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  "Me too, sis", Roni said, with tears welling up in her eyes.

  "I'm okay guys. I'm okay. I knew one day he wouldbecause he's been sick since he was around twenty two. He was doing drugs and living life in the fast lane. I'm good, though ya’ll." Angie gave her a Kleenex to wipe her running mascara. "Fuck this. Let's finish them daiquiri's and bring thatdamn tequila in here, too", she laughed. "I feel like getting fucked up!"

  "That's what I'm talkin about!" Roni agreed.

  Everyone parted ways the next afternoon, after their mild hangovers subsided. Karla had been the only sober one.

  She shook her head when everyone raided Angie's medicine cabinet for Aleve, Motrin, or whatever was there to relieve their symptoms of a classic hangover.

  Chapter 3

  Angie

  "I have it all done, Claire and I'm faxing it over to you now. No-no- this isn't part of the new project. I still have to meet with the Rondex Partners out of New York, but that's not until next month. Right?. Right, Amanda said she took care of all of that. She'll have my flight information and everything next week. Okay. Okay, that's fine. I'll get that right over to you now. You too, bye now." Angie sighed and peered out of her office window down into the busy corporate world of Atlanta.

  She heard a light tapping on her office door.

  "Hey, you. Coffee break sound okay?" it was Terrence Hardaway, one of her team members.She turned around swiftly in her leather swivel chair.

  "Oh, hey Terrence. Coffee sounds good right now. Too bad it's not Starbucks, but I could sure use a cup," she showed her pearly white teeth when she smiled.

  "Cool, c'mon", he smiled back.

  It was a brisk afternoon, in April, and the sun was beaming on the East side of Atlanta. It shined through the tall windows onto her five foot seven, one hundred and thirty pound frame, butterscotch colored skin, shoulder length, black hair, and her almond shaped dark eyes. Her beauty captured the attention of many men in the office.

  "Mornin' Angie", several of them in the office said as she walked by with Terrence.

  "So, what's your secret?" he asked, pouring half and half into his coffee.

  "What do you mean?"

  "You know. You're drop dead gorgeous, you make a good salary, you own your own home and your Escalade. So, why are you single? "

  Terrence was the type to blurt things out, and she knew that since the day she'd met him. She knew he didn't mean to pry or insult her.

  "Well, I am just what you call selective. If I gave every man who wanted me, a try, I would probably be lifeless, bled dry of my savings, and begging some psychiatrist for a higher dose of antipsychotics", she laughed.

  "Yeah, but aren't you dating the lawyer that has the commercial. Brad Whitmore?"

  Angie gave him a look that warned him to back off. "How did you know that? His name is Brandon Whitmore and he's just a friend, Terrence. Why do you ask?" she sipped her extra sweet, black coffee.

  He shrugged his shoulders. "One of the girls near my cubicle said something about it one day. She said he bought you the Escalade," he was grinning from ear to ear. Angie's blood started to boil, but she kept her cool. She was offended that someone would even think she needed a man or anyone, for that fact, to buy her anything. Didn't they know who she was? She was well renowned Attorney Sterling Pierce's only child! She could drive whatever she wanted or have whatever she wanted, at any time. Why was a handsome, intelligent man like Terrence Hardaway sitting there spreading gossip like he was one of the girls? She looked at his flawless manicured nails and then at his eyebrows that she could've sworn had been plucked. "Maybe Terrence is the one with a secret", she thought silently.

  "You know, I'd love to sit here and chat, but I really gotta get back to work. And for future reference, I don’t care what these ladies say about my private life, because the truth of the matter is, they don't know. They wished they had a clue." she walked away, heading back to her office.

  "Oh, I didn't mean to make you mad, Angie. I really didn't. I used to be married to

  Brandon's cousin, Sheri; and there were all sorts of rumors out about me that cost us our marriage, so I know how it feels for people to be in your business." When she didn't reply, he added, "Hey, what you having for lunch today?"

  "I'm going to lunch with a girlfriend, today, but thanks anyway", she lied. She walked away before he could say anything else.

