Trouble In Paradise (13 page)

“Girl let me see it again,” she said. 

Victoria held out her hand. 

“I can’t take it off.” 

“Girl why would you want to do that, I realize he cheated on you but you know what, on some level I think all men cheat.  Don’t think it’s pathetic of me to think that means I’ll fall for anything, because it doesn’t.  It’s just a true statement and I think the sooner women realize that the better off they’ll be, because on the real, sex is sex, the men love it; it’s truly in their nature.  But his love for you is one hundred percent right?  That’s something else, a totally different category.  If you’re in his heart then you’re in his mind and that will drive a man crazy so you’ve got to understand honey sometimes it will happen.  Maybe you should just get even.” 

She winked at Victoria.  Don’t let your man slip right off into this girl’s hands, that’s what she wants you to do.  Instead fight for your man, that’s your husband girl you got the ring.  What that girl is doing is an old trick they been doing for years trying to get pregnant thinking that’s gone hold the man and it’s not.  It will just make them not like each other that much more and fuss over the child.  It becomes a mess, but don’t hand him over, get yours too.  You have a point to prove, now he needs to know he’s not the only one that has eyes for you and he needs to see it so he’ll know next time how far to go out on his chain and not to play in the streets.  You got me?” 

Victoria was in shock.  It seemed like every time she talked to her boss she said something that shocked her, especially with the realness she portrayed.  Caroline batted her eyes at Victoria,

“Now straighten yourself up girl here comes our nine o’clock.”

Four hours later Victoria signed out to go to lunch.  She had a full hour and a half and she needed it.  The client they were working with was completely annoying. 
Ugh
she thought, I hope they’re not all like this.  He was a grown man but scared of his children.  It was the most irrational thing ever.  She went through the double doors and signed out at the second station.  She walked out the door and crossed the street.  She decided to run right up to Mays lounge to chill out for lunch.  The atmosphere at Mays was a laid back one.  She could chill out on the sofas and have a small drink and relax.  Once inside the place she noted the soft medium crowd, she scanned the lounge, everyone looked like they were there trying to do the same thing she was trying to do, relax on a lunch break.  She walked over to a sofa in the back of the lounge and sat down.  Immediately she was approached by a waiter with a menu. 

She looked up,

“Hi, I’ll have a Long Island Iced Tea and an order of hot wings. Thank you.  Oh, do those hot wings come with fries?”

“Yes,” the waiter said. 

“Ok thanks.”

The waiter walked off.

“Is this seat taken?” 

She looked up to the familiar voice. 

She smiled, “No, it’s not.” 

He smiled in return, him b
eing Greg. 

He sat down, “Well it’s nice to see you again.” 

“Nice to see you as well and here I thought I’d sit in the back so I couldn’t be spotted.” 

He chuckled, “Is that what you’re trying to do?” 

“Yes,” she said smiling seductively. 

“Well then you should’ve looked like a troll instead of a queen and then maybe you could’ve pulled that off.” 

She raised one eyebrow,

“Is that right?”

“Yes it is.  So what are you doing in these parts?” he asked.  

“I work down the street at Banks Association for Rel
ationship and Family Therapy.” 

“Oh is that right?” he asked.  “That’s big money right?” 

“Why, you need some?”

He laughed, “We all could use some extra money but I would say I’m ok.” 

“Is that right?” she smiled. 

“That’s right.  You are a cutie,” he said and was interrup
ted by the waiter. 

“Excuse me,” the waiter said placing Victoria’s wings and fr
ies down along with her Long Island Iced Tea and a complimentary ice water and lemon. 

“Thanks,” Victoria said.

”You’re welcome anything else?” 

She looked at Greg, he ordered the same thing.  The waiter walked off. 

“I hope you don’t think I’m gone wait on your food to come back because a sista hungry,” she laughed taking a bite of her wings. 

He smiled, “Oh it’s all good, I’ll just eat on yours until mine comes.” 

