“We’re not going to any Mickey D’s, are we? You know Coco love junk food. Me myself, I like to eat at fancy restaurants. I haven’t been in one for such a long time. I mean any good place will do. Where’s your uncle? Josephine chased him off?” Ms. Harvey asked. She had no idea of the cold chill her questions sent through the air.
“Yes, Josephine, where’s Uncle E.?” Deedee asked.
“Oh, the last time I saw him he was interviewing two new girls, Tina and Kim, for the receptionist position,” Josephine answered with disdain in her voice.
“This seems like a nice place,” Deedee said, pointing to a Thai restaurant.
They stopped for a moment, examined the menu and disappeared inside the restaurant. Despite a bustling atmosphere and the impersonal evening crowd, they were seated quickly by an easy going maitre d.
Josephine and Deedee sat facing Ms. Harvey and Sophia. They ordered appetizers and drank water amongst the light chatter.
“Make my water with lemon, please. Thank you,” Josephine requested.
Deedee tried not to stare at Ms. Harvey but couldn’t help but noticing how strikingly close her mother and Coco’s mother appeared to be. Maybe it was the drug abuser’s persona, Deedee thought.
“You can have anything you desire,” she said and smiled at the seemingly nervous Ms. Harvey. “It’s on me.”
“You sure? Thank you. Coco has some nice friends. Your father is the music producer, right?”
“No, he’s my uncle.”
“And you’re getting married to him soon, right?” Ms. Harvey asked Sophia sizing up the issues.
The waiter delivered water with lemon along with appetizers to the table. Josephine was in the midst of enjoying a sip of the water with lemon when Ms. Harvey addressed her.
“And you gotta huge puppy-dog crush on him. This situation’s bothering you, huh? Child you’ve got a lot of living to do. You’ve gotta life to live girl. Don’t let this little thing bother you,” she said to Josephine.
Josephine spewed water from her mouth. The waiter rushed back. Deedee watched Sophia’s expression go to wide mouth surprise. She didn’t want to look at the perceptive Ms. Harvey’s face.
“Everything alright?” the waiter asked, giving Josephine extra towels.
Their meals arrived at the height of chaos and tension. Josephine continued wiping at her jeans. She barely touched the food placed in front of her. Ms. Harvey ate heartily, while Deedee and Sophia pinched their meals. Sophia was still busy on her Blackberry while Deedee was finding it difficult to hold the laughter building inside her gut.
“Excuse me,” Josephine said standing up to leave the table. “We all got to live in our own private hell,” she said and walked away.
Sophia and Deedee burst in an uproariously loud laughter when she was out of hearing distance. Ms. Harvey watched the two for a beat before speaking.
“Why are you laughing at her? Is there sump’n else going on?” she asked.
Deedee and Sophia continued to laugh without giving her an answer. Ms. Harvey wore a smug look as she enjoyed the meal. Later Josephine returned with tears in her eyes.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. You’re a nice girl and men will take advantage of nice girls,” Ms. Harvey said in a soothing voice. “Look at me. Coco’s father was my first lover. He put me on to sex, drugs and music. When the drugs ran out, he left me to raise Coco and my addiction. Men aren’t worth it. They trifling.”
Deedee held her laughter in and Sophia picked at her meal with one hand while punching the keys of her Blackberry with the other.
“It’s nothing you said. You’re only speaking your mind. I understand. It’s just that my parents are divorced and, right now, it’s been a real difficult time for me,” Josephine said. “I’ve always lived with my parents and the whole situation is so hard to accept.”
“See, now aren’t you two sorry for laughing at this poor girl? Her parents got divorce and it’s not easy for her. But honey, remember when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. It’s never easy to adjust. I’m still making adjustments from the time Coco’s father left. Some things I’ve done, I’ve regretted, and some worked out alright. I still thank God for making me live and I pray for my daughter,” Ms. Harvey said. Josephine reached across the table and hugged Ms. Harvey briefly then sat and dabbed at her smudged make-up.
Deedee listened to Ms. Harvey and turned to face Josephine. She hugged the teary eyed teen.
