Bleu

Chapter 21

Twenty-One

BLEU

My phone vibrated once in my pocket; it shifted my concentration instantly. I didn’t have to pull it out right away to know who it was.

Truly…

She was the reason I found it hard to focus on this meeting and my introduction to my new plus size clothing line that would be catered to full-figured women.

It had been three days since she left my home.

I dreaded each day leaving Maison Langston’s and going home alone.

I already started to plot how I could see her pretty diamond shaped face more often other than going back to just facetiming and texting her.

The day after my visit with Aubry, Truly called me crying happy tears.

She thanked me a thousand times and told me that Aubry had dropped Princess off with all of her belongings.

What shocked her the most was him apologizing for all that he had put her through.

He kept his visit short and told her before he left that he was seriously happy for her.

What I hung over his head was enough for him to get with the program and not stress her out. I was just happy that he wouldn’t be a thorn in her side.

My eyes gazed at everyone in the meeting room, everyone was occupied looking over the folders that were passed out before the meeting started. I used that time to pull my phone out and check the text from Truly.

Thickumz- What’s the address for Maison Langston’s…I want to bring you lunch.... This morning, I made a new energy tea blend, I want you to be the first to try it. It’s your favorite color too!

I inhaled sharply and smiled. Truly woke up this morning and felt good.

She got right down to work mixing and blending herbs.

Some days she woke up and did other things.

She recently expressed how she also enjoyed making candles and body butters.

It was kind of funny how she thought of new things to create overnight.

Eventually whatever she yearned to do she did it.

Mr. Jackson expressed how Truly’s new endeavors sometimes cost a lot of money.

He said that she was in debt for taking out small business loans, hardly able to pay them back.

I planned on fixing all of that for her soon.

She would be able to try whatever she wanted to until she found her true passion.

Right now, that passion was blended teas, candles, soaps, and body butters.

I typed back quickly giving her my address and telling her to go through the private lobby that would lead her to the elevator that shot up directly to my office.

Once I slid my phone back in my pocket, I picked up the remote control to dim the lights for the projector.

It was time to wrap this meeting up and continue it another day.

The boardroom was full with creative directors, seamstresses, and brand consultants.

All of us had a great relationship, the excitement showed on all of their faces when I presented something new to them.

We had already covered the winter collection months ago for winter which covered suits, along with Dom’s new fragrances that I decided to do a cross collab between both companies.

The collab went crazy, now the world couldn’t just mention Maison Langston’s without adding Dom’s to the conversation.

“As I was saying before.” I held the remote and aimed it at the projector. “This is what I’m after when it comes to the new line, ‘Curve Devor’.”

The beginning of the video started, a plus size woman strutted down the runway with a fierce sophisticated look. I stood at the head of the long marble table, my hands rested light on the surface as the woman began to talk.

“Clothes don’t make a woman,” she said seductively, “but clothes should honor her.” She smirked, unbuttoned her trench coat revealing one of the one piece cheetah bodysuit that I created during my off time at home with Truly.

A few heads nodded in agreement around the table.

“Women don’t owe the world smallness.” She dropped her black trench coat on the runway as other curvy women walked down the path behind her. “They don’t owe apology for taking up space.”

Ten women fanned out beside her wearing different expensive threads of clothing.

It was stylish, and very classy. It was the type of clothing that many smaller women would rock.

Now curvy women up to a size 6x would be able to have the same threads of clothes on.

All of the women on the video spoke in union together.

“Curvy Devor! Designed for Curves!”

The models stepped in a perfect line formation and strutted away one by one.

Each one of them looked stunning in rich fabric that flowed and hugged every curve where it should.

Soft silks. Structured blazers. Waistlines that emphasized their beauty not hiding it.

The video went blank, before I could cut the lights back up, everyone clapped loudly.

I glanced over at my new assistant, Ren. He sat to the right of me; his knee bounced under the table. Nervous energy hung off him like static.

“Ren.”

He jumped when I called his name. I made a mental note to gift him a full collection set of Dom’s.

It wasn’t that his body odor was pungent, it was more of the strong smell of gel that he had caked up in his slicked back dirty blonde hair that annoyed me.

He reeked of chemicals, and I was sure most of it came from the scent of his hair.

“No need to be nervous, you’re doing perfectly fine.” I nodded my head at him.

His eyes widened, then he nodded. His knee under the table stilled, he picked his stylus pen back up and relaxed his shoulders. I never went hard on my assistants. Most of them were young, fresh out of college. Ren’s father was associates of my father’s. He got the position based off of that alone.

The meeting wrapped soon after, I stayed behind and listened to side conversations. People already were on their specific jobs ready to schedule fittings and get new runway placements for Curvy Devor’s new launch that would take place two weeks before Christmas.

Soon as I moved toward the door, Yvette intercepted me, clipboard in hand.

“Your parents are in your office,” she said dryly.

Though Yvette was happy with her new opportunity over at Bleu’s club. She made sure to never flirt or try to fuck me again ever since I turned her down and told her about the summer’s eve that she liked to spray on her intimate parts.

“Parents as in both?” I raised my brows at her.

“Yes. And the new receptionist is downstairs shadowing. She’ll be taking my place for the evening. I have to get to the club.” She said with excitement, laced in her tone.

“Go on then. Tell the receptionist to hold all of my calls for the rest of the evening.” I have a short nod.

“Yes, sir.” She smiled then turned on her heels.

I hurried to the elevator to get back up to my office to see what this surprise visit from my parents was for. Soon as I pushed the door to my office open the air in the atmosphere changed.

My mother sat behind my desk in my seat like she’d never left it a day in her life.

Satin white gloves covered her hands. Her white dress was as sharp as the creases in my father’s dress pants.

Pearls sat perfectly aligned at her throat.

