After leaving Ansley’s house, Simeon rushed home to pack her bags. She decided to hop on the first thing out of Atlanta heading to Chicago. It was time she and Davis had a real conversation. She managed to get his itinerary from Ansley. Simeon was actually grateful that Lanae had been around because Ansley might not have shared as much information, which assisted her in setting her plan into motion. Before darting out of Ansley’s house, Simeon managed to purchase a ticket on her Delta Airlines app, and stop by the boutique across the street from Ansley’s place to grab a sexy new dress and some lingerie.
The next morning she was hustling through Atlanta Hartsfield International to catch her flight. She smiled to herself as he showed her boarding pass to the attendant. The thought of being tangled between the sheets with her future boo was enough to make this impromptu purchase worth it.
With her bags secured in the overhead, Simeon sat and nuzzled her neck against the chair. Wheels up and we are out.
Two hours later she was pulling into Chicago O’Hare and wiping the sleep out of her eyes. She planned to get checked into the hotel and get some rest before reaching out to Davis. She wanted to make sure she had her energy for tonight. She wasn’t sure why he was there and what his plans were for the day, she thought it would be best to inform him of her arrival later in the evening. Simeon hoped that asking to meet him later would limit his options of saying he was too busy.
“What are you doing in Chicago?” he asked when she called to inform him that she was in town.
“I’m here on business,” Simeon lied. “I was surprised when Ansley told me that you were in town as well.
“Huh? Ansley told you?” he stammered.
“Yes I know all about Davis, and she knows all about Monty.” Simeon informed him. Not deterred from her mission she continued, “I was thinking, since I’m in town, we should have dinner together. We have a lot to discuss.”
He huffed. “Nah, I’m not hungry. Enjoy your trip.”
“Oh stop it Monty. Or is it Davis?” She laughed at her own joke. The deafening silence on the other end let her know that she had regained his attention. “I guess it doesn’t really matter now, right? What matters is that you’re dating my best friend—don’t you think she would want us to get along? Listen, we need to figure out a way to be friends—for Ansley’s sake.”
More silence and then, “I suppose you’re right,” he agreed.
“Excellent. There’s a great restaurant at the hotel where I’m stayin’. I’ll text you the address.”
They arranged to meet at eight o’ clock that night.
Simeon hung up with a huge grin on her face. She clapped her hands with delight as she stood to prepare for his arrival.
Davis didn’t know it, but they were going to have dinner in her suite. She glanced at the sexy, barely-there, burgundy dress laid out on the bed. Ansley may have stolen his attention with her conversation, but Simeon knew she could entice all of his senses in a way that Ansley would never do. Ansley was too much of a good girl.
She met Davis first, and by all rights, it makes sense that Ansley be erased out of the equation. Simeon could tell that Ansley was still not one hundred on letting things end with Davis even after she told her that he was the man in her life. This would be the push Ansley needed to let go and move on to the next man.
Ansley would soon realize that she never had Davis—she was just temporary. Simeon figured that he must have known they were friends and wanted to get a reaction out of her. That’s why he stood her up at the party, he wanted to see if she would fight for his affection and she failed to do so. She didn’t even realize it was the same guy.
Simeon smirked as she eyed the tiny video recorder hidden in the bouquet of flowers on the dresser. While she knew it would hurt Ansley to see the footage, she had a feeling she was going to need it to help Ansley let go of him. After tonight, Davis would belong to her.
He arrived an hour later.
When she opened the door, Davis’s eyes roamed up her long limbs, firm thighs, and continued up to the plunging neckline of her dress and lingered on her breast. “You couldn’t afford the whole dress?” he joked.
She stepped back to allow him to come inside the suite. He hesitated before taking a few steps inside the door frame.
Simeon laughed. “This is the whole dress. Don’t you like it?” She modeled for him, stopping short to give him the full view of her firm behind.
Davis rubbed his hand across his beard. “You’re going to break up a few marriages and quite a few necks tonight dressed like that.”
“You’re looking pretty, darn sexy yourself.” She lusted over his fit physique, even in a fitted tan dress shirt and olive green corduroy blazer, his body was on display. His tweed slacks fit his sculpted frame. They would be the perfect fit couple.
He gestured towards the door. “Shall we go?”
“Well, I hope you won’t mind but...,” Simeon closed the door behind him. “I ordered room service.”
He turned around to face her, his arms folded across his chest. “What are you up to?”
She threw her hands up, professing her innocence. “I’m not up to anything at all. I thought we should have some privacy when we talk.”
Davis met her gaze. “About what?”
