Candace pulled up to the valet parking area of the Ellis Hotel. She’d read about the extensive renovation done on this historic landmark and had commented to Adam about spending a weekend there. The irony was that it was precisely because she’d spent time with someone else that she was now at the Ellis, alone.
Thankful for a relatively fast check-in and a near-empty lobby, Candace kept her head down as she took the elevator to her floor. She’d prayed that nobody she knew would be there attending a meeting or on a rendezvous, and it looked as if her prayers had been answered. So far, so good. She eyed the room numbers as she hurried down the hall. Almost there. Candace slipped her card in the slot and eased into the spacious, well-appointed room. Its modern, sleek décor made her think of Toussaint’s new digs that she’d barely noticed, and the woman he introduced, whom she’d noticed even less. Thoughts of her son temporarily diverted her from the ache that throbbed in her heart and the tingling that she now clearly felt on her vagina’s outer lips.
A free spirit during her early days, including the uneventful loss of her virginity at age sixteen, Candace had considered herself careful when it came to sex. With a steady stream of partners until Adam, and in almost thirty-five years of marriage, she’d never had a disease. And the one time I decide to be unfaithful, the one and only time, this is how I get caught. Me. With gonorrhea. It’s a disease she would have thought beneath her, impossible for her to contract. But she had it. And all because of a man named Quintin Bright.
Candace’s cell phone rang. She thought it might be Q returning her call but saw Ace and Diane’s number instead. She hesitated in answering, not sure if she wanted to talk with either of them or hear what they had to say.
“Can’t hide out forever,” Candace told herself. She answered the phone.
“Candace, Ace just got off the phone with Adam. What is going on, girl?” Diane’s voice was a mixture of shock and concern.
“What did Adam tell Ace?”
“That you’ve having an affair! Tell me that’s not true, Can.” Candace sighed. “I could, Diane, but I’d be lying.”
“Oh my God, Candace. I had no idea you and Adam were having problems.”
“We weren’t having problems. I was. Well, I wasn’t either, exactly. It’s just that … it just happened.”
Diane, who was sitting in the dining room where she and Candace had discussed another troubled marriage earlier in the month, got up and paced the room. Was she having this affair while talking about her son’s marital woes? “How does an affair just happen, Can? And why didn’t you feel you could talk to me about it?”
“I don’t know,” Candace said softly. “I guess cheating on your husband isn’t something you discuss over coffee.”
Both ladies were silent as they pondered the gravity of Candace’s actions. “Where are you?” Diane finally asked. “Ace said Adam put you out.”
“Downtown. At a hotel.”
“Candace! You know you can stay here.”
“I know, but …”
“No buts. Where are you?”
“I’m at—” Candace’s answer was interrupted by a beep in her ear. “Hold on, Dee. On second thought. Let me call you back.” She clicked over to the new call without waiting for a response or saying good-bye.
“ ‘Bout time you called me back. How long have you been infected, Quintin?” It was the first time since meeting him six months ago that Candace had used his full first name.
“Infected? What the hell are you talking about?” Quintin knew exactly what she was talking about. It’s why he’d called. But her accusatory tone had immediately put him on the defensive, and as he’d done since he was five years old and was threatened with a whooping for stealing, he resorted to what had become a natural defense mechanism—playing dumb.
“Oh, so you haven’t had any symptoms, Q? No burning sensation when you use the bathroom, no swelling or discharge? And just how many women at the gym are you screwing besides me?” Candace realized that she could have casually chatted with any number of Q’s women while jogging on the treadmill or using the unisex sauna.
When Q replied, his tone was soft. He was busted, knew it, and felt bad about it. “I just found out, baby. That’s why I’m calling. So you can get treated before, you know, you’re with your husband again.”
Candace was close to tears. “It’s too late for that,” she choked. “He went to the doctor today and found out he has it.”
“Aw, shit, baby. “A lengthy pause. “You okay?”
“What kind of asinine question is that? Hell no, I’m not okay!”
“I mean, what went down when he confronted you?” When Candace didn’t answer immediately, Q became angry. “He didn’t hit you, did he?”
