His Queen

Tyrone's Anger

The party was still going at ten, for a bunch of old rich people, they knew how to party. Cleo wasn’t in a rush and it wasn’t a school night, so dancing and having fun was a nice weekend surprise. Compared to her social life, a baked potato had a better time in the oven.  

And even better she was thinking Tyrone’s family really liked her. Tabatha or Tab his sister was smitten with Cleo and called her a friend after an hour. His mother was so kind and invited her over for tea. While his father, while large and intimidating with the blue and black eye combo he sported, he was still kind.  

Smiling with a warmth that reached the mixed-match wonder, Cleo felt good to her bones.  

“So, this wasn’t too much right?” Tyrone asked a little gun shy as they danced on the floor. Cleo chuckled, “What the party?” Tyrone grinned as he awkwardly asked, “No I meant, meeting everyone. Kind of feels like I threw you to the wolves tonight.”  

Cleo loved he was so concerned about her. But she felt tonight had gone perfect, even with the whole debacle with his ex.  

Smiling she teased, “Luckily I was always Team Jacob and none of them wanted to bite. Well...maybe one did.” Confused since his entire family and a slew of people had gushed to him about her, Tyrone asked, “Who?” Cleo honestly didn’t want to say.  

She didn’t want to come off as some insecure-ass little girl with jealousy issues. But she knew they’d have to talk about it eventually. Looking around at others dancing, drinking, and mingling with no mind to them, Cleo told him softly, “I met your ex.”  

Tyrone was still confused as to who that’d be until Cleo supplied, “Alyssa what’s her face? Pretty model type dripped out like she’s auditioning for ‘Rich b***h 1’?” Tyrone’s entire body went tense under her and Cleo wanted to stop there.  

But Tyrone’s black and grey eye met hers with a seriousness she’d never seen, “What did she say?” Cleo bit her bottom lip as she whispered, “I don’t think it’s that important baby, It's not-.” Suddenly Andre came over and tapped Tyrone on the back, “Hey man, Willow wants to talk to you.”  

Confused Tyrone was about to tell his friend later. But then he noticed Willow looking highly upset as she talked to his grandfather. Seeing the shake to Andre’s hand, the barely checked anger present, made him nod.  

Andre took Cleo off the dance floor and to get a drink. At the bar, Cleo could clearly see Tyrone approach the table and his grandfather passing a warning to him. When a woman she hadn’t met started talking she watched Tyrone go from ok, to pissed, to downright Hades in a blink.  

“What’s happening?” She asked Andre confused as Tyrone took off in the crowd angry as s**t. To her surprise, Tabatha was right on his heels just as angry.  

Sighing Andre pointed to the little woman looking a little guilty, “That’s my woman Willow. We’re getting married in a couple weeks, something you are required to attend by the way.” Honored at the invite, Cleo smiled as Andre continued on, “She use to work for Tyrone’s grandfather when we met. We asked her to keep an eye on you for...I guess security reasons.”  

A little hurt thinking this meant she HADN’T been as welcomed as thought, Cleo started to deflate. But Andre put a hand on her shoulder, “Not for anything like that.” He assured her, “We didn’t think you’d sneak off with the silverware. We were scared you’d hurt Tyrone, and we couldn’t bare to watch that happen.”  

Which made Cleo feel better knowing it hadn’t been because of her lack of trust fund but out of love for Tyrone. “Right...so, what-? Oh god no,” Seeing Tyrone had found Alyssa, Andre nodded, “My woman witnessed and heard everything she said. It’s not going to be pretty.”  

And it didn’t look as Alyssa lost the seductive smile, she’d put on for him. Instead, she became a scared wide-eyed rabbit with tears in her eyes as people close seemed impressed and a little scared of his words. “I’ve never seen him so angry before,” Cleo breathed out.  

Tabatha said her own few biting words before pulling her brother away. As both made hard gestures to security, Alyssa was shown the door. “Me either.” Andre said honestly seeing the scene unfold, “But then again, he’s never had a you before.” Smiling a little, Andre and Cleo knocked glasses together as Tyrone came over still tense.  

“You ready to go baby?” He asked softly. Cleo nodded and said goodnight to Andre, she was led out but not before she gave a parting wave to his family.  

