The Score

by Demetrius Sewell

  Seth was surprised. “Really?”

  “Don’t you think it’s sexy?”

  “Is shaving your legs sexy?”

  “Can I?”

  He couldn’t believe she wanted to shave him.

  He handed her the shaver, not really wanting to let it go. Part of him knew it was the lack of sex making him willing to risk bodily harm, but he stepped away from the sink anyhow.

  She sat on the counter on the outside of the sink and Seth stood between her legs. He slowly guided her hand, showing her how to do it. Seth kept sliding her toward the edge of the counter and toward him. He wanted to make sure she felt his lower half stir. She rubbed his muscular chest as she shaved him. Sometimes she paused to caress his solid abdominal muscles.

  “You’re wearing too many clothes,” he whined.

  Her fingertips lingered on the knotted towel around his waist. “What do I do now?”

  “Take off those damn shorts.”

  She laughed. “What do I do then?”

  “Quit torturing me.”

  Tatum pushed him away. Seth watched her put the shaver on the edge of the sink. Then she took off her shorts and threw them against the wall behind him. Seth groaned. There was hope.

  “What do I do now?”

  “Wash off the remaining shaving cream.”

  Tatum sat on the sink again. She carefully did what he advised.

  He reached under her shirt and was disappointed. “Damn it, you’re wearing underwear.”

  Tatum ignored him, staring at her work of art.

  “Now the sex begins,” he told her.

  “Now the dressing begins,” she corrected.

  Seth groaned. “You know you’re going to be charged with my murder. You’re killing me.”

  “No,” she told him, “you’re torturing yourself. I could have bought the condoms ten times over.”

  He waved towards the door. “I’m an adult. Quit trying to teach me a lesson.”

  “The lack of sex doesn’t agree with you.” Seth’s hand lingered on the inside of her thigh before she yelped in surprise. He’d pushed her underwear aside. She pushed his hand away. “Seth!”

  “Please.” He pushed her underwear aside again and decided to persuade her.

  Tatum’s breath caught in her throat. Leaning her head back, she moaned. Seth kissed the nape of her neck. “That’s not going to change my mind,” she told him, her voice weakening.

  He stopped. “Listen, I’ll go to the store after we make love. I promise.”

  This time, he rubbed the silky underwear against her. She moaned again, but she resisted giving him the okay.

  “Do you still see me as a white guy?”

  “Seth, not this again,” she whined.

  He wasn’t going to relent. He suddenly had an agenda.

  Seth kissed her. “If you see me as man who loves you, race won’t matter.”

  “Seth, this has nothing to do with that.” He felt her body shudder as he took his hand away.

  “If you really love me…” He paused, his blue eyes pierced into her soul. “You’d show me that my race didn’t matter.”

  Tatum glanced away from his intense stare. He knew he had her on the brink of changing her mind.

  “Show me you trust me. Babe, let me know you’re not going to leave me because of my race.” He tilted her chin up so they could make eye contact.

  Tatum wouldn’t look at him. Seth nodded, taking a step back, but she stopped him. She grabbed the white towel like it was a surrender flag and snatched it off of him. Seth stepped forward. She pressed her mouth hard against his, licked the bottom lip.

  “Lift up.”

  She lifted long enough for him to slide her underwear off. She arched her back to make it easier for him to enter her. Tatum rested on her hands outstretched behind her, and Seth massaged himself before he slid into her.

  Hyde Park Square was a four-block area consisting of a cluster of small, upscale stores and restaurants. The wind swirled around them, throwing snowflakes in their faces. People hurried past them, rushing into stores. It was late fall. Christmas was approaching and she wanted to buy some gifts. Tatum never shopped here because she didn’t like being surrounded by snobby people, but since it was in Seth’s neighborhood, she decided to give it a try.

  “Have you talked to Karla recently?”

  Tatum gave him a sideways glance. “No.”

  “Really?”

  “Why?”

  “You two used to talk all the time. What happened?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Do you think it has anything to do with me?”

  Tatum hadn’t thought about it. She knew Karla was busy at work and probably hadn’t had a lot of time to talk since the anniversary party. The party where Karla had ignored her.

  They stopped at the crosswalk. She answered, “Maybe.”

  “What if it was?”

  “Good question,” she muttered. “I would let things blow over. I know she’s under a lot of stress to get the account. So I wouldn’t hold this lack of contact against her.”

  “What about holding it against me?”

  Tatum paused. She wasn’t used to being hit with rapid-fire questions. “Of course not.” They began walking again. “My friendships don’t have anything to do with us.”

  Seth seemed satisfied with answer.

  “Is she getting the account?”

  “I thought we talked about this already.”

  “You opened the door.” She sounded like a lawyer cross-examining a witness.

  “Really?”

  Tatum decided to change the subject. “You had a relationship with Gabby, didn’t you?”

  “I told you that you’re the first relationship I’ve had in years.”

  “So it was just sex?”

  Seth stopped walking, causing her to stand in front of him. “Where is this coming from?”

  “I just want to know.”

  “What’s the point? And who told you this anyway?”

  Now she was on the defensive. “Why does it matter where I heard it?”

