“Okay, Niki. You need to come out and get dressed, so I can get dressed, and we’ll go have lunch.”
Niki climbed out of the bathtub and wrapped herself in the towel. “You didn’t heat my towel, Daddy.”
“I know, baby. It’s warm outside. I heat your bath towel when it’s chilly so my little princess can stay warm.” He cuddled her in the towel and dried her off. “You smell like coconut.”
Niki giggled and began rubbing the body butter into her skin. “Go get dressed, Daddy, so we can go eat. I’m hungry.”
“She’s getting to be a bossy little thing, just like her mother. The Lord knows He’s paying me back for being a ladies’ man.” Normally, he would have shared his thoughts with Nina, so he had no choice but to talk to himself.
Father and daughter were finally dressed and on their way in Kyle’s Bentley. It was time for a late lunch when they arrived at the Chart House. Kyle ordered grilled fish for himself and shrimp scampi for Niki.
“Daddy, I miss Mommy. Can we go see her at her job?” Niki finished the last of her seafood.
“That’s a great idea, Princess.” He took out his BlackBerry and sent Nina a message before he cut into a huge slice of strawberry shortcake. “I have to find out where Mommy is working,” he explained. Moments later, the phone beeped.
“Can I check it, please?”
Kyle pushed the BlackBerry across the table to Niki.
“Come on by. We’re at…” Niki gave the phone to Kyle. “What’s that word, Daddy?”
“Larrabee Sound.” Kyle signed the credit card slip and scooped up Niki. “Let’s roll, Baby Girl.”
They arrived at the studio about forty-five minutes later. Nina was sitting behind the mixing board between the engineer and a young hip-hop producer, who was in his mid to late twenties. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw Kyle and Niki.
“Hi, honey.” Nina grabbed her husband and daughter and kissed them both. “Come on in, you guys.” She picked up Niki and carried her back to her chair. It was then that Kyle noticed his wife was wearing low-riding jeans with a red halter top and stilettos. He couldn’t help focusing on her tight little butt and slim hips. There was a tattoo of Minnie Mouse at the base of her spine.
“Nina,” Kyle whispered angrily.
She whirled around, completely surprised, because he rarely if ever called her by her first name or spoke to her with that tone.
“I’d like to speak to you privately, please.”
“I can’t talk right now. You’ll have to wait until we take a break.” She sat down in her chair, pulled up another chair for Kyle, and sat Niki in her lap. She patted the chair seat and looked up hopefully at her husband. He sat down, but she knew he wasn’t pleased. Nina did her best to refocus on Sky, who was in the recording booth.
“Sky’s showcase is in a few days. We’ve got to nail these tracks ASAP so she can begin rehearsal,” Nina explained to Kyle.
“I’m the co-chief executive officer of this label and I don’t know anything,” Kyle practically yelled. He was angry with Nina for a slew of reasons.
“I’ll be back in a few,” Nina whispered to the producer. She sat Niki in her chair. “You sit in Mommy’s chair and watch Sky sing while I go outside and talk to Daddy.”
Nina took Kyle by the hand and led him out of the studio into the break room.
“You passed on your cousin’s project to sign Sky?” Kyle fired at her.
Nina opened her mouth and closed it. “How did you know about that?” she finally said.
“Germain told me. You know he is my best friend.”
“Things have been absolutely crazy ever since I heard Topaz’s music. I didn’t think it was right for her image. Sherwin has been on me to sign new talent and generate income. Sky fell into my lap. I was able to get her in with Jermaine Dupree, but I had to move fast. Producers like these are booked months in advance, so when I had the opportunity to get Sky’s project going so quickly, I had to take advantage of it. Didn’t Sky sound great?”
“Not really.”
“I think she has everything these kids want. Sky’s the total package. She’s gorgeous, she can rap, and she has a great body. Plus she can sing. And with the right music, that means lots of radio play and sales,” Nina defended.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Her outfit was probably bothering Kyle more than anything.
“Jeans and a halter. What’s the big deal?” Nina looked down at her pants expecting to find a rip or a soiled spot.
“The problem is you’re practically naked in a room full of men.”
“Naked?” Nina looked at her outfit and laughed. “No, I’m not.”
“I’ve never even seen you in those jeans or that top.”
“But they look good on me, don’t they, baby?” Nina stroked his face and laughed, doing her best to lighten the moment. “I had Anita pick up a few things for me from Fred Segal. My wardrobe has become really conservative. I wanted the guys to be comfortable with me while we’re in the studio.”
“They might get a little too comfortable if you’re wearing that.”
“What are you trying to say, Kyle?”
“You look like a hoochie. I don’t want my wife going around looking like a hoochie.”
“A hoochie?”
“You heard me.”
“I dressed this way when you met me.”
“No, you didn’t, because women weren’t wearing jeans with their thongs hanging out.”
“My thong isn’t hanging out.” Nina felt the back of her pants just to be sure. “I would never wear anything that exposes my underwear. I’m nobody’s skank. You know me better than that.” Nina looked like she wanted to cry.
“You certainly don’t look much like a wife and mother either.”
“Did you come down here to fight with me? Because I don’t have time for this now. We can fight when I get home.”
