Assariyah (2 page)

“I’m truly sorry Mama,” too ashamed to look at me, she didn’t respond to my cry.

“Tell me why Assariyah, why?” Cameron bellowed from behind me.

I felt so pitiful all I could do was keep telling him how sorry I really was.

“Please believe me when I say I never meant to hurt you Cam.”

“What a joke, believe you? Bitch you wouldn’t know the truth if it slapped you across your fucking face!”

I totally deserved that but I had to get out of there fast.

The whole situation was turning into a complete circus and I was the star attraction. I needed to get out of there, my head was spinning, I felt dizzy, nauseous and faint all at once. If there was ever a moment I wished I could fly, this was it but since I did not possess any super powers I gathered my gown and ran as fast as I could into the Rolls Royce Phantom that awaited Mr and Mrs Simmons.

I was alone, it was not supposed to be this way but I had no one to blame besides myself. After all, due to my selfishness and fear of commitment, I had put myself in this predicament and now I had lost the best thing that had ever happened to me. It is funny how that old cliché, you don’t know what you have till it is gone, rings true every single time. How was I supposed to live now? I had nowhere to go. I had grown accustomed to a life of luxury, with Cam I could have and buy anything my heart desired, money was never an issue. Cam’s job as the founder and CEO of ‘La Chase’, an international advertising and marketing agency, meant that he brought home a six-figure salary every month.

The driver finally plucked up the courage to ask me if I was going to be okay. He had been staring at me through his mirror for the majority of the forty-five minute drive in silence, watching the tears roll down my eyes. We were now approaching Cameron’s deluxe apartment, situated in the affluent Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. He started by telling me that he could not imagine anyone leaving someone as beautiful as myself and that any man would be lucky to have me, blah, blah, blah.

Why are people automatically programmed to think that the man is always to blame? So fucking stereotypical, I quickly set him straight. “Cam was a good man but I fucked up by sleeping with another guy a week before our wedding and he found out.” The skinny ass driver sat there with his mouth open, I hopped out the car without giving him a chance to respond.

Once inside I headed upstairs into our en-suite bathroom, decorated with marble floors and walls encrusted with gold trimmings. I caught my reflection in the mirror and threw up instantly. I was disgusted by the image looking back at me, I wanted to die. I crawled into the built in shower large enough for seven and curled myself into a ball. The automated shower turned on, a sudden blast of cold water came rushing down on me soaking through my gown. I reminisced about the times Cam and I made love in the shower. This was a sure way to catch pneumonia but, at that moment in time, I really could not have cared less.

Chapter
2

Cameron and I met each other two years earlier at a party thrown by our mutual
friend Jason. The theme of the party was all white, Diddy style. As I swayed my hips from side to side to the beat of Zapp and Roger’s ‘I Want To Be Your Man’, all I could recall thinking was ‘DAMN!’ There was so much eye candy in the room, the kind that could make a girl catch instant diabetes.

I turned to my girl Jasmina who, at that point, was squeezing the life out of my right arm. I gave her a little squeeze back that was our code for ‘I feel you’. Jasmina was gorgeous, she was mixed-race with straight, shoulder length, honey blonde hair. The white gene was unquestionably more dominant, so much so that it made it hard to detect the black in her. Standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall, her slender frame could easily allow her to pass for a model. We were on fire, it was definitely going to be an amazing blazing night.

Jasmina and I decided to pop into the bathroom to replenish our make-up. There was just way too much hotness in the room to look anything but flawless. After matting out my face with Mac’s loose powder, I retouched my lips with my pink Dior lip gloss. I was good to go. My face looked right, my body was banging in my tight, figure hugging, body-con dress. All my curves were on display. At that moment I was grateful for all the extra Pilates sessions I had been attending recently.

I looked hot as hell, it was only right that I made someone’s night bright.

“Yo girl, are you ready to bounce?” Jasmina asked.

