The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale

by Santiago, Danielle

  The Conglomerate A Luxurious

  Copyright © 2014 by Danielle Santiago

  The Official Writers League™ and all associated logos are trademarks of The Official Writers League LLC.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

  Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Book Layout: Oddball Dsgn

  Cover Design: Oddball Dsgn

  For further information log onto www.ashleyjaquavis.com

  Printed in the United States

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you heavenly father for keeping me in the midst of the storm. All that I am is because of my God and the fact that I’m still here is a testimony to his greatness. In the last three years I’ve faced some immeasurable odds, but I stood tall, and fought through every adversity. I thank you father God for being the source of my strength, which enabled me to fight.

  In the middle of the chaos I received a special gift. Her name is Morgan Cali Cofield, aka Morgs, aka Booski. My little Morgie Porgy you were quite the unexpected surprise, but a beautiful blessing none the less. My dearest Kaden I’m so proud to be your mother and though you work my nerves some days with your preteen ways. You are such a delightful child and it is a joy to watch you grow. Maddy, my Maddy you are the most rambunctious, curious, and smart four year-old that I know. All three of you lovely children are my everything. You are my heart, my soul, and my inspiration. Mommy loves each of you beyond measure and I will always be here for you no matter what!

  Carlos, you are my foundation and I always need you… You are a great provider and a dynamic father. We’ve been through so-so-so much together and I still love you through time, space, and all eternity. There have been times you should have ran from me and never looked back. There have been times when I should’ve ran and never looked back. But, we are still together and that in it self is a testament to the love that we share for one another.

  Thank you to my parents for all the love and support you gave during my darkest hours in 2011. Thanks to my brother Davis and his wife Altimice for the love you gave me in that hour. Thanks to my baby brother Darion. A special thanks to my baby sister, Andrea, BKA Aundi; you are my crutch and a beautiful ray of light. I have no clue how would’ve made it without you. Thank you to all of my aunties and uncles for everything. I must give a special thank you to my Aunt Teresa who is more like my sister and I’m more like her child. And if Aundi is my left crutch you are my right!!! Thank you for letting me always call on you in my time of need. Welcome home to my big sister Azuca aka TT, you’re a soldier and I’m thankful that you made it through. Thanks to all my cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws for your love and encouragement. Thank you to my mother-in-law, Betty Johnson, for being there, always.

  Thank you to my Grandparents especially my praying Grandmother. I know that your prayers have saved me on plenty of occasions.

  RIP Charlie Williams (my paternal grandfather.) I’m happy that you are no longer suffering, but my heart is still broken from not being able to attend your funeral. RIP Uncle Buster you are deeply missed by your wife, Shirley, your daughters, Tanya and Sabrina, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews. RIP to my Aunt Mildred you are forever loved and missed! RIP Mrs. Anne Wilson-Scales your passing stunned us all; Tanya, Erica, and your grandchildren truly miss you. Family gatherings are not quite the same since you left.

  Teon “Fatz” Baker, my best friend and my brother, I still cannot express the sadness and hurt that I feel over your passing. You were an amazing person, the greatest friend that anyone could have, a wonderful husband to Shani, and for the short time that you had with Shane you were an extraordinary father. You are the one man that I could honestly say I want my son to be like. Looking at Shane is like looking at you! I know that no one misses you like Shani, Aunt Sandy, Jasmine, Ms. Suga, April, Khalilah, and Shaneka. We all miss you badly and we cherish every memory! Rest in peace for all eternity.

  To my true friends I love you and I truly appreciate you. To the phonies; friends and relatives that were always by my side when I was caked up, but scattered when my money got funny, I would like to thank you for showing your true colors. If you didn’t do right by me during the struggle you will not be invited to the celebration!

