URBAN: Chosen By A Kingpin (80 page)

“Oh, Tara, she is your problem.”

“No, she is Blake’s problem.”

“What about their children, your heirs, will you feel the same way about them?”

She laughed.

“There will be no heirs, never.” She leaned forward and whispered. “Blake can’t have children. I made him get a vasectomy before they married. “So no worries, no little bastards will be inheriting anything from me.”

***

Tara pulled out her sketch book and started working on a new dress for her upcoming line.

Someone knocked at her door.

It was early yet and she wasn’t expecting any clients until the late afternoon, so she was more than surprised to be receiving a visitor. She peaked through her window.

Michael?

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

Michael walked in carrying a bag, two coffees, and a brilliant smile. He looked even more handsome than when she first saw him. Casually dressed in a thermal polo and jeans, he could have easily passed for one of her model friends.

“A little help?” He asked.

She laughed. “Yes, I’m sorry.” She removed the bag from his hands and placed it on her drafting table.

“Thought you might need a little snack. I’ve got coffee, croissants and these!” He presented the roses to her.

She smiled. “Thank you! And what are these for?”

“My own little way of saying thank you for yesterday.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to do this.”

Tara was more than surprised and quite tickled at his gesture.

“I know, I wanted to show you my appreciation. You deserve so much more, but I just hope this will be enough for now. This is nice, your space. “He said looking around. “Quaint, very stylish…it is very you. I like the use of the metals. Silver and gold are my favorite colors.”

“Oh yeah, I got that from visiting an old palace in Great Britain. The metal comes from the metal suits the knights used to wear. I purchased a few and knocked out the design in weeks. Now people are requesting them to be used as kind of like a backsplash, and yet I’m running out of suits!” She laughed. “So thank you! She took a sip from her coffee. “Ahh, this is good!”

“Yeah, great place right down the street Labossieree. Simply amazing. I like the way your head thinks and I might be able to get you what you need. I have a friend that’s a curator at the High Museum. I’ll check with him on Knights Armor. Let him tell if there are centuries and centuries of old junk just wasting away in the basement.”

“Wow! Great! I would love that!”

“So, what brings you down here? Sightseeing?”

“That and handling a bit of business while I’m here.” So, He asked. “When is Blake returning?”

“He said he would be back either Sunday or Monday. Something about a mix-up in a parts order. You haven’t spoken with him?”

“No, I haven’t but I’ll probably give him a call later today. You know I think I’m going to need me one of these backsplashes for my summer home in Belize. Could you put it together and ship it whole or would it have to be installed piece by piece?”

“Yes we can ship it whole, costs a bit more but it will arrive safely then you can do it yourself. It’s just that simple.”

“Cool.” He moved over to her drafting table. “Are these your designs? You are quite the artist and craftswoman. You do furniture and clothing. I’m impressed.”

“Well thank you. It keeps me busy and I really love it.”

“Looks amazing. You have a very good eye for fashion, but I should have expected it. You were after all one of the world’s top models.”

She laughed.

“You obviously have me confused with Naomi Campbell.”

“No. Naomi couldn’t hold a candle to you Tara.”

He touched her. Just a brush of his hand graced her hips. At first she didn’t think anything of it, but realized that they both stared each other for more than a moment after the touch. Michael moved closer to her, stood over her in the most commanding and yet sexy way.

“You are perfection Miss Tara and I’m sorry for being blunt, but I can’t take my eyes off of you even when I know it’s wrong, so very wrong.” I, he said gracing her jawline with his hand. “I’m completely taken by you, so forgive if I come off…”

Tara broke her stance. Somehow came to her senses and quickly turned and headed towards the door.

“I’m sorry Michael, as much as I enjoy your company I’ve got a ton of things to do before my client shows up, but thank you for the coffee, croissants and flowers.”

“Oh, no problem Tara, it was my pleasure. I’ll get out of your way so you can get back to work.”

“Thanks again.”

He tried to hug her and Tara pulled away.

“You’re welcome. Maybe you can join me and Blake for dinner when he returns.”

