The Bet 4 Page 2

  That nugget of truth brought a smile to her face. Jackson had said Ellery wanted him to personally deliver those contracts to her and now hearing Ellery say the complete opposite confirmed even more what Yvaine felt and thought. Jackson was in love with Yvaine more than he would care to admit or maybe more than she cared to acknowledge. She didn't know if she could confide in Ellery just yet. She didn't know if their tryst would compromise his position at the agency, and God forbid he ended up leaving her. She was having so much fun with him . No one of the opposite sex, who was close to her, ever made her feel this cherished.That was a fact she didn't want to mull over for too long. She just wanted to enjoy him.

  "Yes I did. There were quite a few."

  "Well you are a hot commodity. This is what you love, the workload. Keep it up and you could retire in the next year or two, or better yet, invest your money into a business."

  "Yea that is something to think about."

  "We have over 600 people coming to our annual promo party."

  "I know it's already planned out, " she agreed as she flipped through her itinerary calendar on her desk and stopped when she came to the event scrolled in hot pink ink "Agency Gala" She scanned her details. "Ah yes,for entertainment I thought we would have R & B Live host it. Fresh new undiscovered talent is always fun. I have Moonshine folks catering the drinks."

  "Is that that troupe of bartenders that break out into random dance routines." Ellery interrupted.

  "Yes it is. Yvaine smiled. "I figured when we don't have talent singing the D.J. could play some tracks they know."

  "O.k. What about the food ?"

  "Since I hosted that naked reality cooking show and you made me go out with one of the judges for publicity sake."

  "It worked didn't it."

  They both laughed

  "I suppose so. Well, anyways his name was Antoine Finesse. I spoke with him last week and he said he would personally cater the event free of charge."

  "That's my girl," Ellery said. Even though Yvaine couldn't see her she knew she was smiling and pleased. Yvaine enjoyed surprising Ellery it was the least she could do for the woman who was like a second mother to her.

  Yvaine continued, "I'm renting out club Truth. The owner assured me it will hold everyone and maybe a few hundred people more."

  "So what's left for me to do ?" Ellery asked with a smile in her voice. "It seems like you have handled everything beautifully, as usual. I just hate I am going to miss this party." She added."You and Jackson are a Godsend."

  That name seemed to haunt Yvaine's thoughts.

  "So are you Ells. So no more worrying. We got this in the bag. The hottest promo party to date.Take care of your sister.We got this.

  "You're right, but I'm not there and I feel so idle. It's good to be able to leave your business in trusting hands."

  "You sure your sister is o.k. ?"

  "Oh she's just Joanie. We talked all night last night. I'm exhausted. Joanie sleeps all day and is up at all hours of the night. I want to kill her."

  "No you don't. She's your sister. You love her." Yvaine offered.

  She knew Ellery loved her family dearly and was just letting off a bit of steam at the situation.

  "Yes, you're right about that." Ellery admitted. "Last night we talked about the good old days."

  "Sounds like fun, kinda like me and the girls."

  "Yes it does sound like that. Well I think I have talked your ear off enough. I'm back to feeling somewhat sane again. Call me if you need me for anything."

  "I definitely will."

  "And please fill me in whenever you can about these dates you go on."

  "I will. Yvaine promised."

  "Love you."

  "Love you too."

  "Bye."

  "Bye."

  Yvaine put the cell phone down on her desk . The girls would be here at any minute. She had decided to have two dates in one day. She was up for it. It would leave her with only one date left. All three men had fun with her and all three men had asked her out on a third date and the feelings were mutual.

  She did have the nagging feeling that if Jackson hadn't showed up she would want to take it further.She felt compelled to this man. It would be a piece of cake tonight and she would be two dates closer to finishing the bet. She hadn't heard from Jackson today but that seemed to be how he liked it. If she had heard from Jackson it would be in person. She would have to ask him about that. She got up from the plush dark brown chair and walked out of her office and into the kitchen. She heard female voices far off in the front of her house and knew it was Echo and Dior. She had the fridge open looking for something to eat talking with Ellery had worked up an appetite.

