Chapter 5
The grand ballroom inside Ribax Cathedral is cast in a warm glow by the crystal chandeliers as guests mingle.
The tailored tuxedos and floor-length evening gowns are the norm for this prestigious event.
There’s a live jazz band playing a tune unknown to me as I walk the floor unseeing any of the attendees.
The cause for this charity gala is lost on me because it’s something else Mom forced me to attend.
I feel like Sanai Lathan in the scene where she was at the debutante ball.
Only I’m not in a foul mood from my mishandle of a love interest. My melancholy comes from sheer boredom.
On the outside, I look the part in my black sequin ball gown, matching accessories, and the half-empty flute of champagne in my hand.
But if someone could see inside, they would understand that I would love to be anywhere but here.
At the center of the ballroom is none other than the mayor of Ribax, better known as my mother.
The smile on her lips and the poise with which she carries herself command respect and admiration from everyone here.
She’s in an elegant floor-length mahogany gown that expertly fits her thick frame.
Mom moves easily around the room among attendees as she greets her longtime supporters and those vying for her attention.
Mom’s interaction with these people is warm and authentic.
Her laughter and words are genuine and deliberate.
I have only been here for less than an hour, and I’m numb to all of it.
Matter of fact, I want to sneak out of here without anyone noticing, but the target on my back would make that impossible.
Everyone here knows who I am, even if they have never had a personal conversation with me.
I feel like a trapped dog with every passing minute.
“Why the long face, baby girl?” Dad’s whisper, along with the light touch on my arm snaps me out of my melancholy.
Reginald Owens has always been my rock. My safe place. The one person who makes enduring the life of a politician’s daughter bearable. He’s the only bright spot in this life that was chosen for me long before my birth.
“Oh. No reason. I was thinking about something. I’m fine though.”
“Okay. I just wanted to check on you. You look beautiful as usual.” Dad smiles.
This is only the mingling phase of the event, and knowing how long I have to be here makes me want to ask one of the waitstaff for a shot of hard liquor instead of champagne.
The sound of someone tapping the microphone draws my gaze from Dad to the stage, where his wife now stands.
The music stops, and the light chatter ends instantly as everyone’s eyes focus on Mom.
At one point, I idolized the power that Mom wields in the various political positions she’s held.
But now, I fight the urge to roll my eyes when she opens her mouth to speak.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for coming out. This is such a momentous occasion, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. I hope you all enjoy tonight’s festivities.
But you will dig deep into your wallets to help this amazing charity reach its end goal.
Chaplain Copley, can you come up to bless the food for us this evening?
” Mom’s smile is as wide as the man who nods and walks to the stage to do as she asked.
Dad steps beside me and interlocks our hands as Chaplain Copley instructs everyone to bow their heads for a moment of prayer.
I comply, but my mind spins with thoughts of a place I could be, instead of this room full of high-society folks.
I’m so in my head that it takes me a second to respond to Dad squeezing my hand to let me know the prayer is over.
“Are you sure everything is okay with you, Jariyah?” His forehead is a mask of wrinkles, and his eyes narrow with concern.
“Yes, sir. All is well. Let’s head to our table before your wife sends someone to retrieve us.”
The next hour goes by in a flash as I consume unseasoned chicken, rubbery sea bass, bland vegetables, and several glasses of champagne.
The conversation flows around me as my mind drifts to a tall, muscular, sexy motorcycle club member.
A lazy smile forms, and I ease my phone from my clutch and send a text.
Me:
Hey handsome. Are you busy?
Either Righteous is holding his phone, or I’m just lucky, because his response comes within minutes of me hitting send.
Righteous:
What’s good, fine shit?
My face contorts as I try to process this foreign label as my fingers glide over the keyboard of my phone in response.
Me:
Uh, the last time I checked, shit looks and smells disgusting and is only intended for the toilet bowl. Never has it ever been fine.
Righteous:
This is why I know your uncultured ass has been sheltered too long. On my side of town, fine shit is an endearing term. I see you need to stick with me for a more cultural education, Ms. Owens.
Oh shit! How does he know my last name?
Girl, be for real. Everybody knows who you are when your mother has you plastered on many news outlets at these corny events and occasions. You’re not the mystery you think you are.
Me:
I guess I wasn’t moving as incognito as I thought, huh? What type of educational experiments are you considering?
Righteous:
Only a blind dog doesn’t know who you are. Why do you think Nicole advised you not to go looking for things that can go bump in the night on our side of town?
I smile at the message and Nicole’s request for me to find someone else to engage with. I had no idea that the outcome of my pushback would be her sexy and dangerous-looking brother. But the reminder of our date fills me with a sense of accomplishment, no matter how off-putting he tried to be.
