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©2007 CaSandra Mathis All Rights Reserved
©2007 CaSandra Mathis All Rights Reserved
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~ Fat By Whose Scale? ~ |
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©2007 CaSandra Mathis All Rights Reserved
Chapter 1 Brooks Enterprise
If inner turmoil was outward emotion, Alexxis Robbins would wear the cloth. Shield her otherwise perfect exterior from the world who’d loved her so dearly. So heartless, so cruel is the reality that dampens spirits and hers was no exception. But, to simply say her life was confusing would leave out all that truly mattered; overlook the day-to-day calamities that a yet unscathed heart should never have to undergo. Situations? Circumstances? Dire straits? Not even the staunch disciplinarian and best friend that was her father could have projected, nor protected her from a fate such as this.
And, so it became that she strived to be the best that he thought she should be. He being, Dominique Flynn, the streetwise, fiancée, ten years her senior. In a mere six months, he’d redefined womanhood, relationships and pain to the degree that Alexxis could no longer reason one from the other. Odell Robbins hated him with a passion. He’d entertained numerous bouts of homicidal endearments in which he willingly swapped his life’s liberties for the visible cell that would eliminate his daughter’s translucent confinement. So much to lose, so much to gain. But for a father who knew no value greater than that of his little girl’s happiness, the scales of justice weighed heavily in favor of his deliberate and thought provoking dreams.
Then there was Tanya, the petite fireball and self-appointed referee in a battle Alexxis had no inkling was even taking place. Tanya had known the statuesque, epitome of athleticism years before she'd become a gangly tomboy of ten, and found it impossible to overlook Alexxis’ sullen disposition, or exceedingly preoccupied mind. Yes. Brooks Enterprise, Inc. was the corporate castle in the sky, the ultimate fantasy of every opportunity seeker. A sanctuary of sorts for the over achieving, pushers and shakers who, once inside, became cushioned away from the mere mortals enslaved by the mediocrity of regular employment. But, no matter how highly qualified, or self motivated her dear friend was, Alexxis’ obsession with acquiring the idealized position had everyone around her frazzled.
Tanya watched, nonchalantly picking through the remains of her half portion, chicken sandwich and side salad. She glanced about the sea of faces gathered in the sizeable, immaculately designed cafeteria of the high end firm until her eyes came to rest upon her childhood friend. She’d called to her once, but the frustrated wave of a perfectly manicured hand was enough to stave off her desire for companionship. At least for now. And so she nibbled on the cold chicken, discarding unwanted pieces of whole wheat bread as she prayed for the obsession to end.
Alexxis ran her slim, lengthy, fingers through a handful of meticulously groomed, shoulder length hair. An unassuming goddess, she had neither acknowledgement nor concern as to the effect of her every movement on the testosterone driven onlookers. She continued to nurse the thick, silken tresses, stroking them gently, evenly, continuously. As usual, each strand of the coal black, burgundy rinsed mane was neatly set as if it had to acquire its owner’s permission to misbehave and she hadn’t given it; would never have given it. Forever full of body and shine, the sensation of the soft strands was pleasing, serene. Even such that her marathon reading stint took on similar characteristics. It too, became pleasurable. She read on, then read some more, fulfilling that one elusive element necessary for both sanity and survival… the promise of better things to come.
