The Perfect Mistress (13 page)

As the ceremony came to a close and the minister asked everyone to rise, Joyce willed her legs not to give out. Lauren was inconsolable. She had Velma, though, so it's not like Joyce had left her to deal with this alone.

After what seemed like an endless line of people offering condolences, it was time for Joyce to stand and take the last look at her husband. She didn't know how she managed to stand over his casket, but she did. She lifted a shaky hand to stroke his cheek. “Why, Vernon, why? I have no one now,” Joyce mumbled.

“I'll protect you now, Ma,” Julian said as he squeezed her tighter. She squeezed him back as the rage shaded into sorrow.

“I know, baby. I know.” Her son was now all she had.

T
he storm cloud burst through the revolving doors of the hotel lobby. Lauren Robinson had seen the look of rage simmering behind a scorned woman's eyes before. She'd seen it so many times in her own mother's eyes. She'd seen it in the eyes of women who had accosted her, and thanks to her father, she knew the perfect way to handle it.

The best mistress is a quiet mistress.

Her father's words rang in her head as clear as the day he'd uttered them. And right now silence would be golden.

The woman approached with steps that threatened to break off her high heels. Lauren turned slightly, pretending not to notice her. “Finally, I've found you at last,” the woman announced. “You're the one who's been seducing my husband.”

Lauren kept her eyes averted. Maybe the woman's spurt of bravery would fizzle out, being exposed in public. Lauren had no such luck, though.

“So you're just not going to answer me?” the woman standing at Lauren's shoulder snapped.

Lauren sighed, glanced over at her friend, Vivian, who looked worried that something was about to jump off right there in the lobby of the Marriott hotel.

Lauren turned to face the woman dead on. “I don't know where you're getting your facts from, but let me assure you, I don't do married men,” she replied. Her voice was calm, unfazed. That was the way to do it. That had been Vernon's rule number one when busted: put the partner at ease.

Lauren and Vivian had been enjoying happy hour drinks. Lauren hadn't even known who the woman in the tight Juicy Couture warm-up, hair up in a ponytail like she was ready to fight, was—until sexy Craig West came fumbling in behind her. The woman held up a cell phone, displaying a photo Lauren had taken last year at the Children's Network gala. This woman must've googled Lauren to get the picture, since Lauren made a point of staying off social media for anything other than her business.

“Is this you?” she asked, thrusting the phone in Lauren's face. “And don't lie because I see the fake ugly beauty mark.”

Lauren fingered the tiny mole just above her lip. She'd contemplated having it removed, but men told her it was sexy, so she'd left it alone.

“It's real, first of all,” Lauren said, her voice still calm. “Secondly, you are way off base.”

“He's not telling me the truth, so you need to tell me,” the woman demanded. She looked like she couldn't be any more than twenty-five. Over the years, Lauren had found that young wives gave her the most grief. The older women either learned to accept their husbands' infidelities or chose to ignore them.

“So tell me, are you, or are you not, sleeping with my husband?” Her platinum ponytail bounced with every word. The pain in her eyes contradicted the brave front she was trying to display.

Lauren looked over the woman's shoulder at her Shemar Moore–fine occasional lover. A former running back with the Carolina Panthers, he'd been cut his first year and was now playing semipro ball. Normally, Lauren wouldn't have given someone like him the time of day—but she was blinded by his fineness.

Craig stood behind his wife, terrified at what she would say.

“What's your name?” Lauren asked.

She folded her arms, glared at Lauren, then reluctantly said, “Dana.”

Lauren gently put a hand on Dana's arm. “Sister, I've been where you are. I understand the frustration, the not knowing if your man is doing right. But you've got a good one there. Yes, I've met your husband several times, but I am not sleeping with him. He never did anything inappropriate and, in fact, he spent his time raving about you.”

That gave Dana pause. She glanced back at her husband, her eyes a mixture of tears and apprehension, like she really wanted to believe Lauren but was unsure. Relief filled Craig's face and he said, “See, babe. I told you. You're up here acting a fool for nothing.”

“I get it,” Lauren continued as Dana turned back to face her. “I dated a dog. They can make you come out of character in a minute. But Craig isn't a dog. You have a very handsome man, but he's yours, all yours.”

Dana was growing confused. “B-But I saw his text about meeting you here tonight. Then I heard him telling a friend about how he dreamed of all the freaky things he was going to do to you.”

“I told him all the freaky things I wanted to do to Lauren.
But I was talking about Lauren
London,
the actress!” Craig proclaimed. “I was just messing around. It's not like I even know Lauren London!”

It took everything for Lauren not to burst out laughing.
Really?
Men were so simple when it came to cheating. Why would he be having that conversation with anyone while his wife was in the house? And more important, why would he have her name in his phone? He was supposed to have her listed as Charles, or Mike, or something. That was Player Rule #2.

