The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale

by Santiago, Danielle

  Over the last year, he had become a compulsive gambler and cocaine addict. The more money he lost gambling the more cocaine he did and the more aggressive he became towards her.

  “Bitch,” Gage yelled, “I know you hear me!”

  Evan ran over to the desk, grabbed the gun, and began yelling. “Help me. Gage help please.” Although Marshawn was severely injured, Gage bounded his arms to the chair with a pair of flexi cuffs before going to rescue Evan. Following the sounds of Evan’s screams, Gage sprinted up the stairs. Evan stood very still with her back against the wall next to the door with the gun raised. When Gage crossed the threshold, Evan fired the gun three times shooting him once in the head and twice in the neck. His body slammed to the ground. Gage never knew what hit him.

  Evan exhaled and stepped over Gage as if she never cared for him. In her mind, his murder was a necessary means to an end, because he would have never let her go.

  Marshawn was barely conscious when Evan returned to theater room. His pain was too great to talk, but when he saw Evan approaching with gun in hand his eyes begged her for mercy.

  “I’m sorry,” Evan spoke, “but there is no doubt in my mind that if I let you live you will find me and kill me.” Grimacing in pain, he shook his head in disagreement.

  Evan closed hers eyes and shot him four times. When she opened her eyes there were four gaping holes in his chest. His eyes were wide open and blood poured from his mouth. She got her purse and ran back to the study.

  As Evan tried to figure out how she was going to get the money out the house. She also had to figure out how she was going to get her Mercedes and Gage’s Navigator off the property. Both cars were registered to her. Evan looked down at her dress it was covered in blood splatter. After thinking for a few seconds she knew exactly who to call. She took out her phone made a call.

  “Come on pick up-pick up.”

  “Where in the hell are you Miss College Graduate?” Joey asked. “We’re ready to party!”

  “I’m in trouble Jo.” Evan said somberly.

  “What’s wrong Evan? What happened?”

  “I need you and Cee to meet me. I need some jeans or sweats and a t-shirt.”

  “I’ll bring some clothes,” Joey assured. “Where are you?” Evan gave her the directions to the house. As soon as she hung up, Evan got busy moving the file boxes to the first floor. It took close to twenty trips. Once she had all the boxes downstairs, she backed the navigator into one of the five empty garage spaces. Evan loaded the boxes into the rear of the truck. Just as she placed the last box in and closed the lift gate, Joey pulled up outside the garage and blew the horn tree times, as Evan had instructed her to.

  Evan opened the garage slot next to Navigator and Joey pulled in. Joey barely had her feet out the car when she began to question Evan.

  “What the hell going on and whose house is this?”

  “I’ll explain all that later. Did you bring the clothes?”

  “Yes,” Joey replied. Cee exited the car with a bag of clothes in hand.

  “Here,” she gave the bag to Evan.

  Evan slipped off the dress and put on the jeans and shirt. “Gage is dead,” she announced nonchalantly.

  Cee and Joey exchanged shocked looks. They didn’t know what shocked them more the news of his death or Evan’s cavalier attitude. Joey placed her hands on Evan’s shoulders.

  “Wait a minute. Stop, stop, stop, what do you mean he’s dead? How did he die? and where is he at?”

  “He got shot. He’s in the house”

  “In this house!” Cee exclaimed.

  “Yes.”

  “Did you call for help?” Cee ran towards the door. “How do you know he’s dead?”

  Evan caught Cee by the arm and yanked her back. “Trust me he’s dead and he’s not the only one in there that’s dead. No, I didn’t call for help. This was a drug deal that went all the way left.” Evan handed Cee the keys to her Mercedes. “I need you to drive my car and stay in front of me.”

  The talk of dead bodies and drug deals gone wrong scared the shit out of Cee. She snatched the keys from Evan. “Y’all get in them cars and let’s go. I’m not with none of this shit. I got two babies at home that need me,” Cee said. “I tell you what, by the time I get that car started y’all better be pulling out that garage or I’m out.” Cee ran out the garage to the car.

  Staring silently at Evan, Joey thought about the conversation that she’d had with Zay six months earlier and wondered if this was really a robbery gone wrong.

