I'm Doin' Me 2 Read online

  He made a conscious decision to let them be, get over Tiffany Richardson, and squash the plans to whip Kory’s ass.

  After the Premiere Party

  Kory

  “Are you ready to go, my love?” Kory asked Tiffany.

  “Yes, my feet are killing me, and I’m so ready to get out of this dress.”

  “And I’m ready to get you out of it too,” he hissed, admiring her backside. “I mean, baby, you look so good, I can’t wait to get you home so I can—” he began, but someone called out Tiffany’s name. They both turned toward the voice.

  “Tressa,” they both said in unison.

  “Yes, it’s Tressa, you bitch,” Tressa slurred.

  “How on earth did she get in here?” Tiffany said in a panic.

  Tressa looked a mess. Hair mangled, makeup on like she had done it in the dark, and although her gown was gorgeous, it didn’t fit properly. Most of the press was gone because the night had winded down. Kory looked around for security, but there was no security guard in sight.

  “Tressa!” Kory hurried over to her to turn her the other way. She looked horrible, and Kory did not want her to make a scene or cause any trouble. “Come on, Tressa, you’re a mess. How’d you get in here?” he said trying to grab her arm, but she snatched away.

  “Don’t touch me, you asshole,” she spat. Kory knew she was as high as a kite on something, but he had no idea what.

  “Oh my Lord, Tressa, what did you take? What did you use? You need some help,” he said, concerned and terrified. She didn’t look well at all, and at that moment, he wanted to help her.

  “Don’t tell me what I need, you bastard. I came to settle the score with you and that bitch,” she shot at Tiffany, giving an unstable arm gesture in Tiffany’s direction.

  Tiffany rushed over to assist Kory.

  “Oh my God, Kory, she’s wasted. Should we dial 911?” Kory heard the panic in Tiffany’s voice when she asked.

  Tressa tried to move forward, but stumbled and fell. Tiffany and Kory both went down to the ground to aid her. She was unconscious. Kory took her up into his arms, and they both yelled her name, shaking her limp body, trying to get her to respond.

  “Kory, I’m scared. She doesn’t look good at all,” Tiffany said with dread.

  “Someone call 911,” Kory yelled.

  “Yes, please, somebody call 911!” Tiffany yelled. Kory knew his phone was dead, and Tiffany didn’t have a phone on her. Others gathered around and tried to assist.

  “An ambulance is on the way,” a man in the crowd yelled.

  “Come on, Reesy, open your eyes,” Kory said, shaking and tapping her face.

  Tiffany slapped the back of her hand and pinched her skin and yelled out her name, but she didn’t respond. They thought all the press and media were gone, but within seconds, cameras were flashing as if it was a glam set. “Please, no pictures, no pictures, please. Someone, anyone, please, somebody find Mr. Green,” Kory yelled in panic. “Come on, Tressa, come on,” he said shaking her and slapping her cheeks with light taps. “Wake up, Reesy, wake up!” he yelled, but she didn’t respond. He checked her pulse. It was faint.

  “Please, no pictures, please!” Tiffany cried as loudly as she could, but her cries were ignored. Finally, the ambulance arrived, but Tressa was still unresponsive. She was still breathing, but didn’t open her eyes. Unfortunately, Mr. Green had already left the party, so Tiffany phoned him as soon as she and Kory got into the limo. They instructed the limo driver to follow the ambulance.

  She put the phone on speaker, and Kory saw her hands trembling while she waited for Mr. Green to answer. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Green, but it’s Tressa,” she cried into the phone as soon as he said hello. “I hate to call you with this news, but Tressa showed up tonight. She was high, Mr. Green, and passed out. She is unconscious and unresponsive. We called for an ambulance, and we are now on our way to Good Samaritan Hospital. She was unresponsive, sir, and I’m afraid it’s not looking too good.”

  “Oh no, oh my Lord,” Mr. Green gasped. “Let me go home and get my wife. We’ll be there right away.”

  “Okay, sir, and I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you, Tiffany,” Mr. Green said, and then disconnected from the line.