“I’d like that. Bye Tara.”

She closed the door behind him and locked it. That was something she had never done.

***

Eleanor sat in her car amazed at what she had just witnessed. She would have to keep a closer eye on Mr. Michael, a much closer eye.

“Sammy, take me home.”

Once home Eleanor made it a point of finding out all she could about Michael. She first called Blake.

“Son, how are you?”

“Fine mom, but I’m in a meeting. Is this important?”

“Why yes, son it is. I need you to tell me about your friend Michael. Who is he?”

“He’s someone I went to college with. He’s made a great living, but that’s all I know.”

“You would think you would be more careful who you let your wife hang out with.”

“Mother, what are you talking about?”

“He seems to have taken a liking to your dear sweet Tara. I’ve seen them twice breathing the same air in the same space as if they were married.”

“Mom, I really don’t have time for this. I’ll call you later.”

“Blake! Blake! Dammit!”

She thought. I guess I will have to handle this myself.

***

Tara wasn’t getting any work done. She just couldn’t believe how vulnerable she was with Michael. Sure, he was a handsome guy, fine for a white man, extremely sexy and charming, but this never happened to her. Never. She put down her pen again. What was it about him that had her crossing lines? The more she thought about it the more stressed she got. She wanted to talk it over with Blake, but he always seemed to be busy when she called and that was pissing her off. The truth was Blake’s lack of attention and distance was pushing her into the arms of another man. Despite her brief moment Tara knew she could never cheat on Blake. She wasn’t made like that and no amount of flowers and favors could get her to that point. She loved Blake and Blake loved her, even with their strange relationship, they were perfect for each other. That is what she told herself, over and over again, and yet lately she was finding a harder time convincing the heart what the mind should have already known.

Her phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Tara, it’s me Mya.”

“Mya? Oh my God, really?”

“Yes really.”

“Well, how are you? What’s going on?”

“Tara, I’m good but dad is not. Mom didn’t want to worry you or even call you for that matter but you needed to know.”

“What? Know what Mya?”

“Dad is dying. Stage 3 cancer and from what the doctors shared with me he doesn’t have much longer. I’ve been flying back in forth from Indianapolis to check on them, but I think you need to come, spend some time with dad and mom.”

“Yes, yes you’re right. I’ll look into some flights tonight, try to be there by tomorrow.” She paused. “How is mom holding up?”

“She’s…she is not taking it well at all Tara. She’s convinced herself that dad is just fine and the doctors are wrong. She pretty much acts like nothing has changed. I think you’re coming home would be good for them both.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow Mya, I promise.”

Tara could barely hang up the phone before nearly falling to the floor in tears. Her dad meant the world to her. He was her ultimate hero and the best friend she could ever have. It was his extreme fondness of her that caused a rift between her and Mya. Mya always complained that he favored her since they were little girls and even though she didn’t want to admit it, it was true. Mom on the other hand was closer to Mya. Mya was always on hand, always near, always there for her while Tara was traveling the world. Mya despised her for it, like she despised her for marrying Blake and living the life that she felt she deserved. It really wasn’t because Blake was white, her mother was white, her and Mya were bi-racial…it was because Blake was rich and once again in her eyes Tara wins again.

She wiped her eyes and pulled herself off the floor. She reached for the phone again and dialed Blake’s number, after six rings it went to voicemail.

“Blake. Hey sweetheart. Please call me back. I have bad news.”

She hung up, closed down the shop and went home.

Her phone rang.

“Blake?”

“No, it’s Michael. You okay, you sound strange?”

“Oh Michael, yes I’m good. I thought you were Blake. I left him a message to call me a little while ago.”

“Are you still at the shop?”

“No, I’m heading home. I had to close early for personal reasons.”

She really didn’t know how much to share with Michael, but she also wanted to talk it out because the pain she was feeling at the moment was more than what she could take.”

“Tara?”

“You know, if you don’t mind I really need to talk. Can you meet me somewhere close by?”

