by Deja King
“Actually, I came on my period early this morning and I had terrible cramps. I took some pain medicine and it knocked me out. I apologize. Tell the crew I will be there shortly.” Before Chrissie could ask another question, Tyler hung up the phone. She didn’t want Chrissie to mess up her off-the-top-of-her-head lie by drilling her.
The last thing she wanted to hear was a lecture from Chrissie about forgetting Andre and being more professional. She had no idea how this whole situation was eating her up inside. Watching the man you love propose to another woman had to be the worst punishment in the world. Even the coldest woman would defrost watching a spectacle like that. Tyler decided to take her time getting to the set in order to get her mind right. She got in the shower and let the hot water seduce her body. As she lathered every curve, Tyler reflected on the last time Andre made love to her and how incredible he felt. She couldn’t believe she was giving all that up, but then reasoned that men were the biggest gamble in life. She couldn’t afford to take that type of chance especially with all her dreams within reach. After her long shower Tyler took her time applying her makeup. Normally she would arrive on set bare-faced since the makeup artist would do her up, but she wanted to arrive looking like a star. She slicked her hair back in an elegant pony tail and put on a pair of low waist Stella McCartney cream pants with a low-cut fitted cashmere sweater. With a pair of Fendi stiletto boots and matching bag, she knew Andre would lose his mind when she strutted past him.
“Tyler will be here shortly,” William announced to the irritated cast and crew.
People were whispering to each other, wondering what was delaying the usually prompt star. As the chatter continued, to everyone’s surprise Tyler entered like Miami sunshine on a rather gloomy day. Her body seemed to glide in the fitted pants and all eyes were on her.
“Good morning all, please forgive me for my tardiness,” Tyler said, sounding cheerful.
“Don’t worry. We’re just glad you’re here,” one crew member said with a bit of flirtation, although he had been cursing her out to a coworker less than ten minutes before. Tyler strutted past Andre and walked straight up to William. From the angle Andre was watching they seemed to be flirting with one another and it was driving him crazy. Unable to contain his anger he stormed over to Tyler, grabbed her arm and took her into his trailer. It all happened so unexpectedly, William was too stunned to react. By the time he did, Andre’s door was locked and instead of making a scene, William thought it best to let them talk in private.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Andre asked with rage escaping on every breath he took.
“There is nothing wrong with me. You seem to be the one with the problem. You have a lot of nerve whisking me off to your trailer against my will, especially since you’re now an engaged man.”
“I didn’t think you noticed, the way you were wasted last night.”
“I wasn’t wasted,” Tyler said on the defense.
“Whatever, Tyler. Are you back fucking William?”
“Are you back fucking Chantal?” she said, throwing the question right back in his face. There was a long silence on Andre’s part before finally answering.
“Not really.”
“What type of answer is not really? Either you’re fucking her or you’re not.”
“Listen, I’m the one asking you the question,” Andre reminded her.
“It’s none of your business.”
Andre stepped closer to Tyler and tightly held her chin with her head titled up. “It is my business and I want to know.”
Tyler felt a sense of power knowing that Andre still cared if William was sharing her bed. She purposely had a meaningless make-out session with William last night to infuriate Andre. Tyler was so enraged that he was carrying on with Chantal and wanted him to be just as disgusted at the thought that she was back tangling with William. But she couldn’t decide whether to tell him the truth or see how enraged with jealousy he would be if she lied and said they were still lovers. To her surprise and disappointment she wouldn’t have the chance to find out.
“You’re right, it isn’t my business,” Andre said as he turned to walk away.
“Andre, wait, don’t you want to hear what I have to say?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry for treating you as if you still belonged to me. Whatever your relationship is with William, it is your business. I’ve moved on and you’ve been moved on. I guess it’s time for me to let go.”
