I read the summary of Divorced In Vegas by Tamara Black and I thought it was an interesting idea for a story. So this time, I thought I would give it a SamCedes spin. Instead of using the book as a guide, I am just using the idea as a guide. I wasn't a fan of the book, however I was a fan of the story idea. This story will be 95 percent me, with the rest being the original authors. Just trying to stretch my writing chops a bit. It won't be as long as my previous story.
DISCLAIMER: I owe nothing but my thoughts and my spin. I do not own "Divorced In Vegas" because that is owned by Tamara Black and her publishing company. Not to mention, there is no way I am going to claim "Glee". I am not THAT crazy.
Mercedes
"Is this table fine for you Ms. Jones?" Clarissa asked as the restaurant hostess showed her to her table.
"This is fine, thank you." I said, as I slowly shrugged off my coat, placed it on the back of a chair, and sat down in the seat that Clarissa pulled out of me.
Clarissa smiled at me and handed a menu over to me to view. She even took the time to place another menu on across from, just so it will be ready for Sugar to view once she gets there. More to the point, if she ever gets here. The woman had never heard of a watch, but she is my best friend, so what is a girl to do? Just learn to live your life on Sugar time.
Almost as if Clarissa is reading my mind, she said "Once Mrs. Chambers gets here, I will let her know that you are here and I will escort her to the table. Jayson will be your waiter and he will be over soon to take your order. I hope you enjoy your meal."
"Thanks again Clarissa", I replied to her. Before I knew it, she was gone, and I was left alone with my thoughts.
It was a typical normal Chicago Tuesday in March. The time of year in which you are not sure if you should wear a heavy puffer coat, or if a jacket is enough to get you through the day. But I knew the cool breeze coming off Lake Michigan will knock me on my ass, so I chose my red wool coat that ends a little bit below my knees and belted at my waist. I had added a matching scarf, and a red beret instead of a regular winter hat to enhance the look. I kept my make-up simple with just foundation and a bold lip, I let my hair cascade down, bone straight with a slight curl turned underneath. I also added in some clipped in bangs to to add frame to my face. Underneath that coat, I had on a long, white wrap around sweater dress that hugged my Coke bottle figure. A long time ago, I had learned to always wear clothing that accentuates the part of you. In my case, it has always been my ass and my double D's. It may be towards the end of winter, but Chicago is still a fashion town after all.
The lunch crowd was flowing in and out of The Gage with business deals being sorted out and agreed to over a meal. If you want to be seen, The Gage is the place that you would go. The food was pricy, but it was good. The décor of the restaurant with its dark paneling, screamed business during the day and an Irish pub at night, if that makes any sense. The menu was a strange mix between Applebee's and any fancy restaurant you can name. It is a weird combination, but it works. But then again, you would never find an Applebee's on Michigan Avenue. Regardless of how it sounds, it is not snobbish statement, it is just a fact. The high rental rates that businesses are charged for being located on Miracle Mile appears to be the justification for the everything to be sky high.
To even have your car valeted there for lunch, it will cost you over $30 for less than 2 hours.
But when Sugar called me the other day and asked me if I wanted to do lunch, I suggested The Gage only because it was down the street from where I work. That way, once lunch was finished, I could just walk it off as I head back to the office to complete the rest of my workday. I work for Clarity Consulting. Basically, what we do is clean things up. It is a more expensive version of a PR firm. To use a modern-day reference, Clarity Consulting is like Olivia Pope from Scandal, except we have offices throughout the world. It takes a lot of Clorox to make some people's images squeaky clean. To make it even better, we get paid a lot of serious cash to do it.
I started at Clarity Consulting at their location in Seattle. Due to a lot of hard work and late nights, I managed to claw my way up the ladder. Apparently, they thought that I did so good, that they offered me a VP position in their Chicago branch. As much as I loved Seattle, I was ready for a change. Once they said that the position was in Chicago, I took that a sign. It was an opportunity to go back to a city that I always considered my home, even though technically I am from Lima, Ohio.
Lima, Ohio, is Lima, Ohio. You either do one of two things, you either stay or you move. I can guarantee, that once you move, you rarely move back. Lima is a town that pretty much stands still. It is a small town, pretty boring, and people fear change. My parents may want to stick around Lima, Ohio, but I knew for a long time, that I wasn't going to give myself a permanent detention. I was going to see what is out there. So, the moment that Northwestern University sent me their acceptance letter, I was already mentally packed. I left out of Lima at 18 and the only time that I have been back since was to visit my parents for the holidays and even then, it was 3-day max. Since my Northwestern days, I had always considered Chicago to be my home. It is where I started to live my life. Started to make my own decisions. Started to forge on with my future.