“Us,” Simeon responded.
He gave her a look of puzzlement. “There is no us. There never was.”
“So you’re saying that you were only interested in sex? Because that’s not what you said that night.”
“Simeon, we were both drunk,” Davis uttered. “I don’t remember much about that night and I doubt that you do either. Let’s just go eat.”
She closed the gap between them. Pressing her breast against him, she murmured, “We had a connection.”
“What we had was sex,” he said. Taking a few steps back, Davis said, “Simeon, I need you to get past this little infatuation of yours. I have real feelings for Ansley.”
Red-hot anger coursed in her veins. “I don’t believe that for a second. You’re only using her to upset me. I know that’s exactly what you’re doing.” She began to pace back and forth in front of him. “You didn’t even tell her your real name.”
Davis shook his head and grabbed Simeon by the shoulders. “You’re wrong. I’m into her, and I wasn’t lying to her, or at least not anymore.” He released his grip on her and hung his head. “I went through the process to have my name changed legally. So it is Davis. I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. Not you or her—I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
Her glare softened as she heard the defeated tone in his voice. “It’s okay baby.” Simeon cupped his face and looked into his eyes. “Apology accepted, but tell me why? Why did you need to change your name? Are you in trouble?”
He backed away from her touch.
“Tell me. I can help you. Is someone after you?”
“There’s nothing you can do for me.”
He brushed pass her and walked over to the queen size bed, and sat down. Simeon walked over and climbed onto the bed, pulling her legs underneath her.
“I came here hoping to work out a payment plan with my kid’s mom. I was a little late on payments and she started harassing me.”
Simeon began rubbing his back. “I didn’t know you had a child. At least you’re trying to do the right thing. How behind are you in paying her?”
Davis clasped his hands together. “I haven’t made a payment in about two years—or well not full payments. I’ve been giving her money when I could so she gave me a pass. Once those payments got lacks, she got her hood cousins to come rob my place and rough me up.”
Her eyes saddened. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Davis muttered a curse. “Not unless you have six thousand dollars sitting around.
The corners of Simeon’s eyes crinkled. “I don’t have it on me, but I can transfer it to your account.”
He shook his head. “I can’t let you do that.”
“See that’s where you’re confused. You’re not letting me do anything, I’m offering it to you. No strings…well, maybe just one string.”
“I’ll help you if you make love to me one last time.” Davis stood and Simeon scrambled to her feet as well.
“Wait don’t leave. Think about it. You could eliminate that debt. I just need you to keep seeing me.”
“What? You sound crazy.” He started toward the door and Simeon pulled his arm.
Davis spun in her direction. There was a combination of rage and lust in his eyes. She looked over her shoulder toward the camcorder. There was no way she could allow him to walk out the door. She had to make him agree to this.
She leaned in and kissed him. When he didn’t resist she pressed into him. His hands slid to her waist and gripped her tighter. Her heart rate quickened as their kisses became more intense. He began unzipping her dress and she stepped out of it as it fell in a heap around her ankles.
Simeon panted as his hands roamed her body. He guided her towards the bed and started to undress. She leaned up to help him with his shirt. He leaned down and regained her lips, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He lowered himself on to the bed, wrapping her legs around his waist she whispered in his ear, “Call me Ansley.”
“What?” he pushed away from her.
She pulled him back down. “Calm down. I can be her for tonight. Come on, don’t stop now.”
Davis was bewildered. He removed Simeon’s hands from around his neck and began getting dressed. He was shaking his head in disgust. “I’m out.”
“Don’t you dare walk out on me. How will you pay your baby mama, huh? You need me too,” she yelled. She hopped off the bed and followed behind him.
“I’ll tell Ansley everything. Don’t be an idiot.”
Davis paused and looked at Simeon once more before walking out.
As the door closed, Simeon picked up a wine bottle and threw it. She stood there trembling with fury as she watched the red liquid run down the white door.
His walking out reminded her of her father. It was all he ever did—walk in and out of her life. A man of great financial means, her dad acted as if he didn’t have to answer to anyone. He was a horrible husband and a not-so-great father to her. Maybe if she’d been a boy…
Simeon shook the pain-filled thoughts from her mind. Thinking about all that had happened during her childhood only made her angry. She didn’t like when she got angry—her fury raged out of control. Simeon’s chest rose and fell, as she walked over to her purse, grabbing one of the prescription bottles out. She shook out a pill and held it in her hand, before discarding it. She didn’t want to not feel her disappointment. Maybe Ansley was right, he was out to hurt them both.
