Cougarette Sequel Online Kickoff - Hour Two
SPOILER ALERT – If you haven’t finished The Cougarette yet, the following excerpt may contain plot development and/or characters you haven’t read about yet. You can either proceed with reading the spoiler or come back to it after you’ve finished the first book. No worries – it’s not going anywhere. It’ll be here when you are ready!
Readers, here is your only sneak peek of #CitC until it is released on Friday, March 20th. Now, keep in mind: this is an unedited work in progress so content is subject to change (although I think this excerpt is akeeper). This also contains a little profanity so if you are under 18, this is a no-no for you. Enjoy!
*****
The clock struck 6. CeeCee shut down her computer and raced down the hall with her work tote on her shoulder. She was supposed to have met Jay at Pierre’s Bistro on Clark a half hour earlier. As she was texting him at a waiting elevator, Tad popped his head out of his office. “Cee, got a sec?”
“Not really but I guess.” CeeCee sulked into Tad’s office as she stuffed her phone back in her tote.
Tad snapped his fingers as he walked to his desk. “Pierre’s with Jay tonight, right? Ugh. Sorry, girl. I’ll make this quick. Just got a call from the ATL
office. To usher in Billy’s next single Homecoming, they want to have an exclusive performance at Philips Arena in his Atlanta stomping grounds. Club Excalibur will be the site for the afterparty. The ATL team was so impressed with how you handled his Chicago and Indianapolis post-concert events this spring that they asked you to come out for it.”
CeeCee perked up. She had only managed Billy’s Midwest events. This opportunity would open her up to a new market share and fresh connections among the artist management circles. “When does it start?” Tad sat down with a cringe on his face. “Next week, but you have to be down there in two days.” CeeCee took a deep breath. “This is really short notice, Tad.”
He folded his hands in a plea. “I know. This was a bright idea that the ATL team literally came up with yesterday. A last ditch effort to save the album from dying on the charts – and it is dying a slow, slow death, as you know. They really want you, Cee. Or shall I say, your personal Jesus really wants you.” CeeCee smiled, wide eyed. “Yvette Kingston? The VP?”
“The one and only. She asked for you by name. This is a fab opportunity to integrate yourself with Billy’s homebase team. I mean, I could ask Robin to take it…”
Robin Clark was the latest events coordinator to be hired at Platinum Chicago. 27. Single. Very ambitious. She had her eye out for any opportunity to be promoted to a Senior Management position. CeeCee couldn’t let Robin have a chance at hers. She exhaled. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Tad smiled and clapped. “Fantastic! Tickets will go on sale at midnight tonight. We’re hoping they’ll be all sold out within hours, but who knows these days with Billy’s current sporadic trending. The ATL media team is already flooding Twitter, FB and the Gram with alerts as we speak. You’ll be based in Atlanta for approximately ten days, covering the time for setup at Club Excalibur, media events and the party. You’ll have a condo and a rental, all on Platinum’s tab, of course,” He winked at CeeCee as he typed on his computer. I’m sending an email, copying you, letting the ATL office know that you’ll do it. And girl, you are officially late. Jay’s fine ass is gonna kill you! Skedaddle.”
CeeCee got up and ran to the elevator. Tad was right but not for the reason he thought. Jay would be more pissed about her accepting this Atlanta gig than being late for dinner.
After pulling up to valet and almost throwing the keys to her SUV to the driver, CeeCee rushed into Pierre’s. She was wearing a ruffled cream blouse, a red pencil skirt and a pair of nosebleed black stilettos. She spotted her man sitting in a candlelit back booth in a three-piece black suit – and he did not look happy.
“I know. I’m late. I’m sorry. Tad held me up.” She kissed Jay’s clenched jaw. He stared straight ahead, fuming. “So, what’s wrong with your phone? You can’t text me?”
“Uh, I did.” CeeCee pulled out her phone to see the text she intended to send still sitting in her box. “But I forgot to hit Send when Tad called me into his office. Again, sorry.”
Jay sighed as he looked at her. “We talked about this, Cee. Your career is coming before us. It has to stop.”
