Southern Gossip: A Complicated Love Story

by Tiece

  “Oh, hey son, you startled me a bit. I thought you were your father.”

  “Sorry about that. I was just leaving Mama Gray’s then heading to Jennifer’s and I stopped by for a moment.”

  “Have you spoken to your father today?” She asked.

  “No, not today,” he responded leaning against the wall. “Are you okay?” he questioned, sensing that she had a lot on her mind from earlier that morning at the big house and whatever it was seemed to still be bothering her.

  “I’m good son.” She said trying not to let her worry lines show. He could tell that she was stressed, but he was hoping that it wasn’t about Jada Kent because he wasn’t traveling back down memory lane if he could help himself. “Where is your brother?” She asked while walking inside the bathroom to run her some bath water.

  “He’s at Mama Gray’s getting ready to go out.” He responded. Mrs. Gray stood in the bathroom mirror primping a little. She didn’t want her behavior looking strangely to her son. Marlon stepped to the bathroom door. She was now putting on her facial cream as she looked at him through the mirror.

  “So I take it that y’all will be at the Lion’s Den tonight?” She asked.

  “You know its Saturday night. My spot is always jumping on the weekends.”

  “You’re right it’s always jumping and forever in that nosey ass gossip column.” She responded as she looked over at him. Her pretty, smooth brown face was almost white from her facial cream.

  “That gossip column is probably the main reason why my club has gotten so much exposure and business.” He responded.

  “Exposure isn’t always good for business, Marlon.” She stated cutting her eyes at him.

  “Well, in my case it is.” He responded knowing that she was never thrilled about him owning a strip club per say.

  “Are you taking Jennifer with you tonight?” She asked.

  “Yes, she’s getting ready now.”

  “Have you filled the waitress positions since you had to fire one for prostituting herself to your customers during her work hours and the other one from screwing in the parking lot on the premises?”

  Marlon grinned, knowing that if it wasn’t for ‘Here’s The Tea,’ it would’ve been hush hush and at least the girl screwing in the parking lot could’ve kept her job. “It was with her boyfriend, Mom.” He explained trying to downplay the girl’s actions.

  “It doesn’t matter. It was unprofessional and if she wanted some that bad then she should’ve gotten a room.”

  “You’re just mad, because it makes the bar looks worse than what you already think it is.” He said.

  “It just seems to be one big orgy going on around your place of business.” She stated turning off the bath water then walking back into her bedroom.

  “The only people that think like that are you and Mama Gray.” He said disappointedly shaking his head. “Well, I have to go. I have things to do.”

  She looked over at him. He looked really nice in a button down, blue and white striped Polo shirt, a pair of Ralph Lauren navy pants, and a casual leather pair of Sperry shoes. His haircut was neatly trimmed showing off his deep waves which made him look very handsome. “Well, you do look very handsome tonight son.” She said.

  He smiled. “Thanks Mom.”

  “Just be careful and have fun,” she said opening a drawer and pulling out a long, sheer, white nightgown.

  “I will and we’ll see you in the morning at breakfast.” he said kissing her on the cheek and exiting the room. She knew that she was pushing a few of his buttons, but she only did that to keep him from focusing so much on her.

  She walked over by the nightstand and picked up the phone dialing Mr. Gray’s number, but he didn’t answer. She stood there for a moment thinking that he’d call right back, but he didn’t. Usually this wouldn’t bother her, but for some reason this time was different. She went back into the bathroom and began to undress but thoughts of her husband’s whereabouts played heavily on her mind. Ian, what have you been up to? She thought.

  ***

  A’keem sat on the passenger side of Seth’s Range Rover as they rode to the Lion’s Den. He was anxious as he looked over at his cousin. “So you said that Jada was coming out with Serenity tonight?”

  “Yep, that’s what Serenity said. Jada didn’t tell you?” Seth questioned.

  A’keem sat quiet for a moment. His thoughts kept reflecting on Jada and their earlier encounter. He acted hard trying to push her off on his brother, but deep down he still loved her.

  “Nah, we didn’t get on the subject.” He responded. “What was Serenity talking about? Did she say anything about Jada or why she was back?” Akeem pondered.

  “Nah Cuz, she didn’t mention anything about Jada, but she did mention that she was fucking around with Flow.”

  A’keem frowned. “Huh? Who Serenity?” he questioned as he looked over at Seth.

  “So you didn’t know?” Seth asked.

  “Hell no, I didn’t know nothing about that,” he responded. “If I knew about it I would’ve let you know Cuz.” Seth looked over at him. He knew that Flow was A’keem’s best friend, but he believed him. His cousin wouldn’t keep that from him, especially knowing that he really liked Serenity.

  “Okay Cuz, I believe you.” Seth said thinking for a moment.

  “I wonder why that nigga keeping that shit a secret. I usually know about all the women he’s fucking.” A’keem said.

  Seth shook his head. “That shit is crazy. Then the nigga called me while I was out there talking to her earlier and asked me if I could handle some business for him.”