“You’ve got to be strong, Jo,” Sophia said, reaching to embrace Josephine.
“Everything alright?” the waiter asked.
“Yes, everything is all-good,” Ms. Harvey smiled.
After the meal and hug-fest, Sophia and Deedee paid the tab. They left the restaurant and hailed a cab. Ms. Harvey was the first one home. She wanted to refresh herself and return to the hospital to spend the night.
“Josephine, you could stay at my place if you want,” Sophia offered.
“Thanks but that’s alright. I’ll just go where I’m at. I could be alone. I need the time to think. But thank you for offering, Sophia, really,” Josephine said.
“I’m going by Sophia,” Deedee said. “But you can stay at my uncle’s place. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“What was that all about?” Sophia asked when Josephine exited the taxi and waved goodbye. “She’s a victim of her parents divorce but is she being genuine with her feelings?”
“Sophia, I really don’t know. All I know is she’s a changed person and I wished Coco could hurry up and get better because she’s the only one who knows how to control that girl,” Deedee said as Josephine went inside the building and the taxi pulled off.
CHAPTER 17
They enjoyed steaks at Nobu and after a couple drinks, Eric, Kim and Tina walked out of the eatery. They waited for the valet to bring the Rolls Royce around.
“Where to ladies?” Eric asked when the Phantom’s Suicide door swung open.
“Oh, I don’t know. The night’s still young,” Tina smiled. “What d’ya think, Kim?”
Kim seemed deep in her thoughts and didn’t immediately answer. They got inside the car and Tina pinched Kim.
“Hey. What’s that for?” Kim asked.
“I’m waiting for your answer, bitch.”
“I’m so caught up with this car, I can’t even think right. It’s very nice. So this the Phantom, huh?” Kim asked as the retractable hood ornament popped up. “I got to get me one. You gotta lotta cute, nice cars, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I got a few toys,” Eric said, smiling.
“All I wanna know is where the party at?” Tina shouted.
“There’s an industry party happening. If it’s alright with you guys, we can go check it out,” Eric suggested.
Kim and Tina accompanied Eric to the party. All night he seemed in some kind of business discussion or money talk about a new deal. It was non-stop all day all night meetings with other producers of both film and music. Eric Ascot was the producer every artist wanted to work with. Needless to say it kept him busy.
“I guess you gotta work hard to make all that money. When does he enjoy himself?” Kim asked, sipping an apple martini.
“I ain’t here to be his psychologist. I’m trying to get rich like him,” Tina said with her eyes on Eric. “He’s our ticket out of all our worries.”
“But he’s a nice guy, though,” Kim said. “And he’s not bad-looking. He ain’t no criminal. You could tell.”
“Are you falling in love or what?”
“I’m just saying…”
“C’mon. Get back to the real business at hand, bitch,” Tina warned. “Don’t get emotional about all that other shit. It’s fuhgazy.”
Kim stared coldly at her friend. She turned and sashayed toward the bar. In a crowded room filled with record executives and actors talking business, Kim searched in vain for conversations. She settled down at the bar, enjoying her martinis. Later, Eric drove them home.
“You know a lot of people
with money, don’t you?” Kim asked.
“I know my fare share. There are some people who I’ve always done business with and they introduce me to other people who wanna do business.”
“It’s a constant thing, huh?”
“It’s about creating business opportunities so I can hire people like you. Maybe one day you could run a business for yourself.”
“Why is that cab always following us?” Tina asked, looking around.
“My security wouldn’t fit in this car,” Eric said, checking his rearview camera.
He spotted the police cruising behind the Rolls Royce. Eric slowed at the light. The unmarked police car waited behind the cab with Big C in it. Eric was mentally prepared for their harassment. They followed the cab as Eric pushed the Phantom down to another red light. Again he slowed and checked the rearview cameras.
The stoplight changed and suddenly with flashing lights and screeching tires, the police car cut the Phantom off.
“These toy cops are so much fucking drama,” Eric said.
