Rich or Famous...Rich Because You Can Buy Fame

by King, Deja

  What I hoped for each time I would visit was that my mother knew I was here and felt my presence. That never seemed to be the case but I think that’s what kept me coming back week after week. I was praying one day she would give me a sign that she did. So when she stared out the window I would stare too, wondering in my mind what she was thinking about, if anything at all. Did she notice when it would rain or when the sun would come out; did that make a difference in her mood? Did she appreciate the garden view she had from her room?

  All these questions I had but I wasn’t able to accept I would never know the answers to any of them.

  “Yo, what’s good?” I answered, as I got in the car

  leaving my mother’s treatment center.

  “We have a situation.”

  “I see. I’m headed back that way, I’ll be in touch.” I ended the call thinking that I wasn’t in the mood for the bullshit today. When I would come see my mother it literally drained all my energy. It would be as if I left it in the room with her. Having to go home and deal with business bullshit wasn’t what I needed right now.

  “Damn, who the fuck is this?” I moaned feeling the vibration of the phone. I saw Lala’s name and remembered I hadn’t been by there the last couple of weeks. “What’s up, Lala.”

  “Hey, Lorenzo.”

  “Is everything ok? You don’t sound good.”

  “Tania’s been asking for you. Last time you were here you told me to tell her you would be back soon to visit but you’ve been a no show.”

  “I apologize. I’ve had a lot going on these last couple weeks. I have some business I have to handle tonight but I’ll be over there tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to tell Tania and then you not show up.”

  “Lala, I’ll be there.”

  “Ok, we’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.” As my call was wrapping up with Lala, Dior was beeping on the other line. I simply ignored it like I had been doing all her calls for the last few weeks. The crazy part was I really did want to speak with her but my life was on overload right now. Darnell used to handle a great deal of business for me and now that he was dead I had to oversee a lot of shit. I hadn’t found anybody that was knowledgeable enough to maintain some of my important dealings that I also trusted. So the shit was all falling on me. And when my mind was consumed with business the last thing I could make time for was a woman like Dior. She took high maintenance to another level and I didn’t mean simply materialistic wise, but emotional too. If I got on the phone with her she’d drill me about getting all her shit done and although I had every intention of coming through for her, right now it wasn’t a priority for me. It wasn’t even on my top five and I had no plans of talking to her until it was.

  When I pulled up to my office building in Jersey City, I had this twinge of uneasiness. I wasn’t sure if it was due to the edge not wearing off from the visit with my mother or something else. When I entered the building two of my security guards were in the lobby waiting for me. They nodded their head for me to go back outside so I made my exit and they followed behind me.

  “What the fuck is going on?”

  “We’re not sure if the offices are secure.”

  “You think someone put a bug in the office?”

  “We have our people up there checking now.”

  “So is that the situation?”

  “That’s part of it.”

  “What’s the other part?”

  “Alexus has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom.”

  “How much?”

  “Two million.”

  “Who kidnapped Alexus and why do they think I would pay two million to get her back?”

  “From my understanding this shit all goes back to Darnell. The money he was stealing from you, he wasn’t giving it to anybody. He was keeping it for himself. The two guys he was partnering up with, he took their money too.”

  “So if he was stealing from all of us, where is all the money?”

  “Nobody knows but them dudes want their money back and they somehow found out that Alexus wasn’t Darnell’s girl like they initially thought but that she actually worked for you.”

  “That’s why you think the office might have a bug because they know this.”

  “Yes.”

  “How did they make contact?”

  “It all went down right here.”

  “You talkin’ ‘bout today?”

  “Yeah, right before I called you.”

  “Ok, Brice, I need you to take me through this shit step by step.”

  “Michael and Roy were upstairs. Me, Tony and Alexus was coming into the building. What looked like a delivery truck pulled up. Two guys came out in uniforms carrying boxes. By the time I realized something wasn’t right they had pulled out guns and told us to get on the ground. They called us out by our names. Then a third guy came out the back of the truck and grabbed Alexus. He said Darnell stole their money and they wanted it back. He told us if we didn’t give them two million the next time we saw Alexus she’d be floating in the Hudson River.”

  “Did you get the plate number?”

  “Yeah, as soon as we heard them drive off we jumped up and got the information. I was tempted to start blazing on they ass but I knew they might end up killing Alexus and in this area, people hear gunshots they most def calling the police. I know we don’t want them involved. ”

  “Nah, we definitely don’t want that. So what did you come up with when you ran the plates?”’

  “Nothing, they were bogus.”

  “I figured that. Damn,” I huffed. “Even if I pay them cats, they might still kill Alexus. That foul nigga Darnell making problems for me even from the grave.”

  “So what do you want us to do?”

  “Get the money together but something ain’t adding up.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If Darnell had gotten that much money together, that shit ain’t just lying around somewhere. Where the fuck is it? The average nigga can’t just hide two million dollars unless they just making up an amount tryna pinch me.”

