Cosmopolitan Girls (20 page)

Chapter 41

Emancipation Night

I sashayed into the Shark Bar glowing, hidden behind a large crystal vase of roses with a huge smile on my face. I was about to shock the socks off Charlie with my new look. A chopped-off layered bob. Maria had had a fiesta on my head as she cut, snipped, and teased my once bland and basic do. I was a new woman draped in a lavender pashmina.

“Would you look at what the cat dragged in,” Charlie said, twirling in her chair.

“I like to be fashionably late.”

Charlie pulled out the barstool and relieved me of the flowers.

“Oh no, you didn't!” she screeched at the sight of my hair.

“I needed a change.”

Charlie was awestruck and Stevie stood lockjawed.

“There you go. Now you know only white girls pull some mess like this. Cutting their hair off when they need a change.”

“But that hair is hot,
Mami
!” Stevie flirtatiously gave his two cents.

“Okay, okay. I'll give it to you. The hair is fly.” Charlie raised her glass.

My metamorphosis was complete. I'd truly gone and gotten a new attitude. Stevie busied himself so Charlie and I could catch up.

“That time off with your family did you a world of good. You look great.”

“It was an eye opener.”

“How's your sister Faith?”

“She's making it. I'm gonna go check her out again next weekend. The doctor's started her on steroids, but I hope they don't keep her on those long. She's a fighter. In the meantime, it's in God's hands.”

“I'll keep her in my prayers,” Charlie said, trying to peek at the card attached to the flowers. “And the flowers—”

“A thoughtful gesture from Robert! He was really concerned about my family too.”

Stevie grabbed a nearby martini glass and tapped a knife lightly against its rim.

“To Charlie's first script being completed, a welcome back to Lindsay and her rocking new look, and a speedy recovery to her sister.”

Charlie interrupted. “I've got an announcement. I guess I was being a little too hard on Miranda. I thought she was giving me the runaround, but we finally sat down and it turns out she'd been working things out with HR all this time.”

“HR?” I said.

“Yep, to make sure my bonus check was substantial.” Charlie whipped out her bonus check. “
Pladow!
To getting my drinking partner back! Drinks on me!”

My cell interrupted. Stevie knew the drill. He reached to turn down the music.

“Don't you dare, Stevie.” I casually answered, “Hello?”

“Lindsay, it's Robert. I know it's your personal time, but I'm just calling to make sure your first day back was a good one.”

“As a matter of fact, it was a great one!”

“I'm glad to hear that.” Robert gave a thoughtful pause. “By the way, do you or your family need anything?”

“No, but thanks, and the flowers are beautiful.”

“Oh and FYI, I decided to get rid of Mark Peters. You figure it out.”

“Are you saying?”

“Come on, Lindsay, what's my biggest peeve? If you know the answer to something, don't ask a stupid question.”

“Robert, don't go there.” My voice tightened up.

“I'm joking. Where's that great Lindsay sense of humor?” Robert chuckled.

“I'm sorry I snapped at you.”

“Look, Lindsay, I just want you to be sharp, be the best.”

“Robert, you think I don't want to be the best?”

“I know you do, and you will be. One last thing . . . I think you're ready.”

I gave Charlie and Stevie the thumbs up.

“No, Robert, I know I'm ready!”

I gleefully hung up and spun around on my stool. Stevie snapped two rosebuds loose, placing one in my hair, then the other in Charlie's.

“Tonight, we dance!” he declared.

A small group of people leaving the restaurant made their way from the back. Troy stood squarely in the middle. He spotted me right away, and rushed over like we were buddies.

“Lindsay, I thought that was you.”

“Yes, it's me. How are you, Troy?” My face was expressionless as I emphasized his name.

Stevie and Charlie stood close like guards. Troy felt their cold stares and leaned into me.

“Can I have a moment with you?”

I calmly nodded, reached for my drink, and led Troy to a neutral area a few feet away from the bar. My body language told him he was on my territory.

“I hope she doesn't give in to him. Look at him, the devil himself,” Stevie said to Charlie.

