Circles the Trilogy (Secrets and Lies) (3 page)

I reach out my hand to shake his. He t
akes my hand, brings it to his lips, and places a lingering kiss there that makes my whole body heat up and my legs go weak. I don’t understand the effect he has on me so I chalk it up to meeting someone famous. My body must be responding and my mind hasn’t caught up yet.

“Sasha,” Ramsey sa
ys as if he needs to try out my name on his lips. He still has hold of my hand and is using his thumb to gently caress me there. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Sasha Ellis.”

“Boy, stop,” Neesa sa
ys taking my hand out of his. My hand feels abandoned. It feels as if she’s snatched it from a place where it is meant to be. I shake my head to get rid of the thought. I don’t know what is wrong with me. An engaged woman should not be feeling like this. And to reiterate my feelings, Neesa says, “Slow your roll, Ram. My girl here is engaged. Don’t you be trying to get her in trouble.”

Ramsey ho
lds his hands up in a defensive gesture. “Hey, she’s a grown woman. And a fine one at that. But I’ll take your advice under consideration,” Ramsey says removing his dark sunglasses and giving me a wink. A shiver passes through me.

Ramsey
doesn’t look like I thought he’d look. His voice is deep and raspy, yet extremely sexy. His light beard emphasizes the ruggedly handsome features of his face. It looks as if maybe he hasn’t shaved for a few days, making him ultra appealing. I don’t know what I’d been expecting, but his attire surprises me. He is wearing a gray, summer Italian-cut blazer made of a very nice lightweight material, a nicely fitted white t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a pair of white tennis shoes. His jewelry is modest for a man is his business with a large watch that is probably platinum and platinum bracelet on his other arm.

I
can’t help but stare at how his t-shirt skims his torso, revealing a set of perfect abs and what has to be a narrow waist. He appears to be strong and fit but not bulky in any way. His skin is few shades darker than my own, reminding me of black coffee. He is in a word… Sexy! And that smug, arrogant smile… Lord, Jesus… it makes my knees weak. I never thought I was the type who likes the arrogant, dominant type, but this encounter is proving me wrong. I think if he told me to leave with him right now, I might just do it.
Oh. My. God. What is wrong with me?

“You are too much,
Ram. Anyway, Sasha. This right here is Loop,” Neesa says nodding to another man standing with Ramsey. He lifts his beer bottle in greeting. Next she points to a mixed race man standing next to Loop and says, “This is Zack.” He raises his chin and follows with a “What’s up.” Then she nods at a bigger man, who is obviously a bodyguard. The man is dressed in all black, wearing sunglasses, and he has to be seven feet tall. He also appears to be of another nationality that I can’t place. He could pass for the brother of the ex-wrestler turned actor,
The Rock.
“And this big man here is Roc. He’s Ramsey’s bodyguard and my future husband.” I giggle under my breath.
Oh, how fitting – Roc,
I think when she says his name.
“He just doesn’t know it yet,” she adds referring to remark about him being her future husband. The corners of the big man’s mouth tilt upwards taking away from his menacing presence. His smile shows that Nessa’s words have affected him and I have a feeling that he probably has a crush on Neesa as well.

I thro
w up my hand in a small wave. As I bring my hand down to settle it back next to my body, I jump at Ramsey’s comment of, “Oh, shit. Look at that rock.” He grabs the hand I’d used to wave and brings it up to his face. “You must be puttin’ that shit on some dude, right! That rock is nice,” Quinton says referring to my engagement ring.

“For your information, Ramsey,” Sasha
chastises grabbing my hand away once again, “some women have men that love them regardless of the way they ‘put that shit on them’,” Neesa says throwing quotations in the air as she repeats his words. I am completely surprised that Neesa comes to Daryn’s defense, but I know it is just that Neesa hates when people insinuate that women have to be on their backs to get things from men. She’s dealt with that on many occasions, which is why it is her pet peeve. “Come on. Let’s get you a drink. I think we’ve interrupted their trolling long enough.”

Neesa and I order from the bar. We both order
a glass of champagne and Neesa orders us some shots. I object to this, but she ignores me saying this will loosen me up so we can dance before she has to work. We drink a little and laugh a little. I start to loosen up after having my second shot. Well loose is probably a bit of an understatement. Being that I don’t drink often, I am very tipsy.

We mak
e our way to the dance floor and lucky enough for me, I am able to follow along with Neesa’a moves.
Thank you ballet class.
It has to be the alcohol though, since I dance like a white girl with a small amount of rhythm on my best days.

