Hooker to Housewife (29 page)

“Fine, Chantal, we can have the wedding here, but as soon as we say T do,' we're out.” The moment Andre left the room Chantal got on the phone with Shari.

“Girl, when are you getting here? You was supposed to be back in LA two days ago.”

“Chantal, I told you that I had to make some babysitting arrangements for Alex. My mother has been straight tripping about keeping him. You know she think I'm rich now since I bought my new crib with some of Chris's money. Now she saying she needs to be paid for watching her own damn grandson. Mind you she doesn't even work. She would be sitting up in her house regardless if Alex was there or not.”

“So what you doing? Trying to hire a nanny or something?”

“Nah, negotiating the price with my mama. At the end of the day she is blood and she'll look after him better than a stranger would.”

Chantal let out a heavy sigh. “You and yo mama is crazy. But besides all that, I need you here with me.”

“I should be there tomorrow morning. I'm working out the last few details because my mother wants a separate payment for transportation. Because of these outrageous gas prices she feels that's a whole other bill. With everything she's putting me through, I'm thinking maybe she should have negotiated my payoff from Chris. I would've probably got an island out the deal.”

“Girl, I still got those disgusting pictures of him locked away, so if you need that island, it's still up for negotiation.” They both laughed. “But, Shari, I really need you,” Chantal pleaded sincerely.

“What's the problem? You about to be Mrs. Andre Jackson. You should be on cloud nine right now.”

“Andre is having seconds thoughts. I think it's finally hitting him that we're about to be married. He even tried to get me to go back to New York today, saying we could have our wedding there. I shut that down on the spot, but the point is I know he doesn't want to marry me.”

“Then maybe you should cancel the wedding, Chantal. You don't want to marry a man who doesn't want to marry you.”

Chantal looked at the receiver with eyes twitching. She knew Shari didn't say what she thought she heard. “Excuse me, Shari, I think we have a bad reception because I thought I heard something like ‘cancel the wedding.' But that couldn't have come from you?”

“Stop tripping, Chantal, I'm dead-ass serious. This whole housewife lifestyle you're longing for may not be all what you imagined it would be. Sometimes you have to know when to let go.”

“I know you mean well, but this is it for me. I was so desperate to hold on to Andre I had to plot a fake suicide attempt. You know I could've really killed myself behind that shit. Luckily, Andre found me in time. The ugly scars I have on my wrists was all in the name of love. Andre is everything to me. He might be reluctant right now about marrying me, but I'll be such a wonderful wife that he'll forget about his initial hesitation. The important thing is making sure I get him down the aisle. That's why I need you here, Shari. I'm more confident when I know you're watching my back.”

“You don't ever have to worry about that, Chantal. If you're determined to marry Andre then I will do whatever you need to make that happen.”

“I knew you wouldn't let me down, Shari, so get yo ass here.” They both laughed and Chantal instantly felt better.

_______

T-Roc was still heated about how close he had come to getting everything he wanted, and then Andre came in and took it all away. He had his spies working overtime trying to find some explosive dirt on Andre. After his run-in with Tyler there was no question in his mind that his hold on her was intact. T-Roc felt he and Tyler would be together now if he had gotten the part in
Angel.
William apologized profusely for the mix-up but that wasn't enough. He was losing ground at making a romantic connection with Tyler. The only solace he found was in the fact that Andre's relationship with her was history. T-Roc's expectations were unbroken. William promised to cast him in his next movie starring Tyler, which would begin filming in the next few months. He wanted to make sure there were no obstacles this time, and decided it would be in his best interest to keep Chrissie as an ally.

“What do you want?” Chrissie asked nastily, even though she was secretly happy to see T-Roc.

“You,” he answered as he pulled out the flowers he was holding behind his back. Chrissie unintentionally let a huge smile spread across her face. She didn't want to let on how much she missed the man who had humiliated her so. As Chrissie let T-Roc in and he handed her the bouquet, it dawned on her that no one had given her flowers in so long and she wondered if she even had a vase to put them in. Her next dilemma was figuring out what T-Roc was up to.

“Chrissie, I know how upset you are at me, but I was hoping we could call a truce.”

“Truce, that's what the roses are for?”

“That, and because I miss you.” Chrissie eyed T-Roc suspiciously. He knew that he would have to lay on the charm thick in order to regain her confidence. “Listen, Chrissie, I want to come clean to you about a few things.”

“What has brought about this sudden urge to purge yourself?”

“Shame,” he stated. Chrissie didn't even know that was an emotion T-Roc was capable of feeling. “Chrissie, I was wrong for the way I treated you. You're a wonderful woman and you deserve so much better than the way I've behaved towards you.” T-Roc then lowered his head as if he was too embarrassed and ashamed to look at her. His little charade was essentially working. Chrissie was being taken in by his so-called profession of the truth.

“T-Roc, why did you use me and humiliate me the way that you did?”

“I don't know if you know how everything went down with me and Tyler in the past, but after it ended she left me crushed. I was never given the opportunity to express my feelings to her. Then when I ran into her after so long she didn't even acknowledge me in front of her so-called mentor, the almighty William Donovan. Tyler had once again shitted on me. When I had the chance to break into movies and star opposite her I thought this was my opportunity to prove she made a mistake by breaking things off with me. But once again Tyler had the last laugh. The part of Damian should've been mine. Andre couldn't have been better than me, but I know Tyler vetoed it. Chrissie, all I wanted was to seize my opening and because it wasn't given to me I decided to take it. Since you were the closest person to Tyler, I used you to get what I wanted,” he admitted, now standing face-to-face with Chrissie.

