CHAPTER 15
Antonio wasn’t nervous to fly, but this morning, his stomach was doing flips like Simone Biles. He hadn’t been alone like this with Jackie in a decade. And here he was, going on a trip across the ocean with her. Three days in paradise with a woman this fine. What the fuck was he thinking?
Antonio wore his normal travel fit: an oversized hoodie, sweats, Timberland boots, and a fitted Yankees hat. He was used to folks eyeing him suspiciously as he eased into his first-class seat. If only they knew he could buy out the entire cabin if he wanted to.
He settled into first class, ordering a Dewar’s on the rocks to relax. Yeah, it was kind of early for the hard stuff, but he was on edge. Jackie wasn’t there yet. He hadn’t seen her at the gate. Was she going to miss this flight?
Several minutes elapsed, and the flight attendants were about to prepare the cabin for take-off when he saw Jackie heading up the aisle.
He shook his head. That woman couldn’t be on time if a clock was strapped to her eyeballs.
She was rocking dark shades and, of course, a very expensive suit. Did she even own a pair of jeans?
Antonio turned his head to pretend to look out the window as he heard the flight attendant direct Jackie to her seat. When he finally felt her settle next to him, Antonio leaned over and whispered, “Overslept, Miles?”
Jackie’s neck whipped in his direction. She slowly peeled off her sunglasses and gave him the death stare.
He knew that she was beyond vexed that they were seated next to each other.
When Calvin called to confirm their travel arrangements, Antonio had made sure to let him know that, despite Jackie’s objections, he wanted to be seated next to her.
In that moment, Antonio was grateful that Jackie couldn’t curse him out.
Even though not hearing her voice was driving him crazy.
He hated to admit it, but he missed that deceptively caustic wit of hers.
He missed how she said his name with that soft yet raspy voice, missed her Southern accent.
He’d replayed that moment in the boardroom—of him touching her neck—over and over in his head.
All day, the scent of her perfume had lingered on his fingertips, even after he washed his hands.
Maybe that had just been his imagination; Antonio wasn’t sure.
Each time he caught a whiff, he’d obsessively think about bending her over that boardroom table. What the hell was wrong with him?
Jackie pulled out her phone and typed into her app. Loudly, it relayed her message. “For your information, I had to get PeeWee settled at his medical spa. He is still recovering from surgery. Or did you forget?”
Antonio felt a little foolish for not thinking about PeeWee. The timing of this trip couldn’t have been worse, it seemed. “My bad. Forgot the little fella was recovering. How is he?”
Jackie breathed an audible hmmph before her app blared, “Getting better. But don’t change the subject. Why are we seated together? I’m going to kill Calvin!
Antonio took off his fitted cap and scratched his head. “I know you’re pissed, Jackie, but don’t you dare fire Calvin over it. This is all me. I wanted to sit next to you. We do need to talk business, you know. Can’t do that aisles apart.”
Jackie sighed as she shoved her carry-on under her seat.
“Listen, Jack,” began Antonio. “You can sit there like a spoiled toddler, or you can do the adult thing, order a drink, chill, and enjoy the two-and-a-half hours of this flight.”
Jackie typed. “I’ll take the drink, but you can’t make me talk to you.”
Was that a pout? Antonio chuckled. “We’ll see, Lucky.”
Jackie rolled her eyes. “Don’t test me, Steele,” her app said.
At that moment, a slim, auburn-haired flight attendant approached. “Excuse me, ma’am, you will need to put your phone in airplane mode or turn it off. We’re about to take off.”
Jackie squinted. She typed quickly, then held the phone out to the flight attendant. “I’m using my phone to communicate, as I’m currently non-verbal. I’m not sure this works without Wi-Fi.”
“Oh.” The flight attendant looked on sympathetically. “I was unaware. We do have inflight Wi-Fi. I hope the app can still work once we’re in the air. Please don’t hesitate to flag one of us down to get you anything you need. Or perhaps your husband can get our attention.”
At that, Jackie nearly jumped out of her skin. Antonio was ready to hold her back from typing a string of expletives into that app. He wasn’t going to let her get tossed off the plane by the air marshal.
“That’ll be no problem,” he answered. “I’ll let you know.”
The flight attendant nodded with a smile and moved on to secure the cabin and give flight instructions.
Jackie turned to Antonio and pursed her lips. He knew what that look meant. Husband. Really?
Antonio smiled. “You can’t be fake married to me for like two-and-a-half hours? Would I be that terrible a husband?”
