Cheesecake and Teardrops (15 page)

“When are you going to let me take you out to dinner?”

Nico Antonelli asked Charisma as they bumped into each other shopping at Roosevelt Field one Saturday. Nico and Charisma barely knew each other in high school. From time to time they would run into each other, and his first question was always the same. He had done quite well for himself. Today he was the corporate attorney for Chase's grandfather, Stone Canyon.

“Nico, how are you?”

“Better now. Even in jeans and sneakers you're gorgeous. You know that?”

Charisma smiled. “You're such a flatterer.”

“Hey, I just call 'em as I see 'em. Now back to dinner. I'll keep asking until you say yes. What are you doing tonight?”

“Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight,” Nico repeated, displaying perfect pearly whites. “And I won't take no for an answer.”

Charisma thought for a moment. “Tonight it is then.”

“Beautiful.”

“Where would you like to meet?”

“Meet? I'm a gentleman. I'll pick you up.”

“That'll be okay.” She gave him her address, and they exchanged phone numbers.

“I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight,” Nico said.

“Me too,” she agreed as she walked away.

Charisma finished up her shopping and headed over to Daisy's for her weekly shampoo. She was in and out in about an hour. She returned home and took a hot bath. She wondered if she could really go through with dinner because she didn't normally date white men. According to Tangie, the word around Canyon's Club was that Chase was his for the taking. His response was basically thanks, but no thanks. Chase would flip, knowing that Nico was practically begging to give it to her. And if Charisma were to conveniently let it slip that Nate was interested in her too . . . Chase would go into conniptions. Revenge could be awfully sweet. Charisma couldn't help but smile. Yes, her association with Nico might prove interesting if she played her cards right.

She wore black velvet jeans and a gray cashmere sweater. Because it was an unseasonably warm night, she was able to get away with wearing a leather jacket.

Nico arrived promptly at seven. They dined at a little Italian restaurant in Manhattan called Sotto Voce. The veal parmigiana practically melted in her mouth. Afterward, they went to Serendipity for the frozen hot chocolate.

“This has been really nice,” she said to Nico over dessert.

“I hope this is just the first of many, Charisma.” He looked deeply into her eyes until she looked away.

“Time will tell,” she said simply.

“Absolutely,” he agreed.

 

Nate read the promotion list at Monday morning's staff meeting. Unfortunately, Charisma was not on that list, but Chase was. A fresh dose of bile spewed up in Charisma's stomach. She headed straight for the ladies' room. A few minutes later, Lauren came in to check on her.

“Hey, Charisma,” Lauren said. “I know it's hard, but there'll be other promotions.”

“I know. I'm just tired of losing out to her,” Charisma said.

“I know, girl, but just remember what my grandmother used to say.”

“What's that?” Charisma asked.

“The higher up you go, the more expensive the toilet paper.”

Charisma called Nate right before lunch to request a few minutes of his time. She wanted to discuss the promotion list.

“I've been expecting you, Charisma,” he told her as she sat down in his office.

“All I want to know is why
her
?”

“Let's look at the facts, Charisma. Chase's performance has been superior. She always takes on extra assignments.”

He paused for a moment. “And don't forget, she saved all of our hides on the Madison account.”

“Which she sabotaged to begin with, I might add.”

“Do you have any proof, Charisma?”

“No. Just my intuition.”

“I'm sorry, Charisma. I can't run this company on intuition. Female or otherwise. Just because you had your tongue down the boss's throat doesn't give you dibs on the next promotion.”

“Fine. I think you've covered all the bases.” Charisma got up to leave. It would be a cold day in hell before she locked lips with him again.

 

Chase and her coworkers left work that night and headed for their cars. There was a bitterness in the air, and everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get home. She spotted Nico across the street, checking out Charisma.

“Hello, handsome.” Chase got to him first. “Did Granddaddy tell you about my promotion?”

“Hello, Chase,” Nico said.

“Why don't I let you take me out to dinner to celebrate?”

