BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (51 page)

Desperate for the money, she sat obediently quiet, waiting for him to speak with her about the pictures. The longer she sat, the angrier she became as he toyed with her, knowing that she wanted that money for the pictures. As she sat, his food came, a delicious looking, perfectly cooked steak and steak fries with a dish of broccoli on the side and hot fresh baked rolls. For his food, he set the papers aside. Opening his napkin, he laid it across his lap, nodding his waiter away and then sat forward, picked up his steak knife and fork, cutting into it. It was medium rare and tender as could be. After he put the second cut in his mouth, he turned to her while chewing, swallowing his food, he nodded to her, that she could begin, saying, "Show me."

Wanting nothing more than to be away from him, she opened the large envelope and pulled out the biggest one first. The results were stunning, she laid that one before him and then took out the others for him to see as well, laying them before him. He stared at them, often going back to the ones with Bea alone, the one with her pregnant and then the other of her alone in front of the gates of Wherrington Manor. The one with Jeremiah posing with her and Max, he passed back to her, as for the others, "I'll take these." He tapped the table beside them.

She smiled relieved, "So, that's uh, twenty-thousand for this one right? Maybe extra for these?"

The look he gave her made her nervous, "Excuse me?"

"For the pictures - I brought you more than you wanted."

"And I thank you."

"No - wait a minute here, you offered Max twenty-thousand for that picture."

"Exactly, I offered you, nothing."

"I know but, you sounded like you really wanted that picture."

"I did, and I thank you."

"Wait a minute, you got to give me something, I went through a lot to get that picture for you." She pointed out, panicking.

"No, you went through a lot to get money from me, for that picture."

Moniqua started perspiring, "You have to give me something for them - I mean - he wasn't willing to let you have'em - I did you a favor. I can't leave here with nothing, I - I need that money."

Oscar T. went back to his steak, cutting into it, enjoying it before her. "You want that money so much, you willing to beg? Hm? Bet you would, bet you would beg. I offered my son, twenty-thousand dollars, he didn't take it, know why? Because he's got honor, that's why. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?" He smiled knowingly, stabbed some broccoli, popped it into his mouth, glancing back to her with knowing eyes. "Have I insulted you?"

Moniqua could only gulp.

He chuckled shaking his head, then tapped Bea Rose's picture, "See her, she's worth five hundred of you. She were here, I treated her, as I have you, she would have told me off and been out that door, no matter how much money I might be offering. Honor."

Moniqua was starting to sweat, because she knew she should get to her feet and leave, but - that money, that money.

"Give me something." She hated that it came out like she was indeed begging, but in a sense, she was.

Oscar T. finished off his steak and broccoli, leaving his steak fries. "You want these?" He offered her.

"No thank you." She wondered if there was ever a time in her life where she felt so low, and yet, all she had to do, was get to her feet and leave, feeling a bit of fire come to the surface, she reached for the pictures, "Obviously you don't want these, and I don't want to waste anymore of your time."

Oscar T. put his hands over the pictures. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Leaving, with the pictures."

"Nope, I don't think you are, you see - you take those pictures, I'll have to let my son know what you've done behind his back. Besides, I like them, these three. Leave'em and uh, seeing as how you've gone through all of this trouble - for me that is, I'm going to give you something for them. And in exchange, you'll give me ... something more."

"Wh-what?"

"You're, going to get my son to give me a chance, that's what you're going to do."

"How am I supposed to do that - I can't control him."

"You do, I'll give you five-thousand dollars for the pictures now-..."

"Five-thousand!? That's all?"

"Its better than nothing, isn't it? I still, have that option you see."

"At least, ten-thousand." She bartered.

"I give you ten-thousand - you'll be giving me a damn bit more than these photos, huh?" He reached over and touched her hand, covering it with his own. She slowly withdrew it, her heart pounding. Oscar T. sat gazing at her, warming to the idea of having her. Reaching beside him, he picked up his business checkbook laying it open before him and scribbled out a check. It was for ten-thousand dollars, he tore it out and passed it to her. "If you take this directly to my bank, you can cash it immediately."

