“At one point, yes. This is different now. A lot has changed within the last couple of years.” Aaliyah reminded her father. “I have a meeting with the network this week, that is if they still want me.”
“Oh, they’ll still want you.” Avery’s deep voice chuckled. “You singlehandedly just gave them a ratings boost and your show hasn’t even aired yet.”
Aaliyah rolled her eyes. The reality show was supposed to be about her life and her shop. Now people were going to tune in because of her connection with Ocean. Aaliyah should’ve been ecstatic about that news, instead she was angry again.
Once again, Ocean made a decision about her life without consulting first. Once may have been a mistake, but twice was a habit. “I should probably cancel the meeting.”
“No, you’re going to go to it. You’re not going to give up an opportunity because of your ex-boyfriend. That’s never been your style and it never will be.” Avery sternly warned his daughter. “You don’t know when an opportunity like this will come again. And you still don’t know if Ocean is serious.”
“Oh, he’s serious.” Aaliyah replied with a thick stain of contempt. “I just don’t think he realizes what he’s doing. He thinks this is all a game until I get stalked and harassed by the press.”
“I think Ocean is smart enough to know what will happen.” Avery glanced out of his window and saw a small crowd of reporters lined up in front of the garage. “He knows how to play the game.”
“That’s the thing – he knows how to play the game; I don’t. You don’t and Mama…” Aaliyah’s mouth gaped open. Her mother must’ve been bombarded with phone calls and visits.
“Me and your mama will be fine.” Avery glanced out of his window. The crowd of reporters had considerably grown. “Let me go deal with these people before they trample my petunias. Call Ocean back before he leaves later.”
“Before he leaves later?” Aaliyah questioned. “You talked to him already?”
“Who do you think told him you were here?” Avery laughed. “I’ll talk to you later, sugar.” He hung up.
Aaliyah shook her head as she stared outside of her window. Everything started to make more sense as Ocean had the blessing of her father to contact her. He knew Aaliyah wouldn’t be mad at Avery despite her feelings towards Ocean.
Still, the thought she was thrust into the political spotlight without even so much the proper training made Aaliyah sick to her stomach. Ocean didn’t even give her a chance to say no before he made the decision for her.
If she was going to be the quiet, political wife who just nodded and smiled, Ocean chose the wrong one.
The sooner he knew it, the better off the two of them were for it.
~~~~~~~
At one point in Ocean’s life, he was lanky and dare he thought, badly-built.
His arms and legs had no definition to them whatsoever. He did keep active by running, walking, and playing the traditional white guy pastime of Frisbee.
When he ran for the Senate, he had to undergo a tremendous appearance change. His clothing became sharper and more expensive. His speech became more enunciated and sharper. His build, once nothing to write home about, became buff and streamlined.
He used to use over the counter products that he could just walk into any store to purchase. Now he had designer deodorant that cost about half of someone’s mortgage in the Midwest. Expensive hair products made sure his brown bedhead looked fantastic, if all he did was just run a hand through it.
Now all he needed was the one woman who made his heart look good.
His parents had set him up with different women over the past couple of years. They lasted long enough to be photographed and make the gossip rounds, but nothing ever serious came out of them. If he wanted to bed one, she signed an NDA with several legal consequences so no one would ever know the sordid details.
The NDA was Ocean’s idea. He didn’t know if Aaliyah cared enough to still pay attention but he surely didn’t want details of his sex life making its way to nightly news. It was bad enough he was followed as much as he was.
As the minutes turned into hours, Ocean conceded Aaliyah was not going to call him. He gave it his all and that was that. She didn’t want to be a part of his life anymore and he had no choice but to respect that. At least she got a bit of publicity for her show.
Ocean was in the middle of an intense solo workout when he heard a knock on his door. He was so wrapped into thinking about Aaliyah, he forgot Justin had ordered him breakfast. “Coming.” He opened the door and felt his heart lodged into his throat.
Aaliyah was there, standing behind the room service cart.
She looked…different. Yes, different was the word. A long, honey blonde wig and completely covered from head to toe. She channeled Mary J. Blige’s “Not Gon’ Cry” video and Ocean believed that was very much her intention. She wasn’t shedding any more tears for him no matter what slick moves he pulled.
He folded his arms and leaned against the door jamb with a smile on his face. “Room service?”
Aaliyah shoved the cart against Ocean, who folded over. She let herself inside his suite and sat down at the dining room table. His suite was elegant with an understated class. It was in direct contrast to his current appearance. She ignored the feelings within her when she saw his sweaty, muscular frame.
He was always attractive but the makeover Ocean went through sent shockwaves throughout Aaliyah’s petite frame. He was heart stuttering gorgeous and smelling his musky scent made Aaliyah’s sex clench in desire.