—Brooks Enterprise, Inc. ranked amongst Forbes’ fifty top businesses. One of the largest corporations in the U.S. with a multitude of branches stateside, it boasted as many subsidiaries and affiliations of their various counterparts on foreign soil. Piloted by a youthful, Langston Elliott Brooks upon graduating from Morehouse University with a bachelor’s in business management, engineering and computer technology, this new millennium’s epitome of occupation began as Brooks & Brooks Stock Firm with only five employees including Langston and his second eldest brother. Operating out of the basement of his parent's modest Westside home and on the last of their family's savings, the brothers battled fiercely against the giants of Wall Street. After two grueling years it seemed as if the smaller competitor would not survive. But, the ambitious Brooks refused to give in. To finance the plunging firm, Langston utilized his expertise in Electrical/Design Engineering delving into the lucrative industry of construction. Over the next three years the amazingly profitable company, Brooks Construction and Design, brought the stock firm back to life and later financed the non-profit business of Landscaping for the elderly and low-income residents of Atlanta and its surrounding areas. But, the budding entrepreneur would not stop there. Sound investments brought his net worth upwards of two hundred and seventy-five million dollars. Subsequent ventures proved the same. Yes, Langston truly possessed the Midas touch as everything he’d laid his hands on had turned to gold. Three years later, at the tender age of twenty-eight, this financial genius mounted his net worth to five hundred and ninety million dollars. The inevitable changes in the industry awakened young Langston’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge. After doling out the managerial responsibilities to trusted family members, this esteemed prodigy dedicated himself to the pursuit of three masters degrees and a fourth in pharmacology to keep a solid line on his investments in the pharmaceutical industry. On his father's advice with whom he’d always been close, Langston set aside the corporate world of high finance and spent the next four years sealing his inner core in the land of his ancestry. The first found him ogling Africa’s extensive beauty and marveling at the pride and strength of its inhabitants while he quest for that which had been usurped from his people as a whole. But in his latter years he walked amongst his brothers and sisters no longer amazed at the respect the natives had for their families, women, parents and education, but moreso proud that they’d continued to hold sacred that which many Americans took for granted. Proud that the culture was not only one of wealth and power, but of wisdom and high moral fiber with a sense of family stronger than he'd ever imagined. He learned to fluently speak several of the country's languages and though it saddened him to find that America’s books of history faired poorly in their attempts to capture the true Africa he'd been so privileged to experience, he left the homeland bound and determined to share those experiences with as many as would hear—
Alexxis' exotic, almond shaped eyes no longer focused on the brochure. Face slightly tilted, her mind tumbled over thoughts of breaking through the elite confines of Brooks Enterprise, Inc. Headquarters. Home of the big cheese. Her full, perfectly shaped lips poked and she smiled, eyes sparkling as she envisioned accomplishing that which for most had proven impossible; to enter the halls of perks and prestige and to make their walls her home. Dominique would be so proud. Soon, she too, would realize her dream. Anticipating such, she read on.
—Along with his spiritual development, the soon-to-be thirty-three, four point plus student surpassed his graduating class at a second University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he reached his goal of attaining masters degrees in three specific fields of engineering as well as the bachelor’s in pharmacology to add to those of which he’d acquired years before. Having done the unthinkable, Langston took a well earned break, indulging his humanitarian nature while assisting his parents in their missionary efforts. Accompanied by his oldest sister, Kaysjay, who'd often visited the continent with her parents, Langston dove into fundraising activities and programs that fed the downtrodden, donating several million dollars to start-up as well as existing community-based businesses. Spending a few summers in the U.S. proved quite profitable for Langston as he nearly doubled his profits over the four year span. Ergo, the birth of Brooks Enterprise, Inc., or BEI as we know it today. A conglomerate of family owned and operated businesses all generously funded and founded by Langston Brooks, boasting one of the top ten stock firms in the country Louis, Marlon & Anita Brooks’ Stocks owned by his brother Louis Brooks and jointly ran by himself and two cousins; a reputable, favorably sought law firm, Otis Brooks, Attorney At Law owned and operated by an older brother, Otis Brooks; Atlanta's number one childcare center, Brooks Cultural Development/Child Care Center, owned and managed by his twin sister, Aomi Brooks-Erickson; the ninth largest construction firm in the U.S., Brooks' Construction owned by his oldest brother, Moses Brooks, Jr.; one of the largest cleaning services, Brooks Top Of The Line Cleaning, owned by Sterling Brooks; one of the largest architectural design firms in the nation, Brooks Architectural Design, owned by his youngest brother Cameo Brooks; a major marketing and advertising firm, Brook's Marketing & Advertising, handler of all advertising for Brooks Enterprise, Inc. and a number of corporations in Atlanta and its surrounding states, run by his youngest sister Mahbrili; and Brooks Elite Designs, an Africa inspired, clothing outlet geared toward African Americans in the U.S. owned by his oldest sister, Kaysjay—
“Enough is enough, Alexxis. You must’ve read that brochure a hundred times.” Getting no response, Tanya forged ahead. “How can knowing about someone you’ve never even seen be so interesting?”