She swallowed deep and reached for it, tugged and stopped noting that he had a firm grip on it. "Only five-thousand of this check is for those pictures. You take it, you cash it, I get to collect the rest." He let it go. Moniqua sat staring at him, holding onto the check.

"He's your son." She stated.

He knew what she meant, the, 'how could you', was clear in her eyes, that he could expect her to possibly sleep with him for the other money he offered.

"Don't take it, we'll tear that up, I'll write you one for five-thousand, should I? It's up to you." He lifted the pen as if to write another.

She folded the check and put it in her purse.

"See, I know what's best for my son. You're not good enough for him, but - you're just what I need." He passed her a pad, "Your number here please, you do have a mobile phone?"

Feeling heat prickles all over her body, she nodded. He held his pen out to her. Moniqua felt her heart slamming in her chest, she wanted to tell him - she was no whore. But that check, still had to be cashed. "Come on, don't pretend to be hard to get, after all, there's more where that came from, and you'll want more, give me your number."

Once more, obediently, she did as she was told.

She scribbled out her number, grabbed her purse, stood and made her way quickly from the restaurant. Her stomach aching, her mind spinning, her skin awash with goose pimples, and her soul filled with shame. Something told her to dump the check and forget all, let him get between her and Max.

But...

There was Julius to pay and her neighbor to reimburse. The check must be cashed. She toyed with the idea of cashing it and sending him back five-thousand of it, but as the cash was counted out to her at the bank till, something washed over her. She'd never seen, felt or held that much money in her entire life. She thought about the clothes that she could get for Lil'Kenny, and this time, she would get them. With this kind of money, there would be no more broken promises. She couldn't think about anything else, about what it looked like. Life was tough, and she had her needs, her son had his needs. She decided from now on, her life would be about all she could get out of it, she wasn't going to worry about other people. As much as she wanted to hang onto Max, in her gut, she knew - this act, this day, would see the end of them eventually.

She thought about his father, he wasn't a bad looking man for his age, he and Max had a similar build, it could certainly be seen that they were father and son, even if Max was the better looking of the two, with a body out of any woman's fantasy. But his father, a wallet out of any woman's fantasy and as far as she was concerned, the wallet would always win.

*

For once, Deidre knew victory against her ex-husband, and even so, she was a bit nervous. It was the combination of seeing her daughter again in their new home, coupled with the expectation of having to face Shawn with the news of what was to come, ever hovering in the back of her mind. Even though it would not be this day, seeing him, being around him, still had the effects of the past because of the type of man that he was. When he finally knew of their plans for protecting Angela, Jeremiah would then understand why she shook so at the thought. She kept toying with the idea of running it by Sylvia first; what stopped her, was the time they'd spent together, she had a feeling that even Sylvia, would not be so readily agreeable to giving her daughter up. Therefore, rather than prematurely shaking them up, she decided to treat everyone to an enjoyable evening. Maybe by seeing the difference in her life, would show Shawn and Angela, that things would be different now. She didn't know why she was so upset, Angela was, after all, her daughter, she had a right to her as well, even though, granted, she'd given Shawn full custody. However, she couldn't have foreseen back then, these new developments. Above all else, Angela's safety must come first.

All of that aside, this night was about laughter and fun. She'd hired a new chef, well recommended, who was a culinary artist, eager to head his own kitchen. Because of her plans for that evening, she agreed to him calling in extra help to assure an unforgettable night. She also hired on for the evening, servers - choosing various wines and champagnes as if she were throwing a grand dinner party. The bar was stocked, and someone would be serving from there.

Sylvia couldn't believe all that she was doing for just her family and said so to Jeremiah, whom she sat talking with, getting to know him.

"Is she serious?" She'd at first asked.

"Oh she's been looking forward to this night for some time to invite everyone."

