by Deja King
"Who is this?"
"Precious Mills. Who is this?" I was silent not knowing what to say. "Is this Maya?" Precious asked without hesitation. "Why don't you speak the fuck up? I know that's yo' sorry ass on the other end of this phone. Yeah, heffa I'm back and Supreme know everything!"
"You'll pay for this, Precious."
"Ho, I've already paid. The fact that I know you was fucking my husband is payment enough. But we good now. And trust, I got something for yo' sneaky ass. Wherever you at, whatever you doing, enjoy this little bit of freedom while you can, because baby girl your days are up. Now get the fuck off my husbands' phone!"
The line went dead but I was still holding the phone in an attempt to convince myself the conversation that took place hadn't.
"The other day Precious was in the parking lot in Philadelphia unloading her weapon on me and now she was answering Supreme's phone, how the hell did that happen? I laid up in the bed with Arnez for a few days and my entire life has changed," I stated out loud in bewilderment. I fell back on the bed, stunned by the turn of events. What really had me confused was how Precious was able to find Supreme. He had done everything to make sure Precious couldn't track him down but there she was back on her throne. All I could do was scream at the top of my lungs and punch the pillow on the bed as if I was beating the shit out of Precious.
Knock ...knock ... knock
"Is everything alright in there?" I heard the cleaning lady ask through the door.
"Sorry `bout that. Everything's fine. I accidentally ripped a dress I was putting on and got upset," I lied. Precious had my mind in another world that I forgot I was in a hotel. This wasn't the time for me to lose my mind if anything I needed to come up with a new game plan and fast. My cover was officially now blown and I wasn't sure what Precious' next move would be. Would she turn me into the police for kidnapping and the murder of my brother, Clip and a few other folks? If she did, would they even believe her story. With Devon dead who could corroborate the shit.
On the other hand, Precious wasn't exactly the fuck with the police type. There was an excellent chance she would decide to get that street justice, which meant I would be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. Either way the dice weren't rolling in my favor and I was fucked. I had to come up with a way to get back in the driver's seat. My brain was going in deep scheme mode when I heard Arnez using his key to open the door. Normally I would welcome his company but I couldn't think about dick right now. This was about life, death, freedom or jail.
"I thought you would be dressed by the time I got back," were the first words out of Arnez's mouth when he saw me.
"I slept late."
"We need to be heading out, we have a busy day."
"When you say heading out are you talking about leaving for good?"
"Yep. We have to stop in New York for a day then head back to Philly. Things have gotten somewhat calmer so it's time for business as usual."
"What are we going to New York for?"
"Business and pleasure."
"What sort of pleasure?"
"There's a party going on tonight that I need to attend."
"I'm not in the mood for a party tonight. Would you mind if I didn't go?"
"Of course I would mind. This wasn't a request. You will be attending this party with me. I've already picked out what I want you to wear."
"Arnez, I don't feel like going. You can go to the party. I'll wait in the hotel room for you."
If it wasn't for the severe stinging on my cheek I would've completely missed the smack that Arnez landed on my face. That's how sudden and unexpected it was to me.
"Don't you ever tell me what you won't do. Do you not know who I am? But don't worry, you'll learn. As I said, you have soldier potential. Nobody has taken the time to teach you but I will."
"You hit me...I can't believe you hit me." I really couldn't. Too many things didn't fuck me up in terms of disbelief but this had. I didn't think Arnez was a softie but woman beater went right over my head. He was passionate but gentle as a lover. The few times we went out he was a complete gentleman. He was not the man I would pick out of a line up to be the type who would snatch-a-ho-up on some bullshit but he was that man. After he slapped me, I stared in his eyes and saw that he was crazier than me and that was scary.
"Believe it. It's part of training camp. If you're a fast learner I'll only have to do it a few more times. But you're very young so you might be hard headed which means I'll have to knock you around several times before I break you in."
That fool said that shit like he was about to train me and put me through something simple like a cooking course. I could tolerate a bunch of bullshit from a nigga I was feeling. I even got off on some excitement in a relationship but a motherfucker beating my ass never turned me on. Because a nigga that would beat your ass is a nigga that would kill you and the bottom line was I didn't want to die. Now instead of focusing my energy on how to one-up Precious, I had to figure how to get the fuck away from Arnez's crazy ass.
"I'm a fast learner. You won't have any more problems from me. If you want me to go to the party then I will."
"That's my girl. Now go shower and get dressed. Like I said, we need to leave."
On the ride to New York, I was plotting on how I would break free of Arnez. Luckily I was born and raised there so I knew how to maneuver my way around with no problem. But I had to be careful. I already had Precious aiming at me, I didn't need to add a psycho like Arnez to the list.
"Turn the music down, this is an important call." I was about to ask him what was wrong with his hands but quickly remembered who I was dealing with and a remark like that might land me a blackened eye.
"You've been hard to catch up with the last couple of days."
"My wife got back home so I've been extremely busy." Oh shit, that sounds like Supreme! Now I was happy as hell I turned the volume down because their conversation was clear as shit.
