She opened the door to see it was Neal and Peaches. “Morning sunshine!” They said in unison.
“Hey guys, what are you two doing up this early?”
“Honey, 10AM is hardly early!” Neal said as he sashayed in. “Maybe on ’Simone time’ this is early, but I’m always up by dawn.”
“Dawn? Shit, most of the time I’m just getting in by dawn.” Peaches laughed as she entered the room. “Honey all this fineness takes time.”
Simone laughed and rolled her eyes in her head. “Look guys, I am really busy, so maybe we can hook up later.” She tried to edge them towards the door.
Peaches squinted her eyes suspiciously at Simone. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing! I’m just really tired and want to take a break before I get the day started.”
Just as she almost had them out the door, Darius walked out of the bathroom and into the living room with a towel around his waist. Both Neal and Peaches’ mouths fell open.
Neal snickered. “What’s up D-Smooth?”
“What’s up?” He said as he looked over at Simone and headed back into the room.
Both Peaches and Neal looked at Simone with giant smiles on their faces.
“Look, I don’t want to hear it.” Simone said as she shoved them both back out into the hallway.
“Hear what?” Neal laughed.
“Simone, just answer one question for me?” asked Peaches.
“What?” Simone said with a hurried tone.
“Does he do it like his song say ‘Freaky nasty, long and deep, dick you so hard you feel it tap your teeth?’”.
“Goodbye!” Simone said with a slight smile as she shut the door.
“Wait!” Neal held the door with his hand before she could close it. “Did you hear about what happened?”
Simone took a deep breath. “No, what?”
“They found Ganja almost beat to death last night in his hotel room.”
“What? What happened?”
“They don’t know. The news said the maid found him in his hotel room near death.” Said Neal.
“Wasn’t he beefing with D-Smooth?” asked Peaches as she looked around Simone towards the bedroom where Darius was dressing.
“I think so, but how can he have done it? He was here with me all night.”
“His boys weren’t.” answered Peaches. “Were they?”
“No!” Simone was shocked that she would even ask her that.
“Just asking.” Peaches snickered.
“Really, this is the last thing you need to be involved in.” Neal said as he held Simone’s hand. “If he is up to no good, you need to say thank you and goodbye, now.”
“Look you two. I’m a big girl and I can handle myself.” Simone pulled her hand back.
“Okay, okay. We just love you and want you to be safe, that’s all.”
“I’m fine!” Simone’s voice rose slightly.
“You gonna let him use you for an alibi?” Peaches asked. “You know he’s gonna need one!”
“Goodbye guys.” Simone shook her head. “I’ll catch up with you later.” She shut the door and turned to head back into the bedroom, but was met halfway by Darius.
“You believe what they said?” Darius asked.
“Is that what the email was about?” Simone replied.
“Yeah. I just know the media is going to be all over me, so I’m leaving so you won’t get caught up in all this shit.”
“You didn’t do it did you?” Simone asked with hesitation.
“Of course not! I mean we was beefin’ and all, but I don’t have time to be setting this kind of shit up!”
“Are you going to make a statement saying you’re innocent?”
“Probably. I’m sure my publicist and manager will be calling me any minute.” He slid his phone inside his jacket.
She stood on her toes to kiss him. “I just hate for our nice morning to be cut so short. I had plans for a rematch.”
“Trust me, I am all for that, but I need to get out of here before this shit blows up too far.”
“You’re right.” She pouted. “Can we hook up again soon?”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her in for a tight hug and kiss. “Most definitely!” He smiled at her and patted her on the ass as he walked out the door.
Upon getting into the elevator he called Big J. “Hello?”
“Hey, what’s up?” Answered Big J. “Are you on your way downstairs?”
“Yeah, I’m coming down now. Before we head to the airport, I want to make a quick stop, first.” Darius smiled devilishly as the elevator doors closed.
Simone was so excited when Allison arrived at her room for lunch! It had been almost ten years since she had seen her. They had been best friends since they were in college. She almost knocked her over when she opened the door. “Girl, how are you?” Simone gave her a tight friendly hug.
“Girl, I am good! I would ask how you are doing, but I can look at this room and tell.” Allison laughed.
“Girl please, I could take our cramped dorm room in a minute.” Simone laughed as she closed the door.
“Our room was tight wasn’t it?” Allison laughed.
“No we just had all that crap in it!”
Allison laughed. “It was all your stuff! Who needs that many pairs of shoes for one pair of feet?”
