Differences

Chapter 1

1

Taja “Ta” Walker

I huffed and puffed the entire ride over to the club. Allison knew I didn’t want to be here tonight.

“I really hate that we have to keep dragging ourselves to these parties,” I groaned as we stood in line.

“Taja, you and I both need this more than anything. You need more clients, and I need to get in front of the right person so that I can score a deal,” my best friend, Allison, reminded me.

“I guess you’re right. I’ll check my attitude.”

Allison and I met in high school on my first day as a freshman. I noticed her sitting alone at the lunch table with her head down. Some kids walked by her, teasing and throwing things into her curly fro. I instantly became annoyed. I walked up to the group of kids who were bullying her and cursed them out in front of everyone. Allison had a big smile on her face after I finished. I introduced myself, and since then, Allison and I have been the best of friends.

Allison’s skin was dark chocolate, and her eyes were big and round. She was beautiful. If anyone couldn’t see the beauty in her, they were blind. By the time senior year arrived, Allison had grown another six inches. Her mother invested in Invisalign for her teeth. She developed her own style and learned how to do her makeup. The same people who bullied her wanted to be her friend, but she didn’t fold.

Allison always thanked me for coming to the lunch table that day. However, I am thankful for her. She was a true best friend. We attended the same college, roomed together, and graduated together. However, even with a degree in finance, Allison wanted to model. She took her journey seriously. The harder she worked, the more contracts and more money.

I currently work as a bank teller, but for the past year, I have been managing Allison’s marketing and social media part-time. Over the past year, I did so well with Allison’s marketing that I started taking on more clients. I perfected my skills and started receiving requests to help others. However, I was on a mission for a bigger contract, and Allison was too.

We were currently at a club called Pink Streak. It was the spot for up-and-coming models, artists, and actors to find their big break. Many executives and businesses recruited a lot of their talent because of the events they would have. Tonight was karaoke night, and it was packed. Allison decided it would be a good night for me to find more clients and for her to find a new modeling contract.

We walked further into the club while I checked my phone. Allison sucked her teeth and let out a frustrated breath.

“Don’t start, Allison,” I warned.

I knew exactly what the reason for the dramatics was. I just didn’t feel like hearing it.

“Let me say this, Ta. I’m glad you dumped his ass. He can’t keep a job, and all the bills fall on you. What man is out here allowing his girl to handle everything? Not a real one, I tell you that!”

“Yeah, but everybody has a time in their life when they fall on hard times. We both have experienced it. Would it be fair for me to do him like that? Jay is working hard. I believe him.”

“Whatever, sis. He is no longer your problem. You asked for space, so enjoy it,” Allison preached.

I didn’t want to hear her rant about Jay. It came more often than before. My relationship with Jay was okay. It could’ve been better, but right now, he was going through the stages of figuring out what he wanted to do with his life. Deep down, I knew once he figured it out, everything would be back on track. Still, I could not be his savior when I was trying to figure everything out. Jay and I had been together for almost two years before I called it quits. It was as if he wasn’t trying to elevate while I was breaking my back to get to the top. No matter how much I missed him, I knew this was for the best.

“Look, can we just get in here and socialize, please?” I asked. There was no need to bring up Jay. We were on a mission.

She clapped her hands together and smiled. “Yes! Work your charm, and I’ll work my magic. Let’s go, best friend!”

Allison and I separated and went to do exactly what she said. The club was crowded. There was a deejay, and he had almost everybody on the dance floor. The more I scanned the room, the more dollar signs I saw. If I wanted to get my name out there, I had to turn on my charm and work the room. Instantly, I started handing my card out as I made my way to the bar. In the process, I had at least an eight-second conversation with them. The trip to the bar took longer than an average person would, but again, I was on a mission. By the time I reached it, my mouth was dry, and I needed water. I looked across the room and smiled at Allison. She was definitely working her magic.

I waved at the bartender. “Water, please.”

“Taking it slow?” a beautiful blonde-haired white woman sitting beside me asked.

I smiled. “I’m staying sober tonight. I’m here for other reasons. I need to make sure I have a clear mind.”

“And what are the reasons?” she asked with a raised brow.

I giggled. “Not for those reasons. I am here to network and get my name out there. I manage social media accounts.”

I handed her my card. She looked at it and smiled.

“Taja Walker...such a pretty name. I’m Kara,” she introduced, extending her hand.

“Thank you, and nice to meet you, Kara.”

“Tell me, Taja, how did you get started in this line of work?”

