The Manhattanites: Unscrupulous Part 30

Warner helped Taddy into the SUV as she texted her friends to meet them at what she called "their place." It was Club Macanudo over on East Sixty-Third Street. It was early in the day for a c.o.c.ktail. But Taddy told Warner she needed a drink. "Are you nervous to meet my peeps?" she asked.

"Should I be?"

"They're a little outrageous."

Anything would pale in comparison to Irma. Warner felt at a loss for words. There was nothing he could say to ease her pain from what'd happened with her mother. He could be there for her. Let her speak and love her. But that was it.

"I texted my brother, Sheldon, who wants to meet you. He'll be here shortly." Warner remained confident Sheldon would win at the shocking game.

"This is our home away from home." Taddy walked into the cigar bar.

Living downtown, Warner had never set foot in Club Macanudo. An Upper East Side inst.i.tution with lithographs along the walls, the interiors looked posh with Art Deco-styled leather couches stationed around the lounge with gla.s.s-and-marble c.o.c.ktail tables. In a city where smoking indoors was prohibited, here it was not only permissible but deemed fashionable. This social establishment thrived as a secret gem.

He sat with Taddy as they talked about Irma's behavior. Taddy confessed she'd almost given in. She felt a strong urge to help her mother. "Thank you for pulling me away from her, Warner. I'm still tempted to give her the money though."

"So you can learn who your birthfather is?"

"No, I don't care about that. It won't change who I am. There's a part of me that will always have hope. Hope that my mother and I can have a real relationship. I'd give anything for that-including money." Taddy sighed. "I sound desperate."

Warner's heart broke as he heard her say this. "Not desperate. You're a good person with so much to give. And from what I've seen, you give a lot to others. Maybe too much." He was impressed with her ability to endure. It became obvious the worst in Taddy's life had pa.s.sed years ago. A strong urge to protect and love her even more came over him. It wasn't pity or a savior complex. Rather, he admired her resilience.

From the entrance came a thin Scandinavian-type woman wearing her bleached white hair in a bob. She beelined it for their table. Warner tried not to make eye contact with her, but she looked familiar. He didn't want to be rude. Then it hit him where he recognized her from. She was the woman he'd seen on the security video with Taddy at Secrete de St. Barth. As she closed in, her long gold nails pointed at him.

Taddy laughed.

"Big f.u.c.king Daddy indeed," the woman shouted.

"You must be Viveca." Hands down, Taddy won for most eccentric friend with this one. A cross between a Las Vegas showgirl and a socialite auctioning her gold nuggets at Sotheby's, he'd never seen a friend such as Miss Farnworth in his life.

"It's Vive and don't I get a kiss?" she flirted.

Taddy okayed the gesture with a wink. Afraid his lips might get glitter on them from her prominently applied rouge, he opted to kiss her right hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Blake and I came together. Poor guy is stuck outside on a call," she said. "He'll join us in a few."

"Diego?" Taddy asked, remembering Blake and his husband were on the outs.

"Yup. Looks like they're fighting again." Vive scooted her chair closer. "I hate Diego."

"Vive, don't start in on him."

"Diego is the biggest piece of s.h.i.t to walk this town. But don't you worry. I'm gonna write an article on him in Debauchery that will ruin him once and for all."

"No. Blake wouldn't like that."

"It's just a li'l blurb saying he has-you know-the same thing that my friend Ollie had in St. Barth."

"The sprinkles?"

"Yup! So...let's celebrate. What are we drinking?"

"Taddy ordered the Club Macanudo's signature martini." Opening to the beverage list, Warner pa.s.sed Vive a menu.

"Sounds yummy to me. Make that two please with gin."

"Two? But we've already ordered Taddy's drink."

"Those are both for me. I like doubles. The gla.s.ses here are small." Vive's eyebrows rose as if telling Warner he should know better than to ask questions.

"Right." He walked over to the bar to order. A tall GQ-type came in from outside. "Blake?"

"Warner Truman. I recognize you from the photo with Taddy in the paper." Blake confirmed with a handshake. "It's nice to meet the man responsible for my best girl's new smile." Taddy's friend stood tall, an inch or two shorter than Warner. He pulled Warner to the side after he placed Vive's order.

"Yes?" Warner asked.

Rolling his shoulders back, Blake warned, "If you ever hurt Taddy, you'll leave me no choice but to sic Vive on you. Understand?" He grinned, but there was an element of seriousness in the threat.

Warner laughed, putting his hand on Blake's shoulder. "You have nothing to worry about. I love Taddy. I'm looking forward to spending time with you guys."

"Great, let's drink." Blake headed over to Vive. He sat beside her and chatted.

Taddy glanced at him as he picked up Vive's drinks. The natural warmth had returned to her face. She was beginning to relax after this morning's fiasco. "Thank you again for coming with me."

"Any regrets seeing Irma?" Kissing her, Warner took his place by her side.

"No just sadness. I'm not sure why I expected today to go any other way. I should've known better."

Warner held her hand, playing with her fingers. "I can't imagine how you feel, but I'm here for you. I love you."

"I love you too." She crossed her legs. "My talk with the countess may help me move forward. Am I making any sense?"

"Perfectly."

"There she is." Vive pointed to the door.

Warner followed Vive's direction, catching a glimpse of an elegant woman making her way over. She motioned a h.e.l.lo to the barmaid. He was taken aback at how much she resembled Taddy. She had honey-blonde hair instead of fire-engine-red locks but both their faces were picturesque and striking.

