Delilah shook her head. “I can’t. She’ll hate me. They’ll all hate me.”
“No, they won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“But I know you,” Tommy said. “You can’t—”
Delilah was grateful for the knock at the door.
“Come in,” Tommy said.
Marie stuck her head in. “Mr. Roscoe’s here. Should I let him in?”
Delilah gave Tommy a stern look. Then she said to Marie, “Yes, you should. I’m starving.”
“This conversation isn’t over,” Tommy said, before he got up to go meet Roscoe.
Yes, it is, Delilah thought as she watched him walk away from her. All she had to do was keep Roscoe here for lunch. She didn’t think that would be a difficult task. At this point, she knew she could rise to any challenge if it meant she could delay what she knew was becoming more inevitable every day.
Chapter 21
I’m not talking to you,” Veronica told her husband. Unlike yesterday’s spa day, she and Dexter had been together all day today. Tia had a car service drive them to Emory University Medical Center on West Peachtree Street, where they had spent the morning with a doctor who took a medical history and did a health screening on each of them. Now they were back in Atlantic Station at Jim’s Gym for their fitness assessments.
“You can’t ignore me all day,” Dexter said from the treadmill next to hers.
Veronica checked the time on her treadmill. Eight minutes down, four minutes to go. She couldn’t wait for this twelve-minute stress test to be over. She already knew she had a high cardiovascular endurance level. She was a dancer, for goodness’ sake.
“They’re not going to force you to have breast augmentation surgery,” Dexter said for the hundredth time since she’d told him that she’d heard Michael, Yanni, and Monica commenting on the size of her breasts and suggesting that breast enhancement might be necessary. “It’ll be your decision.”
Veronica wished she had her iPod or something so she could tune Dexter totally out. His lack of understanding of how their suggestion made her feel disappointed her and made her sad. In all the time they’d been married, he’d never expressed any problem with the size of her breasts. He’d always told her that her “handful” was plenty for him. Now all of a sudden he was right there with Michael and Yanni talking about a boob job.
“Stop being childish,” he told her, exhaustion from the run making his words disjointed. “They only want to put the best you forward.”
When the final four minutes were up, Veronica got off the treadmill and headed for the refrigerated case where the bottled water was stored. She took out a bottle, twisted off the cap, and took a long swallow. Dexter stumbled behind her to get his own bottle. Though she knew it was petty, she took a bit of satisfaction in knowing she had endured the run better than he had. “Somebody needs to get in shape,” she said to him. “I wonder what suggestions the trainer will have for you.”
After getting his bottle of water, Dexter dropped down on the nearest bench. “Don’t be cruel,” he said.
She jabbed a finger toward her chest. “Me being cruel? What about you telling me I need a boob job?”
“I said no such thing.”
Technically, he was right, but that was beside the point. “But you didn’t say I shouldn’t do it.”
Sighing, he took another swallow of water, stood up next to her, and put a hand on each of her shoulders. She lowered her head so she wouldn’t have to look at him. “This is not about us personally,” he said. “This is about business. Left to me, I would change nothing about you because I think you’re perfect. But I’m not the expert here. All I’m saying is that we need to think carefully about each recommendation they give us. Like Tia said, everything they do is to make sure Legends makes money from their investment in you.” He removed one hand from her shoulder and tipped her chin up. “That’s what we want too, right? Remember, what’s good for Legends is good for us.”
To Veronica, Dexter was sounding more like a business partner than a supportive husband. She needed someone to care about her, Veronica Monroe Timmons, and her interests, not another member of Team Veronica Y. She needed her mother and her sisters. They would understand and support her. They always had. Well, they had until losing the contest had ruined things between them.
Clap! Clap!
Veronica turned at the sound, as did Dexter.
“I need to talk to both of you,” Jim, their trainer and the owner of the gym, said. “Follow me to my office.”
Already used to doing what she was told, Veronica dutifully followed Jim into his office, Dexter behind her. When told, they sat in chairs in front of his desk.
“You both did well on the cardiovascular endurance tests,” Jim said. He turned to Veronica. “You did exceptionally well.”
“I’m a dancer,” she said.
“You’re a very fit dancer,” Jim said. “Which is good for us since it means you’re ready to race.”
“Race?” Veronica repeated.
“Yes,” Jim explained. “The Peachtree Road Race. It’s a 10K event held on the Fourth of July each year here in Atlanta. Legends always fields a team. This year they want you and Dexter to participate.”
“But I’ve never run a race, 10K or otherwise,” Veronica said.
“Neither have I,” Dexter said.
Veronica bit down on her bottom lip while she waited for her ever-accommodating husband to add that, nevertheless, they were willing and ready to do it for the Legends team. When he didn’t, she thawed a bit toward him. Even Dexter had his limits.
“It doesn’t matter,” Jim told them. “We host a ten-week training program here at the gym to get you ready for the race. Tia already has it on your schedule. Don’t worry. You’ll both do fine.” He looked at Veronica. “The training for the race is similar to the program I put artists through in preparation for going on tour. It’s all about endurance.”
Veronica nodded. She understood the endurance needed to sing while keeping up with a dance routine. She welcomed the hard work of training for the race since she knew it would only help her during performances.