"I understand, family always comes first." I had to roll my eyes hearing that come out of Arnez's mouth. He seemed like the type that would have his entire family petrified that if everything wasn't precisely the way he wanted everybody was getting fucked up.
"Yeah, but what's up with you. I thought for sure you would have that Nico situation resolved by now"
"Me too but for the last few months he hasn't been making any moves.. .no business. Something had him occupied."
"Or someone."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing, so what's up with him now?'
"Word came to me today that he might be partnering up with a woman named CoCo and this dude Genesis."
"Who the fuck are they?"
"Some people I'm not on good terms with. So if he's dealing with them, I would need to come up with a different approach in getting him to do some business with me."
"I advise you to come up with that approach at rapid speed because I've funneled way too much money in your business for you to bring me nothing."
"You know that I appreciate all that you've done."
"I don't need your appreciation or want it. If you can't get done what I need you to do then I'll have to take my money someplace else."
"Come on, we've worked together way too long for you to say something like that. I've made you millions of dollars."
"Yeah whatever."
"I got you. When you asked me to resolve that issue I didn't think it would be that complicated. But you know the problems I've had recently and like I said he's just starting to get back to handling business. There's a delay, that's all. But not the sort of problem that you would need to sever our business relationship."
"I hear you. I have to come that way tomorrow to stop by my parents' place to pick up my daughter, so before I leave I wanna see you. And our conversation needs to go differently. You know what you need to get done... so make it happen. I want Nico Carter out of commission...'nough said."
I had been dissecting each sentence from that discussion and I couldn't
figure all the shit out but one thing seemed evident, Arnez worked for Supreme and Arnez was a drug dealer. So added to Supreme's list of business ventures was running a drug empire. I didn't think Xavier Mills had it in him. Now I had another reason why it was imperative I get the fuck away from Arnez. Because Supreme was coming to town and if he found out Arnez was dealing with me, I would be added to that out of commission list Nico Carter was on.
"I have to get rid of Genesis and CoCo once and for all. They're going to fuck everything up." I heard Arnez mumbling under his breath. I hoped if I remained mute he would continue on oblivious I was interested in every word he was saying.
"If I could just find Genevieve because having someone make prank calls pretending to be his sister isn't enough. I need her for bait."
Damn this nigga off the chain, getting fade motherfuckers to cal/pretending to be that man's sister If he avasn't a mm,oman beater, )re could put our minds together and come up with some fabulous scams. He's more calculating than me.
"We're going to the Greenhouse in Soho. 150 Varick Street between Vandam & Spring," Arnez told the taxi driver. After letting him know our destination he turned his attention to me. "Did I tell you how sexy you look in that dress?"
"No, but you have great taste in clothes, so it's all you.
"True, but you've pulled if off perfectly," he said, admiring the black Alexander Wang sheer sleeved minidress. It was a cute dress, I'll admit. But Arnez had me feeling like I was his personal dress up doll which wasn't cute.
"So who is this party for?"
"The spokes model for Akil Walker's new women's clothing line."
"Oh, I've seen a couple of ads for that, his shit is hot. So he's giving the party for the person who's modeling his clothes?"
"She's the exclusive model for his women's line. And this is like her introduction to the heavyweights in the industry."
"Sounds exciting for her."
"I'm sure it will be." Arnez didn't strike me as the type who would give a fuck about some models' party to celebrate her introduction to the scene. I knew there was a lot more to this but I would have to sit back and observe to find out.
When the taxi pulled in front of the club it had that red velvet rope, I wanna be a star feel. Two cut the fuck up security men were keeping post at the entrance and some chick with a clipboard and headpiece was working the guest list. Arnez said a couple of words to the girl and slid on through. The spacious bi-level club was cute in a unique sort of way. I noticed a little sign that read `first eco-friendly nightlife destination' I assumed that was important to the folks running the establishment because me as a guest could care less.
I followed behind Arnez taking in the interesting design of the place. The transparent ceiling fixture had a bunch of crystals, which seemed to be designed to emulate a rolling landscape. Then the bars were clear glass, that displayed lush natural scenes and I assumed it was all recycled since this was supposed to be an ecofriendly spot. None of it was my style but when I noticed the interior projection screens mounted on three separate walls playing what seemed to be the photo shoots the spokes model did for the clothing line. Then the name `Nichelle' kept flashing on the screen and I assumed that was the model's name.
"Come on, we're going to sit in the VIP section on the upper level." I nodded my head and kept following Arnez, curious as to what he was up to.
"Maya," I heard someone call out my name but Soho wasn't my neck of the woods so I glanced around to see who it might be. "Maya..." I heard the same female voice again. But this time I saw who it was.
"Tashawn, girl what are you doing here?" We gave each other a quick hug.
"You remember Dionne."
"Yeah, you talking `bout Dionne from Queens?"
"Exactly, she dragged me to this bullshit. She heard Akil Walker would be here and thought if she showed up, she'd get discovered and be his next spokes model." We both burst out laughing because that sounded like some dreamer shit Dionne would come up with.
"Has she found him?"
