Me
Can you focus on me?
Baby, can you focus on me?
Me, me
Can you focus on me?
Baby, can you focus on me?
H.E.R. - Focus
Erik sat between Giselle and Athena at the round booth table they were seated in at a seafood restaurant overlooking the Santa Monica shores. Tony ordered lobster platters and fresh New England chowder for their meal.
Tony got down to business talking about his expectations for New York and the women were focused on him instead of each other. After they finished the first course of clam chowder, Maria joined them and Erik gave a sigh of relief. Maria had a way of making people comfortable with her spastic energy.
Erik almost didn't recognize her when she swept in.
Dressed in a black tuxedo dress and midnight black boots, Maria looked beyond sophisticated. Even her hair was slicked back in a chic way, reminding him of when her tresses were wet in the pool when he kissed her…
For a second, Erik forgot about Giselle and Athena and even Tony, his eyes taking in Maria's visage. She looked good. Real good. Sitting next to Tony, Maria handed him an envelope and he tucked it inside his blazer pocket. A waiter brought over a tray of Oysters Rockefeller and while everyone dipped in to savor the goods, Maria finally looked at him, and her face looked stressed.
Tony allowed Erik to have a glass of white wine with everyone else and most of the talk was food and vineyards in Paris. Athena and Tony compared favorite wines, and Erik could tell that Giselle was stewing. So did Tony.
"So…you two know each other well?" Tony asked.
Athena took a sip of her wine and glanced at Giselle.
"From school," Athena said.
Her voice was cool.
Tony looked at Giselle who looked super annoyed.
"Frenemies," Tony said while pouring more wine for himself.
Maria watched the two women and then she glanced back at Erik. The mood was icy and not improving. Erik decided to change the topic.
"You look real fancy, Maria," he said.
Maria smiled at him.
"Maria is going to be giving a presentation this evening for the Los Angeles Asian American Business Alliance in a couple of hours. You all set?" Tony said.
"Yes," Maria said.
"Love that dress," Athena said.
"Thank you. It's a cocktail mixer and I'm going to talk about the internship and my experience with it so far," she said.
"You look lovely, Maria," Giselle said.
"Thanks."
"I'll be right back, restroom break." Erik said.
He stood up and moved past Athena. His bladder was calling.
"I'll go myself," Giselle said, following him to the back of the restaurant.
"Yo, what's the deal?" Erik asked.
Giselle stood near the ladies' room and her face looked cross.
"I fucking hate that bitch," she said.
"Why?"
"She and I used to be friends. Tight as hell back at Brown University. Before we graduated, I applied for and an overseas fellowship in Paris to study. Kicked my ass trying to get letters of recommendation and worked hard to get this thing. My mistake was telling Athena about it. She applied for it too. And she got it."
"Maybe she was a better candidate—"
"She called her father who pulled some favors. She didn't get it on merit. I know that for a fact. She just wanted to go to Paris and have that on her resume."
Giselle's eyes were in full kill mode.
"I hustled so hard. During my interview, I was told that I was a top candidate. She knew I wanted it, didn't even tell me she applied for it until after she was awarded the damn thing. She saw me putting in extra effort for a whole year…"
"Don't get bent out of shape over it now. That was the past. You're here with Tony—"
"That's just it, I know her ass didn't earn this spot like everyone else. I know her father is tight with Stark. I know it was just another quick phone call. Just like Wes, and all the other mediocre people who leapfrog over people more deserving."
"Don't let her steal your thunder in front of Tony. It makes you look bad. Do you really think she used her Dad to get her here? Tony doesn't seem like a dude who would go for that. You gotta have real game to get this internship."
"You know what sucks? She and I were like sisters. This cut me so deep, Erik."
"Y'all can't salvage your friendship?"
"Would you?"
Erik shrugged and dipped into the restroom. Giselle was still standing outside when he came out.
"Ready to go back?" he asked.
Tony was spinning a tale about New Zealand and Maria and Athena looked enraptured. Dinner seemed to get everyone back on track. Giselle ignored Athena for the most part and when the meal was over. Erik was asked to join Maria at her event.
"I'd like to attend," Athena said.
They all ended up going.
###
Maria did well.
More than well.
