Chapter 3
Three
BLEU
Sunday dinners at the Langston’s estate were less about family and more about everybody’s performance.
Everyone was required by my parents to come dressed like they were walking into a Vogue spread, and not a dining room.
Sundays were also my only day off; Saturday’s I spent time at Dom Corp by myself to make up for the time I spent during the week at Maison Langston’s.
I enjoyed being at Dom Corp alone, it was my blueprint that I spent countless of hours investing in.
I had to create balance between the two companies as well as giving my mind a mental break to not think business and numbers.
My mind was always in a creative space even when I called myself resting.
I pulled onto the road that led to my childhood estate, acres of private owned land belonged to my parents’.
They made it a point before me and my youngest brother Dreu was born to own up enough land to not have to worry about neighbors being so close by just to be nosey.
The land stretched far and wide. Whenever life got to be a bit much, or if I simply needed peace away from the world, I came back home.
No media was near and if they were, they were somewhere hidden in the bushes on the outskirts, far away from the twenty-four-hour security that my father had hired.
My parents’ mansion sat on ten acres of manicured perfection.
I pulled onto the driveway that curled around my mother’s favorite water fountain’s.
It was obvious that she was full of herself because all three of the fountains were different sculptures of her.
The air outside of the house smelled like crisp fresh money.
My childhood home hadn’t changed much except for the fresh paint job that got done once every four years per my mother’s request.
My younger brother Dreu had his bright red Lamborghini parked right at the bottom of the steps.
I could tell by how fucked up his car was parked; he was already on one.
I jogged up the flight of steps that led to the front door then adjusted the cuff of my tailored black shirt.
Soon as I stepped through the foyer, the sound of my Italian loafers echoed off the high ceilings.
“Good afternoon, Bleu!” Ms. Earline appeared with a bright smile on her face.
She quickly pulled me into her short chubby frame and held me tight.
I inhaled Ms. Earline’s White Diamond perfume and smiled.
She was like a second mother to me, more than just my mother’s assistant.
The two of them had been friends since they both were kids.
Ms. Earline did more than her title for our household as well.
She was like family; my mom gave her and her family their own house that sat behind our massive mansion with a four-bedroom house that only Ms. Earline and her grandkids occupied.
Her daughter overdosed five years ago, after Ms. Earline’s husband died from cancer. She left Ms. Earline with three kids, they ranged from the ages of fifteen, twelve, and eight years old.
“Oh baby! It’s so good to see you. I cooked your favorite for dinner.” She winked before breaking our embrace to take my coat.
“Where’s the maid?” I frowned.
Ms. Earline had a bad habit of doing things that wasn’t her job. I hated that she felt like she owed us something since my mom and dad did so much for her and her family.
“Don’t you start that Bleu.” Her eyes turned into small slits.
“I’m just taking your jacket so I can put it on the rack. The house staff was given the day off per your momma’s request.” She looked away with worry creasing her forehead.
My stomach tightened because Ms. Earline didn’t have to tell me that this was more than a dinner. Whenever the house staff was given the day off that meant that a serious conversation was pending for the family.
“Oh,” I offered. “Where’s the kids?” I asked trying to lighten the mood, but mines had already soured.
“With their dad for this entire week, praise the Lord. I’ve been resting and catching up on my shows. I’ve been trying to get your momma to do the same but of course you know she keeps herself busy with being worried about you and Dreu.” She shook her head.
“That’s her fault, I do everything I can to make her and dad proud.”
“And we are all proud of you baby.” She stood on her tippy toes; I leaned down so she could squeeze my left cheek.
Ms. Earline was big on affection; she always loved on me and Dreu. She spoiled us a lot and, in her eyes, neither one of us could do no wrong.
“At least you feel that way.” I chuckled dryly.
I placed my arm around Ms. Earline shoulder and walked towards my dad’s art collection that lined the hallway. He had massive canvases with gold accents, worth enough to buy several houses.
“Your parents feel that way too, they just stuck in the old way of doing things. Here, baby.” She stopped in her tracks soon as we reached the end of the corridor. “I’m going to let the four of you enjoy each other company. My friend is supposed to be stopping by.” She smiled nervously.
“Friend?” I raised a brow.
