Black Lies White Lies (9 page)

“Yes, I would. I could smell it before I got off the elevator. I would also like a medium coffee. Thank you,” I said and headed for the door.

When I got in my car the clock said 7:30. I was making excellent time. It was about a 45 minute drive to work. As I walked inside I realized I didn’t know anyone. “Morning, Miss. You will have to sign in here before going up to the other floors. And where are you headed?”

“15
th
floor, Marketing.” I signed and headed for the elevators. Brenda was right I realized as I walked down the hall to my office. Things had changed.

Brenda had not arrived just yet. I began going over the production reports for the week I had been gone. The numbers were up from last year. I printed out my report and got ready for the meeting.

Brenda walked in and closed the door behind her. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, and good morning to you, too.”

“Sorry. I’m just wondering what’s going to happen.”

“Things are going to be ok, Brenda. Don’t worry.”

“So you talked to Ashton?”

“Yes and things are going to be ok.”

“There will be a meeting in the conference room at 9:00 sharp.”

“Brenda, you look lovely. Love the new hairdo.”

“Thanks. I thought I would do something different.”

I laughed. She seemed nervous. “What’s funny?”

“You would think you were going to the guillotine.” And we both laughed. “We better get up there. We don’t want to be late.”

We walked in to see Mr. Maxwell and Ashton heading up the conference table. All the other department heads and their assistants sat with papers in hand.

“Let’s get this meeting started,” began Mr. Maxwell. “I first want to say what a terrific job this young man to my left is doing in turning this company around for the better. Our numbers are up in a very short time and we owe a crucial part of that increase to him. The necessary cuts were made and others were let go for other reasons. Let’s go over the reports and get to other business.” All you could hear were papers being shuffled.

As the meeting came to a close Mr. Maxwell announced, “We do have promotions to hand out. Candice Robinson will be promoted to head of Marketing…” and that’s all I heard. A few others were also promoted, but I was so excited I wasn’t paying much attention. Everyone headed back to work and Brenda and I headed back to my office before celebrating.

“Candice, I’m going to get us some coffee. I will be in back in a minute.”

“Ok, I’m going to start to wrapping things up for an early Friday.” I walked into my office and found two dozen red roses on my desk and a card.

Can’t wait to see you later

~Ashton

He never ceased to amaze me.

Carl, Mr. Maxwell’s assistant, walked in. He was tall and thin. He was always extremely well dressed and spoke with a foreign accent. He had a tendency to act like the sky was about to fall any minute. “Candice, you will be moving upstairs to a corner office on Monday. Mr. Maxwell wanted you to know all your things would be moved over the weekend. Your office will be on the 18
th
floor adjacent to Mr. Williams.”

I needed to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. “Will you be keeping the same assistant, Mrs. Robinson?”

“Yes, Carl, I’m going to keep Brenda.”

“Well I hope she’ll be getting a raise,” he smiled just a little, as if to say she would need it. She would, but it wasn’t any of his business. “No offense, Ms. Robinson, but things are changing so fast and I know Brenda is a hard worker.”

“Yes, she is and she deserves a raise.”

“Well Ms. Robinson, I will see you on Monday.”

Carl left as fast as he’d come, almost running into Brenda who was walking in with the coffee. “What was that all about?”

“We’re moving up. Carl was just telling me were being moved to the 18
th
floor.”

“How convenient is that? On the same floor as Ashton. He couldn’t have planned it any better.”

“Brenda, it’s not a plan. Stop being so negative about things. You’ll be moving with me, aren’t you happy?”

“Thanks, Candice, but I’m still saying watch Mr. Slick. There’s more to him than meets the eye. Look at those flowers. Bet I can guess who these are from.”

“Really, who?” And I started to laugh.

“Mister moves a girl close and keeps a close eye on her.”

“Brenda, you are funny. Thanks for the coffee.”

“Anytime. What you say after work we catch the subway to Jamaica town and get our swerve on.”

“I can’t. Ashton and I are leaving for the Hamptons to visit his parents.”

“Oh, it’s getting that serious, meeting his parents now.”

“If I didn’t know better I would say you’re a little jealous.”

“No, I want you to be happy, I just don’t think he is the one.”

“Well we will see what time brings for me and Ashton.”

“Candice, you’re my girl, so just watch your step.”

“Brenda, we can celebrate when I get back, I promise. So where is Calvin these days?”

“He works all the time so I see less of him these days. I’m going to call him and tell him to come over for a late supper since you will be in the Hamptons.”

“That sounds like a plan for you two.”

“It does, now that I said it.”

“Well, Brenda, I need to wrap things up and head to my stylist.”

“Yeah, you do need to get that hair did.”

“Amen!” we laughed.

Chapter 7

I started putting my things away so when the office coordinator came it would be a little easier. I needed to call my sister before I left. I picked up the phone, putting her on speaker. It took her forever to answer. “Hello?”

“Sandra, this is Candice, how are you? I was just calling back to check on Anthony. How is he?”

“I’m OK. He’s in a coma and not doing well.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry to hear that. How is Sabrina taking it?”

“Well she’s just jumping for joy. That’s a stupid thing to ask, Candice.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. You don’t have to be a bitch about it.”

“Of course you didn’t. Candice, why don’t you just call Sabrina?”

“I think I will,” and hung up. She was being a bitch. Most of the time we got along ok. Maybe things weren’t going like she wanted with her and Bryan.

Well, here goes nothing. Calling Sabrina was all about drama when nothing was going on. “Hello?” Her voice sent chills down my spine.

