by Deja King
“How do you know Tyler picked William Donovan over him?”
“One afternoon, when Andre thought I was sleeping, I overheard him on the phone with his mother. He told her that William basically gave Tyler an ultimatum, either her movie career or him. The selfish bitch picked her movie career. I’ve been running through hoops trying to get Andre to marry me, but this snotty bitch comes along with her fake-ass innocence and he’s rushing to get her down the aisle. But instead of her being grateful to catch a winner like Andre, she gives him his walking papers. That’s an ungrateful bitch right there. Lucky for me her behavior has shown Andre that no one will ever be down for him like me. I almost fucked up and killed my ass trying to prove that shit.”
“What you mean ‘almost fucked up’?” Shari was now looking at Chantal like “bitch, you don’t mean what I think you mean.”
“Girl, you know damn well I don’t want to die, but after Andre dropped that bomb on me I had no choice but to go hard. What’s harder than slitting your wrists? I didn’t mean to cut so deep though,” Chantal added with a chuckle.
“Chantal, you’re fucking crazy. I can’t believe you faked trying to kill yourself over that nigga. But I guess that’s better than really trying to kill yourself over him. I don’t know, all this shit is sounding confusing to me. I’m just happy that Melanie still has her mom and you’re alive and able to talk to me.”
“Tell me about it. But I had to do it for my family. If Andre would’ve married that girl they would start their own family and Andre would soon forget about me and Melanie. My daughter deserves better than that and so do I. My only concern is that Andre was still going to marry that chick even after I slit my wrists. Yeah, he was promising that I would never have to want for nothing and he would finance whatever business I wanted to start, but he still was going to marry her. The only reason he’s not is because she backed out.”
“I know you’re sick of me asking you this, but what are you going to do?” Shari questioned, totally enthralled in this real-life soap opera.
“Hope that Andre comes to his senses and realizes that Melanie and I are his family and he needs to go ahead and wife me.”
Just as Shari was about to ask Chantal another million-dollar question, Andre walked in with a big Fred Segal box and laid it on the glass table.
“What’s up, Shari?” Andre said as he walked around and kissed Chantal on the forehead.
“I’m good. How you doing, Mr. Hollywood?”
Andre smiled at the understated compliment Shari bestowed upon him about his budding career as an actor. “Just trying to maintain,” he said.
“What’s in the box?” Chantal asked, curiously hoping it was something expensive for her.
“Open it. I know how you love Fred Segal,” Andre grinned. Chantal removed the top of the box and her eyes instantly beamed at the sight of the gorgeous fuchsia dress. Right beside the dress was another small box that obviously had a pair of shoes in it. The shoes were studded with fuchsia and clear-colored stones. Andre definitely had incredible taste.
“Andre, this is beautiful!” Chantal wailed.
“That shit is hot,” Shari chimed in.
“I’m glad you like it, because I want you to wear it tonight to the Beverly Hills Hotel. The movie is about to wrap up and we’re having this Hollywood shindig to celebrate.”
“Andre, look at me. I need a pedicure, manicure, and my hair needs to be done. Not to mention the shit around my wrists,” she complained.
“Don’t worry about that little shit. I have someone coming over to take care of all that. You’ll be the prettiest woman at the party.” Chantal couldn’t help but wonder if that meant Tyler wasn’t coming. “As far as the packaging on your wrists, just cover it with love bracelets.” Chantal instantly lit up at Andre’s words. Maybe she did still have a chance to be Mrs. Andre Jackson.
When Chantal and Andre walked into the party at the Beverly Hills Hotel she immediately scoped the place to see if Tyler was in attendance. She breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t spot her, but part of her was disappointed because she wanted the home-wrecker to know she and Andre were back together. Andre led Chantal to her seat and introduced her to everyone they came in contact with. The studio heads and crew from the movie set were congratulating Andre on the fantastic job he did on the film. Some went so far as to say that Denzel Washington needed to watch his back because everyone would be banging down Andre’s door once the movie was released. Andre took it all in stride. He tried to remain cool about the compliments but on the inside he was hoping he would one day have half the acting career of Denzel Washington.
