I'm Doin' Me 2

by Anna Black

Genres: African American Urban

Synopsis

Tiffany and Kory are settling into their happily-ever-after and enjoying matrimonial bliss, but they are missing the one thing that would make their family complete - a baby. After several months of trying to conceive, with no success, Tiffany shifts her focus on her career and her new role as CEO at TiMax. Eager and ready to move up the corporate ladder, Tiffany convinces her best friend, Rose, to move to L.A., offering her a new start. It's something Rose simply can't refuse, an opportunity not only for success, but also for love.

With a great family, friends, and career, Tiffany's world is in perfect peace, until she runs into Tracy Sims. Beaten out of her position at KCLN for just showing up late, Tracy has vowed she'll get back at Tiffany one way or another. Hell-bent on payback, scheming becomes Tracy's middle name as she does everything within her power to destroy Tiffany. Not even the threat of being blacklisted detours her plans.

Meanwhile, Tressa is determined to win back the heart of the one man she lost. Just when she thinks she's left her past addictions and L.A. queen lifestyle behind, her past returns with a vengeance!

Will Tracy finally get her revenge on Tiffany and make her pay for all of the misfortune she's suffered, or will things blow up in her face? Will losing her father's love again be at stake for Tressa, or will she finally live up to the promises she made to him?

Some demons are hard to defeat, and they don't die easily. It's a lesson Tressa and Tracy will soon learn, and they just might pay the ultimate price for it.

Release date: November 29, 2016

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

Tiffany Richardson, a Chicago native, moved out to L.A. to pursue her dreams of becoming an anchorwoman or radio broadcaster, but she stumbled into a writing position at KCLN for a new series called Boy Crazy.

Going for her interview to be the next broadcaster for KCLN’s online network, she landed on the right floor but walked through the wrong door, and she snatched the position right from under Tracy Simms, a sista who lost her position because she was late for work on her first day.

Outraged and full of malice, Tracy vowed that that would not be the last they’d hear from her, even after Tiffany apologized. Not in a forgiving mood, she stormed out, but was never to be heard from or seen again.

Tiffany fell into her new, fast-paced career, and after only a couple of seasons, she was promoted to head writer and producer of the hit series. Because of her, the show rose to number one on the network; however, with the highest-ranking show at KCLN, Tiffany and her crew were baffled when their show was on the chopping block. Later, they found out it was because the brother of network owner William Keiffer, who took William’s place when he was out ill, was a racist and wanted the all-black cast gone.

Quick to rise and even quicker to fall, Tiffany not only found herself in a fix at work when she learned that her show would be cancelled, but she walked in on her man Jeff in bed with the help. Close to the unemployment line and heartbroken, Tiffany became overwhelmed and on the brink of giving up.

Not sure what the future would bring and all hope lost, Tiffany ran into Kory Banks, an old crush from high school. Believing it was fate, Tiffany and her best friend Rose had high hopes that it was her chance to finally be with the one she’d loved forever—only to find out a couple of days later that he was engaged to Tressa Isabella Green, L.A.’s queen.

Fearing all was lost, Tiffany faced the reality of losing her show and losing the love of her life again, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Tressa was the daughter of Langley Green, the owner of TiMax, a huge network. To impress Kory, Tressa offered to help Tiffany bring her show over to her father’s network.

This was one of Tressa’s first underhanded attempts to keep Kory for herself, because she had a feeling there was more to Tiffany and Kory’s relationship than just friendship.

Moving forward, Tiffany stayed focused and gave up on the idea of her and Kory ever being together, especially after she learned Tressa lied to her about the interview at her father’s company. Tired of the drama, Tiffany wished Kory well on the night of his engagement party. Later that night, he showed up at her door, asking for a friendship that Tiffany knew she couldn’t handle. Being friends with someone she was in love with wasn’t what she wanted, so she said farewell for good.

With no show and no love, Tiffany contemplated her next move. Out of the blue, she got a call from Mr. Green and landed a new home for her series, Boy Crazy, at TiMax, putting her show back on the air and pissing Tressa off.