  “Because you’re choosing to believe someone else over me,” he answered.

  “That’s why I’m asking you.” She pointed toward at him, confused by his behavior.

  “Listen,” he told, “I’ve never lied to you. I told you there were a lot of women in the past. They knew the score.”

  Tatum paused, letting the snobby group of people looking at them pass. “I know all that.”

  “Then what’s the point?”

  The point is you lied when you said you don’t mix business with pleasure, she wanted to say. Instead, she told him, “I think I have the right to know who you slept with before me.”

  “Who told you this? Did Karla tell you, because I can’t imagine how she would know about my past sex partners?”

  “No.” Tatum winced. She’d confirmed someone told her.

  “Was it Gabby?”

  “No.”

  Seth stopped and quickly changed their direction. Tatum followed him into an expensive furniture store and pointed out furniture and vases she liked. Seth nodded in agreement, but she could tell he wasn’t paying attention. Thinking he hated shopping, she ignored his change in behavior. Besides, she had Christmas shopping to do.

  Chapter 14

  Seth called the meeting early in the morning. He had his visitor enter the back. It wasn’t the usual way he did things, but this was an unusual circumstance.

  Seth straightened his already perfect black and blue striped tie. He knew he was stalling.

  He approached his large group of minority employees with confidence. His voice was stern. His eyes surveyed the clueless group. He wasn’t going to change his mind. He’d made his decision.

  “This meeting will be quick. I have selected my new manager. However, I want to make it clear that I will not be relinquishing my title of manager right away.” He paused to see what effect his announcement was having on his
audience. Everyone still watched him. “I will be here for some time to make sure everything is going as it should. I think, in time, you all will agree with my decision. I would like you to meet your new manager.” Everyone looked at Ralph, who was smiling. “Mrs. Rapport.”

  The short white woman exited his office with excitement. She hurriedly rushed to stand next to Seth. Someone began to clap, then stopped. Seth felt the temperature drop in the club. This wasn’t going over very well.

  “I will leave you to the introductions Mrs. Rapport.”

  “You know he’s about to dump your ass?”

  Tatum had stopped at the coffee shop for some coffee during her lunch break. She had just finished paying for her coffee when she felt someone behind her and turned around to find Gabby staring at her.

  “What do you want?”

  “I just wanted to break the news to you before he did. Seth and I have been dating for two years. You, my dear, are a slight diversion.”

  So, it was true. She felt confused and betrayed. He could have told her. However, she brushed the thoughts away. She didn’t want Gabby to think she had an advantage.

  Tatum mixed the sugar into her coffee. “And your point?”

  Gabby chuckled. “Are you serious? The man’s in love with me.”

  “Sure.” This time, Tatum laughed. “And I’m the first black Queen of England.”

  “Suit yourself.” Gabby tried not to show her anger. “Let him break your heart into a million pieces.”

  This one was easier. He’d shaken hands with everyone and signed the papers before they sat in front of the media. Seth actually thought no one would care what decision he’d made, but the announcement was covered by all the major local media outlets.

  Mr. Page stood in front of the podium. Then it was Seth’s turn. He shook Mr. Page’s hand before replacing him at the podium. He was surprised by how nervous he was. He wasn’t sure how this would work out, but he had to believe in their future together.

  “Good morning. I just wanted to say a few things. First, I’d like to thank Mr. Page for all his hard work over the years.” They shook hands again. “This was a very easy decision for me. I have always trusted MPR with our advertising through the years, and I can’t think of any company better suited for what I have planned for the future. That’s why I have signed a five-year contract with them to represent my business.”

  Karla watched the owner of MPR stand and shake Seth’s hand, then Seth quickly turned the podium over to him. The cameras focused on the owner. She was going to be sick.

  Most of her co-workers had rushed into the room to watch the press conference. Karla had heard about the press conference through a friend, who was a reporter. Boasting to everyone that Seth had made a decision, she decided to watch the press conference in the conference room. Karla thought Seth was going to announce her name then take questions. She clearly didn’t expect this.

  Slowly, everyone disappeared from the room. She watched them leave out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t blame them. Karla wished she could disappear too. Her dreams were turning into a nightmare right before her very eyes. She thought it was going to turn out differently. Her deal with Seth had told her so. She realized he had double-crossed her. The bastard was never going to give me the contract.

  “Karla.”

  She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer then turned to face her boss. Mr. Gault was smiling at her. She was doomed.

  “Yes sir.”

  “I will be talking with you later.”

  “Yes sir.” He walked to the door. She couldn’t let him leave without explaining herself. “Sir…”

  “We’ll talk later,” he said sternly, then smiled.

  Karla couldn’t believe how her life was going. She cursed Seth.

  The door slammed. He didn’t have to look up to know who it was. Seth hadn’t returned to the club for a week after he made the announcement figuring he’d let any ill feelings blow over. Anyone who wanted to keep their job would learn to accept his decision. Now, Seth wished he’d taken more time off. He didn’t need this right now. He still expected a visit from Karla any minute, and maybe angry looks from Tatum.

  “What the hell happened?”

  Seth took his time to make eye contact. “Ralph, we discussed this.”