  She deliberately took the long way to her office, so that she could walk past the cubicles next to his. She eyeballed the two girls. One girl, Cecelia, was a tall, heavyset girl who wore glasses and enough lip gloss to share with every woman in all of Atlanta. The other girl, Telisha, was a short, petite, girl who wore glasses and had a short, spiky haircut. Angie could've sworn they were looking in her direction whispering, but her eyes cut straight through their little gossiping session.

  "Oh g-good morning, Angie", Telisha said in her irritating, squeaky voice.

  "Mornin' Angie", Cecelia's fake smile was evident.

  Ignoring their phoniness, Angie nodded, "Ladies." She was wearing an azure blue Sofia Laurent sweater and black pants that hugged every inch of her toned feminine curves. She purposely switched her ass extra hard as she continued on to her office.

  She could feel the girls eyes on her as she turned the corner to her office and she loved every minute of it.

  "Ghetto bitches." she whispered.

  Just as she sat down and sighed, her phone line rang.

  "Angela Pierce speaking."

  "Angie, you have a call from Attorney Whitmore."

  "Send it back, Amanda, thanks."

  "Hello, Angela."

  The sound of his voice was like liquid seduction. His deep tone made her remember the hot steamy nights they spent together and how long it had been since they had spent quality time together.

  "Hey you." she smiled.

  "I know I said we'd be at the Sybaris together next weekend, but I can't, babe."

  "Brandon, this is the third time you've cancelled a date with me in the last month. Is something wrong, baby?"

  "N-no. I have this Felton's case I was telling you about. I have got to meet with so many people and get my stuff together for the jury. There's no way I can reschedule anything. The trial is less than a month away. I wished I could, baby, but I can't."

  There was a long silence.

  "I understand", she whispered in her sexy voice.

  "I promise I will make it up to you. Just the two of us. A getaway. We don't even have to leave the country. Let's just pack up and take a two day in Hawaii. Kona's Kohala coast. Some pina colada's, grass skirt dancers, and lovemaking on the Waikoloa Beach. Just us."

  He made it sound so good. She closed her eyes and inhaled as if she were there, smelling the sweet aroma of coconut and passion fruit oil on her soft skin, while overlooking the Venetian canal, ferry boats, monorails, and exotic restaurants of the island. "Remember you promised."

  "I will, babe. Can we talk over dinner tonight?"

  "Your place?" she was anticipating.

  "No. I wont have a lot of time to make anything special. I’ll make reservations at Clarenza’s and pick you up around seven thirty or so."

  "I'll be ready." she hung up. Her body was slightly flushed and she felt the tingles of love butterflies in her belly.

  She placed her final project inside the fax machine and hit the send button.

  Driving home from work was always a long and tiresome journey. She often wondered why she didn't just take the train to work, but then remembered the hustle and bustle of traffic, and having to get up two hours earlier than she already did, and remembered why she never bothered. Listening to the melodies of Kelly Rowland's Every thought is you, she thought about Brandon. He was everything she'd want in a potential husband, but something didn't seem right lately. She was never the type to let her guard down easily, but he had the kind of charm that burned through the bricks of her walls and melted them. As an interruption of everything, her phone rang. To her relief, i
t was her father.

  "Hey daddy!"

  "Hello my angel, Angela! How is my princess?" her father's voice wasn't deep like most men. It was rather light and soothing. But Sterling Anthony Pierce was all man! He stood a towering six foot three and was a stout two hundred and sixty pounds. He was the color of an unblemished peach, with salt and pepper hair and goatee.

  "I'm just fine, daddy. How's everything and how's mom?"

  "Oh, we are doing just fine, sweetie. No need to worry. I'm getting better at my writing skills. I think I may publish my novel in the next year and your mom is getting better with her nagging," he laughed his usual silly laugh.

  Angela giggled. "I will probably come out to visit in a couple of months. It will be good to be back home for a change."

  "Yes. It would be good to have you back. I wish you would consider moving back for good. Your mom and I miss you so much."

  She knew that one wouldn't wait. "Dad, you know I miss you guys too, but Atlanta is home. It's just where I feel I belong right now. Anyway, business is really good!" she tried to lighten the subject.