“Yeah right,” she said swatting his hand away, “you’ll just get back, you don’t know me like that,” they laughed. 

“
A woman with a sense of humor I like that,” he said. 

“What else do you like?” 

“I like the blush on your face when you smile, I like your flirtatious conversation and I’d like to get to know you better,” he said. 

She took another bite of her wings.  He was handsome.  Chocolate, every inch
of him: lips, face, hands, arms.  She smiled to herself and snapped out of her daydream. 

She thought about what Caroline said earlier and caught herself saying,

“I would like that too.” 

She s
ipped her Long Island.
What was she doing
? she thought,
what was she really doing?

Chapter 17

Victoria and Greg sat in the lounge that day and talked about their careers, their lifestyles and what they like to do for fun.  Greg is a fun guy who likes to travel, rock climb, hunt, and camp out.  He is outdoorsy.  Victoria isn’t, she wouldn’t be climbing any rocks or hunting anything anytime soon, but she could see his eyes light up when he talked about it.  He loved being in nature.  Victoria’s day was over and she had just received a call from Shay.  She was in Chicago and staying at The Drake Hotel.  Victoria pulled in front of the hotel, hopped out the car and handed her keys to the valet.  She walked through the doors of The Drake Hotel and walked up to the elevator.  The door chimed and opened.  A middle-aged man with a bellman’s suit and hat stood in the elevator. 

Victoria stepped on,

“Where to Miss?” he asked.

“Third floor please,” she said. 

The bellman pressed the button that read ‘three’ and it lit up.  The doors closed and they proceeded up to the third floor.  The elevator was a nice size, it had a bench in it and the bellman stood as still as a statue.  The doors opened and Victoria stepped off and started down the hallway.  At the same time Leon was coming out of Danielle’s suite.  As soon as Victoria cut the corners Leon started down the hallway.  They were missing each other by seconds.  Victoria knocked on Shay’s door and waited.  When the door swung open they both screamed in unison.  They hugged and Shay pulled Victoria in the room.  Leon heard the commotion and being the busy body that he is turned down the hallway to see where the noise was coming from but as soon as Leon hit the corners Victoria had just been pulled in by Shay so the only thing he saw was the door closing. 
Hmmm,
he thought,
who was that?
 

He we
nt back to the elevator.  After talking to Danielle Leon found out she was now booked and being the crankiest person in the world for someone who needed saving. 

“What would she do if I wasn’t up here?” Leon asked out loud. 

Outside there was a little wind in the air.  He pulled out his ticket, gave it to the valet and waited.  When the valet pulled up he thanked him and got in the car. 
If the guy thinks Imma keep giving him a tip he got another thing coming,
Leon thought.  He drove to Cook County Jail to pick up Danielle. 

Danielle was exhausted; she hadn’t had any sleep because she couldn’t stand to close her eyes in a place like this.  It smelled like old rusty iron and it was freezing.  The toilet was a joke and the prostitutes were tired looking.  One girl would just sit there and stare at Danielle, she wouldn’t even blink.  She looked as if she was on something serious.  Danielle just stared at the girl and didn’t say anything.  The girl did the same with the laziest look in her eyes.  It was like she wasn’t even here.  Danielle wondered what the women did to be in the position they were in.  She thought about her actions.  She was more than ready to kill t
he Victoria now.  She didn’t want to come back to jail and she knew that was definitely a possibility if she kept this up. 

She was charged with assault, resisting
arrest, and some other crap that she felt Victoria needed a good slap down to compensate for. 

“I
wish Leon would hurry up.” 

She let out a sigh.  It was so cold, if she knew she would’ve ended up in jail she would’ve worn something warmer.  She laughed at the thought, but I guess everyone else would have too including the prostitute.  She chuckled to herself, then again maybe she wouldn’t have.  I can’t believe Joshua did this to me, how could he allow this to happen?  What had she done to him?  He was not my Joshua, not the same person I fell in love with in high school and planned to marry. 

“SHUMAKER!” the guard yelled, “your bond has been posted.” 