“I know. I’m sorry, baby. I’m a work in progress. Besides,” CeeCee trailed her hand up his thigh and to his crotch as she leaned into his ear with a whisper. “I’ll make it up to you at home, sexy. Wear that little thing you like. Hmmm…”
A smile grew on Jay’s face as he put his arms around her waist. “You are so lucky you are fine. Come here.” They shared a passionate kiss as they waited for appetizers to arrive.
As they finished dinner and started dessert, they cuddled and sipped Pinot Grigio in the booth. During their meal, CeeCee had replayed in her mind how she would bring up the Atlanta trip. Jay was having a rare drink tonight so he was relaxed. She was ready.
CeeCee sat up and picked at the crème brûlée with her fork. “So, like I said, Tad held me up because he offered me a great opportunity.”
“Word? What’s up?”
She took a bite of the caramelized treat. “Well, Billy hasn’t been doing so hot on the charts lately, so an exclusive concert is coming up to promote his next single. I’ve been handpicked to work the afterparty.”
Jay nodded as he ate a forkful of crème brûlée. “Sounds good. So, where’s he playing? Chicago? Detroit?”
CeeCee gulped down a mouthful of Grigio. “Atlanta.”
Jay’s fork clanked against the fine china. “How long do you have to be there?”
CeeCee winced. “Ten days. I have to leave in two.”
Jay’s shoulders dropped. “What about Lake Geneva this weekend? We have reservations at The Cove.”
Shit! CeeCee squeezed her eyes shut. “I completely spaced, baby. I’m sorry.”
“So you already told Tad yes? Cee!”
“It is a great opportunity! The label is going to start offering me more than regional gigs. The real moneymakers, not the onesie-twosies. For once in my professional life, I’m not being mommy-tracked. This is good!”
The waitress arrived with the bill. Jay handed her his Black Card as he replied. “Once again, Platinum comes before us. I have done everything within my power to keep my career based in or around the Chi so that we can spend as much time together as possible. Why can’t you do the same?”
CeeCee rolled her eyes. That was Jay’s trump card every time they had this discussion: his willingness to stay rooted in Chicago, even though his
agent Marty pleaded with him daily to relocate to New York.
“Look, I love Chicago, too. And I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made. But I need you to look at this from my perspective. For over twenty years, I’ve watched single women and virtually any man – regardless of marital status – get the chance to travel for work and expand their horizons. Not me. I was married with a kid, which meant I was overlooked for those opportunities. Now I love you, but it’s my turn to shine professionally now. You’ll understand one day.”
The waitress arrived back with the receipt. Jay scoffed as he signed off on it. “Oh, that’s right. I’m a kid so I wouldn’t understand. Wow,
Cee. Just…forget it. Enjoy Atlanta.”
Oh boy. The age thing - another one of his trumps. She rubbed his arm as she scooted closer to him. “We can still have a getaway, sort of. Come with me. Platinum’s hooking me up with a condo. We could make it just as romantic as Lake Geneva.”
He pulled his arm away from her touch and threw his cloth napkin on the table. “No thanks. I’m good. You ready to go?”
CeeCee shrugged as Jay walked out. She could never win with him when it came to her career. She followed behind him to the valet, handing the driver her ticket. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it in that way.”
Jay handed his ticket to another driver. “You always mean it in that way.”
CeeCee hugged him from behind, rubbing his chest. “Please don’t be mad. Let’s make up when we get home, okay?”
Jay released himself from CeeCee and turned to face her. “Stop tryin’ to fix this with sex. It’s a cycle! Just like with the marriage convo. We argue about your job, we fuck and then the matter’s closed until it comes up again. I am serious about you finding a better balance between your career and us or...”
CeeCee raised an eyebrow. “Or what?”
The driver arrived with his Jag. “Nevermind. I’m staying at my crib tonight,” Jay bent down and gave CeeCee a dry peck on the lips. “Good night, Cee.” He hopped in his ride.