Jackie gave him a thumbs-down. Antonio laughed. This stubborn woman was damn funny. But instead of indulging the joke, Jackie pulled out her laptop. She was clearly determined to ignore him for the rest of the flight. Disappointed, he put in earbuds to listen to his latest crime thriller audiobook.
At cruising altitude, the flight attendant returned. “Would you all like a drink? Perhaps another scotch for you, sir?”
Jackie turned to look at Antonio and pointed toward his drink. Antonio raised a brow. “I guess wifey’s hanging with the big dogs. We’ll have two more Dewar’s on the rocks.”
The flight attendant giggled. “You two are so cute!” Jackie pretended to put her finger down her throat and gag. The flight attendant’s green eyes widened. Antonio shook his head. “Sorry. Cute isn’t her thing.”
After the flight attendant left, Antonio leaned back in his chair and looked at Jackie, focused as she typed. He glanced at her laptop and saw a list of talking points.
“Jackie, I don’t think rehearsed arguments are going to convince Mo to sign with us.”
“No? Then what?” her phone blared.
“Mo has had folks swindle him for most of his career. Telling him things that sound good but end up being lies. I think he’d appreciate it if we kept it real with him, you know? No bullshit.”
Antonio watched as Jackie seemed to ponder his words. She closed her laptop and waved at him to continue.
“We represent superstars. We’ve turned around careers.
Your roster is deep, and so is mine. Yet, the main difference between us and the competition is that we give a damn about our clients and their futures.
It’s not just a paycheck for us at the end of the day.
I mean, no doubt the money is good. But this is a job we’d do if we weren’t getting paid, because we love it. ”
Jackie raised a brow.
“Okay,” chuckled Antonio. “Maybe that was taking it too far. I’ve seen your stilettos, ma. You’ve got mad expensive taste.”
Jackie nodded and swiveled her neck. Antonio knew that was the Black woman’s universal answer of You damn right.
The flight attendant brought over their drinks. Antonio held his scotch up toward Jackie for a toast. “To landing Mo!”
Jackie tapped her glass and took a huge sip…then began to cough violently.
Antonio shook his head. “See, trying to hang with the big dogs. I knew it.”
What did Antonio say that for? Jackie, of course, took that as both a threat and a challenge.
She looked him squarely in the eye and downed the rest of the cool brown liquid, slamming the cup on the tray table.
Her chest heaved as she attempted to straighten her back.
The flight attendant, hearing Jackie’s coughing, quickly rushed over to bring her a bottle of water, which she downed in seconds.
Antonio watched as her face went from relieved to queasy.
“Yo, if you need to throw up, the bag is right in front of you.” He pointed to the seat pocket.
Jackie picked up her phone to type a response but frowned. She pressed SPEAK a few times with no result, then dropped her phone down in frustration.
“We are sorry, folks; our Wi-Fi and entertainment are down,” a voice spoke from the intercom. “We just got word that there is some sort of glitch in the network. We apologize and will be by with extra snacks and drinks for those who’d like it.”
“Well, Lucky,” Antonio mused. “Guess you’re going to have to find another way to talk to me. Let’s take it old school.” He reached into his Telfar duffle carry-on and produced a leather-clad portfolio and a couple of pens. He slid them onto Jackie’s tray table. “Here, you can write.”
Jackie reluctantly opened the portfolio and began to write on the legal pad. She slid it back over to him. Antonio read.
Why are you always trying to fix things!
Antonio furrowed his brow. “Why are you too proud to ask for help?”
He watched as Jackie wrote furiously. She had really nice penmanship. He was impressed. That was one of his strange, non-sexual turn-ons. When she stopped writing, he leaned over to read.
That’s the thing. No one is asking you for help! You just do it. Just like with PJ! Now with me! I don’t need your help. I don’t need you to sign Mo. I can do it.
Antonio knew PJ would come up sooner or later. He sighed. “PJ is…a special kid to me. I see a lot of myself in him. And I can’t help it. I guess I like feeling useful.”
Jackie wrote, Sounds like something you need to work out in therapy.
Antonio chuckled. “I’ll take that. You might be right. I guess I get it from my parents. Being helpful. Their whole lives have been dedicated to helping people. Being of service.” He paused as he stared at Jackie, who was listening. “They’re retired public school principals.”
That’s cool, she wrote.
“What did your parents do?” asked Antonio. “You probably told me years ago, but I can’t remember.”