Erika Jayne Shares “Lowest” Moments of RHOBH, Addresses Theory on Joining Show, and Compares Marriage Woes to Kyle & Mauricio’s Split, Plus Reflects on Early Days With Tom Girardi

“When I see someone that’s very interested in others, but very protective of theirs, what are you masking?” she asked. “Or you’re either masking something, or you have nothing. And I will remember that, and I will swing at you when I feel like I’m ready. May not be today, may not be next year, but — cause that s**t hurts.”

Addressing her past, Erika said she couldn’t “make it” as a performing artist in New York City, as she was “divorced” with a “small child.”

“With my family’s support, I moved to Los Angeles. People think I up and left. That’s not true,” she said. “It’s a game of attrition. There’s so many no’s. You have to stick it out till you get the one yes.”

Once in LA, Erika got a job at a Beverly Hills restaurant called Chasen’s, where stars, entertainers and dignitaries frequented.

“The second version of Chasen’s … had investors, and one of those investors happened to be a man, a lawyer named Tom Girardi, who I waited on. He was very kind,” said Erika. “Everybody loved Tom. He was a good customer. He was a good tipper. He was really sweet to the valet, to the bus boy.”

Erika said she knew Tom “well over a year” before they even went on a date, and after their first date they were “never really apart.”

It began around Christmas time when Erika told him at the restaurant, “‘Did you hear I was single?'”

“He said ‘no.’ I said ‘yeah.’ He goes, ‘Well do you want to go out to dinner?’ And I said ‘Yeah. Give me a call sometime.’ And I wrote down my number,” said the star. “The next call I receive is from his secretary Charlene … saying ‘Can you meet Mr. Girardi for dinner tonight.’ And I said, ‘No I cannot. And if Mr. Girardi wants to take me out he can call me in advance himself. Thank you very much.’ And I hung up the phone. I didn’t hear from Tom.”

According to Erika, he came to the restaurant a week later and told Erika she was “ignoring” him and “not taking” his calls.

“I said, ‘No you haven’t called me. You had your secretary call me.’ He’s like ‘Well are we going to go to dinner or not?’ I said ‘Well this is what I was waiting for. Was you to ask me.’ And we did,” she continued. “We had a really nice time. And we just continued our relationship on from there.”

She said they got married within a year. At one point she told him that she just moved out of her place, and she needed to find an apartment.

“He goes, ‘Well you know there are a lot of bedrooms in this house. You could stay here until you figure it out if you’re tired of sleeping on your friend’s couch,'” she said. “I did … I think I stayed in [his guest] room for like three weeks till he was like, ‘Now Erika, come on.'”

She kept her job as a cocktail waiter until Tom expressed that he didn’t want her to work – that he wanted her to be with him.