CeeCee shook her head as she watch him squeal off into the night. Once again, Jay literally took his balls and went home when he didn’t get his way. She said to herself as her SUV arrived, “And he wants to get married? Pssh.”
All Rights Reserved
Readers, here is your only sneak peek of #CitC until it is released on Friday, March 20th. Now, keep in mind: this is an unedited work in progress so content is subject to change (although I think this excerpt is akeeper). This also contains a little profanity so if you are under 18, this is a no-no for you. Enjoy!
*****
The clock struck 6. CeeCee shut down her computer and raced down the hall with her work tote on her shoulder. She was supposed to have met Jay at Pierre’s Bistro on Clark a half hour earlier. As she was texting him at a waiting elevator, Tad popped his head out of his office. “Cee, got a sec?”
“Not really but I guess.” CeeCee sulked into Tad’s office as she stuffed her phone back in her tote.
Tad snapped his fingers as he walked to his desk. “Pierre’s with Jay tonight, right? Ugh. Sorry, girl. I’ll make this quick. Just got a call from the ATL
office. To usher in Billy’s next single Homecoming, they want to have an exclusive performance at Philips Arena in his Atlanta stomping grounds. Club Excalibur will be the site for the afterparty. The ATL team was so impressed with how you handled his Chicago and Indianapolis post-concert events this spring that they asked you to come out for it.”
CeeCee perked up. She had only managed Billy’s Midwest events. This opportunity would open her up to a new market share and fresh connections among the artist management circles. “When does it start?” Tad sat down with a cringe on his face. “Next week, but you have to be down there in two days.” CeeCee took a deep breath. “This is really short notice, Tad.”
He folded his hands in a plea. “I know. This was a bright idea that the ATL team literally came up with yesterday. A last ditch effort to save the album from dying on the charts – and it is dying a slow, slow death, as you know. They really want you, Cee. Or shall I say, your personal Jesus really wants you.” CeeCee smiled, wide eyed. “Yvette Kingston? The VP?”
“The one and only. She asked for you by name. This is a fab opportunity to integrate yourself with Billy’s homebase team. I mean, I could ask Robin to take it…”
Robin Clark was the latest events coordinator to be hired at Platinum Chicago. 27. Single. Very ambitious. She had her eye out for any opportunity to be promoted to a Senior Management position. CeeCee couldn’t let Robin have a chance at hers. She exhaled. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Tad smiled and clapped. “Fantastic! Tickets will go on sale at midnight tonight. We’re hoping they’ll be all sold out within hours, but who knows these days with Billy’s current sporadic trending. The ATL media team is already flooding Twitter, FB and the Gram with alerts as we speak. You’ll be based in Atlanta for approximately ten days, covering the time for setup at Club Excalibur, media events and the party. You’ll have a condo and a rental, all on Platinum’s tab, of course,” He winked at CeeCee as he typed on his computer. I’m sending an email, copying you, letting the ATL office know that you’ll do it. And girl, you are officially late. Jay’s fine ass is gonna kill you! Skedaddle.”
CeeCee got up and ran to the elevator. Tad was right but not for the reason he thought. Jay would be more pissed about her accepting this Atlanta gig than being late for dinner.
After pulling up to valet and almost throwing the keys to her SUV to the driver, CeeCee rushed into Pierre’s. She was wearing a ruffled cream blouse, a red pencil skirt and a pair of nosebleed black stilettos. She spotted her man sitting in a candlelit back booth in a three-piece black suit – and he did not look happy.
“I know. I’m late. I’m sorry. Tad held me up.” She kissed Jay’s clenched jaw. He stared straight ahead, fuming. “So, what’s wrong with your phone? You can’t text me?”
“Uh, I did.” CeeCee pulled out her phone to see the text she intended to send still sitting in her box. “But I forgot to hit Send when Tad called me into his office. Again, sorry.”
Jay sighed as he looked at her. “We talked about this, Cee. Your career is coming before us. It has to stop.”