“She won't. I'll kill her if she does.”

I couldn't freak and give in to him. I had to face my fear. “How've you been?”

“Good, actually great,” I abruptly replied.

In an instant all the crap I'd gone through, right up to the moment the anesthesia took me out, flashed before my eyes. Just thinking about it made me furious. Troy leaned back, sensing my anger. He tilted his head and I was caught mid-blink. Troy looked me up and down, inside and out. “You look great, Lindsay, and I really like your new hair-style.” Troy began to seduce me with those eyes of his. He was penetrating my mind speaking his syrupy sweet bullshit.

“Baby, I'm sorry things ended so nastily with us.”

I started to crumble. I took the last sip of my Cosmo, searching for a way back. Troy motioned to Stevie, who growled under his breath, bucking up. Troy was confident, pointing to my empty glass.

“How about it?”

“Actually, no. Thanks, I've had enough.”

I was doing my best to hold it together. Resisting his offer was smart, but I was still stuck on his eyes. He tried to stroke my hair, but I jumped back. The spell was broken. He had invaded too much of my personal space. Then Troy did the ultimate. He laughed, just like he did the day I told him about the baby. He laughed real good and said, “Yo, was that stuff about being pregnant true?”

“What!” The disgust on my face showed exactly what I was thinking,
There is no end to this loser's audacity.

“It's just I thought you were lying.” Troy had crossed the line for the last time.

A boost of strength surged through me and I was ready to knock him out, but something else happened. I was reminded,
“You may not change the world, but you can maintain your own dignity and integrity.”
That damn book was haunting me with another lecture. I shook it off, but inside my body a showdown between good and evil had erupted. Voices in my head were screaming back and forth,
Go for
it! Do it!
Then,
No! Don't play yourself girl!
In an instant I grew up, just like that. I decided to go out with class. I faced my demons like a woman.

“Are you out of your mind thinkin' you could have that much nerve saying something so cruel to me? Have you no shame? It was your child too!”

I didn't give Troy a chance to utter a word. I wanted to be adult, but I was no punk.

“You are one sick man. The old Lindsay would be tearing you a new one right about now, but you're not worth it,” I said, without raising my voice, but Troy could feel my anger and my power. “One day you're gonna get all you deserve and more, and when karma strikes . . . I feel sorry for anybody with you. So take your lies and get out of my face! Consider yourself lucky. I'm too damn busy to be bothered.”

I turned my back and proceeded to walk toward Charlie and Stevie. The next thing I knew, Troy was putting his hands on me. He grabbed me by the arm, trying to force me to face him.

“Don't you ever turn your back on me!”

My heart raced. “Negro, you must be crazy. My own father never put his hands on me.”

Stevie must have overheard me, because like a flash of lightning, he hopped over the bar and snatched Troy up by the collar. All I saw were feet dangling and swinging in the air. I brushed myself off. By that time Charlie had rushed over, and damn near tried to kill Troy. Charlie grabbed everything that was movable—ashtrays, glasses, forks, even napkins. Stevie threw Troy out.

The patrons in the Shark Bar dispersed. Various looks of amazement were glued to their faces. Stevie and Charlie had saved the day, and some people started to clap. Stevie called out, “Show's over, people.”

He put his arms around Charlie and me, making sure we were safe.

“Thank you, Stevie, for saving the day,” I said humbly.

“Like Superman!” Charlie said, cracking up.

We were laughing so hard tears were pouring from our eyes.

“I guess I did good, huh?” I said, between the chuckles.

“You did great!” Charlie cheered.

“I'm finally over him. Turning the other cheek is new for me. Redemption is a good thing.”

“Retribution is better! I'm proud of you, girlfriend,” Charlie said.

I grabbed a nearby barstool and jumped on top of it.

“What are you doing, fool?” Charlie said, trying to pull me down.

“Hold on. I have a pact we need to sign off on.”

“Let's hear it.”

“It's our
new
mission. From now on we both have to promise to put ourselves first,” I announced.