“Yes, I would love to. We can meet at Renato’s, the Italian restaurant. I was just about to grab some lunch.”

“Great, I’m just down the street. I’ll be there in like five minutes.”

Michael smiled to himself. He couldn’t have asked for more and although he was intending on giving Tara some space, her calling him changed the game. Seeing her today was exciting, exasperating and challenging. Being close to her was all he wanted since their first dance. Damn Blake, Eleanor and anyone else…Tara changed that. Tara was the goal.

He approached the restaurant with ease, happily thinking to himself that this was destined. He smiled and greeted everyone who looked his way. Women winked and flirted as he strolled by. Michael knew if he wanted any one of them he could have them, but they were not what he wanted. Tara held that spot, despite her current domestic situation.

Even the hostess tried him, but despite her obvious beauty and hard to ignore cleavage, he declined.

“How many sir? Wait, do I know you? You look awfully familiar?” She asked twirling her long brown, curly hair.

In many ways she resembled Tara, and if he needed a substitute she would surely do, but she was just a cheap replica of what he desired.

“Two. My friend will be joining me shortly.”

“Name?”

“Michael.”

“Would you prefer a booth or a table?”

“Booth.”

She kept making eyes at him as if he would change his mind and instead invite her to his table. She leaned forward giving him a bird’s eye view of her breast. He thought, indeed they were very plump and could possibly lend to a very nice night of suckling, but not this night. She grabbed menus and led him away. She had a sweet, sensual walk, the kind many men would fall for.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” She said. “And if you need anything else feel free.

She dropped those gems and strolled away. Not bad, Michael thought. Not bad at all.

The wine list was extensive and impressive. He ordered a bottle of French Bordeaux, something he thoroughly enjoyed. The crowd was sparse, a little beyond lunch and too early for dinner, diners spread out around the massive restaurant enjoying cordials and conversation. Michael sipped from his glass taking in the scenery, eavesdropping on conversations while waiting for Tara to arrive. He thought about Blake, what he would think about him being with his wife. He knew Eleanor wouldn’t give a damn. She hated Tara, but what about Blake. Had he really changed from the over egotistical womanizer of college into a businessman, CEO and husband? Michael doubted it. In just the past few days of being in Potomac he saw Blake’s interpretation of the idea life falling apart, bit my bit.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Blake’s number.

“Hello.” Blake said breathing heavily into the phone. “Hello.”

Michael hit mute and listened to Blake’s breathing, then him speaking to someone else.

“Oh shit! Ahhh baby.” Blake said. His phone still on. “No, don’t stop there, take it all in! Yeah bitch!”

Michael hit his record button. This was going to be good, he thought. He listened until Blake screamed like a little bitch! It should have pissed him off, but it didn’t it reassured him that everything he came to do was right. It was not only right it was his destiny.

***

Tara should have already been at the restaurant. Although it was less than 10 minutes away, a wrong turn sent her in the opposite direction.

Dammit to hell.

Perhaps this was Karma telling her she needed to take her ass home and skip meeting up with Michael. She was almost convinced of that, but after she called Blake again and he didn’t answer she changed her mind. The drive was good for her though. Sightseeing, driving can be just as healthy for the mind as talking it out. She passed by Glenstone, one of the first places Blake had taken her when she first arrived in Potomac. It was a huge Agricultural, Art and Landscape museum. Minutes later she pulled up in front of Renato’s.

“Hello Miss. Table for one?”

“No, I’m meeting someone.” She said before spotting Michael in a booth just a few rows away. “Thank you. I see my party.”

His back was turned.

“Michael?”

“Hey Tara, I didn’t see you come in? Please, have a seat.”

There was something about the way he smiled and looked at her that was so comfortable and warm. Although they had only met just a week ago, she felt like she had known him for years. That didn’t usually happen with her.

“Hey, forgive me for being a little late. I got turned around up the street.”

“No apologies. I took upon myself to order us a bottle of Bordeaux. You do like Bordeaux?”

“Absolutely. Thank you.”

He poured them both a glass, then raised his glass in a toast.