“Shouldn’t you be in school?” he asked, shaking his head.
Joshua signaled to his security. Sean and Mongoose pushed through the crowd and made a path for him. Joshua scuttled out of the club. “What time is it?” he asked.
“Ten-thirty,” Mongoose said.
His mouth dropped. “I was only there for forty-five minutes?”
Sean nodded. He was a man of few words and only spoke when he had to.
Hearing someone scream, “JJ-LUV,” Joshua rushed toward the SUV. Sean and Mongoose jumped in front. Sean got behind the wheel.
“Who’s going home with you tonight?” one of the paparazzi said.
Josh tripped on the sidewalk.
“He’s drunk!” a photographer yelled out. “Get a picture of that!”
Sean helped Joshua to his feet, and they kept moving. Joshua gritted his teeth. He had three feet to go before he could breathe.
“I wasn’t ready to leave,” Mongoose said. “That deejay had the crowd pumped.”
Joshua massaged his temples. “I didn’t eat well today. I have a vicious headache coming on.”
“Go by the drugstore for some aspirin,” Mongoose said to Sean. He turned to Joshua. “Unless you want me get you something more relaxing.”
Joshua shook his head. “I don’t want anything off the streets. You’re only asking because you want a hit.”
Sean’s guffawed. His entire body shook.
“J. J., you wrong for that. I’m clean.” Mongoose averted his gaze and turned around.
Joshua leaned into the soft leather and closed his eyes. “You’d better be. Because I meant it when I said I don’t want no drugs around me.”
“Hmph.”
Joshua popped an eye open. He could tell by Mongoose’s hunched shoulders that the younger man was sulking.
Sean pulled into the Walgreen’s. “Get me a chocolate bar and a bottled water,” Joshua said to Mongoose.
Mongoose jogged into the store. Sean pulled out his cell phone.
Joshua thought of his grilled chicken breast and broccoli waiting for him at home. He would warm a plate Mae had packed for him to take to his Atlanta penthouse. Joshua also had homes in Miami, L.A., and London, which his accountant had pushed him to purchase.
He patted his six-pack. Joshua kept a strict diet. He avoided carbs, sodas, and snacks. Josh was grateful he could afford someone to cook him healthy meals. But on the rare occasion when he cheated, Joshua went for the chocolate. He had the body, heart, and lungs of a twenty-five year-old.
“Boss, you need to see this.” Sean said, eyeing his cell phone screen and chuckling.
Josh leaned forward. “What is it?” Had someone posted a pic or video online already?
“Some lady posted an ad for a stand-in to go with her to Jamaica. It’s trending all over social media. Apparently, she has about thirteen hundred offers.” Sean continued swiping the screen. “People are posting to this link like crazy.”
Joshua plopped back into the seat. “So what?”
“So, the story is her fiancé jilted her and she’s finding a replacement for her honeymoon in Jamaica.” Sean shook his head. “I won’t tell you the best part. You’ve got to see for yourself.”
Sean held out the phone.
His enthusiasm ignited Joshua’s curiosity. He took the device out of Sean’s hand, tapped the screen and scanned the ad. Then his mouth dropped open. “Her fiancé’s name is Joshua James.”
Sean nodded. “That’s what’s crazy.”
“Why would she do something this insane? How old is this woman?”
“She’s a looker. That’s why her page is blowing up. She has over thirteen thousand followers.”
Joshua pulled up the woman’s profile picture and gasped. She had huge brown eyes, flawless skin. Her name was Geneva Samson. She had a smile that caused a stirring in his gut. An attraction Joshua hadn’t experienced in months. “This must be a fake page or a prank,” he said.
Sean shook his head. “It looks legit.”
Joshua scrolled down the post and read some of the comments. Some were suggestive, but most men took the offer seriously.
Mongoose entered the vehicle. He looked between the two men. “What’s with you two?”
Joshua handed him the phone.