“Yes, my friend Clifford from my church that I keep begging your mom to come to. He’s a nice man, maybe you can meet him one day.” Ms. Earline said eagerly.
I saw right through the whole ‘Friend’ speech. Ms. Earline was back hot in the ass as my momma loved to call it. She was looking for another husband.
“Okay, Ms. Earline. I’ll stop by to see your friend, before I leave.” I smirked sinisterly down at her.
“No, you won’t, we will be busy with umm.” She batted her eyes then fiddled with her short French tip nails. “Studying the Lord’s word, we will be busy, and I don’t like interrupting my studies, you know that.” She cleared her throat.
Nah, you don’t want to be interrupted getting them cobwebs dusted out… I thought with a tight fake smile on my face.
I leaned down, gave Ms. Earline another hug and watched her walk in the opposite direction.
She and my mom were both sometimes too much to handle, they were sneaky as well and gave everybody a run for their money.
I took in a deep breath and stepped into the dining room.
My eyes fell on the crystal chandelier that hung low over the long cherrywood table set for twelve.
My brother Dreu sat staring at his phone with a perplexed look.
He pecked at his phone screen hard then ran his hands through his long thick dreads every couple of seconds.
Everyone sat spread out amongst the twelve seats.
My father sat at the head of the table with a cigar tucked in the corner of his thin lips.
His salt and pepper beard grew out and still he didn’t look a day over forty.
His hazel brown eyes lifted from the Maison Langston’s magazine that hadn’t been released yet. He smirked at me and shook his head.
My gaze snapped to my beautiful mother, she sat at the opposite side of the table, posture regal, her diamond necklace shined brighter than the lights.
“Bleu.” She greeted me without looking up from her phone as I quickly made my way to her.
“You’re late.” She scoffed, locking her phone.
I leaned down, kissed her cheek, and took my seat to her right.
“Fashionably.” I smiled at her.
Her mahogany complexion was flawless, and semi-covered with a full face of makeup. My mom looked like Naomi Campbell, her high cheek bones and deep-set eyes were something fierce. Her lips twitched, but a smile didn’t appear. She was ready to get right down to business.
I broke eye contact with her and inhaled the good aroma of soul food.
“Ms. Earline put it down today.” I tried to lighten the tension in the room.
“That she did son.” My father finally spoke. “Dreu,” he said firmly.
His eyes cut over towards my twenty-four-year-old brother.
We still weren’t on talking terms and I was fine with that.
Dreu was reckless, spoiled, and the kind of man who thought being a Langston meant the world owed him something.
Today he rocked designer streetwear, his gold chain with a heavy money diamond medallion hung low on his chest. He looked up from his phone and offered our father a smug look.
I wonder if they dug in his ass about his name being plastered across every gossip blog page for getting into a fight outside of the club last week.
“You greet your big brother with respect when he’s present.” My father pressed him.
“He ain’t greet me, nigga still got a stick up in his ass over some old shit!” Dreu spat out.
“Watch your mouth at my table, Dreu.” My mother scalded him like the kid he acted like.
“My bad, Ma. I’m not kissing Bleu ass.” He said.
“No need to, I’m pretty sure you got to do enough of that with Mr. Jackson.” I shrugged, picking up a glass of red wine that was as bitter as the look on Dreu face.
“That retainer for Charles Jackson went up, Dreu.” My father added with a tight look on his face.
I chuckled before picking up the big glass bowl of candied yams. Everything sitting in the middle of the table looked damn good. I eyed the mac and cheese, greens, fried chicken, and corn bread excitedly. I loved Ms. Earline’s food.
“I’m good, I ain’t got to kiss nobody ass. I don’t even know why you worried about what the fuck—”
“Language!” My mom snapped.
She finally set her phone down just as I picked up three pieces of chicken, it was so hot it burned the tips of my fingers as I quickly placed it on my plate. I shook my hand roughly then picked up the glass bowl of greens.
“This is our Sunday dinner; it’s for family to come together and spend quality time.” She lowered her tone.
“Baby, you’re right.” My father set his glass of cognac down. “Charles is just going to have to prove that Dreu is innocent in that big brawl outside of the club.” My father’s frown deepened as he looked at my mother with contempt.