Danielle jumped up and ran quickly to the cell door.  The guard slid the door open and Danielle stepped out and signed her release papers.  She walked up to a tall tan door that made a loud mechanic noise and then slid open.  She saw Leon standing there and ran to him. 

“Oh my honey bun girl is you ok?” he asked dramatically. 

“Now that you’re here
yes, I’m just glad to be out of that cell I don’t know what to do.” 

“Let’s start by getting out of here how about that.” 

“Yes,” she said.

T
hey turned and walked out the doors. 

“Oh I’m so hungry and I need a bath.” 

“Yes you do honey,” Leon said making a face. 

“Oh, shut up.  Stop at the nearest McDonalds so I can grab something, anything to eat and then back to my room so I c
an take a shower and a nap.  Oh that place was so disgusting.” 

“Well there’s more where that came from if you keep ac
ting like a lunatic.” 

She whipped her head around and looked at him,

“Who’s acting like a lunatic?” she asked like she was in disbelief he would say such a thing. 

“Girl, boo.”

Leon stated waving her off. 

“You are acting like a
lunatic, look what you’ve gotten yourself into.  Seriously, I hope you had some time to sit in there and think about your actions because if you still trying to keep up this tough girl act then you’ll end up with more than enough time to think about it.” 

Danielle put her hand on her hip.

“Well tell me how you really feel.” 

Leon glanced at her,

“Don’t look at me crazy, you know you could’ve ended up in more trouble.  You lucky you got off the way you did.  Now you’ve got to go to court and everything.   That means you’ll have to take more time off at work, just to fly all the way back up here to go to court for something you’ll end up regretting later.” 

Leon was giving Danielle the
full-fledged mama-daughter, or father-son talk. 

Danielle smiled,
“Awe, he cares about me.  I really didn’t think you cared so much.  Since it only takes a lunatic to bring another lunatic a gun from Memphis, Tennessee to Chicago, Illinois.  Actually take the time to travel by car, all that way just to help a friend out, huh,” Danielle said in a mocking tone.

  “Oh, so now I’m a lunatic, you something else.” 

They were playing the blame game now. 

“Listen,” Leon said, “I know, I know, I’m not trying to judge you honey please believe that’s not what I’m trying to do.  I just don’t want you to get in any serious trouble.  Now listen I might like seeing a show and sometimes I might even be a little dramatic but I didn’t really expect anyone to get hurt or you to end up in jail.  I knew it was a bad idea before I came but you ac
t like you just had to have it.” 

“How many states did you cross?” she asked looking at him dum
bfounded. 

“Your point is taken
Danielle; I will get you to your room so you can come up with a lunatic plan on your own.  The buck stops here I’m going home,” he said with finality. 

“Fine, leave then, but stop at this McDonalds first.” 

Leon put on his right blinker then turned into the McDonalds.  He pulled up to the window and ordered a Number One Big Mac Meal for Danielle.  Leon pulled up to the window; he turned to Danielle for her money. 

“I don’t have any money and you know this.  I left my purse in this car, so where is it?” 

“Oh, it’s in the trunk, I’ll pay for this with my card and you can just give it back.” 

“Fine l
isten Leon; I’m sorry I put you through all of this.  I really enjoy your company I need you to stay with me please, please,” she begged. 

“Why Danielle, why are you even staying?  You should be leaving too,” he stated throwing his hands up. 

Danielle sighed.

The lady came back to the window and handed her order out. 

“You said sweet tea is that right ma’am?” 

“Yes,” Danielle said. 

The lady handed her the drink. 

“Your straw is in your bag.” 

“Ok, thanks.” 

They pulled off. 

“Have you ever been in love Leon?”

Leon sighed, “Yes.”

“I mean real love Leon.  Love that made you sick when the other person was away for too long like a drug you’re addicted to and you just had to have it even though you tell yourself to move on, the further away from the drug you get the more you crave it.” 

“Ok are we talking about men or drugs honey Imma need to know so I can stay on the right track?”  They chuckled. 