“You don’t need pictures to research an opportunity,” came the lazy reply. “My goal is to get ahead, Tanya. To succeed, and I’m determined to make it happen. I don’t care if the owner has three eyes, no lips, and an overbite. I want to advance within his company, not his bedroom.”
Elated to have sparked a conversation, Tanya pressed on. “Why doesn’t he put photos in his brochures?”
“Nor does he do television, newspaper, or commercials. He’s a focused, business-minded man, not some Hollywood entertainer. Goodness,” Alexxis added exasperated. “There’s more to life than one’s appearance.”
“This coming from Ms. ‘I Make the Late, Great Flo Jo’s workout look like somebody’s standing still’?”
“There’s nothing wrong with taking care of oneself.”
Straining to be heard above the rush of employees spilling into the cafeteria, Tanya leaned forward. “I don’t know why you chose the peak lunch hour. When I suggested we spend more time together, this is not what I had in mind. Anyways, I think you’re burying your head in that brochure to avoid my truths.”
Alexxis shifted positions in the padded chair, reversing the cross of her left leg over her right. No matter how she tried to drown it out, the nasally resonance that was Tanya’s high pitched, hundred mile an hour voice permeated her entire being. She knew her intentions were honorable, but this was too much. While Tanya was hell-bent on exploiting the negatives of life, Alexxis was entranced with the positive and thoughts of moving up and into the corporate mogul's headquarters was as good a place to dwell as any. Firmly believing such, she refused to disrupt her daydreaming to fashion a response.
“Earth to Alexxis,” Tanya persisted. “I know you hear me.”
Alexxis looked across the table and into Tanya's attractive, perfectly browned, Pekinese-like face. She’d always been an indulging soul, but Tanya was pushing the envelope. From the onset, she’d decided the older, extremely handsome, Dominique was too controlling for her easygoing friend and took every opportunity to speak to that effect. She’d yet to bring up his name, but Alexxis was well aware of the segue into it.
“Don't you ever wonder what he looks like?” Tanya asked. “Aside from the few unscheduled tours he does of the branches, no one really sees him. Makes you wonder if he's being modest, or just doesn't want to be bothered with all the idiots in this world, or at his own companies for that matter.”
Alexxis put away the brochure. She was not going to finish in the company of the well intentioned, aggravatingly persistent, Tanya Grant. “Tanya, you know I don't care, so don't start with me, okay?”
“I hear he's super fine and built to destroy, girl. Then again, I can't imagine anyone that rich and powerful looking like anything fine. Most of those guys are geeks who sit around and get fat while some paper thin, skeeze spends their hard earned money.”
Alexxis took the bait. “I'm sure he's married, so whomever’s spending his money is his business. And stop judging folk. He could be a great guy.”
“He could. He could also still be available and I know just the hottie…”
“Don’t even go there. I cannot understand why you try so hard to forget I'm engaged.”
“You may be engaged, but that snake you're engaged to, ain't engaged.”
“I'm glad you talk so fast. That way most of your words fly right on by.”
“As long as you get the gist. The man's a total sleaze, Alexxis. Hell, he makes Ike Turner look like a choir boy. Thinking of changing your name to Tina?”
“You find negatives because that's all you want to find.”
“Because that's all that's there.”
“Because that's all you're looking for. You didn't want me with him from the start. You'd love to see me with some white man so we can all be one big, happy, interracial bunch.”