"Casual would have been fine, I'm not really dressed for anything more."

"What's wrong with how you're dressed?" He commented.

"Not what I would call appropriate for the layout she's arranging."

"Well you can take my word for it, your attire is just fine."

The only reason Sylvia took his word for it is because she was wearing one of the outfits she'd been given by Mercy James. Wine colored maternity, rayon dress pants that were so comfortable, she hadn't changed out of them before the talk with Crystal. The top was a sheer cotton, loose, rolled print over a fine shimmering silk tank top.

"Why thank you Jeremiah Franklin, because it's going to have to do." She smiled back at him.

"Let me just say, that either way you come, its a pleasure to meet you. I'm sitting here trying to come to terms with you being married to her ex."

"Oh, why is that?"

"Well, I've met him and he's a bit rough, if I may say so myself."

"I remember when you met him, following our wedding, you'll have to excuse him then, he was not on his best. There's another side to him as well, a professional, in the suit kind of business man. His hair has grown out as well, so he doesn't look so hardcore."

"Hmmm, I suppose I'll have to take your word for it. You happy with him, he wasn't so right for Deidre."

"Of course I am, he and I are more suited to each other than they were I suppose."

"Em, a happy ever after huh?"

"Is there such a thing? There are no perfect relationships. Let me ask, you are with Deidre, think she's happy?"

Jeremiah smiled, thinking about that, "I ah, I'd like to make her happy, given a bit more time, we may work it out - as you stated, none perfect. What do you think?"

"About what?"

"Well, me, her - together. A black man, with a white woman."

Sylvia searched his eyes for why he, a successful black man, needed to get, as it were, her approval for his relationship with Deidre, and answered with her immediate thoughts, "I'm the last person that should take issue with that, after all, I married her ex, who is, as you know, white. All that matters are the reasons you've chosen her."

"I didn't choose her, she didn't choose me, our lives just happen to overlap, once long ago, and then again now. Here we are."

"Then it shouldn't matter what I think, you came together naturally."

"Yeah, we did, but ah - its not as easy as it should be, know what I mean? I mean, this day and age, we should be passed it all, but uh - it's not so."

"I have to agree with you on that but add, that half of the battle is within ourselves, the rest, well - life is tough anyway. There will always be problems, so what it all boils down to; is that person you're doing it with, worth it? With Shawn, it was pretty much the same from me, just a natural occurrence. However my husband, I believe uh, he saw me and that I was black and I do believe it tilted him to pursue me. He comes from a very interesting family with a mother who is very unique, giving her kids very unique views. I love her, she's an incredible lady and uh, I think its because of her that he and I are together. He also had a close friend that more than likely influenced his second choice as well."

"He sounds pretty complex."

"He is, very complex and unique - I consider myself, very lucky - no matter how challenging."

"If you ask me, he's the lucky one."

"You don't consider yourself lucky with Deidre?"

Jeremiah laughed, "Do I detect a protective streak in you? You like Deidre so you're protecting her interests, huh?"

"Yes, I do like Deidre. For different reasons, more or less, we are more alike than you can imagine. She's been through quite a bit, and deserves to be happy. I personally feel, whomever should get her, will be lucky, if - he knows how to treat her."

"What a rarity, two women, one ex of, and the other currently with the same man - getting along as you two are - there's hope for the world after all, don't often see that."

"It's not that big a deal, we had a rocky start but we're past that now."

"Glad to hear it; not to change the subject but, I'm sitting here, looking at you, pretty face, beaming smile - and a voice to rival the best in the charts, why in the world aren't you?"

Sylvia quirked a brow, "In the charts?"

"Absolutely."

"My life and the path it ended up on didn't quite lead me that way."

"It's not too late."

"For me it is, I've done a bit of on the road and, it's not for me. That type of life requires a great deal of dedication and commitment and I just don't have the energy for it."

"You sure about that, it's not him holding you back is it?"