  Evan put her dress and shoes in the bag and gave it to Joey, “Put this in the car with you,” she turned to get in the Navigator.

  “Un uh,” Joey said. “Not so fast,” she looked Evan in the eye, “you don’t have to do it tonight or tomorrow, but soon you will sit down and tell me everything that happened here. You owe me that because you called me here and I refuse to get caught up in something that I know nothing about.”

  Chapter Three

  The Monday following the Luxe Enclaves grand opening was the first official day of business in their new offices. Evan decided to go in early in order to catch up on her work. She had put quite a few clients and events on the back burner in the weeks leading to the grand opening. Now, she not only needed to catch up, but get ahead in her work. The last thing needed at this point was a blow to her reputation as a hard worker.

  Evan arrived at the Enclave at seven a.m. but their offices didn’t open until nine. The parking lot was empty. She pulled into her reserved space in front of the L Room. Dressed in a superbly tailored charcoal Chanel pantsuit, Louis bag on her shoulder, and Louis briefcase in her hand, she walked proudly towards the building that she owned. When she got up to the door, she realized that her keys were in the bottom of her purse. Evan bent down; she sat her Starbucks cup and briefcase on the cement. When Evan stood upright, she became cloaked in fear when she saw the reflection of a masked man in the mirrored glass doors standing directly behind her.

  The masked man placed her in a chokehold and shoved a chloroform soaked towel over her nose and mouth. Evan tried to get out his grasp, but everything slowly faded to black...

  I’m alive, Evan thought as she came to, thank God. As she struggled to open her eyes she felt someone’s hands on her arms and chest. Through blurred vision, Evan could see six figures hovering over her. Panicked she came up swinging.

  “Get off of me,” she yelled. Suddenly she was pinned to the ground by her wrist.

  “Ma’am please calm down,” she heard a strange voice say. She continued to squirm and scream. “Evan be still they are trying to help you,” Joey said.

  Upon hearing her friends voice Evan stopped moving. She squeezed her eyes tight then began blinking rapidly until her vision became clear. Evan was relieved to see that the people holding her down were two male paramedics. Joey, Cee, and two employees from the spa were standing behind the paramedics.

  “Ma’am can you tell me what happened to you?” the paramedic asked, as he fastened the blood pressure monitor sleeve around her left arm.

  Evan touched her throbbing head while thinking of a lie to tell. “I think I may have passed out because I didn’t have anything to eat yesterday. I planned to grab a bite once I got here. When I got to the door I felt sick and dizzy then everything went black.”

  Joey eyed Evan suspiciously.

  “Your blood pressure looks good,” the paramedic told Evan removing the sleeve. “We’re going to lift you onto the stretcher now.”

  “For what?” Evan spat.

  “To go to the emergency room,” he replied.

  “I don’t need to go the hospital. I just need to eat some food.”

  “Ma’am you should get checked out in case it’s something more serious. Not to mention you could have a concussion if you hit your head when you fell to the pavement.”

  “I’ll make a sick appointment with my doctor this afternoon.”

  “Evan,” Cee interjected. “What will it hurt for you to go
on to the hospital right now?” Evan shot her a mind your business look. “Whatever,” Cee waved her hand at her dismissively. “That’s your silly ass if you fall out dead somewhere.”

  The paramedics helped Evan to her feet. After signing a waiver refusing treatment Evan went into the L Room. Joey and Cee followed carrying her things. Much like her home Evan’s office was decorated expensively in light pastels.

  “My head is killing me,” Evan opened the mini stainless steel refrigerator behind her glass desk and retrieved a glass bottle of Aqua Panna water. She popped two pills into her mouth and drank the water down.

  “I have to get over to the spa,” Cee sat Evan’s things down. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “I’m better than okay,” Evan said. “Go on I know you’ve got clients waiting.”

  “I’ll be back to check on you and to make sure you’ve made an appointment with your doctor.” Cee assured as she left.

  “And I know you will,” Evan mumbled knowing that Cee was innately nurturing.

  Joey was leaning against the file cabinet with a slight frown on her face.

  “I want to know what the hell is really going on Evan,” she stated.

  “Nothing,” Evan replied rifling through her purse pretending to look for something in order to avoid eye contact with Joey.

