Chapter 14
Angel
ONE WEEK LATER
“Friend, you are stunning. You’re going to make such a comeback at this ball. And when all the pictures are posted, not only will you get all the fans you lost back, but you’re going to gain so many more. I can’t wait ’til everyone sees you.”
“I’m so nervous. Do I really look beautiful?”
“Girl, you have a one-of-a-kind dress designed for you by Christina Dorché, and her shoes set this dress off right.”
I turned one more time to take in my appearance.
I wore a black and silver mermaid gown that had sheer panels at my belly, waist, and back.
The shimmering silver bodice of the dress had a sweetheart neckline with long sleeves and crystals interspersed throughout, and the skirt of the dress was black silk to the floor.
A split in the skirt of the dress went up to my right hip, and the silver heels set it off perfectly.
Diamonds adorned my wrist and neck, and a diamond tiara held my hair back.
“I can do this . . . I can do this,” I muttered to myself and blew out several breaths. I hadn’t been to a large event like this since Jeremiah broke up with me. Shortly after, someone found out about it and blasted it all over social media.
I had created a video to address the rumors, confirming that yes, my longtime boyfriend had broken up with me; yes, I was single; and no, I was not in the market to date again.
I stated that I was taking some time to pour into myself.
The next video that I made addressing my personal life in-depth was when I announced I was six months pregnant with Belle.
“You’re going to blow their minds.”
“I hope you’re right, bestie.”
“Girl, I’m always right,” Sawyer quipped, waving a hand at me.
She walked up behind me, wrapped her arms around me, and rested her chin on my shoulder. “I’m so proud of you, bestie. You’re getting right back out there and reclaiming what was always meant to be yours.”
“I am, aren’t I?”
She smiled and nodded, but I had known Sawyer for six years, having met her at an influencer’s conference. I knew there was something on her mind.
“What, Sawyer?”
“What?”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing,” she stated, pulling away and turning her back on me.
“Uh-uh. Tell me what’s going on. I can’t do this with you tonight. You know I’ll be worried the entire time if you don’t tell me what that look was for.”
She sighed and muttered, “You’ll be worried if I do tell you.”
“Fine. I’m not going.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Then you’d better tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s Jeremiah.”
“What about him?”
“He’s back in town, and I think he’ll be there.”
“How do you know that?”
“I saw him on social media. Someone posted a picture, so I went to his page and saw that he had posted some pictures around town with his family. He’s here for the holidays, and he might have mentioned something about attending the Divas & Gents’ Influencers’ Ball.”
“You’re shitting me!”
“First, I wouldn’t tease you about something like this, and second, I wish like hell I was teasing you.”
I shook my hands and my head at the same time. “I can’t do this. I will not do this.”
“What? Are you freaking kidding me? This is why I didn’t want to tell you. You’ve given that asshole too much power over your life these last few years. He doesn’t get to rewrite your script, only you do.”
“You don’t understand. If he sees me there with Christian, he will think it’s a pity date. He’ll think that I couldn’t do any better than to get his best friend to accompany me. He’ll think—”
“Who gives a shit what he thinks? And you and Christian know the truth. That’s the only thing that matters.
Please, bestie. Don’t give him this power tonight too.
You’re up for a nomination this year. Go to the ball and show him that he can’t hold a good woman down.
Please. Do it for Belle. She needs to know how to fight her battles courageously when she grows up.
Don’t teach her to run. If you run now, that’s what you’ll always show her. ”
I exhaled and closed my eyes to shake off my nerves. “You’re right.”
Sawyer pulled me into her arms. “Thank you. I’m so proud of you. Besides, we might not be riding together, but we’ll be there together.”
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang, and I headed to answer it when I peered out the window and saw Christian standing on the other side.
“Hey, baby.” Christian greeted me as I opened the door for him.
“Hey, babe.” I tipped up on my toes and kissed him, and then he pulled back and stared at me again. “You’re beautiful on a normal day, but looking at you tonight has me all the way lit. You look stunning. I swear that I’ll have the most beautiful woman on my arm at the ball tonight,” he praised.
“Nah, that’ll be me,” Sampson, Sawyer’s date, declared, walking up behind Christian.
“Is that my baby?” Sawyer gushed from behind me.
Christian stepped inside the apartment to make room for Sampson to come in and greet Sawyer. She ran into his arms as he hugged her and kissed her all over her face.