But with this move I will be a lot closer to my parents for the occasional visit and I don't have to worry so much about the time difference when I call them. My mom was happy at least. She was always worried about me living on the other side of the world. I would always reply that Seattle was still in the United States, but she would shake her head and say "It is not Ohio.".
A year later, I have settled in, made strides at work, and reconnected with old friends that I had left behind when I moved out west. Now the only thing left for me to do right now is to wait for Sugar to make her guest appearance.
Jayson had just left after filling up my water glass, when I looked up and saw Sugar just gliding around various tables like she was on roller skates to get to me. As she made her way over, I saw nothing but the trail of looks coming from guys that she sashayed by. I guess she had managed to convince Clarissa that she could find me, because she was nowhere in sight as promised. There she is and Sugar is being the center of attention as usual. Even when we were in college, she always generated that kind of reaction. Most people cannot put their finger on it, much less understand it. I just say that it is the aura that surrounds her and shines like a beacon of light.
She was wearing a gray Ann Taylor wool blend coat that she had left open. Underneath that coat, she was wearing a light blue cashmere sweater with matching light blue wide leg pants and gray boots. There was a cream-colored cashmere scarf gracefully cascading from her neck and a matching blue bag was slapping on her hip as she made her way over to me. Sugar recently dyed her to a chestnut brown color that was striking. Her shoulder length beachy hair was blowing the breeze as she walked.
Sugar wasn't necessarily drop dead gorgeous, but at the same time, she wasn't a mousy girl next door. She was a different type of beauty. She had an allure. A unique quality that just drew men to her. Like a moth to a flame.
If I am fall with my orange, red, and amber hues, then Angelique "Sugar" Motta Shields Jamison Chambers is spring. She was born in the spring. Her father used to tell her that she was just as sweet as a grain of sugar. A nickname was born. Due to that, no one has called her Angelique since. Bright, sunny, and with every pastel shade to match. Light, airy, and just free. She never lets anything get her down and she doesn't care what anybody thinks. While I am all about the cool shades, Sugar is warm.
How we met was rather funny. Granted, at the time it wasn't too funny, but several years removed, it is hysterical. We were both freshman at Northwestern. I was dating a football player by the name of Jake Puckerman. Turns out Sugar was also dating a football player by the name of Jake Puckerman at the same time. Needless to say, when we put 2 + 2 together and you come up with a cheating asshole, nothing bonds females more. Over ice cream, rum, and a pizza from Lou Malnati's, we plotted our revenge from the confines of my dorm room.
Needless to say, our revenge against him was beautiful. I won't get into any details, but it does involve farm animals, a frozen lake, and blackmail photos.
Who knew that he liked kinky shit?
Jake Puckerman also made history as being the last guy her own age that Sugar ever dated. From Jake, Sugar moved on to Professors. Her reason being, that she simply could not trust guys our own age to be faithful. She needed someone steady and a hormonal teenage boy simply wasn't it. I guess she still has not found a faithful one because I have been a bridesmaid at all 3 of her weddings and she is only 32. Right now, she is married to Preston Chambers and saying that he is slightly older than her is a stretch.
Anyway, that bit of revenge bonded us for life. We have been thick as thieves since then. Bonding over small-town life. Just like I was from Lima, Ohio, Sugar was from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Her father is a pharmacist and her mother was a black jack dealer. She had heard the rumors that her father was a member of the mob, but she just shrugged it off. To quote her "no one as boring as my parents could be involved with the mob". She would say that Atlantic City was worse than Lima. I completely disagreed with that. At least Atlantic City had the daggum ocean.
And just like that, she was at our table and giving me an air kiss on both sides of my face. She barely laid her purse down on the table, when a gentleman from a nearby table appeared out of nowhere and helped her off with her coat. Ever so polite, Sugar smiled her thanks to the stranger. But then the stranger caught a glimpse of the giant engagement ring and the diamond eternity wedding band that accompanied it on her finger and thought better of pursuing anything further with her. Personally, I don't blame him. You can see that diamond from space.
"Hey, I'm sorry I'm late," Sugar said with her hazel eyes dancing.
I looked at her and gave her the whatever look on my face as I replied, "You're not just late, you're very late. You do understand that a lunch hour is exactly that, an hour."
"In my world Cede, the only lunch is a liquid lunch. Since I am driving, I cannot partake." Sugar replied as sat down and picked up her menu.
The only thing left for me to do was to giggle at her reply. I gave her a slow shake of my head.