“You plan on coming home tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Niki didn’t get to school this morning because I overslept.”
“Where was Rosa? She should have gotten Niki up and off to school.”
“She’s off on Wednesday. I reached out for you this morning and you weren’t home. Never came home and you didn’t even bother to call.” He had finally said it.
“I’m sorry, baby.” Nina pulled Kyle into her arms, but she could feel the resistance in his body.
“If I had known running Jamil’s label would be like this, I would never have agreed.”
“You don’t tell me anything. You don’t ask my opinion. You rarely see me or Niki. What am I in this partnership? Your live-in babysitter?”
“You know I don’t feel that way,” Nina replied quietly. “I just know more about the music industry than you.”
“You couldn’t take the time to teach me?”
“No. I had to get things rolling. Sherwin wanted to replace me.”
“You never told me that.”
“I was too embarrassed to tell anyone.”
“I’m your husband.” Kyle looked at Nina as though he were seeing her for the first time. “We should be able to tell one another anything.”
There was an uncomfortable silence between them as Nina stood there staring at the floor and Kyle stared at Nina. She knew he was looking at her, but she couldn’t meet his eye. This was something she had to do alone. He would never understand her reasoning.
“Could you go get my daughter, please? There’s nothing here for us.”
Nina turned and walked out of the break room without another word. When she returned to the studio, Sky was sitting in her chair playing with Niki. The producer and the engineer were reviewing a portion of the track.
“Hi, Mommy.” Niki looked up and smiled. She was delighted to be with her mother and to be around the music.
Nina sat in Kyle’s vacant chair and lifted Niki into her lap. “Baby, Daddy’s waiting for you by the door.”
“Mommy, is Daddy in trouble?
”
“No, baby. Daddy’s just ready to go now and you have to go with him.”
“Are you coming with us?”
“I have to work, Niki.”
“Are you coming home tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Can I stay with you?” Niki fixed her golden eyes on her mother.
“No, sweetie. It will probably be very late by the time we’re done. Sky has to finish this song and then she’s going to start another one. We have to work really hard while the guys are here to work with us.”
“But I want to stay, Mommy. I’ll be a good girl.” Niki started to cry.
“I know, baby.” Nina rocked her daughter in her arms and kissed her. “Niki, if you don’t stop crying, I’m going to cry too.”
“But I want to stay,” she wailed.
“I know, baby, but if you stay with me, then Daddy’s going to be all alone. You don’t want that, do you?”
Niki buried her face in her mother’s red top. “No.”
“Good. That’s Mommy’s sweet girl.” She kissed her again and carried her to Kyle, who was waiting by the door. He looked at Niki’s face and gave Nina a look-what-you’ve-done-now look.
Nina ignored it and tried to cheer up Niki. “You can sleep in my bed. When I come home, I’ll put you in your bed. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Nina handed the little girl to Kyle. “Why don’t you guys go over to Aunty Jade and Uncle Sean’s for dinner? Then you can make it back out to Malibu after the traffic dies down.”
“We’ll take that into consideration.” Kyle shifted Niki in his arms. “Tell Mommy good-bye.”
“Bye, Mommy.” She allowed Nina to kiss her and then rested her head on Kyle’s shoulder.
“See you later, okay?” Nina kissed Kyle on the cheek, but she knew he was even angrier with her now because Niki was upset. “I love you guys.”
“Love you, too.” Niki waved as Kyle carried her out of the studio.
Nina returned to her seat and collapsed in her chair. The producer was still reviewing the track and giving notes to Sky.
At this rate I’ll never get out of here. Sky had a lot of work to do, and the visit from Niki and Kyle had totally interrupted her flow. She put her head in her hands and wondered for the thousandth time what she had gotten herself into, and then her mind went to Topaz. Kyle had told her in so many words that he felt she had made a mistake by passing on her project and signing Sky. She got up and whispered a request in the producer’s ear.
“Sure.” He grinned at Nina, exposing a platinum and diamond-encrusted grill and reached into his bag. “Anything for you, pretty lady.”
Nina took what he gave her and headed outside. It had been a long time and she didn’t feel comfortable doing it in front of strangers. She climbed into her Range Rover, her favorite vehicle. It always represented an accomplishment to her because she saved and purchased it with money she earned working for Topaz and Jamil. She took out the blunt, lit it with a match, and inhaled. It had been years since she had smoked, and now she felt the drug enter her body almost immediately. She took a second hit and felt the stress she had been carrying for months lift. After a few more hits, thoughts of Kyle, Niki, Topaz, Sky, and Revelation Music also vanished into the night air as she exhaled.
Chapter 12
Sabre and her publicist, Mimi, were in the greenroom at The Tyra Banks Show. Sabre walked around the room, nibbling on carrots from a vegetable tray. It was a very important interview and she wasn’t about to admit to anyone how nervous she was. The label had also just released the second single from her CD, and it was the most requested song at radio stations everywhere.
Mimi was the typical southern California blonde who could have been a beach babe and married well by being some rich man’s trophy wife. But while Mimi was obviously beautiful, she was also as smart as a whip. She chatted away on her BlackBerry as she flipped through the latest issue of InStyle magazine. Mimi, who only represented A-list hotties, promised VMG that she would take Sabre’s career to the next level.
