Material Girl 3: Secrets & Betrayals (7 page)

“Dylan. What a surprise,” she smiled.

“Hi, I know. I haven’t been here in years. I see you all have done some renovations. It looks beautiful.” Dylan glanced around at the pristine, white, interior.

“You know Mr. Adanu, everything has to be current and on point.”

“Do you and Mr. Adanu have an appointment? “Cause I would’ve remembered seeing your name on the books.” Laila thumbed through the appointment book.

“No, it’s a surprise visit. Is he in a meeting because I can talk to him later?” Dylan asked.

“Actually, no. Let me tell him you’re coming up.” Laila picked up the phone. “Mr. Adanu, Dylan’s here to see you.”

“Oh word? Send her up,” he said.

“Thank you,” Dylan mouthed to Laila before boarding the elevator to the tenth floor.

Once she reached her floor, Dylan strutted off the elevator and down the hall to State’s office which over looked the city.

“What you doing here Miss?” State greeted her with a hug.

Dylan couldn’t deny it, State was the shit. Everything about him was swagged out. His skin was the creamiest shade of dark chocolate. He stood six feet tall and was 200 pounds of pure muscle. His thick English accent made every woman on the planet swoon and the man could rock a suit like no other.

“I need some advice, friend,” Dylan groaned, hugging him back.

“Come in and have a seat,” State stepped to the side so she could walk into his office.

State’s office was massive. The feel was a mix between modernism and tribal chic. Skylights shown brightly from the ceiling. On one side of the room hanging from the wall was a Basquiat painting and mirrors. Underneath the artwork was a white tufted couch with tribal inspired throw pillows. A beautiful marble coffee table with a cheetah print rug sat in front of the couch. Two wooden barrel like chairs and other exquisite pieces such as a glass desk made up the room.

“Can I get you all something to drink or eat?” State’s receptionist Essence asked.

“I’m good,” Dylan replied, noticing how gorgeous she was.

“Actually, I’ll have lunch now,” State responded.

“Ok.” Essence said before, closing the door behind her.

“You keep a bad bitch around you, don’t you,” Dylan joked.

“When you’re around beautiful things you work hard to maintain it.”

“I feel you on that playboy,” Dylan laughed, sitting down.

“So what’s the deal? What you need my advice on?” State sat across from her.

“My husband,” Dylan sighed.

“I don’t know nothing about that man,” State chuckled. “He don’t even like me.”

“That’s precisely the problem. Angel feels some type of way because you and I are friends. I keep on telling him that it ain’t even nothing’ like that between me and you no more. I look at you like a brother now.”

“Girl … you know you want this dick,” State joked, cracking up laughing.

“Really?” Dylan bugged up laughing too.

“I’m just playing but nah I understand where that man is coming from. Me and you had a whole relationship for damn near three years and you smashed me behind his back. Hell, I wouldn’t want you to be friends wit’ me either.”

“Right.” Dylan said after a pause.

“I mean that’s your husband. I or nobody else should come before that,” State continued.

“You’re right,” Dylan agreed. “When did you become so damn wise?”

“The moment I lost you.”

“Aww poor baby. You’ll be a’ight.” She tickled his side.

“So what’s been up wit’ your homegirl?” State questioned, as Essence brought in his lunch.

“Who?”

“Billie.” State opened up his sandwich and soup.

“Why are you asking me about Billie? You can’t stand her.” Dylan asked, caught off guard by the question.

“I don’t know,” State shrugged. “She just popped up in my mind for some reason.”

“She’s cool, I guess. I think it’s something going on with her but she just ain’t telling me.”

“What you think it is?” State quizzed, fishing for answers.

“I don’t know, maybe she’s having marital problems. I don’t know. She just seems on edge lately.”

“Mmm.” State nodded his head, chewing his food. “Hopefully she’ll be a’ight.”

“Yeah, hopefully but anyway I’m gettin’ ready to go home and twerk for my husband.”

“Wit’ what, your back? ‘Cause you sholl ain’t got no ass,” State teased.

“Fuck you,” Dylan laughed, throwing a napkin at his head.

Don’t let this shit come between us. I’m wrong, you’re right.