  Tiffany hung up, and Kory noticed she was still shaking. “Baby, relax. She is going to be all right.”

  “Somehow, I don’t feel too confident about that, Kory. You saw her. Her eyes were cold like she wasn’t even there. How she managed to get there is more than a shocker to me. I mean, who drove her? I can’t imagine her driving in that condition.”

  “I don’t know, baby, I can’t either. I’ve seen Tressa high, but tonight, it was something like a dream. She was in a zone. I don’t know, baby, let’s just hope for the best.”

  She nodded. “Yes, as much as I hate the sight of her, I don’t want her to die, Kory. Mr. Green would lose it. Tressa may be a lot of things, but Mr. Green loves his daughter. If she doesn’t make it . . .” Tiffany cried.

  “Shhh, don’t cry, baby. Tressa is a trooper, a fighter. Hopefully, this will be a wake-up call for her.”

  “I hope so.”

  They pulled into the parking lot, parked, and rushed inside. They had wheeled Tressa off, and Kory and Tiffany had a million-and-one questions.

  “The doctor will come out as soon as he knows something,” the nurse repeated for the third time. They finally gave in and went to sit and wait. Twenty minutes later, Mr. Green and his wife rushed in.

  “Where is she? Where’s my baby? How is she?” Mr. Green questioned. Kory stood.

  “Mr. Green, I’m sorry, they took her back about twenty minutes ago, and we don’t know anything yet,” Kory said, and then looked at Tressa’s mother. She was a soft-spoken, humble woman that always treated him with kindness. The fear on her face was enough to make Kory tear up. Kory held it together, took her by the hands, and spoke to her in Spanish. He wrapped his arms around her and told her not to worry, and he guided her over to have a seat by Tiffany.

  He walked back over to Langley, who thanked Kory for stepping up and aiding his daughter.

  “I know Isa is not your favorite person, but I am so grateful that you and Tiffany didn’t just leave my princess behind. Thank you for helping her.”

  “Mr. Green, there are no thanks needed, and I am so sorry,” Kory offered.

  Tiffany stood to greet Langley after she gave Mrs. Green a tight hug. “Yes, Mr. Green, we are so sorry,” Tiffany added.

  “No, Tiffany, don’t apologize. This is not the first call my wife and I have gotten, and I pray my daughter pulls through, but at this point, I’m at the end of the road. If Isabella pulls through, she has to get help on her own. I know cutting her off was drastic, but I just wanted her to take some responsibility and do the right thing.” He paused. His eyes welled, and he choked up. “But if I lose my little girl—” he tried to say. Tiffany immediately hugged him tightly.

  “Mr. Green, I’m sure Tressa is going to pull through,” she encouraged. “Please come and sit down.” She guided him to the seat next to his wife, and she sat on the other side. She held his hand. “Mr. Green, let’s not think the worst.” Then she turned to Kory. “Baby, can you get some coffee for Mr. and Mrs. Green,” she asked, and Kory nodded.

  Before Kory could walk away, the doctor walked in.

  “Green, Green,” he said loudly. They all stood.

  Mr. Green moved rapidly and reached out his hand quickly to shake the doctor’s hand. “How is she? How’s my baby?” he inquired. No matter what had transpired before that night, Kory could see the fatherly love in his eyes.

  “She is stable, but not out of the woods. We were able to stabilize her, but it doesn’t look good. The next twenty-four hours are critical, so we’ll keep a watch on her and see what happens, but we’ve done all we can.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Mr. Green said, and then turned to his wife and repeated everything to her in Spanish. “Can we see her?”

  “Not to
night, but in the morning. I suggest you all go home, try to get some rest, and if anything changes, I’ll call you.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Mr. Green said and shook his hand again, but held it this time. “Listen, whatever it takes, whatever the cost, if she needs a kidney, lung, or whatever . . . I don’t care. Just don’t let my baby die. I will give my soul for her, and money is no object. I’ll pay for whoever to fly in, whatever specialist. I need the best that you got!” Mr. Green cried. His sniffles had them all with wet eyes.