  Mr. and Mrs. Jaquavis Coleman, I don’t quite know were to begin… Hey Ashley did you have a clue during our phone conversations in 2010 that we would end up here? A part of this epic thing together? Thank you Jaquavis for going over and beyond what asked of you. Ashley and Jaquavis I want you both to know that I really appreciate this chance. This is my chance to do it the right way and there is not another company that I’d rather do it with. Thanks for believing in me and choosing me to be a part of your vision. I am forever loyal.

  My fellow OWL authors/executives: Amaleka, Lajill, CN, Keisha T, JM, Treasure, Dream, June, Keisha E, and Eriel, teamwork does make the dream work! When one of us wins we all win! Thank you very much for the massive support that you put behind The Circle Fallon’s Story, you all made my heart smile. Amaleka you are so special and your work ethic is amazing; you are going to go places with your skills that you can even imagine! Khloe Cain my beloved editor, there is a little rich Caucasian, suburban lady tucked deep inside of you (lol insider.) I know that I can be hard to pin down some days and I probably have given you a few headaches. Don’t take it personal, my previous editors had the same issues! LMAO! Seriously I appreciate you and all the hard work that you do, it does not go unnoticed.

  Thank you Tu-Shonda Whitaker, K’wan Foye, Charlotte Foye, Treasure Blue, T. Styles, (My Pretty Toi) Davida Baldwin, Ki-Ki Swinson, K. Elliot, Azarel, TN Baker, Tanya Ridley and Dawn Hardy. I met each of you through the literary world, but I can call each of you a friend in the real world.

  Last but not least, thank you to my readers I would not be here without you! To my core group of readers that are always checking in on me, keeping my name and my stories buzzing, I really do appreciate each and every one of you and every dime that you spent.

  God bless and One Love,

  Danielle Santiago-Cofield

  This Book is dedicated to:

  The latest and last Edition to my family, the incomparable Morgan Cali Cofield and

  Harlem’s very own Teon “Fatz” Baker. Fatz, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of you. Sometimes I cry and sometimes I laugh. Rest In Peace my dearest friend, until we meet again.

  Also By Danielle Santiago:

  The Harlem Story Series:

  Little Ghetto Girl

  Grindin’

  Allure of the Game

  The Circle: Fallon’s Story

  Novellas and E-Shorts

  Fair Exchange…. No Robberies

  Cater to You

  Miami Mish

  Chapter One

  “Oh my God! Joey how much longer are you going to be?” Cee questioned angrily. “I don’t know why you had to change anyway. There was nothing wrong with the first dress you had on.” Cee looked over at Evan.

  “Right,” she said hoping to get support from their best friend. Evan refused to side with her, even if she was right. All of Cee’s complaining and rushing was irking her.

  “Just chill Cee,” Evan sighed. “We’re still on schedule.” She went over to the small bar in the corner of the dressing suite. Dressed in a gold one shoulder Grecian style Oscar De La Renta dress and her long blonde hair twisted in a neat chignon on the side of her head, Evan looked like beauty in motion. Large gold chandelier earrings adorned her ears radiating Evan’s toasted almond skin. After
making a dry martini, she sat down in a wing back chair on the other side of room, crossed her legs, and sipped her drink. Cee cut her eyes in disgust at both of her best friends. Unfazed by Cee’s glares and comments, Joey stared at her reflection while adjusting a gorgeous 18-karat yellow gold Marc Bicego necklace. Once it was rested perfectly on her well-defined collarbone she admired the eighteen thousand dollar gift that she’d purchased for herself. Joey stepped back and gave herself a once over. She was stunning in a deep burgundy floor length St. John’s two-piece gown. Her silky top hung seductively off her shoulder revealing just the right amount of cleavage. Gold specs accented the long sequined skirt. It hugged her tightly from the hip to the knee then let out elegantly. Joey moved in closer to the mirror tousling her large red curls with her fingers and checking her makeup. She motioned for her makeup artist to come over.

  “I need a little more blush please.”

  “Are you fucking serious,” Cee snapped loudly jumping up from her seat. Clutching the side of her long cream strapless gown, she stormed towards the door with her gold Casadei heels clicking loudly against the polished floor. Cee’s exit was blocked by Evan, who stepped in front of the door just as she reached for the knob.