She tossed her hair behind her back and placed her hand on his shoulder. Then Chase slid her other hand up behind his neck. Nico slid his hand up to meet hers and then pulled her hand back down to her side. Neither seemed to notice Charisma walking toward them.

“Nico,” Charisma said gently, letting his name roll of her tongue. Chase spun around at the sound of another woman calling his name, and her eyes narrowed.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Nico smiled.

“Well, hello yourself,” Charisma said, sounding throaty as ever.

“I was hoping we could go out for drinks,” he told her.

“How can I say no to an offer like that?” Charisma asked Chase, laughing. Chase seemed to bite her tongue in anger.

Charisma grabbed Nico's arm, and they headed for his car just as Nate drove by. Apparently, Charisma had killed two birds with one stone.

 

Charisma had her girls over for breakfast. They practically spent the whole day together.

“Can we help with anything?” Heather asked as they walked in.

“No, everything's ready. Come on. Let's eat,” Charisma said. They sat down at her beautifully set table, complete with fresh flowers. Charisma put the dishes of food on the table. There were scrambled eggs with cheese, home fries, and bacon.

Just as she was about to sit, she jumped up. “Oops, I almost forgot.” Charisma brought over a dish of salmon cakes and a basket of piping-hot homemade cinnamon raisin biscuits and fresh-brewed coffee.

Tangie said a super-abbreviated grace and dug right in.

“Let me tell you the latest. Blade got his ass kicked and had the nerve to call me from the hospital.”

“No, he didn't. What happened?” Heather asked.

“I don't know all the details but the word around the gym is that Chase's grandfather had him jacked up. They probably warned him to back off, but Blade always thinks he's so slick.”

“Aren't you glad that's all behind you?” Heather asked, sipping her coffee.

“Please, that's an understatement,” Tangie admitted, turning to Charisma. “You told us all about Chase's promotion, but how are things with you and big Willy?”

Charisma shook her head. “Sometimes, I just want to scratch his eyes out. Then he'll stop by my office and look at me in a certain way and I wanna wet my pants. He's driving me nuts. But after siding with Chase over me he'll never, ever taste this again.”

“What about your revenge?” Heather asked her.

“Oh, I've already started my revenge.” Charisma smiled while taking a bite of her salmon cake. “She'll get everything that's coming to her.”

“What did you have in mind?” Tangie asked between bites of bacon.

“Nico Antonelli,” Charisma said, gloating.

“Got it,” Tangie laughed.

“Who?” Heather asked.

“Nico is her family's attorney. Their very attractive, very single attorney who I just happened to go to school with.

Miss Crappuccino has the hots for him.” She paused. “But he has the hots for me. Do you see where I'm going?”

“But you're not into white men. Tell me he looks like Matt Lauer,” Heather said.

“No, he doesn't, but in this case I may have to make an exception.” Charisma swallowed her home fries.

“Why, because he's all that or because of the Chase factor?” Tangie asked.

Charisma thought for a moment. “Does it matter?”

“Yes, it does,” Heather admitted. “You're compromising your principles just to get back at Chase. You can barely stand the sight of biracial couples, and now you're ready to become one?”

“I never said I couldn't stand the sight of biracial couples,” Charisma said.

“Charisma, you mean to tell me that if you were to see my parents walking down the street, you wouldn't thumb your nose up at them?” Heather asked.

“No, I wouldn't. Just because
I
don't practice interracial dating doesn't mean no one else can. To each his own. Everybody deserves to be happy.”

“Well, if you don't practice interracial dating, why start now?” Heather shot back.

“Drastic times call for drastic measures.” Charisma shrugged.

“You'd just be using him,” Heather said.

“Not exactly. Our association would be mutually beneficial,” Charisma decided.

“How?” Heather asked.

“Well, he'd be doing me a favor as far as Chase is concerned in exchange for the pleasure of my company. Lots of white men have a thing for black women. He wants some of this stuff real bad, and sometimes you have to use what you got to get what you want.” Charisma laughed.

