhile and get back to me.” He slid his hands in his pockets.

  Charisma headed toward the door. She turned just in time to see him gazing at her assets. “I’ll do that,” she agreed. But you’ll never get this.

  Charisma returned to her office. Her phone began to ring just as she sat at her desk. It was her mother.

  “You sound like you’re in a good mood,” Jena told her.

  “Your father and I just wanted to invite you over for breakfast Sunday morning.”

  “What time?”

  “Tenish,” Jena said.

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Great, hold on. Your father wants to talk to you.”

  “Hey, princess.” She could hear the love in his voice.

  “Hey, Daddy. What are you doing home so early?”

  “Oh, your mother wanted me to take her grocery shopping. You know how she hates going alone. Anyway, are you coming for breakfast?”

  “Of course,” she told him.

  “I was thinking. Why don’t you bring Nate by?”

  “Huh?” Charisma asked.

  “Your boss. Why don’t you invite him over if he doesn’t have plans?”

  “Daddy?”

  “Your mother and I have been discussing him. We think he’s just what you need in your life. I thought you agreed to give it a chance.”

  “You sound like the president of his fan club, and you’ve only met him one time,” Charisma reminded him.

  “Your mother and I went together for three months before I proposed. Three months. And we’re still together thirty-five years later,” he reminded her.

  “I know, Daddy, but this is different.”

  “How?”

  “Ooh, Daddy, I gotta go.” Charisma pretended she had an urgent matter to attend to.

  “Think about what I said, Charisma.”

  “Okay, Daddy. Buh-bye.” She hung up and sat back in her chair. Her phone rang again.

  “Hey gorgeous.” It was Nico.

  “Hi, Nico. What’s going on?”

  “Lunch, I hope. I’m in the neighborhood. I just finished up with a client, and I thought you might want to get a bite to eat.”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “I’ll be there in about five minutes,” he told her.

  “See you then,” she said simply. Charisma had just enough time to touch up her makeup. She headed for the lounge, hoping to run into Chase. Unfortunately, Chase was nowhere to be found.

  Nico was ready and waiting in the front of the building.

  He picked her up and whisked her off to a diner down Sunrise Highway famous for their cheeseburgers. After just one bite, Charisma had to agree that they were definitely in her top five.

  “Top five?” Nico asked. “These cheeseburgers have got to be in the top two at least.” He wiped his mouth.

  “Top two? Why stop there?”

  “Because there’s only one other place that has these burgers beat.”

  “And where might that be?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

  “What are you doing Friday night?”

  “I have a date—with the best burger in New York.”

  “Great, I’ll see you at my place around seven.”

  “I should have seen that coming.” She feigned surprise.

  “I’ll just have to stay on my toes.”

  “You’d look good in a tutu.” He took another sip of his coffee and smiled.

  Charisma looked across the table at him and smiled back, not quite sure what she was getting herself into. He seemed like a nice man, but could she go through with her plans?

  And was Heather right? Was she merely selling herself to get back at Chase? On one hand, she was attracted to Nico.

  After all, he was handsome and successful with just the right amount of confidence. What available woman wouldn’t want an eligible bachelor vying for her attention? On the other hand, he was still a white man, and that was a line she had never crossed in thirty-four years. She adored brothers too much to have it any other way. So why was she agreeing to dinner at his place knowing full well that she was encouraging him to go a little bit further? To get back at Chase. Simple as that.

  When Charisma arrived home from work she took a nice, long shower and tossed up a garden salad to go with her broiled steak. Normally, she tried to stay away from red meat, but every now and then she craved a good steak.

  She was just sitting down to dinner when her phone rang. It was Tangie.

  “What’s up, girl?” Charisma asked.

  “You’re not going to believe this. Blade came by, begging me to take him back. Said his life hasn’t been the same without me, and he’s finally ready to introduce me to his family.”

  “What?”

  “It gets better. He pulls out a jewelry box from his pants pocket, drops to one knee, and proposes.”

  “Get outta here.” Charisma put her fork down.

  “I could’ve caught a swarm of bees with my mouth. He apologized for every single mistake he ever made, every single one, and you know how good my memory is. Oh well, it was just too much, too little, too late. His run is done. Ya know?”

  “I know, girl. I know, but what did the ring look like?”

  “Oh, it was beautiful. It was a pear-shaped soli-tare with little stones on the side.”

  “I almost forgot to tell you. Nico’s cooking for me Friday night.”

  “So the plot thickens.”

  “Yep. I’ll talk to you later. I got another call.” Charisma clicked over. It was Nico.

  “Hey, gorgeous. I’m at the market shopping for Friday’s dinner and it suddenly occurred to me. Are you allergic to seafood?”

  “I love it,” she said.

  “Great, that’s all I needed to know. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said simply. What happened to the burgers?

  That Nico was slick, inviting her over under false pretenses.

  If it hadn’t been for her BlackBerry, Charisma would have missed her gynecologist appointment. She was on her way to work when she realized that she had a nine o’clock appointment with Dr. Vale. She called Nate to tell him she’d be late.

  Dr. Vale’s office was in Elmont, but since she had the first scheduled appointment of the day, she was seen on time.

  Dr. Vale was a friendly fortyish woman with warm brown eyes and auburn, shoulder-length hair. She examined Charisma, taking an annual Pap smear and giving her a routine breast exam. After the exam, Charisma got dressed and met with Dr. Vale in her office.

  “Charisma, how have your periods been lately?” she asked.

  “You know something?” she answered. “They’re actually heavier t
han usual. I thought they were supposed to lighten with age, but lately I’m flowing heavier.”

  “What about cramping?” Dr. Vale asked, removing her glasses.

  “No more than normal.”

  “You’re still young, but it’s time you start thinking about children if you plan on having them. You’re clock is ticking loud and clear.”

  “I know, Dr. Vale. I know, but I think I’ll wait a little longer.”

  “Do you need another prescription for the Pill?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay,” Dr. Vale said as she wrote out the prescription.

  “See you in six month.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Vale.”

  When Charisma finally got to work that morning, there was a beautiful bouquet of fuchsia roses in her office. She assumed they were from Dex. He always sent fuchsia roses.

  She opened up the card. Looking forward to Friday night, Nico.

  Nate dropped off some paperwork. “Nice flowers,” he said, admiring the roses. “I bet you have lots of admirers. You must have a hot date.”

  “What can I tell you?” She shrugged her shoulders.

  “Apparently, you’re doing something right.”

  “Somebody thinks so.” She grinned.

  “Do me a favor. If there’s any question in your mind after tonight about who’s the better man, give me a call.”

  Moments later he was gone and the secretary popped her head in the doorway. “They’re beautiful, but Chase and Lacey have been snooping around trying to read the card all morning long.”

  “Thanks, Dee,” Charisma said, smiling, the card still in her hand.

  Chase fluttered around Charisma like an annoying gnat, searching for clues. Finally, she cornered Charisma in her office.

  “Are those from Nico?”

  Charisma rolled her eyes. “What do you care? I thought you liked coffee in your milk, at least this week anyway.”

  “Don’t worry about how I like it,” Chase told her.

  “Hmph, you better wake up and smell the crappuccino.”

  “You gutter girls are so ignorant. It’s cappuccino,” Chase gloated. “C-A-P–”

  “No, in your case it’s crappuccino ’cause you’re full of shit. Now get the hell out of my office.”