The Bad Twin (6 page)

“My first love will always be acting, but I’ve wanted to record a CD for sometime now. Since I’m in between films, this is the perfect time.”

“Before you go, do you have anything else you would like to share with our readers?”

Rose took the last sip of her drink and responded, “Yes.  Learn how to look beyond a person’s faults and try to love one another unconditionally.”

Lisa stood up and shook Rose’s hand. “Thank you again for your interview and we’ll be in contact with your publicist. We hope you’ll be satisfied with the article and I do wish you and your sister much success in your reconciliation efforts.”

“Thank you. You’re good at what you do, and I hope your boss recognizes it.”

Lisa smiled. “I hope so too. I’ll know when it’s time for me to get my next raise.”

After she picked up her SUV from the valet, she decided to call Lance. “Can you meet me at your house?”

“I’m in the middle of a recording session; however you could stop by the studio. There are a couple of people I want you to meet anyway,” Lance said.

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea. Too many people shouldn’t see us together.”

“Rose. I don’t have time to argue with you. We’re working on CD together, so no one would be the wiser. Your choice, but hey, I have to go.”

Rose hung up and headed toward the studio.

VIOLET

Violet invited Janice to spend the weekend at her place. They needed to finalize the celebrity charity ball events.  She stopped at the grocery store to buy a couple of items. All of the lines at the cash registers were long. She finally decided on a line near the door. While she waited to be checked out, the guy behind her tried to strike up a conversation. She turned around and was immediately captivated by his gorgeous features. He looked to be about six-six, bald, with a beaming smile and mahogany skin as smooth as butter.

It had been awhile since she felt like flirting and his smile was enough reason to start anew. “Hi. I’m doing just lovely. Wish I didn’t have to stand in this long line though.”

He agreed and introduced himself. “I’m Marcus.”

“I’m Violet. Nice to meet you.”

He extended his hand. “No. The pleasure is all mine. You look familiar.”

“People confuse me with my sister all of the time.” Violet felt the electricity that sparked between them after they shook hands.

The line continued to move up. Violet enjoyed their conversation. Before long it was her turn to check out.

“Ms. Violet, thank you for making the time in line an enjoyable one.”

She smiled as she responded, “No problem mon, as they say in Jamaica.”

He laughed and said, “Jamaica. I’ve been there a few times.”

She looked for her wallet so she could pay for her items. She normally was more prepared, but she was distracted this time.  She turned to the cashier and said, “Give me one second and I’ll give you my card.”

As she was digging through her purse, he reached out and passed her a card. “While you’re in your purse, why don’t you drop this in there. That way I’ll know you have it.”

She looked up and he had a big mischievous grin on his face. “I’ll be sure to find it later.”

People behind them started mumbling and faking coughs as if they were aggravated.

Marcus stated, “I hope it’s sooner than later. Guess we better move you along, before we get ambushed.”

She laughed, but agreed while paying for her groceries. When she walked out, she could feel a set of eyes on her back. She put a little twitch in her walk just for him. She headed home.

***

She and Janice pulled up in her driveway at almost the same time. She rolled down her window and shouted, “You’re just in time to help me take in the groceries.”

Janice moaned. “Something told me to wait thirty more minutes.”

As they unpacked the groceries, Violet told her about the guy she met while standing in line. “He is so tall. He makes your brother look like a dwarf.”

“Hmmm. So what’s his name again?”

“Marcus.”

“Marcus what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Girl where is his card, so I can see who you’re all goo goo eyes for?”

“It’s in my purse. I haven’t even looked at it since he handed it to me. I just dropped it in. I’ll look at it later.”

Janice found her purse and handed it to her. “Oh no you don’t. You won’t get any work out of me, until you find the card and tell me exactly who this Marcus person is.”

Violet attempted to find it in her purse. She ended up pouring the contents of her purse on the kitchen counter, before she could find the card. “Here it is.”

Before she could read it, Janice snatched it out of her hand. “Girl, do you know who he is? He is the one and only Marcus Jameson. He’s one of the best forwards in the professional basketball league.”

“You’re kidding me right?”

“No, look for yourself. That’s his business card and he has included his home number and personal email address.” Janice snapped her finger in the air twice. “You go girl.”

Violet smiled. “Hmm. I might have to give Mr. Sexy Chocolate a call, but not because he plays basketball either. He was a gentleman and he has a great sense of humor.”

Janice acted as if she didn’t believe a word of what she said. “Yeah. Right. You were too busy being captivated by his radiant smile.”

“I want to call him, but I’m not sure I’m ready to get back in the dating scene.”

“Girl, you better forget David. It has been long enough and it’s about time you get back in the dating scene.”

“I guess you’re right.” Violet didn’t inform Janice about the card David sent or the phone calls.

“There’s no guessing to it. I know I’m right. We need to hurry up and work on the stuff for the ball, because Saturday we are going shopping.”

“I have enough things in my closet already.”

“The stuff you have in your closet is for old women. You’re still in your twenties and should dress like it.  You know I don’t agree with Rose on anything, but this is one area we both agree on. I will have you looking like you walked off a Paris runway.”

“I shouldn’t have told you. Now you’re going to have me looking like a grand diva.”

“You are a Diva. Well you’re a sister to one anyway.”