Finished with her, Jim then turned to Dexter. “Your case is a bit different. Endurance is not as important for you, but if you’re going to keep up with your wife, you’ll appreciate the results of the hard work we’re putting you through. What we want more from you, though, is strength building and definition. We want to see your body more defined. Legends has big plans for your wife. If the future unfolds as they envision, she’ll soon become a regular in the media, with you at her side. So you need to look the part. Male artists are very competitive about their bodies. You need to be in that competition.”
Veronica took a little satisfaction in Dexter’s weak nod. While her husband wasn’t out of shape and took reasonably good care of his body, he considered himself more a mind man than a body man. Jim hadn’t exactly told Dexter he was a slob, but the trainer had made it clear that his body wasn’t up to the standards that Legends demanded. She was sure those words rubbed against Dexter’s grain. Good, she thought. Now maybe he’ll understand a little bit how I feel about the boob job comments.
“So Legends always has artists participating in this event?” Dexter asked, going back to something Jim had said earlier. The body comments must not have irked him that much after all.
Jim nodded. “It’ll be great exposure to the local community. All the local television stations cover the event, and Legends will make sure you two get a few interviews out of it. Also, it doesn’t hurt that by running you’re both showing support for the city. That’s like goodwill in the bank you can draw on in the future.”
“Mr. Washington and his team think of everything,” Dexter said.
“They have to. The music industry is not for the fainthearted. You’re either in it to win it or you’re not in it at all. Which are you two?”
“We’re in it to win it,” Dexter said.
“And yo
u, Veronica?” Jim asked. “Are you in it to win it?”
Veronica gave the answer she knew she was supposed to give, but still thinking about the breast augmentation, she wondered exactly how much would be required of her.
Chapter 22
Roxanne watched Alisha shove her hands into the back pockets of her jeans as she gave that hunky coworker who had come to help her move the brush-off.
“Thanks, Jeff,” Roxanne heard Alisha say. “I thought I was going to be finished tonight, but the packing is taking longer than I thought. Can you and your friends come back tomorrow afternoon? With my sister’s help, I’ll be ready then.”
“We can help you pack,” the hunk offered.
Alisha shoved her hands deeper into her back pockets. Roxanne was pretty sure her sister wasn’t aware that the action caused her breasts to push forward in the stupid Braves T-shirt she was wearing. Not that the T-shirt was bothering the hunk. He was doing all he could to keep from staring. Poor guy, Roxanne thought. He’s picked the wrong woman to fall for. Alisha didn’t have a clue.
“That’s okay,” Alisha said. “We’ve got it covered. Tomorrow is good.”
Having no other recourse, the hunk said, “See you tomorrow.”
After Alisha closed the door, Roxanne called out, “You could have shown the man a little appreciation.”
Alisha came back and plopped down on the floor next to a stack of books. “Appreciation for what? He hasn’t done anything yet.” Alisha began putting books in a box. “I’ll thank ’em tomorrow after they get me moved.”
Roxanne chuckled. “You, my dear sister, are a trip. You do realize that guy is interested in you, right?”
Alisha looked up, a question in her eyes. “Jeff? You’re kidding. Jeff’s not interested in me. We’re work buddies.”
Roxanne didn’t think trying to convince her sister otherwise was worth it. “If you say so.”
Alisha leaned her head to the side and looked at Roxanne. “Speaking of men,” she said, “when are we going to meet your new guy?”
Roxanne turned to pick up another box. She folded it and then reached for the tape gun. “It’s complicated.”
“How complicated can it be? You’re dating someone who seems to be someone special. Me and Momma want to meet him.”
Roxanne knew her mother and Alisha would both die if they knew about Gavin. “I don’t want to scare the guy off,” she teased. “He’s not ready for you and Momma.”
“Why didn’t he come to see us during the finals competition? He wasn’t there, was he?”
He didn’t come because he was celebrating his wife’s birthday. “He had to work. He’s on a ship to South America.”
“Have you spoken to him since we lost?”
She had wanted to hear from him, but obviously he hadn’t been able to steal a few minutes for a phone call. That was the price she paid for being his mistress. “Yes, we spoke for a few minutes. He was able to watch the show. He wanted to be here in person, but he was here in spirit. That was enough.” It really wasn’t, but she was in no position to make demands.
Alisha folded the tops of a full box, grabbed the tape gun, and in three broad swipes, taped the box closed. She pushed the box to the side and reached for an empty one. “I’m happy for you, Roxanne. It’s obvious you care about this guy. He seems to be good for you.”
If you only knew, Roxanne thought. “He’s good to me too,” she said. Needing to change the subject, she said, “You need a man in your life.”
Alisha shook her head. “I don’t need a man. What I need is to write a hit song for a major artist.”
“You really are on a roll, aren’t you, little sister? You quit your job, you rent your condo, and then you move back home with Momma. When you make a move, you make it big.”
Alisha shrugged. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment forever. Do you remember how you felt when you got the Dreamland gig?”
Roxanne nodded. The memory had been dimmed by more recent goals, but she still remembered the joy she’d felt at getting paid to do what she loved.