Tyrone took Cleo outside and as he held her hand, Cleo could feel it shake. “Want me to drive?” She was sure he’d say no. Considering his car was the most expensive thing she’d ever seen in person. Let alone driven.  

But Tyrone gave her the key grateful she’d offered and told her where to go.  After handling the car like an egg, Cleo managed to drive them thirty minutes out.  When they got to his place though, neither moved to get out. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know she was going to be there tonight. If I did, I would have told you more about her and our situation.”  

Tyrone’s words were soft and full of pain and anger, and it hurt to hear.  

Cleo nodded but, in all honesty, she wasn’t angry at meeting Alyssa. Tyrone was a sexy man with a brilliant personality, brains, and humor. Wealth also played a part in it as well, and she knew it hadn’t hurt getting ladies.  

“I’m not angry Tyrone. I mean I’ve dated someone and it’s probably nothing compared to your number of exes-.” Tyrone interrupted laughing dryly, “Exes? No baby I had flings and a bunch of women that I can barely remember. I didn’t really do the whole girlfriend thing seriously.”  

Wincing, Cleo wondered what that made her? A half ass girlfriend?  

But Tyrone quickly dashed that thought by gently stroking her face, “You’d be my first REAL relationship.” Cleo sighed softly and whispered, “You’d be mine.”  

They were silent as the radio played softly, Cleo breathed out as she asked, “So what was all that about anyway? She made it sound like you were madly in love and using me to get back at her.” Tyrone rolled his eyes, “Yeah, in her demented ass dreams.”  

Tyrone walked over to Willow and his grandfather. Seeing Willow upset and Patrick fighting swears at his own mistake, Tyrone asked, “What’s wrong? What happened?” Elijah and Tabatha joined as Willow admitted, “Grandpa and Elijah wanted me to watch over Cleo for you. Make sure no one said anything bad or tried to get fresh with her.”  

Frowning, Tyrone asked, “And someone did?” Trying to think of someone scummy enough to try to put their hands on his woman, Tyrone was floored hearing, “Alyssa Terrance is here tonight.” Seeing the flicker of disgust and rage on his grandson’s face, Patrick cautioned, “Son don’t get riled up-.”  

Not needing to be managed like a child, Tyrone hissed, “And what did that soul sucking viper have to say?” Willow breathed out shakily, “Mostly insults about how Cleo was poor and didn’t belong. Called her trash, called her a gold digger.”  

Tyrone was seeing red as Willow tried to calm him down, “But Cleo handled it like a gem, she was smart, sassy, and classy.”  Tyrone knew that, because that was his woman. Smart, sassy, and classy.  

But she was also f*****g HIS. And as Willow told him the last thing Alyssa did, his blood pressure soared. “She grabbed her arm; I saw her digging her nails in telling her she’d never be good enough. That you’d leave Cleo and that she was your true love.”  

Infuriated to the point of murder, Tyrone didn’t hear it when his grandfather tried to calm him down. Elijah didn’t even bother as he stalked off, his sister on his heels as the name of her hated enemy sent her blood pounding.  

Both siblings found Alyssa searching for him. Searching so hard in fact she didn’t even see him coming. When Tyrone rolled up on Alyssa hot, her goons tried to get her attention. But it wasn’t until he and Tabatha were already there, she took note.  

Smiling seductively not even taking note of his less than happy expression, Alyssa smirked, “Ah there he is, just the man I was looking for.” Tyrone barely kept the angry from shaking his voice as he hissed, “And why the f**k would you be looking for me?”  

Alyssa didn’t let his brash talk upset her. But instead, she smirked as she simpered mockingly, “Ah I guess your new little girlfriend told you about our little talk? Was she all upset, did she leave you?”  Tabatha was about to beat the f**k out of her.  

Damn if it pissed off her mama, which was something no black child every wanted. But Alyssa was pushing buttons.  

Unfortunately for her, it wasn’t just Tabatha’s she pushed.  

But she’d just unknowingly slammed her hand down on Tyrone’s big red one. He was already frustrated with A LOT when it comes down to Cleo. And with the fear of her leaving him weighing heavy on him, there was no way in hell he’d let HER of all people ruin it.  

“Listen here, you cold-hearted snake,” he spat out gaining a few eyes, but he didn’t care as he sneered, “You had no right to f*****g approach her with the steaming pile of lies. You know I NEVER loved you, so how dare you try that s**t!”  

