Sharynn POV

Tonight was her night with Trenton at his event.

She looked forward to attending The 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louus' black-tie event. She heard about the organization but did not know much about it or what it did. She figured there would be lots of nice-looking Black men in attendance and she looked forward to feasting her eyes on them. She was attending with Trenton as a friend, she made that clear to him.

Though she did not mind dressing to impress. A long black and silver dress that fit her body just right. It was off-the-shoulder, so it showed off her neckline and shoulders just right. A little cleavage as well. The dress made no mistake she had a little money. It was a Lela Rose it cost nearly three thousand dollars. Her hair was freshly done that morning at her regular salon, her face done up by her cousin who mastered the face beat from YouTube and topped off with a couple thousand in diamonds on her ear, wrists, neck, and even her ankle.

None on her fingers, she wanted to make it clear she was available.

She allowed Trenton to pick her up at her condo. His mouth dropped when she opened the door and he saw her.

"Damn Sharynn, you've always been fine, but damn girl, you're gorgeous."

She blushed at him, tossing her newly curled hair. "Stop it! Do I really?" She turned around in her dress for him.

"You look amazing."

She enjoyed the compliment, but she was not vain like her bestie Amari. There was nothing wrong with accepting a compliment when it was true.

She looked him over in his nice dark suit, expensive-looking, top-of-the-line...name brand for sure. Maybe Ralph Laurence or Hugo. She was not up on her suits that much, but she knew it was not a basic suit. It fit him well and made him seem like a cute teddy bear. Face freshly shaved and smooth, hair cut nice and crisp. He looked good as well.

"Come on," he said and took her hand. "I can't wait to get there and show you off."

She imagined other well-to-do guests would all be dressed to one-up each other, that's what the rich, elite crowd in St. Louis liked to do, at least the women. Who wore what, when, and better not spot another person with her dress on.

The event was in Clayton at the Ritz-Carlton. She already knew it was about to be bougie as hell. She played on her cell phone while Trenton drove. Mostly texting her friends letting them know what was going on. She took a selfie and sent it to them.

I look like schmoney!

Amari: Don't try and be hip, little rich girl.

Kayla: LOL

OMW to the gala.

Amari: Just tell me if there are really 100 fine, gorgeous Black men there, maybe I need to drive by and take a look see

Don't you have a gorgeous Black man?

Amari: Can never have enough

Kayla: Take lots of pictures

Amari: Yeah, and one of this guy you're going with you told us nothing about.

She grimaced and glanced over at Trenton, too focused on driving. He was a nice friend to have, but they definitely were not dating. Maybe she would meet a new rich guy tonight.

Trenton is just a friend. My co-worker

Amari: A co-worker you dressed up for and taking you on a date...yeah, sure

Kayla: You should just give him a try. He could be the perfect guy for you.

She scoffed at that.

"What was that? Did you say something?" Trenton asked her.

"Oh, no, sorry. Just on my phone. I will put it away tonight."

She slipped her phone in her small clutch purse. Her friends were bananas to think there could be something more going on with her and Trenton. Just friends!

They made it to the Ritz-Carlton and pulled up to valet parking. Trenton helped her out of the car and held her hand as they made it inside the ritzy hotel. Already she saw that she blended right in with the others and their designer dresses. Next to Trenton, dressed in his expensive suit, they looked as if they belonged there.

"So, are you a member of the organization?" She asked him this before and didn't pay enough attention to his answer.

"No and yes," he explained. "They have recruited me, I am a prospect, as they say. It's why I have tickets."

He took out his phone as his tickets were scanned and they were allowed into the ballroom. There was a live band playing, an open dance floor, a bar to one side of the room with a line of people waiting, and rows and rows of clothed tables.

He leaned over and talked in her ear. "This is not my type of thing. With these people. I may turn down my induction in."

Why would he do that? An organization like this on your resume opened doors. Well, with other successful, Black men. It was like a fraternity but for the rich and famous of St. Louis. Maybe if he was in an organization like this, it could raise his status in St. Louis, and earn him more money.

She needed a drink, but she didn't want Trenton to think she was an alcoholic, trying to get tipsy already. They were assigned a table, someone near the back, that showed his importance. Not enough clout to be in some of the tables close to the dais.

They found their table, which was already full of other people. She looked around, greeted them all politely, not recognizing any of them, then took her seat. Trenton only introduced himself to the guy to his right before sitting. She was raised to speak to everyone at a formal table.

"Oh, I love that dress," the lady to her left stated. "You have the body for it. I'm just all booty and hips."

She thanked her for the compliment but also feared that it was a side insult as well. She was not as shapely as the curves that were popular today. She appreciated her small size, but she did not like others to bring it up.

From her seat, she could see most of the other tables and guests. She started to see who she could spot she knew. The mayor, the house of representative, and two old college guys from the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, along with their wives, saw a few church members as well. None of them she felt like speaking to. If they noticed her, she had manners, she would speak back.

She looked over the program on the table and noted that on the dais was the one person she was hoping not to run into.

Richard Richardson.

She could not help herself, she looked toward the front table to see if she could spot him. Sure enough, he sat up front, in the middle, smiling as he talked to the guy next to him. Even from far back in the room, his smile, those glistening white teeth, made her yearn for him a little. Richard made every man there look like a pauper.

To his other side sat a pretty, tall woman with long honey-blonde weave, a pretty made-up face, and breasts nearly all on display for others to see. She could not tell what else the woman worked with, but the breasts were on display tonight. Certainly no one Richard could take seriously. She knew what he was into her for.

"Sharynn!"

"Huh, you say something?" She turned her attention to Trenton who was saying something to her now.

"Where did you go? You were off in a daze and I was calling you."

"Sorry, daydreaming I guess."

