Diamond Revelation

by Sheila Copeland

  “Benny Medina?” Topaz had to drink more water. Everything Benny Medina touched turned into millions.

  “Topaz, why are you so surprised by all of this? You should have always had a top-notch team managing your career.”

  “I know. It’s just that I put my career on hold for a few years to focus on my family. We have a son who’s twelve and a daughter who’s eight.”

  “And…” Miller smiled.

  “And I just never really thought about what it takes to get back out there. I take my kids to school and I pick them up. I run my household, supervise the staff, and when I have time, I write a few songs. I love my husband and I love my life. I’m not sure if I even want to be out there.”

  She saw a little smile work its way back into her husband’s eyes. He was looking pretty intense for a moment.

  “What about the concert at The Diamond? What was that all about?”

  Topaz laughed. “My girlfriends own the restaurant. They asked me to perform. So I did it to help them out.”

  “And I decided to have it filmed for DVD. I read the entertainment section. I’ve seen the sales figures,” Germain added.

  “It was a very wise decision, because she was fantastic,” Miller told them. “That concert by itself is worth millions.”

  Germain smiled and squeezed Topaz’s hand.

  “Thank you. I had so much fun. I didn’t realize how much I missed performing. I do love being on stage.”

  “And the stage loves you.” Miller was silent as Topaz looked at the list again. She never imagined how much one concert in a restaurant in the Marina would impact her life.

  “Well, you two certainly have a lot to think about. I’ll put out some feelers for a distribution deal for Topaz’s DVD. You might just want to include that in whatever deal we make with a record label, if you decide to make one.”

  Miller shook hands with Germain, kissed Topaz, and the meeting was over.

  “How about I take my handsome husband to lunch so we can discuss all of this?” Topaz looked up into Germain’s eyes.

  “As much as I would love to do that, I can’t.” He pulled her into his arms and held her. “I’ve got to get back to the office. I’ll call you from the car.”

  They got into their cars and drove in separate directions.

  “So honey, what did you think about that one-hundred-million-dollar offer? We could live extremely well forever. We can finally build a new house.” Topaz was excited.

  “We can do all of that now. We’ve never had a shortage of money.”

  “That’s true.”

  “I’m not really feeling this, baby. If you took that deal it would really change our lives. You’d be gone all the time. You wouldn’t be around for the children or me.”

  Topaz was silent momentarily. “So what are you saying, Germain?”

  “I thought I already said it. You don’t need to take this deal.”

  “You want me to pass up a hundred million dollars?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t think I can do that.”

  “You’re going to do what you want anyway, so why are you even asking me?”

  “Because you’re my husband and your opinion really matters to me.”

  “Well, I gave you my opinion.”

  “Germain, you’re not being fair.” Topaz was already pouting.

  “I don’t like it. Final answer.” Germain pulled into his reserved parking spot. “I’m at the office now.”

  “Germain, don’t hang up.”

  “I’ve got to go.”

  Topaz called him again, but he didn’t answer. “Ughhh.” Frustrated, she tossed the phone into the passenger seat.

  It rang and she answered, not bothering to check the caller ID. “Germain…”

  “Topaz, it’s your sister-in-law, Rosalyn Lawrence.”

  “How the hell did you get this number?”

  “That’s not important. You just need to listen to what I have to say.”

  Topaz hung up and tossed the phone back into the seat. She allowed it to ring and go to voice mail several times before she finally picked it up and checked her messages.

  Rosalyn had left one that said, “You really need to talk to me about your daughter Nicole and my niece, Turquoise.”

  “My daughter Nicole? What the hell is this psycho bitch talking about now?” Topaz said out loud. She called the number that was in her phone. “What do you want now, Rosalyn?”

  “My father’s been sick. He’s been asking about Turquoise. I think it would really be good for him if he could see her.”

  “No way,” Topaz replied firmly.

  “Nicole isn’t Nina and Kyle’s daughter. It would be biologically impossible for Nicole to be their daughter.”

  “What?” Topaz paused to collect her thoughts. “Even if that were true, what has that got to do with me?”

  “Were you aware that you have the trait?”

  “What the hell are you talking about now?” Topaz demanded.

  “You have the trait for sickle cell disease.”

  “I never knew that.”

  “Most people don’t know they have the trait. That’s what makes it so dangerous. Two people with the trait could hook up, start a family, and end up with a child who may have serious health challenges.”

  “I still don’t see what any of this has to do with me.”

  “Were you aware that your husband has the trait too?”

  “Of course I know my husband has the trait,” Topaz lied as she felt herself tensing up, not really sure where this line of questioning was going.

  “Hmmm. That’s the only part of this that makes no sense. I think Nicole is your daughter, only I can’t figure out why you gave her away.”

  “You are one crazy bitch,” Topaz replied coolly. She hoped her voice wasn’t trembling the way her hands were.

  “But I will figure it out, and when I do, I’m sure there are lots of newspapers and magazines that would pay royally for this kind of information. Inquiring minds do want to know.”