Just as everyone was sitting down and getting comfortable, the room seemed to freeze and everyone’s eyes shifted in one direction, including Andre’s. Chantal slowly turned around in her seat to see what had everyone in the room so mesmerized. To her utter disgust, Tyler made her movie star entrance in a form-fitting pastel pink satin dress with William Donovan trailing behind her like she was the queen of the world. Photographers were snapping her picture and she was posing and eating it up like this was what she was born to do. To make matters worse, one of the movie executives came over and told Andre he wanted him to go take some pictures with Tyler for the press. Andre seemed reluctant, but it was more out of anger for Tyler showing up with William than anything else. Chantal sat in her seat burning up inside. Look at that bitch cheesing all in the cameras with my man. I want to slit her throat. Chantal thought. Unfortunately, going to jail isn’t an option.
“You look beautiful tonight,” Andre whispered in Tyler’s ear as they posed for the photographers.
“I’m sure your date wouldn’t appreciate you saying that to me,” she said burning with jealousy after noticing Chantal.
“Yeah, well, William looks as if he’s about to have a heart attack if I stand any closer to you.”
“Then I guess you better move,” Tyler barked as she gave one last fake smile to the paparazzi and strolled off with William.
From the short distance it looked as if some heated words were exchanged between Andre and Tyler, but Chantal couldn’t get a clear read. It was obvious to her and she assumed everyone else in the room that their body language ignited sexual chemistry. When Andre eventually made it back to the table, he didn’t even acknowledge the fact that she had to witness him posing with Tyler. He was still fuming over whatever words he had exchanged with his ex. Then to add fuel to the fire, William and Tyler sat straight across from Andre and Chantal, but no one made eye contact. It didn’t matter, though, because Chantal was burning a black hole through Tyler’s sensuous pink dress and everyone’s tension levels were at an all-time high.
“Can you pass me a napkin?” Tyler said demurely. Both William and Andre instinctively reached for the same napkin, with William beating Andre to the prize. William smiled as he handed Tyler the napkin and Andre felt embarrassed that he reacted as if Tyler were his date. To further Andre’s repulsion, William played with Tyler’s hair before planting an intense kiss on the luscious lips he’d briefly owned. Chantal actually felt empathy for Andre and the obvious pain he was in, seeing Tyler and William so happy together.
“Andre, it’s okay, I’m here for you,” Chantal whispered in his ear, while gently patting his stiff arm. As William and Tyler continued making out at the dinner table like two teenagers at a drive-in movie, Andre abruptly stood up.
“Can I please have everyone’s attention? I have an announcement to make,” Andre called out, looking around, making sure all eyes were on him. Andre didn’t begin his speech until his and Tyler’s eyes were fully connected. A slight glaze of sweat appeared on Chantal’s forehead and she shifted her body back and forth due to the anxiety that encompassed her from not knowing what Andre was about to say. “As you all know, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity I was given by getting the part of Damian. Breaking into film isn’t easy but to get a starring role in a major movie and to act alongside such a talented cast my first time out is u
nbelievable. I hope that I’ve done the part justice and hope this is just the beginning of many more roles to come.” Everyone began to applaud, assuming Andre was finished with his speech.
“That was beautiful, baby,” Chantal said, relieved that he didn’t make an ass of himself.
“Thank you everyone, but I’m not finished yet.” The guests looked around at each other, wondering what else the up-and-coming actor had to say. “Through my many struggles and the journey that has gotten me to the place that I am right now, one woman—besides my mother—has always remained by my side.” Andre gently grabbed Chantal’s hand. “Chantal, please stand up. I want everyone to see the most beautiful woman in the world.” Chantal bashfully smiled because for the first time in her life she was overwhelmed by Andre’s attention. Then, to her amazement, the words she longed to hear for so long flooded the ultra-exclusive crowd. “Chantal, will you marry me?”