  “Lorenzo, we found three bugs,” Roy informed me as soon as he came out the building.

  “How the fuck did they get up in my office and have time to do that shit.” I noticed Tony put his head down. “Tony something you need to say?”

  “Last week I did allow a new cleaning crew to come in. I’m sorry. They told me the regular company had outsourced them because they needed a fill in. Everything seemed legitimate so I didn’t second guess them. That had to be when they did it. Lorenzo, I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank fuckin’ goodness we don’t discuss no real business in that bitch ‘cause the way you just opening doors to mutherfucka’s the feds would be hauling all of us off to jail! Fuuuuck!” I screamed out ready to put a bullet in Tony’s head for being so careless.

  “Lorenzo, I….”

  “Yo, don’t say shit to me right now. All I want you to do,” I said pointing towards Brice, “is get the money together and let me know when they contact you. When they do, inform them that you ain’t giving them shit until you get Alexus back alive. Then you find out what the fuck happened to that money Darnell stole and how much he got from them. You also find out who Darnell had partnered up with because after they give us Alexus, we will find them, take my money back and kill ‘em. Now all of you get the fuck out my face.”

  ** *

  “Lorenzo, what are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow.”

  “Can I come in?”

  “Of course, I’m sorry, come in.” Lala moved out the way and I came inside. When I left my office I didn’t feel like going home and I found myself driving around thinking. I no longer wanted to think so I decided to come over and see Tania.

  “Where’s Tania?”

  “Upstairs getting ready for bed.”

  “Can I go see her?”

  “Yes, she’ll be happy to see you.” I went upstairs and Tania was in her bed,
under the covers watching The Princess and the Frog. I sat down beside her and her entire face lit up.

  “Uncle Lorenzo, I missed you,” she hugged me and said. When her arms wrapped around me it felt like healing power. Her innocence sent calmness through me that I needed. I knew it would and that’s why I came. In my world, surrounded by hell right here on earth, having a child like Tania share the purity of her love was the only thing that saved me.

  “I missed you too but now I’m here and I’m not leaving until you fall asleep.”

  “Then I’m never going to fall asleep because I don’t want you to ever leave me.”

  “It’s okay for you to go to sleep because I’ll be back again.”

  “No you won’t. You’ll leave me like my daddy did and never come back.”

  “Tania, I put this on everything, I’ll always come back for you.”

  “You promise?”

  “I promise.” She held on to me for dear life and I didn’t let her go until she fell asleep in my arms. When I went downstairs Lala was sitting on the couch as if she’d been waiting for me.

  “You were up there for a long time.”

  “Yeah, I wanted to stay until Tania went to sleep.”

  “That was sweet of you to do that.”

  “No, it was sweet of her to let me. I needed that time with her more than she probably needed it with me.”

  “What’s going on with you?”

  “Typical stress from work.”

  “There’s nothing typical about your work, Lorenzo. Sit down. Let me get you something to drink.”

  “That would be good. And a shot of Hennessy would be even better.”

  “You’re in luck.” Lala came back out with a double shot of Hennessy and that shit went down my throat so smoothly.”

  “I needed that, thank you.”

  “Let me make you feel better, Lorenzo.” Lala was on her knees in front of me. Her face was so angelic as if she had never been through pain but I knew that wasn’t true.

  “You’ve already made me feel better.”

  “Let me do more,” she said unbuttoning my shirt.

  “Don’t do that,” I said grasping her hands.

  “Why won’t you let me in?” I moved her hair from her face and glided my finger down her cheek.

  “Because I have nothing to give.”

  “Well I do.” Lala then pressed her lips against mine and the softness further relaxed me. I pulled her sweater over her head and my hands cupped her breasts as I let my tongue lick her hardened nipples. Lala’s seductive moaning made my dick even harder.

  “I want to be inside of you.”

  “I’ve always wanted that,” Lala said in a breathless voice before taking off her jeans and panties. As she stood in front of me I let my hands gently caress the thickness of each curve before I laid her down on the couch. At that moment I was pleased I stayed prepared by always keeping condoms in my wallet because I was ready to go in when she spread her legs open as if begging to let me in. “Ahhhh,” echoed through the room as I filled her insides and her wet juices coated my dick. Her pussy wasn’t too wide or too tight, it was just right. As I went deeper and deeper and Lala’s moans and groans of pleasure grew louder I knew since I went there, I could never turn my back on her.

  Dior

  All Of The Lights

  “Hello,” I answered in a real bad fuckin’ mood. For one I was getting a pedicure that I couldn’t afford and two I didn’t recognize the number and I regretted even taking the call.

  “Is this Dior?”

  “Who wants to know?”

  “This Quinton from King Magazine.” I bit down on my bottom lip trying to gain my composure.