Candace knew it shouldn’t happen, but her heart warmed at the protective tone in Q’s voice. His thugalicious swagger was part of what had drawn her to him in the first place and then kept her coming back. That and the big, thick dick that had poked her insides. Too bad there’d been a big bad disease on the end of his rod. “No, he didn’t hit me,” she finally said. “But I wouldn’t have blamed him if he did. He put me out, though. I’m at a hotel downtown.”
“Where?”
Candace told him.
“I’m coming down.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Baby, I don’t want you to be alone tonight. I’ll be there in thirty.”
“Wait, Q!” He’d hung up on her. Dammit. “You’re the last person I need to see tonight,” Candace mumbled as she dialed his number. The call went directly to voice mail. “Q, It’s not a good idea for you to come here. Call me back.” Her phone beeped. Great, Diane. Now that she was alone, Candace realized she wanted to be left alone. “Hey, Diane.”
“Candace, where are you? Ace and I want you to come and stay with us.”
“I’m at the Ellis Hotel, and actually, Diane, I’m okay. I’m going to stay here tonight.”
Diane frowned as she pondered Candace’s words. Oh my God, she’s with the other man. Rather than ask about this out right, Diane chose a roundabout approach. “Fine, I’ll come to you. Maybe it will help to talk.”
Candace’s phone beeped. Why is he texting me? I said to call! “Hold on, Diane.” Candace punched her message box.
Uh-uh, Candy. Ima be witchu tonite.
“Candace, what is it?”
“Look, Diane. I have to go.”
“Let me come down and hang out, Can. I’m worried about you … being by yourself.”
“Don’t be! Look, I just need to chill. I’ll come by tomorrow, okay?”
When Candace called Q again, the call went to voice mail. This shit is over, Q. You’re going to be in for a surprise when your ass is left knocking on the other side of the door! That decision made, Candace walked over to the minibar, opened a bottle of merlot, and, realizing she hadn’t eaten since lunch, ordered a sandwich from room service. She slowly sipped the wine and pondered the events of the past few months and of the years before that. She remembered her wild teenage days, and her joy at discovering how good sex could be. She replayed her first dates with Adam and the first time they’d slept together, how she’d been a bit disappointed but not deterred. Adam was more conservative and not as endowed as some of her former lovers. But what he lacked in size he made up for in commitment.
With marriage, kids, and a business, the years had passed quickly. She’d been happy for the most part. It wasn’t until she’d walked into the new, upscale gym and laid her eyes on the owner that she acknowledged just how unfilled a part of her life had been. Q must have noticed it, too, because he flirted immediately, made her feel sixteen again—the age she’d lost her virginity. She hadn’t planned on having an affair with him. It just happened. One day, after an entire session of flirting, Q had offered to let her use his private area to take a shower. He walked in naked to dry her off, with his massive sword standing out to greet her. And that is when her first real workout in over thirty years had begun in earnest
.
“Do you want it?” he asked softly, the tip of his huge weapon already poised for entry.
“Yes.”
“Louder, baby, I didn’t hear you.”
“Yes!” came her fervently whispered reply.
He lifted her, held her against the tiled wall, and seared her with several inches of power, passion, youth, and will. She moaned and groaned in spite of herself, knowing that she should stop him while wanting him to go on forever. He pummeled her with his manhood, opening her up beyond her wildest thoughts, swiped her nipples with his hot tongue, and teased her rear with his middle finger. Finally she’d crumbled, unable to stand. And there, on the shower floor, beneath a flow of water, he’d taken her again, from behind, until they’d both convulsed with massive climaxes, soaked to the skin and to the soul.
He’d dried her off then, as promised. Before leaving, he simply said, “Good work, Candy. Get ready for next time.”
He’d screwed her after every workout since, and she loved it. “But that’s over, Candace,” she said sternly, getting up to replenish her wine and stop her tingling nana. “Over!” I’ll make an appointment with Doctor Bronson tomorrow, go stay with Diane and Ace, and start the process of trying to get Adam to forgive me and get my marriage back on track.
