Woman on Top Page 18

  “So my friend Sato has been helpful?”

  “Yes, very much.”

  I refrained from asking, but was curious as to how Sato had factored into the politics of City Hall, and a murder investigation. But I also wondered how much my husband and Haney had been communicating.

  “Tiffany, can you fix me another drink? Man, you want another one?”

  Getting up to refill their drinks and mine, I could feel Haney’s eyes following me, seducing me, and unfortunately, I was getting aroused. When I returned to my seat, I curled up next to Malik, my hand resting between his thighs. Haney’s smirk told me he knew exactly what I was doing.

  He cleared his throat, sipped his drink and said, “The other piece to this is making sure that Wu in no way is personally connected to these gangs, other than that, we can fix it.”

  “I don’t have to tell you, these accusations could kill my re-election. I swear, Haney, I will not be a one-term Mayor.”

  “You don’t have to be. You can make this work to your advantage,” he said, with words so improbable I wasn’t sure what he meant, but what I did know was that Haney was squirming at my small affectionate touches on Malik. “Let me talk to your friend. I think I might be able to persuade him to temper down.”

  “As long as whatever you do doesn’t come back to bite me.”

  “Believe me, it won’t, I’m good at what I do.”

  Between the wine and the dim lights of the living room, I found myself watching Haney’s every move, the way his lips curled around his glass, the way he gesticulated with his hands when he spoke, and imagining those same hands and lips on parts of my body.

  “We appreciate your help with this, don’t we?” Malik said, placing his arm around my shoulder and me moving just enough for it to land on my breast.

  Haney’s eyes followed my husband’s hands and my body reacted to the game we were playing; however, I also realized the game was dangerous. I needed to get out of that room and away from the two of them. Then he winked at me before landing his eyes on the Parfum Rare book.

  Malik’s phone buzzed, he looked at the caller ID and excused himself, leaving me alone in the room with Haney.

  He crossed his legs, rubbed his beard and whispered with that smirk I’d come to know so well, “I like that.” He motioned with his glass, and referred to my casual attire. “And I like the way you’re teasing me, but be careful; you forget who you’re messing with.”

  I took a sip of wine, letting it swirl inside my mouth, then closed my eyes and swallowed.

  “Sorry, I needed to take that,” Malik said, having come back into the room.

  I squirmed in my seat, not knowing what to say. Haney, of course, knew how to transition well.

  “Mr. Mayor, I was just asking your wife about her brother’s new condo building, Hamilton Square. My daughter tells me I need a place to call home and I’d like to take a look at one of the units.”

  “I’ll give you the realtor’s number, her name is Mrs. Wayns, she handles Johnson Properties,” I said.

  “Can’t you show him the place? He’s gone out of his way tonight. Let’s extend some personal courtesy,” Malik said, returning to his seat next to me.

  “I know you’re busy, Mrs. Skinner, whenever you can make the time, I’ll make myself available for you.”

  Malik kissed my hand, then said, “She’s not that busy, right, woman?”

  “I’ll have to check my schedule.”

  “Haney, take my word, my wife will be happy to give you a personal tour.”

  The sad truth was, unknowingly, Malik had played me right into Haney’s hands because now I saw what he’d been doing for the last few months, baiting me, preparing me, making me come to him, when he was ready, and now I was ready.

  Chapter 16

  Hotter than July

  For three days I tried to reach Haney via phone calls and text messages, all to which he was unresponsive, but I knew our paths were going to very soon cross.

  On this day at ten-thirty a.m., it was already a sweltering 85 degrees in the city with no relief in sight, and I had a full day ahead of me. I’d begun by dropping Nylah off at summer camp, then I had a breakfast meeting at BBWC, staying afterward to meet with the staff, then spend time cuddling newborn babies.

  Next up, I was scheduled for a twelve-thirty lunch meeting with Mrs. Cosby, and would be wrapping up my evening with dinner at my sister’s house in University City, where Haney and Sato would also be guests. Malik was in Detroit, due to return home that evening.