The woman held her arms wide as Taddy stood and hugged her. Warner didn't approach at first. The lady cried and Taddy wiped her tears then pulled her hair back behind her ears. "Irma's in my past," he heard Taddy say. Nodding her head in agreement on something, they faced him and stood side by side.

"Lex Easton-pleasure." Her handshake was firm. Similar in their sophistication yet different in their mannerisms, Taddy and Lex could be sisters.

"It's nice to meet you, Lex. You were a major topic this morning."

"My ears have been ringing since I woke up."

Taddy held her hand. "Lex, I'd love to see Birdie today. Please invite her. I need to tell her a few things."

"Such as?"

"I want to give her an apology for starters, followed by a thank you. And I could use a Birdie hug."

"I'll make the call. Be right back." Lex smiled as if she understood.

"You're remarkable." Warner pulled Taddy in close and they sat back down with Vive and Blake. "You know that?"

"You bring it out in me." She kissed him.

"Wow!" Vive shrieked, breaking their sweet talk. "Who the fudge b.a.l.l.s is that stud?"

Motorcycle helmet in hand and covered in more tattoos than Warner remembered, his brother walked up.

"h.e.l.lo, Manhattanites," Sheldon greeted. "Brother." He nodded.

"Meow," Blake hissed playfully.

"Everyone, this is Sheldon." Warner pulled up a chair for him to join them.

"Sheldon, this is Vive, Blake. You pa.s.sed Lex at the door on her cell, and my girlfriend, Taddy Brill."

"Shel! Come sit next to me," Vive demanded.

Taddy's friends laughed.

Epilogue.

Neve Adele's Candy Land Reality Later That Week Upper East Side, New York City Let's party!

Up in a swing, Taddy hung from her ballroom ceiling over the crowd, playing her part as Princess Lolly. She threw glitter dust out at the dancers below.

On the dance floor, shirtless, in a white fur thong that covered his c.o.c.k, Warner carried a large lollipop scepter whirled in colors. On his head was a gold king's crown. A sash across his chest read "King of Candy Land". He was such a good sport.

G.o.d he's f.u.c.king hot! And he's mine!

Gyrating their hips around him in a small circle were Lex and Blake. Lex had been iced from head to toe in crystals. Taddy had convinced her to get vajazzled at the Exhale Bliss Spa, hoping she'd get laid tonight. Lex played Queen Frostaine better than anyone. Blake held his hands up, clapping. Dressed in purple tights as Duke of Swirl, Blake had the legs to pull it off.

Instinctively she searched for Vive then remembered that Miss Farnworth had hosted a pre-Candy Land Ball c.o.c.ktail party and may have been too trashed to make it. d.a.m.n her.

The music's volume lowered as did her swing. Yellow lights focused on her in the middle as she descended over the audience.

She held on to a microphone. "Good evening, New York City." Her voice boomed surround sound from the Candy Hearts Room to the Mola.s.ses Swamp and created feedback noise in her earpiece. "Thank you for coming. We've raised three million tonight for charity."

The crowd screamed.

"My Brill girls have been working their a.s.ses off to bring you a new accessories lifestyle line inspired by an iconic reality TV star. She's a reigning Miss Glamour USA who's captured America's hearts."

A build of antic.i.p.ation filled the room. No one knew who the surprise guest was except for Blake and his team. They'd kept it a secret.

"Some of these treats are in your goodie bags tonight, darlings," Taddy continued.

"Brill. Brill. Brill," the audience chanted.

Taddy pressed on. "America's number-one reality TV star is in Candy Land to make her music debut with her new song, 'I'm A Reality'. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Neve Adele."

Going bonkers, the audience screamed, "Neve Adele!"

The swing came all the way to the floor and dropped Taddy off in Warner's arms.

"You were amazing." He hugged her tight as she handed her microphone to a nearby stageman.

The lights focused on the stage. Neve Adele came out from a curtain singing to her track. She wore an Easton Essentials gown made by Lex in her signature color-lilac.

"Is she lip-synching?" Warner asked as he wrapped his arms around Taddy. He pulled her in to him as they listened to the synthesized song. Neve's verses were about her life as a beauty queen spouting off in a monotone lisp.

"She sure is," Taddy whispered in Warner's ear. "She's our manufactured superstar." Taddy smiled and put her hands out, cheering Neve on, and danced.

Warner grabbed Taddy's hips, pulling her in closer. It made her happy to be with him. She put his arms around him. "I love you, Warner."

"I love you too." Swinging his hips with hers, Warner's c.o.c.k grew hard against her. Tonight, Taddy wanted to celebrate for having Warner in her life. She knew it would be hard to let go of her past completely but with such a wonderful future ahead of her, she focused on the good.

"Going to get a drink. Catch ya later." Blake held on to Lex as they left Taddy and Warner alone.

"I'm real, I'm a reality, I'm beauty. I'm a beauty queen," Neve sang her chorus. Catchy, it would be a hit with the gays.

The lights spun around the ballroom with a flash. Then everything went dark. Pushing her body against Warner's, Taddy felt his chest and rested her palm over his heart.

"I know what you want. It's real. It's a star. It's a reality star." Neve's song sped up.

Taddy's body vibrated to the music, but it remained impossible to keep up with Warner's insatiable pace. Everything on King Candy danced. She stepped back, letting him get into his groove.

The music changed out as Neve's song came to a close. DJ Dejon, who'd flown in for the night from Utah with Kiki, spun a remixed '90s cla.s.sic. Taddy had convinced them to come back in time for the ball.

Techno pulsated through her body. It was time to show Warner who she really was. She pulled his head down to hers and whispered. "I want to show you something."

"What?"

"It's a hidden room. But you have to promise you won't judge."

"I swear."