“Seize what opening? Winning Tyler back or grasping on to your dream role?”

“I don't want Tyler back,” T-Roc lied. “We had our moment but she is way too screwed up for me. I wish her well but I have no interest in revisiting the past. All I wanted was my chance to break into film, which I doubt will even happen.”

“That's not true, T-Roc. William told me himself that you were talented. You will have your moment to shine on the big screen.”

“William did promise to cast me in his next movie starring opposite Tyler, but I have my misgivings that she will let that happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you think I mean, Chrissie? As soon as William presents the idea to her she will immediately shut it down. I know there are other movies but William is the hottest director right now, and to star in a movie of his would give me the stamp of approval needed to be taken seriously in this business.” Chrissie stood, nodding her head, understanding and agreeing with what T-Roc was saying. He knew that his victim act was paying off.

“I tell you what, T-Roc. I'll have a conversation with Tyler, you know, put in a good word for you.”

“You would do that for me, Chrissie?” he asked, pretending to sound shocked.

“Of course, everyone deserves to pursue their dreams, including gazillionaires like yourself,” she said, laughing.

“Chrissie, you're the best.” T-Roc slowly moved in and gently slid his tongue into Chrissie's inviting mouth. Her body melted in his arms in anticipation of the foreplay to come. “I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you,” T-Roc said as he stepped away from Chrissie.

“No, don't be sorry.”

“I am. After the way I treated you I'm sure you never want me to touch you again. Please forgive me. You just looked so beautiful standing there. You know how much I love the way your curls frame your face,” T-Roc said, as he stroked her cheek. Chrissie rubbed the side of her face against his hand, loving his touch.

“It's really okay. Your lips, your touch made me realize just how much I miss you.”

“I feel the exact same way, but I'm no good for you. I have to stop being selfish and do the right thing for once in my life. That means no matter how much it's killing me, I have to give you up.” T-Roc was now beginning to believe his own lie-filled sermon. “Chrissie, I hope we can at least still be friends. You're the most amazing woman I've ever met.”

“Of course we can be friends, but I want so much more. You're too hard on yourself T-Roc. Everyone makes mistakes. We can make this work.”

“I want to believe you, but I have so much growing up to do. If and when we can ever have a real relationship I want to come at you correct. Until then, I'm just grateful that you're willing to be my friend.” T-Roc gave Chrissie a soft peck on the lips and left.

A tear rolled down Chrissie's face as she stood there for a few minutes thinking that T-Roc was the most incredible man she had ever met and the best lover.

Tyler sat in
William's office, dreading the idea of discussing any business with him this early in the morning. She wished she could crawl back in bed and sleep all her pain away. “You know how I hate morning meetings, but yet that seems to be when they are all scheduled,” Tyler complained.

“It is part of the business, so get used to it darling,” William said with an irritating grin on his face, one she was seriously considering smacking off. But soon she would be away from him and all the other Hollywood honchos. Tyler was leaving in a couple days to take a much-needed two-week vacation at the exclusive island of Mustique. By the time she returned, she would've missed the well-publicized wedding of Andre Jackson and Chantal Morgan and hopefully the honeymoon. Ideally, she wanted to be home right now, packing for her adventure, instead of discussing work with William.

“William, you know I'm leaving in a couple of days. Can't we discuss business when I get back? I'll be well rested and more inclined to listen to any new movie ideas.”

“Listen kiddo, we have to keep you working so you can continue to afford vacations like the one you're about to take. Besides the projects you already have lined up, I want you to read a script that I specifically wrote for you and T-Roc. This vehicle is an urban version of
Pretty Woman.”

“Why are you writing a movie for T-Roc?”

“Because he is actually a damn good actor and I worked out something with his agent after we had to renege on our agreement, when Andre decided to complete
Angel.
I want to start filming in the summer after you've completed your next movie. We're expecting this film to take you way over the top.”

“I'm sure T-Roc is pleased with this, but you're going to have to find yourself a new leading lady. I'm not doing a movie with T-Roc,” Tyler said defiantly.

“Why not?”

“Where do I start? For one T-Roc's ego wouldn't allow for anyone else to be on the screen with him.”

“You were going to work with him on
Angel.”

“Yeah, because we were desperate and I really didn't have a choice.”

“You don't have a choice this time, either,” William said sharply.

“Excuse me, I don't think I heard you correctly,” Tyler responded with a clear threat in her voice.

William could sense his approach wasn't working and opted to go another route. “Tyler, listen, you don't have to do anything you don't want. This script is just so damn good and no one can play the part but you. Just please read over it and if you don't want T-Roc, we'll consider someone else. I know you'll be excited about the concept.”

“That sounds fine to me, I'll read the script—” Before Tyler could complete her sentence she let out a deep breath and put her hand to her head as if in pain.

“Are you okay, Tyler?” William asked, full of concern.

“Yeah, I just felt a little dizzy for a minute. See, I told you I need a vacation. All this work and no sleep is throwing my whole body out of whack.”

“Darling, take the script with you, or better yet I can bring it with me when I join you on vacation.”

“Cute, William, you know I need this time to be alone. That means no visitors, including you. I will take the script and read it between massages and facials.” Tyler grabbed the papers and gave William a kiss on the cheek before leaving. While walking to her car she couldn't help but take note of how light-headed she felt.