Sterling #3
“Yes, Ms. Sanders what do you need?” I didn’t bother to correct her about my last name because it wasn’t like I had any attachment to either of them. The Sanders one was just the last name to give me the respect needed for this situation to be handled swiftly.
“I need you to ensure that whoever that woman with the blonde hair is gets escorted out of here. She is not part of our group and shouldn’t have been allowed in here.
” I hated to channel my inner bitch but I absolutely did.
My tone was tight. The unspoken y’all fucked this up was clear with the way her eyes widened.
“I wasn’t the one who allowed her inside, miss.” Instead of apologizing and fixing it she wanted to absolve herself of any guilt when I just needed her to make the situation right. That was her first mistake.
“I don’t care who did it. A stranger being allowed up onto this suite level without the proper clearance is bad enough.
But for her to gain entrance into this area is something that is unacceptable for a stadium.
Especially this level, which has dignitaries visiting it.
” These suites went for over a hundred thousand dollars for each game because of the number of people they held.
It shouldn’t have been too much to ask for them to make sure they didn’t let random people inside.
Predictably, the attendant’s face shifted to panic and she nodded her head quickly.
She went to speak to someone who looked like they could actually handle the situation.
I wasn’t sure if he was off-duty police or former military but I needed him to put whatever training he had to good use and handle this.
She walked back to me as I was lifting Ami onto my shoulder to burp her. “Forgive us, Ms. Sanders. I’ve had the point person for security of the suite alerted to the issue and whoever let her in will be moved to a different area and replaced.”
As I patted Ami on her back, more of a comfort to myself than to her, I nodded before I added “Thank you.” The gratuity for this suite was in the tens of thousands but if there was a complaint issued they wouldn’t get paid.
I wasn’t the type of person to do that, but I wasn’t about to have them slacking on their job just because I was the nice Sanders.
By the time she’d finished telling me it was handled, the woman was already being escorted toward the door by a fair-skinned man.
I knew he was related to Anthony and Antwan because he’d been put on their list as their uncle.
I had questions but it wasn’t my business to figure out their family tree.
Aphrodite came over to sit beside me, her trophy at her side, with frustration etched all over her face. “This bitch is insane.”
“Who was that?”
“Anthony and Antwan’s mama.”
My eyes widened in shock because Aphrodite was normally such a sweetheart. But she looked as though she wanted to run after that woman and use her head as a tennis ball.
“Oh, I’m judging by the tone that y’all aren’t fucking with her.”
“Not at all. Even less than before. Which I didn’t think was possible.” Her face was still tight and it wasn’t until Ami started to coo that she snapped out of it.
“Did you even get to eat?”
Aphrodite’s mouth dropped open as she realized she had another reason to be offended that Anthony’s mama interrupted her getting something to eat. “Well, now, I’m even more pissed off.”
I pointed back to the long tables of food so she could rectify the situation before the game started. We had less than an hour before kickoff and I wanted to get settled before the nerves kicked in. “Go ahead and—”
She leaned over and took Ami from me before sitting back. “You’re the hostess and you’ve been putting out fires all day. I’ll sit with her while you grab your food. And I’m not about to take no for an answer.”
The insistent ringing of my phone right after kickoff was a clue that something had happened.
My being here and the amount of cameras that were around, I could only guess that gossip columns had gotten a hold of who was here to watch the game.
We’d already made the news last night by being shown on national TV cheering on Aphrodite and I was sure that put my family’s antenna up to see if I was going to be anywhere else around the city this weekend.
Whether they had spies or my cousin Monica who lived for gossip let them know, I was sure my presence here and the reason I was here had been made clear.
My mother was sure to have known I needed this suite. Even though the suite manager couldn’t deny my using it, he for damn sure would’ve had to tell whatever family member that inquired after it who was using it. That would’ve spread through the family like wildfire.
I wouldn’t have put it past her to have a spy or some type of surveillance in here.
Given how Anthony and Antwan’s mama snuck in, I had to wonder if she was how that crazy lady got inside to begin with.
My mother prided herself on being able to throw stones and hide her hand.
Wanting me to have a shitty day but not be the one to make a public spectacle was right up her alley.
A good way for her to say I told you so in an effort to get me to conform to what she wanted me to do.
When I grabbed the quilted bag I’d gotten to match the dark royal blue of the Desperados’ logo I realized that it was the phone that Aldrich had provided me.
My personal phone hadn’t been turned on in a minute and while I had it here with me, I didn’t have it powered on.
The number flashing across the screen was equally troublesome.
I stood up and glanced down at Ami who’d fallen asleep not long after her bottle.
Despite over forty people in here with us, the noise wasn’t so loud that it would disturb her.