“I just want to see you with a nice man. Whether, or not he's white? That's up to you. Though I think you'd have a better chance at happiness if you'd try a little vanilla in your chocolate. It makes a good mix.”
Alexxis was livid. “You've got to be out of your mind talking that trash to me.”
“Ain't nothing wrong with dating a white man if he's a good man.”
“If, being the operative word. Race is not a determining factor.”
“Hell, Anthony is a lot better than that damned Dominique you claiming,” Tanya responded defensively.
“Anthony is a good catch regardless of his color. But, I don't have to stop dating black men in order to find a good man and I have a problem with you implying that. Hell, you should have a problem with you implying that. The quality of a man cannot be determined by his skin color.”
“Believe that if you want to.”
Alexxis let go a heavy sigh. “Regardless of what you say, Tanya, I know there's a lot of good black men out there and if...” she stressed as Tanya shifted again. “And that's a big if, but if Dominique and I don't make it, I’m not even sure if they'll be a next man. But, if there is, it will be a black one.”
Tanya shook her head. “I just want you to be happy. God knows Dominique isn't doing the job. All he's got going for him is his good looks. Then again, he's so full of shit his looks don't even count.”
Once again an uneasy silence made its way into their otherwise, up tempo conversation. Tanya studied Alexxis’ face. There was more behind those engaging eyes than Alexxis would freely admit, but she had no qualms digging for her elusive truths. “Dominique still tripping over you tutoring Darius?”
Alexxis shook her head. “He seems to be over that little milestone.”
“Little? He damned near took the boy’s head off and your arm if I recall your rendition of the story right.”
“Precisely. Minus a ton of exaggeration. No one ever threw a punch.”
“And your arm?”
“He tried to pull me up the stairs, Tanya. He’d dropped by after work and wanted me to go with him somewhere. Some big surprise he supposedly had. I was pulling away. So yeah, it hurt my arm when he pulled me in the other direction.”
“He ain’t got no business putting his hands on you like that. I’d hate to think what’s next and you’re talkin’ ‘bout marrying that fool?”
Alexxis quieted. Her mind drifted to a few days after the month’s long incident and Dominique’s way of dealing with what he called her disrespect of his manhood. She could almost feel the pain. Hear his angry words. Feel his breath inches from her face as if it were happening all over again. A chill came over her.
“Alexxis? You okay?”
Forcing herself back to the present, Alexxis ran her hands over arms. “I’m fine, Tanya. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Tanya thought before she answered. She wanted Alexxis to know that she could tell her anything, but she didn’t want to force her back into her shell. She’d crossed the subject shortly after Alexxis’ blow up with Dominique and they didn’t speak much for weeks. It took forever to get them back into their regular groove and she wasn’t about to risk a repeat. Still, she’d be less than a best friend not to at least try to steer Alexxis in the right direction. “Alexxis, something happened that night at Dominique’s after you told him you wouldn’t abandon Darius. Hold on...” Her raised hand halted Alexxis’ interruption. “Now, I don’t need to know what it was. But, as your dear friend and someone who loves you unconditionally, I’m just asking you, begging you to rethink your future with him. It doesn’t have to be today, but before you marry him. Please. Would you do that for me?”
“Tanya, I love Dominique.”
“That’s not in dispute, Alexxis. You’re a good woman. The best. You’re doing the right thing the right way. You always have. It’s just that he’s not, and it always keeps you on an uneven keel. He’s shifty, Alexxis. Shady to the nth degree. He can’t be trusted and he’s violent.”
“Dominique’s never hit me. He raises his voice sometimes, but he would never hit me.”
“There’s other ways to be violent. Worse ways.”
Alexxis ran a hand through her hair. Her eyes threatened to tear, but she willed them back into her soul. She’d cried enough over the past few months to overflow lake Michigan and wasn’t about to shed one more tear over her sometimes hot, most times cold relationship with Dominique Flynn. Especially not in front of Tanya. She decided to switch gears. “Dominique and I are fine, Tanya. That incident was months ago and it wasn’t a big thing. Darius has graduated and was accepted at a Big Ten school, Ohio State. They ranked number one this year. I can’t wait to see how he contributes to their two thousand eight team next season.”