The Tyra Banks Show was just one of several major promotional efforts Mimi promised and delivered. Mimi also convinced the label to hire a new wardrobe stylist as well as a hairstylist and makeup artist to accompany Sabre on all of her personal appearances. No more half-done make-up and hair. Sabre’s glam squad had already done their thing, and she looked like a million dollars.
“You should get dressed now, Sabe. You’re going on first.” Mimi looked her up and down and went back to the magazine. “You look hot.”
“Thanks, Mimi.” My name is Sabre, she always wanted to remind Mimi. I can’t stand it when she calls me that. But Mimi was pretty cool for a white girl and Sabre really liked her so she let her get away with it. Mimi was fun like a big sister. She was always telling Sabre funny little stories about other celebrities and giving her pointers and tips on the latest hot designers that anyone who was anyone had to wear. She also treated Sabre like a star and made sure everyone else did too.
For The Tyra Banks Show performance, Sabre was wearing an orange halter dress trimmed in gold with gold Jimmy Choos and orange and gold Swarovski crystal earrings that were designed to go with the dress. Ever since Topaz stepped up the game by performing in couture fashions, new young singers had to follow suit. Dawn, her new stylist, knew where to shop and she had great connections. She practically threw away all of Sabre’s old clothing.
Sabre’s hair was done on the set. Eduardo, her too-pretty-for-a-man stylist, claimed to be anything but black. Creole, Indian, Italian, or Puerto Rican, he was a different ethnicity for every day of the week. “Create the fantasy,” he constantly told her, gesticulating with his hands and a crazed look in his eyes.
“Miss Thing,” as he sometimes referred to himself, added extensions to Sabre’s hair and it had never looked better. It was super thick, super long, and flowing. Sabre was delighted because everyone thought it was really all her hair.
The stage manager came in and informed Sabre that it was time for her to go on. She took one last sip of tea and followed him out of the greenroom to the stage. Sabre stood there anticipating the first strains of the track. The curtain went up, and she transformed into an entirely different personality.
“I’m so in love with you. I’ll do whatever you want me to because I want to be yours.” She sang from deep down within her soul like she meant it. When she completed the song, her face was wet with tears. She crumpled into a ball and dropped to the floor. The audience gave her a standing ovation. Sabre couldn’t speak or think. She had emptied herself completely. She felt reborn, brand new. The stage manager tapped her on the shoulder, and she rose to her feet. She was glad he was there to lead her back to the greenroom, so she didn’t have to think.
Mimi grabbed Sabre and hugged her when she walked into the room. For the first time in her young life, she didn’t feel repulsed because someone touched her. “You were fantabulous.” When Mimi finally released her there were tears in her clear blue eyes.
“She created the fantasy,” Sabre heard Eduardo say.
Sabre smiled as Dawn pushed her into the dressing room and handed her the cherry and black halter top she would wear over cropped jeans with black beaded stilettos. The top was really cute on Sabre, who made a mental once again to get herself some implants. Eduardo whisked her hair up into a ponytail with bangs across her face. Dawn handed her a large pair of gold hoop earrings that almost touched her shoulders. Lolita, her makeup artist, was a soft-spoken Filipino young lady who could beat a face. She touched up Sabre’s lipstick and back onstage she went. When Tyra introduced her, she strutted down that runway like a model at the Collections.
Tyra greeted her warmly as the audience continued to cheer. They really do love me, Sabre thought as she looked out at the audience into a sea of faces.
“Thank you,” Sabre said ever so sweetly. The applause finally subsided, and the interview began.
Tyra started her first question right away. “What
was it like working with a fabulous producer like Jamil?”
“Jamil changed my life,” Sabre solemnly said.
She thought about the diamond he had custom designed for her, and a lump came in her throat. She reached up to touch it, but Dawn made her take it off. She wasn’t having that blingy shit interfere with her outfit. “Jamil taught So Fine the business of the business. He recorded our album that went platinum.”
“Y’all remember ‘First Kiss’?” Sabre grinned when the audience cheered. When she sang a bit of the hook, everyone joined in. “That was Jamil, y’all. May he rest in peace.” It was actually Nina and Char, but nobody wanted to hear about them.
A clip of So Fine performing on the VH1 Divas special providing backup vocals for Topaz was shown next. Sabre felt her demons stirring within because she knew a question about Topaz would be asked. She fought the urge to yell “fuck that old bitch” as she smiled ever so sweetly.
“Meeting Topaz was awesome. Our manager went to high school with Topaz’s cousin, Nina. When we auditioned, Topaz was there. She invited us to her house and gave us lots of advice. I’m even wearing her dress in that clip. It was So Fine’s first television performance. When I had that dress on, I knew I was a diva too.” Sabre grinned. She was really enjoying herself.
“I felt so fortunate to work with Jamil because I was always a huge fan of Topaz’s. He produced her hits and then he produced our hits. When I was a little girl, I’d read the credits on her CD and dream about being a star with my own CD. My dream came true.” Sabre looked into the camera and smiled as prettily as she could.
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