Chapter Fourteen
Zuri
I leaned on the horn just as Tionne ran out into the rain. She had been waiting in the lobby of the hotel for me to pick her up and take her to her lawyer. She knew her car was safe in the hotel’s parking garage and didn’t want to run the risk of Dallas taking it if she left and had to park on the street.
“Thank you for coming to pick me up.” Tionne reached over for a hug.
“Why the hell did I have to wait until you needed a ride for you to pick up the phone and call me?” I asked. “I thought we were tight.” Tionne had been holed up at the W for over a week now, and I was annoyed that she hadn’t answered my calls or dialed me sooner.
“Girl, you know it ain’t like that. I just needed some time, you know.” Tionne sighed.
“Bitch, I got all the time in the world. I would’ve come over and cried with you, yelled with you, and kicked that motherfucker’s door in if need be.” My joke was to lighten the mood, but Tionne merely stared out the window. “It’s going to be all right.” I patted her thigh.
“Is it, Z? I mean, I just can’t believe that bastard threatened to steal my fucking car. Who does that?”
“A lame-ass nigga, that’s who.” I laughed, and this time Tionne did too. “Seriously, he calls himself breaking you down so you’ll come crawling back, but fuck him. I got you, bitch!” I reached for a high five.
“I know you do, Z.” Tionne slapped her palm into mine, and we shared a brief moment of silence.
She and I had been best friends going on ten years now. We met at a fashion show during New York Fashion Week. Tionne had been invited as the guest of the designer, and I, of course, was one of the models. The show was such a success that the designer decided to treat a few of his models and friends to dinner and drinks. As luck would have it, Tionne was seated next to me. We hit it off instantly and had been trump tight ever since. In a world full of fake friends and false admirers, Tionne was my ace. There was nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for her and vice versa.
“Thanks, Z. I really owe you one.” Tionne reclined in the seat.
“Girl, I know if the shoe were on the other foot, you would have me too.” I released the brake and put the SUV in motion.
“That’s what friends are for, although your ass has the perfect marriage and won’t ever need me.” She smiled. “Jason is the shit!”
“I guess.” I shrugged. Tionne was my bestie, but some things needed to remain between husband and wife. Therefore, I never told her about the abuse.
“I wish Dallas were more like Jason—faithful, loving, giving, and finneeeee,” she exclaimed. I wanted to tell her to be careful what she wished for, but instead I concentrated on the road.
During the ride, no one said a word. Therefore, Tionne decided to break the silence. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I left this time?”
“No, I wasn’t,” I said without looking at her. This wasn’t my first rodeo with Tionne and Dallas. I was sure it wasn’t going to be my last. As a result, I learned long ago not to ask questions.
“Why not?”
“Because, T, it doesn’t matter.” I sighed. “Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but I know the way this is going to play out already. This is not the first time you’ve called me to come and get you, and I’m sure this won’t be the last.” Although Tionne was used to my bluntness, I could tell she was still taken aback by my words. “Tionne, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” I said, trying to clean it up.
“This time is different, I swear,” Tionne mumbled. Based on her previous actions, she realized it was difficult to believe her. I knew she wanted me to.
“What makes this different from the last time you caught his ass butt naked at the studio? What about the time that bitch showed up on your doorstep? No, I’ve got one better.” I laughed, unaware of my friend’s tears. “What about the time he had a threesome with those two sisters and both of their asses claimed he was the father of their children?” I could go on for days. Dallas was a wild card for sure.
“He burned me,” Tionne cried. I almost wrecked the car, barely missing a pedestrian as I ran the red light.
“He did what?”
“He gave me chlamydia,” Tionne admitted sadly.
“Oh, girl, you scared me. I thought you had something much worse.” I breathed a sigh of relief. The thought of my best friend being taken out of the world by her no-good husband really shook me up. “I’m sorry, Tionne. Are you okay?”
“I’m good now. The doctor gave me a prescription last week.” She wiped her eyes. “I know I’ve said over and over I was leaving, but this time is different, I swear. There was something about the doctor’s office calling to tell me that my results came back positive for something and to get in the office as soon as possible that shook me up.” Tionne looked out of the window. “What if it had been AIDS?”