  “We didn’t discuss you giving the job to some white bitch with no experience. You promised me.”

  “Whoa.” He held up his hands in surrender. “No one said anything about a promise.”

  “You know you’ve been telling me it’s my job for months. You told me, man. What the hell made you change your mind?”

  Seth didn’t respond.

  “Man, they are right about you. You love feeling like an old Master of the house.”

  Seth bit his tongue. He wanted to defend himself, but he thought better of it. Right now, Ralph wouldn’t listen, and in fact, would only grow more angry if he said anything at all.

  “Is this the way it stands?”

  “Yeah.”

  Ralph shook his head. “Boy, I feel for Tatum.”

  Seth exploded. “Don’t you dare worry about Tatum. Don’t even utter her name.”

  “Whatever, man.”

  Tatum sat in the busy mall food court waiting for Karla. Tatum had called her friend for help. She needed advice on what to do with her relationship. Tatum knew Seth was lying about Gabby, but she couldn’t make him confess.

  It had taken Karla two weeks to return her call and a couple of days more before she agreed to meet Tatum for lunch. Tatum didn’t know what had gone wrong. Karla had been the one to convince her to give Seth a chance. Now she was acting like Seth was the enemy. Moreover, she was blaming Tatum. Or that was how it felt from Tatum’s perspective.

  “I really have to get back to the office,” Karla said as she sat across from her. “So I’m not going to eat.”

  “Oh.” Tatum didn’t know what to say.

  “So girl, what’s on your mind?”

  “I need your help,” she told her. “Really, I need your advice.”

  Karla didn’t hesitate. “Break up with him.”

  Tatum was stunned. “Excuse me?”

  “I suppose this is about Seth. So that’s my advice.”

  “But…you don’t know what my problem is.”

  Karla shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Why?” she asked, confused.

  “Did you hear what he did to me?”

  Tatum didn’t see her point. “He stuck with the same firm he was with.”

  “Exactly,” Karla bitterly agreed. “He set me up and then knocked me on my ass.”

  “How?”

  Karla opened her mouth to speak and then stopped. Like she’d changed her mind about what she was going to say. “Do you know what he did to Ralph?” she asked.

  Tatum did. She didn’t agree with it, but there was nothing she could do. Seth wasn’t going to forego his policy of not mixing business and pleasure. He didn’t talk about his managerial appointment and she didn’t try to engage him in discussion. She knew it was hopeless to try as it would only anger him. “I don’t think the woman he hired has enough experience to run a dinner party let alone a nightclub.”

  Karla more than agreed. “Exactly. Do you want to know why he did it? He’s a racist. Seth Carter may want you in his bed, but he’s just like all the rest of them.”

  Tatum thought her friend was being a little harsh. “Ralph is, after all, the busboy.”

  “Come on, girl, open your eyes. Seth was never going to let one of us into the Big House.”

  She couldn’t believe this. She understood Karla’s anger over the contract, but she was going too far. “Karla, I understand that you’re angry about not getting the account, but you’re calling him a racist. You have no right.”

  Karla banged her fist against the table. “Are you serious? I have no right? Girl, I have more right than you know.”

  This meeting was a bad idea. Maybe she did need to e
nd her friendship with Karla. She didn’t recognize the woman sitting across from her.

  She stood and pushed her chair under the table. “I came here to ask you what to do. I needed help because I heard Seth and Gabby had a relationship. I wanted to know what to do about it, but never mind.”

  Karla said in a rush, “Wait Tatum. I’ll help you.”

  Tatum remained standing, waiting.

  “Seth did have a relationship with Gabby. I tried to tell you that when I asked if she was the secretary. Remember?”

  She searched her memory. At first, she didn’t remember, but then she thought about the breakfast. Tatum was going to ask her about her comment then, but Seth had arrived.

  Tatum nodded. “I remember.”

  “I was trying to tell you they were involved. I didn’t know at the time he’d ended it, but…”

  “Okay.” Tatum suddenly decided she didn’t care anymore. She’d responded more for herself than Karla. “He’s sidestepped the issue so much I’m dizzy. I’m not sure if it matters anymore.” Karla didn’t respond. “Thanks for the information.”

  Tatum started to leave. Karla stopped her again.

  “Seth offered me a deal. He told me that if I convinced you to have a relationship with him, he’d give me the account.”

  Tatum’s stomach hit the floor with a thud. She felt lightheaded. She was going to faint. She briefly closed her eyes before asking, “What are you talking about?”

  “Trust me girl, I didn’t think it—”

  “Who made the offer? Are you sure you didn’t?”

  “Of course!” Karla then proceeded to explain exactly what had happened, ending by saying, “I had no idea he was going to use me.”

  “Why?” Tatum didn’t let her answer. “Because you were his loyal servant?”

  “That’s not fair. I wanted to help you. You needed a push in the right direction.”

  “No, you needed the account. You’ve sold me down the river.”

  “No, I thought if you were able to live a little that you wouldn’t be so scared.”

  Tatum was furious. “If you were going sell me into ‘servitude’ then should at least be honest about it! You weren’t thinking about me! I—”