“I know. I’m sorry, baby. I’m a work in progress. Besides,” CeeCee trailed her hand up his thigh and to his crotch as she leaned into his ear with a whisper. “I’ll make it up to you at home, sexy. Wear that little thing you like. Hmmm…”
A smile grew on Jay’s face as he put his arms around her waist. “You are so lucky you are fine. Come here.” They shared a passionate kiss as they waited for appetizers to arrive.
As they finished dinner and started dessert, they cuddled and sipped Pinot Grigio in the booth. During their meal, CeeCee had replayed in her mind how she would bring up the Atlanta trip. Jay was having a rare drink tonight so he was relaxed. She was ready.
CeeCee sat up and picked at the crème brûlée with her fork. “So, like I said, Tad held me up because he offered me a great opportunity.”
“Word? What’s up?”
She took a bite of the caramelized treat. “Well, Billy hasn’t been doing so hot on the charts lately, so an exclusive concert is coming up to promote his next single. I’ve been handpicked to work the afterparty.”
Jay nodded as he ate a forkful of crème brûlée. “Sounds good. So, where’s he playing? Chicago? Detroit?”
CeeCee gulped down a mouthful of Grigio. “Atlanta.”
Jay’s fork clanked against the fine china. “How long do you have to be there?”
CeeCee winced. “Ten days. I have to leave in two.”
Jay’s shoulders dropped. “What about Lake Geneva this weekend? We have reservations at The Cove.”
Shit! CeeCee squeezed her eyes shut. “I completely spaced, baby. I’m sorry.”
“So you already told Tad yes? Cee!”
“It is a great opportunity! The label is going to start offering me more than regional gigs. The real moneymakers, not the onesie-twosies. For once in my professional life, I’m not being mommy-tracked. This is good!”
The waitress arrived with the bill. Jay handed her his Black Card as he replied. “Once again, Platinum comes before us. I have done everything within my power to keep my career based in or around the Chi so that we can spend as much time together as possible. Why can’t you do the same?”
CeeCee rolled her eyes. That was Jay’s trump card every time they had this discussion: his willingness to stay rooted in Chicago, even though his
agent Marty pleaded with him daily to relocate to New York.
“Look, I love Chicago, too. And I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made. But I need you to look at this from my perspective. For over twenty years, I’ve watched single women and virtually any man – regardless of marital status – get the chance to travel for work and expand their horizons. Not me. I was married with a kid, which meant I was overlooked for those opportunities. Now I love you, but it’s my turn to shine professionally now. You’ll understand one day.”
The waitress arrived back with the receipt. Jay scoffed as he signed off on it. “Oh, that’s right. I’m a kid so I wouldn’t understand. Wow,
Cee. Just…forget it. Enjoy Atlanta.”
Oh boy. The age thing - another one of his trumps. She rubbed his arm as she scooted closer to him. “We can still have a getaway, sort of. Come with me. Platinum’s hooking me up with a condo. We could make it just as romantic as Lake Geneva.”
He pulled his arm away from her touch and threw his cloth napkin on the table. “No thanks. I’m good. You ready to go?”
CeeCee shrugged as Jay walked out. She could never win with him when it came to her career. She followed behind him to the valet, handing the driver her ticket. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it in that way.”
Jay handed his ticket to another driver. “You always mean it in that way.”
CeeCee hugged him from behind, rubbing his chest. “Please don’t be mad. Let’s make up when we get home, okay?”
Jay released himself from CeeCee and turned to face her. “Stop tryin’ to fix this with sex. It’s a cycle! Just like with the marriage convo. We argue about your job, we fuck and then the matter’s closed until it comes up again. I am serious about you finding a better balance between your career and us or...”
CeeCee raised an eyebrow. “Or what?”
The driver arrived with his Jag. “Nevermind. I’m staying at my crib tonight,” Jay bent down and gave CeeCee a dry peck on the lips. “Good night, Cee.” He hopped in his ride.
CeeCee shook her head as she watch him squeal off into the night. Once again, Jay literally took his balls and went home when he didn’t get his way. She said to herself as her SUV arrived, “And he wants to get married? Pssh.”
Unpublished Work © 2015 Kellee Forkenbrock (a/k/a Eliza David)
All Rights Reserved
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