The cab pulled over and parked. Big C got out, leaned against the side of the cab, watching from across the street. He sniffed the lingering smell of marijuana in the air and realized the oddness of the situation, cops smoking weed. The occupants were moving fast with their guns drawn. They started slipping ski masks over their heads when Big C intervened.
“Hey Eric, get outta here. Them ain’t the fucking police!” He hollered, waving his arms and signaling wildly from across the street.
Big C reached for his automatic weapon. The two men looked at him, turned their guns on him and fired. Eric saw the flash of bullets and heard gunshots. Big C returned fire in their direction. Eric gunned the Phantom’s engine and peeled out.
“Ohmigosh! Oh shit! The cops. They shooting,” Kim screamed.
“Oh shit. That ain’t no po-po,” Tina shouted.
The screeching of the cab’s tires came as a surprise to Big C. He was momentarily distracted by the cab driver’s hurried departure without even collecting his fare. This split second reaction of Big C was all the time Eric needed to slip away. With a burst of speed the car was gone. It was also the time it took for a bullet to find its mark in the crouching Big C. He scampered for better coverage and another round caught him in the stomach.
“Keep your nose out of other peoples business!” One of the hit men shouted before racing off to their car.
“Next time, make sure da muthafucka don’t get away!”
They aimed but didn’t fire as they watched the smoke of the skidding tires of the Phantom. The car disappeared in the night. Eric was guiding it straight to the East Side highway and reached 110th street in no time flat. Kim was chattering nervously the whole time.
“It’s alright,” Eric said. “But I have to be honest with you, there are people trying to set me up and…” his voice trailed and Eric thought for a beat before continuing. “What I’m trying to say is, you don’t have to take the job if you think it’s gonna be—”
“No, no, we want the job. We from Harlem. What’s a few gunshots? I mean we’ll be safe inside,” Tina said.
“Why would they just...? Oh my God... I can’t be… I don’t know. Everywhere I go bullets flying. Thank God we’re out of danger. I hope you get home safe, Eric,” Kim said when they reached her home.
“Don’t worry about anything, we’ll be there tomorrow,” Tina said.
Both got out and went into the building. Eric peeled out and hit Central Park. He made it home with no further incident. He dialed but couldn’t get Big C on the cellphone. Eric went into the apartment and the lights were on. Josephine was in a negligee, sitting and watching television. She turned it off as soon as he walked in.
“Where have you been my love?” she cooed.
She watched him walk to kitchen and returned drinking a beer. Eric sat down and she jumped on his lap. Josephine wanted to care for him by giving him a relaxing massage.
“Daddy, you okay?” Josephine asked in a baby’s voice, causing Eric to wince like he was in pain. “We’re the only ones here. Let me take care of your any need,” she whispered. He glared at her. “Hey, I’m not the one causing you problems. All I did was to inquire about you because it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
Eric continued gulping his beer without saying anything. Josephine was off his lap, standing and frowning. Eric ignored her and got up from the sofa. He headed to his bedroom when Josephine moved to block his path. Eric stood face to face with her. Her smile was alluring and Josephine was grinding her hips like a stripper. She turned around and bent over, shaking her round behind. Josephine’s black thong clung delicately to her ass cheeks.
“Fuck you, Eric!” Josephine screamed as she turned around to see the back of Eric’s shaking head, hurrying inside his bedroom. “Oh, you don’t think I’m good enough for you, huh Eric? I hate you, I hate you!” she hissed and stomped off to the kitchen.
Josephine’s salvo wasn’t the only one in line to hit Eric’s tightening defenses. Kowalski was meeting with Kim and Tina. He had given them orders from the DA.
“You got to get this bag in his apartment,” Kowalski ordered.
“How the hell do you expect us to do that shit? Break in?”
“You figure it out,” Kowalski said, throwing the duffel bag at them.
“What’s in the bag?” Kim asked.
“Just get it into his apartment,” Kowalski said. “And this mission is over.”
“But how?” Kim asked.
“We’ll find a way,” Tina said. “And you do what I ask you to do, ahight.”