Determined to make it to the altar with Kory without him running back to Tiffany, Tressa had to also face the fact that her father was developing a relationship with Tiffany. Feeling the pressure of losing her man and her father to the woman she despised the most, Tressa’s old drug habits became hard to conceal. Tressa thought she had everything under control . . . until Kory found out she was using again. At the same time, her secret of paying actor Colby Grant to seduce Tiffany was revealed.

Kory broke the engagement after he found her stash of coke, but Tressa failed to tell her father a thing about the wedding being called off. Her trust fund money depended on her marrying Kory and staying married for a year to receive it.

After all the drama, deceit, and schemes, Tiffany won. Colby was exposed for his dirty dealings with Tressa, and his career was on the line for the decisions he made. Tressa’s evil conspiracies caused her to be stood up at the altar and lose her inheritance. Kory and Tiffany—well, let’s just say they lived happily ever after, until . . .

“Mommy!” Tressa’s voice blared when she burst through the doors. She was in a foul mood, and she could not believe that her own father had thrown her out and disowned her. She was furious and knew her mother would be the only one to talk some sense into her daddy. “Mom! Where are you?” she continued to shriek as she walked from room to room looking for her mother. She was on fire, and all she wanted was her money and sweet revenge. She wanted to make all of them suffer at that moment, including her father. Throwing her out of the studio was one thing, but not giving her, her trust, after all of those years of waiting, pleading, and begging, was the ultimate betrayal. All Tressa could see was red, and the only thing on her mind was getting back at those who crossed her and everyone that betrayed her.

Finally, she found her mother out on one of their decks, relaxing. “Madre,” she blasted, and her mom sat up quickly.

“Isabella, qué está pasando? Porque estas gritando?” her mother questioned, wanting to know what was going on and why she was yelling.

“It’s Daddy, Mother. You have to talk to him. He threw me out of the studio, and he—” she cried, but then realized her mother was looking at her like a deer caught in the headlights. Her mother hardly ever spoke English. She understood some words, but she had never made an effort to even learn the English language, so Tressa paused, wiped her face, and started over. She began to explain everything to her in Spanish. By the time she was done, her mother was crying with her and assured her she’d talk to her dad.

“Gracias, Mama,” Tressa said when her mother put ten crisp one hundred-dollar bills in her hand. She stroked her daughter’s face and told Tressa to give him a couple of days to calm down. With that, Tressa left and headed straight to Stephen’s. Her mom gave her whatever she wanted, just like her father did at one point, but those days were gone, and she knew she had to handle Tiffany and somehow win back her father or he’d have to suffer the same consequence as Tiffany. There were no other options, and she needed to be around her friends. The ones who supported her and had her back, so she drove to Stephen’s. He was always there for her, not like Amber’s snitching ass. Amber was supposed to be her best friend forever, but since she had gone to rehab, cleaned herself up and married a doctor, she didn’t party anymore, and Tressa thought she was now a lame uppity bitch, and she severed their friendship after she found out she had sold her out to Kory. Amber had broken the code, and Tressa had nothing else to do with her. She and Stephen were now best friends forever, and she was glad he was always there for her.

“Take it easy, Tressa. You’re hitting that shit too hard, and you are not going to OD in my house, bitch. Not on my fucking watch!” Stephen said. He spoke like a drama queen, not like the sexy stud he pretended to be out in public, because only he, Tressa, and his lover were there.

“Yes, gurrrllllll,” his lover cosigned.

“Fuck you, Lavender,” Tressa roared at Stephen’s flamboyant mate. “This is a private party, and this my shit, so shut the fuck up,” Tressa barked and took another line.

“Stevie, baby, you betta get yo’ bitch before I euthanize her ass,” Lavender snapped back.

“Calm down you two. Damn! You catty bi-otches fucking up my high. I get tired of hearing you bitches yap at each other. Damn! You bi-otches are total buzz killers!”