-Chris Brown, “I Can’t Win”

Chapter 8

After another full workout at the gym, Angel returned home that night exhausted. All he wanted was a hot meal and a bed. He didn’t have time for any long drawn out conversations with Dylan about feelings. Angel was simply not in the mood for it. To his surprise when he walked through the door of his home he found the floor covered with red rose petals and candles. All the lights were off and soft music played from the surround sound speakers strategically located around the house.

Wondering what Dylan had up under her sleeve, Angel followed the trail of petals and candles into the dining room. He found Dylan sitting in a chair with nothing but a dark teal, lace, halter style, deep v-neck, teddy. Her full, firm breasts sat up perfectly without any support. Dylan’s body was sick. She was thick in all of the right places. Her long, lean legs were covered in bronze, shimmering lotion that sparkled underneath the glow from the candles. In her hand she held a single rose. Angel had never seen a woman look sexier.

“How are you Mr. Carter?” Dylan asked, seductively.

“Better now. What’s all of this?” He asked, dropping his gym bag to the floor.

“This is an, I was being a fool for not respecting your feelings, will you forgive me dinner.” Dylan stood and escorted him over to his seat then sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I love you, okay and I’m sorry for putting another man before you. If you don’t want me to be friends with State anymore, I won’t. It’ll just be a hi and bye thing from now on,” she said truthfully.

“Thank you,” Angel replied, pleased.

“Now can we stop fighting and get back to making love?” Dylan unsnapped the top of her teddy, revealing her luscious breasts.

“You ain’t said nothing but a word.”

The one thing Billie loved most in her life was her children. The bond that she had with them was unbreakable. Kyrese, Kenzie and Kaylee could talk to her about anything. Billie promised to never judge them but give them sound advice. She particularly loved showering them with unexpected surprises for their good behavior and grades in school. When the kids least expected it Billie would treat them with a fun activity.

It was a sunny Wednesday afternoon and Billie had just picked up Kyrese from middle school. Since they still had an hour and a half to spare before getting the twins, Billie decided to surprise Kyrese with a visit to Game Stop and frozen yogurt at FroYo. Kyrese was ecstatic by the spur of the moment show of affection from his mother. Billie cherished seeing the look of joy on her sons face. Kyrese was getting so big. He was turning into a young man right before her eyes. She just prayed that no matter what came their way he’d continue to love her despite her mistakes.

“What flavor yogurt are you getting,” she asked, Kyrese.

“Red velvet cake and I’ma put sprinkles, brownies, strawberries and Fruity Peebles on it,” Kyrese answered, gleefully.

“Don’t come crying to me when you’re stomach start hurting,” Billie teased.

“Mama, I am not five. I’ll be straight.”

“You’ll be straight?” Billie arched her eyebrow. “Boy, get outta here. When you become so cool?”

“Mama, you ain’t know? I’m that dude,” Kyrese stopped and posed.

“Chile, ain’t nobody got time for that,” Billie giggled, when the store door opened and she spotted State walking in.

A chill so cold she felt frozen in time ran up Billie’s spine. Instantly they caught eyes with one another. By the looks on both their faces neither was happy to see the other. Billie was not too pleased to see him with a drop-dead-gorgeous girl who looked to be in her early twenties.

“Mama,” Kyrese patted his mother on the arm, ecstatically. “There go State.”

“I see baby. C’mon lets go pay for our yogurt before it melts,” Billie said, frantically.

“I’m gettin’ ready to go say hi,” Kyrese responded, making sure his outfit was in tact.

“No!” Billie shrieked. “We’re getting ready to go.” Billie threw the money for their yogurt at the cashier and grabbed his hand.

“Ma’am, what about your change?” The cashier yelled.

“Keep the change!” Billie shouted back.

“So you just gon’ walk past me and not speak?” State questioned.

“Why would I do anything different,” Billie remarked, with an attitude.

“What up State?” Kyrese spoke cheerfully.

“What up man?” State gave him a pound and admired his outfit. “I see you. You lookin’ fresh. Out here stuntin’ like yo’ daddy.” He said, coyly lookin’ Billie directly in the face.