  “You’re not only a crazy bitch, but a sick one too. Nicole is not my daughter. I would never give one of my children away. If that were true, I would have given up Turquoise so I wouldn’t have to be bothered with her crazy-ass family. But I can’t blame my daughter because I made a mistake. I thank God every day that she looks like me.”

  “So why did you give her away? Nicole’s daddy didn’t have money like my brother?”

  “Money, is that all you ever think about? It always seems to be the motive behind everything you ever do or say.”

  “I’ll admit, I do think about money a lot. We could use it for our research in finding a cure for sickle cell disease. But I also think about how to get back at your gold-digging ass for what you did to my brother.”

  “I didn’t do anything to your brother but try to love him, but I guess your family needs someone to blame since Gunther didn’t want to have anything to do with any of you.”

  “That’s because your stuck-up ass didn’t want to be married to a brother from South Central, so you turned him against us.”

  “What? That is not true.”

  “That’s what Gunther told my father.”

  “Well, Gunther lied.”

  “No, he didn’t, but I will get you back for what you did to him.”

  Topaz couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Rosalyn wasn’t making any sense.

  “And don’t you ever call Gunther a liar because you’re the real liar, you lyin’ ass, gold-diggin’ skank ass ho.” Rosalyn’s voice was filled with disdain.

  “You know you really need help because you are one scary, crazy-ass, psychotic bitch,” Topaz screamed into the phone.

  “Whatever, just be afraid, Topaz. Be very…”

  Topaz hung up before Rosalyn could say anything further.

  “Why did I even call her crazy ass back? I must be the one who’s crazy.” Topaz was talking to herself again.

  She drove home, pul
led into her driveway, cut off the motor, and sat in her Range Rover holding her head in her hands. “What am I going to do now? What the hell am I going to do?” she asked herself and broke into tears.

  Chapter 19

  It seemed like the parking lot at the Cross Creek Plaza in Malibu was always congested no matter the time or the day of the week. Nina looked at her watch and let out a loud groan. As usual, there was nowhere to park and she would be running late. She was just about to pull off when she spotted back-up lights on a vehicle in front of the Marmalade Café.

  “Yes!” Nina whipped the car into the space, grabbed her things, and dashed into the café. She stood there looking around until she spotted her at a table reading the paper. Nina took a deep breath and made her approach.

  “Hey.” Nina pulled out a chair and collapsed into it.

  “Hey.” Topaz looked up and smiled. “Long time no see.”

  “Too long, girl.” Nina looked at the menu still on the table. “Did you already order?”

  “I got a little something. I wasn’t very hungry.” Topaz smiled.

  “You, not hungry? Is the world coming to an end?” Nina gave her a half smile.

  “Sometimes it feels like it.” Topaz moved her newspaper to another chair and the waitress set a plate of scones and a bowl of fresh berries in front of her. “Thank you.” She spoke to the server as she poured hot water into her cup and added a dab of honey.

  “That’s quite the bourgeois breakfast you’re having.” Nina looked up at the waitress. “I’ll have a short stack of blueberry pancakes, bacon, and orange juice.”

  “What kind of breakfast is that? Wannabe girl from da hood?” Topaz had promised herself she would not get angry because she had been getting upset with just about everyone lately. “I’m tired of your shit, Nina. You’ve been tripping with me ever since you became Ms. CEO of Revelation Music.”

  Nina looked away as she sipped a glass of ice water.

  “I still can’t believe you didn’t even come to my concert.” Topaz crossed her legs and folded her arms as she zoomed in on her cousin.

  “I was there,” Nina replied quietly.

  “Nobody saw you there. I asked Kyle where you were and he said you were at home. Something about you just got back from Hawaii. What were you doing over there? Signing another artist?”

  “I went there to chill out.”

  “Without your man?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wouldn’t do that very often if I were you.”

  “Whatever. And why weren’t you at Sky’s showcase?”

  “That’s different.” Topaz was wearing her hair straightened, and she slung it out of her face with much attitude. “That wasn’t you up there performing.”

  “But that was my artist…my showcase. You never care about anything that isn’t about you. Ever since you came to California, everything has always been about you.” Nina’s voice cracked and there were tears in her eyes as she became extremely emotional. “I just wanted to do something for me, for once, that had nothing to do with you. And you couldn’t even support me.”

  “I never knew you felt that way.”

  “Well, I do.” Nina continued wiping tears from her eyes as Topaz thought about all the things she said.

  “Well,” Topaz began, carefully searching for the correct words, “I’m glad you finally decided to share all of this with me. It was never my intention to make everything about me, and you’re right, I should have supported you and I didn’t. But I felt like you didn’t want me around. You were always putting me down. You didn’t like my music. You couldn’t see me singing and playing the guitar…”

  “I loved your music. I was wrong about everything. I didn’t know you could be as good as you were. T, you were fantastic. I still can’t believe how wonderful you were. I was crying all over the place when you sang ‘Superstar’.”

  “You cried?”

  “Like a baby. I was so wrong. I should have signed you, but I was tripping. Kyle was pissed with me because I didn’t include him. I screwed everything up with VMG…”

  “VMG? I forgot VMG is Revelation Music’s parent label.”

  “What’s up with VMG?” Nina took a bite off a slice of bacon.