A soft knock at the door caused Candace’s heartbeat to quicken. She breathed a sigh of relief when a quick peek revealed it was the bellhop with her meal. It wasn’t until she opened the door that she found he wasn’t alone.
“Q, I told you not to come.” Even as she said this, she took in his tight black T-shirt, his baggy red shorts, and his long, strong legs.
“I know.” His dark-eyed stare was piercing, and Candace’s hands shook as she signed the bill.
The bellman left. The hotel door clicked. The lovers were alone. Candace frowned at Q. He took two steps and stood directly in front of her. “Do you really want me to leave?”
Candace looked up. She meant to look into his eyes, but her gaze came to rest on his bow-shaped lips, then dropped down to the hard chest lightly sprinkled with curly black hair, and down farther to what was surprisingly a burgeoning erection.
Q stepped even closer, so close that his shirt grazed Candace’s breasts. He enfolded her in his arms. “Do you want me to leave?” he asked again, his breath hot against her ear.
Candace shook her head as her arms encircled his waist. Wordlessly, she took his hand and walked to the room’s sitting area. Just one more night, she reasoned as she and Q shared the dinner she’d ordered and finished off the wine. They didn’t make love right away, but rather talked, more conversation than they’d ever had—about Q’s background, Candace’s marriage, why she would cancel her gym membership, and why this would be their last night together. And this time when he fucked her, Candace decided to let him in raw. They were both already infected, he didn’t have AIDS or HIV (the only paper she’d demanded he show her), and this was the last time. The last time in life that she’d have this man’s gorgeous, skilled dick inside her. So she opened, Q entered, and, stroke after powerful stroke, he replaced the day’s pain with the pleasure that had caused it all.
33
The next day, Malcolm entered Toussaint’s office and closed the door. Toussaint stood and came from behind his desk, anger and concern evident in his hastily hissed words. “Man, what the hell is going on? I’ve been trying to reach you all morning!”
Malcolm slumped onto the dark brown leather love seat in the sitting area of Toussaint’s large, corner office. “I’ve been over at the house. Talking to Dad.”
“Mama showed up at my doorstep last night,” Toussaint said, joining Malcolm on the couch. “She had a carry-on with her. What’s going on with her and Daddy, man?”
Malcolm shook his head, wearily rubbing his forehead and then his eyes. “Mama cheated on Daddy,” he said finally, a sigh accompanying these words of doom.
Silence filled the air. “You’re bullshittin’,” Toussaint said after he’d found the air to breathe again. “You’re bullshittin’,” he said again, louder this time.
“Keep your voice down,” Malcolm whispered. “We have to keep a lid on this shit!”
Toussaint stood and paced his office. He stopped at the window and looked out, not seeing the beautifully colored leaves announcing October’s arrival. “Who with?” he finally asked without turning around.
Malcolm joined Toussaint at the window. The conversation continued but instead of looking at each other, both men stared out into a world turned crazy with one simple line: Mama cheated on Daddy. “The owner of the gym where she works out—her personal trainer,” he finished sarcastically.
“That young, thug-looking muthafucka on the billboards around town?”
“Quintin Bright. He just turned thirty.”
“Damn. I can’t believe it.”
“Me either. And neither can Daddy.”
“Aw, man. I know he’s upset.”
“To put it mildly. I’ve never seen the old man tear up before … but he did this morning. Yesterday he was angry. Today he’s just hurt.”
“But how could it have happened, Malcolm? How could Mama do this? The last time we were all together, they seemed to be grooving like always.”
Malcolm didn’t have an answer.
“What’s Daddy going to do?” Toussaint looked at Malcolm, his eyes, questioning as he awaited the answer.
Malcolm walked over to a table containing a water pitcher and four crystal goblets. “That’s the million-dollar question, brother,” he said as he slowly filled his glass.
“Do you think he’ll divorce her?” Toussaint’s question was more to himself than Malcolm. “No, that can’t happen. Livingston men don’t cheat or divorce.”