“Whoa.” Mongoose slapped his forehead. “J. J., you need to jump on this. She’s fine. Let me check out some of her pictures.” He slid his fingers on the screen. “Look at that body. She’s doing a handstand. The hound-dogs are barking.” He made a howling sound.
Sean pulled off, and Joshua popped an aspirin in his mouth.
“Mongoose, quit it.” For some reason, Joshua hated Mongoose and the other men’s lewd comments. “She’s a woman and should be treated with respect.”
“Correction. She’s a fine woman I’d like to—”
“Mongoose!” Joshua yelled. He tore open the chocolate bar and took a bite.
“I was going to say, I’d like to know.”
Sean shook his head at Mongoose and then addressed Joshua. “You could use a break.”
Geneva Samson’s face flashed before him. Joshua eyed the older man. “What are you saying? I can’t add my name to that mix. She might be mentally unstable. She must be to post that ad.”
“I took a good look at her. She’s going to attract the wrong attention. If you volunteer, you’d be rescuing her from possible psychopaths, and you’d get the break you’ve been harping about since we’ve been on tour,” Sean said.
Mongoose’s eyebrows rose. “That’s the most I’ve heard you talk in months.”
“Shut up, fool.” Sean focused his attention back to the road.
Joshua rubbed his head. Sean’s argument had merit. Sean knew Joshua hated the thought of a woman in danger. And, he did need a break…
He shook his head. That he was thinking of volunteering made Joshua as crazy as this woman was.
Joshua munched on his chocolate bar. He hadn’t been intimate with a woman for eight months. When he felt the urge, he had chocolate. If he did put his name in, and she accepted his offer, he would need to take a case of chocolates with him. Because if from far away she made him hum, what would it be like if he saw her in person?
Ch. 8
“Why haven’t you answered the phone?” Isabella asked, with a level of excitement that made Geneva pause. She had been walking to her car when she noticed several missed calls.
“I was working,” Geneva said, adjusting the bag strap on her shoulders. Her Victoria Secret tote was stuffed with math papers and projects she had to grade. She had until Friday to input the semester grades and then it was vacation time.
“But schools get out at three.”
“The children leave at three. My day doesn’t end. Most of us teachers are here until six p.m. lesson planning and getting our rooms ready for the next day.”
“I know. I know. Now, don’t go launching into one of your the-teaching-profession-is-misunderstood speeches. I know how long and hard you work.”
“Exactly, but the rest of the world begrudges us the winter break and summer months. Most of the educators I know use that time to take classes. Teachers are the most educated group but the lowest paid.” She shook her head. “I’ll never be able to understand that. And don’t get me started on this Performance Pay thing.” Geneva unlocked the passenger door and placed the heavy bag on the seat. She flexed her shoulders.
“Trust me. I don’t plan to. Can you get off your soapbox so I can tell you why I called?”
Geneva leaned against her Camry. “What’s up?”
“Have you been on social media today?”
“No. I haven’t,” she said and closed the passenger door. She walked around and went inside her car.
“You have about twenty-seven thousand followers and tons of comments on your ad.”
“What?” The phone slipped, but Geneva caught it before it fell to the floor. She rested her cell phone in the cup holder and waited for her Bluetooth to ki
ck in.
“You have over one thousand men who say their name is Joshua James. It’s all over the Internet. You’re a hit.”
“You’re kidding?” Geneva pulled up her post on her phone. Her heart raced. “Goodness. Everybody and their uncles are commenting.”
“I know. I can’t believe my friend’s an internet sensation.”
Geneva read some of the comments then put down her phone. “This is too much to process. It’s mindboggling.” She put her car in reverse and backed out. “I was looking for three Joshua’s, not three hundred.”
“You mean more like a thousand?” Isabella said. “Don’t worry, I’m coming over to help you sort this out.”
“Don’t you have a date with Mr. Bailiff tonight?” Geneva pulled out of the lot and made a right turn. She lived about two miles from the school. She had chosen her condo strictly because of location.
“Charles can wait. I’ll pick up some Zaxby’s and meet you at your house.”