  "Hey girl !" Dior said sitting down a trader Joes bag on the island.

  Echo placed her designer handbag on the bar-stool beside her.

  Yvaine smiled at both girls, happy to have their companionship. She couldn't ask for better friends.

  "What's in the bag ?" Yvaine asked Dior.

  "Oh, girl nothing, just some edibles I picked up for my date tonight."

  Both Echo and Yvaine's Eyebrows raised.

  "What ? Y'all act like I don't date."

  "Bitch you don't." Yvaine retorted with a smirk and all three girls laughed jovially.

  "Alright, you got me there, but hey, maybe it's time to switch it up."

  "So who's the lucky guy ?" Echo asked as she lifted her self up with ease and sat on the island while Yvaine went back to the task of rummaging through her Frigidaire to find something to eat.

  She saw a container of Greek Yogurt and decided that would be her snack. She offered the girls one each, but they declined the offer.

  "His name is Isaac," Dior said quickly.

  It was obvious to the girls she wasn't going to elaborate.

  "And?" Yvaine said locating a spoon out of the drawer directly in front of her and put a spoonful of yogurt in her mouth.

  "He is a tattoo artist. He lives in Santa Barbara. No wife. No kids."

  The girls were nodding their heads in approval.

  "Sounds like a nice guy." She then asked, "Where did you two meet ?"

  "Well we have kind-of known each other for a couple of years. He has been asking me out for the past year. I always tell him I enjoy just fucking him. Is that cold-hearted of me ?"

  Yvaine looked at Dior, who by anyone's standards just as beautiful as Yvaine. Dior was known as the Naomi Campbell of porn for her infamous affairs with bad boys and her uncanny ability to never get tied down with anyone. When Yvaine first met Dior she thought it was an admirable trait. Dior was bold, witty and charming. After being her best friend for almost five years Yvaine could tell that it was an act. Dior really didn't think she was lovable in a romantic sense. She only felt men desired her for sex. So instead of setting herself for failure and being in a serious relationship with someone, she chose to have affairs that lasted for years. The majority of the men knowing they would never have Dior's heart completely.

  "No, I don't think it's cold-hearted. I just think maybe you should think about being in a serious committed relationship."

  "I told you, I don't do those."

  "Yea, that's what you say." Yvaine said still eating her yogurt.

  "And what is that suppose to mean?" Dior said trying not to sound too concerned with Yvaine's cryptic saying.

  "It means what's the difference in having a long term no strings attached relationship with someone and a serious committed relationship. Nothing. Dior I'm your besty and I would never tell you anything wrong. I think it's time for you to realize you are loved."

  Dior straightened up in her chair. Yvaine could tell this was an uncomfortable topic for her and sooner than later she knew Dior would protest. Like clockwork Dior did. "I know I'm loved. I don't need no fuckn' body tellin' me otherwise !"

  "Dior then act like it." Yvaine eyes narrowed as she said the words.

  "OOOO bitch, you tryna fight today ain't you?" Dior got up from the bar-stool. Yva
ine put the empty yogurt container along with the spoon down on the counter-top and walked in her direction, stopping when she was in front of her friend.

  "No I'm just sayin' Dior? C'mon now, why you gettin' mad at me. We just want you happy."

  "I am happy ! Shit ! I was happy not telln' ya ass about this and I will be even happier when I leave your house." She gathered her items and stormed out of the kitchen down the hallway and out the front door, which she slammed shut so loud the girls could hear it from the kitchen. Yvaine slumped down on the bar-stool.

  "Well, so much for me being helpful," she said to Echo.

  "It's o.k. she will calm down. She is so private and..."

  "Sensitive."

  "Yes. I know you didn't mean any harm in what you said. She just hates hearing the truth. She will be back once she has calmed down and blew off some steam. I hope." Echo added the last sentence with a little trepidation.

  "I hope so to."

  "So tell me what's new with you. How's the three Joe blows ?"

  "They are great. I was actually planning on going out with two of them tomorrow."