I had to laugh, Jasmina knew me too well, there was one thing I loved more than men and that was me. I could look at myself all day without getting bored. Some called me vain, maybe I was but I was just appreciating God’s creation. After all he had blessed me in the beauty department and to deny that would just be ungrateful.

The party had filled out even more in the last ten minutes that Jasmina and I had been in the bathroom. We went to the bar and ordered double shots of Grey Goose to get us loose. Whilst at the bar I spotted me a hottie. He had to be at least 6ft 2”, pure chocolate in complexion and his body was chiseled to perfection. It was clear that he was attracted to me as much as I was to him, we couldn’t keep our eyes off each other. After five minutes of flirtatious glances he finally walked over to me.

“You look so beautiful, I just had to come and talk to you.”

On that note Jasmina excused herself and told me she would catch up with me later.

With Jasmina gone, he introduced himself as Tyler.

“Nice to meet you Tyler, I’m Assariyah.”

“That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”

He was full of compliments that made me blush.

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I said with a slight chuckle.

The conversation between us flowed smoothly, I asked him what he did for a living and he informed me that he was a private fitness instructor.

“Ummm that explains why you are in such a great shape,” I stated, feeling on his biceps.

He pointed to my abs with a smile on his face, “I can tell you are a fitness junkie too.” I laughed and told him I was far from a fitness junkie but I liked to keep my body looking and feeling tight.

“You know too much jiggling just isn’t cute.”

We both cracked up laughing and exchanged numbers as he promised to give me a good workout session.

The DJ was on top of his game that night playing all my favourite old skool tracks from ‘Push It’ by Salt ‘n’ Pepa to Ghost Town DJ’s ‘My Boo’.

“Oooh that is my song,” I screeched track after track.

Tyler couldn’t stop laughing at my random outburst.

“Wanna dance?”

Feeling slightly worried about Jasmina I hesitated before accepting his offer. I guess he could sense my concern because he pointed to Jasmina who was dancing with a guy. I felt relieved knowing that Jas was not alone after all. I took Tyler’s hand and led him to the centre of the room and began to gyrate my hips slowly to the beat of the music. This was clearly a turn on for Tyler, I could feel the pressure of his growing manhood against my butt and I cannot even front, I loved the way he felt on me. This was the perfect way to spend my Saturday. I wanted to dance on him all night.

In need of a nicotine fix Tyler wanted to pop outside so he could satisfy his craving. With his profession I was surprised to find out that he was a smoker. I hated the smell of cigarettes and, on a normal day, I would have declined his offer but I decided to go with him. I needed the fresh air anyway, the room was starting to get a little too steamy. He pulled out a packet of Marlboro cigarettes with a lighter shaped in the form of a naked woman. He offered me a cancer stick, shaking my head, I refused. I watched him light his desire and for a brief moment I felt sad. Noticing my mood had changed, Tyler questioned me.

“Hey are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am fine,” I replied with a little smile trying to sound convincing but truth be told I was in a dark place right then.

Thoughts of my friend Shelia came to mind. She had only been thirty-five when lung cancer had taken her away from me. She’d always had a frigging stick in her mouth, she smoked no less than fifty a day. I used to tell her that shit would kill her, she would always laugh and say, “Riyah darling, I have to die of something.” I felt like crying but fought back my tears to avoid breaking down on Tyler. That shit was too heavy for someone I’d only just met a few hours ago. I had to change things up. I adjusted my thoughts and looked Tyler dead in his eyes.

“You ever thought of quitting?”

“Now and again,” he sighed.

I decided it was best not to push him any further.

For the first time that night I realised just how beautiful Tyler really was. The outside light exposed his piercing hazel green eyes, slanted and mysterious. Oh gosh I was in lust. Every time he looked at me with those eyes I had to resist the strong urge to jump on him. All I wanted to do was lick all of that chocolate off his face. Lookswise he was everything I dreamed of and more. Imagine your favourite dessert with extra cream, extra chocolate, extra strawberries, extra caramel, extra cookie dough in your already cookie doughed Ben & Jerry’s Ice-cream. Extra! Extra! Extra! That’s exactly what I had been blessed with…aaah pure bliss!