Dana paused again. Then, suddenly, shame filled her face.

“I-I'm sorry. It's just that we've had problems lately and . . .”

“It's okay. I understand.” Lauren looked over at Craig. “Did you do the stuff we talked about?” When he also looked confused, she added, “The spa?” Lauren looked back at Dana. “I make custom jewelry and relaxation products. I gave him information on this amazing spa in High Point that carries some of my products. He wanted to do something nice for you because he said you work so hard with the kids.”

Craig seemed momentarily flustered, but then he rolled with it. “Oh, yeah. I did. But she was trippin' so hard, I didn't give it to her.” He had the nerve to act irritated.

Dana's mouth dropped open. “Oh. My. God. I've been wanting to go to that place forever. I've heard so many great things about it.”

“Well, Craig bought you a weekend getaway,” Lauren replied.

“B-But that place is so expensive,” Dana stammered.

Craig's eyes bucked. Lauren knew his cheap behind was going to hyperventilate when he saw the prices.

“He said you were worth splurging for,” Lauren replied with a smile. “He even had me design a custom bracelet for you.” She looked at Craig. “Speaking of which, I'm gonna need that final payment.”

Craig kept his face straight, but she could tell he wanted to curse her out. That wasn't going to happen, though. Shoot, he'd better be glad Lauren didn't throw in a necklace and earrings, too.

“You had me a bracelet custom made, too?” Dana asked.

And just like that, the tables had been turned.

An apologetic expression swept over Dana's face. “I'm sorry.”

“It's all right, I forgive you.” Craig took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Over his shoulder, he mouthed, “You rock,” to Lauren.

He needed to tell her something she didn't know.

“Come on, baby, let's go home,” Craig said.

Dana turned back to face Lauren. “I'm s—”

Lauren cut her off. “Don't even worry about it. I told you, I understand.”

The two of them walked off hugging like newlyweds.

As soon as they left, Vivian turned to Lauren. “You need an Oscar.”

Lauren smiled as she sat back down on the bar stool, then motioned for the bartender to bring her another chocolate martini.

“Hey, just doing my part to keep homes happy.”

Vivian stared at her friend. Since she'd been over at Lauren's condo last week when Craig had shown up, Vivian knew that whole scene had just been an act.

“Like seriously, you don't feel the least bit guilty, though?” Vivian asked once they both had new drinks.

“Guilty about what?” Lauren asked.

“Ah . . . you and Craig
are
messing around.”

Lauren shrugged as she sipped her drink. “And your point would be?”

“And my point is that you just stood here and convinced his wife that you weren't.”

Lauren set her drink down. “Look, I didn't make vows to her. He did. She's young, but they have two kids. She's not going anywhere. So why give her more pain? If anything, I'm doing her a service. I'm sparing her the pain of acting like she's leaving when she knows she's not. I'm letting her live in her idealistic world.”

Vivian shook her head. “Okay, but I'm telling you, one of these days you're going to run up on the wrong woman.”

Lauren let out a small laugh. “You don't worry about me. If it's one thing my daddy taught me, it was how to be a perfect mistress.”

Vivian would never understand. The lessons from Vernon Robinson had led to Lauren's good life. And she had learned to make the best of being second.

“Well, more power to you,” Vivian said. “I just want more out of life than to be somebody's mistress.”

Lauren didn't know why, but those words cut deeper than she would've ever imagined. She'd been doing this mistress thing since she graduated from college. At one point she thought that it was her destiny, but as she was accosted by more and more Danas, Lauren was really starting to rethink that.

T
oday had been the day from hell. After she had worked all week to complete a jewelry order, the customer's credit card had been declined and the woman was unable to pay the balance on her custom pieces. Turns out, her baller baby-daddy had cut off her credit card, and Lauren had been stuck with the bill. Granted, Lauren would get to the keep the deposit, but she'd been counting on that money to pay her next month's rent. Now she would have to resort to her backup plan—getting the money from one of her men.

Today Thomas Brooks would get that honor. Lauren knew she should probably feel bad about using these men, but it didn't bother her because she didn't allow herself to care enough for it to have any impact.

Lauren met Thomas the first Saturday of every month for dinner at an exclusive Italian restaurant, so the timing of this month's date was spot-on. She looked forward to those dinners because Thomas was good conversation. She didn't have to pretend like she did with all the others. She really did enjoy talking with him. Plus, Thomas wasn't just after sex. He enjoyed her company as well. He'd married some beauty queen whose only goal in life was to stay beautiful. So while he did
love the sex, he really enjoyed the challenge of conversation that Lauren brought to the table.