  In between breakfast and lunch, I was pulling up in front of my house when the radio announced there was breaking news. I sat still wondering if this was Wesley recanting his accusations as Malik had told me he would.

  “This morning at nine-fifteen a.m. Philadelphia law enforcement apprehended two women in connection with the murders of Officers Campbell and Fanelli.

  “Tamako Liang and Yoshie Sun were taken into custody without a struggle, in a residence overtop a restaurant on Aramingo Avenue. They were arrested with the handcuffs of the deceased officers, and subsequently taken away in their respective patrol cars.

  “Unnamed sources are reporting that they were indeed part of the Ho Ching Girls gang that has infiltrated Philadelphia. A local citizen is being hailed as having assisted the police in their capture. Right now, they’re being held at Police Headquarters waiting to be arraigned and formerly charged with first-degree murder. A press conference is slated for five p.m. today.”

  This arrest, of course, meant that Wesley had been correct in pointing Malik toward the Asian girl gang, which made me ask myself if he’d been right in accusing Malik of taking kickbacks. With not much time to ponder, I left Malik a voicemail, made a quick dash in the house to use the bathroom and freshen up, then headed back out to Old City.

  My lunch with Mrs. Cosby was at Prime Stache, a steakhouse owned by Philadelphia Eagles football player, Brent Celek, making it a popular spot for the business lunch crowd, though that was my guess. I’d only been there once with Malik for dinner, but I imagined that during lunch it would be equally as crowded. I’d arrived about 15 minutes early to find her already seated.

  “Good afternoon, Tiffany, so glad you were able to make it,” she exclaimed when the hostess showed me to her table.

  “Hi, Mrs. Cosby, thanks for the invitation,” I responded, as the waiter pulled out my chair.

  “Oh, you can surely call me Raquel by now.”

  “Raquel, how are you holding up in this heat wave?”

  “It’s more than I can stand, but I’m glad we’re lunching. Is champagne okay for you?” she asked, as the waiter stood patiently next to the champagne bucket.

  “Are we celebrating something?”

  “Of course, the capture of those awful girls, haven’t you heard?”

  “Then yes, champagne is good,” I answered, resting my purse on the chair next to me.

  “Your husband must be glad to have this weight off of him.”

  “Malik is traveling, so I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet, but I’m sure he is.”

  We waited until the waiter finished pouring, then she offered up her glass in a toast. “Cheers to the Philadelphia Police Department.”

  “Yes, cheers.”

  Licking her perfectly painted lips, she said, “Delicious. I so enjoy the taste of the bubbly. It has a way of tickling one’s throat.”

  I smiled and wondered if champagne was all she drank and as good as this stuff tasted and cost, I could see why.

  “I understand you were in Houston recently. How was your trip?” I asked, having heard, as everyone else had that she was interested in purchasing a MLB franchise.

  She tossed her head back in laughter. “Nothing gets by you. I have a friend outside of Houston, Hal Stryker, you may have heard of him. He’s a well-known horse breeder, we ride, go skeet shooting, do a little hunting.”

  I had not heard of Hal Stryker. “That’s funny because it’s hard to imagine
you with a gun, shooting anything,” I said, of the refined woman who sat across from me in a mint green double-breasted dress, her skin tanned, and hair highlighted from the Texas sun.

  “I grew up around guns, hunting, horseback riding. You know we socialites have to be well-rounded. As a matter of fact, why don’t you and your daughter come out to the estate in Spring City; it’s only about 45 minutes from here.”

  “Thank you, I’m sure my family would love that,” I said, clearly noticing that she hadn’t invited Malik. Did she not like my husband or was it because she was a Republican? Regardless of her status, she needed to show some respect for him as Mayor of this city.

  Briefly we were interrupted when the waiter sat down our salads and bread.

  “Tell me, Tiffany, how’s your center coming along?” she asked, half filling our almost empty champagne flutes.

  “Excellent. I met with Dr. Tolliver this morning and was very pleased with the progress she’s making. We have seven newborns in house right now.”