After a few high tempo songs, the music slow
s down. Two men immediately approach Neesa and me and ask for a dance. I almost say no, but Neesa pinches me in my side to encourage me, so I dance. The guys hands are a little busy for my taste, so halfway through the song I whisper to Neesa that I am going back to the VIP lounge. She nods and continues her slow grind on some dude who is actually pretty good-looking.

I
am a little wobbly from the drinks, but I make it back to the lounge in one piece and take a seat in the corner of one of the plush black couches against the wall. A server comes by asking me if I need anything and I ask for water. The liquor must’ve really had an effect on me because I hadn’t noticed Ramsey sitting further along the couch. His entourage has apparently scattered to do their own thing and the only person with him is Roc. I look over in his direction and his gaze locks with mine. He smiles that arrogant smile because he knows he’s caught me staring. He then gestures to Roc, says something to the man, and then Roc starts walking in my direction.

I tense
all over not knowing what to expect. “Ram has requested your company,” Roc says to me in his deep, threatening voice. The statement is not a question; it comes out as more of a demand.

“I’m fine here, thanks.”
I shake my head saying no along with my words.

Proving my earlier thought he replie
s, “It wasn’t a question. I’m not to return without you.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake.
What kind of arrogant, egotistical ass is he?” I mutter under my breath, though I’m sure Roc has heard me because he chuckles but still stands there waiting for me to get up from where I am sitting. “Okay, okay. I’m coming.”

Three – New Experiences

I ri
se from my seat and follow Roc the short distance along the wall to Quinton or Ramsey or whatever the hell his name is. I thought he’d been sitting at the end of the couch, but once I get there, I see that he is sitting in his own little area that is separate from the rest of the couches. He looks at me and then glances at the area next to him. The gesture is his command to tell me to sit. I do with a huff, crossing my legs to get comfortable.  “Do women always do what you want when you ask?” I say defiantly as I settle in the seat next to Ramsey. I don’t want him to know that I actually wanted to come over and sit with him.

He looks up as if contemplating the question, “Yeah.
Most of the time. You’re the only one who’s ever tried to say no.”

“Hmph.
I bet.” I say under my breath.

He laughs. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? I bet you have
ol’ boy all twisted in knots. I bet you got him groveling at your feet and panting like a little bitch.”
I wish! But he doesn’t have to know that I’m practically a doormat when it comes to Daryn.

I ignore the comment. If he thinks I’m feisty, maybe I should just go with it. Instead
, I answer honestly. “Actually, I’m not. You’re the only person I’ve ever met that brings that side of me out.”

He likes that answer. It’s written all over his face.
“Interesting.”

I have no idea what’s so interesting about that. This man riles me up and gets me hot. He seems to bring out a side of me that I didn’t know existed. I feel sexy and confident, yet defiant and sassy. I like that he told me to come over and sit with him and I like that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
I guess that’s one thing about me that hasn’t changed.
I also like how my body responds to him. My body caught fire when he touched my hand and I tingle all over when he smiles at me. I don’t know if it’s the alcohol or if it’s me, but I find myself wanting this man. I feel drawn to him and his rugged, dominant personality. I know that Daryn is dominant is own way, but Daryn tends to come off as bossy and superior. When I’m with Daryn I feel like he looks down on me and thinks I’m somehow less than him because I am a woman. Being here with Quinton, I feel more feminine and womanly than I’ve ever felt. He likes the woman I am.

“Why is that interesting?” I don’t consider the idea of, Sasha, the perfectly conservative socialite, interesting. But I guess he isn’t meeting that girl right now. He’s meeting Sasha, the girl in the enticing red dress with a slight attitude.

“I don’t know. It just is. But I think I wan
t to find out why – if you don’t mind.”

Obviously, he’s forgotten about my fiancé, so I take this time to remind him. I raise the hand with my engagement ring and wiggle my fingers. “I don’t think my fiancé would appreciate you finding out why I’m interesting.
In fact, I’m positive he wouldn’t. He’d have a cow if he even knew I was inside a club. He would think of it as beneath me. He would say… ‘Sasha it’s beneath you to run around with people outside our circle’.”
Shit!
I realize I’ve said too much when Quinton raises an eyebrow at me. I hope I haven’t offended him since I’m actually enjoying our little exchange, but I’m not sure because his expression is unreadable. I try and recover from putting my foot in my mouth. “I–I didn’t mean that the way –”

“Don’t apologize to me for the way your man sees this lifestyle.
That’s his loss, but now you got me wondering. Who is this dude that I already don’t like?”

