A Love of My Own by E. Lynn Harris Read Free Book Online

our eyes. It was one of the things Kai did that drove us crazy. We could be having a completely normal sister-girl conversation and Kai would look away and release these stupid-ass questions about life. Sick questions. After about six months of actually trying to answer some of the questions, Justine and I figured that if we didn’t respond, Kai would return to earth and stop acting so wacky.
    A moment of silence followed, and sure enough Kai came back around. “So what are we doing for dinner before I stuff myself with these chips?”
    â€œI feel like some jerk chicken,” I said.
    â€œThat sounds good to me,” Kai said.
    â€œThen let’s finish our drinks and get to stepping toward Island Spice,” Justine said.
----
    From
Bling Bling
Confidential
    Davis greets his tea-colored reflection with a smile each day after finishing his shave. He’s not happy because of his wealth and power but because every day he wakes up he moves farther from his past.
----

4
__________________
    On my fifth day in New York I had a long lunch with my new boss, Davis McClinton, at Le Bernardin, on West Fifty-first between Sixth and Seventh avenues, one of the city’s toniest restaurants.
    The maître d’ had a strong French accent and greeted us with a warm smile. He clasped Davis’s hands and said, “Monsieur McClinton, so great to see you again. I have your regular table ready for you. How’s business?”
    â€œTrès bien, Henri,”
Davis said.
“Et la famille, comment ça va?”
    I followed Davis and Henri and noticed several of the lunchtime patrons staring at us. They probably recognized Davis’s face from the covers of both
Fortune
and
Forbes
magazines. Finally black men were beginning to be recognized for their business smarts instead of for playing sports, or being in entertainment or being associated with crime.
    We reached our table and Henri pulled out the leather chairs for Davis and me and said, “I’ll send Tucker right over.”
    â€œThank you,” Davis said as he removed his glasses and put them in a snakeskin case. The waiter came over and warmly greeted Davis with a smile and an amber-colored drink resting over several ice cubes. He looked at me and asked, “And what can I get for you, sir?”
    â€œJust some iced tea,” I said.
    Davis looked at me with a frown and teased, “Are you trying to impress the boss? Order a drink.”
    I didn’t know if I should follow his instructions, but I remained firm and said, “No, iced tea will be fine. I want to get some work done this afternoon.” When Davis nodded, I was happy to see that he wasn’t one of those egomaniacs who thought things should be his way or no way.
    â€œAre you glad to be back in New York, Raymond?”
    â€œYeah, I am,” I said.
    â€œNew York, the most exciting city in the world. I wouldn’t live anyplace else, even though I have homes in Paris, The Hamptons, Telluride and Miami. But if I’m away from the city for more than a month, I start to get a little crazy,” Davis said.
    â€œYeah, I must say I’ve missed the city a lot,” I said as I looked out on the busy sidewalk.
    â€œSo tell me about yourself. I mean, the stuff I don’t already know,” Davis said.
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œYour family?”
    â€œYou know I’m from Birmingham, Alabama. I have a younger brother who plays for the San Diego Chargers. My parents are retired and live in Naples, Florida. My father was a civil rights attorney and my mother was a teacher. They’re both retired and enjoying life. What about you? I mean besides the stuff you read in magazines?” I asked, trying to turn the tables on Davis.
    â€œMy family is from New York,” Davis said.
    â€œHarlem?” I suggested. There was very little personal information about Davis in the case study.
    â€œFuck no,” Davis snapped. “I grew