Almost about to have a heart attack Billie shot State an evil glare and said, “C’mon Kyrese. We have to go pick up your sisters.”

“Good seeing you State,” Kyrese said, as Billie dragged him out of the yogurt shop.

In the car, Billie turned the radio on and the volume up high. She desperately needed something to drown out the erratic thoughts in her head. Her body was so tense and tight that she thought she was going to have a panic attack. Driving down the street without having an accident was even a hard task. She wished that she could pull over and break down and cry but her son was in the car. She had to stay as calm as possible without freaking him out.

Kyrese gazed over his mother. There was no denying that she was a nervous wreck. Her entire body was shaking and she was taking short deep breaths. Billie was driving so fast that Kyrese was afraid they were going to crash. He couldn’t understand for the life of him what could’ve gotten his mother so upset. Then it dawned on him.

Only one thing could make his mother act so out of character. Kyrese had wondered about it for months but never had the guts to say it out loud. Everyday his suspicions grew deeper. He had to know so he could put his fears to rest. Reaching over he turned the volume down on the radio.

“Ah uh, turn that back up,” Billie snapped.

“Mama, I gotta ask you a question.” Kyrese’s voice quivered.

“What is it Kyrese?” Billie replied, not in the mood.

“Is State my daddy?”

Don’t come close. You don’t even know me. You think you know me.

-SZA, “Teen Spirit”

Chapter 9

Everything around Billie was moving in slow motion. She heard screams, people crying, sirens and shouting but she couldn’t move. She was frozen stiff there on the sidewalk. Blood trickled from her forehead and tiny pieces of glass pierced her skin but she was numb to the pain. It was as if she was a corpse and her spirit had left her body. She watched absent-mindedly as the paramedics lifted Kyrese’s limp and bloody body onto the gurney and into the ambulance.

He was barely breathing and wasn’t conscious. Billie just stood there replaying in her mind Kyrese asking her if State was his father and her taking her eyes off the road and looking at him with terror in her eyes. Her worst nightmare had come true. Billie swore she must’ve blacked out for a second because the next thing she knew Kyrese screamed, “Mom watch out!”

Billie quickly focused her attention back on the road but it was too late. She couldn’t straighten the wheel fast enough. Before she knew she’d done a 360 circle in the middle of the street then crashed into another vehicle. The impact of Billie hitting the car at such a high speed caused Kyrese, who wasn’t wearing his seatbelt to go flying through the windshield. His body was catapulted onto the hood of the car.

Billie’s head slammed into the steering wheel and she was knocked unconscious for a brief moment. She came to as soon as officers came to remove her from the car. The fist thing Billie saw when she opened her eyes was Kyrese laying unconscious on the hood of the car.

A scream only a mother could scream escaped from her lungs. She wanted to die instantly. She wanted to trade places with Kyrese. What had she done? Had she killed her baby?

As soon as she got out of the car, Billie tried to run over to Kyrese but the paramedics wouldn’t allow it. All she could do was stand idly by while they attended to her wounds as she cried. Minutes later she and Kyrese were whisked away to the nearest hospital. Billie sat alone in the waiting room as a team of doctors attended to Kyrese. Hugging herself, Billie rocked back and forth repeating to herself,
it’s
all my fault
. She didn’t care that the people around were staring or might think that she was crazy.

At that point she was. Nothing mattered but the health of her son. She’d surely die if something were to happen to him. Billie was in such a state of shock that she didn’t even remember calling Cain and everyone else about the accident. It wasn’t until he and his wife Puss-n-Boots came barging into the waiting room demanding answers that she remembered.

“Where is my son?” Cain demanded to know.

“Who is your son sir?” One of the nurses asked.

“Kyrese Townsend.”

“He’s in the E.R., sir. The doctors are attending to him now.” The nurse confirmed.

“His mother was in the accident with him. Is she okay?” Cain questioned.

“Yes sir. Mrs. Christianson only had a few minor wounds. She’s right over there in the waiting room.” The nurse pointed. 

Cain looked over his shoulder at Billie who was still rocking herself. A mixture of sorrow and anger washed over him. He was happy that the mother of his children was okay but he was pissed that she was the cause of his only son being hurt.