  "Sounds great ! Let me guess you're going out with Addison and Cristobal ?"

  "Yes !" Yvaine said shocked at how good a guesser Echo was. They high fived each other and laughed. "What about you ? How are you holding up since your breakup?"

  "Me?"

  Yvaine nodded at her

  "It's going great ! I finally get to sleep in the middle of my comfy cloud bed. My toilet seat isn't constantly up and I am getting to live my dream. So I cannot complain one bit."

  Yvaine laughed.

  "You know what we need?"

  "A drink." Yvaine supplied sarcastically, which made Echo laugh.

  "Yea we do, but it's too early."

  "What do we need then ?"

  "Shopping !" Echo declared.

  Yvaine didn't think that idea was half bad.

  "Let me grab my purse."

  "O.k." Echo said as she hopped down from the kitchen island and slipped her Jimmy Choo flip flops back on her perfectly manicured feet.

  Yvaine hadn't meant to upset her friend. She only meant to give her some long overdue advice, and instead it had backfired on her. She felt bad about it. Maybe shopping would take her mind off of everything going on in her life. She needed to get some new 'normal' items anyway. She smiled as she grabbed her keys and purse off of the table in the foyer, where she waited for Echo, Who, moments later was in the foyer with her.

  "Ready ?"

  "Ready."

  And they were off to a relaxing evening of retail therapy...

  ***

  Yvaine felt her entire body shake with a huge orgasm and she fell on top of Jackson's chest, out of breath and completely sated. Once again they had ended up in bed together and once again it was phenomenal.

  The shopping trip with Echo had proved to be much needed. She was in much better spirits when she arrived back home. The icing on the cake was when Lola had informed her she had already made her dinner for her and her 'guest'. Yvaine had no idea who Lola was referring to and was honestly thinking about firing her housekeeper for letting some stranger in her house and then cooking for him, but when she saw who the stranger, or rather 'guest' was, she was actually thinking about giving Lola a raise.

  She felt his strong, muscular arms wrap around her. Her white tresses splayed wildly all over the pillows.

  "Wow." She heard him say. His breathing uneven and rugged. He planted a kiss on top of her head. She smiled at the sweet gesture.

  "Wow is right," Yvaine said lazily her breathing returning to a normal pace.

  "You're amazing you know that ?" He said as he gently slid her body to his side so that she was tucked into him. Her left hand unconsciously rubbing his perfectly sculpted chest.

  "You're not so bad yourself," she said playfully, still rubbing his chest.

  "I mean it." He grasped her hand. " I told you before this isn't just about sex for me. I think you are amazing.

  She slightly sat up and looked at him He was looking directly into her eyes. Brown meeting green. He was serious. His face was no longer passion filled but set with a certain seriousness only these type of conversations had.

  "I know you do," she said leaning down and planting a kiss on his lips.

  "You don't believe me ?" He asked half sitting up as well. They were looking one another in the eye.

  "I didn't say that."

  "You don't say much of anything, you know that?" He retorted

  "Hey, that's not fair. It's kinda hard to talk with a dick in your mouth."

  "Exactly why I think you don't believe me."

  She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

  "I will prove it to you."

  "How ?"

  She saw him furrow his brow. He looked cute when he was thinking in the buff she thought.

  "O.k. I got it !"

  "I'm listening," she said as she stabbed her fingers through her white locks of hair to keep them out of her face.

  "How about you be my date for our Annual Promo party ? It's in three days time. Dinner and dancing, then escort you back home at the end of the night. No sex only to prove I want more than just late night Trysts and a live in lover. I want this more." He rested his hand on the left side of her chest where her heart was. "Shawna, I think you're amazing."Yvaine felt like she would cry he had used her real name. Jackson was everything she had ever wanted. Smart, caring, financially stable, and in serious pining mode for her true self. He cupped her cheek and pulled her face forward and gently kissed her soft, full, luscious lips.Her heart melted because of the sweetness of his kiss. He broke the kiss and continued.

