“Un-huh,” Niki nodded, and took the bear from Sabre.
“What’s her name?”
“Teddy.”
A genuine smile found its way onto Sabre’s face. “My baby’s name is Bear.”
Sky found them watching DVDs. “Hey, girl. I found all these fabulous houses on the Internet.” Sky held up a stack of paper with housing information.
“I won’t be able to go house hunting tomorrow. Mimi, my publicist, called with an emergency appointment, so I’m going back to the city tonight.” Sabre took the printouts from Sky and stuffed them in her bag on top of Nina’s journal. “I’ll look at these later.”
Sky sighed with relief and climbed into bed with Niki to watch Over the Hedge. When Kyle returned from the city, they were both asleep.
Kyle went up to his bedroom to shower. He took off his watch and left his Nikes and socks in the middle of the floor, went into the bathroom, turned on the steam shower, and left his workout clothes in the middle of the bathroom floor. Nina wasn’t around to make him pick them up so he was doing what he wanted, just like a bad little boy. He thought he heard his cell phone ring so he came out of the shower and ran smack into Nina.
“Aggggg,” he yelled, standing in front of her completely nude. “You scared the mess out of me. I didn’t hear you come in.”
Nina just stood there staring at him with the strangest look on her face.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home, woman?”
“Sit down, Kyle, we need to talk. We’ve got a major situation on our hands.”
Chapter 16
The Beverly Hills Hotel, often referred to as the Pink Palace, is located on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Beverly Hills. Surrounded by twelve acres of lush tropical gardens and exotic flowers, it provides privacy and is one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. Also a local spot for Hollywood stargazing, it is definitely a place to be seen.
Sabre wasn’t trying to be seen when she arrived at the hotel in a black stretch limo. She wore her hair pulled back in a ponytail under a white Von Dutch baseball cap, extremely dark oversized shades, very little makeup, and a pair of Guess jeans; her new boobs filled out the white Von Dutch tee very nicely. She tried to suppress a grin when she heard someone cat whistle. The valet parking attendants weren’t really sure who she was, but they all agreed she had to be somebody.
The driver took an oversized Louis Vuitton bag out of the trunk and gave it to Sabre, who disappeared inside the hotel, then out again to a walkway that led to one of its infamous bungalows. There was no need to register at the front desk because the room key was messengered earlier that morning.
Once Sabre was safely inside the room, she slowly exhaled. There was a magnum of Cristal chilling in an ice bucket. She popped the cork, poured herself a glass, drank it quickly, and poured another. She took it with her into the marble bath, turned on the water in the tub, and splashed in some of the organic rose otto bath oil that her secret lover wanted her to use. It was sent from Neiman’s for the first of their trysts. He explained that rose oil was very expensive because it was made from thousands of petals crushed at dawn. Sabre could have cared less, but the oil did leave her skin extremely soft.
She took out a black silk teddy and laid it out on the bed, undressed, and soaked her body in the rose-scented water. By the time she ordered lunch, put on makeup, and did her hair, he would be done with his eighteen holes of golf and ready for her.
Sabre enjoyed the privacy of the suite. She was totally at ease and free to be herself. No ordering or trying foods she didn’t like or want to impress someone else. She unlocked the front door and went into the bathroom to blow-dry her hair. Room service would come inside, leave her tray, and take the crisp fifty-dollar bill that she tucked inside an envelope. There would be no signed room service ticket for people to gossip about. This liaison required the utmost discretion.
Sabre put one last curl in her hair and went back into the suite where her lunch from the Polo Lounge was sitting on a small linen-covered table. “Yes,” she exclaimed loudly when she saw her favorite cheeseburger, fries, and three small bottles of Coke. She pried the cap off the bottle with an opener and watched it fizzle and foam as she poured it into a glass of crushed ice. “I am going to live like this forever. No more being hungry and poor ever again for Sabre.”
She heard the bungalow door opening as she dumped an entire container of Heinz ketchup on the burger and fries.