Swallowing hard, mouth pursed as she tried to gain footing, Alyssa tried it, “But we get each other, something-.” Laughing dry and cold, Alyssa shivered as Tyrone assured her, “Yeah we got each other. You got that I would never love you but I’d keep you iced out in diamonds and Benz. Just like I understood you wouldn’t love me and would still me suck off when I asked.”  

Now seeing her danger, Alyssa lied to get out of it, “Okay fine, I was jealous because I realized I wanted to give me and you a real shot. Not some half-ass arrangement.” The look on Tyrone’s face said it all the moment she started and the moment she ended her sentence. He didn’t buy her bullshit and didn’t have time to pretend he did.  

“Listen, I don’t care if you’re jealous or just hating the fact that I’m actually genuinely happy with someone. But knock it off, because you’re pissing me off on a good day, and you’d hate to see me get vengeful.” His threat made her jerk back in shock.  

“Excuse you? Is that a threat?”  Everyone pretending not to look watched the thunderous look on Tyrone’s face.  

He laughed mockingly as he sneered, “Threat? Sweetheart you must not know your daddy is one more bad investment to losing EVERYTHING.”  

Eyes widening since she hadn’t known that, Alyssa was now dejected.  Stuttering over words as she tried to find anything to grab, Tyrone warned her dangerously, “Do you really want me to make that process happen faster? Considering you’re already lying and flaunting fake knock offs; you shouldn’t bulldoze the only dame keeping your rich b***h lifestyle afloat.”  

Tabatha rolled her eyes as both Rebecca and Frankie, immediately showed their disgust. Scrunching up their noses at Alyssa like she was less than them as Tyrone continued, “My family is the only partner your father still has that is keeping him above water. Do you really want him to lose that last life saver when I take over?”  

Alyssa now looked like she’d swallowed a grape as Frankie and Rebecca for once couldn’t jump to defend her.  Alyssa tried to come back, tried to make Tyrone look at her like a woman again. His woman.  

But his eyes spit flames as he growled out, “Stay the f**k away from her Alyssa. I’m warning you, ONCE, upset her again? Put your f*****g hands on her again? I’ll make you sorry you were born.”  

Alyssa finally just said what was on her tongue, “What’s so special about that ugly b***h anyway!? She’s nothing but some low-income hussy after your money.” Tyrone scoffed seeing nothing but bitterness, “Oh don’t go through your insecurities off on her. Like that wasn’t your motive for dating me. Because we both know the truth.”  

Eyes filling with faux tears, Alyssa tried to make it seem like she meant it, “But I did love you, I still do.” Tyrone looked at her blankly and Alyssa’s bottom lip trembled as she noticed not an emotion pass over his face.  

Nothing. Not even sympathy.  

“Don’t lie Alyssa, it’s beneath you, don’t ya think?” Tyrone taunted and Alyssa wanted to protest but Tabatha had enough of her, “Oh dry up b***h,” Tabatha swore as Alyssa wilted, “You’re nothing but a little girl wanting to be taken care of. But the young woman I met? The one you were so nasty and God awful too? She’s a sweet person who did nothing to deserve you being that way towards her. So, do us a favor and drop the jealous ex role would ya? Because you’re only making a fool of yourself, and no one is buying it.”  

Storming off both gestured to security, “She won’t be invited to another function bro,” Tabatha promised, “I’ll make sure of it.”  

Tyrone hoped so, because another run in with Alyssa might mean jail time for him. Looking to see Cleo already looking at him with concern, Tyrone melted.  

“I’m so sorry baby,” Tyrone whispered as he stroked the indents on her arm, “If I had known she was there, I would have told you. I would have told you more about her and everything that happened between us.”  

Cleo smiled as she took a wild guess, “It’s fine, I get it, you dated her because she felt safe. You knew she wasn’t with you purely because you had money. And as snobby and awful as she is, I bet she didn’t even pretend to want to really date you. Just assumed because you two had the same legacies, and family wealth you’d be perfect together. But I could see why it didn’t work out.”  

Smirking, Cleo taunted, “Your taste has definitely improved.” So happy he could burst, Tyrone kissed Cleo happily. When he pulled away breathless, Cleo’s lips were kiss swollen and soft. “What was that for?” she whispered panting lightly. Tyrone smirked as he happily admitted, “No reason.”