Tyler so badly wanted to reach out to Andre and admit how deeply in love she was with him, but something held her back. She agonized as Andre walked out of the trailer, leaving her crushed. It took all Tyler’s will power not to run out of her trailer and beg Andre to come back. But the words that William spoke to her last night lingered in her head. Maybe Andre would break her heart, and Tyler feared that more than anything else.
After Tyler shot her last scenes, she grabbed her belongings and dashed off, not even bothering to say good-bye to the cast and crew. Before she could find seclusion in her car she bumped into a familiar face.
“Hello, T-Roc, I’m surprised to see you.”
“I actually have a late meeting with someone who works here.”
“Oh, well, I won’t hold you up.”
“Wait, I have a few minutes to spare,” T-Roc said, wanting to share a few minutes with the distraught-looking Tyler.
“Well, I don’t—I have to go.”
“Tyler, stop,” T-Roc said with authority. To her surprise, but not his, she did. For a brief moment it was like they were back in time when T-Roc had a strong, sickening hold on her.
“What is it?” she asked in an uneasy voice. T-Roc could see the discomfort in her eyes, but he couldn’t resist toying with her mind.
“You seem upset, Tyler, and I want to know what’s wrong,” T-Roc said as he stepped closer to Tyler. She observed the diamond studs that sparkled from each ear, the perfectly smooth and groomed face, his charcoal cashmere turtleneck, tailored black slacks, and loafers. His eyes and smile reflected sincerity, but Tyler knew better. There was nothing sincere about T-Roc and when you put your guard down he would swallow you up like the snake that he was.
“I’m fine, T-Roc, but even if I wasn’t it’s none of your business.” Tyler began to pick up her stride and walk off, but T-Roc seized her arm.
“Don’t ever turn your back on me, Tyler. When I first saw you again at William’s party, you didn’t acknowledge me but I let that slide. I know you were the reason I didn’t get the part and I let that slide, too. I know you are going through some emotional turmoil right now, so I’m going to excuse you getting sweet with the tongue, but that’s your third and final pass.”
“You don’t know anything about what I’m going through, T-Roc.”
“I know a lot more than you think,” he said, staring so hard Tyler got light-headed.
“Regardless, I don’t have to explain anything to you. The hold you once had over me, T-Roc, is long gone. It died when your venom caused your cousin to throw me down the stairs and I lost my baby. Do you know how different my life would be right now?”
“Yeah, I would be a father and you would be my wife.”
“T-Roc, that baby wasn’t yours. It was Ian’s, and you refused to let us be happy together.”
“In your heart you know that baby was mine.” Tyler turned her head, unable to look T-Roc in the face. She didn’t want him to see the tears that were welling up in her eyes. “But you’re right, your life would be so much different. You wouldn’t be the movie star you are now. I remember how desperately you wanted your independence, free to make your own decisions and have your own money. This is the life you said you wanted so many years ago. Is it everything you dreamed it would be, or are you still that lost little girl in search of love?” T-Roc could feel Tyler’s entire body shaking. He always knew what buttons to push to mentally crush her.
“Why do you do this to me?” Tyler asked with the sound of defeat in her voice.
“Do what? Make you think?”
“T-Roc, I can’t do this with you. If an ounce of compassion runs through your blood just let me go home, please.”
T-Roc hated to let go but he released Tyler from his grip. He didn’t need her to answer his question anyway. Tyler was lost but he still planned on being the man to save her. The first thing he had to do was dig deep in Andre’s closet and find out what skeletons he had buried. There was no way a man that powerful didn’t have a couple of dead bodies lying around somewhere. After Andre got the better of him by keeping his role as Damian, T-Roc was more determined than ever to bring Andre down. He would dig so deep and leave no rock unturned.
That night Tyler went home and drowned her sorrows in a magnum of Dom P. Luckily it was the last day of shooting so she didn’t have to be on set early the next morning. She took the phone off the hook, put on her favorite Sade mourning CD, and lay on her couch and passed out.
