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| Good To Me : A Novel by LaTonya Mason 
Chapter One "MAGNIFIQUE! MAGNIFIQUE!" CHARITY EXCLAIMED, blowing kisses with both hands to her two staff people, Iesha and Harmony. "This place looks wonderful," she said looking around the suite and admiring the purple and black balloons, decorations, and the sign that read, WELCOME TO HORIZONS CHRISTIAN COUNSELING CENTER. "You guys have done a wonderful job setting up. This open house is going to be the bomb." "The bomb?" Iesha, her administrative assistant asked with her head cocked back and her hand on her hip. "Sistergirl, you need to leave the slang to me. It doesn't become you at all. One minute you speaking French and the next you talking Westside. I believe they call that a faux pas." Iesha and Harmony erupted in laughter. Charity laughed too. Imitating Iesha, Charity put her hand on her hip and swung her shoulder-length bobbed hair. "Excusez-moi, mademoiselle. Let's get one thing straight. I might be your big sister, but in this place, I'm your boss. You'll want to leave the shot-calling to me." "My bad, Boss. Well since you handling things around here, tell me where you put the music so we can get this party started right." "Oh shoot!" Charity said, stamping her foot on the carpet. "I knew I was forgetting something. Do either of you have music we can use?" "I have a sounds of nature CD in my office," Harmony offered slowly. "Pst!" Iesha sucked her teeth. "Don't nobody wanna listen to no birds or thunderstorms. Cherry, I got some Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Nelly, R Kelly--" "Iesha, sweetie, this is an open house for a Christian counseling center, not the grand opening for Club 2000." "I was just trying to help you out." "Good," Charity said, walking toward her office to get her purse. "It'd help me out if you would go to my car and get the Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, and Israel and New Breed CDs." "All right, then. I see how you want to be." Charity handed her keys to her sister. "And please remember to call me Charity at work." Iesha took the keys and playfully rolled her eyes to the ceiling as she spun around on her heels, away from Charity. Charity shook her head, trying to make light of the situation in front of Harmony, whom she'd met two years ago at a counselors' workshop. Charity was excited about working with her, a woman in her fifties who was always patient with insightful things to say. But the most important quality to Charity was that Harmony was a born-again believer. She hoped that Harmony wasn't offended by Iesha's comment. "Harmony, you'll have to pray for her. She's not yet come in under the Blood." Charity was glad to see Harmony smile. "Keep your CD on standby in case folks get tired of hearing mine, okay?" "I will." "Would you mind greeting guests and having them sign the guest book at the entryway?" "No, I don't mind. What a wonderful opportunity to be a blessing, and to bless each and every person that comes through the door." Charity smiled. That's why she recruited Harmony to work with her. She had such a sweet spirit and was so pleasant to be around. "Please do. I have some special people coming tonight, including my pastor, Reverend King from Damascus Road Baptist Church." "Yeah. I've heard of him. I went to a revival he did a few years back. He was good. I'm sure I'll recognize him while I'm hosting. By the way, I'm an excellent hostess. You know I used to be a waitress in my former life." Charity glanced at her watch hoping it would mask the scowl that came across her face. "Oh, look at the time," she tried not to sound so obvious. "Guests should be here any minute, you'd better make your way on downstairs. I'll make sure everything is all right up here." Charity watched Harmony walk toward the entryway. She was relieved that Harmony wasn't offended by Iesha's insensitivity, but she took offense at Harmony's former life comment. I bind up that reincarnation mess in the name of Jesus. She was a stickler for listening to the words that people spoke. Even though Harmony may not have meant anything by what she said, Charity knew that since she had spoken it, a door had been opened. And if a door had been opened, Charity would see to it that it be closed. "Harmony," Charity called. "Two things. One, if you see Iesha while you're down there tell her I said she'll be guiding tours tonight. And two, remind me to bring up communication at our first staff meeting." "Okay." Charity made a mental note to mention to Iesha about how to talk to people and to remind Harmony to be careful about what she says. Iesha glanced at her watch. It was 4:50 p.m. The open house would begin in ten minutes. But more important, at 5:00 the building would come alive with men getting off work. She sashayed her way through Present Day Office Park in case any of them might leave their office suites early. Present Day Office Park was located within Charlotte Executive Park, a community of five high-tower office buildings. Of the entire park, Present Day was the only building that was black-owned. Dead smack in the middle of Park Abbey, Gateway Village, Lincoln Heights, and Wendover Towers sat Present Day. Aside from the name and the owners--Doris and David Humphries--the building was a nice place. She stopped by the building's directory just to see how may men she would have access to. The names were countless. Dr. John Webber, Ophthalmologist, Suite 303. I think I need my eyes checked. She grinned at the thought. Wallace Austin, Financial Planner, Suite 201. It's about time I start working on one of those Y2K or whatever those retirement plans are called. Davis, Watson, and Blalock, Attorneys at Law, Suite 203. Now, if that's an office full of men I see a bad check charge in my future. That thought made her laugh out loud. Dr. Donald Moore, Dentistry, suite 412. I got a sweet tooth for men that needs-- "Ma'am, do you need some help?" a male voice came from behind her. "Nah, I was just..." her voice trailed off as she spun around to meet face-to-face with a hazel-eyed redbone in black slacks, a white shirt that had to be dry-cleaned because can't nobody iron like that, and a tie with zebra stripes. "I was just looking," she said referring to him more than the directory. "I saw you over here talking to yourself," he grinned. "And I was going to direct you to the fifth floor where that new counseling center is. I hear they're having an open house at five.You'd be right on time." "I know," she said looking down. She was impressed that his patent leather shoes had a suede zebra print on top matching his tie. "Exactly what I was looking for," she said, looking up. "The counseling center, I mean." His grin faded. "Oh ma'am. didn't mean any harm," he apologized. "I'm very sorry. My name is Wallace Austin, my office is upstairs." He extended his hand to her. "I'm Iesha." She noticed that his hands were soft and moist. His nails looked manicured and there wasn't a wedding band in sight. "I work at the new counseling center you were going to refer me to. I was just looking to see if we'd been added to this directory yet." "Whew, what a relief," he exhaled. "For a minute there I thought you were a client. I was getting ready to be gone." "And now?" "Girl, don't start nothing, won't be nothing, with'cho fine self," he said admiring the full-figured cocoa beauty. It felt like he was eyeing her down with x-ray vision, but she didn't mind. Those birth control injections she used to get blew her up in all the right places. Her legs and waist were still small, but her breasts, thighs, and behind were men's eye-candy. "Iesha! Iesha!" Looking around and seeing Harmony coming toward her felt like someone pouring a glass of water over hot charcoals embers. She didn't know what it was about Harmony that she didn't like, but she sure took the fire of pleasure out of working for her sister. And the last thing she wanted to do was to be seen with her. She turned to Wallace and said, "I'm supposed to be getting something out of my car. I'll see you around?" "You bet," he said slyly.
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