“Hey, Sherwin, I’m in the bedroom eating lunch.”
Sherwin Katz, head of VMG Music, walked into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. “Hey, beautiful. What do you have there?”
“Just a cheeseburger and fries.” Sabre grinned and carefully plucked a fry from her plate. “Here, Poppi, open.” Sherwin obeyed her command like an excited little puppy, and she pressed the potato between his thin lips.
“That was delicious, sweetie, but you know I have to watch my cholesterol.”
“I know. We can’t let anything happen to my Big Poppi.” Sabre grinned and he kissed her.
“Did you have time to go house hunting yet?” Sherwin talked while he undressed. He was in great shape and still very attractive for his fifty-one years. His muscles were firm and toned, and he didn’t have a hint of a belly. He played golf and tennis weekly so his skin was very tanned. Sabre had only two problems with him: he was old and white, but his money was green and he was a very powerful man in the music business, and that made him irresistible.
“No, Poppi, something came up.”
“I’m going to have a Realtor pick out some things for you or else you’ll never get a house.”
“Okay,” Sabre agreed. “Maybe you’d better get me a Realtor. I want something on the beach.”
“Okay, sweetie. You got it.” Sherwin turned back the covers on the king-sized bed. “And Mimi, the new publicist I hired for you? Are things working out with her?”
“Mimi’s great.” Sabre climbed on top of Sherwin and began massaging his chest. He reached up and grabbed her boobs and flipped her over on her back.
“Hey, these are great. We should have gotten them sooner.” Sabre moved underneath his body and tried to get excited. The more Sherwin touched her, the heavier she panted and the louder she screamed.
“Oh, Poppi.” She yelled at regular intervals, making sure she increased the intensity of each scream. In a matter of minutes, the ordeal was over and he rolled off her and slept heavily. Sabre sighed as she curled up into a little ball. Sherwin Katz was the nicest man she had ever known.
They would have several more sessions throughout the afternoon, then Sherwin would get on the phone and run his labels. Sabre went into the bathroom, scrubbed her face clean of makeup, and transformed herself back into the girl who had arrived at the hotel earlier.
“Bye, sweetie. I’ll call you later.” Sherwin kissed Sabre, and she picked up her things and left. When she stepped out of the main entrance of the hotel, her driver took her bag and assisted her into the car.
“Anywhere else today, Ms. Sabre?” Xavier looked at her in his rearview mirror.
Sabre took off the baseball cap and shook out her hair and polished her lips with a tube of pink lip gloss. “I have an appointment at Cedars.” She brushed on mascara and sprayed on perfume as the limo stopped on Third Street in front of the towers. “I shouldn’t be long,” she told Xavier as he helped her out of the car.
Sabre signed in with the receptionist in Dr. Gradney’s office and took a seat in the waiting room, where she noticed all of the artwork was by African American painters. It was the first time she had ever been to a doctor’s office with paintings by black people on the walls. She saw Germain whisk by and couldn’t help thinking again that he was the finest man she had ever seen. She picked up a Black Enterprise and read until she heard her name. A pretty young nurse with chocolate skin and braids named Denise led her into an examination room.
I wonder if he fools around. Sabre took off her sexy new Victoria’s
Secret Angels bra—it was so much fun wearing one now that she had something to put in it—and put on a Kente cloth dressing gown. Several minutes later, Dr. Gradney entered the room.
“Miss Sabre Cruz. How are you?” Germain gave her a smile that could melt butter, and suddenly she felt awkward and shy.
“I’m fine, Dr. Gradney.” Sabre felt herself at a loss for words. No man had ever affected her that way.
Germain made notes in a chart. “Did everything heal nicely? Not having any sort of pain, are you?” He focused his hazel eyes on Sabre.
“No.”
“Excellent.” He instructed her to lie on the examining table and she complied, closing her eyes, anticipating the sensation of his hands on her breasts.