  “What is your damn problem Cee? You’ve been acting like an impatient spoiled child for the last hour with your whining and complaining.”

  “Look, I’m tired as hell and-”

  “Whoa!” Evan held up her hand cutting Cee off. “You don’t think me and Joey are not tired? We’ve been working just as hard as you if not harder.”

  “Well before you so rudely interrupted me,” Cee rolled her neck. “I’m ready to go home with my husband and see my kids. You might know something about that if you had more than your white furniture and glass tables waiting on you at home.”

  “Fuck you! You selfish bitch! Joey has kids too that she hasn’t seen in days, yet we both stayed after the ribbon cutting to personally work your grand opening. When it was over,” Evan pointed her finger directly in Cee’s face nearly grazing her nose.

  “Watch your finger,” Cee said knocking it away with the back of her hand.

  Evan placed it right back in her face. “You ran your wide ass up out of here like it was on fire. We had to finish working then take a quick shower here, while you got to go to the comfort of your house to relax, shower, and dress. So you can go suck one ’til it’s dry with all that rushing shit.”

  The hairstylist and makeup artist exchanged nervous glances as they packed their things. They both had witnessed arguments between the ladies before, but never with low blows slung back and forth.

  “You can miss me with all that drama ’cause you showered in a brand new twenty thousand dollar custom bathroom and not at the Motel 8. And the next time you tell me to go suck a dick, “Cee moved in closer. “Be prepared to throw hands.”

  “That’s enough already!” Joey said easing between the two. “This is the exact reason I didn’t say anything back to Cee. This is our night and there should be zero arguing especially over petty shit.” She looked at Cee then at Evan; both of them were frowning hard. “Now fix your faces and let’s go.”

  Once outside the room any evidence of internal strife amongst the friends was undetectable. The ladies were all smiles as they entered a ballroom to a waiting crowd of close to one thousand people that had come to celebrate their current success at a $250.00 a plate charity dinner. 2010 had been an extraordinary year for the three best friends from the west side of Charlotte; apart they each had thriving profitable careers. Joey was one of the top club and concert promoters on the east coast. Evan was a highly sought after wedding planner and the owner of a PR firm that specialized in event planning. Cee, a master hair stylist to more than a few celebrities also had a stable clientele list of five hundred plus clients. The trio constantly worked together in some capacity whether it was Evan doing PR for Cee and Joey projects or Cee’s glam squad providing hair and make-up for Evan’s events. Since their businesses kept intertwining they decided to form a conglomerate called The Luxe Group. A year earlier they broke ground and began building their company’s home on a piece of land that Evan inherited from her father.

  Today they were celebrating the grand opening of the Luxe Enclave, a semi-circle of three buildings. At the entrance was Evan’s brainchild, The L Room; an event hall that consisted of five ballrooms, five dressing suites, a kitchen, and Evan’s PR firm’s offices. Next door to the L Room sat Cee’s creation, Luxurious; a two-story salon and full service spa. The Luxe Group’s headquarters would be run from the fourth floor of the third building. It was five stories and it housed Club Luxe, a posh three level nightclub only comparable to the nicest spots in Miami or Vegas. The Luxe Penthouse, a private membership club located on the fifth floor. Both Clubs were created and executively managed by Joey.

  Joey, Cee, and Evan held hands as they took the stage at the front of the room. The crowd was filled with family, friends, politicians, supporters, and celebrities. Evan took the microphone from the stand.

  “I would just like to welcome everyone to The L Room and thank you for coming out to celebrate this special day with us. A special thank you to those of you here who also joined us for the ribbon cutting this morning. This night is um-um,” she stuttered nervously as her eyes focused in on a man at the rear of the room who was giving her an icy stare. All of the color flushed from Evans face and it became covered with perspiration. “This night,” she tried to continue, but paused again as she fought the urge to panic. “I’m sorry but the staff is calling for me,” Evan lied. “I believe it’s important. Thank you and please enjoy the dinner.”