On his way home Andre stopped by Harry Winston and picked out a beautiful engagement ring for Chantal, just the sort of obscene rock that she would adore. When Andre slid it on Chantal’s slender finger, she immediately got on the phone and called all her friends and some people that she hadn’t spoken to in years. Andre left Chantal to brag and walked into his study and locked the door so he could be left alone with his thoughts. He wanted to dream about Tyler one last time before he totally tried to erase her from his heart. If only it was that easy to let go of love.
F I F T E E N
Magic Stick
It had only been a few weeks since she became officially engaged to Andre but it seemed like a lifetime to Chantal. The fairy tale she envisioned as a little girl was no longer a fantasy. She occasionally pinched herself to make sure it was real. Chantal even had to admit that in her wildest dreams, marrying a man like Andre Jackson seemed a bit out of reach. After accepting that the proposal and ring were the real deal, she tried to delete Tyler Blake from her mind. She kept a close watch on Andre and from what she observed he wasn’t in touch with her opponent, which relieved a ton of stress. For the first time Chantal felt secure enough to relish in all her glory.
“Girl, I can’t believe you did it. You got that motherfucker to finally marry yo ass. Work it bitch,” Shari popped as she gave Chantal a pound.
“Persistence is the key.”
“Yeah, and slitting your wrists also helps,” Shari said sarcastically.
“Yeah, in my yet to be released book titled ‘How to Bag Your Millionaire Man,’ I’m going to put that in the desperate measure chapter. I mean, fuck it, I did what I had to do.”
“You’re not the least bit worried that Andre might go running back to Tyler?”
“I’m not gonna lie. At first it would be the last thing I would think about before I went to sleep, and the first thing I thought about when I woke up in the morning. But after drilling Andre, he reassured me that it’s over between him and Tyler.”
“Excuse me? Andre reassured you? Come again?”
“Yeah, we had a long discussion. He still has feelings for homegirl, but he knows his future is with me. She is so caught up in all that Hollywood bullshit that she ain’t paying Andre no mind. It’s her loss and my gain.”
“Hmm, so it don’t bother you that you’re second choice?” Shari asked.
“Girl, hell no! I rather come in second to an official chick like Tyler Blake than some bum groupie bitch. It’s actually rather good for my ego. If she would’ve married him, my ass would be sick. Seeing their pictures splashed across all the magazines and on the television, they would replace the void left by P. Diddy and J-Lo. At least now I know he ain’t going anywhere, because if he can’t be with her then he’ll definitely be with me. I’m more secure than ever. I am praying William Donovan will get a divorce and marry Tyler, and then I can really breathe.” Chantal started spitting the hook to the Young Jeezy song as Shari watched and then joined in, pretending to be a backup dancer in a video.
“Work it, Shari, I’ma tell Andre to hook you up in 50 Cent’s next video,” Chantal said, half-laughing.
“Video, oh please. 50 is cool and I love all his songs, but I no longer need to do insignificant things like that thanks to the Chris Duncan fund,” Shari bragged with pure confidence. Both women jammed and bounced their hips off one another as if the actual Jeezy record were blasting on the radio.
“Damn, ya having a straight up party up in here except there is no music and nobody but the two of you are in attendance,” Andre said, eyeing Chantal and Shari in confusion.
“Baby, we just tripping. Actually Shari came over to start helping me with our wedding plans.” Chantal nudged Shari discreetly who was unaware of her plans but knew to go along with it.
“Yeah, we’re trying to decide the location and color scheme for the wedding,” Shari added proudly.
“Don’t you think it’s a little too soon to be making wedding plans?” he asked, looking uncomfortable with the realization that he would soon be tying the knot.
“No, I was hoping we could have a Christmas wedding,” Chantal revealed for the first time.
“But it’s the beginning of November—that’s next month. We need more time to prepare. I’m sure you want a top-of-the line ceremony,” Andre reasoned, trying to stall the inevitable.