“Hey, I had to accessorize.” Simone sat down on the white lush sofa in the living room, poured a drink and handed the glass to Allison. “So, sit down here and tell me what you’ve been up to.”
“Oh, you know, same old, same old.”
“I would hardly call being named DC’s top Journalist nothing! That is big time girl!”
“Oh, not as big as Diva Superstar though.” Allison joked.
Simone took a sip of her drink. “The grass is always greener, just remember that.”
Allison laughed out loud.
“What is it?” Asked Simone.
“Do you remember that day that Terrence ran the mower through my mom’s rose bushes watching you by the pool?”
“Oh my god, yes. Your little brother was so cute! How is he doing these days?”
“Oh he is big time girl! He’s a big time choreographer.” Allison took a sip from her glass.
“What?” Simone smiled.
“Yes, he is on tour with Beyonce right now.”
Simone put her juice down on the silver tray. “Get out of here! That’s great!”
“You know he still asks about you.” Allison said with a sneaky smile.
“Oh Lord, don’t start Allison.” Simone rolled her eye in her head.
“Start what? You just broke up with Trent, right?”
“Yes.” Simone took the last sip of her wine.
“Okay, well…”
“Well, what?” Simone laughed.
Allison reached over and grabbed a small bunch of grapes off the table. “I’m not saying anything; you should call him, is all. He’s going to be in town later tonight, you two should hook up.”
“I’m not really in the market right now.” Simone looked down with a slight smile.
“So it is true?” Allison said slipping into journalist mode.
“What?”
“About you and D-Smooth?”
“Off the record?” Simone put her glass down on the table.
“Of course!”
“Well…” Simone said with a playful smile.
Allison tugged on her shirt. “Well, what?”
“Not officially, anyway. Things are looking up though.” Simone blushed.
“You’re so lucky! Girl, just one question.”
Simone laughed. ”What’s that?”
“Is he as fine naked as he is with his clothes on?”
Simone looked side to side, “Girl, better.”
They both laughed.
Chapter 7
Darius arrived at Georgetown University Hospital where Ganja was being treated for his injuries with the face of concern th
at he had practiced in the limo with Big J. DC Police were on hand to help keep the media at bay so that he could get inside. Darius was used to it. In fact, he loved the media. They would put out bogus stories about him, watch his every move. Hell, they made him rich. Once he had taken out a full page ad in Vibe magazine, thanking all his haters and the media. He made a pact with himself that he wouldn’t let anyone, no matter who it was; get in the way of what he wanted, period.
He walked from his limo to the front door of the hospital with his signature swagger and smile, waving and ignoring all the loud questions and accusations from the media and fans of Ganja. He didn’t care what they had to say. He just knew he was untouchable. He stepped confidently into the hospital, where he was stopped by a cute little nurse that wanted his autograph. He smiled at her and took a minute to rake his eyes over her cute little frame.
“Oh my God, I absolutely love your music, can I please have your autograph?” She handed him a small piece of paper.
“Sure.” He smiled touching her hand slightly, signed the paper and handed it back to her.
“By the way, I don’t believe for a minute that you are behind this.” She said with star struck eyes.
He smiled and gave her a small hug. “Thanks baby. I really appreciate it. Can you tell me what floor he’s on?”
Shaken by him hugging her, she replied, “On the twelfth floor, Room 1285.”
“Thanks boo.” He smiled and touched her chin as he and Big J walked to the elevators.
When they arrived on the twelfth floor, Darius was greeted by the smooth and very well known detective, Dick Rice. He has very outspoken views on the evils of hip hop music. He had written a few books and been on quite few talk shows proclaiming that hip hop was dead and everything that has been put out in the last ten years has been crap. Darius was his favorite target. He always had something to say about the way women were being portrayed in his videos and in his lyrics. Darius didn’t give a flying fuck what he thought. As long as the dollars kept coming in.
“Well, well, D-Smooth.” said Detective Rice with a confident smile as he walked up to Darius and Big J stepping off the elevator.
“Well, well, what’s up Dick? Come on, you know you can call me Darius.” He said as he extended his hand for a shake. Detective Rice just looked at Darius’s hand and gave him a hateful glare. Darius just laughed it off.
“I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor. Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“You know…Dick, I didn’t come here to see you, I came to see my boy.” They walked around the detective and headed towards Ganja’s room.
“Oh, that’s decent of you considering you put him here.”
Darius laughed. “You have any evidence to that effect?”
The detective didn’t answer, but shot him a hate filled look.
“Exactly.” Darius scoffed as he turned to leave.