“Hear! Hear! No more sacrificing and settling when it comes to our happiness.”

“And, when it comes to a man, it's give and take! Love is a two-way street.”

“It's all about us from now on!”

“To being fierce, fabulous, and fearless!” I said, ending my speech.

“All right!” Charlie said, helping me down. We sealed our pact with a hug.

“Enough of all this sentimental stuff. Let's get this party started!” Stevie said with a sly grin.

“Let's do this!” I said.

“It's Friday and we just got paid,” Charlie sang as she flashed a twenty and placed it on the bar.

The Shark Bar was closing, but the night was young. Stevie pushed two freshly filled glasses toward us.

“New one tonight, raspberry. This one's on me.”

“Thanks!” We gladly accepted. We were more than willing to be his guinea pigs.

Stevie placed both elbows down on the bar and positioned himself directly in the middle of us.

“You know I've seen and learned a lot just by listening to you ladies, especially after what happened tonight. I know exactly what you've been going through. I've been dying to put my two cents in 'cause, girlfriends, men are definitely a trip!” Stevie chirped in a high-pitched tone.

Charlie and I both stood perplexed, mouths agape. He gave us a look as if to say we'd better not choke. Then he hit the stereo volume as “Lady Marmalade” pumped in. Charlie and I shrugged our shoulders. Stevie gave two snaps.

“Hello, don't get brand new on me. Getting all shy now.”

All our fantasies of screwing him blind went up in smoke. Stevie
literally
“came out” from behind the bar. He grabbed Charlie's hand and they started dancing. Then Charlie started chanting.

“Scan-dal, scan-dal!” Charlie shoved a drink in my hand, and began to dance around Stevie, and I was sputtering, trying to figure out how I never noticed.

“How could he deny the female race with
all that
body?” I asked.

“Chill out! You're overanalyzing things. Just get over it, there will be others. Plus we can still pretend and dream about Stevie being our boy toy.”

I gave up and joined in, and we all chanted.

“Scan-dal, scan-dal!”

It was going to be a long night. Stevie danced back over to the bar and began setting up more Cosmos.

“Sorry, girl, I never did find that killer dress,” I said.

“I guess it was a sign,” Charlie said, patting me on the shoulder. “By the way, I still have the ring, but I was thinking about giving it back!”

“Fool! Do you know what kind of pendant two and a half carats could make?”

I shook my head. It was going to be a
very
long night.

Cosmopolitan Girls' Acknowledgments

Very Special Thanks to our agent extraordinaire, Marie Dutton Brown, for your guidance, and helping to shape and breathe life into
Cosmopolitan Girls
.

Extra Special Thanks to Janet Hill, our friend and editor. You truly understood the lifestyle, the realities and fantasies, the happiness and heartaches of today's “Cosmopolitan Girls.” Again, thank you for your unparalleled vision and commitment.

Special Thanks to Calvin Chu for a wonderful cover.

This book would not have been a reality without the tireless support and effort from the following individuals and organizations: Alan Haymon; Tavis Smiley; Tynisha Thompson and Khalid Williams of Marie Brown Associates; Laini Brown; Patrik Henry Bass of
Essence
magazine for your enthusiasm and early support; Sherry Bronfman; Patti Webster; Karen Lee; Norma Augenblick; Keith Clinkscales and Leonard Burnett of Vanguarde Media; Mc-Clean Greaves, Dan Ivy, Peter Baker, and the fantastic staff at the Hudson Hotel; the gracious staff of LaSamana for comfort and peace; Two Bunch Palms; Saundra Parks of the Daily Blossom; Jeffrey Scales; Emmett Dennis of Blue Flame Marketing; Ira Jones of First Civilization; Jabari Asim; Jamale Ridgway; and Emily Bosco of Absolut, our honorary Cosmo Girl, for all your support.

Lyah Beth Leflore's Acknowledgments

Marie Dutton Brown, thank you for your advice, knowledge, dedication, and unflagging support. Here's to many more fruitful endeavors.

Tavis Smiley, you are truly a class act and a dear friend. Thank you for your early support and insight.