“Thank God it’s not.” I patted her shoulder. I could only imagine how Tionne was feeling.
“It was a wakeup call for me though. If that bastard wants to play Russian roulette with his life, that’s his business. I won’t let him kill me in the process.”
“Well, for your sake, I hope if ever the day comes that he persuades you to go home, you remember this day and those words.”
“You don’t have to worry. I’m done with Dallas Foster aka Black Bishop and all the bullshit that comes with both of those motherfuckers.” Tionne shook her head.
I was certain she never imagined marrying a celebrity came with so much drama. None of us did. I was sure people tried to warn her, but she was blinded by young love.
“Good thing you don’t have any children. It makes the breakup easier,” I said, thinking of my own situation. If ever I found the strength to leave Jason, Jelly would be the one to suffer. “I can’t imagine having to share my baby between two homes on weekends, summer vacations, and holidays.”
“I’m ready to just start over with my life, Z. God is giving me a second chance, and I want to run with it.”
“Where do you go from here?” I asked. “What’s your plan B?” From what I knew about Tionne, she didn’t have any education beyond high school and had never held a job.
“I don’t know. I was thinking about starting an interior design company, but it depends on what my lawyer says today. Hopefully, I’ll get enough in the divorce settlement for start-up money.”
“That’s a good idea.” My girl was a beast when it came to decorating. Her home was proof of that. She had even done Jelly’s nursery last year as a gift and a thank-you for us choosing her as the godmother.
“In order for it to be successful, I’ll have to take some business classes and drum up some clientele,” she began to ramble.
“Running a business is hard work, but I know you’ll do great.”
“Hopefully, I can get enough start-up money though. If I can’t, then I don’t know what I’ll do.” Tionne looked worried.
“Everything will be all right. I know you’ll get more than enough money in the settlement, T.”
“I signed a prenup,” Tionne blurted out before looking down at the floor.
“What!”
“I know, I know.”
“Maybe there’s a loophole or something.” I wanted to stop the car and ask her what the hell she was thinking, but now wasn’t the time.
“I hope so.” Tionne smacked her lips. “I thought we would be together forever. So it didn’t seem right to plan my divorce before we planned our wedding.”
Nearly an hour later, we made it through rush hour traffic and arrived at the law office of Marsha Whitehead, attorney at law. The place was gigantic with oversized furniture, hardwood floors, chandeliers, and oil paintings. It stood four stories tall!
“Mrs. Whitehead will see you now,” the receptionist announced after approaching us in the second-floor lobby.
As we followed her, I eyed Tionne closely. She was a nervous wreck. “It’ll be okay, T.” I grabbed her hand and held on to it tightly.
“Ladies, come on in and have a seat,” Marsha greeted us from her chair.
“Thanks for meeting with me on such short notice.” Tionne reached over to shake her lawyer’s hand.
“Anything for you, Mrs. Foster.” Marsha grabbed a few documents from a folder. “Let’s get straight to it, okay?” She waited for Tionne to agree before continuing. “Okay, I read over the prenuptial agreement you signed before marrying Mr. Foster. My findings were rather shocking if I may.” She pushed the black frames up onto her nose. “Without going word for word, the summary of this document states that you are entitled to absolutely nothing.”
“What about the house?” I interjected.
“Mrs. Foster did not put her name on the deed.” Marsha looked down at the paperwork. “Nor did she sign off on the luxury vehicles, vacation properties, yacht, or jet. Furthermore, she is not included as a partner in Mr. Foster’s business.”
“So there isn’t any mention of spousal support or anything?” I had to speak up for Tionne, who was silent.
“Spousal support would have only been granted if Mrs. Foster had given Mr. Foster a child.” Marsha removed her glasses.
“So I get nothing? Absolutely nothing?” Tionne shook her head. “I’m the one who helped build his empire brick by brick. It was my goddamn blood, sweat, and tears.” She hit the corner of Marsha’s desk in a rage.
“Tionne, did you at least put something up for a rainy day?” I asked.
“No,” she mumbled as the realization of her situation hit her like a brick wall. Marsha looked at me, and I looked at my friend. Both of us had encountered many women like Tionne, who were so busy living the glamorous life that they forgot that fairy tales weren’t real.