Vicki

I randomly received a text with Father's picture along with some random woman. I stared at it trying to figure out why I would receive such a photo. Shortly after, Mari called.

"Mari," I answered on speakerphone while looking at the photo.

"Vicki, I need to talk to you." She sounded as if she was in a rush.

"What happened? Where are you?"

"I'm on my way to your place. By any chance did you get a picture from an unknown number?"

"How did you know?" I replied. Shit was getting strange and I needed to know how I played in it.

"We all got one." Unfortunately we all were players in the game.

"What the fuck is going on, Mari?"

"Girl, it gets deep. I'm just saying."

"Well hurry up and get here."

"You got some wine?"

"Two bottles."

"Crack one open, I'm almost there." Mari said and hung up.

This was some shit I didn't understand and I needed Mari to make clarification of it all.

I opened the bottle of wine, grabbed two glasses and rolled two blunts by the time she arrived. I figured I needed to be lifted in order to understand the shit she was about to dump on me. Mari let herself in, plopped down on the couch, grabbed a glass and poured herself a full glass of wine. She downed at least half of it before she made eye contact with me.

"Are you going to light those or did you roll them for later?" She said pointing to the blunts on the table. I picked one up and passed it to her. She grabbed the lighter and took a long, slow pull on it.

"Damn, Mari. What the fuck is going on?" I asked, getting a bit worried by her reaction.

"Girl, I don't even know where to start."

"Anywhere is fine." I said taking the blunt as she passed it.

"Okay, I had a talk with Jeffrey and the wedding will be off in a few days as he goes into hiding."

"What do you mean? Why is he going into hiding?"

"The shit storm has arrived and it's blowing everywhere."

"Will you just tell me the fuck what is going on and if I need to be worried?"

"Worried about what? All you need to do is sit back and watch this entire shit unfold."

"Oh, ok. I can do that."

"Girl, so Jeffrey done spilled the beans to everyone."

"What does that have to do with the picture I received?"

"That picture may have started it. But the woman in the photo with Father is Madeline Rutherford."

"The hair products Queen?"

"The very same."

"Well damn."

"Oh it gets better. It just so happens that Randall is fucking her son." I damn near spit out my wine.

"Wait, what!?"

"You heard me. Randall is sleeping with her son, Dion."

"Wait!"

"Wait what? There is more!"

"More?!" I asked. I was already floored. Randall is sleeping with her son? I didn't even know Randall liked men. Besides, he's married!

"Yes, apparently Jeffrey and Randal were an item back in the day."

"What do you mean an item?" I asked quizzically.

"As in, they dated. They were a couple." Mari uttered.

"Well that would explain the closeness of their friendship. I always questioned it, but I figured they were close like brothers and didn't think anything of it. That explains a lot." I took another sip of my wine and lit the other blunt, there was no need for us to pass it back and forth - both of us had one.

"Well that blew me, I wasn't prepared for that."

"And Jeffrey told you all of this information? About Madeline's son? How did he know?" I asked, twisting my lips and giving her side eye.

"He still has feelings for Randall. Jeffrey said he will always have feelings for him. But he can't wait for someone who isn't ready to acknowledge their own truth."

"What, that he likes men? Or that he's bisexual?"

"Both, I guess. Apparently, Jeffrey and Randall dated but never got intimate."

"Ewww, too many details. I don't want a visual with my brother as the main character." I didn't care to hear the details about their love life, that's private information that I didn't need to know.

"Well I said that to say this, Jeffrey is jealous that Randall and Dion are now a couple."

"Jealousy rears its ugly head. That's always the case."

"Tell me about it. He's jealous because Randall has been out and about with Dion and being so 'semi-open' in public." Mari said with air quotes.

"Well Randall got a lot of shit going on it seems. And Father hasn't found out?"

"You ain't heard the half of it?"She said as she poured herself another glass of wine.

"There's more? Shit!" I poured myself another glass as well. This was some juicy information.

"When was the last time you watched tv?" She grabbed the remote control off the table and turned on the television.

Mari flipped channels until she got to a news channel. She placed the remote control on the table and took a long pull on the blunt. "Watch this shit here." She said pointing to the screen. I glanced over at the television and they were talking about stocks.

She must be high as hell telling me to watch some stocks. And then it happened. The anchor person started with a story:

"Glory Hair Care Products has opened up part of their shares to the public. With that being said, Madeline Rutherford stands to receive a significant amount of funds having also signed a deal with a major retail brand as well."

"Yes you are right Monica, that deal was brokered over the weekend in Paris, which just so happens to have started a bit of a firestorm along with it. Over the weekend Madeline Rutherford, the CEO, Owner and Creator of Glory Hair Care Products was seen visiting Paris to sign the merger, however it has been reported that she was not alone. She was seen with the prominent criminal lawyer, Bryan Worthington. For those of you who are familiar with Mr. Worthington, we are all aware of the controversy that follows him."

Pictures were plastered all on the screen of Father and Madeline. I smirked as it was happening again, but this time Father couldn't deny any of this. He was finally getting what he deserved. He thought he was untouchable.