  “I understand, sir,” the doctor said. “We are giving her the best care we can, as we do all of our patients. If a situation arises above our control or expertise, we will get the best in here, Mr. Green. I assure you that we will take good care of your daughter.”

  “No, you don’t understand. Treat her like the president. If you got to fly someone in, wake up the top specialist out of his sleep. I don’t care. I want the best for her,” Mr. Green reiterated. He held the doctor’s hand and would not let go.

  “Whatever we need, Mr. Green, I give you my word, we will do it for her. Don’t worry.”

  Mr. Green released his hand and put a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, Doctor. My wife and I will be back first thing in the morning.”

  “Yes, sir. Good night,” the doctor said and walked away.

  Kory and Tiffany stood there and waited for Mr. Green to turn to them. “Thank you so much for getting my Isabella medical help.”

  “Mr. Green, again, you don’t owe us any gratitude or thanks. We sincerely hope she pulls through,” Kory said.

  “So do we,” Mr. Green said. Kory knew he was not confident how things would turn out. Mr. Green was always cocky, strong, and had a tough stature, but Tressa seemed to break him down.

  “Mr. Green, if there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate. I’m here for whatever you need,” Tiffany added.

  “Thanks, Tiffany.” He pulled her in for another hug.

  “Yes, Mr. Green, we are here. I know Tressa and I have had our differences in the past, but the past is just what it is, and we will be praying she gets better.”

  “I know, son.” Mr. Green hugged Kory.

  Kory and Tiffany gave hugs to Mrs. Green, and then they departed. They rode home in silence, holding hands tightly. When they got in, they showered and got into bed. An hour later, Kory rolled over to find Tiffany was no longer beside him. He got up to look for her. He found her out on the terrace with a glass in one hand and an open bottle of Pinot Noir on the little round table next to the chaise she was relaxing on. He cleared his throat.

  She looked up at him.

  “Baby, what’s on your mind? Why are you out here alone?”

  “I couldn’t sleep,” she answered.

  He walked over to join her. He took a seat at her feet and put her sock-covered feet on his lap.

  “What’s up, babe? Talk to me.”

  “I’m worried about Tressa and Mr. Green and this entire situation, Kory. You know Tressa has always had a history with drugs and alcohol, and Mr. Green and his wife have suffered time and time again for her addictions. If they lose her, it will be horrific.”

  “Awww, baby, don’t you worry. Tressa is going to be okay. She’s going to pull through.”

  “And what if she doesn’t, Kory?” Tiffany said, raising her voice. Kory wondered why she was feeling so emotional about Tressa, a woman who despised her.

  “Tiff, where is this coming from? Tressa has been a thorn in our sides for months. I don’t wish her dead, but you and I both know Tressa is an addict and a major headache. She’s done nothing but cause drama and pain for us in the last few months since her daddy threw her out of TiMax,” I said, trying not to sound heartless. Tressa being gone would not have bothered me one bit. Yes, I was engaged to marry her, and, yes, I once thought I loved her, but I fell in love with a fraud. When I learned the truth, I had no problem leaving her standing at the altar.

  She did the most to destroy what I had with Tiffany and even after she lost that battle, she still kept trying to make our lives a living hell. Tiffany and I came home from our honeymoon, well, the honeymoon Tressa and I were supposed to go on, and she busted out all of the first-floor windows of the house. We had to get a restraining order because she kept showing up at the jewelry store harassing customers, telling them that KBanks Jewelers sold blood diamonds.

  “And let’s not forget when we came out of Patina’s after having a beautiful romantic dinner, she had spray painted the Benz. The list goes on and on. We have suffered, endured, and put up with so much crap from that woman since the live interview, and I don’t want her to die, I’m not that cruel, but Tressa was a nightmare.”

  “I know, and I know there’s a long list of things we can name that she’s done to us. It’s petty and childish, yes, but we weren’t nice, Kory. We got just as ugly as she with the wedding, and Mr. Green giving me all of this money that was meant for her, Kory . . . I feel horrible because I got you and her inheritance. I mean, I feel like shit. If she doesn’t make it, I am going to feel like it’s my fault. Tressa had this thing in her mind that I even stole her daddy from her, Kory, and that’s what drove her to rock bottom. We didn’t have to play the game like she did. I could have given the money to her; I don’t know, Kory, I, I, I,” she cried. “If Tressa dies, I’ll feel partly responsible.”