They both laughed. They spent the rest of the night going over things for the ball. The next morning they headed to the Galleria. Violet couldn’t remember having so much fun shopping.  “Janice, are you sure I need this outfit? I’ve bought six already.”

“Yes, I’m sure. Try it on. I bet red looks good on you.”

“Well, I think we are being premature about all of this; what if he doesn’t ask me

out?”

“What if he does? I want you to be prepared. Have you ever thought about asking him out?”

“No. Never. I’m old-fashioned. I think the man should still be the one to ask the woman out, that is; if he’s interested.”

Janice nodded her head and agreed. “If he doesn’t ask you, somebody will.”

Violet tried the dress on and was amazed at what she saw in the mirror. She felt a confidence she didn’t know she had. She strutted out to the waiting area, so Janice could give her opinion. She twirled around a couple of times and asked, “So what do you think?”

Janice whistled. “Watch out now. I told you I was going to have you looking like a model before it was all over with.”

“You really think I look good?”

Janice got up and turned Violet around toward the mirror. “Look at you. You are gorgeous. I don’t know how you can look at yourself and not see it.”

Violet posed in front of the mirror. “I think I look okay, but Rose has always been the glamorous one.”

“You both look alike. If she’s glamorous, so are you. I swear, sometimes I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

“Compared to Rose, I just feel so plain.”

“Face it. You are drop dead gorgeous. If you don’t believe me, just watch the reaction you get next week when you start wearing some of your new outfits to work. We do need to do something to your hair though.”

Violet glided her fingers through her ponytail. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

“Let’s just say, give me two hours and you’ll feel like a new woman.”

“Sounds like you have your work cut out for you.”

Violet continued to try on more outfits. She decided on two evening dresses and three pantsuits. After shopping for shoes, they both agreed on an early dinner at a national seafood restaurant located around the corner from the Galleria.

ROSE

Rose watched Lance as he put the final touches on a track he was working on. It was still early, but he had been in the studio for over twenty hours and hadn’t had any sleep.  Everyone else had been there just as long and they were all leaving for the night. “Bye Rose. Thanks for singing backup, if you need us for your album, let Lance know,” said one of the guys in the popular group, Jaded, as he and the rest of the group were leaving.

Rose locked the door behind them before walking over to massage Lance’s shoulders.  He moaned and moved his head from side to side and said, “Don’t stop. It feels good.”

Rose said, “I know you’re tired. Why don’t I go out and get us something to eat, while you finish up here?”

Lance turned around in his chair and put his hands on each side of her hips and pulled her toward him. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you sit on my lap?”

“Lance. Anybody can walk in.”

“Everyone is gone for at least the next couple of hours.”

Rose pulled up her skirt and sat on his lap. “Well in that case, what are we waiting for?”

They made beautiful music of their own. By the time everyone else returned to the studio, they had cleaned themselves up and were about to leave. “You guys lock up when you finish. A copy of the track is on the CD rack.”

Lance walked Rose to her car. “Are you sure you don’t want to come over to the house?  I only need a couple of hours of sleep and then I’ll have all the time you need.”

Rose hugged and gave him a kiss on the mouth. In between kisses she said, “Baby. I’m sure. I need to go take care of some things anyway.”

Lance had a surprised look on his face after she kissed him. “Not that I’m complaining, but I’m surprised you kissed me out in public.”

“I couldn’t resist,” Rose said and squeezed his butt before getting in her car. “You’re just so irresistible.”

“You are something else. Call me later.”

“I will.” She blew him a kiss and headed down the freeway toward her beachfront house.

Her phone rang and she picked up thinking it was Lance calling her from his cell phone. “Hi Dear.”

“This is your mother.”

Rose startled blurted out, “Hi Mom. I thought you were somebody else.”

“Somebody else, like your dear husband?”

“Yes. Who else?” she lied.

“Just checking. You don’t think I know anything, but I know you guys don’t have a real marriage.”

Rose was stuck behind a slow moving car, and couldn’t get over because of the cars speeding by her. “Do we have to get into this right now? By the way, I’m doing lovely and how are you Mom?” Rose said, trying to change the subject.

“Don’t get smart with me young lady. I might be old, but I can still break you down a peg or two. I’m not one of your adoring fans,” Pearle stated.

“I’m sorry.”

“Have you talked to your sister?”

The traffic suddenly stopped. Rose blurted, “Darn.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. Uh. No. I haven’t. I went to see her a couple of weeks ago, but we haven’t talked since. Why?”

“That’s your sister for God’s sake. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you girls. Lord knows I taught you better than this.”

“I tried talking to her, even after she lied on me to the press.”

“I read the article and your sister didn’t lie. It doesn’t make it right for her to air the family business like she did, but the article is truthful.”

Rose shocked at Pearle’s comments asked, “How could you take her side? She told them about David and everything.”

Pearle got silent. For a moment, Rose thought they had lost their connection. Pearle broke the silence and said, “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I feel like it’s my entire fault.”

“What do you mean?”

“I shouldn’t have made you girls so competitive growing up. I tried to shower you both with lots of love and attention. I tried to teach you the importance of family.”

Rose decided to take a side road.  To avoid missing her exit, she had to cut someone off. The angry motorist blew his horn at her. Rose said, “We’re just going through some things right now. We’ll work them out.”

Rose heard Pearle sniffle. Pearle said, “I don’t know about that. You really hurt Violet. You shouldn’t have done what you did.”