Family: my big brother, John Drew Lindsay; my Aunt Cynthia LeFlore; Francis Crawford; the LeFlores; the Davis-Bradley descendants; the Bohrs; the Lemmons; the Jarmon decendants of Decatur, Illinois; the Jenkins-Robnett families; the Price-Moore families; the Lindsays.

Extended family: Rudolph Nickens, Billy Crumpton, Billie Jean and Earl Wilson, Charles Wartts, Curtis Lyle, Bruce Purse, JD Parran, the Lakes, Margurite Hightower, Aunt Shirley Bedford and members of the Semper Fidelis Social Club, Marsha Caan, Vola Washington.

My cousin-girlfriends: Karen Bohr, Passion Bragg, Africa Lake, ShaRee Meyers, Gigi Hill, Sydney Thornton, Susan Garrett, Tracey Mack, Kim Mosby.

My other big sisters: Lesvia Castro, Crystal Gore, Delphine Pruitt, Sable Jones, Kathy Bedford, Teresa Anderson, Daphne Moore.

To my girls with whom I share many wonderful memories: Constance Orlando, for opening your home to me and cheering me on through the final stretch; Dana Hill, Leslie Williams, Mary Crockett-Smith, Lajuan Murphy-Williams, Keita Turner, Crystal Frazier, Sandra Hernandez, Monifa Carter, Leah Moskowitz, Dion Peroneau, Takia “Tizzi” Green, the Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and especially the undergraduate sorors of Delta Tau Chapter 1988–1991.

It's equally important for women to have great male friends: Scott Crawford, Charles Berry, Alan Bovinett, and Damu Mtume. Chivalry is
not
dead!

To the special men in my life with style who make me look and feel glamorous: Richard Owings, Aaron Mitchell, Edwin Pabon, Wilfredo Rosado of Edmundo Castillo, and Quentin Harris.

To Jeffrey Scales, an incredible artist and photographer.

To my former employers: Herb Scannell, Andre Harrell, and Dick Wolf for recognizing my talents early on in my career.

Charlotte Burley's Acknowledgments

A HUGE THANKS to my parents, Janice and Lamont Burley, for exposing me at an early age to everything life has to offer—the good times, hard times, and desperate times—allowing me to see for myself the many roads I could travel. Most importantly for allowing me to pick my own road. I love you so much for that!

Thanks to my brother Lamont Burley Jr., a.k.a. lil'man, and his wife Kelly for giving me precious gifts I'm proud to call nephews, I love you all! I also want to thank you for protecting me, my rights, and my freedom on a daily basis as Specialist Burley in the Army. I'm very proud of you!

Rhonda and Ronnie Jr. Frida, my cousins. This book is in your loving memory. You are truly loved and missed!

A special thanks to my grandparents George and Mary Baxter and my Aunt Linda and Uncle Ronnie Frida. Because of you I know that “true love” does exist.

Granny, you inspire me to never give up, you were living proof that you can achieve your dream!

Thanks to Beverly and Marcus Burley and Michael Young, evidence that not all stepmothers and stepbrothers are wicked. Love you guys.

To my best friends (a.k.a. lifers) who never ever said, “Stop dreaming.” Thanks so much for being a POSITIVE in my life! Lee-Lee Walker, Kenny Headley, and Mclean Greaves, I love you dearly!

To my Jewish family: the Freilichs' Aaron, Sara, Michael, Ruthie, and Natalie, thanks for making NYC my second home. Love you guys!

To Danny Harris, my first love. I will always treasure the time we did have on this earth. May your soul rest in peace.

To my Sci Fi Family, thanks for your love and support. Very special thanks to Danny Ivy, Tony Reid, William Stewart, Javier Perea, and Will Wigley. You're always there when I need you, love you!

To my friend and photographer Jennifer Kilberg, thanks for making me look like a star, your talent amazes me.

To my other mother, friend, and agent Marie Dutton Brown, thank you for believing in me, scolding me, and loving me. When I grow up, I want to be just like you! Love you!