I hesitate. Most people know Daryn’s father. He’s officiated over some newsworthy cases in Atlanta.
He’s famous around town and is recognized by name. Hopefully, Quinton won’t go so far and ask who Daryn’s parents are so I tell him what he wants to know. “His name is Daryn Bryant.”

Ramsey thinks a minute, and then a hint of recognition crosses his features.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
I don’t think I’ve ever cursed this much in my head, but I really don’t want Quinton to know Daryn. That could be a potential disaster. But what am I saying? There’s no way…

“Yeah.
Bryant. He works at the company that handles my investments. Peter Harris is one of the owners, right?” He laughs and then looks me over from head to toe. “Nah! Can’t be him. That dude is definitely a square and isn’t no way he could handle you.”

I’m not sure whether he means this as a compliment or an insult, but I’m instantly offended and find myself actually taking up for Daryn.
“He handles this just fine. And yes, he works at Harris & Park. What do you know about him?” I say the last part in my conservative, superior, socialite voice. I hate that voice. It reminds me of my mother and sister and I can’t believe the way I sound right now.

“I like you.
Even though you are one of those… What do they call’em… Socialites,” Quinton says, not even acknowledging my little snap at him. Then he bites his bottom lip, which nearly makes me moan at how sexy the gesture is on him, and continues, “He doesn’t deserve you. I respect him for being able to pull somebody as fine as you, but…” He doesn’t finish. He simply shakes his head as if he is thinking in his head what he’d been about to say. He changes the subject – well, sort of – and asks, “So you’re a part of
that
crowd?”

I nod.
I am not even offended by his assumption since he is absolutely right. I am a part of
that
crowd. I am like a fish out of water at this club and as much as he probably suspected it before, now he knows it. This bit of information doesn’t seem to scare him off, though. His face tells me that he is even more interested in me. Maybe I’m a challenge. Maybe he wants to see if he can break down the conservative little socialite who runs in the elite social circles. I really don’t know, but all of a sudden I feel exposed and my whole feisty demeanor is thrown out the window.

“So how do you know my girl?
You two seem… I don’t know… different from each other.” Ramsey asks about Neesa.

“She was my roommate at Howard. When I moved back to Atlanta after graduate school, she moved back with me. We’ve been best friends ever since.
We are complete opposites, but she is the most honest and real person I know. I grew up not knowing if someone was my friend because of my name and status in the community or if they truly liked me. So once I left Atlanta and got away from my ‘circle’,” I say using my fingers when I say the word ‘circle’. “I was able to meet some genuine people who could care less about me being the daughter of Judge Ezra Ellis. She was one of the people I met and we hit it off. And as they say, the rest is history.”
Crap!
I’ve done it again. I caught myself rambling off to this man and revealed another piece of information about myself. I guess because most people already know my father is a judge, the confession slips out easily. He is probably just as well known as Daryn’s father although he’s not been a sitting judge for as long and has not had as many high profile cases come across his desk. He’s known to be fair, yet hard, especially among the criminal element.

“Hmmm, the daughter of a judge.
Judge Ellis at that. I shoulda put that shit together. This just gets more and more interesting. Your father is a good guy, though. He’s thrown the book at a few friends of mine, but they probably deserved what they got. I met him a few times over at Harris & Park.”

“Oh,” I say. I don’t know what else to say. This
six-degrees of separation thing is really catching up with me tonight. I’m pretty sure that I’m completely sober now and the spinning in my head is not the alcohol, but this enigma that sits next to me. Everything about him makes me want him more. He’s a sexy, smart business man, a mogul, he has a side that’s slightly rough, he’s dominant and forward, yet I know there is a side of him that is probably a fierce, possessive, yet sensitive lover that would make any woman’s panties wet.
I might not be as sober as I think. I’ve never had thoughts of wet panties or fierce lovers. This man brings out something in me. Something I wish I could explore.

A woman’s voice snaps me from the cocoon that
Quinton and I have been enveloped in during our conversation. My fantasy thoughts come to a screeching halt. “Hey! Sorry I was gone for so long. I stayed to listen to the groups. I hope Quin has been behaving himself,” she finishes with a raised eyebrow.

“I’ve been the perfect gentleman. Ask your friend here. We realized that we know some of the same people.”

