Thirteen
“No.” Aaliyah answered. “I’m good, love. Enjoy.”
“Ocean, Briana wants to take a picture with you.” Thomas pointed to her direction. “It’ll be great for her campaign.”
Ocean’s heart burned with anger. His father always had impeccable timing. “I’ll be right back.” He left.
Thomas waited until his son was at Briana’s side before he began to dance with Aaliyah. The song had changed to “If You’re Think You’re Lonely Now” by Bobby Womack. Aaliyah couldn’t help but to think that was intentional by Thomas.
Thomas twirled Aaliyah around and pulled her close. “Whatever game you’re playing, Ms. Smith, you won’t win.”
Aaliyah read Thomas’s eyes. They were cold and calculating, yet his mouth curved into a dancing smile. He was the true definition of a psychopath. “I’m not playing any game.”
“Oh yes, you are.” Thomas replied. “You could’ve told Ocean you were no longer interested in him and that would’ve been done and over with. Now you got a reality show and I heard Ocean taped an episode. I’ll make sure it won’t air and any references to him would be removed.”
“Why do you hate me?” Aaliyah asked. “I have never done anything to your son but love him.”
“I don’t hate you but I love my family and legacy more.” Thomas replied as he turned her around. “And we both know you’re not a good fit for the Ellison legacy.”
“One can say the same thing about you.” She retorted.
“Touché.” Thomas grinned. “I do love your tenacity.”
“I love your son and he loves me.” Aaliyah sharpened her tone. “There’s nothing you can do about that.”
“Love is fleeting, sweetheart,” Thomas continued dancing with her. “Power is forever.”
“Ocean is his own man.” Aaliyah realized her teeth were clenched. “He will make decisions based on what is best for him.”
“Maybe before you, yes. Now, not so much.” Thomas replied and blew out a small breath before he spoke into Aaliyah’s ear. “You have a lot to learn on how politics work, sweetheart. Feelings don’t matter when there’s power involved.”
Aaliyah felt the unmistakable anger rise inside of her and she swallowed the emotions. “You forced Ocean’s hand the last time but you won’t do it again.”
“I’ll do whatever I damn well please when it comes to my sons and their best interests. All of their successes can be traced back to me. I made the calls, introduced them to all of the right people, and they all have much success thanks to me. They will be the first to tell anyone that.” Thomas slightly pulled back and met eyes with Aaliyah. “You are not the exception.”
Aaliyah squeezed Thomas’s hand tighter to keep herself from slapping him. “Fuck you.”
“You’re not my type and I’ve had plenty to compare.” Thomas smiled.
“You’re comical,” Aaliyah smiled, “you have built your entire career and platform on black suffering. Each time there’s a shooting or a murder or an unarmed black man, all you see are dollar signs and airtime. You’re like that one attorney who is more known for representing sexual harassment victims and mistresses of dumb athletes and entertainers. No wonder you’re all up on Briana Gooding’s twat. Her father killed an illegal immigrant and you couldn’t wait to insert your bad-bodied ass into the discussion and make her the victim. Tell me, did Briana also pay with pussy?”
“Ooh, you’re feisty. I like that.” Thomas pulled Aaliyah closer to him and felt her anger. “You need to understand, Ms. Smith, you and Ocean have one thing in common – you’re both stubborn. He’s not going to give up his home in Bel-Air to move to Atlanta. You’re not going to give up your studio to move to D.C. If a celebrity client wants you to tattoo them up on the same day Ocean has a major fundraiser to attend and he needs you, which takes precedence?
“If Ocean decides to run for re-election, are you going to give up everything and become a senator’s wife? You may have in the past, but you will not do it in the future. Based on that alone, it won’t work. Furthermore, you both know it won’t work. But you two feel you have a common enemy in me, it’ll push you to make it work. It takes more than love and even resentment against me to make a relationship work.” He stepped away and kissed her hand. “Enjoy your night, Ms. Smith. You won’t have too many of these left.” He walked away.
Aaliyah felt the anger course through her veins and rushed to the bathroom before she made a scene. How dare Thomas humiliate her like that in front of everyone? He’d never liked her the moment he laid eyes on her and been plotting her to disappear from Ocean’s life forever.
If Aaliyah didn’t care about Ocean the way she did, she would’ve walked away again like the first time. She was going to stay and fight for him, even if it was against her better judgment. Thomas may have ruled their relationship the first go-round but he had no authority to say a single word this time.
Aaliyah entered the bathroom and set her clutch down on the counter. She stretched her arms out and gripped the edge of the counter so tightly, her knuckles turned white. Thomas was going to be a thorn in her side until she would eventually leave Ocean alone or vice-versa.
She needed to beat Thomas at his game, but with what he knew about Aaliyah, what good would it do? If Thomas wanted to expose Aaliyah, he would and not even care about Ocean’s life in the process. He did it before and he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
“I’m stuck,” she said to no one in particular. “I’m stuck until I give up.” Her head fell back in frustration and Aaliyah shook it. “I need to fight back but how?”
“Oh no! Not here! Not here!”
Aaliyah recognized the worried tone from Keisha in another stall. “Keisha?” She called out. “Are you okay?”