I sat up straight in my seat, stuck my chest out in a proud manner, and smiled. “It all started when I would manage my best friend’s social media because she’s a model.”

I pointed over at Allison, which made Kara look in Allison’s direction.

“The traction to her page and bookings increased in two weeks. Her fellow model friends were impressed and asked for my contact information. Afterward, my business took off. I went from managing and marketing one model’s social media account to ten models’ accounts. Their engagement has grown, and they’re getting more bookings by the day. They swear it’s all my doing, but it’s just that they are beautiful girls.”

Kara smiled and nodded. “Is your plan only to manage models?”

“Oh no! Not that anything is wrong with it, but there’s so much more I want to do.”

“Hmm...and what exactly is it you have in mind?”

For the next ten minutes, I explained all of my ideas to Kara, and she sat there the entire time listening. She didn’t once interrupt me. She kept eye contact the entire time. By the time I finished, she had a smile on her face.

“Taja, you are something special. I noticed it when you sat beside me, but speaking with you only confirmed it. Come to my office first thing on Monday morning. I think I have a space for you and your beautiful friend.” Kara handed me her card.

I scanned it quickly, and my eyes widened. I looked at her, and she had a silly smirk on her face.

“I-I don’t know what to say,” I responded, stuttering over my words.

“Save it all for when I see you on Monday. It was nice meeting you, Taja.” Kara threw a wink my way and left the bar area.

I jumped up and down, squealing. I quickly looked around for Allison. I spotted her on the dance floor dancing with some fine-ass man. However, I didn’t care about him. I quickly grabbed her off the dance floor and pulled her to the bathroom, where it was quiet.

“Ta, what the fuck? What’s going on? I was dancing with my future husband,” she fussed.

I shoved the card in her hand. Allison scanned over it and then looked at me, confused. “So...you interrupted me from possibly finding a man for a business card from somebody named...” She stopped and looked down at the card, reading it aloud. “Kara, COO for TRU makeup...” Her eyes sprang open once she realized what she was reading.

“Wait...The TRU makeup? Wait, how did you get her business card?”

“She was at the bar. I stood beside her, and the conversation was flowing. She asked me what my occupation was before saying she has space at the company for you and me!” I screamed.

Allison’s eyes widened. “Ta, don’t play with me right now! Are you serious?”

“I’m super fucking serious!”

Allison jumped up and down in a circle. “I can’t believe this!”

“Believe it, best friend! We just secured the bag!”

We both let out a loud scream and started twerking in the bathroom. After our twerking session, Allison proposed a plan.

“You know what? Let’s have a good time. Let’s forget about work and get lit. It’s been a while, and we need to celebrate.”

“You know what? You’re right! Last one to the bar buys the first five rounds of shots!” I darted out the door with Allison on my heels. Tonight was about to be a night to remember.

* * *

We were eight shots in since I told Allison about Kara. Allison and I had been on the dance floor dancing as if it was our last days. I lost count of how many guys came up behind me wanting to dance, but I politely declined all of them. I wasn’t checking for any of them. My attention was on someone else. He had his eyes locked on me since I came to the dance floor. At first, I wasn’t sure if it was me that he was staring at, so I kept dancing. However, it was confirmed when I waved at him, and he nodded his head. Since I now knew I had his attention, I threw my hips and wiggled my ass in his direction. I couldn’t take the teasing anymore, and the liquor filled me with courage. Enough was enough. I needed more than this simple tease.

I waltzed over toward him, gaining a better look. He was beautiful.

“Is it me, or do you have an eye problem?” I asked, standing on my tiptoes due to him being over six feet tall.

He leaned down to my five-foot-six frame. He chuckled, and his deep baritone voice caused my knees to knock.

“I guess I’m busted, huh? I just like what I see.” He bit his lip, then drank from his glass.

My sweet spot was betraying me. This stranger’s presence had me ready to risk it all in a matter of five minutes.

“Come dance with me,” I urged. I wanted to feel his body on mine.

“I don’t—”

Before he could finish his sentence, I was pulling him to the dance floor. It felt like he and I were the only ones on the dance floor. My hand wrapped around his neck while his hand slid up and down my thigh while I ground my ass into him. He nibbled on my ear while whispering how sexy I was. I never lacked confidence, so hearing him fueled my praise kink.

“Aye, beautiful,” he flirted. “I don’t think I can take no more of this. What do you say we get out of here?”