Erik didn't know if it was her clothes, the way Tony fawned over her in front of the event coordinators, or how Maria answered questions from the audience with sass and excited zeal. She was funny, endearing, and so fucking ready for any and all questions. Tony was asked to come up and say a few words, and the Asian audience ate up his words too. Later, as the mixer got into full swing, Maria stuck by his side. So many people came up to ask her more questions.
"Oh jeez," Maria said.
Two women and a man walked over to Maria.
"Maria, didn't recognize you for a second."
The name tag on the woman said, Yuna.
"Hi. Yeah, it's been a minute," Maria said.
Erik noticed Maria's countenance changed quickly. The confidence she had earlier was gone.
"Erik, this is Yuna, Paul, and Sooh-Ha."
They looked at Erik's clothes and his face and were about to brush him off when Tony sidled up.
"Maria, Erik, I'd like you to meet some people," he said.
Erik and Maria followed Tony, and Erik heard Yuna, Paul, and Sooh-Ha following them.
"Erik, Maria, this is Mr. Huang of TBS Corp. Mr. Huang, these are my two top interns…"
Tony bragged on them and Erik could see the others looking at him different. He wasn't just a random Black guy to ignore. He had some status. A bit of clout. Typical.
Erik and Maria showed off to Tony's delight, and Erik found his eyes wandering to Athena and Giselle who were talking amicably it looked on the other side of the room. He was curious to know what they were working out. Tony guided Mr. Huang to another group of business owners and Erik led Maria to the open bar. The clout chasers followed them.
"Maria, Joseph Kim is here," Yuna said. Her eyes sparkled when she said the name and Maria's lips went tight.
"Who is that?" Erik asked.
"Nobody," Maria said.
She picked up a glass of wine. Erik grabbed a coke.
"Your face says different," Erik said.
"Joseph!" Yuna called out.
A tall Korean man walked over carrying a plate of food. A smile spread on his lips when he saw Maria.
Maria tried to turn away from him, but she was stuck next to the bar table. She ended up bumping into Erik's side.
"Maria," Joseph said.
Erik recognized the look on Maria's face. He'd seen it himself on enough women he'd broken up with or dogged out. This dude had hurt her. And that pain was still there inside of her.
"Hi," Maria said.
Joseph's eyes looked her up and down.
"I didn't recognize you until you started speaking. Working for Stark must be amazing."
"Yeah, it is," she said.
Joseph glanced at Erik. They were the same height.
"How is your family?" Joseph asked.
"Everyone is great," she said.
Maria looked like a shrinking violet.
"Joseph and his wife just had a son," Sooh-Ha said. There was a smirk on her lips.
"Congratulations," Maria said.
Joseph beamed, and Erik wanted to punch him in his bland smug face.
"Since you work for Stark now, maybe you could put in a good word for me. I applied for a position in his San Francisco office," Joseph said.
The unmitigated gall. Erik felt his jaw clench.
"We better get back to Stark. He has some more people for us to talk to."
Erik held out his arm for her. Maria pushed back a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned into him.
"Nice seeing all of you again, but our boss calls."
"Good luck with that application," Maria said.
Erik steered her away from them and he felt Maria relax. They went to the other side of the room and stood near Tony as he spoke to a group of older women with a ton of questions and picture taking.
"Thank you," Maria said.
"I could tell they were bugging you. A nobody, huh?"
"Ex-boyfriend. He broke up with me to marry someone who was not Filipino and too Black for his family."
"Too Black?
"Yeah. My father."
"It was like that?"
"Yep."
Erik noticed Giselle stomping away from Athena.
"Excuse for a moment," he said.
Threading his way through the crowded mixer, Erik stepped to Athena who looked a bit shaken.
"Hey. Everything okay over here?" he asked.
"Never better," Athena said trying to brush him off.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Not really…"
Her eyes connected with his. She gave a sigh and leaned against the pillar she stood next to.
"I used to think Giselle and I would run the world together. She was the bestie that I dreamed of having. But now…she just thinks I steal things that don't belong to me like I don't work for stuff."
Athena's eyes flicked over his shoulder, he turned to see Giselle at the bar ordering a drink.
"She thinks I'm like these white boys out here. Always a phone call to Daddy to make things happen."
"Is it true?"
"Fuck no."
Erik felt his lips quirk when she cursed.