“It’s one in the same.” 

Leon stared off into space. 

“Oh honey, you’ve got it bad.” 

“I don’t know how to shake him, he’s like a part of my soul, I have to have him if it’s the last thing I do.”

****

Joshua had been calling Victoria all day.  She was not a
nswering her phone it would ring once then go to voicemail.  It was obvious she was sending him to voicemail.

  “UGGHHH,” he groaned.  “Why won’t she just pick up the phone?” 

He called Dantae back.  His phone went straight to voicemail.  The thought of his best friend Dantae and Victoria making passionate love crept into his mind.  He shut his eyes and rubbed them.  He hadn’t had much sleep.  He needed to get some, he was about to go crazy.  Hallucinating about his fiancé and his best friend had to be the cruelest thought.  He sat down on the bed and lay back thinking about when he proposed to Victoria at The Signature Room at the 95th.  Everything was perfect, too perfect, he should’ve known.  Everything had gone right that day.  Now this, his whole world had turned around within twenty four hours and it was the longest, meanest, cruelest time of his life. 

  “Danielle, Danielle,” he said her name out loud, “why are you doing this to me?” 

It was really simple and he knew it.  It was the only thing that would make a person act irrationally. She flat out told him at the hospital that she couldn’t let him go.  She was still in love with him, those feelings just don’t go away regardless of the fact that he wasn’t in love with her.  The fact that she was head over heels for him was the point and him continuing to sleep with her all these years made matters worse.   I have to get my life back.  I just don’t know where to look.

*****

Two hours later, Victoria had brought Shay up to speed on the recent events.  Shay was at a loss for words.  She was tripping off how everything had gone down.  Her phone rang.  Victoria was in the bathroom.  She looked at the number but didn’t recognize it.  It had a Memphis area code. 

“Hello,” she answered. 

“Well this must be my lucky day,” the baritone voice on the other end said. 

It sent a shiver up Shay’s spine.  She knew that voice and it always sent that same shiver up her spine though she would never tell him that. 

“Who is this?” she said pretending she didn’t already know. 

“Oh
you so cool you don’t know my voice anymore?  Well that’s a shame because I would never forget the sound that escapes those lips.”

Shay squeezed her legs together and moved her hand up and down in a fanning motion.  Shay had always played hard to get with Dantae but she always wanted to give in.  She just knew he had it easy with the ladies because he was almost as sexy as LL Cool J without all
the bling.  Fine as wine. 

“You know you got some good game,” she teased. 

“I don’t play games, and I always start what I finish.” 

“I’m sure.  Well it’s too bad I’m all the way in Chicago,” she said. 

“Wow Chicago huh would it be too much of a coincidence if I told you I was in Chicago as well?”  

She pulled the phone from her ear and looked at it. 

“I would wonder if you were serious or if you were just yanking my chain.” 

“Both, feel the pull,” he spoke in a seductive tone.  “Can I come see you?” 

“I’m at The Drake Hotel, room 205.” 

He chuckled. 

“I’ll be there in an hour baby.” 

“Ok I’ll see you
then,” she glowed and hung up.  “Oh my, my, my.”  

Victoria yelled, “What?” 

“Victoria, you been in that bathroom for a long time girl are you gonna be ok?” 

“I’m fine,” she yelled back.  “Who was that on the pho
ne you were trying to talk to all sexy?” 

“Girl, you’ll never believe who that was?” 

Victoria turned on the air vent,

“Sorry, tell me when I come out,” she yelled. 

Shay rolled her eyes.  Victoria could be straight up hood sometimes. 

“How you gone ask a question then turn on the vent knowing you can’t hear,” she yelled back. 

Her mind returned to Dantae, he was so sexy she couldn’t wait to see him.

*****

Joshua’s phone rang.  He jumped up, he had fallen asleep.  A look at his watch told him two and a half hours had gone by.  His phone continued to ring.  Quickly he answered but fell back into bed when he noticed it was Dantae.