It was as if two angels appeared on my shoulder. The sober angel kept reminding me I didn’t know who this man was, and he might be a serial killer, while the drunk angel reminded me it had been such a long time since I had a man look at me the way this cutie had been looking at me all night. Instead of going with my mind, I let my lower half decide.

“Sure, let me tell my best friend.”

“Meet you out front.” He kissed my neck and walked away.

I ran over to let Allison know where I was going.

“Hey, I’m going to go hang out with the guy I was dancing with,” I relayed, leaning in her ear while she backed her ass up into some guy.

“Oh shit, friend! Yolo! Enjoy yourself! We need to celebrate in all ways.”

“Hell yeah!”

We did our signature handshake, and I promised to update her every hour. I ran out of the door and saw him standing by a black SUV. I couldn’t contain my excitement. I had just received a job offer, and now I was leaving with a beautiful man. The night just kept getting better and better.

We both slid inside the back seat, and I instantly kicked my shoes off and relaxed into the heated leather seats.

“What’s in store for the night?” I asked.

He looked at me and smiled. He removed his coat blazer and loosened his tie. “Hopefully, you,” he said, sliding closer.

I tried my best not to show how hard he made me blush. “Cute, but I don’t even know your name.”

“Weston...Weston Jones.”

“Taja Wilson.” I smiled proudly, extending my hand.

“Taja? What kind of name is that?” he asked.

“A name for a sexy, confident, fun, lit-ass person,” I bragged.

He laughed. “We will see by the end of the night.”

I could feel my heartbeat between my legs. However, I had to play it cool. My stomach growled. Weston looked at me and smiled.

“Hungry?

I nodded. “Heck, yeah!”

“What would you like?”

“Hmm...McDonald’s!”

His face twisted in disgust. I laughed.

“Oh, I’m sure you ate plenty of McDonald’s in your day. People act like it’s a bad thing to indulge in greasy, unhealthy food sometimes. Plus, I enjoy doing things that make me feel good. I don’t do well with stress, so I make it my mission to find those things. It just so happens McDonald’s is one of them.” I smiled.

Weston just stared at me before looking toward the driver. “Sir, can you swing by the nearest McDonald’s, please?”

I placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

Laughs and conversation filled our ride to McDonald’s. After we ordered half the menu, I asked the driver to turn the radio on, and I sang every song that came on, giving Weston a show. He laughed and did the ad-libs for me. We even popped a bottle of champagne, passing the bottle between us. By the time the car stopped, we had finished the entire bottle and food. The champagne was an added feature of how tipsy I was already feeling. We were on the good side of town in the expensive luxury condos. Everyone dreamed of owning one of these. So, when we pulled up in front of it, I was not surprised. Weston’s aura screamed successful and rich.

He led me inside his condo. We hopped on the elevator and shot up to the ninth floor. The elevator opened up right into his condo. It was beautiful. Everything was clean and in place. All the furniture and decor were dark. He didn’t have any colors in sight. I looked around and made myself at home. I saw the balcony and walked directly toward it, immediately opening it. The city streets were still busy this late. The buildings allowed the city to glow, causing all the stars in the sky to be hidden.

By the time Weston made it outside, he had changed into something more relaxing.

“Wow, I don’t know if you look better in a suit or in basketball shorts and a white tee.”

“I would say both,” he bragged.

“Cocky, I like it.” I winked. I dug into my purse and pulled out my vape pen.

“Is that weed?” he asked.

“Oops! Sorry, I should’ve asked if it was okay for me to smoke. I’ll put it away.” I tried to slide it back into my purse, but he grabbed my wrist. He pulled the vape from my hand, placing it to his lips. He inhaled, then let the smoke blow from his succulent lips. I was in a trance. Never had I ever seen someone look so sexy smoking.

“Open your mouth,” he instructed.

I parted my mouth while watching Weston’s every move. He pulled from the vape and moved in closer. He let the smoke flow from his mouth into mine, giving me the best shotgun I ever received. Once the smoke cleared, we remained close to each other.

“You’re different,” he whispered.

I could feel the air on my lips.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I asked.

Weston leaned in and kissed me. He kissed me with so much passion that I had to grab onto the balcony rails to keep my balance. I met him with just as much energy and passion. We were fighting for dominance.

Weston pulled down my straps from the dress and planted kisses on my shoulder. The alcohol and weed mixed, causing the moment to intensify. I didn’t stop him. None of me wanted to stop him. My mind wasn’t on Jay any longer. It was now on Weston Jones.