“Well, I give the boy two years playing at that level and the NBA’s going to be slamming down his door. He probably could have gone right after high school, but I’m glad he didn’t.”
“Me too. He wasn’t ready. He’s smart though. It’s easy to get caught up in all the glamour and glitter of Hollywood and the NBA ranks right up there with the big screen.”
“You helped him dodge one big bullet, girl. Had he not passed, he’d be in junior college next year praying he still had a chance to get into a top university.”
“Darius did all the work. He buckled down and got serious about his studies.”
“It takes a lot more than buckling down to grasp college level calculus. You helped him like you did me and half of our graduating class. And, considering you were two years younger than all of us and should have been a sophomore instead of a graduating senior, that’s saying a lot.”
Alexxis waved off the compliments. “I’m not even going there with you, Tanya. I just have a different take on academics. A blessing and a gift, yes. But, I’m no different than anyone else.”
“Getting skipped two grades in high school and graduating six months before the graduating class that should have been two years ahead of you in college? Girl, please. Take this credit ‘cuz it is sho nuff due.”
Alexxis smiled to appease her friend, but her soul was not feeling the accolades. How she could be blessed with such academic intelligence, yet be so naïve in the ways of life was an embarrassment she’d yet to overcome. She’d been set on helping Darius and refused to back out no matter how Dominique fussed. He was the younger brother of a good friend from college. She’d known him since he was in middle school and she wasn’t about to turn her back on him. So she held firm. But when it came to Dominique, that was a different story. All sense of reason said to let him go, yet she held on. If the equation was mathematical she’d have solved it right away. Without question. But, it wasn’t. It was emotional, heart wrenching and personal. So, when it came to staying, or going she didn’t have a clue as to which she should do. “Yeah,” she answered, absentmindedly. “Darius has matured a lot. I know when he gets to the NBA, he’ll be around for a lot of years.”
“Yeah, nothing like that one guy from here who was picked up by a top, NBA team and got caught with marijuana at the airport. So many young men never get that chance. It’s a shame to see someone get it, then blow it. He hardly ever played after that, or before for that matter. He stayed in too much trouble.”
“Yeah. He was good too.”
“You knew him?”
“Yep. We used to run fulls up at Pratton park a few miles from here. He and Darius used to play together. He wasn’t as good as Darius, but he was good. Really good. I wasn’t surprised when I saw him on tv. He’d left Atlanta to go to a junior college. Get his grades back up and get into a good school. Worked that hard, then blew it all.”
“Well,” Tanya added, “when Darius makes it to the pros, which, thanks to my girl he will, make sure he sends two tickets for his games instead of one.”
Alexxis laughed. “Why, so you can ask me how well Dominique and I enjoyed ourselves?”
This time it was Tanya’s turn to laugh. “Do you actually think Dominique would go, all things considered? Yeah,” she said as Alexxis pondered her question. “I’ll be seated right next to ya, so tell the brotha to send two. One for me, one for you.”
The ladies were laughing and having a great time when Alexxis spotted Dominique commanding the entrance at the far end of the lengthy cafeteria. It wasn’t long after that Tanya noticed him too. Alexxis’ change in disposition was always a dead giveaway. Alexxis looked to Tanya, then back to Dominique. He'd agreed to take the earlier lunch and for once it seemed he’d kept his word. But, the mass of frowns covering his smooth, dark brown, boyishly handsome face screamed his disgust at her having Tanya there. He’d demanded that she not do so, and wasn’t pleased by her obvious disregard. Eyeing the pesky, fast talking woman, he slowed his pace. Alexxis held her breath, prayed he wouldn’t leave, and didn’t release it until he’d walked over.