“I don’t suppose you would be willing to tell me where you were last night around eleven pm?”
Darius laughed as he stood in front of Ganja’s room door. “Somewhere I’m sure you haven’t been in a long time.”
Big J stayed in the hall whiled Darius rounded the corner into Ganjas room. He was happily greeted by Ganja’s mom, whom had been at her son’s side ever since she received the call he was bought in. “Darius!” She stood and gave him a tight, embracing hug. She always loved him. She considered him her second son. Every time he and Ganja would come into the area they would stay with her instead of at a hotel. They loved the home cooked meals and the privacy.
Even after they fell out, she would still send him letters and call him trying to help fix the problem.
“How is he?” Darius asked as he looked at all the machines and gadgets attached to his one time friend and now enemy. He was a mess. He wasn’t even breathing on his own. Deep inside him he felt bad, real deep. They were really close at one time, like brothers. He felt he did what he had to do to keep Ganja’s mouth shut.
She sat down in the chair next to his bed and held his hand, being careful not to disturb any of the IV’s or cords attached to him. “The doctors say that he may need another surgery to release pressure on his brain. Who would do this to my baby?” She wiped away a tear.
“I don’t know. Some people are trying to say I had something to do with it.”
“No way!” She said with tears in her eyes. “I would never believe that you would do this! You guys were at odds with one another, yes, but not enough for this.”
Darius hugged her. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Boy, you know I love you like my own. You may be tough and all that on your little records, but I know better.” She smiled as she squeezed his cheek.
“Excuse me Mrs. Jensen?” A nurse interrupted. “The doctors need to see you briefly.”
“Alright, I’ll be right there.” She looked at Darius, “Will you stay here with him while I go and see what they want? I know he would be so happy you’re here.”
Darius smiled. “Sure.”
“Thank you baby.” She walked over to Ganja lying in the bed and whispered, “I’ll be right back, baby.” She kissed him and walked out of the room.
Darius stood at the foot of Ganja’s bed and chuckled. “I hate being right. I told you to keep your big ass mouth shut.” He walked over to the side of the bed, “You seemed to have a little difficulty doing that so I decided to help you out.” He laughed and shook his head, pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat in it backwards. “I can say my boys are thorough, I just told them to beat your ass a little…but this works.” His smile slowly shaped into an evil stare. “I told your punk ass that I wasn’t paying you shit! You wouldn’t listen, now look where that shit got you.” He leaned in close to Ganja’s ear, “I told you not to fuck with me.”
Ganja’s mom walked back into the room with the doctors. “Thank you for sitting with him Darius.”
“Oh, no problem” he smiled and walked back around the bed and gave her a hug.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah, I have a flight to catch, but I will be back as soon as I can.” He gave her a hug.
“Oh, okay. I love you, okay? You keep your head up.” She smiled.
Darius kissed her on the cheek as he left. “I will.”
He sneakily smiled at Big J and gestured for them to leave. As they passed through the waiting area he winked at Detective Rice, “See ya later…Dick.”
“Oh you can count on that, smart ass!”
Darius smiled at him smugly as the doors shut.
“Man, that dude just doesn’t let shit go, does he?” Big J laughed as he held the lobby button down causing the elevator to go straight down, skipping floors.
“Man, I’m not even a little bit worried about him.” Darius chuckled.
“I know you’re not. I just don’t want him digging in places he shouldn’t. We don’t need another dead cop.”
Darius laughed as he reached in his pocket for his vibrating phone. “I got that covered.”
“I bet you do,” laughed Big J. “Care to elaborate?”
Darius held up one finger telling J to hold on a minute as he answered his phone. “Hello?”
“Well, I can say that I did not expect you to go through with that.”
“Carmine, my man, you would be surprised by the things I would do to get what I want. So when’s our meeting?”
Carmine chuckled. “Persistent, I see. I’m in my house in L.A. right now. If you can get here tomorrow, you get your ’meeting’.”
“I’ll be there.” Darius smiled from ear-to-ear.
“See you then.” Carmine hung up on his end.
Darius slid the phone back in his pocket.
“So?” Big J asked.
“It’s on. We’re headed to L.A.” Darius said as he patted Big J on the shoulder.
Chapter 8
Darius’ jet arrived at LAX right on time to meet the limousine sent by Carmine to get him. He stepped out of the door
s of the plane and took a deep breath as he noticed a second limousine pulled up behind his.
“Who the hell is this?” He murmured.
Diamond Lives, Platinum Lies Page 6