  “VMG offered me one hundred million dollars to sign with them.”

  “Get the fuck out of here.”

  “Nina, I hope you aren’t using that kind of language in front of Niki and Kyle,” Topaz admonished.

  “My bad.” Nina covered her mouth with her hand. “VMG offered you that much money? You go, girl.”

  “Germain doesn’t want me to take it.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “You can? Why?”

  “You’ve been home playing Suzy homemaker and the good little wifey. That’s what Germain’s always wanted. He loves being the breadwinner and taking care of you. He can afford to give you anything you ever wanted. You taking all that money means you don’t need him, not to mention you’ll be busy working and have no time for him.”

  “I’ll always need Germain,” Topaz added softly.

  “I know that and you know that, but he doesn’t.”

  “But I told him all that.”

  “I’m sure you did, but he’s a man, girl.”

  “Just when I think I understand men, I realize I don’t know anything at all.”

  “Welcome to the club, girl. I thought Kyle would be more understanding, but he started tripping when I went to work.” Nina finished off the last of her pancakes.

  “Yeah, but Kyle was supposed to be running Revelation with you. You didn’t include him in anything.”

  “There might be a bit of truth to that.” Nina grinned sheepishly.

  “Nina!”

  “I told you I fucked up. He was so pissed with me because I didn’t tell him that you brought me music and I passed. Germain must have said something to him.”

  “He did. I was really hurt.”

  “I’m sorry, girl.”

  “I’m sorry, too. And if you ever feel like I’m making things be all about me, please say something.”

  “Okay,” Nina agreed. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you more.” Topaz reached for Nina. “Hug.”

  The ladies embraced and Topaz kissed Nina on the cheek.

  “It felt so weird not talking to you. You’re my best friend and closer to me than my sister.”

  “It was too strange. I started to pick up the phone and call you so many times, especially when I was working on the concert. It was the first time I did anything like that without you around. You’ve been with me since the very beginning.”

  “You were so good, girl.” Nina shook her head in disbelief. “I still can’t believe it.”

  “Thanks, Nina. Keisha, Germain, and Jade stepped in and did a fabulous job.”

  “You should make ‘Superstar’ the first single from your album. I would even call the album Superstar, too.”

  “That’s good. I like that. Hey…I just got a wonderful idea.”

  “What?” Nina handed some cash to the waitress.

  “Why don’t you sign me to Revelation Music?”

  “Huh?”

  “Why don’t you sign me to Revelation for say twenty million dollars for one CD?”

  “Revelation doesn’t have that kind of money, T.”

  “But VMG does.” Topaz grinned.

  Nina was silent as she allowed Topaz’s words to register.

  “I think we can work this out so everyone will be happy. You tell VMG that you can sign me to Revelation for one project…that way Germain won’t be tripping over a hundred million and five CDs. Germain had the concert taped. Maybe we can even include that in the deal. Our lawyers can figure all of that stuff out. You can redeem yourself with Kyle and allow him to be your partner for real this time. VMG gets a little bit of what they want, you come out looking good, and everybody’s happy.” Topaz felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders as she smiled at
Nina.

  “That’s an excellent idea, girl. That just might work,” Nina agreed. “I’ve been holding off a meeting with Sherwin Katz because I know he wants to replace me.”

  “There’s no way he’ll be able to do that now.”

  Nina smiled happily. “Anita called me a couple of days after your showcase and said the lines at Revelation were jammed with calls from people wanting to get your CD.”

  “Girl, there were so many hits on my Web site, it crashed.” Topaz laughed. “We still don’t know who sent ‘Superstar’ to the radio stations.”

  “It was probably your husband. The man is connected. You never know who comes through his office.”

  “Yeah, like Sabre.”

  “What?”

  “Miss Thing was in his office. I would never have known if I hadn’t stopped by with the girls on the way to the Jack and Jill tea.”

  “Everybody in Hollywood wants Germain to do their procedures. He’s almost as famous as you.”

  “I know. But I don’t trust that sneaky little ho. She never looks me in the eye.”

  Nina laughed. “She’s probably still afraid that you might kick her ass.”

  The ladies laughed until they cried.

  “If your fans only knew…Topaz will kick a bitch’s ass. Brenda Richie ain’t got nothing on you.”

  “Forget Brenda Richie. You just better handle your business with Kyle and Revelation before I kick your ass.”

  “A’ight, boss lady.” Nina paused to look at her cousin. “I really do need you. I sure was fucking shit up when you weren’t around.”

  “Nina, if you say one more curse word, I’m kicking your ass.”

  The ladies walked outside to their cars.

  “How’d you find this spot?” Topaz asked. “I thought you would have chosen something in the Colony Plaza.”

  “This is one of Kyle and Niki’s breakfast spots. Those two have become extremely close since I went to work.”

  “She’s a very special little girl. You can’t help loving her. She stole Germain’s heart that night we had to take her to the hospital. He was trying really hard not to cry.”

  Nina was smiling like a proud mother while Topaz spoke.

  “That reminds me. I brought you some pictures from the tea.” Topaz reached in her bag and pulled out several photos of the girls and the family.