Sabre lay there until she heard female laughter. What the fuck? Her eyes popped open to see Germain coming back into her room with his nurse.
“Denise is going to keep us company while I examine you, Sabre,” Germain explained. The moment he touched her she wanted to scream out…not from pain, but pleasure. She had always hated being touched by everyone until Germain. She found herself relaxing even with Denise in the room. He had the softest touch, and gentle but strong hands. She felt herself drifting somewhere she’d never been.
“You’re good to go, Sabre.” Germain smiled and wrote more notes in her chart. “Everything’s healed up wonderfully. We’ll see you back for another follow-up in a couple of months.” He smiled again and was gone.
Sabre dressed slowly and tried to conceal her disappointment. Why did he have to bring that damn nurse in the room? A zillion thoughts flashed through her mind while the receptionist wrote out her next appointment on a card.
“Shopping at the Beverly Center today, Miss Sabre?” Xavier looked in the mirror trying to catch her eye. That was the usual routine after a day at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
“No thanks, X. You can just take me home.” She stared out of the limo window at nothing in particular. That bitch Topaz not only gave her baby away, but she cheated on that fine ass Germain. How could she? Spoiled-ass, stuck-up bitch. She doesn’t deserve him or Niki. Why do people like her always end up with everything? Somebody needs to put her sorry ass in her place.
The limo stopped in front of the Embassy Suites on Franklin just a little west of La Brea. Sherwin had the label find her new, temporary housing. She was only walking distance from the place she used to share with Victor. The corporate studio apartment seemed drab after the old-world glamour of the Beverly Hills Hotel, but it was clean and it was hers. Sherwin would find her a place in Malibu, hire a decorator, and she would tell them she wanted it to look like the rooms at the Pink Palace.
Sabre tossed the lingerie she had worn with Sherwin into the trash can and jumped into the shower. She liked the way the rose oil made her skin feel, but she just couldn’t stand the smell of it, or Sherwin, although she’d put up with anything to ensure she was never hungry or homeless again.
She saw Bear sitting on her bed and thought about Niki and Teddy. That was really nice of Nina and Kyle to raise her as their own. I’m glad Niki didn’t get put in foster care like I did so she’ll never go through none of the shit that I had to put up with.
Sabre was just about to get into bed when she saw her mail lying on the floor. The concierge must have stuck it under the door while she was in the shower. He was sweet on her and constantly sought opportunities to have conversations with her. She picked it up and sifted through the magazines and catalogs, surprised when a handwritten envelope with a Brooklyn, New York, postmark slid out. She turned the letter over, but there was no return address.
“What the fuck is this?” she said out loud as she ripped it open.
Dear Sabre,
I know I should have written sooner but I just wanted you to know that I think about my beautiful little girl every day. I’ve seen your videos and I have your CD, only no one believes you’re my daughter. I’m in rehab again and as soon as I finish my treatment and get a job, maybe I can come see you. I’m really going to stay clean this time so I can finally be the mother I should have always been. I know I have never been there the way you needed and I pray that you will find it in your heart to forgive me. I’ve included my address and phone number so we can keep in touch. All of your aunts, uncles, and cousins—on both sides of the family—look forward to seeing you whenever you come to Brooklyn.
I love you,
Mommy
“Family? What motherfuckin’ family?” Sabre screamed. “Yo asses didn’t want me, remember? Yo asses couldn’t be found so I had to go in fuckin’ foster care. And now yo asses want to claim me cuz I have a fuckin’ record on the fuckin’ charts?”
Tears streamed out of Sabre’s eyes as she ripped the letter into tiny pieces and threw them into the trash can.
“You didn’t want me back then and I don’t want yo asses now.”
She turned on her Barbie nightlight, grabbed Bear, climbed into bed, and cried herself to sleep.
Chapter 17
Production trucks lined the driveway of The Diamond as an unseasonable summer deluge pelted Los Angeles and its surrounding areas that Thursday morning.