"I don't even like my father. We aren't even on speaking terms. Haven't been since I left Brown. She just…she makes wild accusations. Assumes too much."
"That's what y'all were going in about?"
"She doesn't think I belong here. But I do. I worked hard to get here and I worked for every fellowship I ever received."
"The one in Paris?"
Athena's eyes bored into his.
"She told you about that?"
"Said she told you about it and you stole it from her."
"I didn't steal it. She told me about the program and the company had twenty fellowships throughout France. The entire country. Twenty slots. I applied for the fellowship that matched my studies the same as her. I even turned in my application weeks after she did, almost missed the deadline waiting for a recommendation. I had to do six different interviews before I even got picked. In fact, I didn't even get picked until another candidate dropped out for a family matter."
"She says your father made a phone call on your behalf—"
"My father didn't even know I applied. I did it to get away from him and my family."
Athena's eyes were watery.
"I miss my friend…"
Athena wiped her eyes and Erik moved in to block her from spectators.
"Did you tell her all that?"
"Yeah. She doesn't believe me. Doesn't believe I earned my spot here. I told Tony not to even tell my father I'm here, let alone applied for a spot. She's just so damn angry and not trying to listen to me. I have never lied to her. I have never tried to sabotage her aspirations. I was always her biggest cheerleader. Been there for her through her darkest times…even when she had a—"
Athena pulled away from the pillar.
"Shit. I've been drinking too much. Talking too much…"
She glanced at her watch.
"How long is this thing? I'm ready to go."
"I can take you home."
"On a motorcycle?"
"Lyft."
Erik pulled out his cell and texted Tony.
"I let Stark know I'm escorting you back."
"Escorting me?"
"Looks like you need a friend to do that."
Her eyes dropped from his.
"I don't have very many friends, Erik."
"Let's bounce."
###
Erik ended up taking the vibranium with him to New York. It got through customs without alerting the metal detector.
He flew first class with Maria, Athena, and Giselle, along with five other interns hand-picked by Tony to attend the event. Their hotel was V.I.P. status all the way and their first night in New York was spent finding a club that Erik could sneak into. They ended up staying at the hotel bar lounge where the waiters assumed Erik was of age like the others.
Athena and Giselle were on their best behavior. Erik tried to get Giselle to talk to Athena, but that was tossed aside. Erik knew it was a misunderstanding. He believed Athena. But Giselle needed to have a villain to blame for something she wanted badly. He tried pushing up on Giselle, tried to get her to loosen up while they were away from the office, but she curved him.
Maria took a liking to an intern who seemed genuinely intrigued by her. Erik played the overprotective older brother and mean-mugged the white boy as much as possible to keep him on the straight and narrow. He seemed to get the hint and treated Maria well.
"What are you daydreaming about?"
Athena caught him sitting in the hotel gym, the stationary bike he was on far from spinning wheels.
"Tony has me hosting the children's day opener. I was just thinking about how I was when I was that age. I had this robot I entered when I was like nine, and I got pretty far. I was thinking about what I would've wanted to hear from somebody working for Stark back then."
"That's so cute. A robot."
"Got a certificate and everything."
"Did you come to the convention?"
"Nah. My family had to deal with some stuff so I wasn't able to go."
He watched Athena step onto a Stairmaster and start a program. Her gym clothes were form-fitting and he couldn't keep his eyes off of her curves and the deep cleavage in her work-out tank. The girl was bad, no lie. He started cycling and looking down at the mileage he was putting up.
"You had a chance to talk to Giselle?"
"Nope. She's still ignoring me."
"Same."
"You two…?"
"Was trying."
Athena smiled.
"What's that smile for?"
"She keeps her eyes on you."
"I'm tryna get more than that."
"Alright now."
Athena laughed and it made Erik smile.
"Them dimples are deadly. You'll wear her down soon enough."
"It's been almost three months. This gig is about to end and she ain't budged. Not happening."
"Perhaps if she weren't messing with Cameron she'd be all over you."
"That buster."
Erik rolled his eyes.
"He's cute. Has a lot of personality."
"And I don't?"
"Yours is more volatile. A little rough around the edges. That's not her style."
"I think it is. She got a little taste."
"Ooh…a little taste?"
"I mean…she knows what I'm working with and she seemed to like it."
"You slept together?"