“So you're willing to sell yourself,” Heather told her.

“I'm not selling myself,” Charisma insisted.

“Then what would you call it?” Heather asked.

“A business transaction.” Charisma sipped her coffee.

“But he doesn't know that,” Heather reminded her.

“Ignorance is bliss,” Charisma said.

 

 

Charisma and Chase collided in Freeman LTD's ladies' lounge Tuesday morning. Charisma knew it was just a matter of time before they had it out—again.

“So Nico's slumming,” Chase said. “Unbelievable. How do you two know each other anyway?”

“Girl, you are wearing that green, brings out the blue in your eyes. It's very becoming. I love it.”

“Me, jealous? Of you? Don't flatter yourself. I can have any man I want, including Nico.”

“Too bad he doesn't want you.”

“Charisma, you should know by now that whatever Chase wants, Chase gets. Haven't you learned that yet? What are you, dyslexic?”

“That's what I love about you, Chase. You're so . . . What's the word? Optimistic,” she said patronizingly as she put the finishing touches on her makeup and zipped up her bag of tricks. “Keep hope alive.”

“You're nothing but a cheap bitch,” Chase said, staring at the minute diamond earrings in Charisma's ears. “And I see you have the jewelry to match.”

“Chase, I'm just a woman who doesn't need a million bucks to look like it. You, on the other hand, do. Money can buy fashion, but take a good look in the mirror. Evidently, it can't buy style. Maybe if you had some, Nico would be chasing
you
instead of
me
.” Charisma left Chase to pick her face up off the floor.

Just before lunch, Nate called Charisma into his office.

She wondered what was up this time.

“You wanted to see me, Nate?”

“Sit down, Charisma. Let me get straight to the point. You did an impressive job on the Smyth account. In fact, Bob Smyth told me to personally thank you. And off the record, Charisma, are you dating that guy I saw you with the other day?”

She grinned as he stood and walked toward her. “Off the record, does it matter?”

“Off the record,” he repeated, his face just inches from hers. “I think you could do a lot better.”

“Let's see. Who could you possible have in mind?” She didn't move an inch. “How about a hint. I'm clueless.”

“Tell you what. You think about it awhile and get back to me.” He slid his hands in his pockets.

Charisma headed toward the door. She turned just in time to see him gazing at her assets. “I'll do that,” she agreed.
But you'll never get this.

Charisma returned to her office. Her phone began to ring just as she sat at her desk. It was her mother.

“You sound like you're in a good mood,” Jena told her.

“Your father and I just wanted to invite you over for breakfast Sunday morning.”

“What time?”

“Tenish,” Jena said.

“I'll be there.”

“Great, hold on. Your father wants to talk to you.”

“Hey, princess.” She could hear the love in his voice.

“Hey, Daddy. What are you doing home so early?”

“Oh, your mother wanted me to take her grocery shopping. You know how she hates going alone. Anyway, are you coming for breakfast?”

“Of course,” she told him.

“I was thinking. Why don't you bring Nate by?”

“Huh?” Charisma asked.

“Your boss. Why don't you invite him over if he doesn't have plans?”

“Daddy?”

“Your mother and I have been discussing him. We think he's just what you need in your life. I thought you agreed to give it a chance.”

“You sound like the president of his fan club, and you've only met him one time,” Charisma reminded him.

“Your mother and I went together for three months before I proposed. Three months. And we're still together thirty-five years later,” he reminded her.

“I know, Daddy, but this is different.”

“How?”

“Ooh, Daddy, I gotta go.” Charisma pretended she had an urgent matter to attend to.

“Think about what I said, Charisma.”

“Okay, Daddy. Buh-bye.” She hung up and sat back in her chair. Her phone rang again.

“Hey gorgeous.” It was Nico.

“Hi, Nico. What's going on?”

“Lunch, I hope. I'm in the neighborhood. I just finished up with a client, and I thought you might want to get a bite to eat.”