Me:
Warning or no warning, I want to learn more about you.
“It’s rude to be on your phone, Jariyah.” Mom’s voice has my head shifting from my lap to across from me, where she and Dad sit.
“I wasn’t. I thought my dress had a snag or something and was inspecting it,” I say. The lie rolls off my tongue without resistance, and Dad’s low chuckle lets me know how ineffective it is.
“Mhm. Since you’re not eating, I would like you to come with me to meet someone.” Without waiting for my agreement, Mom pushes her chair back to leave the table.
Lord, why me?
The thought of who Mom could be introducing me to now makes my skin crawl, and my jaw clenches. Nevertheless, I quickly put my phone away and leave the table with my clutch in a tight grip.
“I’ve seen some of the men vying for your attention this evening, and I think they’re lacking the pedigree you need. While you were busy, I saw a far better suitor enter the room, so make sure you smile and represent me well,” Mom whispers.
A second or two later, Mom walks up to a table of mostly men, and my stomach knots when she speaks.
“Good evening, Senator Whitmore. I didn’t get a chance to speak with you earlier. Please excuse my oversight. I also wanted to make sure that your son was introduced to my daughter. The two have a lot in common, and it would be a shame if they weren’t acquainted.”
What the hell, Mom?
“Jariyah, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Preston Whitmore the third. Preston dear, this is my Jariyah. I think the two of you have a lot to discuss.”
Preston Whitmore appears to be another polished, political, and boring man who instantly sours my stomach. When he opens his mouth to speak, it confirms my thoughts. Preston is another yes-man for Markia Owens, and I can’t entertain another one this evening.
“Sure thing, Madam Mayor.” A light-skinned man with red blotches on his face smiles, and I cringe when his braces sparkle more than his eyes.
Who the hell adds diamonds to braces? Why the hell is this my damn life?
Preston moves to push his chair back, and I fight the urge to frown before a thought hits me.
“I’m sorry. I need to utilize the ladies’ room. I will come find you as soon as I’m done,” I say, and Mom’s face instantly contorts before she schools her features.
“Hm. Alright, I’ll leave you to it. Enjoy the rest of your evening, everyone.
” Mom smiles in an action that doesn’t reach her eyes before her attention moves to me.
“Make sure you come back to speak with Preston the minute you’re done, dear.
” With that, Mom walks in one direction as I quickly move in the other.
My throat feels like it’s gonna close at any second, my palms perspire, and the smile is anything but genuine as I pass various attendees.
I bypass the restrooms as my heels click-clack on the floors, and I make a beeline for the exit to the gardens.
When I push through the doors, the air hits my face, and I take a deep breath as I move deeper into the garden.
My pulse races and my heart beats erratically in my chest as I pause to look behind me.
I sigh when I confirm that the coast is clear.
The reminder of my engagement with Righteous prompts me to retrieve my phone. Instead of going back to our text thread, I pull up his contact and call him. I need to hear the depth of his words in my ears to distract me from my current torment.
“Let me find out you wanted to verbalize your response. You didn’t like my message, huh?” Righteous asks when the call connects after the fourth ring.
“Actually, I didn’t see it. I got distracted by my mother.”
“Hm. Let me find out your grown ass still lives at home.” The humor in his voice isn’t lost upon me.
“Not hardly. I haven’t returned since going to college. I’m at a charity gala pretending to care that I'm here. It’s boring, and I want to be anywhere but here. I’m also hiding out in the garden to avoid conversing with someone Mom deems perfect for me.”
“Ah. So, I’m the distraction, huh?”
A frown forms as I stop and turn toward the building so I don’t get caught off guard if someone comes looking for me. The sound of music lets me know that dinner might be coming to an end.
“Is that classical music in your background?” Righteous asks.
“Mhm.”
“Damn. No wonder you came looking for me. You’re desperate for me to give you some adventure, huh?” My lower region thumps, and I clench my thighs in response to the lower yet deeper cadence of the question.
“I have a feeling that you can give me more than I’ve bargained for. But I think I’m ready. I need something, or should I say someone, like you in my life.”
“If you’re gonna take this ride, you better be sure.”
The cadence of his voice feels like a warm blanket after a shot of Hennessy. It gives me the confidence I need to affirm my desire to move forward.
“I am.” My response is a mix of a whisper and a moan as I tighten my core in an attempt to control the purrs coming from my pearl.
“Drop your location. I’m gonna pull up.”
My heart rate increases, a smile forms, and a feeling of giddiness flows through me as I pull my phone from my ear and do just that.
Righteous confirms he has it and is on his way which sends me into a fit of giggles.
Forget Preston. Righteous is coming! Righteous is coming!
I do a little twirl as I walk further into the garden so we can have somewhere private to converse when he arrives.