Hate the Game

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

“Are you serious?” Thirty-five-year-old Leslie Whatley stared at Osana Royal with her mouth open in mid-chew.

“You can’t be surprised.” Osana bit into a cracker covered in French dip, her diamond bracelet setting her gorgeous, caramel-brown skin on fire. “Who else would I ask?”

“I couldn’t have heard her right.” Leslie glanced at her boyfriend Morgan Christian as he sipped white wine in the wooden chair beside her.

The group lounged around on the luxurious furniture of Leslie’s rooftop mansion, enjoying the nighttime view of Santa Barbara’s skyline.

“Girl, you’re my best friend.” Osana took Shad’s hand, her coffee-brown eyes brightening. “Marrying Shad will make me the happiest woman in the world.”

Shad’s lips spread into a smile under his ebony beard.

“Before him, I never thought being this happy was possible.” A tear formed in Osana’s eye. “My wedding day wouldn’t be complete unless you’re a big part of it.”

“But your Maid of Honor, Osana?” Leslie choked getting the words out. “I’m flattered but shouldn’t you ask someone in your family?”

“Like who?”

“What about Georgia?” Leslie got her glass from the coffee table.

Osana turned her head left and right. “Did she really just say that?”

“She did.” Morgan grinned.

Leslie shrugged. “Well, she is your sister—”

“No, no.” Osana waved her manicured finger. “Once and for all Georgia is my deceased stepfather’s daughter. How in your world is that a relation?”

“Maybe not blood related but you’re still connected to her,” Leslie said. “She might feel slighted if you ask me over her.”

“Please.” Osana smacked her lips. “Georgia knows not to expect anything from me. She’s lucky her a*s is getting an invitation to the wedding and I wouldn’t be doing that if Momma wasn’t squawking.” She shook her head to push her hair off her shoulders. “I want you.”

“What can I say?” Leslie jumped up, scampering past the table. “I love you.” She pulled Osana into a hug.

“I love you too, girl.” Osana stroked Leslie’s shoulder-length, copper-brown hair. “Now, thank you for a lovely evening, but Shad and I have our own business to tend to.”

Shad stood, pulling at his blazer. “I can’t tell you how much I love your new place, Leslie.” He glanced around, buttoning his jacket. “Gotten used to being rich yet?”

“Please.” Osana scoffed. “I have to remind this child every second she’s now a part of the upper crust. Poor thing’s still shopping at Walmart.”

“Hey.” Morgan held a playful scowl. “I shop at Walmart. Just because we’re rich doesn’t mean we don’t like deals.”

“Here, here,” Shad said. “Osana seems to think just because you have money you need to throw it away.”

“What good is having it if you don’t spend it on the best in life?” She took a loud gulp from her glass. “Welcome to the high life, Leslie!” She hooted. “Can’t believe it’s been three months since you won the lottery.”

“That’s not all that’s happened in the last three months.” Morgan stood, grabbing Leslie’s waist. “It’s our three month anniversary too.” He kissed her nose, and she ran her hands through his short, platinum blond tresses.

“Has it been three months already?” She nuzzled her head into his chest, his apricot cologne tickling her nostrils.

“Yep.” He tightened his arms around her. “Feels like only yesterday when we had our first date.”

She stared into his powder-blue eyes.

“You have me to thank for this union, remember?” Osana boasted. “If it weren’t for Morgan being my friend you two never would’ve met.”

“And I was a fool not to ask you out sooner.” He lay his fleshy lips over Leslie’s mouth.

Osana cleared her throat. “Can’t you wait until Shad and I are off the roof before you hit it?”

“Osana.” Leslie swatted at her.

Morgan laughed, wiping Leslie’s lipstick from his mouth.

“We’d better get on out of here.” Shad kissed Leslie’s cheek. “Thanks for having us. Oh I forgot.” He gestured at Morgan. “I wanted to show you the new phone app Swipe Play’s developing. It’s in the beta stage but you’ll be the first to see it.”

“Wow, man.” Morgan slapped Shad’s back. “I’m honored.”

“Check this out.” Shad took out his phone. “See—”

“Hey.” Osana patted Shad’s back. “Why don’t you guys go inside? I wanna talk to Leslie before we go.”

“Cool with me.” Shad kissed Osana then followed Morgan off the roof.

“Something up?” Leslie gathered the plates off the table.

“Girl, put those down.” Osana snatched them. “You got a maid for that.”

“Sorry.” Leslie sighed. “It’s hard getting used to being rich.”