  With her eyes squinted, she said, “Then I’d say it’s time for you to move on. Which brings me to my reason for lunch.”

  “I’ll never move on from Blessed Babies, it’s part of me,” I told her, somewhat insulted that she thought I’d leave an organization that I’d birthed.

  “Spearhead a new project, is what I meant to say. You’re in a good position to make a difference in this city.”

  Having realized that it was best to let her do most of the talking, I ate a forkful of my salad, then simply asked, “How so?”

  While drizzling dressing on her salad, she answered, “Let’s say, you’re in bed with the right people.”

  My eyebrows furrowed a question in response, wondering who she was referring to.

  “Well, of course not literally. What I’m saying is, I could put you in a position that would not only pay you a lot of money, but it would also put your husband directly on the path to let’s say, Washington, DC.”

  “I’d be interested in hearing more about that,” I said, pushing my salad bowl away.

  She sat up straight, crossed her legs and eagerly began to fill me in. “There are only a few people who run this city, this state, and this country, and fortunately for you, I’m one of them. The unfortunate thing is your husband isn’t. And you, my dear, could be the catalyst to bring that together.”

  She must’ve seen the expression of befuddlement on my face. Why was she acting as if my husband was powerless? Before she continued, the waiter placed a select tray of appetizers on our table.

  “The question though, is how bad does your husband want it? Or maybe better stated is what might he be willing to give up?”

  “I’m confused. Why would he have to give up anything? There’s a road to the White House and as far as I can see, he’s on it. Not sure how I can get him there any faster.”

  We paused in conversation for her to greet and introduce, Ralph Muller, the CEO at Penn Medicine, as he walked by our table.

  After he walked away, she picked up as if we hadn’t been interrupted. “You see, it all has to line up. It’s the natural, well maybe not natural order of things, but he has to have the right people behind him. And you, as his wife, as First Lady need to take more of a proactive role outside the home to complete that package. So when I say give up something, he’d be giving up you in that typical role that political wives are forced to play.”

  “I have no interest in being part of the political landscape. I know my role.”

  “My dear, you can be honest, you have to be terribly bored. The center is self-sufficient, your husband’s engulfed in the business of the city and your beautiful daughter is at school all day. Certainly you don’t want to be one of those women who takes up with her yoga instructor for excitement,” she said, pausing for my reaction, to which I gave none and instead sipped my champagne.

  “You see, what I’m saying is that non-profit CEO’s can make a lot of money, especially on the national level. I have several ventures that are scattered and I’d prefer they be under one umbrella, headed up by someone like yourself who could focus on the Arts, Education and Humanities.”

  “Tell me, how does my working for you help my husband get to the White House?”

  “The people I’m talking about, they’ll give you the respect you deserve as CEO of one of, let’s say, The RTC Foundation. And with my guidance you’d ingratiate yourself to them and the rest is easy. You see, whether Republicans or Democrats, when it’s time to select a candidate, your husband would be the one. You work with me, Tiffany, and I can personally assure you I’ll do everything I can to get him there.”

  This was a bit more than I expected, and my brain needed a minute to digest what she telling me, so I began to put pieces of the edamame ravioli and grilled octopus on my plate. She did the same.

  After taking a few bites, I said, “It’s been my impression that voters follow the party, not the candidate.”

  “Money follows whichever party or person has their best interest.”

  Before I could respond, Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, and Eagles Owner, Jeffrey Lurie stopped by our table for an extended conversation, complimenting me on my brother’s talents and inviting me their private Comcast suite at the next home game.

  I realized lunching with Raquel was all about positioning me. Had I unknowingly become her protégé or was she trying to make me her puppet? Whatever it was, she was very strategic in selecting who she wanted on her team, I just didn’t understand the reason she was choosing me.

  “I don’t have the experience of a CEO nor would I want that responsibility,” I said when it was just the two of us again.

  “Blessed Babies is evidence of what you can do.”

  “There’s a lot going on in my life right now. Malik’s re-election campaign, our plans to have another child, and my daughter starting school in September.”

