Hooker to Housewife (22 page)

“I was trying to reason with you, but obviously that's not going to work. Tyler, I've made you into the rising star you are now, and if you don't stop seeing Andre you will leave me no choice but to take it all away.”

“Why would you do that to me? You know how hard I've worked in order to gain a position in this industry. I thought we were better than that.”

“I did, too. That's why I'm asking you to end this. Tyler, I couldn't handle continuing a business relationship with you knowing you're involved with someone else.”

“Let's say I did end my relationship with Andre? Eventually I'm going to end up with somebody.”

“Why can't it be me? We're so good together.”

“William, for one you're a married man, and two I'm not in love with you. I believe our love came from a mentor-student bond. But we don't have a romantic future together. It's time for us to recognize that.”

“Well, then you need to decide what you want out of life. Do you once again want to stand in a man's shadow or do you want to stand on your own as a movie star? The decision is yours. But, Tyler, if you continue seeing Andre then I promise I will do everything possible to cut your career short in this business, starting with axing you from
Angel.”

“William, you can't mean that.”

“Believe it or not I'm doing it for your own good. You're letting some grimy hip-hop mogul who isn't worthy of you come in and sell you a fantasy life and you're falling for it hook, line, and sinker. Haven't you learned anything from your past dysfunctional relationships?”

“Oh, and getting involved with a married man isn't a dysfunctional relationship?”

“At least I'm offering you something more than a ring and some half-ass financial security. I'm offering you something that is priceless, which is independence. None of these men want to give you that. They want to buy you as though you're their prized possession. You have so much more to offer than that. With your talent the opportunities are endless, and I discovered that. You're now asking me to sit back and watch you flush it down the toilet to become barefoot and pregnant.”

“That's not going to happen. Andre is very supportive of my career,” Tyler said half-heartedly. She reflected on the conversation they'd had a few hours ago when Andre told her she didn't have to work—she could stay home and make babies. She had to admit that a lot of what William was saying was true. Eventually Andre would try to get her to end the acting career that she had worked so hard for. She knew from her past experiences that one thing was for sure: nothing was guaranteed in love.

“You know that's a lie, Tyler. But I'm leaving the decision up to you. Either you can choose a life with a man you don't really even know, or you can trust me. I've delivered on every promise that I've made and I will make you the superstar that you've dreamed of becoming. But you're going to have to do it my way. That means severing any sort of romantic relationship with Andre Jackson.”

 

“I need an ambulance now!” Andre bellowed to the 911 operator.

“Sir, calm down, what is the problem?”

“My ex slit her wrists. Yo, there's blood everywhere. Please get somebody here now—I don't want her to die.”

“What's your name?”

“Andre.”

“Andre, what part of the house are you in?”

“The bathroom,” Andre said as he held Chantal, wishing she would open her eyes and say this was all a bad joke.

“Wrap a towel around the wound and apply pressure. Hold it there until the paramedics arrive,” the operator directed.

“Okay, okay, but please tell them to hurry up. My baby can't die.” Andre stared at Chantal looking so helpless and innocent just like their daughter, Melanie. The thought of her dying had tears rolling down his face. He blamed himself for Chantal's predicament. It never dawned on him how fragile she was. If she died, he would never forgive himself. Andre left the door unlocked for the paramedics and heard them as they came in the foyer.

“We're up here!” Andre yelled out to the paramedics.

As they took Chantal away, Andre refused to leave her side. He rode in the ambulance and all he could envision was Melanie's face and how devastated she would be if he told her Mommy was never coming back home. Andre began making a deal with God. “Dear God, if you let Chantal live I promise I'll be a better man and a better father. Please dear God, forgive me for my selfish ways and don't let Chantal pay for my mistakes.”

They rushed Chantal in for emergency surgery and Andre couldn't stop pacing back and forth in the waiting room. When he heard his cell ringing he prayed it wasn't Melanie looking for her mother. When he realized it was Tyler, he felt instant relief. “Tyler, baby, I'm so glad you called,” Andre said while breathing hard on the phone.

“Andre you sound terrible. Is everything okay?”

“No, I'm at Cedars-Sinai.”

“What happened? We're you in a car accident?”

“No, it's worse. Chantal tried to commit suicide. She slit her wrists.”

Tyler felt numb. She immediately felt that she was the cause. “Why did she do that?” Tyler asked, afraid to hear the answer.

“When I got home she was waiting for me and I told her we were getting married. She must have taken it harder than I thought. I went in my office and made a few phone calls while she used the bathroom. When I finished, she still hadn't come out and I wondered what was taking her so long. I knocked on the door and got no answer. When I opened it she was sprawled out on the floor and blood was everywhere. It was the scariest shit I've ever seen in my life.”

“Baby, I'm so sorry. I feel responsible.”

“It's not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it's me. I should've been more sensitive to the situation. I mean damn, she is the mother of my child. I treated her like she was just some random chick that meant nothing to me. If she dies, I don't think I could handle it, Tyler. I would feel as though I actually took the knife and slashed her wrist. I would've killed my daughter's mother.”

“Don't say that, Andre. You're being too hard on yourself. I'm going to pray that she pulls through this.”

“I appreciate that, baby. I see the doctor coming out. I'm going to talk to him and I'll be over there later on tonight.” Andre hung up the phone and marched straight toward the doctor. “Hi, I'm Andre Jackson. I came in with Chantal Morgan. How is she?”

“Mr. Jackson, I'm Doctor Stein. We've basically performed a miracle on your friend. She is going to pull through.”

