Page 10

I was chilling in my living room just lounging around trying to get my day in order. I woke up in my feelings and life was like this sometimes. I had my iPad on my lap going through my email and the minute I was about to respond to one, I received an email from Poetics receptionist letting me know that he agreed to lunch but he only had time today at two o’clock. I looked at the time and it was eleven o’clock and all I could do was shake my head. I knew today I wasn’t in good spirits but I needed this meeting with this man. I hurried and emailed her back letting her know I would meet Mr. Poetic wherever he wanted to meet.

I got up off the couch and headed to take care of my hygiene. I needed to find something sexy to show off all these curves today. I felt him staring a hole through my ass last time I saw him. So today I was going to make sure I through it on just to give him the show he wanted. I stood in front of my walk in closet without a thought in the world. I thought about the weather and it was just about the start of spring so nice and warm but not hot. So, my hot pink pencil skirt, a black and white stripe crop button down, and to complete my outfit I went with my Betsey Johnson Carra Dress Sandal with the chunky heel. After I figured it all out, I made my way to the bathroom.

I looked in the mirror and decided I would put my curly hair up in a bun with a couple of curls hanging on each side, to showcase my chunky oval shaped face. I wasn’t a make-up girly only did that when I was on TV even then I just wanted a light beat. I was a lip gloss girly nothing more nothing less. Maybe some lipstick on special occasions but me and make up weren’t cool at all. I felt like it covered up your true beauty and the real you. Sometimes people looked like other people with make-up and I always wanted to look like myself. The beauty that I truly was. I turned the shower on to the temperature I liked and jumped right in, considering the mood I was in when I woke up. I felt it changing and I sure hope it was for the better. I knew Poetic Pain had the advantage to get under my skin, and I wasn’t in the mood for that. So, I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer I needed Big G up above to make this work out for me.

I looked myself over once more before spraying some Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush on. After spraying myself all over making sure to spray a lot I needed folks to smell me before they saw me. I then put my lip gloss on and headed out the door. It was exactly a quarter after one and Poetics studio was about thirty five minutes away so I would be making it right on time. The receptionist had told me that he wanted us to have lunch at the studio and she had me tell her what I wanted to eat from Capital Grill since he was having it picked up and brought to the studio.

After dodging in and out of traffic I was finally pulling up to the studio gates. The nice man opened the gate after I said who I was and I then drove up the long ass trail that led to the door. Once I made it in front of the door a nice man came out and grabbed my car keys to go park my car. I was then met by another man that walked me into the receptionist.

“Hello Ms. Reece, you can head back to the meeting room. It’s the first room on the left and Mr. Pain will be right in.”

“OK, thank you.” I smiled making my way to the back. While I was headed back Dashawn Taylor was walking towards me. I didn’t wanna be on no fan girl shit, but I couldn’t help myself.

“OH MY GOD! Dashawn Taylor,” I said in so much excitement.

“Well, hello! Tatum Reece, how are you beautiful?” He spoke showing off his pretty teeth.

“I’m good, I want you to know I’m a big fan.”

“Thank you, I truly appreciate that.”

“Hello Ms. Reece,” Poetic spoke while walking up to us.

“Hello Mr. Pain.”

“You can go ahead in and have a seat Ms. Reece.” Poetic said trying to push me out of Dashawn’s face. I gave him a hostile glare before I turned my attention back to Dashawn.

“It was nice to meet you Mr. Taylor, maybe we can get together for a story before you leave town.”

“That sounds like something I’ll be interested in Ms. Tatum, get my number from Mr. Pain and call me when you ready.” He assured me. After he said what he said I made my way into the meeting room. I looked around the room and thought to myself how much I admired this place. I mean, this young man was doing really well for his self. It was truly hard to believe that he might have dealt with the same thing my brother went through. I had so many questions, like how was he strong enough to go on after what he went through. I really wanted to know his story. I really wanted to know about the pain I’d seen in his eyes and if I saw it, I knew others did.

“Ms. Reece,” he called out bringing me from my thoughts.

“Oh hey, sorry how long were you talking to me?” I asked.

“I called your name twice, are you good?”

“Yes, my fault, I tend to daydream sometimes.”

“Well, if you ready we can start this meeting. The food is on its way.”

“OK, but before we start I want to apologize for how I just popped up last time. I know you are busy and that’s not how things work in this business. I also want to apologize for asking you anything about Mrs. Peterson.” Even with his face contorted with rage he still was fine as hell.

“Why do you always feel the need to bring that lady up in my presence? Why is this story about her so important to you?” He fumed. I stared at him for a minute before I spoke again. I needed to ease in to why I mentioned her name so much without trying to make him uncomfortable.

“The reason I want to talk to you is because I know you were the first kid to ever work with her, and I need to know some things about her before I take her down. See my brother was one of her child actors after you and he endured somethings that lead him to commit suicide. He left a note telling me and my mama the things he had experienced. Of course, we don’t have any proof but the suicide letter and you know damn well that’ll mean nothing with the money and resources she has. I just need someone else to tell their story.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your brother, but I don’t have a story to tell. Now is there anything else you would like to know about me?” I looked at him and smiled. I had to let the Peterson conversation go and think of something else real quick. I needed to get in good with this man so I could make him eventually open up to me.

“I mean, since we have lunch coming and I rather end this on good terms, how about we talk about what’s upcoming?”

“We can definitely do that. Dashawn and I was just talking about getting someone to air the story about our upcoming cop series Jersey’s Finest . Then the great Tatum Reece walked in my office. We need the best to run this story to get the word out. It don’t hurt to run a good story sometimes and not one laying peoples bad shit out there.” He chuckled kind of pissing me off.

“I don’t always do bad stories so don’t do me like that.” I sassed while rolling my eyes. A light tap at the door brought us from our conversation. Poetic yelled enter and it was a man dressed in a suit looking like a butler with our food.

“Hello Mr. Pain, I have your lunch.”

“OK, Roy you can set it up in the middle of the table.” I watched as this man sat all this damn food in the middle of the table like it was six of us here to eat. I had asked for the grilled lamb chops, with asparagus and garlic mash. He placed a nice size tray in the middle of each thing I asked for. Along with a couple of steaks, lobster mac and cheese and broccoli. Then he placed dinner ware and napkins in front of us along with a bottle of red wine and two glasses.

“Will you be needing me for anything else boss?”

“No Roy, thank you for your time and tell Ms. Lola, I said hello.” Poetic smiled. This man had been through something but I could tell he had a pure heart. The more I studied him I wanted to know more about him. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

“Wow, you didn’t have to order all of this.” I spoke after Roy left out.

“I know, but I like to eat and I wanted you to eat as much as you wanted. I hope you came with your appetite and not one of them shy women that like to munch on salad but grub when they behind closed doors.” He chuckled.

“Nah, I can eat, hell I know you see all these damn curves.” I giggled, causing him to smile at me. Poetic and I ate and enjoyed each other’s company for the next couple of hours. I was excited about the upcoming series with him and Dashawn Taylor it sound like it was going to be a hit.