Dominique facetiously turned his backside to Tanya as he bent to peck Alexxis’ upturned cheek. “Hey, cutie,” he said.
“Hey, baby,” came the gleeful reply.
“It's nice to see you put your best face forward,” Tanya spat. Moving her chair, she reseated herself. Further irking his nemesis, Dominique smiled mischievously in her direction, then turned back to Alexxis. Tanya stood. “We'll talk later, Alexxis.”
“Hold up, Tanya.” Alexxis came to her feet, but immediately sat when Dominique motioned for her to stay.
Tanya's anger mounted. How dare he treat her friend that way. How dare she let him. She shook her head in disgust. “Stay if you please, but I definitely have to go. Low lifed...”
Dominique’s boisterous laughter drowned out Tanya’s explicit commentary. Embarrassed, Alexxis lowered her eyes. “Why do you always do that, Dominique? Tanya is my best friend, yet every time you come around you make it a point to be rude to her.”
Dominique switched the chair Tanya had been sitting in with a chair from another table and sat. “I don't like the bitch. Period. Besides, if you would have done like I'd told you…”
“Like you told me?”
“You damn right. I said keep ya mettlin friend the hell away from me.”
“Dominique...”
Alexxis halted as he raised a silencing hand. “That's the end of that part of this conversation. Keep her away from me. Period. Now, have you picked out a dress yet?”
Alexxis glared. “Not yet,” she began facetiously, “Tan----ya and I are going this weekend. Wanna sign my permission slip?”
“Don't be sarcastic, Alexxis. You know how I feel about that...” Catching the disapproval in Alexxis' eyes, Dominique switched gears. “Look, you know she doesn’t like me. She assumed I wasn't good enough for her ‘Miss Goody Two Shoes’ friend from the beginning. Damn sellout. Bet she was on her drop that nigga and get a white boy kick, huh?”
“Tanya doesn't choose for me. I'm my own person.”
“Can't prove it by me.”
Alexxis sank into the once comfortable chair. This was not what she’d planned when she asked him to lunch. Dominique broke the silence. “You need to select better friends, dear. You really do.”
“And I bet you've got a great group in mind,” she replied indifferently.
“Don't I always look out for you?”
“It's more like isolating me.”
Ignoring her, Dominique searched the crowded cafeteria. “Let me see, how about someone like... like that.” Alexxis followed Dominique’s eyes to the face of a very attractive, very shapely, light skinned woman who'd worked on his design team for the past three months. “Hel---lo Shaaaron,” he yelled loudly.
Sharon waved and blew a suggestive kiss. “Hey Alexxis,” she threw, seating her well stacked frame at a table crowded with males from upper level management.
“You really do trip sometimes,” Alexxis spat. “When we met you wouldn't let up until I quit the design team. You said it was too man-like.”
“It was. Hell, it is. Out of thirty something people, you were the only female in your group.”
“If you'd take care of our business and stop minding every other woman's, you wouldn't have to worry about what another man is doing, or might want to do.”
“Don't get me started, Alexxis.”
“No, don't you get me started. Feeding me that crap. Doesn't bother you that Sharon is trying to become a designer.”
“Sharon wishes she had your smarts,” he said, briefly smiling in Sharon’s direction. “She's a draftsmen and will never make it to designer. Besides, I'm not engaged to Sharon. I don't give a damn what she does. You? That's a different story. I don't want my woman, my wife doing no man's job; stuck around a bunch of horny men all day.”
Alexxis shook her head. “Now that's got to be the most archaic statement I've heard from you to date. You need to wake up to the new millennium.”
“You need to wake up to me.”
“So, I've been told.”
“Don’t play. Hell, you should be thanking me for the change. When I first met you all you wanted to do is tie yourself down to that design shit, play basketball, lift weights and run around with those kids like you forgot that you were grown. I showed you how to be a lady.”
