Friday
Manhattan, New York
Somewhere along the line, Nicole Brooks was certain her friend Alicia Robinson had lost her mind. She listened as Alicia attempted to persuade her to, not only buy a ticket, but to participate in the charity event. The more details Alicia shared, the more Nicole was certain participation was not in the cards for her.
“I will be more than happy to buy a ticket to donate to the cause. However, I draw the line at buying a man, even for charity.” Nicole smiled at her friend, “You cannot believe I’m that desperate.”
“I do believe you are in need of a man. I mean a real man. Not a, ‘I’m just too fine to work man,’ whom you have a way of attracting. I am talking about a man’s man. However, this is not about being desperate or needing a man. This is about raising money to build a recreation center for the Highland Park area in Richmond. The city has closed every center for after school and summer programs. It baffles me when politicians have the nerve to wonder why kids are hanging on the corners or stuck in front of an electronic babysitter. It is going to take money, and lots of it, to get that center built. Let’s not forget furnishing it with equipment and computers to keep the kids occupied. Nikki, you know what it is like. The kids need a place to go to stay out of trouble. How can you turn your back on that?”
Nicole knew Alicia was right. The area of Richmond the center would serve, was in need of some revitalization. Her brother James and his wife Ashley had a home in the Richmond metropolitan area. Of course at the moment, their home was in Fairfax, Virginia. Her brother, James, Political Advisor for the President of the United States, JD Harrison, was also the President’s brother-in-law. One of the campaign promises was to improve education and after school programs for children across the country. Highland Park was one of the areas President Harrison mentioned was in desperate need of assistance. They wanted to find ways to reduce gang activity in that area. The President’s belief was that in order to eliminate the gangs we must find alternatives for the kids, otherwise the gangs would just resurrect themselves.
What Nicole was not clear on was why she had to be the savior. “I’m sure Richmond has plenty of people who will attend the event and be very generous. The function will not fail if I’m not there, and Brooks International is already considering a proposal for the community center. Besides, you know your sorority sisters aren’t particularly fond of me. And if I remember correctly, some of them aren’t too thrilled with you, either.”
With hands on her slender hips, Alicia smiled. “Well, maybe you should not have called them a group of ‘wannabes’, when we were in college.”
Arms folded over her chest, Nicole countered, “Well, maybe they should not have shunned me because my skin was a little darker than theirs.”
“Maybe you should not have told them you were going to have your daddy kidnap them and have all of their asses shipped back to Africa, to learn about their real roots.”
They both laughed. “That did kind of piss them off, didn’t it?” Nicole smiled. “I don’t mind supporting your event, but I’m not too crazy about being around your sisters. Can’t I just give a donation and be done with it?”
“Any other time I would say yes,” Alicia agreed relaxing her stance. “However, as you said, some of my sisters aren’t very loving towards me these days. You know I’ve been on shaky ground with them since I walked out during pledge week, because they voted you out.” Taking a moment to push the guilt button, Alicia continued. “If I remember correctly, Shirley Ann wasn’t too happy either.”
Nicole exhaled. “Yeah, your mom was pretty pissed.”
Pissed wasn’t the word Alicia would have used, ballistic was more like it. Alicia’s mother expressed her displeasure in very direct language. ‘Nicole’s father has enough money to buy her a sorority if she wanted one, your father and I do not. You will go back to school, young lady, and apologize, beg, grovel and anything else you have to do to cross the line. It is a legacy in our family and you will not break it.’ Alicia was sure her mother would have broken every bone in her body if she had not become a soror. “To this day, seven years later, she will not let me forget it. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty or anything, but you do owe me.”
“Cut the crap, Alicia, that’s exactly what you are doing.”
Alicia rose from her seat in front of Nicole’s desk and walked over to the window that overlooked Central Park. “You know there are thousands of people in New York City. At least one-fourth of them are men. You have been here for two years, sitting behind that desk trying to impress a group of old men who run the Real Estate world. What you and I both know is that they will never accept you, or I, into their inner circle no matter how good we are at what we do.” She turned and looked down at her friend, who was seated at her desk. “You, my friend, have three things going against you. One-you are Black.”
“No, say it ain’t so. Say it ain’t so.” Nicole looked at her friend with astonishment.
Alicia smirked. “Two, you are a female, and you know females have no place in this male dominated career. Then last, but certainly not least, you are young. There is no way the men who run the Real Estate business in New York are going to accept you. They don’t care that your daddy is one of the richest African Americans in this country. You sitting around, working twelve-hour days and not having a social life is not going to change their minds.” She sighed. “I just want you to have some fun, at least for one weekend, with a man that does not feel it’s a crime to have a job. I’m not asking you to fall head over heels in love or anything close to that. Just have fun, get your little groove on.”
Nicole smiled at Alicia, appalled. “You want me to buy a man to have sex with for a weekend? A man I don’t know anything about and who is willing to strut across a stage for money.”
“Nikki, it isn’t like that.” Alicia became excited. “These men are all business owners or partners. They are donating their time and the cost of the weekend package. You get to see their bio and what they have planned for the weekend before you bid. If you don’t like the way they look or what they have planned, you don’t bid. It’s that simple. From what I’m told, the bachelors participating represent the cream of the crop of African American men from across the Commonwealth of Virginia. We always say the good-looking ones are in jail, not working or on the down-low.” She stopped and looked at Nicole’s reaction. “I’m not judging. I’m just saying, this is your opportunity to meet some honest to goodness hard-working brothers, especially since you refuse to come to the other side.”
The look that Alicia had become accustomed to since she declared her sexual preference to Nicole during college was immediately evident on her friend’s face. “I love you and always will, but that is your preference, not mine.” A small smile crept on to her face. “I like the solid feel of a brother between my legs.”
“You have made it clear that is your choice. However, don’t knock what you don’t know. Okay?” Alicia crossed her arms over her chest. “Although rumor has it, you’ve crossed over.”
Nicole exhaled. “So, I heard. Is that why you are so desperate for me to be seen with a man, because of the rumors?”
Alicia pouted. “I feel bad. I know the only reason the rumors started is because of our close friendship. I never meant for my openness about my sexual preference to affect you. I’m sorry.”
Nicole smiled at her friend. She knew the rumors were floating around the office about her, but she was never one to concern herself with rumors. She was a firm believer that her personal business was just that—personal. It was nobody’s business what she did behind closed doors. “You know, I couldn’t care less what people think of me. I like who I am, and I like who you are.” She hugged her friend and smiled. “Don’t worry about what people say, I’m not.”
There was a knock on the office door. Nicole’s secretary, Stacy Crane, walked in. “Umm hmm, excuse me. Ms. Brooks, your ten o’clock, Mr. Prentiss is here.” She stood with a disapproving look at the two women embracing.
Nicole smiled and put her arms around Alicia’s shoulder. “Would you have him wait for a moment?” She turned to Alicia and then back to Stacy. “Stacy, would you call my pilot? Have him fuel the jet.” She smiled at Alicia and continued. “We will be going to Virginia for the weekend.” Nicole put the brightest smile she could manage on her face for the judgmental woman standing in her doorway.
“As you wish,” Stacy replied and closed the door.
Alicia looked at Nicole. “You know she is going right to the lounge and tell those heifers who work here what she just saw.”
“Oh, I’m sure she will. That will only give me another reason to let her go. I have a hard time dealing with judgmental people.” Nicole walked back over to her desk. “Now get out of my office so I can get some work done.”
Alicia smiled. “So, Virginia is on, right?”
Nicole exhaled and looked up. “I make no promises about bidding on anyone for sex. But I’ll go to the event.”