“I’ve never met anyone like you.” Osana set down the plates and put her arm around Leslie’s shoulders. “Most people would kill to be rich.”

“I’m grateful don’t get me wrong.” Leslie pushed her hair behind her ears and crossed her arms. “Just going to take time to adjust.” She looked upon the trail of lights that lit up the nearby neighborhoods. “I love Santa Barbara nights.” A breeze brushed her cheek. “Sometimes I sleep out here because it’s so beautiful.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m confused about Morgan.”

Osana moved her arm from Leslie’s shoulders. “Why are you confused?”

“Guess I’m not sure about the relationship. I keep wondering why he wants me when he could have any woman in the world.”

“How could you wonder why? You’re a sexy, beautiful, smart, and kind woman. He’d be a fool not to want you.”

“But, he used to see me all the time when he’d come to your place and he never once asked me out. I feel like he’s here because I won money.”

“Seriously?” Osana swept her hair over one shoulder. “His family owns Food Hut, one of the biggest supermarket chains in the nation. Don’t take this the wrong way but your sixty million wouldn’t make a dent in Morgan’s pockets.”

“I didn’t mean he’s with me for my money.” She rolled her eyes. “I meant that it’s a status thing it seems. Like before I won the money, I wasn’t good enough and now I am.”

“Do you see the way he looks at you? His face lights up.”

Leslie lowered her head.

“I’ve known Morgan for years and he doesn’t lead women on. Trust me. If he’s here, it’s because he wants to be.”

Leslie fidgeted, scratching her head. “I still have question marks.”

“Look.” Osana raised her head, sighing. “You’re high society now. You gotta understand that appearances mean a lot for people like Morgan, Shad, and I. With money there comes expectations.”

“So what you’re saying is I’m right?” Leslie moved her foot back and forth on the slate floor. “That I wasn’t good enough until I had money.”

“I’m saying that Morgan has always liked you. Don’t hold it against him for how he approached.” Osana winked. “Just be glad he did.”

She swung her arms. “I was more comfortable before.”

“Oh, you have a lot to learn about our world, Leslie.” Osana twisted to the table and got her glass. “The first lesson is to remember that whoever said money can’t buy happiness was a fool.”

Leslie laughed.

****

“Wow, man.” Morgan whistled, stunned at the app Shad had shown him. “Once again you’ve got your eye on a hit.”

“I hope so.” Shad put his phone in his back pocket and sat on the chaise lounge in Leslie’s den. “Everyone at the company can’t wait until it rolls out. It’s about a year away.”

“That’s great.” Morgan clasped his large hands, lines of worry and distress penetrating his diamond-shaped face.

“Okay, what’s wrong?” Shad widened his legs and sat forward. “You seem weird.”

Morgan’s yellow eyebrows rose. “Is it that obvious?”

“Something going on with you and Leslie because she seemed kinda funny too.”

“We’ve only been together for three months, but I care about her so much.”

Shad smiled.

“I’m in love with her, and I can’t wait to be around her when we’re apart. I’d do anything for her, and just her smile can make a horrible day better.”

Shad sat back, stroking his chin. “That’s sweet.”

“The problem is I don’t think she believes how much I care. She thinks I look down on her, but I don’t.”

“Sometimes you have to show how you feel. You can’t always say it.”

Morgan rubbed the thighs of his jeans, avoiding eye contact. “We haven’t made love yet.”

“What did you say?” Shad’s mouth fell open. “You and Leslie haven’t had s*x?”

Morgan shook his head.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“I wouldn’t kid about this.” Morgan leaned to the side, propping his hand on his head. “I’ve never gone this long without sex.”

“Woo, wee!” Shad whistled, grimacing. “Three months? I’d die. There’s no way in the world I could go that long. s**t, Osana and I can’t go three days without screwing. Three months would kill us.”

“That’s what’s bothering me. How can she be into me if she doesn’t want to have s*x?”

“You can’t sit around wondering what’s going on. Have you talked to her about it?”

“What if she gets mad?”

“You’re the one who’s been waiting for three months.” Shad twisted his mouth. “It’s you that should be mad. Talk to her, man.”

“I will.” Morgan stood. “As soon as you and Osana leave.”

“Well, let us get out of your way.” Shad stood.

“I got a better idea. Why talk?” Morgan rubbed his hands together. “I’ll turn on the heat and see how she responds.”

“Ah, seduction.” Shad nudged him. “She can hide things but her body can’t.”

“Great point.”

Shad winked. “I got your back.” They bumped fists. “Good luck.”