  A’keem frowned again. “Handle some business for him?”

  “Yeah, but I told that nigga I wasn’t coming to town until later. I wanted to say more, but Serenity was standing there.”

  “I don’t know what’s up with Flow. He knows that we don’t’ fuck around with that shit. We country boys, we don’t have too.”

  “Right and he’s gonna make me straighten him on that shit too if he tries me again.” Seth said. “I’m already feeling some type of way about him and Serenity fucking around, but I’ma let that be and fall back off the broad.”

  A’keem raised an eyebrow with a confused facial expression. “I just don’t understand why he’s so hush hush about it, but time will tell.” He said as they pulled up in the crowded parking lot of the Lion’s Den. He sat silent for a moment still thinking about how slick Jada and her bestie could be. “Damn, them some tough ass country girls.”

  “Tell me about it.” Seth agreed.

  “Man, le’me get my mind right,” A’keem said firing up his blunt. “If they’re gonna be here tonight I’ma need this one and another one.”

  “Fuck it, le’me hit that shit too.” Seth chimed in. He knew that he’d quit smoking for at least a year, but tonight he was ready to get back on it. Serenity’s news had definitely fucked up his night, but he was determined to make it better.

  ***

  Meanwhile, Jada and Serenity were headed to the Lion’s Den. Jada looked over at her homegirl wanting to be nosey. “So, what did Seth say when you told him about Flow?” she asked as they exited the Gray Plantation passing the security booth.

  Serenity looked over at Jada who was chilling on the passenger side rolling up a jay. “Are you really gonna do that?”

  “Yes, why not? This is my homecoming party to myself.” She said feeling herself from the shots of Ciroc that she and Serenity taken before leaving her residence. She lit up the joint. “Are you gonna smoke or what?” She asked after puffing twice on it.

  Serenity thought about her earlier conversation with Seth then looked back over at the luring feel good medicine. “Fuck it, le’me hit that shit.” She said taking the joint and puffing from it.

  “Soooo, what did Seth say about you and Flow messing around?”

  “He was hurt. He acted as if it wasn’t a big deal but I knew it was, because he said that he was going to fall back.” She said puffing from
the joint again.

  “Damn, how does that make you feel?” Jada asked.

  “It makes me feel fucked up; because I knew for sure that he liked me a lot.” She said puffing from the joint again. “Trying to figure out Flow’s feelings is sometimes complicated.” She puffed again.

  “Aye, Aye, Aye,” Jada called out. “Pass that shit already.”

  “My bad girl,” Serenity said passing the jay over to Jada. “I never should’ve said anything. I don’t know what I was thinking. What should I do?”

  “Hell, I don’t know. That would be like the blind leading the blind, girl. I know you feel bad about telling Seth, but you’d rather tell him than Flow, right? It’s just funny to me that Flow hadn’t mentioned you to them yet, especially to A’keem because he would’ve told his cousin. I’m sure about that.”

  “I know right, that’s how I knew that Flow hadn’t said anything. If Seth knew about it in the first place then he would’ve never hollered at me.”

  “And, let me guess, you’ve always liked Seth,” Jada teased.

  “I did and you know it too,” Serenity blushed. “But, he always hooked up with one of those suburb city gals, like Serenity Foster doesn’t live on the plantation.” She said speaking of herself in third person.

  Jada laughed out loud. “Your ass is crazy, but it’s true. He just never looked at you in that way or maybe we just didn’t know it.” She said puffing the last bit of joint and throwing it out the cracked window. “I don’t know girl, but maybe those horseback rides have finally paid off for you. I saw that ass from the front when you picked me up from the airport Thursday. I said, look at Serenity. That bitch is fine!”

  Serenity burst out laughing. “Well, it had been almost a year hadn’t it since we last saw each other in person.”

  “Yep, almost a year,” Jada said remembering back when Serenity totally surprised her by coming to visit. She ended up staying for three weeks. It was the best time of her life.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re back so I don’t have to be taking that three hour flight all the way to Sweetwater, Montana. Damn, when you went away, BITCH YOU WENT AWAY!” They laughed.

  “Girl, you know I had to get as far away from this place as possible. Plus, with my aunt living there it made it that much easier.”

  “I know.” Serenity said knowing all too well the reason Jada departed so suddenly.

  “It was bad enough that I turned down Marlon’s marriage proposal in front of the whole plantation, but even worse that I couldn’t explain my reason for having to leave.”

  “I didn’t even know that Marlon was throwing you a surprise engagement party. Apparently, the only people who knew were your mom and him.”

  “Funny huh, because nothing is ever usually a secret on the plantation,” Jada said.

  “But that was. Your mom had everyone fooled like she was just throwing another one of the Kent’s infamous barbeques. You know no one on the plantation is going to miss that. It’s always something juicy going on anytime the Kent’s and Gray’s come together.”