  “Shhh,” Kory said and moved to hold her. “Tiffany, please, baby, Tressa has done all of this to herself. She brought her fate on herself. Now I agree the church scene and the inheritance was a bit much, but Tressa had the wedding thing coming for playing all of those games, and you didn’t ask or force Mr. Green to give you the money, Tiff, so that is not your fault. Please don’t blame yourself, sweetheart.”

  She sighed. “I guess.” She took a big gulp, and that cued Kory to pour more into her glass.

  “Tiff, baby, please. Let’s not think of the worst right now. Tomorrow, we’ll get up and go check on Tressa.”

  “Okay,” she whispered and nodded.

  “Now I know you’re in a not-so-good mood, but I know how to make you feel better.”

  She smiled. “Do you really?”

  “Yes.” He took her glass and took a swallow of his own.

  “Kory, I hope you are not trying to get ass after this evening’s drama.”

  “I am,” he smiled even brighter.

  “It has been a minute since the planning for the premiere party, the wedding, and work,” she smiled at him.

  He leaned in and kissed her and her nipples immediately became erect. Kory felt the tingle of his manhood grow, and the more he kissed her, the harder it became.

  “Let’s go back inside,” he said after breaking the kiss. He stood, reached for her hand, and she grabbed her bottle of wine and followed him inside.

  The Next Morning

  Tiffany

  The sound of her cell phone woke her. She was in the middle of a dream, but the phone wouldn’t stop ringing. “Hello,” she grumbled.

  “Tiffany, good morning,” Myah sang.

  “Good morning, Mee-Mee. Why are you calling so early?”

  “I’m sorry, I thought you’d be up.”

  “No, I’m not, what’s up?”

  “I just called to check on you. I know I left the party before the big Tressa scene, so I wanted to know what happened. I can’t listen to the news and TMZ. That shit be on a slant, so I wanted to know what really happened.”

  Tiffany rolled over and noted that Kory was not in bed with her and wondered where he was.

  “I would love to fill you in,” she said getting up and going into the bathroom to relieve her bladder.

  “So is Tressa okay? Did she die? I know Mr. Green is a private person, and that is something so personal.”

  “No, Mee-Mee, she is not dead, but she is in critical condition. Once we got to the hospital and they learned who Tressa was, they went to work, giving her the best possible care. We didn’t even get to see her last night, not even Mr. Green was
allowed to see her. Of course, the cameras and tabloids and reporters swarmed the hospital, but luckily, no one got past security.”

  “Well, they were all over the studio. I mean, it was bombarded with the media.”

  “How do you know? We are all off today.”

  “I know, but I left my tablet in my desk, and, girl, I’m reading From Main Chick to Mistress by M. Skye, and, honey, I wasn’t going to go the rest of my weekend without my book.”

  “You and your books, girl. You should join our team of writers.”

  “Nah, I’d rather read about it than write about it,” she said.

  “Listen, as far as we know, Tressa should pull through. I’m going to head to the hospital soon. I need to see where Kory is because we agreed to go together.”

  “Excuse me? Why? I mean, like everyone knows you and Tressa are enemies.”

  “We are, but I want to make sure she’s okay, and you know me and Mr. Green are like,” she was going to say father and daughter, but said, “good friends now. It’s only right to support him.”

  “I guess you’re right, but you will keep me posted, right?”

  “I will.”

  “Okay, girl, I’ll talk to you soon.” They hung up, and Tiffany got up and went to look for Kory. She grabbed her robe and went downstairs, but he wasn’t in the house. She headed for the kitchen, and then he walked in.

  “Out running?” she asked. He was in his athletic attire, and his chest area was soaking wet.

  “Yeah. You were sleeping so peacefully. I didn’t want to wake you.”

  She chuckled. “Even if you had, it would not have made any difference. You know running is not my thing.”