"What!" Sugar exasperated, "I told you that I have been busy."
"Busy doing what? You are a trophy wife to a very rich man. If there was a Real Housewives franchise in Chicago, you would be on it."
"Have some respect please?"
"Come on, Sugar. Preston is practically 33 years older than you!"
"So?" Sugar said as she scanned through the menu right quick. "He is a fun 65."
"He is fun 65? If you consider bathing him down in Ben Gay after your 20 second sex romp, and viewing his saggy 65 year-old butt fun, then your right, he is so much fun!" I teased. I always teased her about her choice in boyfriends. She's used to it. In all seriousness, Preston is really a nice guy. But I got to entertain myself some how.
"Green was never your color, my dear". Sugar countered back.
"Oh, I give up!" I exclaimed. "I've been busy too, but I made time to see you in the middle of MY work day".
"All work and no play makes you a bitchy woman," Sugar teased.
"That's not true! I have a lot going on right now. Our firm just got client that was …"
Sugar didn't let me finish. "I don't want to hear about boring stuff. I didn't take a drive all the way into the city to listen to you talk about work. Just give me something good to savor on."
"I am not dating anyone if that is what you want to know."
"Now that is what I am talking about! Juice! Dirt! Grime! And why aren't you dating? Have you taken a look at yourself in the mirror? You're gorgeous. You're smart. You make a very good living. You would look awesome on anyone's arm. You got a body that most women would pay a good plastic surgeon for. You are a delicious hot cup of chocolate. So, I have to ask, why not?"
"I just don't see the point. The only thing that a guy is good for is sex and I could take care of that with a vibrator. Why do I need the grief of a relationship?"
Right then and there our waiter Jayson walked up to take our order. Needless to say, it is a good thing that I have a dark complexion, otherwise Jayson would see the deep blush that filled my face. I can't believe that he heard me say the word "vibrator".
But if Jayson heard anything, he didn't hint, nor did it show on his face. It had me thinking that maybe he has heard worse. So maybe my battery-operated device was not that big of a deal to him. Instead, he rattled off the spiel of the specials that The Gage had going on that day.
"Are you ladies ready to order?" Jayson asked.
Even though I was dying to order their special Spiced Hot Cider drink, but I knew I had meetings late that afternoon, so that was out. I took a quick glance at the menu and decided on their truffle chicken pot pie and I told him as such.
He wrote it down and then turned his attention over to Sugar. Sugar decided to have their king salmon, but requested to have their roasted brussels sprouts instead of the potato. We handed over our menus to Jayson and he left.
I took a sip of water and placed the glass back on the table. "So, where were we?"
"We were talking about your vibrator and I was wondering why you weren't dating." Sugar stated. "Are you seriously giving up on men?"
"I didn't say that I am giving up on men. Finn and I just broke up a few months ago. I am just taking a much-needed break. A little me time. You've got to admit, my track record with men is not exactly stellar."
"Are you still pining over Finn? That was more than "a few months ago" my dear. Finn was nice and all, but he wasn't for you. I mean, he wasn't willing to make a move to Chicago when you got offered your big promotion. So, if he wasn't willing to do that, you must know that there wasn't going to be any future in that. Besides, long distance relationships very rarely work, so you both made the great decision to call it a day."
I was exasperated at that point. "No, I am not pining over Finn Hudson. You make it sound like I was a virgin who had never been kissed. I've been married before. Remember Sam? The last time that I thought with my vag instead of my head."
"Sam Evans! How could I forget that walking GQ specimen of a man? Not humanly possible in my life time. The man was walking sex. I seriously understood why you gave up your virginity to him." replied Sugar.
"The man was a child! He refused to grow up."
"Mercedes, you were both children. Why do you think my first marriage ended?"
"Because your husband decided that 23 wasn't young enough?"
Sugar picked up a piece of balled up paper from her straw and threw it at me. "No, you bitch!" she giggled. "It is because getting married in your early 20's is never a smart idea. It is a hard lesson that we both had to learn."
"Yeah, that a 7-month marriage is not something to be proud of. The reason why I got married is even worse." I answered.
Jayson appeared before us, with 2 piping hot dishes. "Here you are ladies. A king salmon for you ma'am." he stated as he laid her plate in front of Sugar to admire. "And a truffle chicken pot pie for you ma'am." he gently laid my plate before me. I could still see the steam coming off. "Is there anything else can I get you ladies?"
"No, we're fine. Thank you." Sugar replied.
"Enjoy ladies", and with that, Jayson walked away.