“It’s Candice. I was just calling about Anthony. How is he?”

“He’s doing as well as to be expected. He’s in a coma and on life support right now.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No, but I will keep you posted. Thanks for calling. I will stay in touch.”

“Call me if you need anything.”

“Thank you Candice, I will.”

That wasn’t so hard. She was different somehow. Maybe it was Anthony being in the hospital or maybe because it was Friday. You never knew with Sabrina.

My weekend was going to be amazing. I locked my office door and headed downtown to get my hair done. When I reached Lindsay, the shop was abuzz. It was the weekend. Lindsay’s assistant shampooed me and Susan did my nails. Finally, I sat in Lindsay’s chair. “How’s everything with you, Candice?”

“Things are going swell.”

“What’s the momentous occasion?”

“I’m headed to the Hamptons for the weekend.”

“That’s nice.”

“You’re going to the Hamptons?” the other stylist, Paul, chimed in. “I hear it’s fabulous this time of year. Wish I was going.”

“I hear things are changing in the company you work for.”

“Yes, there have been some changes.”

“I hear that the fine Mr. William’s is changing things for the better.”

“Yes, he’s moving things into the future, so to speak.”

“Well he could change me alright.”

“That’s enough of that Paul,” Lindsay spoke.

“I was just kidding around.”

“Candice is our customer and we must show respect.”

“It’s ok, he is quite handsome.”

“I know Ashton,” Paul said with a smile that unnerved me.

I didn’t want to ask, but he was pulling me in. “How do you know Ashton?”

“Well, where I should start.”

Now I was feeling extremely uncomfortable. I guess he could see the shock on my face. “No, no, it’s nothing like that, but I wish it was.” I hadn’t thought Ashton was gay or bisexual, but who knew these days. “I met him when I was in Paris, when I was doing hair abroad. He was at a party I attended once. He was unmistakably the lady’s man, at least back then. He was dressed to kill and fabulous. I think he was a model for Versace that year, but I could be mistaken.”

Ashton didn’t strike me as the model type. But who could mistake him for someone else? “He has a face that’s one of a kind,” Paul said.

I didn’t want to divulge too much so I played it off. “Well, maybe when he was younger.”

“Girl, that was about two or three years ago. He’s not that old, maybe thirty five? Yes, that’s about right.”

“So, Candice, how long will you be in the Hamptons?”

“Just for the weekend, Lindsay.”

“I hope you have a fab time.”

“I’m sure I will.”

“Candice, I have some things you should try on as soon as you’re done,” said my designer, Lucy, as she walked in.

“Just let me finish straightening her hair.”

“Ok, I’m in no hurry. Is there somewhere in back I can set up?”

“Yes, I’ll have my assistant show you a room.”

“Thank you, whenever you’re ready, Candice. I will be setting up.” I couldn’t wait to see what Lucy had, she knew my favorites.

Lindsay put the finishing touches on my hair. Why hadn’t Ashton told he used to model? I had assumed we were closer than that. Of course we hadn’t known each other that long. I wasn’t sure of his feelings for me even though I knew he was someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. “Looks like that will take care of you for a while.”

“It looks fabulous, Lindsay. You always do such a terrific job and thank you for getting me in on such short notice.”

“Anytime. You’re such a loyal customer.”

“I’m going in the back to see what Lucy has for my trip.” Lucy was finished setting up. She had such beautiful things. She’d brought a lot of summer linens in pastel colors. Pink was my signature color.

There was a white bikini with a pink chiffon cover up, I just loved. “Oh, Lucy, I just love it all. No wonder you’re Nordstrom’s leading personal shopper.”

“I do my best, Candice. You have always been an excellent customer. I’m thinking about opening my own design studio in the garment district this fall.”

“That’s an excellent idea. Let me know when you get up and going. I will send you some clients.”

“Let me finish getting you dressed so you and I can get out of here.” I picked the outfits I wanted and said goodbye to Lindsay and the others as Lucy took my charge card. I needed to get home and pack.

Chapter 8

I was surprised when Candice called today. We haven't had a close relationship. Or
any
relationship, for many years. Sometimes I wanted to be closer to my sisters, but Momma had made that difficult at times. Then again, I couldn’t blame her for everything. I loved my sisters even though we lived very different lives.

I was so tired and frazzled from all this. I needed to go home and check on the boys. My life was such a mess. Anthony was lying there in that lifeless state and
now
I wanted to care.

Why now? Why now when I wanted to leave this life and was trying to find a way out of all this recklessness? I wanted the life I’d had before all the money had changed us into people we didn’t know. I wanted a different life than the one I was raised in, but I didn’t know how to get it.

I thought all I was valued for was lying on my back and scheming. After all, that’s all my momma had been skilled at and people said I was just like her. And I had proven them right.

I truly loved Anthony. He was still my high school sweetheart. Life had changed that and I needed to pull it together. Life had taught me to be tough, go with the flow. I refused to let this beat me or Anthony. If we could get through this we could get through anything.

I walked back into the hospital where I had been for over a week now. I wanted to go home and just lie in my own bed. But when Anthony came around I wanted to be there. I heard the door opening, “What’s up, Girl?” Lucinda came walking in, all dolled up and dressed to the nines. “I’ve been worried about you and Anthony. Have you been home?”

“No I haven’t. I want to change my clothes. I showered, but it’s not the same as being at home.”

“Let me stay here with Anthony and you go home for the day. I can call you if anything changes. I have your cell number on speed dial. You know how much this fool loves me anyway,” and I laughed for the first time that week. Lucinda had a way of making me feel like things were going to be fine.