  “Hey Quinton, what’s up?” I asked trying to sound real non-pressed.

  “Lorenzo gave me your number so we could connect on this magazine shoot.”

  “What shoot?”

  “For the cover. Lorenzo didn’t tell you?”

  “Oh that’s right. I’ve been so busy lately I almost forgot.”

  “I understand but do you think we can do this tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow coming up?”

  “Yeah, I don’t know another tomorrow. I know it’s short notice but we want you for the issue coming up and we real real behind. We need to go to print like yesterday. It’s my fault. I was supposed to get in touch with you a few weeks ago but I got caught up in some other things then I misplaced your number and had to call Lorenzo to get it again. So you think you can come through?”

  “I guess I can make it happen,” I said like my calendar was full when I didn’t have shit on it.

  “Cool, that’s what’s up. I’ma text you with the time and location information. I appreciate you doing this on such short notice.”

  “No problem.”

  “So I’ll see you tomorrow but if you have any problems you can hit me back on this number, it’s my cell.”

  “Will do, thanks.” When I hung up the phone I wanted to jump up and do a fucking happy dance. I couldn’t believe Lorenzo had really come through. I hadn’t been able to get him on the phone in weeks and I was cussing his ass out every day. Now I felt kinda bad so I called him to let him know how grateful I was that he delivered. But when I dialed his number the shit rang like always and then went to voicemail. I just hung up.

  I was not comprehending how a nigga could hook up some major shit for you but then ignore your ass like he didn’t want to be bothered. Trying to figure out this mutherfuckin’ shit was driving me crazy. I mean everybody had a motive for doing something but it was like whatever Lorenzo’s was didn’t include him talking to me. But I refused to let not being able to get him on the phone ruin my high.

  I was about to call Brittani and share my news but scratched that. I was going to stick to the original plan. She would see the shit when it came out like everybody which would be soon. I was so damn happy I had been so broke because that meant I couldn’t eat good. With no time to starve myself for the shoot I had already being doing that out of necessity. So tomorrow I would be cover girl ready without even trying.

  When I hit the location early the next morning I was ready for them to get me prepared for my close-up. I sat in the chair and let the makeup artist beat my face until you couldn’t see a trace of a blemish. They had a bitch looking so damn polished I wanted to fuck myself.

  “For the cover shot we want you to wear the same bra and panty set you wore on Phenomenon’s video, since you know that’s what put you on everybody’s radar,” the stylist informed me when she walked up.

  “That’s cool with me. Did they give it to you?”

  “Oh yeah! That was the concept we always planned to go with so we requested it from the stylist that worked on the video weeks ago. The headline on the cover is going to be, ‘Meet The New Phenomenon’ you know a play on words but also incorporating the video.”

  “Whatever you wanna do, I’m ready.”

  “Great, we’ll see you on the set in a few.”

  I was getting anxious waiting for the makeup artist to make his final touches. “What is your name? Because you are fierce with a brush.”

  “Cornelius aka Black Glamour.”

  “You have to make sure you give me your number before I leave. When I blow up I want you to be my personal makeup artist.”

  “No problem, doll,” he said handing me his business card. I gladly took it and went in my dressing room to get ready. I slipped on the gray laced bra and panty set. I looked at myself in the mirror and I was feeling like a superstar although I wasn’t one yet. Right when I was about to walk out I heard my cell ringing and it was Lorenzo.

  “Damn, I can’t believe you on the other end of my phone,” I spit in a half joking, half serious voice.

  “Don’t start. I was checking to see if Quinton got in touch with you.”

  “We so pass the getting in touch phase. My makeup is done. I’m in my bra and panties about to

  hit the set.”

  “Right now?”<
br />
  “Yep, it was some extra last minute shit but that always brings out the best results.”

  “I’m glad everything worked out.”

  “Me too. But seriously, Lorenzo, thank you for making this happen for me. I ain’t gon’ lie I was doubting you but you came through. I so needed this.”

  “If you ever get to know me Dior, you’ll know I ain’t gon’ tell you nothing I can’t deliver on.”

  “I’m learning quickly to not be a doubter when it comes to you.”

  “Good. Now go out there and give King the best cover they’ve ever seen.”

  “Wait,” I called out so he wouldn’t hang up the phone.

  “What is it?”

  “You have to come to New York so we can celebrate.”

  “I’m already in New York.”

  “That’s even better. Maybe we can go out tonight or tomorrow. If I should celebrate with anybody it should be you.”

  “Thanks for the offer but I got too much business to handle to celebrate anything. But you go out and have a good time. We’ll celebrate in the next couple weeks once I’ve gotten my business under control.”

  “If that works best for you then that’s what we’ll do.”

  “Good, now go have some fun and don’t blow it.”

  “You don’t have to worry. I was born ready for this opportunity.”