Andre was so relieved that he grabbed the doctor and hugged him. “Oh, thank you so much! I'm so grateful that you saved Chantal's life. She's the mother of my beautiful daughter and I wouldn't have had the heart to tell my angel that her mother was dead. Because of you and God I no longer have to do that. Thank you.” The doctor seemed a tad overwhelmed with Andre's speech but at the same time he admired his heartfelt declaration.

“I'm always happy to save a life, Mr. Jackson, especially one
that seems so precious to you. You can go in and see her, but she's still out of it. Tomorrow morning she should be coherent.”

Andre sat next to Chantal and held her limp hand. God had answered his prayers and he was determined to keep his word. Even though he still had every intention of marrying Tyler, he would help Chantal with whatever she wanted to do with her life. Whether it was opening up her own business or pursuing some other career, she would have his full support. Although Andre had already set up a healthy financial trust fund for his daughter, he would also provide one for Chantal, too. He figured since he couldn't give her what she really wanted, which was his last name, he could give her the next best thing, which was financial security.

 

When T-Roc got word that William was seen going into the bungalow and thirty minutes later leaving with Tyler, he was in high spirits. He would've given anything to have audio on the hysterics he knew must have taken place. He considered bugging the room but felt it was way too risky. His source also informed him that Chantal had made her way over to Andre's house. T-Roc was counting on Chantal to cause a huge confrontation that would send Andre into a state of uncontrollable madness. Once that happened, he planned to seize the opportunity and step into Andre's shoes.

 

William left Tyler's place, struggling with his thoughts. The walk to his car seemed much longer since he was breaking down the entire situation in his mind. He wanted to believe that the lecture he had given her regarding Andre would resonate, but he wasn't totally confident. Tyler seemed to genuinely love Andre and that scared him. William couldn't believe he missed the red flags that would've indicated that Tyler's heart was straying. When he walked into the bungalow and witnessed the two caught in their own ecstasy, William's first thought was to strangle the lovebirds.
But he knew no matter how physically fit he was, Andre's strength would've overpowered his. William never carried a weapon of any sort and when he surveyed the room there wasn't one in sight. He was actually happy because the rage that erupted inside of him when he saw the two made homicide plausible, which he knew he would have regretted later.

When William got back in the car he slammed the door and began pounding his fist against the steering wheel. He was normally so in control of his emotions, but grasping the severity of the potential catastrophe hit him like a ton of bricks. After sitting in his car for an hour outside of Tyler's house trying to get his anger under control, William finally started the ignition. As he backed out of the driveway he noticed the final light go off in the house. He hoped that Tyler had come to the right decision and planned on ending her relationship with Andre immediately. If she didn't, William would have to come up with a plan to break up the pair permanently.

Andre sat with
Chantal for almost four hours before deciding to head over to Tyler's place. He knew she would be asleep at this hour, but he yearned to be next to her and feel her love. After his agonizing ordeal with Chantal he desperately needed the positive energy that only Tyler could give him. He slowly walked up the stairs and turned on the light on the nightstand next to her bed. She was lying on top of the blankets, which enabled Andre to get a clear view of the white negligee that hugged her body. Her angelic face seemed at peace. Andre sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to watch her rest forever. He decided before lying down next to this pure-looking specimen he would take a long hot shower.

The hot water pouring down his body was rejuvenating. He felt this was a new beginning for him and Tyler. Now that their secret had been exposed there would be no need for the sneaking around that Andre never wanted anyway. From the moment he and Tyler
made love he wanted to share his feelings with the world. Stealing kisses here and there and whisking off for discreet rendezvous made Andre feel as though they had something to be ashamed of when he knew they didn't. He sometimes privately wondered if Tyler was embarrassed about their relationship, but brushed it off as one of the side effects of being in love for the first time.

Andre felt he would no longer have to be weary of such insecurities anymore since he and Tyler were free to show their devotion to one another. Soon they would be husband and wife and no one could come between them. Andre crawled in bed next to Tyler and the instant his body touched her soft skin he became aroused.

“Baby, you're back,” Tyler mumbled, still half asleep.

“Shh, don't say a word. I just want to lie inside of you all night and feel your warmth.” With that Andre entered Tyler from the spooning position and rested his manhood inside what he considered his personal heaven.

 

Listening to the sounds of Maroon 5 and sipping a glass of merlot, Chrissie was up late finishing some marketing ideas to promote the movie
Angel
that she was presenting to William in the morning. Chrissie always found comfort in her work, which could be the perfect distraction for her often topsy-turvy personal life. If it wasn't for the high demands of her whirlwind job she probably would've joined a convent to escape her consistent bad luck with bedding the wrong men. When she began her relationship with T-Roc she thought her luck in love had finally taken a turn for the better. In her gut Chrissie knew it was naïve of her, but somehow she made herself believe that maybe T-Roc genuinely cared about her. After their altercation earlier that day she knew she was completely fooling herself. T-Roc couldn't care less about her or their relationship. What they shared wasn't even a relationship. He had used her and she had to admit she was a willing participant.

Since the time Tyler had first introduced her to T-Roc a few
years ago, she secretly had a crush on the notorious bad boy. She never shared it with anyone, but the feelings were always there. When Tyler's relationship with T-Roc ended, she was thrilled. It gave her hope that maybe one day she would have a chance to score with the known ladies' man. A couple of weeks after coming back to LA to do the publicity for
Angel,
she bumped into T-Roc while leaving her favorite lunch spot, and butterflies ensued. The chance to fulfill her fantasies of being with him had finally presented itself.