“Well, I’m feeling something like that now. I have this escalated sense of excitement mixed with urgency. I feel that this is my moment and I can’t let it slip by.”
“That’s the way I felt too,” Roxanne said, “until we lost the contest. Then we lost the Magic City contract. I’m not feeling really hopeful right now. I’m feeling more lost than anything. For the first time in a long time, I’m not excited about going to work. Dreamland can’t be the limit for me. It can’t be, but right now it is. And I find that more depressing than anything.”
Alisha put her hand on her sister’s knee. “Don’t be depressed, sis. There are good things in store for us. I really do feel it. I’ll write your first hit. You believe that, don’t you?”
Roxanne put her hand on top of her sister’s. “I want to, but it’s hard right now.”
“I know, but you have to hang in there. You can’t give up. We can’t give up.” She grinned. “Look at Momma. If she’d given up after Daddy died, she wouldn’t have found Mr. Tommy.”
Roxanne smiled. “You have a point. What do you think of that relationship, really?”
Alisha shrugged. “I only want Momma to be happy. If he makes her happy, then I’m happy for her. She deserves some happiness. She really had to step up for us after Daddy died. Now she can let somebody take care of her. Mr. Tommy is that kind of guy.”
“Momma and Mr. Magic City. I still don’t know if I believe he offered us that contract solely because of our talent. I’m sure his relationship with Momma had something to do with it.”
Alisha shrugged. “So what if it did? This is a tough business, Roxanne. We’re going to need all the help we can get. If it takes preferential treatment from the man who’s courting our mother to get us on the road to accomplishing our dreams, I’m all for it.”
Roxanne thought about the cost she’d paid for the Dreamland job. “I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t like the idea of mixing business with pleasure. I don’t want Momma to get hurt.”
Alisha taped another box. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. Mr. Tommy seems to be taking a professional approach with us. Now, if Momma was really working some magic, he would have given us the contract without Veronica. No, Mr. Tommy is a businessman first.”
“But I’m not sure Momma is a businesswoman first. She thinks about family first.”
Alisha looked up at her sister. “Are you finally ready to admit that Veronica made a wise choice by going with Legends?”
No, Roxanne thought, I’m not ready to admit any such thing. “I never said it wasn’t a smart choice for her and her career,” she said to Alisha. “A blind man could see that it is. But look where it left us. Nowhere.”
“Speak for yourself,” Alisha said. “I can look at my situation as being out of a job and homeless or I can look at it as embarking on a new adventure. I’ll choose the latter, thank you very much.”
Roxanne knew Alisha wasn’t merely spouting words. She was genuinely excited about what the future held. While Alisha was excited, though, Roxanne was scared. She was getting older every day, and the idea of herself as a middle-aged woman singing on a Dreamland cruise ship sparked dread in her heart, not excitement. Her career was going nowhere, and she was in a dead-end relationship. How had she let this happen to her?
Chapter 23
Veronica, you make my creation sing,” Victor Meggan said, beaming with pride from across the main salon of his Buckhead suite of offices. Victor was a tall, attractive guy who looked like he’d stepped out of the pages of GQ magazine. In fact, he looked more like a male model than a designer of high-end women’s fashions.
The simple dress Veronica wore made her feel like breaking out in a song and dancing around the salon. The design was a bright red, off-the-shoulder sheath that fell just below her knees. The light material hugged her upper body and flowed from her hips, making her feel sexy and beautiful and strongly capable
at the same time.
“And your breasts are perfect-o,” he added, using his thumb and forefinger to make an “O.” When he reached her, he said, “Michael and Yanni have a fetish for large breasts, but that is their issue, not yours, and not mine. Your body is perfect as it is. I will be honored to have you wear my collection during Atlanta’s Fashion Week. I will let Tia know today so that she won’t book you with anyone else. Nobody can dress you the way I can. You agree, don’t you?”
After his comments about her breasts, Victor could have convinced her to agree to anything. “I’d be proud to wear your designs,” she told him, “but I’ve never modeled before.”
“Who cares? You will be a vision of beauty that all the women envy and all the men desire. You will sell my designs better than any model. I know of what I speak.”
Who was she to disagree with one of the top designers in the world? After Michelle Obama chose one of his designs for the second inaugural ball, Victor had shot from “up-and-coming” to “there” in a matter of days. It really was a coup for her to be chosen to wear his designs at Fashion Week. “Your designs make me feel beautiful,” she told him. “Beautiful and strong.”
“And that is why Victor Meggan and Veronica Y will be a hit. And Mr. Washington will be more than pleased with the free publicity our merger will yield for you and Legends.”
“Stop filling her head with visions of greatness, Victor,” Tia said. She had left a couple of hours ago to check on Dexter’s experience with the designers he was visiting, and now she was back. “You know these newbies can go from grateful to diva in nothing flat.”
Victor lifted one of Veronica’s hands to his lips and pressed a kiss against it. “Not my Veronica,” he said.
“We’ll see,” Tia said, unmoved by Victor’s declaration. “Are you finished with her for today?”
Victor nodded. “With her, yes. With you, no. We must talk about my plans for Veronica.”
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