“That’s your little girlfriend fucking up our high,” Tressa countered. “Calm the fuck down and let me enjoy myself.”

“Look, bitch, I’ve had just about enough of your funky-ass attitude. Keep on.” Lavender rolled his eyes. Tressa took another line and shook, and didn’t respond. She rolled her neck in a quick circular motion and took the palm of her hand and made circular motions with the tip of her nose.

“So are you going to tell big Steve what the fuck is up with you?”

“Tiffany Richardson!” Tressa snarled. Her eyes burned, and her face was hot at the thought of that bitch, and she wanted her dead. It was dramatic, but that’s what Tressa wanted. She wanted her gone.

“Reesy, please tell me you are not still hell-bent on getting back at her. You didn’t want Kory’s ass anyways. Your wedding fiasco is old news now that Ava’s in the limelight. No one’s even talking about you or that shit anymore. This is L.A., bitch. There is a new dose of drama and folks to talk about every other day, so get over it!”

“I know that, you asshole, but I want my money. I need my money, and now my daddy has cut me off, Stephen. Off!” she yelled. “That means I get nothing, and I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she sighed. Now her eyes were watering, but then she got in touch with her emotions and toughened up. “So fuck that bitch. I’m going to destroy her, Stephen, no matter what it takes or how long it takes, I’m going to fuck that bitch and Kory’s life up so bad, they’re going to wish they never met me.”

“Tressa, let it go. What you need to do is work on making things right with your father, so he’s not going to write you off. Your daddy loves you, and I know he will get over this minor hiccup. I mean, what you did was majorly stupid, but your father will come around. He adores you, and he has never left you out in the cold. He’ll calm down, and things will work out.”

“You didn’t see his face, Stephen. My father had this look in his eyes, a look I’ve never seen before, and I can’t just go and say I’m sorry and cry and beg and plead this time. My father was outraged, and he isn’t going to forgive me. He isn’t going to give me my trust, and the only way for me to get even is to get Tiffany.”

“Whatever, Reesy. I think you and this ‘destroy Tiffany’ is insane. When are you going to move on and get yo’self together? I mean, your daddy is wealthier than fucking life. Win him over, get back into his good graces, and he’ll take care of you. If you fuck with Tiffany and get caught, you are going to lose Langley for sure. I say, work on straightening things out with your father.”

“How, Stephen?”

“First, you might want to go back into rehab. Show him that you are truly trying to change. Clean up, and then your daddy will do what he always does . . . put it all behind him and welcome you back.”

Tressa thought about what Stephen said, and he was right. Her daddy was always happy when she was doing the right thing, but tonight wasn’t the night to start. She took another line and reclined back on the sofa. Her thoughts were jumbled, and she couldn’t form a complete thought, so she decided to just enjoy her high and worry about Tiffany and her dad later. What she did know, and her last thought before she completely zoned out, was she would get even and somehow or some way, she was going to make Tiffany pay.

Colby left fuming and outraged. He was so angry for what had gone down and even angrier with himself for allowing Tressa to involve him with such foolishness. He didn’t stop and think about the outcome. He just went with it. He never stopped to think about his actions jeopardizing his career or what bad publicity he’d bring on himself. With Tiffany on the road to success and now one of Mr. Green’s favorite persons, there was no way he would get a series on TiMax. Definitely not after all of the drama that had occurred.

“Why did I listen to your crazy ass, Tressa?” he mumbled as he got into his car. He wanted to choke the life out of her. He never thought things would spiral out of control as they did, and he definitely had lost Tiffany for good.

Never intending to fall for her when he signed up for the bogus affair, he slowly but surely fell for Tiffany. She was like an around-the-way girl, down-to-earth, smart and sexy. She was flirty and funny, and he remembered the way her eyes used to dance when she was excited about something.

Very low-key and drama-free he had the best times with Tiffany, and he was going to miss it all. “I just wanted to apologize, Tiffany, and say I’m sorry, but as soon as I blinked, you were back with your high school honey. Man, I want to beat yo’ ass, Kory, and that cheap shot you got in on me was just a lucky punch. Next time I see you, you gon’ learn who I am, that’s for sure,” he rambled on. He was heated and wanted to turn his car around and head back to the party and wait for Kory’s ass.