When Kowalski left, Kim pulled the zipper opened and peered inside the duffel. Her mouth dropped opened.
“I ain’t gonna do that shit!” she screamed. “That’s some foul shit. Nothing good’s gonna come out of this.”
“Yes, we’re gonna get off the cops’ list and we gonna be on get rich list,” Tina smiled.
“Then you do it,” Kim said, throwing the bag at Tina. She looked inside.
“I’ll do it, I’ll do it even if I gotta give up some ass,” she said.
CHAPTER 18
The following day Eric arrived for work at the recording studio. He grabbed a morning newspaper and quickly scanned it. Eric threw the daily in the wastebasket as soon as he walked inside. He glanced around the place and walked through the lounge.
“There’s something different,” he said.
“Good morning, Mr. Ascot,” came a chorus.
A smile creased his lips when he saw Kim and Tina. Their tight jeans and small tops did little to hide anything. The phone rang and Kim reached over to answer it. Her stomach was in full view. She could use a gym membership for real, Eric thought.
Tina bent to clean something off the floor and the crack of her behind was clearly visible above her low riding tight jeans.
“It’s a modeling agency, Mr. Ascot. They’re sending you the model you requested.”
“Okay, thanks,” Eric said turning to walk away. “And good morning, ladies.”
“Good morning, Mr. Ascot,” Kim and Tina chorused, smiling.
Eric went inside the office and sat at his desk. He paused for a minute, then begun dialing. Being unsure of Big C’s status, he wanted to get new security details to relieve him. Eric spoke on the phone.
“You’re right. I’m going through too many bodyguards. It doesn’t matter what it costs. Just do it,” he said then hung up. Eric walked into the listening booth and sat down. “Reggie, load the rest of the tracks from yesterday,” he shouted through an intercom device. “C’mon man, don’t be taking all day like you did yesterday.”
Eric spent the next couple of hours listening to the beats and trying to put rhymes together. He listened to a few raw lines from Coco. Nodding his head, Eric put together a strong hook using pieces of her rhymes.
I-I-I’m tougher than dice…tough…tougher than dice
My name is Coco and I’m tougher than dice…
He kept re
peating the loop and using other verses, remixing Nas’s old line in creating a totally new sound. Now for everything to be complete all I have to do is get a hold of Nas’s peeps, Eric thought, listening and nodding his head to the beat. Music was his mode of escaping the day to day. It transported him to another level and soothed his mind. Eric heard the buzzing and raised his head slowly.
“What up, Reggie? Don’t tell me you didn’t get all that.”
“It’s not Reggie. This is Kim. There are some men in the lounge waiting for you, Mr. Ascot. Should I have them wait?”
“Where they from?”
“The modeling agency.”
“I’ll be right out.”
Josephine awoke squinting, her reddened-eyes staring at the clock. She walked over to the phone and dialed Eric’s cellphone. It rang through to the outgoing message.
“Good afternoon, my love. Why didn’t you wake me and let me know you were leaving. Call me back. This is your sweetheart, Jo…kisses…”
She smiled and went to the bathroom, showered and pampered herself with skin moisturizer. Josephine checked out her body in the full length mirror.
“Why doesn’t he want this? He can’t possibly resist me. Everything is in place, except for my tiny breasts and my big nipples.” Josephine rubbed her hands over her body applying lotion to her supple skin. “I’ve got to get these done,” she said aloud while massaging her breasts.
Before getting dressed she dialed the phone again and, after putting on a red Armani dress, she dialed again. She slipped on a pair of red heels and again she redialed. She kept on doing so until she was completely dressed. Before leaving the apartment, she dialed one last time to no avail.
“Fuck you Eric!” she shouted. “Oh, I hate you! I hate you so fucking much!”
Josephine was in a rage when she got on the elevator. She hurried outside fuming.
“You’re looking real good, ma,” a passerby complimented.
“Fuck you! I’m not your ma!” Josephine shouted. She waved at a cab and jumped in. “St. Vincent’s,” she ordered. The driver gave her a lecherous stare.
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