  "That's always good, princess. Business is always good. So, how's that other thing?" he said jokingly.

  "What other thing?" her deliberate oblivion was obvious.

  "Love, dating, and that whole sort of thing. I mean, aren't you dating that nice attorney, Dr. Whitmore's son, Brandon still?"

  "We still go out to dinner and talk a lot, but Brandon is very busy and so am I dad."

  "Don't let this one get away, sweetie. I want nothing more than the best for you, and Brandon seems like a quality fellow. I met him at a conference in Houston. He attended with a couple of his colleagues from the Whitmore Law Firm. Fine young man."

  "Oh, you know dad, I'm on I-85 and it's busy, can I say hello to mom real quick before you hang up?"

  "I knew you'd get off the subject, honey, but at least think about what I said. I love you." he chuckled.

  "I love you too, daddy."

  A few seconds later, her mother's jipper voice was in her ear, loud and clear.

  "Hey Angie Pangie!"

  "Hey ma! I was just telling dad I'm coming home to visit in a couple of months."

  "That would be great honey, and then we could go and get manicures, pedicures, and go to the spa. I know you've been going to your friend, Daphne's and getting the ultimate treatment, on the regular, but it would be nice to experience it together, like girls do. We'll go shopping and maybe visit the new herbalist in the area. She's good, too honey. You should meet her. Her name is Verhalia or Verhalina or something like that, but she's good. I'm taking these Acai berry supplements and I'm telling you, they are working well for my mental clarity and helping me maintain a healthy weight and everything! So you know that means no more homemade dutch apple pies or peach cobblers unless I make them with organic fruits and without butter. I'm also hooked on this Splenda stuff instead of sugar!"

  Angie found herself rolling her eyes a few times, because her overly jipper mother never paused for a breath. She often rambled.

  "Well, that's lovely mom. I can't wait!"

  "Yeah, I figure since your dad is retiring soon, I better start finding some more things to do to occupy my time, besides my work. I wouldn't want to be in his way around the house all the time. He says I talk too much, honey", her mother laughed.

  "Retiring? He didn't say anything to me."

  "Y-yeah, honey, he's been undecided for months, but finally decided a week ago. It wont be long. We will keep you posted, baby. Your dad just said you're on the expressway. I am going to let you go, because you know how dangerous it is out on these expressways and people being in a hurry like they are. So, you just be careful and call us when you get home. I love you Angie!"

  "I love you too, mom. I will call later."

  Brandon Xavier Whitmore couldn't have looked better, sitting across from her at Clarenza‘s. The dimly lit restaurant had been one of their favorites for a long time. Their table was overlooking water and the beautiful night life and lights of the city.

  "So, how is work coming along babe?"

  "Well, I can't complain Brandon. I have finished my project and finally got it faxed over to Claire this-"

  "Uh hold on a sec, hun. I need to take this", he said, looking down at his Blackberry.

  He excused himself from the table and walked several feet away from their table for privacy. She wondered what could be so private, but shrugged it off.

  When he returned to the table, he looked as if something was wrong. "Everything okay baby?" she asked.

  "Uh-uh yeah. It’s nothing. Are you ready to order?" he asked, still appearing to be nervous.

  She ordered apricot glazed pork chops, with mashed sweet potatoes and and a glass of Pinot Grigio. He ordered his usual smoked salmon with dill sauce and cranberry-mango chutney, with wild rice pilaf, and a second glass of Chardonnay. His phone continued to ring during dinner, causing many interruptions. Even when he didn't answer, the look on his face alerted her every time it rang.

  They went back to her place after dinner. Brandon hadn't touched her in a while and she was silently praying that he give her body the pleasure it craved. They barely made it inside her home, when he grabbed her arm and twirled her around to meet his fiery glance.

  He planted his lips on hers and took her breath away with a wet kiss. They ended up on the sofa, knocking the accent pillows onto the floor. He was on top of her, grinding his hardness against her. She moaned as he licked her neck and slid his hand between her legs. His cell phone was in his right pocket, and she knew, because she felt the vibration on her inner thigh. Unbelievably, he stopped their rendezvous to take a call.

