Underneath the Stars

Chapter 9

September 15th, 1990

Mariah nervously gripped her purse as she entered the New York steakhouse only a few blocks from her new penthouse. Other than a couple glances here and there it didn't feel like she was the girl currently at number one on Billboard, but she didn't mind the lack of attention. Instead, she preferred it. 

She wore a long black dress and heels with her curls pinned up in a messy french roll. 

"Ms. Carey, welcome. Let me take you to your table," Mariah stopped herself from jumping when the waitress recognized her. 

She forced a smile and followed the blonde-haired woman to a booth at the back of the restaurant. 

"Here you are, ma'am," She said as she placed a menu on the table before walking back to the front. 

Mariah sat in the booth across from none other than Tommy Mottola.

"Good evening, you look absolutely stunning," He said, grinning. "I was worried you weren't going to show,"

Mariah chuckled. "And what would give you that idea?"

"Well, you've never really blown off our plans the way you have the past few weeks," He took a sip from his old-fashioned. "I was beginning to worry that you were actually starting to like Michael Jackson,"

"About that-"

"But tonight is a happy occasion," He continued, his smile never leaving his face. "I just received these,"

He laid a stack of papers on the table and pushed them over to her. 

Mariah raised an eyebrow at him before timidly picking up the paperwork. She sat it on her lap and shakily flipped through each page before finally settling on the last. Two signatures.

"These are..."

"The divorce papers," He nodded.

She looked up at him, down at the papers, and back at him. "...you actually did it?"

"You seem so surprised," He noted. 

"I am," She handed him the stack of papers. "That's so sad,"

"Sad?" He laughed. "Sad? This should be one of the happiest days of our lives, sweetheart,"

She cringed involuntarily at "sweetheart" but the waitress walked back over before she could properly respond. 

"Sir, they're about to bring out the appetizer and once we get her order we can fire the entrees,"

"Oh, forgive me. You haven't even had a chance to look at the menu," Tommy said.

Mariah forced a smile. "It's fine. I'll just have a Cobb salad,"

"Of course, ma'am. Any drinks?"

"No, just a water is fine,"

Tommy folded the papers and put them back into a pocket on his suit jacket. He swirled his drink and took another sip. "We can finally be together now,"

"Together?" She echoed, handing the menu back to the waitress. "Tommy, I don't think-"

"We can take that trip to Florida you wanted to take. Go to Disney? It'll be great. Maybe, we'll even-"

She waited until the waitress was out of earshot. 

"Tommy!" Mariah interjected. "You're getting a little carried away. We aren't going to be together. You have to take time after your divorce and I-"

"And you what?" He huffed. "You what?"

Mariah took a deep breath. "Michael-"

"Michael?" He scoffed. "So you're taking him seriously? I've already told you-"