“Son of a bitch,” he grumbled. “That’s okay, though. I got you, and I’m going to get Tiffany back.” He continued to mentally battle with Kory and apologize to Tiffany when his phone rang. He looked at the screen in the dash. It was Tressa.

“You gotta be kidding me,” he said, and then hit ignore. A few short moments later, his cell rang out again, and again he hit ignore. The next minute he got a text alert.

He hit delete on the screen and continued on, but Tressa started to call and text him back to back. Ignoring her, he went home . . . to find her at his gate.

He pulled up, but her car was blocking the drive.

“Tressa, move your car now!” he demanded. Tressa looked at him with a look of refusal, and then placed both hands on her hips.

“Not until we’ve talked, Colby. I paid you to do a damn job, and you fucked up.”

“Tressa, if you don’t get yo’ ass in your car and get the hell out of my drive, I’m going to call the law.”

“Call them, Colby. Be my damn guest. I don’t have shit to lose at this point, and I know you want exactly what I want. Just like me, I know you want to get back at them.”

“No!” he yelled, even though she spoke the truth. He didn’t want to have a thing to do with Tressa, not anymore. She had caused him enough troubles. “I don’t want to get back, get even, or do anything of that nature. I want to move on with my life and pretend that this ignominy never happened, Tressa. I’m at the height of my career, and I’m not going to allow such foolishness anymore. I will not let you or Tiffany, and that punk ass Kory make matters worse for me, so I’m asking you nicely to get in your car and get the hell out of my drive. I don’t have shit to say to you, and I don’t want to be a part of your schemes and scams. Go find another sucker to toy with, Tressa.”

She stood there for a few seconds like she hadn’t heard a word he had said. He then examined her closer and wondered why she looked a mess. Like a prom date from hell. She wore a lovely gown, but it was hanging off of her as if it wasn’t the right size, and her hair looked like she was going for an updo, but she didn’t have enough pins left to finish pinning it up. Her makeup was a completely different look for a princess, and it dawned on him that she was high. He really wanted her as far away as possible at that point. “Don’t make me call the law, Tressa. I’m serious, I will.”

“You will never work in this town again!” she yelled. Huffing and puffing, Colby looked at her with a look of confusion. She had turned into a lunatic right before his eyes, but he wasn’t having it.

“Save your empty threats, Tressa. You are a nobody, a laughingstock. Everyone in this city knows you are a joke. You’re yelling, but nobody’s listening. You are a fucking cokehead, Tressa. You look like a homeless idiot in that dress. You are washed up, and not even your daddy wants to claim your ass right now, so get your crazy ass into your vehicle and get off of my property. If you don’t go now, I’ll have you locked up for trespassing,” he threatened, and then reached for his phone.

Tressa stood there with her chest rising and falling as she breathed deeply with rage.

“Okay,” he said and dialed 911.

“911, what’s your emergency,” his wireless headset blared, and he knew it was loud enough not only for Tressa to hear, but also his neighbors. In an instant, Tressa dashed to her car and cranked her engine.

“No emergency, ma’am. The problem is now leaving,” Colby said and watched Tressa back out like she was trying to get away from a robbery. He waited for her taillights to speed down the road before he drove up and keyed in the code to get into his gate.

He felt foolish, thinking back on his actions of how he allowed Tressa to talk him into dating Tiffany for money and a lead role at her father’s network. He knew the bad press was going to taint his image, so he decided he’d get on top of the game by apologizing in person to Mr. Green, and then working with his publicist to make public apologies for his actions, because he had come too far in his career to be suddenly washed up. He had worked too hard to be placed on the has-been list. He was too young and had a bright future, and he instantly went into the save-his-career mode. Tressa was the loser, not him, and Tiffany and Kory were not going to be a sore spot in his life.

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

“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 assi. . .