  She lied there, still panting with passion. She knew what was coming next. He was about to leave. He sat up slowly, as if he had to collect himself or calm down first. "Uh--Angie, I hate to do this, but I need to go. I've gotta meet with-"

  "At almost nine o'clock at night, you gotta meet somebody about business?! I mean, when does anybody wait for me? You always make me wait. Why can't you just stay and handle that in the morning, Brandon?"

  He turned to look at her. "Because I can't that's why. I keep telling you, if you think we're going to work out, or be together, you have to understand that I'm a very busy man, Angie."

  She sulked. “I guess I’ll just have to understand, Brandon.”

  "I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you, soon", he kissed her forehead, then stood up and straightened his clothes.

  Within minutes, she was watching his truck disappear into the night.

  Chapter 4

  Roni

  "Your lab work came back today, Veronica. I'm sorry to inform you that you suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It's usually called P.C.O.S. Now, it's not a fatal disease, but it has many challenges -", the soft voice of her gynecologist, Dr. Fieldman, faded into a whisper, while the state of denial took over her emotions.

  Sitting in her silver, Dodge Charger, in front of Luxury Suites Hotel, Roni looked at pamphlets about P.C.O.S, three written prescriptions for Metformin and Spironolactone and a birth control pill to regulate her menstrual cycles, and a dietary plan.

  "This is crazy, but at least now I know why I can hardly shed a pound." she whispered as she looked over the sheet.

  There was a light tap on her window, but it sounded like rolling thunder as her attention was quickly diverted.

  "Hey, Roni! You working today? I thought you had Marci on the schedule," her front desk manager, Ramona Tillman, was standing there about to light her cigarette.

  "Oh, damn, Mona, you scared me, girl! ", she placed her hand upon her large breasts. " Uh--- yeah. I thought you knew that Marci quit on us last night. Walked out in the middle of a shift, but anyway, I'm here because I need to do payroll, since corporate wants me to start doing it now. Other than that, I am going to stick around, because you know we got that new guy that you interviewed a few months ago, coming in to train on second shift and I told Mario that he didn't have to
train tonight. I'm doing it."

  "Oh, yeah, Jonathan Parker. He seemed like a good guy, but when you hired Marci, I initially had to turn him down. But yeah, Leslie doesn't work here anymore right?"

  "Well, Leslie quit on us Monday, and that's why I had to fill the position so quickly. I think her and Marci had this planned. I should've known better than to hire relatives. Anyway, you know we can't be understaffed right now, and especially when we have the Hausmen Medical groups coming in."

  "Wow, all that happened while I was on vacation." Mona shook her funny shaped head.

  "Yep. Well, I'll see you inside, I gotta get this stuff done. Now or never", she smirked, walking briskly to escape the stink of Mona's cigarette.

  The familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee and sugary donuts hit Roni's nostrils as soon as she walked into the lobby of the hotel. She looked around, at the windows to make sure they had been cleaned and didn't have as much as one fingerprint or spot. As usual, she was making sure everything was in order. She greeted one of the housekeepers, as she walked by with her cleaning cart.

  Starting at her right, she screened the sitting area to make sure the chairs were aligned properly, there was no lint on the burgundy and grey carpet, the magazines and brochures were stocked and in the correct spot, and the fresh floral arrangements were alive and fresh. Everything was in order in the sitting area. She walked over to the breakfast area and made sure there were plenty of assorted fresh fruits, bagels, donuts, muffins, cups of fresh waffle batter, plenty of napkins, cups, plates, and silverware stocked and in their proper places. She checked the hot bar, where hot scrambled eggs and hot sausage links were, to make sure they were at the proper temperature and plentiful. There was a used empty cup and coffee stir sitting on the evergreen marble countertop and she threw it away. All the food was well stocked and the dining area looked clean and inviting.

  She smiled at two families of guests.

  "How are you this morning? Enjoying your breakfast okay?"

  "Oh, wonderful, thank you", one man said, from behind his USA Today newspaper.