A Whole New World (Minnelli Family Series book 2)

Influence

One year later
Inaguration ceremony day

Missy stood in the mirror of her little apartment in excitement. She was about to be inaugurated into the medical school program in front of high rolling alumni and sponsors for the university.

"Are you nervous?" Hope fixed her collar for her. She was round with Eric's baby and bright diamond on her finger.

"I am going crazy with excitement. My family is here at the hotel getting ready. And my best friends are going to be in attendance. What more could I want?"

"Deion won't be there?"

"He had work...and I thought it was best he didn't come. I'm not ready to introduce him to my family."

"Your man is the mayor! The fuck!" Hope laughed.

"That's what I know..." They grabbed their purses and jackets before leaving out.

On campus, clearly annoyed, Antonio and Amiri were whining to their parents about having to be present at the ceremony.

"Yo narrow ass is a Minnelli so you're gonna be at that table!"

"Man fuck all that dad! I got shit to do." Antonio argued back. Amiri bucked his eyes at his twin. He had long given up his fight but being a true Minnelli man, Antonio was not about to back down. Amiri was his mother's child...when he wanted to.

"Who you cussing at first of all!" Aries Minnelli was about to blow up on his replica.

"Boys...let's not act like this before the sponsors get here."

"Nobody..." Antonio quieted down. Diane clapped her hands excitedly and exited out of the dressing room. Aries looked at his son one more time before leaving behind his wife.

"You were prepared to get your ass all the way whooped huh?" Amiri snickered. "Grown as hell and still ready to get beat the fuck down in public."

"Shut the fuck up bruh damn..." Antonio pulled at the custom suit like it was too much for him. "You know I hate this showoff shit we have to do..."

"I do too but the first medical school program class that Golden Oak will receive... That's a hell of an accomplishment by mom. Don't flex."

"I'm not...I just don't see why we should be here like today."

"Stop whining. The honorees are about to show up." The brothers left the room to take their seats at the table diagonal to the stage. Missy and her family were positioned in the back, her back facing the stage. They ate together and talked, as this was the first time she'd seen her family since the summer before transferring to Golden Oak in undergrad and of course graduation. The reason was because there simply wasn't enough money for her to be traveling to and from Miami during breaks. She spent a lot of time with Hope's family to substitute. As a nod of gratitude, Missy sent the Perry family an invite even though they could not make it in time from their annual vacation.

After the ceremonial dinner, Diane Minnelli took the stage to welcome everybody.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees I, Diane Minnelli, welcomes each and every one of you to our first annual Inauguration of Medical Students and White Coat ceremony." She stopped and clapped. The Miracle 7 as they were affectionately called all left their families for the stage. Antonio looked up in a bored expression until his eyes landed on Missy being help up to the stage. Diane continued to introduce every member of the class but the praises ran down Missy.

"Mélissaire Devereaux is a homegrown candidate. She is the only student from our undergrad biology pre-med program to be accepted for an interview and the only female student of the Miracle 7 in the class. She still maintains a 4.0 GPA as well as volunteer hours when her schedule permits." Mrs. Minnelli smiled and the crowd clapped. Missy shed a small tear with a smile. What made those students so special, Missy especially was these students were picked out of the thousands of applicants that were narrowed down to 100, from the 20 interviewees to just 7 students today. The Miracle 7 were pinned and coated. They then posed for pictures.

Missy stood with her mother while one of her brothers took a picture. Antonio watched as she smiled happily with her people. He had to say something...anything.

"Congratulations Missy.." he put a hand on the small of her back. She jumped and turned in shock. Her family looked at the gorgeous man curiously.

"Is this the boyfriend you said couldn't make it?" her mother smirked with mischief. Not waiting for Missy to answer, she moved Missy out the way. "Hi, my name is Laura. Missy's mother. And you must be Deion..."

"Ma!" Missy tried to interrupt. Antonio looked on in amusement.

"Shush..grown folks are talking. I do say, you must let my daughter come home more often young man, even though I wouldn't mind-"

"Ma! That is not Deion. This is-"

"A classmate. My family, well my parents, are on the Board of Trustees here." Antonio stretched out his hand. "It's been a pleasure getting to know your daughter." Missy's father wheeled up in his wheelchair to them with a smile.

"I must say, the Minnelli family sure know class. Quincy Devereaux, nice to meet you."

"Now that we are all acquainted, can we go now? My feet are tired." Missy tried to pull her family from Antonio. Her brothers followed first then her parents. She watched them get in their cars and waved them on. She dipped off to the women's bathroom to get herself together. Hope and Eric were waiting the parking lot. She stepped out but before she could register what was going on, a pair of strong arms pulled her into a vacant room.

"What the fuck? Antonio!" she flung herself out of his hands. "What are you doing?"

"Congratulating you properly." he kissed her deeply before lifting her skirt up.

"No no no..." she pulled her skirt down. "You can't." she pushed him away.

"Your so called mayor boyfriend didn't show up..." He stepped back.

"It's complicated and I don't have time to explain." she stepped back in his embrace. "But thank you. I appreciate the gesture." she captured his lips this time. He took the opportunity to slip his fingers in her heat. She gasped but invited him inside. Missy opened her legs. It was quick, rough and passionate. "Now I need a shower." she felt his seed leaking out of her.

"Go on nah before I have you bent over and you get this work for real." he whispered against her lips.

Hope and Eric dropped her off at her apartment later to shower and change clothes that night after celebrating with her family and Deion. Missy just couldn't get Antonio out of her mind. She was shook that after all these years he still had that effect on her. But as the old saying goes, time apart makes the pussy grow fonder...or is it heart? Missy couldn't remember.