“Both of you ladies look stunning,” Sampson stated.
“They do. I feel like we’re going to be the envy of every man in that room,” Christian stated, and my stomach tensed.
Was this what tonight was about for him?
He didn’t know that I knew about Jeremiah, but if I knew, there was no way that he didn’t know.
After all, they were best friends, and from my understanding, they were still in touch with each other.
I would ask him about it once we got in the car because this wasn’t the time or place for that discussion.
“Does it feel like we’re going to the prom?” Sampson teased.
“Man, my nerves are shot like prom night. I know that much,” Christian replied.
“I don’t plan to get as drunk tonight as I did on prom night,” Sawyer stated with a groan.
“My prom night was kind of boring.” I reflected.
“Well, tonight won’t be,” Christian promised.
“We need to head out. Our people are in the car waiting, babe,” Sampson announced.
Sawyer and I hugged and kissed each other’s cheeks before we rushed out of her apartment.
“Remember, tonight is about reclaiming your power, showing Belle how to fight when the world is against her, and being the most beautiful person that you already are. If you see that punk ass, hold your head up and keep moving. Okay?”
Giggling, I replied, “I’m fine. Now that Christian is with me, I’m much better.”
“And don’t forget, we’re all seated at the same table, so I’ll have your back too.”
“Thanks, Sawyer.”
“Make sure that if you go anywhere, like the restroom, you take me with you. Don’t do shit on your own because I don’t put it past him to follow you and be an asshole,” Sawyer warned.
“Gotcha. Girl, get in that car. That man looks like he’s about to go stir crazy,” I stated, nodding my head where Sampson stood beside their limo.
“Okay. I’ll see you soon, boo,” she stated.
We gave each other one last hug, as if we weren’t going to see each other again, and we headed to our individual vehicles. She was riding in a limo with Sampson and some of his friends who were also attending the ball.
“You look exquisite, Angel,” Christian declared, staring at me as he helped me into the chauffeur-driven Escalade.
“Thank you, baby. You cleaned up well yourself,” I replied, taking him in. He wore a black jacquard three-piece suit with silver lapels and trim.
As we pulled off, I turned to face him. “Chris?”
“Yes, baby.”
“Did you know that Jeremiah was in town?”
He closed his eyes briefly before he nodded. “I did.”
“And you didn’t think you should tell me that?”
“I didn’t think it mattered. What we’re doing is about you and me. Jay is in your past, and he has nothing to do with what we’ve got going on. Understood?” he asked, cupping my chin and staring into my eyes.
I pulled away from him and replied, “I understand that, but you still could have told me, Chris. What were you waiting for? Me to run into him at the ball so you could check my attitude toward him?”
“No.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
He sighed and shook his head. “Because I thought it might be triggering. I didn’t want you to back out of going, knowing that you were up for an award tonight.
The last thing that I wanted was for you to change your plans because of him.
You’ve come so damn far, but I know the control that man had over you.
I’m proud of you, baby, and I’m not about to let anyone allow you to go backward. Not a muthafuckin’ soul. You feel me?”
“And you don’t think our love is powerful enough to withstand that? That your love for me could keep me strong enough to withstand whatever is coming my way?”
“I don’t know, Angel. If it is, then why are you questioning me about that man?”
I felt bad because he did have a valid point. “I just would have liked to have been informed, that’s all. It feels like you were keeping a secret from me. How long have you known?”
“Less than two days. I haven’t even spoken to him. I just heard about it from Josh. I’ve been working these last couple of days, and I haven’t had a chance to attend to my social calendar. I’m sorry,” he stated sarcastically.
I placed my hand on his knee and stared at him until he turned to look at me. “I’m sorry, Chris.”
“Let’s just focus on having fun tonight. It’s about you and me, okay?”
“Okay,” I replied softly.
“I’m serious, Angel. Yes, we’ll see him, and he’ll probably be with someone. No matter what he comes up to you and says, or doesn’t say, don’t let that shit ruin your night and get to you.”
“I won’t, baby.”
“Promise me?” he asked, holding my chin between his index finger and thumb.
“I promise.”
He leaned in and kissed me softly and slowly. My heart thudded in my chest. But I wasn’t sure if it was for the passion that Christian elicited in me or anxiety at seeing my ex.