Star Struck(9)

“Aren’t those signs of cheating?” she asked.

Garrett sat back down and shook his head. He wanted to laugh. She was concerned about Trevon cheating and here she was calling him wanting to hook up. “Baby girl, this is a conversation you should be having with Tre.”

“He’ll only lie about it.”

“Well that’s between you two. I’m out of it.”

“What woman are you with now?” she asked.

“Your wedding is six weeks away. I think you need to be more concerned about your husband to be than who I’m dealing with,” Garrett responded.

“I hate all men right now,” she snapped.

“Then why are you calling me?” he asked.

“I thought we could hook up one last time,” she confessed.

“Look Shareeka, I let our little fling or whatever you want to call it go on longer than I should have; but it’s like this. You’re marrying my boy and unbeknownst to him, me not sleeping with you is my present to him.”

“But…”

“There’s no buts. But I will tell you this. If after you are married, if I find out that you even look at another man, Trevon will know about it,” he threatened.

“You wouldn’t?”

“You don’t want to try me.”

Shareeka stuttered, “I…I got to go. Tre’s coming through the door now.”

Garrett hated to be rude to her but he knew Shareeka’s kind. If she thought she had the upperhand, she would use it to her advantage. He’s always made it clear that she had more to lose if Trevon found out about their indiscretions than he did; although truthfully, he didn’t believe it. As long as she thought it was the case, he knew she wouldn’t go blurting out their little affair in the heat of one of their disagreements.

His rippling muscles relaxed under the hot water streaming from the showerhead. This was the first time in a long time that he was spending the night alone. He closed his eyes and instead of a relaxing thought, a woman’s face kept invading his thoughts.

“Hailey,” he yelled as his eyes popped open.



~ 6 ~



“One more…you can do it,” Ralph said, sounding like a military sergeant.

Hailey and Brenda groaned from the intense workout her personal trainer was putting them through. Hailey wiped the sweat from her forehead as she did one more sit up.

Brenda stood up first. “I thought I was in shape, but now I’m not so sure.” She picked up a bottle of water and took a sip.

“I like to turn it up a notch when I get a new student.” Ralph winked his eye.

Hailey used her towel to wipe the sweat off her neck. “But did you have to make me pay for it.”

Ralph walked in front of her and placed his hand on her flat stomach. “It’s worth it.”

She turned and admired herself in the mirror. “Somebody give him a raise. You got me looking good.”

“No dear, it’s your hard work.”

Brenda cleared her throat. “I hate to end this love fest, but Hailey we have to get going if we’re going to make it to the studio in time.”

“Whose the boss?” Hailey teased.

Ralph interjected, “On that note, I’m out of here. Ladies, it’s been a pleasure.”

Hailey walked Ralph to the door. After saying her good-byes, she turned to find Brenda waiting at the end of the stairway. “What’s wrong?” Hailey asked.

“There’s something about Ralph that doesn’t sit well with me,” she commented.

“The fact that he didn’t make a pass at you, is that it?”

“Yes. I mean no,” Brenda stuttered.

Hailey laughed. “I was offended at first myself, but don’t worry; mister look like Jean Claude Van Damme is as heterosexual as they come.”

“What’s his number? I need to set up a private session.”

“Stand in line.” Hailey left Brenda standing at the end of the stairway as she headed upstairs to shower and dress.

An hour later, they were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic although Los Angeles rush hour normally ended by ten. Hailey normally stopped to talk to a few people when she entered the office but today she was running late. Brenda had to pick up her pace just to keep up with her as she rushed through the door.

Hailey waltzed in the conference room, and silence fell over the room as the members of her staff turned and looked at each other, avoiding eye contact with her. Brenda took a seat at the back of the room. “You all act like this is a funeral instead of a meeting. What’s going on?” Hailey asked, looking at John.

John stood beside her and attempted to whisper. “Maybe we should talk in private first.”