The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (37 page)

Sylvia Stanton approached each step as if she were a supermodel on a Gucci runway. She sported a gold wreath atop her hair, which was now in a bun. Sheathed in a gold and white print, she flaunted a Roman toga with deep, revealing slits on each side. When she hit the landing and was in full view, she raised her arhis, letting the toga fall gently to the floor. And though he’d seen her in the nude before, he gasped.
Good God!
Underneath, she wore a two-piece ensemble, consisting of little more than a gold halter with gold sequins and fringes and a thong to match. The laces, which caressed her thick brown calves almost made Terrance, forget the ills and misfortunes, which had befallen them. There wasn’t an Egyptian queen or Roman goddess who could hold a candle to Sylvia Stanton. She was simply gorgeous. And then for no reason, he searched her eyes, the eyes which only hours earlier were so animated, so full of life were once again oddly vacant, empty, devoid of life.

“I’ve been saving this for you, Terrance. How do you like it?” she asked. She made her way to the sofa where Terrance sat. Nuzzling his ear, she started to unbutton his shirt. Grabbing her hands, he spoke to her, gently but firmly! “You are amazingly beautiful, Sylvia, even more beautiful without the outfit. There’s a beauty inside of you that makes you the person you are, the person that made your students adore you so. That inner beauty is what attracted me to you, from the very beginning. But there’s also something else—something wrong, Sill. There’s eating you up inside, something has deeply hurt you, maybe even traumatized you and it’s eaten away at you so long that it’s making you, well—ill. Let’s you and I go and talk to someone that knows about these things, maybe get to the bottom of all this, find out what’s wrong so we can make it right.”

“Oh, so now you’re my therapist? Did you think I put this outfit on so I can receive bargain basement counseling at a discount price? Tell you what, Mr. Daniels, I’ll get help when you get help. Ask yourself why you need the approval of more than one woman to consider yourself a man. Are you that insecure? All I’m trying to do is hold on to the one man that I love and after months of baiting, then luring me to the point where he can screw me he decides he doesn’t want to play anymore. Now, you need your space, your independence, as you call it. You’re nothing but a cold, calloused, insensitive dog.”

Terrance gasped. “Sill, I’m leaving. I’ve had enough for one day.” He pushed her off him and went for the suitcase, which was still sitting at the door. “When you decide to get some help, call me. You know that I love you and will be glad to go with you. That’s the only way I’d be willing to continue in this relationship.”

“Let me ask you one thing before you step out that door, Terrance Daniels,” she said. “How is it that you can speak your mind and no matter how angry I get, I listen to you and try to work things out but when I disagree with what you say, there’s no debate? You just get angry and leave, case closed. My way or the highway. Explain that to me.”

Terrance ignored her. “Like I said before, when you decide to get help call me,” Terrance said picking up the suitcase.

“Terrance Daniels you need to bring your little scrawny ass back in here. You already know that you’re not leaving me. Terrance, please don’t make me cry again.”

“I love you, Sylvia.” Terrance closed the door behind him.

Sylvia still attired in halter top, thong and heels opened the front door for all to see. Neighbors started in disbelief but she saw no one but Ter-rance.”Damn you, Terrance. OK, I was wrong. I was wrong about everything. Damn, what more do you want. What? You want to rape me again?
Here,
rape me, then.”

With the front door wide open, Sylvia Stanton pulled off the thong retreated to the living room and bent, spread eagle over the sofa. “Go ahead, Terrance, you can have me. C’mon, rape me again, if it’s good for you, baby, then just keep raping me. I can take it. Just don’t leave me.” When she heard the Volkswagen roar out of the parking space, she grabbed her toga and ran back to the door where the neighbors still stood, watching in amazement. Embarrassed, she yelled: “Get that license plate number. That man just raped me.” Dressed in her six-inch heels, thong and halter-top, Sylvia Stanton was somehow less than convincing.

During the next two months, William immersed himself in his work, refining his oral presentation for prospective clients and took courses in assertive-ness training and public speaking at Melinda’s both of which were recommended, somewhat ironically by Melinda.