"Hell no! And if she did, his head is probably so far up the ass of his new model up there," Tashawn pointed toward the projection screen, "so he wouldn't give Dionne a second thought. Plus she know the PR chick that put this shit together and supposedly Akil nor is that model Nichelle showing up. Akil's publicity people just threw that out there to get a bigger turn out and I see it worked... but moving on, what are you doing here. We ain't seen you in none of the boroughs for a minute. Where you been?"
"I've been in Miami for a minute."
"So what brought you here?"
"Him," I said pointing at Arnez who was making gestures for me to bring my ass on.
"Girl, he don't look cool wit' you being over here talking to me."
"That nigga a nut. Don't nothing make him happy but himself. You driving?"
"Yeah, why?"
"How much longer you gon' be here?"
"Dionne in the bathroom. When she come out we probably leaving in a few. This not my type of party. And Dionne only came to meet that Akil dude, now that she know he ain't showing up, she ready to go."
"I hear that so can you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Let me get a ride wit' ya'."
"Girl, that ain't nothing. It'll be like old times when we used to skip school together and ride the trains going no fuckin' where."
"Yeah, but we ain't getting on the train. .not tonight," we laughed thinking about old times.
"So do you want me to just come get you when we're ready?"
"I'ma ditch homeboy so I don't want him to have a clue I'm bouncing. Here put my number in your phone. I'll meet you on the corner of Spring within ten minutes. But if I don't show up, you got my number, send me a text."
"Cool, we'll be in a black Explorer."
"Thanks, Tashawn. Girl, I owe you big time." I was so happy I ran into Tashawn, I was tempted to break into a two-step in the middle of the dance floor. But I remained cool and smiled when I reached Arnez. He appeared as if he was ready to choke a bitch up.
"Who were you talking to?"
"This girl I went to school with. I hadn't seen her in a minute so we were playing catch up. So what's up, are you enjoying the party?" I asked wanting to switch the dialogue off of me.
"It's cool, I just wish the guest of honor would hurry up, show her face."
"You talking about her, that model Nichelle?" I pointed at the screen.
"Yes, but her name is Genevieve," he huffed like I didn't know who I was talking about.
"Huh? That model up there, her name is Nichelle."
"Yes her... "he shrugged, seeming annoyed.
"Oh baby, that's the closest you gon' get to seeing her face."
"What are you talking about?'
"She's a no-show and so is the dude Akil."
"Who told you that?" he practically screamed the question in my ear.
"There's no need to get upset. I'm sure you'll be able to see them at some other party."
"Just answer the question," he pulled on my arm.
"Listen, I'm getting tired of you manhandling me!" I was ready to take off my shoe and go upside dude's head but since I knew I was about to make a getaway I calmed it down. "I apologize baby, what was the question again?"
"How do you know Genevieve isn't showing up?"
"Who is this Genevieve chick you keep talking about?"
"Excuse me, I meant to say Nichelle."
"The girl I was speaking with, her girlfriend is cool with the PR chick that did this event and she told her neither one of them was showing up."
Are you sure?"
"I mean I wasn't there taking part in the discussion but I'm sure you can go ask the girl yourself. My friend told me she was upstairs. Ask for the PR chick and she's wearing one of those headsets."
"You stay right here." Arnez pointed his finger in my face like I was five years old. "I'll be right back."
"No problem baby, take your time I'll be right here... Not
!" When I saw Arnez motherfuckin' ass make that turn to go upstairs I grabbed my purse and hit it. Whatever shit he had bought me at the mall he could keep it. I had all the essential goods right here in my purse. I bolted out that club so fast and never looked back.
I stood in Aaliyah's bedroom thinking about all I had missed out on from being away from her these past few months. Looking at her pictures, she had grown so much. Although she looked a lot like me, it was amazing how much she resembled my mother. When I came across one particular picture on her dresser, it took every ounce of strength I had not to completely lose it.
"Yo' ass will be mine! I don't give a fuck what I have to do!" I spit, holding a picture that Maya and Aaliyah took together. The anger that had come over me wanted to rip the picture into tiny shreds, but then I was torn, because my sweet Aaliyah was also in the picture, and for some strange reason I would feel guilty tearing up her image too. So, I did the only other thing I felt comfortable with. I tossed the shit in the trash.
"We're gonna take a flight out in the morning."
I jolted slightly, not expecting to hear Supreme's voice.
"I didn't mean to startle you."
"That's okay. What time does our flight leave?"
"We're taking the jet, so whenever we get there."
"Well, I'll be ready first thing in the morning, because I can't wait to see my baby."
"I know she'll be happy to see you too."
"Do you really think so? I mean it's been so long that I'm afraid she won't remember me."
"Of course Aaliyah remembers you. I always showed her your picture and told her that this was her mommy."
"You did?" The shock in my voice was evident.
"Yeah, I did. I know, as angry as I was with you, it surprised me too, but something just made me do it. And I'm glad I did."
"So am I. I know with everything you believed, the last person you wanted to talk to Aaliyah about was me."
"For the last couple of days I've been tearing this house up, searching for that necklace."
"I was wondering what you were looking for."