“It Never Rains in Southern California” is the title of a popular seventies song, but the words are so untrue. Cars driving down Palawan Way actually splashed water on the sidewalk while the production crew donned bright yellow slickers, attempting to stay dry as the men ran cables from the truck into the club.
“Can you believe all of this rain on the day of ‘A Topaz Night at The Diamond’?” Keisha stood in the doorway frowning at the rain. “I’ve never seen anything like it during the seven years we’ve lived in this city.”
“It is pretty bad.” Jade cracked the shell on a pistachio nut and thoughtfully chewed on the meat as she looked out at the dismal sky. “You know how Californians turn into the absolute worst drivers the minute one drop of rain falls.” Suddenly there was the distinct sound of tires screeching as a driver stomped on the brakes, and Jade chuckled. “See what I mean?”
“I wonder if this some kind of a sign.” Keisha sighed.
“A sign of what?” Jade looked at Keisha like she was crazy.
“A sign that things won’t go well tonight.”
“Key, you know you are tripping when you let something like that come out of your mouth.” Jade cracked open another pistachio. “I’m surprised that you would even say something like that.”
Keisha let out a long sigh. “You’re right. It’s just that I’ve worked on this night for months and now it rains? People hate to go anywhere here when it rains.”
“Come on, girlfriend, we need to pray, because the show must go on.” Jade led Keisha back into their office where the ladies grabbed hands and prayed about everything they could think of.
“I needed that.” Keisha picked up a poster of Topaz with her golden locks twisted into curls. Her golden eyes and smile were magnetic.
“That is such a pretty picture of her.” Jade tossed shells into the trash. “I wonder what it feels like to be the most beautiful girl in the world. It never rains on her parade even when it rains.”
“Do you think Topaz doesn’t have any problems? Because she does…lots of them.”
“I know.”
“Did you hear the story about the crosses?”
“I’m not sure.” Jade removed a stack of posters from her chair and sat down. “What is it?”
“There was a woman who didn’t like the cross she was given, so the Lord told her to pick out another one. So she goes into this room with all of these crosses. Some were very beautiful, others were not so beautiful. Some were big, small, thorny. The woman picks out a cross encrusted with diamonds and pearls. It was blingin’. But she had the hardest time carrying it, so the Lord lets her choose another. She goes through this process until she finds this small plain cross that she was able to carry. And guess what?”
“What?”
“She ended up picking out her own cross again.”
“Great story.” Jade smiled and her eyes turned into slits. “I wouldn’t want to trade my life with anyone. It’s like my mom always said, the grass is always greener in someone else’s yard.”
It thundered and both ladies jumped. “Now it’s storming,” Keisha exclaimed as all of the lights in the building went out.
“The show must go on,” Jade added. A member from the kitchen staff appeared in the doorway several minutes later when the lights failed to come back on. “What is it, Jorge?”
“The electricity is out.”
Jade and Keisha looked at each other.
“What about the generator?” Keisha went into the kitchen and Jade followed.
“It’s not working either.”
“What are we going to use for power? We can’t do the concert tonight without power.” Keisha was trying to stay calm.
“It has to be repaired by then. You called someone to come out and fix it, right, Jorge?” Jade questioned.
“Yes, but the refrigerator isn’t working. All of the fresh seafood for tonight is in there. I don’t want it to spoil.”
“And the Cristal and all those dozens of fresh-cut, golden, Ecuadorian roses we searched high and low for. We don’t want them to wilt,” Keisha added, still doing her best to remain cool.
“Nothing’s going to spoil or wilt. We’re going to Costco and buy up every last bag of ice in the store and a bunch of those huge ice chests.” Jade snatched up her purse and Keisha followed her.
Outside in the parking lot, they ran into several guys from the crew. “We don’t have any electricity…” Keisha began.
“That’s why we bring the truck. We’ve got enough juice in there to light up several blocks,” one of the techs explained. Keisha and Jade sighed with relief.
“The show must go on,” Keisha declared enthusiastically.
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