In the month since the trip, William grabbed three new accounts and was on the verge of closing on a fourth. He had been named, ‘Employee of the Month,’ for the third consecutive month, and was a shoo-in to receive the award again this month. To say he was hot was an understatement. He was in the zone.

And Ol’ Man Morris, who always kept abreast, was well aware of William’s recent success and was quick to offer him a small bonus for each of the new accounts. William, however, adhering to Melinda’s plan declined the bonuses in favor of a lump sum stock option. Morris, quick to realize a gold mine, not only agreed to William’s request but restructured his contract for the second time in a manner of months, giving him a thirteen per-cent share of the company making William the largest minority shareholder.

Morris knew the incentive would have a dual effect. First, it would keep William productive. After all, the more the agency brought in, the higher the shares; thus making William’s holdings even more valuable.

The move also eliminated Morris having to consider making William a partner in the very near future. And although he’d consider making the move over the past few months, there were already rumors about preferential treatment among some of his other employees and a few of the board members who were in league with Jack Thomas coup to be the next senior partner based solely on seniority.

Aware of the politics, which sought to disclaim William’s recent success, Melinda had suggested letting an article leak to her good friend Val who just happened to be the financial editor for the Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta’s largest daily newspaper. That way William’s success would be known throughout the Atlanta business community and any thought of moving someone ahead of him could very shine a negative light on the firm as well as result in a possible discrimination suit and the last thing a firm with billions of dollars in holdings in Third World countries needed was a lawsuit screaming discrimination. But that was not the only reason Melinda deemed the leak important. William’s name needed to become a household name in the days ahead if there was any chance of success for her plan. These days she was so overwhelmed with implementing her strategy, taking care of the usual day-to-day routines that made the Atlanta branch of Hill and Morris run smoothly that she had little time for herself let alone anything else including herself. Still, she maintained her regular routine at the gym. By the time she reached home at night she was so exhausted that she could do little but crawl in the bed and call it a day. She saw little of William these days outside of the office and even less of him in the office as he was constantly on the go, driven by a passion to be the best in his field despite the grumbling from Jack Thomas who viewed William as little more than a token nigga and the recipient of affirmative action on the corporate level.

Still, he was content to keep this to himself and a few of the board members who agreed but the anonymosity was there. And when the Ol’ Man made it a point to fly down shortly after William picked up his fourth consecutive, ‘Employee-of-the-Month Award’, and give it to him in person at the quarterly meeting, jack Thomas was fuming. After all, he’d been with Hill and Morris for twenty-five years and Morris had never given him anything resembling an award and he’d led the company in sales almost from it’s inception. What was more, was that during the meeting and in spite of the impending flak sure to come, the Ol’ Man went so far as to offer William Stanton a full partnership in the firm of Hill and Morris, effective immediately.

Upon hearing this, a few of the board gasped but only because it had come as such a complete surprise. Overall, most of them that had come to know him over the years were well aware of his achievements and had grown to respect William. And were as a whole happy for him.

Jack Thomas, on the other hand, was outraged and let it be known in no uncertain terms that the whole thing was nothing but a goddamn charade. And well that he’d earned that position and, ‘would never, not in this lifetime, ever work for a nigga’.

In spite of the whole drug trafficking affair that consumed William whenever he thought of the Ol’ Man he’d never felt closer to Mr. Morris than he did that day in the board room of Hill and Morris when the Ol’ Man visibly shaken by Jack Thomas’, outburst as anyone in the room took a minute before replying.

“Well, Jack, what can I say? As long as I’ve known you you’ve been a loyal and valuable employee of Hill and Morris. You’ve always been a top-flight accent representative. If you had only been as good a man as you were a rep then I may have been faced with a dilemma in naming a partner but as your discourteous manner has shown you still have a ways to go. Since you’ve decided that you can’t work for the man I’ve chosen to succeed me I again

thank you for your loyal service over the years and will make sure that you receive a first class recommendation.”

William smiled appreciatively and shook Morris’ hand before addressing the board members.