“Get me the Wings and Things.”
“I’m getting you the salad. Did you see the bodies on some of those men? You don’t need to be eating fries.”
“Get me my fries. I’m not trying to find a replacement. Up until a few days ago, I was in a committed relationship with a wedding in two weeks.”
“Newsflash. That relationship ended months ago. You’re the only one who didn’t get that memo.”
“That’s a rotten thing to say. How can you be so heartless?” She couldn’t hold the chuckle.
“What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t preach the ugly truth? Anyhow, forget what’s-his-face. He’s rolling with the bottom feeders. I’ve been checking out these pictures, and I’ve found you about ten Joshua’s you can consider. These men I’ve chosen are more in your league. Not like he-who-can-lick-the-bottom-of-my-shoe.”
Geneva slapped the steering wheel. “Isabella, stop it. And we have to use the name. Have you forgotten that all these men have the same name?”
“I can say their name, not his.”
Geneva laughed. “I can’t with you. You’re a mess.”
“I love you, Genny. I’d rather make you laugh than hear you cry,” Isabella said in a somber tone. “I know I might appear like I’m making light of this, but I hate what J—that man—did to you. I hate that he humiliated my friend, who’s probably going to forgive him and not slash his tires or something. I’m sorry he put you through this.”
“I’m sorry, too. But my heart isn’t damaged by his betrayal.” She turned into her complex. “I knew something had changed between us. He had started skipping services at church, but I never imagined he would wait until I sank all that money into the wedding before calling it off.”
“God’s going to deal with him,” Isabella said. “And I can’t wait to see what kind of vengeance He’s got planned. Lice in his head. Ants in his pants. Boils on his face. You know nobody can fight dirty like God.”
Geneva shook her head, though Isabella couldn’t see her. “I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to him even if he is a dork.”
“That’s your problem right there. You’re too softhearted. I’ve seen Josh take advantage of that time and time again.”
“He wasn’t taking advantage of me. You don’t understand. I decided a long time ago I wasn’t going to let anyone change the me God created. I like how He made me, and I want to leave the earth with this same mindset.”
“That’s deep.”
“Thank—”
“Don’t change who you are,” Isabella interrupted. “I’ll pray for revenge on your behalf.”
Ch. 9
He had to stop stalking her page.
Joshua had been on Geneva’s profile at least a dozen times. He had scrolled through all of her pictures and read a good amount of her old posts. Joshua had learned a lot about Geneva through her page. There was no indication that this wasn’t a sane human being.
He frowned. Then why had she done this?
Joshua had lost count of how many men commented under the ad, and some of the remarks had taken on a twisted turn. It’s crazy how people felt it was okay to make lewd remarks from behind the false security of a computer screen.
Joshua looked into Geneva’s trusting brown eyes and knew he had to rescue her. He placed his fingers on the keyboard. How should he do this? If he commented on her page as JJ-LUV, she might not believe him. People posed as celebrities all the time.
“I’ve got to go live.”
Joshua went to brush his teeth and wash his face. He studied himself in the mirror. “You know you’re crazy, right?”
Joshua returned to the computer screen. Then he paused. “I don’t know what to say. I’d better practice.” His heart pumped and his stomach churned. “No. Just do it.”
He lifted surprisingly shaky hands, pressed the Live button and cleared his throat.
“Hey, Geneva Samson. I read your ad, and I’d like to volunteer to be your stand-in. You might know me as JJ-LUV, but my name is also Joshua James. I’ve been on tour, and I could use a vacation. Plus, I want to rescue you from the other men that might not have good intentions. This bad boy of showbiz knows how to treat women. So, if you’re interested in having me tag along…” He paused. How could she reach him? “I can’t give you my number live, of course, but meet me at…” His eyebrows furrowed. Where? Why hadn’t he thought this through? Then he remembered her church posts. “I’ll be at your church this Saturday at nine a.m.”
