Ivan laughed off the venom again. He asked, “Is that the direction we’re headed in now? Because I still consider you a good friend. We have a lot of great memories together.”

Catherine looked into his face and snapped, “You know what, Ivan, spare me the bullshit. Okay? Because I’m not from San Diego, and I can clearly see the direction you’re headed in now. I thought you, of all people, wouldn’t go for that. But I guess I was wrong.”

Ivan frowned at her. “Go for what? Look, all I’m trying to do is grow my business in here.”

Then he stopped and realized that he was in the middle of a crowded event, where people were still watching him. How would it look for him to have an argument? So he smiled it off and said, “I’m obviously the bad guy now. Is that it? Is that what you’re trying to make me out to be?”

On cue, a Filipina assistant asked him politely, “Do you need anything, Ivan?” She was easily one of the most eye-catching girls in the room. At five foot five with three-inch heels on, she stood eye to eye with Catherine.

Catherine responded by looking through the crowd for Lucina. She figured, who else would send a pretty foreign girl to interrupt them? Lucina had nearly twenty associate girlfriends around the room. They were swarming the place. She even knew most of the Chargers cheerleaders who were there.

Ivan said, “Naw, I’m good right now. But thanks.”

“Are you sure?” the assistant pressed him.

Catherine looked the girl in her face but failed to get any eye contact from her.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Ivan told her.

“Okay, well, you let me know if you need anything.” Then she looked at Catherine. “Hi.” She never waited for a response. She was there to assist Ivan and nothing more. Catherine wouldn’t have responded to her with anything positive anyway.

Ivan’s college girlfriend looked back at him and was convinced by the whole scene. He had crossed over into a different world. She told him, “You be whatever the hell you want to be now, Ivan,” and walked away.

Instinctively, Ivan wanted to reach out and secure her arm. He wanted to know more about what she felt. But he restrained himself. It would have given Catherine too much of his attention again. However, he still felt an impulse of loyalty to their friendship.

“Shit,” he cursed himself. He had only a second of private time before Henry Morgan from the Urban League appeared in front of him with his wife.

“Hey, Ivan, you’re moving on up fast now. This is huge.”

“Yeah, it really is,” his wife agreed.

Henry added, “Too bad Thomas couldn’t make it. He’s out of town this weekend. But I’ll be sure to tell him what he missed.”

Ivan smiled and said, “I know you will.”