“And I will. I already contacted the hottest wedding planner in LA and told her you would have no problem paying extra to make sure we have the most beautiful wedding, although we working on limited time. At first she acted high post but once I dropped your name she got her shit together quickly.”
“This all seems a little rushed to me, Chantal. Maybe you should slow it down a little.”
“Andre, I can’t. I already told my family and informed Melanie. She was the one that actually gave me the idea. When I asked her what she wanted for Christmas she said for Mommy and Daddy to get married.” Chantal knew that was the clincher right there. Andre’s back was against the wall. After the emotional roller coaster Melanie had been on, there was no way he would disappoint her.
“Well, I guess we’re having a Christmas wedding,” Andre said reluctantly. “I can’t let down my sweet little angel.” Chantal winked at Shari, letting her know that she knew exactly how to push her man’s buttons.
“I’m going to let you ladies continue on with your planning. I have some phone calls to make,” Andre said, exiting the room.
Chantal waited to make sure Andre was nowhere in sight when she started jumping up and down.
“Shari, I wasn’t sure if I was pushing too hard with the Christmas wedding, but it damn sure worked out,” Chantal gasped with excitement.
“I know. When you said that shit I thought Andre was going to be like ‘hell no,’ but he gave in a lot easier than I expected.”
“I knew once I dropped Melanie’s name, he would give in. If that hadn’t worked, I was going to send Melanie in here with those big crocodile tears in her eyes to plead my case.”
“You should be ashamed of yourself using that sweet little girl to do your dirty work,” Shari said smiling, although she was serious. But Shari knew Chantal long enough to know she had no shame when it came to getting what she wanted.
Tyler’s world was crashing down all around her. Her breakup with Andre had hit her harder than she anticipated. William had been relentless in his pursuit to rekindle the love affair with his star pupil but soon realized that she needed more time to mend her broken heart. He hoped that once she started working on a new film project she would snap out of the depressed mood she seemed stuck in. William was sure that Tyler would pull it together, but Chrissie wasn’t as confident. Every time she would call or visit Tyler she seemed to be in a drunken state. Chrissie was determined to snap her out of her downward spiral.
“Tyler, it’s not even two o’clock in the afternoon and you’re drinking. That’s not a good look,” Chrissie remarked.
“Chrissie, please, it’s only champagne. It’s harmless. Some cultures can’t start their day without
having a drink.”
“Yeah, you’re talking about that culture called drunk. I know a few of those. I’m hoping that I don’t have to add you to that list.”
“You’re so cynical. I’m just trying to relax. I recently finished a grueling movie schedule and in a few weeks I start another one. Can’t a girl have a couple of glasses of champagne to clear her mind?”
“It depends what you’re trying to clear. If it’s a certain man, I hate to break it to you but no amount of liquor will erase that memory.” Tyler sat on her couch, flipping through the latest edition of Cosmo with Angelina Jolie on the cover, trying in vain to act as if she didn’t hear a word Chrissie said. A frustrated Chrissie walked over and snatched the magazine from Tyler’s hands.
“What is that all about?” Tyler squealed, irritated by Chrissie’s obvious attempt to butt into her personal feelings.
“Because you’re using that damn magazine as some sort of block so you don’t have to pay attention to me.” Tyler took a deep breath and rolled her eyes, letting Chrissie know she wasn’t amused by her therapy session.
“What do you want me to say, Chrissie? That I’m using alcohol as a crutch because I’m not with the man that I love?”
“Is that what’s going on?” Tyler reached for her glass, trying to avoid answering the question, but Chrissie ripped it from her hands. “No more until we finish our conversation,” Chrissie said with authority.
“Fine!” Tyler was tired of fighting with Chrissie and figured the sooner they had their talk the sooner she could resume drowning her sorrows in the two cold bottles she had waiting in her refrigerator.
“Wonderful. So I guess you’re not taking this whole wedding thing very well?”