Tyler’s champagne glass sounded like an explosion as it hit the floor. William grabbed her arm under the table and hissed, “Pull it together.”
“Baby, are you going to answer me, or are you going to embarrass me in front of all these people?”
“Of course I’ll marry you!” Chantal screamed, not caring how she got the proposal as long as it came. Andre lifted her up and gave her a long, lingering kiss in front of the ecstatic crowd. Everyone stood up in a loud chorus of applause. William lifted Tyler up by her right arm to direct her to applaud with the rest of the guests.
The live band once again began playing music and the room filled with idle conversation. Many people came up to congratulate Andre and his blushing fiancé. Tyler desperately wanted to run to the ladies’ room and vomit but opted to guzzle down five glasses of champagne back to back instead.
“Andre, do you know how happy you’ve made me? I can’t believe I will finally be Mrs. Andre Jackson. Wait until Melanie hears the news—she will be the happiest little girl in the world.”
“Melanie will be happy,” Andre repeated, as he nodded his head in agreement. As Chantal rambled on about all the plans she would start first thing tomorrow morning for their wedding, Andre stared at Tyler who was now completely drunk. Although he knew his marriage proposal to Chantal ignited Tyler’s drunken stupor, that wasn’t the reaction he’d hoped for. He envisioned her standing up and confessing her undying love for him and then maybe tossing a drink in his face for proposing to another woman. Then Chantal and Tyler would get in a heated argument and both ladies would ask him to choose. He would look lovingly into Tyler’s eyes and tell her she was the only woman for him. They would exit together leaving William to lick his wounds. But now Andre was engaged to a woman he wasn’t in love with and William would be the one to nurse Tyler back to glory. “Let’s go home and celebrate.”
Chantal jumped up, anxious to be with her future husband. She hoped they would finally make love again since it had been months since she had felt Andre inside of her. As the couple exited the party, Tyler reached across the table and grabbed Andre’s still full glass of champagne and drank it in what seemed like one gulp.
Tyler sat back in her drunken state, watching the newly engaged couple leave the party. Her heart wanted to flood the table with tears but even in her dismal trance she knew that was impossible, mainly because William would never let her live it down. He would scold her for the lack of self-control she exhibited.
“William, I’m awfully tired. Can you take me home?” Tyler was standing up to leave before even giving William an opportunity to answer. She knew he would and if he didn’t, she would simply hop in one of the many limos parked outside. Tyler sauntered toward the exit with William in pursuit. By the balancing act Tyler was doing on her heels, William could clearly see she was one misstep from an embarrassing fall.
“Tyler, wait a minute,” William said as reached out to grab her arm. “Listen, I know you’re upset but slow down. The last thing you need is for the paparazzi to snap a picture of you falling on your ass because you’re drunk and angry,” he whispered calmly in Tyler’s ear.
“Fine, I’ll slow down. Just please get me home.”
On the drive home Tyler drifted off into her own world. Her heart was gasping for air but there was nothing Tyler could do. The tears silently rolled down Tyler’s face, but that didn’t stop William from feeling her pain. But how couldn’t he, it was dominating the air.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but you made the right decision. Right now your heart is telling you otherwise but trust in time you will see that I’m right.”
“I have serious reservations about that. You have no idea how my heart was just ripped out of me when Andre asked Chantal to marry him. He doesn’t love her. He loves me and I love him.”
“Whether that is true or not doesn’t really matter. Chantal is the type of woman Andre needs to be with, not you. You’re too good for him. Andre would only be able to give you small doses of happiness and nothing lasting.”
“How do you know, William? Maybe Andre and I are meant to be. Did you ever consider that?”
“No, because you’re not. If I honestly believed he was the right man for you, I would give you my blessings, but he’s not. Look how he hurt you tonight and asked Chantal to marry him in front of you and everyone else.”
“He did that out of anger,” Tyler said, defending Andre’s actions.
“Exactly, that is a perfect example of his immaturity. Do you really want to give your heart and life to a man that childish?”