Neesa turns to me in disbelief. She doesn’t believe for a second that we’ve been having an innocent conversation. I’m sure she thinks that I’ve spent the majority of her absence fighting Quinton off with a stick. “He’s right, Neesa.” I quickly change the subject. “You ready to go?”

“Yeah, girl.
Come on. I need to get you home before that fiancé of yours sends out a search party. He’s called me once and texted me twice.”

“Oh, no.
I didn’t hear my phone go off over the music. I forgot to switch it to vibrate. We have to go, now!” I pull my phone from my clutch and see that I have ten missed calls and twice as many texts that get angrier as they progress. I get up fast and realize that the drinks haven’t worn off. I wobble a little, but I’m caught around the waist by a set of strong hands.

“Whoa,
Society Girl. You got it?” Ramsey asks.

I hear his words, but my thoughts rattle around in my head.
I want to make a comment on his ‘Society Girl’ remark, but the only things I pay attention to are his hands around my waist holding me steady. I begin to feel guilty about the way my thoughts are going and ease away from Quinton’s grasp. “I’m fine,” I snap and immediately regret it. “I’m sorry…” I say knowing that I was rude, “…but we really have to go. It was nice meeting you Quinton... I mean Ramsey.”

“Hey. Call me Quin, Society Girl.
I reserve that name for those closest to me,” he says and follows us to the entrance of the VIP lounge. I give him a tipsy smile and Neesa narrows her eyes. We quickly disappear into the crowd and make our way to her late model Lexus.

***

We arrive at our apartment in record time. I have no idea why we speed, but I feel that Neesa is under the same impression that I am. She probably thinks that Daryn has paid a visit to our apartment and may be even waiting there since he has his own key. I’m sure Cleveland, our doorman, waved him right in since he is used to his presence in our building.

I nervously fumble with the key, but before I accomplish my task, the door swings open. Daryn is standing there on the other side with a scowl on his face and his phone in his hand. He’s looking at me as if disgusted by my presence, but I immediately know that his look has everything to do with my attire. He doesn’t even acknowledge Neesa and pulls me by my wrist into the apartment. I take small steps beside him as I try to keep up with him in my sky-high platform stilettos. Daryn opens the door to my room and pulls me inside before slamming it, disturbing the silence within the apartment.

“What are you doing, Daryn? You’re hurting my wrist.” I can’t believe he is behaving like such a Neanderthal. He’s never hurt me in any way.

“What am I doi
ng?” he yells. “What am
I
doing? Look at you! You look like some two-bit hooker. You’re out at all hours of the night doing who knows what with God knows who and you have the nerve to question me. Where have you been, Sasha? And don’t lie to me.”  Daryn sits down on my bed and draws his hands over his face. He’s way past angry and I know what I’m about to say will only make it worse.

I feel like a
chastised child, and my voice sounds that way when I answer. “I–I went to a club with Neesa. She had a work thing and wanted me to go along with her.” When he doesn’t say anything I continue to explain myself. “Sh-she wanted me to have some fun. I had a long day, sweetie. Between your mother and the planning –”

“Are you blaming my mother for your behavior, Sasha? She didn’t force you to put that slutty outfit on and go out
gallivanting with thugs and criminals.”

Okay, this
is ridiculous. He is ridiculous. His words were coming out harsh and ugly and they are insulting to Neesa. I know that they don’t get along, but he should know that Neesa would never put me in any kind of danger. I know this is more about his image and the fact that someone could’ve saw me out, but he need not worry. His country club friends and golf buddies wouldn’t be caught dead in The Club.

“Don’t be crass, Daryn. You know me better than that,” I say as I remove my shoes and sit
down next to him on my bed. “I wasn’t out tarnishing your precious image. I just had a little fun. Is that so wrong?”

Without
hesitation, he answers. “Yes. Yes it is. You’re my fiancée and I’m this close to a partnership,” he says putting up his thumb and forefinger indicating how close. “I don’t need anything to ruin that… not even your desire to have a little fun. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I hope you’ve gotten it out of your system.” He stops his speech and turns to me as if he’s made another discovery. “You’ve been drinking as well.” It’s not a question. It’s more of an accusation. Daryn gets up and takes in a deep breath. He seems to calm down significantly in an instant. He turns to me and gets on one knee in front of me. “Sasha. I know my mother can be quite challenging and this whole situation puts a lot of pressure on you, but honey… you can’t act out like this. I love you. You don’t have to do things like this to get my attention.”