“Assariyah, girl there you are. I’ve been looking for your ass everywhere.” I turned to face Jasmina, who was standing behind me with her hands on her hips.

“I’m sorry chica I decided to chill with Tyler whilst he smoked a cigarette real quick.”

Throwing me a confused look, she protested, “But you hate the smell of that stuff.”

“I know, anyways Jasmina what’s up?”

I needed her to stop jumping around the bush and get to the point so that I could turn my full attention back to Tyler.

She pulled my arm gently, “Let me talk to you alone for a minute.” I glanced over to Tyler who was puffing away on cancer stick number two.

“Excuse me for a moment Tyler, my girl needs to have a quick word with me.”

“No sweat. I’ll be waiting for you,” he replied.

I flashed him a smile before walking off with Jasmina. Whatever she had to say had better be real good. When she decided that there was enough distance between us and Tyler she stopped. I thought to myself, what could be so bloody important?

“Okay babe, the thing is I’ve met this guy called Cameron, he is so buff and…” she paused.

“And…” I pressed her to go on.

“Well he wants us to join him and his friend back at their hotel for a private party.” I was completely thrown by her suggestion, that girl had lost her bloody mind.

“Are you mad Jas?”

“Come on girl it will be fun!”

“There is no way I’m following you to chill with two men I don’t know, do you not watch the news? Not to mention the fact that I’ve already met someone who I should really be getting back to now.”

As I turned to walk away from Jasmina, she called after me, “Please Assariyah I’m begging you, just do this for me.”

I reluctantly agreed to tag along with them but insisted that she gave me a chance to say goodbye to Tyler. I owed him that much. My girl jumped on me giving me the tightest hug, I felt like my ribs were going to break. We walked back together and Jasmina headed back to the party leaving me to handle my business with Tyler.

“Hey Tyler sorry for leaving you like that, I didn’t realise I would be gone that long.”

“No problem,” he assured.

“Now that you’re back do you wanna go back and party inside?”

I bit my bottom lip before answering, something I tended to do whenever I got nervous.

“Ummm I would love to but the thing is…”

Before I could finish explaining myself to Tyler, Jasmina and her mini entourage arrived. Tyler looked at the two men standing with Jasmina and then back at me.

“Say no more Assariyah, I totally understand, you’re a beautiful lady in high demand, don’t let me hold you back.”

“It’s not what it appears to be Tyler.”

“Hey lady, I barely know you so you ain’t gotta explain yourself to me.”

That was the last thing he said to me before walking away. I was so fucking vexed, I asked the bitch for fifteen minutes to handle my business and the eager beaver was out in five.

One of the men stretched his hand out towards me, “Excuse me miss, I’m Cameron and this is my friend Kieran. I hope we haven’t caused you any problems?” Taking a deep breath, I shook his extended hand and kept it short.

“I’m cool thanks.”

He smiled, pulling out his Blackberry Bold,

“Well in that case I’ll call my driver and have him pick us up.”

Less than two minutes had passed and a black Bentley, Continental Flying Spur with personalised plates reading ‘La Chase’ pulled up beside us. The driver of the car stepped out and greeted his boss.

“Good evening Mr Simmons.”

“Hello Derrick, we are heading to The Dorchester.”

Derrick greeted us as he opened the doors. The car was sick, red leather interior with a built in DVD entertainment system. Jasmina and I exchanged looks, we both knew what the other was thinking. Damn! Somebody was definitely getting paid!

Once we arrived at The Dorchester I felt like I was in a movie. We were surrounded by grand opulence, the hotel was the epitome of classic beauty. Jasmina had her arms wrapped around Cameron, Kieran and I followed closely behind. Cameron informed the receptionist at the front desk that he had carelessly forgotten his key inside his room. She had her hair styled in a short bob, the red highlights complimented her clear ebony skin and deep brown eyes.