As I grabbed my fork to dive into my chicken pot pie, Sugar asked me if I had spoken with Sam. I admit that her question threw me off and it took me a while for me to answer her. "No, I haven't. I haven't spoken to Sam since I moved to Seattle. I had to restart my life. I had to move on. In order for me to do that, I had to leave him in the past. No contact. Cold turkey. I haven't spoken to him or his family. I haven't even so much sent them a Christmas card. I am not even sure if I have his number."
Sugar looked up at me. "Mercedes, that was almost 10 years ago. It is possible to find love again. I didn't let my divorce from Lawrence stop me from finding love. Just like I didn't let my divorce from Michael stop me from putting myself out there again, and that was my second strike. Both of those marriages were fun while they lasted, but they lead me to where I am now with Preston."
"True," I replied. "They lead you to a marriage with a 65-year-old man," I teased.
"You need another man in your life Mercedes."
"No, I don't!", I countered.
"Yes, you do. I need to find you another man."
"Trust me when I say, I don't need to have a 65-year-old man."
"I am going to ignore that Mercedes Jones." Sugar stated. "But I do have an idea."
"And what is that idea, oh great one?"
"Preston bought us an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas for this weekend. Unfortunately, one of his branches out on the east coast is having a crisis, so we will not be able to go."
"Okay, so what does that have to do with me?"
"It is too late to cancel the trip and based upon the conditions, we cannot get our money back. So this morning, Preston asked me if I had a friend who would like to go instead. Now, I am looking at her. You need to go. Scratch that, you MUST go. Besides, there is no point in letting a nice, comfy room with a view of the Vegas strip go to waste."
"Thank you for the thought, but I can't."
"Don't give me that crap. Chances are you probably haven't taken a single vacation day since you moved back to Chicago. I know that you could really use a vacation. A place to recharge your batteries. Maybe you will actually meet someone who is younger than 65 years old."
"Ha, ha." I rolled my eyes. Maybe Sugar is right. Maybe I do need a breather.
"Just think about it okay. Let me know by the end of today, so Preston can make the changes"
"I will think about it. But are you sure that Preston will be cool about it?"
"Remember, he asked me if I have a friend who could use it. If he forgets, then I will just give him a blow job and he will give me the world. Easy peazy."
"Alright, I will think about it." From there, the conversation changed to a more light hearted topics. Two really good friends getting caught up on each other's lives. We talk practically everyday, but it is nice to have a conversation in person instead of on the phone. It was a nice lunch. But throughout it, I kept thinking about everything that Sugar said. In my heart of hearts, I know that she is right. By the time that the check came, I had made up my mind.
"I'll get this," Sugar said as she grabbed the bill.
I put up my 2 hands in the air. "Do you see me stopping you?" I laughed.
"And you are going to Vegas?" she asked, hopefully.
I decided that it was time to put her out of her misery. "Yeah, I guess I am."
"You could sound a little bit more excited."
"Trust me, I am. Really. I am just getting back into work mode now. But I am grateful. Thank you my friend."
"You're welcome. I will just let Preston know about the change. He will have his admin make all of the changes to convert it to your name. Unfortunately, Preston will be using his jet to fly to New York City, so you won't be able to use it. However, I will make sure that a commercial flight is booked for you. Once everything has been done, I will text you with the details."
"You don't have to worry about that Sugar. I can book my own flight."
"Nonsense Mercedes. It is no problem. Like I said, it is all expenses paid accommodations. Accommodations include your flight. The only thing that you will be responsible is the money that you are going to use while gambling at The Montecito. I will text you the information. Did I mention, that is where you will be staying?"
"No, you didn't. But I still have to see if I can get off of work."
"Minor detail. Outside of holidays, you haven't had a day off in over a year. If they give you any trouble, please feel free to give me their number and I will tell them what for."
I smiled and scooted my chair back. "You're right. I will put in once I get back to the office today."
"Damn straight, I'm right! Just because I married a rich, older man, doesn't make me an idiot."
"Yep, Sugar is my friend. Thanks to Sugar's Sugar Daddy, I will be spending a few days in Las Vegas" I said to myself as I grabbed my coat and purse to head back out to the office. "Maybe this trip will do me some good."
Well, what do you guys think, so should I even continue? If so, Sam is in the next chapter, but I haven't written it yet. Heads up, I may not be able to update it as fast as I did with And So It Goes, but I promise you that I will finish this story. I don't know how long that will take, but I will get it done.
Thank you for the love. Thank you all for taking the time to read my warped thoughts. Thank you for your feedback and reviews.
Until we meet again ... Goodnight Bunnies!