“I don’t know why I’m having this discussion with you, William, because there is no way you can remain impartial. You blame Andre for our relationship ending, but it wasn’t his fault.”
“To say that I don’t have any hostility towards Andre would be a lie, but it still doesn’t change anything I just said. Tyler, I do love you, I’ll always love you and because of that I want what is best for you. If you were to marry Andre it would be one heartbreak after another. You know why I know”—there was a short pause as William turned and looked at Tyler—“because I used to be Andre Jackson.”
Tyler digested what William said. There were a lot of similarities in Andre’s and William’s personalities. Maybe that was one of the reasons she felt so close to Andre, because he was a younger more exciting version of her mentor. William turned out to be an incredible man but what demons did he have to fight to get there? She was beginning to understand that William was trying to protect her from having to ever find out.
“Thank you,” Tyler said as William pulled up to her house.
“For the ride or the advice?” he asked teasingly.
“Both.”
“Do you want me to walk you in? You still seem a tad bit out of it.”
“I am, but I’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to worry about me trying to seduce you.”
“I know, William. I’m fine, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Get some rest, you have an early call in the morning. Don’t be late.”
“Yes, captain,” Tyler said as she saluted him. William waved good-bye hoping that his starlet would soon get Andre out of her system.
“Oh, Andre, I missed having your dick inside of me. Baby, you feel so good. I’ll never let you go.”
“Oh, Tyler, baby, I’ll never let you go, either,” Andre moaned.
“What the fuck did you call me?” Chantal screeched. Andre’s dick instantly lost all life as Chantal jumped up from riding him and he opened his eyes to the daggers in hers. “I know you didn’t call me that bitch’s name. Are you so far gone that you still thinking about her while you in this good-ass pussy?”
“Well, I see your ego is still intact,” Andre huffed as he turned his body in the opposite direction of Chantal.
“Oh, please, Andre. You just proposed to me in front of a room full of people but now you’re calling out the next bitch’s name. How am I supposed to take it?”
“Chantal, what do you want me to say? That I’m over Tyler? Well, I
’m not. I don’t know if I ever will be. But what can I do? She chose her career over me and I have to accept that.”
“So what was that whole speech about tonight?”
“Honestly, I was pissed watching William all over Tyler. I wanted to hurt her,” he said nonchalantly.
“So you basically used me to get back at her. That’s cold, Andre. I thought we were better than that. Don’t you understand how much I love you? I would do anything to make you happy. I can be a good wife to you.”
“You still want to marry me?” he asked as he rose up in the bed.
“Of course I do. There is no other man for me. You are the father of my child and the love of my life.”
“But Chantal, I’m in love with someone else. My heart will never belong to you.”
“You say that now, but I have enough love for both of us. Eventually you will realize that I’m the woman for you. You’ll see, Andre, Tyler will never appreciate you the way that I do. I’ll always be in your corner and I will be the woman that you want me to be.”
Andre knew that wasn’t the case, because Chantal would never be Tyler. But he did have love for Chantal and if he couldn’t have the woman he truly wanted why not have the one who truly wanted him. Andre went to sleep that night feeling empty and alone. With everything he had learned in life, no one ever taught him how to mend a broken heart.
The nonstop phone ringing jarred Tyler out of her much-needed sleep. Not only was her head banging but she still had on the clothes and makeup from the night before. She couldn’t even say hello as she held the phone to her ear.
“Tyler, can you hear me?” Chrissie bellowed through the phone. She could hear breathing on the other end but preferred the sound of Tyler’s voice. “Tyler, if that’s you, wake up.”
“I’m up, what is it?” Tyler slurred.
“First of all, you were supposed to be on set an hour ago. No one has been able to get you on the phone. I heard about Andre’s announcement last night and I hope that’s not why you’re still passed out in bed,” Chrissie stated, as though she were a teacher scolding her student. By this time Tyler managed to carry the phone into the bathroom and put a wet, cold towel on her face. Half of her clogged-up makeup was removed by Chrissie’s last sentence.