  She handed Joey the mic and rushed off the stage. Cee and Joey exchanged curious glances. “That’s how it is when you’re the boss,” Joey joked while trying to figure out the cause of Evans sudden departure. “I would like to thank you for not only celebrating the opening of our Luxe Enclave, but also purchasing a two-hundred and fifty dollar plate. As you know one hundred and seventy five dollars from each plate was set aside for the charity of our choice. We chose the Westside Boys and Girls Association; a place that Cee, Evan, and I credit for keeping us out of trouble with year round sports programs.” Evan passed the microphone to Cee. “Due to your generosity,” Cee pointed at the crowd, “we raised one hundred and fifty-seven thousand dollars.” The crowd roared with applause and two formally dressed models came out with a poster sized check. “With pleasure we present this check to Westside Boys and Girls Association.”

  An older lady and gentleman, representatives of the Westside Boys and Girls Association, came up to receive the check. After taking a few photos with the representatives Joey returned to the microphone. “Once again thank you, please enjoy your meal, and when you are done please come over to Club Luxe for the grand opening. The first two drinks are on me and we have free champagne all night.”

  “What the hell is wrong Evan?” Cee asked Joey as they stepped off the stage. “She looked like she saw a ghost”

  “I don’t know what’s going on with Evan. We rode to the gym together the other morning. I swear to God we weren’t there twenty minutes when she gets a call and just like that,” Joey snapped her fingers, “she got all jumpy and was ready to leave, but she absolutely refused to tell me what was wrong.”

  “Well she needs to tell us something right now, because that little episode just now was crazy.” Cee scanned the room. “Look there’s Evan coming back in now. Come on let’s find out what’s up.”

  “No,” Joey said. “You go start making the rounds and I’ll talk to Evan because I don’t want the two of you to start going at it out here.”

  Joey went over to Evan, “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, everything is fine,” Evan smiled weakly.

  “Oh really, well why did you almost fall to pieces on the stage?”

  “I thought I saw someone that I knew from a long time ago and it shook me up a little, but I’m okay now.”

  “Alright, I�
��m going to let it ride for now,” Joey said, deciding not to push for the moment. “But I know you like I know myself and something isn’t right.”

  “I’m good.” Evan assured walking away.

  Yeah right, Joey thought, walking in the other direction.

  After going around the room to personally greet guest at each table Cee and Joey sat down briefly with their families. Instead of eating, Cee doted on her husband Petey. Between their careers, and five children, the high school sweethearts didn’t get to spend much time together. Therefore, any time they got a moment to just sit together Cee would give him all of her attention. Petey was a great husband and a wonderful dad, and Cee never failed to show him how much she appreciated him. Cee’s marriage was the envy of many women, but most didn’t know of the couple’s turbulent beginnings.

  At the age of thirteen, Cee had the great misfortune of becoming pregnant by a fourteen year old Petey. The fact that she was pregnant with triplets complicated matters exponentially. Both Cee and Pete were blessed to have big supportive families. Although their mothers were furious at them, they banded together and helped out with the triplets so that the two young parents would be able to continue their education. Of course Cee faced ridicule and gossip from the people in the community, especially her peers. She paid them no mind. Cee had been cornrowing and curling the neighborhood girls’ hair since she was ten for free or candy. Once she gave birth to a set of triplet girls: Taleah, Talia, and Tanine, the freebies went out the window. From then on out she charged every time she picked up her comb.

  Pete went to work for his grandfather’s towing and trucking company doing odd jobs. At age sixteen Petey got his workers permit and went to work full time at the trucking company. At this point Cee was enrolled in the cosmetology program at West Charlotte Sr. High and worked as a stylist assistant. Upon graduating Cee became a licensed cosmetologist and Petey took on more responsibilities at the trucking company while attending UNC Charlotte as a business major.