“And Livingston women don’t …” Neither son wanted to think about what their mother had done. “Is Mom still over at your house?”
“No, she didn’t stay.” When Malcolm shot Toussaint a questioning glance, he continued. “Alexis came over and Mom left.”
“And she didn’t say where was going? Because Daddy said he put her out.”
“She’s at the Ellis Motel.” Toussaint walked to his desk and grabbed his cell phone. His office line beeped at the same time.
“Look, I’ve got to go talk to Ace. Daddy’s not coming in today, so we need to rearrange some meetings. Then I’m going back over to the house. You’re calling Mama, right?”
Toussaint nodded. “Need to find out how she is and hopefully …” Malcolm was out the door before he finished the sentence. “Man, this is messed up.” Toussaint hit speed dial. “Mama, where are you?”
Candace cringed at the concern mixed with anger mixed with judgment she heard in her son’s voice. “I’m all right, son. On my way over to Ace and Diane’s.”
“Damn, Mama. How could you? After thirty-something years! And with a young-ass thug?”
“I know I messed up, Toussaint. But this is still your mother you’re talking to. This situation is between me and your father.”
“Evidently not,” Toussaint retorted. “If things had stayed just between you and him, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“I don’t expect you to understand,” Candace said, sighing. “And I understand your anger. Things got out of hand. But don’t worry, son. I’m going to do everything in my power to fix this and make things right with your dad”
“You know this doesn’t just affect you, right?” Toussaint unexpectedly felt the urge to cry. “I love both of y’all, can’t imagine y’all not together. And think of what will happen if the public finds out? It’ll be a PR nightmare.”
“Don’t worry,” Candace repeated. “That’s part of what Diane and I will talk about. And hopefully I’ll be back home tonight, with your dad, to work out the rest.”
34
Ace was still reeling from last night’s drama and was hurting for his brother. He’d not been surprised when Adam hadn’t come to work, and he wondered if he’d be in the office on Monda
y. Is a weekend enough time to recover from someone taking your heart and stomping on it?
Shyla waited patiently for Ace to continue. It was obvious his mind was elsewhere. “Ace, you were saying?”
“Sorry, Shyla, a lot on my mind. I was saying that since you’re meeting with the Food Network next week, I thought this would be a good opportunity for Zoe. She will basically be coming along in an assistant capacity. But as your star continues to rise to the level of director of marketing, as it is currently poised to do, I’d like to groom her for a junior management position in that department. This trip will show her another side of business operations. How does that sound to you?” Ace studied Shyla’s calm expression as he awaited her answer. He knew she’d planned to rendezvous with Toussaint in LA, and that she’d be pissed to learn that Zoe was going instead. Yet this anger wasn’t written all over her face. Impressive.
“I think that’s a great idea!” Shyla replied, thankful she didn’t actually choke on the lie. “The idea of me being promoted, that is.” Shyla chuckled and tossed her hair, hoping her devil-may-care act was convincing. “Zoe seems to be a determined and capable worker. However, I didn’t know she aspired for a marketing career.”
“Her taking this trip was my idea, as are the thoughts of her moving to the marketing department. One of the secrets to our success in employee retention is that we promote from within. Zoe has been with us for three years and has done an excellent job. She’s excited about her future here.”
“And so am I,” Shyla readily agreed. “I’ll schedule a meeting right away and—”
“Ace, I need to—” Malcolm burst through the door to Ace’s office. “Oh, sorry, Uncle. Didn’t know you were in a meeting.”
“It’s okay, Malcolm. We were just finishing up,” Ace answered from the sitting area on the far side of the room. “Come on in. Get back to me as soon as possible,” he said to Shyla as she rose to leave. “And keep what I’ve shared with you regarding Zoe’s future promotion confidential.”
Shyla left Ace’s office and couldn’t reach the other side of the building fast enough. Her four-inch heels clicked a hasty rhythm on the hall’s bamboo flooring before being silenced by the thick, plush carpeting of the common area between the business development and marketing wings.
All Up In My Business Page 14