Her hair was pinned into a flawless bun with more pearl pins at the top.

My father anchored himself behind my chair. His suit was dark and tailored to perfection.

“Bleu, it’s so good to catch you, finally before your father and I vacation for our anniversary.” She smiled tightly at me.

“Happy Anniversary, Mother, Father. Apologies for forgetting, I’ve been busy lately.” I spoke in a hushed rushed tone.

“Oh, busy?” She raised a perfectly arched brow and smiled sinisterly.

“Everyone seems to be so busy these days, Dreu has been wrapped up with his new studio and doesn’t answer when I call him…Me and your father worry about that boy a lot…I just hope the studio is enough to keep him out of trouble for God’s sake…” Her response was laced with irritation.

I remained quiet, didn’t bother taking a step forward because I knew she would continue her manipulative word play.

It wouldn’t work on me at all today. My mind wasn’t even on her and my father popping up here.

My mind was focused on seeing Truly and tasting her new tea.

I even wondered what she was bringing me for lunch.

A woman never considered me enough to bring me lunch.

“Then there’s my best friend, Earline…she has a boyfriend now. I’m happy for her, but she’s too busy to make time for tea or even the many shopping sprees we go on out the country.” She chuckled dryly.

Her gloved fingers traced the edge of my fountain pen, the one I normally left next to my notepad before I left my office every evening.

“Your father found a new girlfriend as well… this one seems…” Her words trailed.

I looked past my mother and at my father. He shifted uncomfortably and stared at my mother’s back.

“She seems interesting and youthful. Very beautiful. She’s so gorgeous that your father wants her to go away with us for a month.” She cleared her throat and blinked her eyes rapidly.

No matter how straight her posture was and how void her face was of emotions. I saw the glint of hurt that passed in her eyes a little too fast to catch if I wasn’t paying close attention.

“I told you; she doesn’t have to come.” My father interjected.

“Oh, she can come, I’ve come to terms with what our marriage is about.” She cleared her throat again.

“I’ve called one of my good friends, he’s younger, has stamina.” She dramatically turned in my seat to look up at my father.

“He doesn’t have to take pills to last long, he makes me feel young, and beautiful—”

I cut her off by clearing my throat. I didn’t want to hear about my mother’s sex life. Nor did I care to understand the weird dynamics of their marriage.

“My apologies, Bleu.” She offered me a forced smile.

“It’s okay…I have someone coming so if we can speed this…” I searched my mind for what this visit would be labeled as.

“Ah yes.” My mother clapped her hands.

“My first born has been busy too, but I wonder with what?” She placed her index finger on her bottom lip and frowned.

“You disappeared from here for a week, then I tried to see if you were at Dom’s…”

“I took time for myself.” I said evenly.

“Time for yourself,” She repeated the words bitterly. “How poetic.”

“Was this time for self, or time for a woman? I hope it’s a new candidate because I’ve become impatient.” She rolled her eyes.

“Give the company to Dreu.” I called her bluff.

“Excuse me?” She sat all the way up in my seat and gave me a look of disbelief.

“When I marry, it will be on my time. Not a threat, a rush to please the both of you. As you can see,” I pointed at the both of them accusingly.

“Arranged marriages for a family’s benefit is not good. Look at how the two of you operate in the name of love. I’d rather not.” I spat.

“Watch it son.” My father bit the words out slowly and deliberately.

I respected them both, but today was the day that I let them both know how they needed to respect me and my personal life.

“I’m dating a woman that I actually like…I like her so much that I probably will take more time away from Maison Langston’s to make the proper time for her.”

“Oh, isn’t that nice…I hope that this woman you speak of is Mr. Jackson’s middle—”

“It is Truly. I have feelings for her; I will continue to date her and spoil her with whatever I see fit. Any other questions?” I spat the words through gritted teeth.

Both of their eyes widened at the same time. My mother was the first to fix her face and squint her eyes.

“You need to remember who you are and the world you represent. Our world does not shift for strangers. Do not confuse affection with direction.” She snapped her fingers.

My jaw tightened, I clasped my hands in front of myself to try to contain my anger.

“Your mother is saying, be careful who you bring into the family. We always fall faster for the ones that’s not meant for us. That girl has a kid; she’s out of shape which means she’s possibly lazy and—”

“Listen to me, the both of you.” I emphasized each of the last three words.

“Truly is not going anywhere…So she will be respected when I find the time to properly introduce her to my family.” I pointed at them again.

“You both will respect her as well as her daughter and welcome her with open arms. If you guys don’t respect or welcome her, I’ll step down from Maison Langston’s.

My company Dom’s is at its peak and will only get better from here.

I can do without running this place and then your worries can go to Dreu and the direction he’ll take it to.

I know exactly what I’m doing with Truly.

It’s none of you guys’ concern.” I grated out.

“Well,” my mother stood as my father stepped aside, “your father and I will respect your wishes. While I feel like you could have chosen better, you’ve made your mind…. we respect that.” She smiled.

She stepped around my desk with my father close behind her.

I sighed but felt relieved. I thought that things would have gotten ugly.

The important part was that my mother and father got the message loud and clear.

I should have stood up to them years ago.

They were used to making final decisions in me and Dreu’s personal lives.

I leaned down to my mother’s height; she placed a kiss on my cheek then we embraced. My father’s big brotherly hug was next.

“I’m proud of you son.” He squeezed my shoulder.

I smiled and nodded my head but on the inside my chest constricted painfully. It had been a while since I heard those words leave his mouth. It made me wonder what exactly was he proud of… Was it because I no longer was willing to let them control or dictate me?

They both made it to the door before my mother looked over her shoulder.

“Do bring her around, Bleu. I would like to see the woman who made you forget the world for an entire week.” She proceeded to walk out of the door with my father.