  “Another baby? Well that sounds like what the Mayor wants. It’ll make him look like a safe candidate, a family man, which is nice, but it’s an amateur move.”

  “Why can’t I want the same thing?” I asked, growing tired of playing her game and wanting her real purpose. I took a sip of my champagne, refilled our glasses and took a chance at baiting her. “Raquel, I appreciate Mr. Haney getting you to invest in Blessed Babies, but I’m not sure how I fit the profile of—.”

  Waving her hand in the air, she abruptly cut me off. “Nobody tells me where to put my money and Haney, he’s a minor player in my game. That man is like a cow that gives a good pail of milk, then kicks it over. He never knows when to stop. But believe me, Haney has his weakness, we all do. You agree?”

  Taking note that the mention of Haney’s name shifted her attitude made me wonder the exact nature of their relationship. Certainly she was too powerful to be controlled by anyone, especially Mr. Haney and I seriously doubted he was sleeping with her.

  “I agree, but I don’t know anything about Mr. Haney. My question is why take a chance on me when you can hire someone with real experience to be your CEO?”

  “That’s not how it’s done, or not how I do it. And believe me, it’s about way more than fundraising. You wouldn’t have to jump right into it, I’d groom you, you could have another baby, and by the time the Mayor begins his second term, you’d be ready.”

  I didn’t interrupt, but she was really pouring it on, making me feel as if I’d overlooked my own self-worth. Had I given up too much to become a wife, mother and First Lady? Where was my career? And if my husband hadn’t been so dismissive and envious of my new ally, then I could be discussing her offer with him.

  “In this political arena, wives have to carve out their place, and when your husband is ready, you’ll be holding both Democrats, as well as Republicans in your hand. Plus, we need a fresh face at my foundation. And let’s say if you chose not to have another baby, he could skip the re-election and go straight to the Governor’s mansion.”

  I had to admit her offer did sound intriguing, but was
I really ready to make that big a commitment? If she was right and it did help Malik’s political career, what could be wrong? She hadn’t said exactly how much it would benefit us financially, but if it meant money in Malik’s coffers and me with a personal salary of seven figures, then I was interested.

  “Raquel, this is a lot to digest at lunch.”

  “The decision is in your hands to come up with a plan that works for you and your family. I promise you, my dear, you work with me and you’ll be the woman on top of this city, right beside your husband, that is, unless you prefer to be one of those women sitting on the sidelines.”

  We didn’t finish lunch, which included almost three bottles of champagne, until after three pm and needless to say I was mentally drained and a little tipsy. What was even funnier was that we’d never placed an order for lunch, but every time I looked up the waiter was setting down more food, which gave me even more to digest.

  While waiting for the valet to bring my car, I received a text from my husband.

  Malik: Home at 10:15

  Tiffany: Can’t wait

  Instead of wasting time going home, I drove over the Ben Franklin Bridge and picked up Nylah from school. I phoned Kamille and asked if she wanted me to bring anything to dinner; she said no because she never wanted anyone to bring anything, but I grabbed up a fresh fruit tart from Wegmans anyway.

  Haney arrived to Kamille’s directly behind me, dressed in a pair of cargo shorts, polo shirt and sneakers. Unfortunately, it seemed Sato had been unable to make it. After he said hello to Nylah and gave me a friendly peck on the cheek, we went inside.

  My brother-in-law was in the backyard sweating over the grill, where he was cooking up barbecued ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, burgers, roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus. My sister was in the kitchen mixing potato salad and stuffing deviled eggs.

  The kids were everywhere.

  Since it was too hot to sit outside, the four of us sat in the kitchen around my sister’s big country table, where I did more observing than talking.

  I listened as Haney and Brandon talked sports, politics, and the overall security of the country. Of course, the discussion turned to the Ho Ching Girls and how they’d managed to evade police for the last few months. Haney even provided us with an insightful view of life inside Federal prison, which didn’t seem to be the playground everyone painted it to be.