Images of Davis appeared in her head, prompting her to strip the comforter from the bed, toss the pillows across the room, and to attempt to push the mattress off the bed. She eyed the video recorder that would not help in getting what she wanted and threw it against the wall. She looked at the cracked screen and shards laying on the floor. Simeon lowered herself to the floor and sat among the wreckage. It mirrored how she felt.
There was a knock at the door.
Simeon took several deep breaths…she needed to calm down. She grimaced looking around at the room that was now a complete mess from the wine stained walls, to the shards of glass and plastic surrounding the door. Simeon figured that someone must have complained about the noise.
She looked through the peephole to see Montgomery. Simeon cracked the door. She didn’t want him to see how she had trashed the room.
“Did you mean what you said? About being there for me, and helping me through all of this. Did you mean it?”
Simeon did not respond.
Instead she opened the door and pulled him into her arms. She sobbed on his shoulder. He came back for her.
For them.
His lips found hers and sealed their love contract. Simeon planned to take care of him, so long as he took care of her heart. She knew she could not survive another heartache. Ansley would have to find a way to understand. Now that she had him back in her arms, she got confirmation that her desire had not mislead her. They were meant to be together. She would make sure nothing came between them again.
The next day, Simeon woke up and gazed over at Montgomery lying next to her. He didn’t leave me. It was all she could do to keep from screaming. She raked her fingers through her hair, her eyes dancing as she thought of the love they made. Simeon laid there staring at him with adoration. She was taken with him and in pure bliss that he was the one to make her feel this way.
As he stirred, she slid her body closer to him. She stroked the side of his face with the back of her hand and allowed her hand to continue down to his bare chest.
“Good morning handsome.”
He opened one eye and smirked at her. “Morning beautiful.”
Simeon winked at him before sliding out of the bed and padding nude across the room to her overnight bag.
“It’s about time you woke up.” She joshed. “I thought I would be flying back to Georgia alone.”
Montgomery turned on his side to face her. “I still need to figure that out. My plans are to be here until Thursday. I still have to work out these payments. Besides I only had enough for a one-way ticket.”
“I went ahead and booked us a flight departing at ten a.m. I’m about to jump in the shower. It’s a little after seven now, so we need to get a move on,” she said over her shoulder.
“Simeon I can’t leave that soon, but I appreciate the offer. I’ll figure out a way to pay you back.”
Turning around with her toiletries in hand, she licked her lips as Montgomery stretched out in the bed studying her fit frame. The sunlight managed to highlight her assets through the slit in the blinds. She loved the way he was looking at her. Got him.
“I want us to be friends, and more than anything I want us to connect pass the physical. You don’t have to pay me back, but I do want you to sever ties with Ansley. That’s all that I’m asking of you.”
He covered his eyes with his hands. As he lay there mute, Simeon became anxious shifting from one foot to another.
“It might be hard to believe, but I do care about her feelings and our friendship. It’s just that I met you first—and it seems only fair that…”
“I’ll tell her,” he mumbled.
Her eyes lit up. “Tell her what?”
Uncovering his eyes, he said, “I’ll let her know that I can’t see her anymore.”
Simeon’s shoulders relaxed and she exhaled. “Thank you. And you don’t even have to mention me, I think that will make it less painful that way.”
He had no clue how much it meant to her that he would make her his number one. His priority. Simeon hoped Ansley would be able to forgive the methods she used to win him back, but matters of the heart required extreme measures. Simeon gave him a come-hither look.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, you won’t be making that flight.”
“I’m not messing with you,” she said in between laughing. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll change our flight to Wednesday night or Thursday morning.”
“They’ll charge you for that Simeon, and don’t you have to get back to work.”
“Don’t worry. I got you.” She continued to the bathroom to take a shower. “Care to join me in the shower?”
He propped himself up with his elbows resting on the mattress. “And you know it, now go ahead and get the water started. I’ll be right there.”
She blew a kiss over her shoulder before entering the bathroom and turning the shower knobs. A smiled danced across her lips. As she tested the water, she felt more content than she had in years. Sorrowed closed up her throat as doubt seeped in, she could only hope nothing would steal this moment. Whatever almost happened with Ansley was not important, she wanted to live in the now with him.
It dawned on her, that she had no evidence of his new found commitment to building their relationship.
A frown formed on her face.
Simeon hated that she didn’t have that security net, but then she remembered that she was not letting that past interrupt her plans for the future. What’s love without unrelenting trust? He said he would break things off with Ansley for good and she had to trust him. She didn’t want the possibility of not being with him to be an option—she couldn’t handle that.