  "After that, I think it would be best if we started talking about you breaking it off with those guys you have been going out with and moving in with me."

  "Excuse me," she said, looking shocked he had said the plural word, 'guys'.

  Yvaine's heart began to flutter. Did Dior tell him about the stupid bet ? She silently prayed that that was not the case. It was so childish and asinine she didn't want to even discuss it.

  "I thought it was in the agencies best interest, I mean since you are one of our headliners, to have you followed. As a safety precaution."

  Yvaine felt sick to her stomach. "Safety precaution ?" She repeated.

  "Yes. The other night at the bar you told me you were set up on a date. I just wanted to make sure you were safe. I was later informed you had been out with two more guys." His eyes narrowed.

  "Why wouldn't I be safe ?" She asked automatically. She was working on auto-pilot. She couldn't believe what he was saying to her. He was having her followed on her dates for 'security reasons'. This excuse was ridiculous. Would this next answer be as well.

  "Because you're a famous porn star hanging out with nobodies."

  Yvaine jumped out of her bed as if he had used his foot and had physically kicked her out of it.His words were harsh and she didn't know where it was coming from.

  "Have you had them investigated?" She looked away.

  She didn't think she could keep it together if she looked at him.

  "No."

  "I think you should go," she said standing by her bed completely naked, looking at Jackson who looked perfectly delicious in hers. His naked body looking so enticing in her own bed.

  "Yvaine? C'mon, babe you know what I mean." He quickly got up as well.

  "No I don't. All I'm hearing is that you don't trust me. I remember our conversation at the bar and you said you didn't care if I saw other people. Then you tell me you are having me watched. How am I suppose to feel ?"

  There was way too much silence for Yvaine. She went over to her armchair and grabbed her cream and gray cheetah print velour pants and a matching sports bra and began getting dressed. She didn't know what else to do. She saw Jackson out of the corner of her eyes put on his jeans.He walked over to her she took a step back.

  "Shawna ?"

  Yvaine looked at him with icy daggers.
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  He tried again. "Yvaine, I'm sorry. I didn't think-"

  She cut him off. "Leave."

  He gently touched her shoulder. She yanked it away.

  "Leave. Now." she said with more fervor, and her demand was granted.

  She stood there for what seemed hours but was really only twenty minutes or so staring out into the night through her large bedroom window. Dior was right.She thought. Men are dogs. Jackson seemed so different or maybe you just wanted to think he was since he gave her orgasm after orgasm after orgasm. That was a fact she couldn't deny the sexual chemistry was off the charts. She also detected genuine affection for her, and up until he confessed to running an espionage team on her love life she thought she had felt it every time they were together. She knew she shouldn't be this upset about it. She was the one withholding the true nature of those dates. She would rather him believe she was a slut dating four guys at a time than know the truth. The truth was she was so bored and maybe a little desperate with her love life that she had to accept a silly bet from her besty's to feel alive inside, and then there was the awful realization that she was in love with Jackson. Head over heels in love with him. She had known him for almost five years and his loyalty and kindness towards her had never wavered once. As her agency representative maybe he was just looking out for her best interests. She felt so conflicted. She crawled back into her California king sized bed immediately smelling Jackson's scent. She closed her eyes and breathed it in. He always smelled so good. Yes she was head over heels in love with that man and she had to get the balls to tell him just that.

  ***

  The next three days went by in a complete and total blur. Yvaine was happy for the distraction. She hadn't heard from Jackson and figured he was just as mad as she was. She still couldn't get over the fact he had had her followed on all of her dates. She had met with Harvey the day after she and Jackson's argument so she could be completely finished with the bet once and for all and had coffee with him at a neighborhood bistro close to her home. The date with Harvey went like it usually did. Harvey talking about what he loved best, Harvey. Dior and Echo had also showed up on her doorstep that same night with a rather large and expensive bottle of wine and a stack of their favorite DVD's which included Cheetah gurls, Waiting to Exhale, Diary of a mad Black Woman and Memoirs of a Geisha. As soon as Dior entered into Yvaine's home she apologized.