Seeing that she was okay, I grabbed my phone and walked away to a quieter corner.
Aphrodite gave me a sign that she would watch Ami for me, which gave me peace of mind.
“Hey, Dalton.” My voice was steady and I was glancing around, knowing there was no reason to be worried but still unable to shake the fact that I was being watched. I scanned around and I could see that everyone was speaking amongst themselves or their eyes were focused on the field.
“Tell me what I need to know.”
My brows scrunched and I hurriedly fixed my face because I didn’t want someone to worry about this conversation when the game was about to start.
I shifted and leaned against the closed glass window that overlooked the stands below us and the field further beyond that.
The glass was thick and was keeping out the noise until we opened it up at kickoff.
The team was back in the tunnel and I knew that the Sentinels were about to do their kickoff fanfare.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you are in a suite at a professional football game looking more like a WAG than an employee. Have lines been crossed?” He didn’t sound like an angry employer talking to a wayward employee.
Dalton sounded like he was waiting on some tea to be spilled.
Like a cousin who wanted to be a confidante.
I shifted because I wanted to spill my guts but I didn’t want him to feel stuck between family and employer. “Dalton—”
He huffed a laugh before I heard him scratching something on some paper.
“So that’s a yes. Starlight, I’m happy that you’re getting some dick even though I would’ve preferred it to be from someone that was going to be serious about you.
But you have to understand that I don’t want my business to get the reputation of having girls that end up with their employers.
That’s not a good look for me and I don’t want women who only end up trying to chase a bag darkening my door, do we understand? ”
“He is and I’m not about to have people think ill of your business, Dalton.
Things happened and it’s not something that was just a fling.
” It kinda stung that he felt as though Aldrich couldn’t or wouldn’t be serious about me.
I knew it was more like he felt athletes weren’t serious but damn, I could change a man.
And see that’s how girls stay delusional about these men.
“Girl, I just had to get that shit out of the way for legal purposes. Are you happy? He isn’t doing any funny shit is he?
Because I will do my best to whoop his ass.
” Dalton was way too much of a dandy to be out here fighting but it was cute that he said he’d try.
It was nice to think I had family looking out for me for once.
I grinned playfully because his words made me smile and I was glad he wasn’t doubting Aldrich or me. “Do your best? Is that how you relay a threat?”
“Have you seen that man? I don’t stand a chance but because you’re blood I would absolutely try.”
I cracked up but still I had questions. “How did you even see me and where was it?”
“Girl, Denise’s messy ass dropped the link to a story on Athlete’s Dirt. Your mother is on a rampage and I’m trying to give you the head’s up that you were spotted.”
I sighed but it made me almost relieved to know that it was already done. “Thanks for the notice, but I don’t even care.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Dalton sounded stunned but I meant every word I said.
“I don’t care. She can say whatever she wants. I’m happy and that's something that she won’t ever be. She’s been calling me for months, sending me ridiculous text messages and I am tired of it. I don’t care what she thinks of me. She wants me to give her access to my share of the trust—”
“Well, that’s illegal and against the rules but that’s typical of your mama.”
“Yeah and frankly I’m tired. Of it and her. I’m happy. Being here makes me happy. None of this is easy and there are still things to consider but I’ve found peace and I’m not letting anyone disturb that.”
“Damn, being in Texas did you good. Not to be crass because I think of you as a little sister, but that man sounds like he put a battery in your back.”
He’d put something in me alright but I wasn’t about to say that out loud.
“It’s not even him, it’s Ami. I love her deeply, like she’s mine and I could never imagine treating her the way my mom treats me.
Anything that might interfere with her joy is an automatic reason for me to stand up for her and for myself.
” I spoke unabashedly because I wasn’t about to apologize for how I felt.
“I’m proud of you. Keep doing what you’re doing, Sterling. Your mama can’t touch shit you got going on, let alone your joy.”
“I appreciate it. If you’re in town and want to stop by the game—”
“Hell nah. You’re with a bunch of women who are already taken. And if they’re there you have respect for them. You know I enjoy dealing with chicks that have zero expectations of me. Makes it easier to cut them loose later on.”
People always thought that Dalton was gay because his father started saying it and his being concerned with how he looked solidified it with our family.
The one time he had a girlfriend, his father told the girl he was aboard so often that nothing Dalton could do convinced her that he wasn’t DL.
He learned early not to bring anyone else home.
“You’re a mess but it’s gone bite you in the ass one day. But I need to get back to the game and my baby.” It was wild how easily calling her mine rolled off my lips.
“Cheer on your man, cousin. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Dal. I owe it all to you.”
“Tell that nigga of yours that the check cleared but he can always send me a bonus and a referral.”
I burst out laughing because I knew he wasn’t joking. “Bye, Dalton.”