CHAPTER ONE-1
1216 Words
CHAPTER ONE
Thirty-four-year-old Georgia Arnett held her breath as she followed Teddy Spears through the side gate of the gigantic, brown-bricked mansion.
“Don’t be nervous.” The fifty-eight-year-old Teddy smiled back at Georgia with his brown skin glimmering in the moonlight. “You got this, girl.” He winked at her, holding the folder to his side.
“I wish I could be as confident as you.” Her leather pumps click-clacked on the pebbled walkway that led to the back patio. “Hold on.” She stooped over. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“What’s going on, huh?” Teddy caressed her hand but instead of comforting her, it made her feel sicker. “Everything’s gonna be fine.” He touched a strand of her long, straight hair. “You trust me, don’t you?”
She swallowed. “Yeah.”
“Then you shouldn’t be nervous.” He pulled her up straight. “A woman as beautiful and charming as you will have them eating out of her hands, but you gotta keep it together, baby girl. If you psych yourself out then everything will go wrong. You don’t want that, do you?”
Hell no. She had the chance of a lifetime in claiming the bulk of Anthony Spears’ estate as her own, and nothing would stand in her way.
She stuck her chest out and shook the fear away.
No matter what it took, Georgia Arnett would get her piece of the pie.
“I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and fixed the back of her clingy, black dress. “Let’s go.”
“That’s my girl.”
Jazzy music, chattering, and laughter greeted them when they got to the crowded patio. Thanks to the Santa Barbara night breeze, Georgia got a whiff of a variety of smells such as cinnamon, honey, and some Italian meat dish. She loved Italian food more than life itself so she recognized the scent of tomato and vinegar.
There were at least a hundred people. Georgia knew they had to be Santa Barbara’s most revered and richest citizens.
“Ooh.” Georgia shuddered. “I hate rich folks. They’re so stuck up.”
The guests mingled with glasses of champagne and small plates of hors d'oeuvres.
Georgia scowled as a pale, redheaded woman took a glass of champagne from a waiter and dismissed him as if he were a dog. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“You have to do this.” Teddy snatched her hand. “Remember, this isn’t just about you but me too. Now if you want that money then I suggest you suck it up and start to like rich folks.” He let go of her hand. “Besides, you’ll be one after tonight.”
“Are you sure this is gonna work out?”
Stiff a*s male and female servers walked through the guests with trays as people snatched food and drinks without even acknowledging the service.
“You can leave right now if you can’t hang.” Teddy crossed his arms. “Don’t you want this life? Isn’t it what you’ve always dreamed? This is your chance.” He pinched her chin. “It’s about to be handed to you, and you won’t have to do a damn thing.”
“Everyone, can I have your attention?” A regal, black woman, who carried herself with mature grace even though she looked young, stood from the table in the center of the patio. With her glowing, mocha-toned skin, and shoulder-length, auburn hair, she demanded attention. “I want to make a birthday toast to our dear Anthony.” She lifted her glass of champagne and saluted the dead man’s memory.
“Is that Wanda Spears?” Georgia whispered.
“Yep.” Teddy nodded.
“Jesus.” Georgia stared at Anthony’s enchanting widow. “Isn’t she in her late fifties?”
He nodded again.
Georgia did a double take at Wanda. “She looks almost as young as I do.”
“So I say on behalf of Anthony...” Wanda held her glass up higher, her light-brown eyes twinkling under the lights. “Thank you all for being here and celebrating this beautiful day. To Anthony!”
“To Anthony!” The audience lifted their glasses and howled.
A younger man and woman who appeared around their late twenties or early thirties, sat at the table where Wanda stood.
“Is that your sister’s son? Ulysses?” Georgia nudged Teddy as she pointed to the young man.
“Yeah, that’s him.” Teddy exhaled.
Georgia observed the handsome, brown-skinned stranger. “I see good looks run in the family, hmm?”
Teddy rolled his eyes.
“What?” Georgia tried to decipher Teddy’s weird expression. “You two don’t get along or something?”
“The boy’s a couple cigarettes short of a carton if you ask me.” Teddy shifted his weight to one side. “Ever since he came to live with Anthony after his momma died in that car accident he hasn’t been right. He was just sixteen and everyone else said he was going through a phase, but I think the boy’s nuts.” He squinted. “Course no one listens to me about him. I don’t think he ever got over what happened to my sister.”
“I can imagine how hard it would be for him to get over his mother’s death. How old is he?”
Teddy cleared his throat. “He’s your age.”
The clean-cut Ulysses Spears looked dashing in his dark suit that highlighted his striking, caramel skin.
Teddy escorted Georgia to one of the food tables and handed her a small bowl of sliced strawberries.
She bit into a huge piece. “How come you didn’t take Ulysses in?”
Teddy grabbed a chocolate off a tray and bit into it. “Anthony felt it was best if he raised him since he had a wife. Remember what I said about everyone. Don’t go getting attached.” He sucked chocolate from his thumb. “You’re here for one reason and one reason only. To get that—”
“Money.” Georgia wobbled her head, chewing. “I know.”
Teddy got another chocolate. “Don’t forget it.”
Georgia glanced at the table where Wanda and Ulysses sat. This time she focused on the gorgeous, caramel-toned woman who sat beside Ulysses with her lips poked out and her arms crossed.
“Is that Wanda’s daughter?” Georgia asked Teddy.
“Yep, that’s Osana.”
Osana Royal sipped from her glass of champagne and made another sour face.
“Anthony raised her as if she were his own.” Teddy clasped his hands. “She loved him to death, but she and Wanda don’t get along at all. Wanda tries to make amends but the more she tries, the more Osana resents her.”
Georgia bit into another strawberry, flinching at the bitter-sweetness. “Why?”
Teddy flicked his hand as if he couldn't care less. “Osana always felt like Wanda wasn’t there for her. She’s carrying a bunch of baggage from her childhood because her dad ran off.”
“Damn, I haven’t been here an hour yet and there’s enough drama to write a book.”
“I told you this family is a mess.” Teddy glanced around. “They put on this facade like they’re some wonderful family in public but all this s**t goes on behind closed doors. You gotta watch Osana.” He whistled, shaking his head. “You talk about a bitch.”
Georgia smacked her lips. “I’m not scared of her.”
“I mean it, Georgia. She was sweet as candy when Anthony was alive but it’s like she doesn’t give a damn about anyone but herself now.”
Osana looked around with her mouth crooked while twirling a strand of her long, straight, brown hair.
“Oh yes.” Georgia nodded. “I definitely see the ‘b***h’ in her. But, I can handle her, don’t worry.”
“I hope so because Osana’s gonna give you hell.” Teddy pulled at his sleeve. “You can believe that.”
“Well, let’s get this show on the road.” Georgia ran her hands through her hair. “It’s time they meet Miss Georgia Arnett.”
They headed for the table.
****
- Writer