“That design shit, as you call it, was my job, my career. And because of my dedication, I'd received several promotions and was already supervisor of my team, headed for manager. If I'm not mistaken, that's the same position you were hired under. Basketball and weightlifting keeps this body together. The body you're always bragging on? And those kids as you so unaffectionately call them, are close to my heart. Many are under privileged and most of the youth in those areas don’t have parents who look after them, or decent meals, or much of anything a child should have. It wouldn’t hurt you to volunteer some time you know. They need men in their lives moreso than women. As for being a lady? I had that down pat before leaving high school.”
“Say what you want, but you wore gym clothes, sweat fits, jeans, the whole nine more than I did.”
“Can’t work out, or play basketball in stilettos.”
“Yeah, well anything a woman can’t do in heels she gots no damned business doing. Hard work? That may help on the job, but it didn't do shit for your social life.”
“None of the guys I dated before you had a problem with the way I dressed and they didn’t look for excuses to find one. If you took me anywhere, you’d know that I am versatile, and quite fashion conscious. Look how I dress at work. And, in case you've forgotten, when we met, I had one hell of a social life.”
Dominique was determined to get the better of the conversation. “Any man will knock ya boots. But, was they trying to have you as their wife?”
“You know me better than that. Much better, Dominique. As for marriage proposals, you were not the first, second, nor third. There were plenty.”
“But, I'm the only one you said yes to. That should tell you something.”
“It does. It mockingly rewards my stupidity and poor judgment.”
Dominique laughed loudly, vengefully succeeding in aggravating her. “Girl, you know this is the best you're gonna get 'cause I'm the best there is, or you wouldn't be with me. You are with me aren't you?” He stroked her pouting face. “Smooth as a baby's bottom.”
Alexxis moved away. She'd sacrificed her entire identity in a losing effort to gain his affections. The real ones, not those he displayed when he wanted something, or was looking to have his way. She desperately wanted that identity back, but had no idea how to go about getting it without losing him which, at that point, was not an option. At the onset of another headache, she stood to leave.
Dominique grabbed her arm, apologizing in his own awkward way. “Hold up, baby, lunch isn’t even over yet. Okay, that wasn't the best thing to say.”
“No kidding.”
“Is that all you had for lunch, a salad?” She nodded. “Hell, I couldn't eat if I had to look at your friend’s ugly mug either." Dominique laughed heartily, putting a finger to her protesting lips. "Okay, okay, I'm tired of talking about her anyway. It is a her isn't it? Just kidding,” he continued. “At any rate, I want you to keep watch on that beautiful shape of mines.”
“You act like there's nothing to me but what you see on the outside.”
“Duh?” he mocked. “It kills me when women say that shit. You put too damn much on the outside, how’s a man suppose to see what’s on the inside, x-ray vision?”
Alexxis couldn’t help but laugh. The least of her worries was losing her prize winning figure. Dominique may have controlled everything else, but she was at the helm of that ship. “You’re a superficial idiot. You know that, right?”
“All I know is that you are one fine woman just the way you are.”
“Anyway, I've gotta get back to work. You know how my supervisor is.”
“Once you get to corporate, you won't have to worry about that. My baby's gone be a corporate woman,” he sang, embarrassing her even further. “Oh, and as for that smart ass comment about yo band of under privileged kids? My time is accounted for and so is yours, Ms. Pied Piper. So, the next time you venture to the hood, let ‘em know it’ll be yo last.”
“What? You can’t stop me from…” The look in Dominique’s eyes and the tears forming in Alexxis’ revealed that he not only could, but had done just as he’d said.
“Straighten ya face and give ya man a kiss. That’s if I’m still ya man.”
Alexxis kissed his upturned cheek, then stormed away. As soon as she was out of sight, he leaned across the back of his chair and waved Sharon over. - - - - - - -
©2007 CaSandra Mathis All Rights Reserved
Like the first chapter? Thanks, I hoped you would. I work diligently to ensure my writing is top notch, and my stories are top of the line. Now, go on. Don't tease yourself any longer. Click below to delight your soul with the full length novel in ebook and printed format...
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