Joshua ignored the hearts and the comments of all the ladies on the feed and ended the live video feed. He released a deep breath. That was the scariest thing he had done in a long time. Joshua strolled into the kitchen to get something to drink.
His cell phone buzzed. Joshua answered and put it on speaker.
“What on earth did you just do?” Brandon yelled.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. The entire world saw your live feed.”
“And?” Joshua said. “I want to meet her.”
“You don’t have time to go to meet some jilted bride and fly off to Jamaica. I’ve got you booked solid.”
“Then rearrange it because if she says yes, I’m going.” He took a swig of water.
“Have you lost your mind?” Brandon yelled. “You have endorsement meetings with two, major sneaker companies. What am I supposed to tell them?”
“You have no business yelling like that. Have you forgotten you have high blood pressure? If the execs want to know where I am, tell them I met a girl.” The musings of a love ballad floated in his mind. Joshua reached for a napkin and pulled a pen out of his miscellaneous drawer. He wrote the words, “I met a girl.” If he were fortunate, more words would come. What if Geneva was his Muse?
“You’re the reason my pressure is acting up, so quit clowning. You need to be in the studio. You need to be writing. You promised Club Five a single.”
Club Five was a five-person, girl group Joshua and Brandon had formed via the Internet. Two thousand girls had auditioned, and their talent scouts had narrowed it down to forty. From those forty, Joshua and Brandon had chosen the five they thought had the talent, the look, and the compatibility to meet the demands of a girl group.
“I’ll work on it,” Joshua said. “I have to give Club Five their own sound. I can’t focus when I’m on the road. The words aren’t flowing, and I know it’s because I’m burnt out. That’s why I have to meet this girl. I see her and I feel the words coming. Since you and I have been talking, I wrote one line.” He cleared his throat and sang, “One day, I met a girl …”
“One line isn’t a song. And that ‘I met a girl’ line is already taken. Or did you miss President Bill Clinton’s speech at the Democratic Convention? People are already thinking you’re getting soft, and now you get all goo-goo over some girl live on the Internet. What on earth possessed you to do that?”
“Are we back to this? The moment I saw her picture, I knew I had to meet her. I felt something.”
“What
ever you felt can be handled by a groupie.” Brandon snorted. “Have you once stopped to wonder what made this guy decide to ditch her before the wedding?”
“Whoever he is, he’s an idiot.”
Brandon sighed through the line. “I know once you get like this, there’s no changing your mind… Come to think of it, maybe this isn’t a bad thing. I’m sure we can spin it and make money. What if Platinum offered to pay the expenses? That would give us some good press.”
Joshua spoke through his teeth. “No.”
“What about if you romanced her? That might lead to your own reality show. This would be a win-win situation for you.”
“Geneva Samson is a good girl. She’s gorgeous and I want to meet her, but I’m not looking to ruin her life. Any relationship I’ve had has ended badly. I don’t want that for her.”
“Wow. You sound protective. All that from one glance? What do you think is going to happen when you meet her?”
“I have no idea.” Joshua smiled. “But I’m excited about it.”
“If JJ-LUV seduced the good girl, your album sales would skyrocket.”
Brandon was back to talking money. Joshua shook his head. Did that man think of anything else?
“For the last time, I’m not looking to prosper. My post wasn’t a publicity stunt. I just want to rest, meet this girl, and concentrate on my writing,” Joshua stated in a firm tone.
“Yeah… That sounds good…”
Joshua picked up his cell phone and walked into the living room. “Brandon, I can feel your mind going, but I’m asking you to let me breathe. Let me be free. I need to regroup.”
“All right. I’ll clear your schedule for a few days and, I’ll see about getting you different sponsors. Your changing your look might open more opportunities. I really think Platinum should pay your expenses.”
“Not everything is about the next dollar. I don’t need Platinum’s involvement. I have more than enough of my own money that I want to spend if I need to.” Joshua’s shoulders slumped. He rubbed his eyes. “I know you’re not listening to a word I say, but at least promise to run things by me before you attach my name to anything.”
The Resolution Page 4