"Nah…just a little touch and feel—"
"Okay…stop. This is none of my business. I'm sorry I started the convo."
"No you not."
He stepped off the bike once he hit his target. He joined her on the Stairmaster next to her for his cool down.
"I can't figure her out. She's hot and cold with me."
"Maybe take that as a hint. Find someone else."
"Would you go out with me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Too young."
"That's a cop-out and you know it. Y'all keep settling for weak dick then—"
Athena burst out laughing.
"You laugh, but when you ready for that deep dick, you come holla at me."
He stepped off the machine a walked out of the gym.
Athena was still laughing.
###
Erik was drinking bottled water when he heard Maria fumbling with her key card trying to get into her room. He stuck his head out to tease her for being drunk when she couldn't open her door.
"You know it's bad when you can't get into your own room with a card—"
Her eyes were red and her face was streaked with fresh tears.
"What happened?"
Her hands dropped to her sides and Erik ushered her into his room and sat her on his bed.
"Maria?"
"Kevin—"
"He hurt you?"
"No…I…we…"
Her voice shuddered.
"Take your time."
She nodded at him.
He poured her a glass of water from a fresh bottle in his mini-fridge and she drank it down. She smoothed her dress and pushed her hair back from her forehead.
"I thought it was the right time for Kevin and I. We've been seeing each other for the last month and…I guess…I wanted to and…"
"And?"
Erik felt his stomach tighten. He was ready to fight.
"We had sex, and it wasn't good. It wasn't what I thought it would be."
"So it was consensual?"
Erik felt himself relax a bit. He unclenched his fists.
"Yes…oh God, yes…I don't want you to think I was forced. I wanted to do it."
She wiped her eyes.
He wanted to know why she was crying so hard about it.
"You have regrets?"
"I should've waited. I like Kevin well enough. It felt right at first. But it was missing something. Thank God it didn't last that long. I left the moment it was over even though he wanted me to stay the night."
A knock on his hotel room door interrupted them. He answered.
"Hey, we still on for dinner?"
Athena was dressed and ready to head to the hotel restaurant. She wore a snazzy black blouse and skirt. Dinner and then some clubbing afterward.
"Yeah…about that, Maria is having a moment and I'm—"
"Hey, Athena!"
Erik opened the door wider so Maria could see Athena.
"Hey, Maria. What's going on?"
Erik let Athena in. It would be best to let another woman handle the situation.
Maria looked at Erik. Then she looked at Athena.
"Maria…why don't you go take a shower and change and come with us to eat—"
"How did your date go with Kevin?"
Athena had a look on her face that let Erik know that she knew the extent of Maria's date night plan.
"Not so good," Maria said.
"Oh, honey…"
Erik opened Maria's conjoining door.
"Go get dressed. We'll talk at dinner," Erik said.
"I'll wait for you two downstairs. I want to keep the reservation," Athena said.
"I won't take long," Maria said.
Athena left and Erik put on his shoes and some brand new cologne.
A soft knock on his inner door let him know Maria was ready. She walked in looking cute and bubbly again in a slinky green dress.
"Ready to go downstairs?"
"Yes."
He turned to go open the main door and Maria hugged him tight around the waist.
"What's this for?"
"Listening to me. Not being grossed out by me talking about it. Not judging me."
"Sex is always different with different people. It's not easy the first time."
"Was it for you?"
"Hell yeah."
Maria rolled her eyes.
"What I mean is, I wanted to do it and I was ready to do it with whoever. But I was hella young. Fifteen. I was just all poke and stroke. I wasn't thinking about my feelings afterward. I was thinking about getting better at it with the next girl. I didn't know any better."
"I'm sure you were better than Kevin. He had his eyes closed the whole time, and it was like I wasn't even there. It was like he was screwing a sex doll."
"How are you feeling physically?"
"Okay. It didn't really hurt. But it seemed so fast. Is it always fast like that?"
"Um….nah, it depends. On who you're with and where you are—"
"I thought there would be more kissing. He kissed very little—"
"We should probably leave."
His hands stroked her shoulders and she placed her head against his chest.
"I'm glad you were here so I could vent."
"Me too."
He pushed back from her gently and when her eyes looked up at him, he felt a little funny.
Funny enough to lower his head and kiss her on the lips.
But not the way a friend would.