"I was trying to ask you if you wanted a drink from the bar?"

Hell yeah and make it a double, she thought, but nodded only. "White wine, whatever they have is great."

She needed a lot more than wine tonight, but that would do. She busied herself looking at her phone while Trenton went off to get her drink. She texted her girls.

Richard is here.

Amari: Ooooo! Is he still fine, hunny?

Kayla: Amari! She doesn't care! He dumped her. She has moved on.

Amari: But he is rich and fine, her perfect ideal guy

Kayla: That doesn't mean he was right for her, obviously he wasn't.

Rich was more than just my boyfriend, we were friends. Best friends!

Her first boyfriend. Her first kiss. Her first...sexual experience. Growing up with him since birth because of their mothers, she felt like it was all written in the stars for them until it all became a mess. Even though he cheated, she would go back to him if he asked.

Trenton came back with her wine and a red wine for himself. She took a sip but would pace herself. The night had not even begun.

"So, you grew up around lots of people like this, huh?" Trenton asked her.

She raised a brow at him. "How could you tell?"

"You vibe with them the same way. You know what to say and how to act. I feel like I'm playing dress up at a masquerade ball." He slightly loosened his tie. "This isn't me."

"It looks good on you though."

He smiled at her. "Then if you like it, I think I can learn to like it."

The night was long and filled with lots of accolades and recognitions. Richard received an award for top businessman of the year. Newly positioned as the President of his father's company, Richardson Realty owned half of St. Louis City, with offices in other cities as well. And he was the youngest to do it, at only twenty-four.

After dinner, the dance floor was open for people to dance to the live band playing old eighties songs that she did not know. Trenton, a lot older than her was into the music and asked her to dance with him. She shrugged and said why not. She looked too good to sit down in the back of a room all day.

So up close on the dance floor, she cut loose. Forget her manners, she did all the old-school dances she knew along with Trenton and they had a blast. She laughed and danced with him for several songs and had a good time. Then a slow song played and she stood there, not too keen on getting a bit intimate with Trenton.

He did not hesitate to pull her in his arms and hold her close and sway with the music. She felt surprisingly warm in his arms, comfortable. Happy to be there actually. She let out a breath and relaxed in his arms, just taking in the moment.

Then she felt someone tap her shoulder, breaking the moment she was having with Trenton.

"Shar Shar!"

She knew exactly who it was. She turned to face her ex.

"Richard!"

He grabbed her in a hug. "You look damn incredible," he whispered in her ear and her whole body trembled.

He smelled like money. She could not explain it, but being a young millionaire there was indeed a smell about you. She could stand there and smell him all night, but she pulled away.

"How are you?"

"Incredible since running into you tonight. Mind if I...cut in?"

She looked to Trenton. "Sorry, this is Richard Richardson. And old friend, do you mind?"

"Sure," Trenton said, but she could read his face. He did not like it. What could she do? It was Richard! They went back, like Mariah and ODB, like babies and pacifiers. She was still friendly with him after all, even though there were still lingering feelings.

"Sharynn, you are the prettiest woman here," Richard said to her as they started to dance to the slow song the band played.

She rolled her eyes at him. Same old Richard. "Even prettier than the date I saw you with?"

He chuckled at her. "Little girls that can never take the place of my first love."

"Don't sweet talk me, Richard. You broke my heart, not the other way around."

"Well, I'm a lot older and mature now. I recognize I made a mistake."

She loved hearing that from him, but it was a little too late. She pulled away from him. "Thanks but, I'm actually with a great guy that appreciates me a lot more than you did."

She left Richard right there on the dance floor and made her way back to Trenton. That felt good to walk away from Richard and all his good looks, charm, and money. But her friends were right, she needed to give Trenton a chance, Something different may be just what she needed. She enjoyed herself with him so far, maybe they could take things up a notch.

"Trenton, can you take me home now?"

"Okay, I'm ready too."

She did not know what to say to Trenton, but she remembered that look in his eyes when she chose Richard over him. This was hard for her, admitting maybe she was wrong about something. She was Sharynn Morris, always right, always the boss.

Once they were in his car and on their way, she finally had to clear the air.

"That was Richard..."

"I know who that was," he stated. "Richie Rich, boy wonder, worth a fortune thanks to his father."

"Rich has earned a lot on his own as well."

"Old boyfriend, I'm guessing. Figures."

"What does that mean? Yes, Richard and I grew up together and dated. So?"

"Didn't think you were the type that cared about what's in a brother's pockets. I guess I was all wrong about you."

Yeah, he was wrong. But she was wrong. Maybe money wasn't everything. Being a kind, considerate person mattered, and not a manwhore that slept around because he could.

"I can't apologize for what I like."

"Don't. It's whatever."

He was upset. Very upset at her and she couldn't blame him. Trenton was not the guy for her, it was obvious. And yet...when she was wrapped in his arms, she felt things. Things she did not feel when she was in Richard's arms.

No more words were said as he drove to her place. This was it. He probably never wanted to see her again. Except at work, that would be unavoidable.

Once he pulled up in her driveway, he got out and helped her out of the car, even though he probably hated her guts right now. That's the kind of gentleman he was.

"Thanks for inviting me, and taking me out with you tonight."

"Sure you enjoyed yourself, connecting back with Mr. Money Bags."

"Trenton, that's not fair. He's an old friend, that's it. Yes, we dated, but that's been over for years." She stood in front of him and looked him in his eyes. "You want to date me Trenton, you can't get jealous over an ex-boyfriend."

"Do I make enough money or-"

"Fuck that! I don't care." She could not believe it was her saying it either. "How about we go on a real date next time? Just me and you. Alone. Somewhere romantic."

He grinned at her. "Oh, I can do that!"

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, Trenton."