"Yes we are Bradley. Pictures have been released on social media of the two together in Paris some time after the merger was settled. They were seen taking in the sights together, enjoying Paris, going to dinner and it seems they have been enjoying each other as well."

Pictures dotted the screen of Father and Madeline kissing periodically throughout the streets of Paris. Some of the pictures it looked as if they were having a great time together, I saw Father smile - a lot. The paparazzi were really good as some of the pictures made me feel they were looking directly into the camera lens.

If they were, they didn't care.

I instantly thought about Mother. I looked at Mari and she had pulled out her laptop and was typing away as if she had zoned out. She was focused on writing and with her huge following of her online story, I could only imagine what she had included into the story.

"Have you spoken with Mother? How is she handling this?" I asked, relighting the blunt that I had allowed to go out.

"Mother is fine. I believe she's fucking Michael." She said nonchalantly as she continued to type.

I damn near hit the floor. I choked on the smoke, not expecting her to respond with some detailed information. I had an inkling I just wasn't sure.

"Mother is fucking Michael? Michael as in Father's assistant, Michael?" I asked.

"I think so." I looked at her, she wasn't bothered at all. She was into her story.

"Well, he's a good fuck." I blurted.

"That he is." She replied.

"Well she deserves to get hers, Father is clearly getting his." Michael has fucked all the women in the family. It was just a fuck to me, and from what I could tell it was the same for Mari. Whereas Mother is concerned, she's getting laid on a regular basis for which I highly approve.

"Clearly." She kept typing away. "You know he's blaming me for this little situation?"

"Blaming you? For what? How?"

"Because he got caught. And that people are mentioning his likeness in the book."

"Yeah, well the book is your idea, but you have a fake name and pic, so you can get away with it but that is your fault." She smirked. "But, that's not you walking in Paris arm in arm with Madeline. And clearly that's not you kissing her either."

"But you know Father." Mari said. I huffed.

Unfortunately, I do - too well.

§

Angela

Michael was magnificent. He devoted himself to pleasing my body in every way possible. He had a way of taking me out of my comfort zone and establishing new ones. He made love to me so eloquently, I was fully submitted to him; I loved the way he made me feel. I quivered at his soft touches along my body hoping he would continue to explore every orifice possible.

We collapsed breathlessly on the bed. Sweat drenched our bodies as I laid on his arm underneath my head. I watched him breathing heavily, his dick still throbbing. He felt amazing inside me sans condom, we should have skipped them a long time ago.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm wonderful." I answered. I turned towards him, he slowly turned his head towards me. He raised his hand to my face and traced along my cheek. I held his hand against my face and closed my eyes, taking in the warmth his hand was emitting.

"I'm glad." He smiled. I leaned over and kissed him softly.

"I'm addicted to you." I admit willingly. He blushes and sits up.

"I must admit, I definitely look forward to our time together. I get excited when I know I'm going to have you in my arms by the end of the day." I was flattered.

"That's sweet. I haven't had anyone to feel that way about me in such a long time, it feels strange hearing it."

"That's because your person doesn't appreciate you." He stated.

"He's not my person," I started. "Yes, I had his children but he's never looked at me as equal. My person would see me as equal."

"I do." He replied. I looked at him as he gazed back at me.

"Excuse me?"

"I believe I'm your person."

"How so?" He readjusted the pillows and laid down. He looked so handsome; his light brown eyes looking back at me.

"You light up when you see me. You glow exponentially and it makes me so happy to see you smile. It warms my heart that you're smiling because of me, it just solidifies my duty to make sure you are truly satisfied in every way possible." Michael cared about me, I could tell. My feelings had grown for him as well.

"Is it just your duty?"

"Absolutely not. It has always been my pleasure putting a smile upon your face each time we meet. So much so, I wanted to meet more often as I yearn to feel your body next to me when you are not with me."

He made me feel more than special. He was attentive to my needs and he truly enjoyed being with me.

"Oh Michael, I've been feeling the same way. Since you've opened up a side of me that was dormant I have been wanting to be with you more and more as you deserve everything I have to give. I enjoy spending time with you. You put a permanent smile on my face."

"C'mere." He said waving me over to him. I felt like a teenager scooting over to my high school boyfriend. I laid my head on his chest; I could hear his heartbeat and him breathing, being with him felt magical.

"Michael,"

"Yes?"

"Why are you working for my husband?" I asked. I felt him hesitate, bringing up Bryan could ruin anyone's perfect time.

"To gain experience and get a recommendation letter from him." He answered honestly.

"What is it you would like to do?"

"I would like to open my own consulting business."

"Understandable. Working for him allows you access to his contacts as well. Smart."

"You picked up on that, huh?"

"Yes I did." I smiled and wrapped my arm around his waist and laid my leg across one of his.

Michael raked his fingers through my hair as it cascaded down my shoulders. I could fall asleep in his arms forever. I felt him kiss the top of my head while he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"I wish I could hold you forever like this, every night."

"Well you have me for tonight at least. Let's pretend it's forever."