“First of all, I’d like to show my gratitude to Mr. Morris, my mentor, for taking a chance on me and then having the patience to show me the ropes during my tenure. He has always been there when I needed the support. In many ways he has been more than a mentor. He has also been somewhat of a father figure to me. Again, I appreciate his offer and I know some others would leap at this opportunity, (although I won’t mention any names), but I must admit that.. .well, it comes somewhat of as a shock and although I would love to have the opportunity to take over the reigns when Mr. Morris chooses to retire it’s not a decision that I can just say yes to that easily. I currently have twenty some odd accounts open and I would like to think that my clients have their faith not just in Hill and Morris but also in me. I, would therefore hate to abandon them when they have put their trust in me. Please give me a few days to see if I can’t reassign some of my more tedious accounts and let me get back to you,” William said turning to Mr. Morris who seemed more shocked by this display of uncertainty on William’s part than he had by Jack Thomas’ theatrics.

Morris returned to the podium.

“Always so deliberate, so methodical,” he smiled at William and then the board members. “I’m sure we’ll be receiving William’s assent within the next day or two,” he smiled, returning his gaze to William.

“Now, if there are no further questions then please excuse me. I have a flight to catch.” And with that the Ol’ Man shook William’s hand, then leaned over and whispered into William’s ear. “I hope you don’t think I’m taking no for an answer,” and William noticed that he wasn’t smiling now. Call me on Wednesday and give me your decision.

No sooner than Morris left, William realized the embarrassment his indeci-siveness caused the Ol’ Man and though he hadn’t meant to, he could hardly accept the position and still be in accordance with Melinda’s plan. Oh God, how he hoped she knew what she was doing. If she didn’t the whole damn thing was liable to blow up in their faces.

Anxiety was beginning to play a large part in his attitude and on returning to the office he hardly heard the congratulations or felt the countless pats on the back. His thoughts were somewhere else completely. And Melinda bore the brunt of his angst.

By the time Wednesday rolled around he had received word that Morris wanted to see him in person and not knowing what the gist of the meeting was he was even more nervous than he’d been when he’d been offered the partnership. Entering his office Wednesday morning there were no cordial greetings or attention given to Melinda’s attire. It was just as it had been for the past two days and was a side Melinda had never seen before. She wondered if this was the same man that had placed his hand on her thigh ever so gently, told her he loved her and proposed to her all in the same evening. Stepping into the office on Wednesday morning William Stanton threw his London Fog over the chair in the outer office and barked at his assistant.

“Get in touch with Valerie at the paper! Ask her to let you have a copy of the article before it goes to print,” he proceeded almost breathlessly.

“Anything else, Mr. Stanton?” William not used to being referred to so formally by Melinda, suddenly realized the solemn nature of his own tone and demands and started to apologize when Melinda stopped him.

“Forgive me, Melinda, I don’t know what’s gotten into—”

“No need to explain, William, I understand. I’ll take care of everything.
Just relax, William. Relax.”

Melinda hit the trunk release as she pulled up in front of the airport terminal. William jumped out, grabbed his briefcase, leather duffel bag and headed for the entrance.

“William,” she cried.

William turned, noticed Melinda for what seemed the first time, so preoccupied, was he. He walked back to where she was standing, put his bags down, hugged her briefly and looked at her as if he’d never seen her before. Afterward, he held her as though their parting was permanent instead of only until evening when she would return to pick him up.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been sort of preoccupied as of late,” William confessed lamely.

“So I’ve noticed. I guess I should have kept you with me this weekend. I’m sure I could have taken your mind off of all of this,” Melinda said.

“It’s never too late,” William, replied. “What about tonight?”

“We’ll see,” Melinda said, smiling.

Melinda, now all smiles, waved goodbye as a traffic cop gestured for her to move the BMW. William broke into a quick smile.

“See ya at six.”

Forty-five minutes later, Melinda arrived back at the office and checked the voice mail. Full, Melinda returned the ones she deemed important. She then contacted the
Constitution,
the paper, and spoke to Val who assured her she would send a copy of the article by courier as soon as her editor was finished proofing it. She then called the real estate broker and set up the closing for the condominium.