  “You telling me,” Jada commented. “I bet Mrs. Gray was somewhat pleased with the way things went down. The only thing that probably bothered her was Marlon’s broken heart.”

  “Yeah, it took him a minute to get over that.” Serenity stated.

  “I know.” Jada sadly said. “You know I’m going out to celebrate. I don’t wanna think about this sad shit.”

  “Well don’t. We’re not going to have any worries tonight about Seth and Flow or A’keem and Marlon. We’re gonna party like we used to back in the day. Forget what people think or say.” She said knowing that there would be heads turned to know that Jada Kent was back in town. “I’m celebrating my bestie’s homecoming party!”

  “Hell yeah! I’m down with that.” Jada said as she turned up the rest of her Ciroc. Serenity smiled as she continued to drive almost nearing the Lion’s Den.

  ***

  Marlon stepped inside of his place of business with Jennifer following closely behind him. He stood in the entrance way, looking from one end of his domain to the other and smiled. It was only ten o’clock and the Lion’s Den already had a line waiting outside. He glimpsed the crowd thinking that only a few of those in line would make it in. The others would go home preparing to come earlier the next weekend.

  He had a very relaxing place of business. People enjoyed the mellow feel of the lavishly laid out black and white décor, the live entertainment from the attractive exotic dancers, and the deliciously cooked appetizers prepared from the Gray Family’s very own recipe book. He smiled to himself knowing that it wasn’t any place else as hot as his spot on a weekend night in the city.

  “Hey babe,” Jennifer said tapping him on the shoulder. “Go handle your business and I’m going to the bar to get a drink. I’ve had a long day.”

  “Okay baby. I’m going to my office first and take care of a few things then I’ll be back out.”

  “I’ll wait at the bar for you.” She said kissing him softly on the lips then walking off. She knew that the women were looking and whispering as soon as he showed his face in the entrance way, but she wanted every money hungry bitch in there to know that he was already taken.

  Marlon stood for a moment longer checking out the VIP section that could seat up to forty people comfortably, but the seats weren’t filled yet. Only a few women were there already and he needed to find out if the rest of the VIP was on reserve and if not why wasn’t Jerome, the doorman, filling the seats.

  An old school buddy tapped his shoulder as he walked by. “What’s up Marlon?”

  “Aye, what’s up man,” he spoke with a quick dap continuing to pass the engaging crowd as they watched Cinnamon slide down the pole with her ass cheeks. He headed down the hallway leading him past the lady’s dressing room with a sign on the door that read, Please Knock, as he knocked lightly.

  “Come on in,” a light voice called out. Marlon opened the door while peeking his head around it. “What’s up Boss?” Spice spoke as she lotioned her caramel tone, smooth legs. She was an exotic dancer, dancing for money and she’d do any and everything to make a dollar. She smiled at Marlon thinking that he was one of the sexiest men she’d ever met, but she knew that she wasn’t his type. No matter how cute and fine she was, her reputation for sleeping around would never allow her to be a woman on his arm.

  “Hey Spice.” He smiled. “How are you tonight?”

  “I’m good,” she said.

  “How long have you been here?” He questioned, looking around the big empty dressing room then hearing the shower turn on in the back. “Who’s working with you tonight?”

  “I just got here about twenty minutes ago. I go on after Cinnamon is done. Honey just left the stage doing her chocolate surprise inside a small kiddy pool.” She grinned. “That’s why she’s in the shower. She has another show after me since Sugar is filling in for the waitress position tonight.

  “Okay I see,” he said. “I need to hire somebody for that waitress position.” Sugar was his all around lady, she knew the ends and outs of the business, and she knew how to work each position there. She was his right hand when it came down to the Lion’s Den and was one of the main reasons why the bar was so successful. He knew that Sugar was a great entertainer with the most seductive moves ever. The crowd always came to see her put on a show, because she gave them their money’s worth and then some. He couldn’t have her serving drinks and food. He needed her back on that stage as soon as possible.

  Spice stood up with her red thongs showing under her see through red and white nurse’s uniform. She turned her back to Marlon so he could get a better look at her long smooth legs and her fat ass. He smiled already knowing what the deal was.

  “Uh, when you see Sugar tell her to come to my office and thanks for working extra hours to cover the empty positions. You look good in that uniform.”

  “No problem Boss and thanks,” she said as he closed the door and headed further down the hallway
then stopped. He unlocked the door to his office and walked in, flipping the light switch on. He immediately sat behind his desk, turning on his desktop flat screen computer. The cameras that were positioned throughout the place showed up on the desktop screen. He zoomed in at a glimpse of Jennifer, looking sexy as hell, sitting at the bar sipping from her drink.

  “Knock knock,” Sugar said appearing at his door.

  Marlon looked up and smiled. “What’s up Sugar?”

  “Hey, I heard you were looking for me.” She said, stepping inside the office with a black mini skirt on, black pumps, and a tight fitted white tank top with the name Lion’s Den on it. Her micro braided hair was pulled up in a ponytail, wrapped around in a ball.