  “You a damn lie,” Joey crossed the room and tossed a folded piece of paper onto Evan’s desk.

  “What is this?” Evan asked.

  “The note that was on top of you when I found your ass laid out. I assumed whoever knocked you over the head left it for you.”

  Evan unfolded the paper and read it: It’s way too easy to get at you. Thought that you would at least make it fun. I decided to give you a pass and let you live today. Next time you might not be so lucky. Angrily Evan ripped the paper to pieces.

  Joey sat in a mint green leather chair in front of Evan’s desk.

  “Now, do you want to tell me the truth?”

  “It’s nothing for you to worry about. This is a private matter and I’m going to take care of it.”

  “No wrong answer. It is not a private matter when someone comes to our place of business and knocks you over the fucking head.”

  This is the last thing I need, Evan inhaled deeply. Exhaling she said, “It’s the guy that I used to date. He’s been stalking me. I have a court date next week to get a restraining order. Once we go to court, I know that he’ll back off. Until then I’ll have to be extra cautious.”

  Joey didn’t believe Evan’s story, but for now she would act as if she did. “Well, until you get this thing straightened out whenever you’re going to come in early have one of the guys from security come in early to meet you.”

  “I will,” Evan agreed.

  “Finding you like that scared the shit out of me. I thought you were dead and be glad that I came in early. If Cee would’ve found that note she would still be in here losing her mind.” Joey stood up to leave. “I’ll be up in the Penthouse if you need me.”

  “Alright, and can we keep this stalking thing between us? I don’t need Cee driving me crazy.”

  “You already know I’m not saying one word to Cee.” Joey said heading towards the door. She turned back to Evan. “What’s his name?”

  “Who?”

  “The person who’s stalking you.”

  “Oh-oh um,” Evan stammered. “His name is um Tonio.”

  She is definitely lying, Joey shook her head with a small gotcha grin.

  “I think you should give the security team his name and a picture so they can be on the lookout for him.” Joey turned and left the room.

  Evan was so glad to see her go. Finally, she could process the situation. She was very unnerved by the defenseless attack that had taken place. The game that this person was playing had just surpassed psychotic. Evan was well aware that she could’ve easily been killed. She’d never felt so helpless in her life. It was time for this game to end and Evan had every intention on ending it on her terms. First, she needed to find out this person’s identity. She cut on her computer and began her search for a private investigator. Once she came across a nationally top ranked private investigation firm in the area, Evan turned her search to security. “What am I thinking?” Evan retrieved her Blackberry from her purse. She scrolled the contacts and found the number that she needed. This silly nigga will do anything for extra money, she thought as she waited for an answer. He’ll probably do it for free just to be around me, Evan laughed. A man answered the phone. “Hello Rhamel, this is Evan. I have a proposition for you.”

  ***

  “Joey,” Bev called out as she exited her burgundy 745i. Entering the headquarters building Joey stopped and waited for Bev.

  “I just saw the ambulance leaving,” Bev said approaching the door. “What happened?”

  Joey replied, “When I got here I found Evan passed out in front of the L Room.”

  “Oh my God,” Bev gasped with her hand on her chest. “Is she alright?”

  “Yeah,” Joey rolled her eyes.“I guess.”

  “What hospital are they taking her to?”

  “Evan didn’t go to the hospital. She’s in her office.”

  “Why didn’t she go to the hospital?”

  “Because she is full of shit,” Joey hissed stepping onto the elevator. She slid a black card into a small slot then pressed a long button marked Penthouse. Bev sensed that something was bothering Joey,

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I don’t know,” Joey shrugged. She rarely discussed Evan with anyone other than Cee or Zay. At the moment, Joey couldn’t go to either one of them. Joey knew that these types of things scared the complete shit out of Cee. There was absolutely no way in hell Joey was going to Zay with anything negative about Evan. Zay would make an extra big deal out of the situation, since he already thought that she was shady.

  Not only was Bev Joey’s mentor, she was also a good friend. Therefore, Joey decided to confide in her.

  “Evan didn’t pass out. Someone knocked her out.”

  “Who would do that to her?”

  “I don’t have a clue. She swears that someone is stalking her, but I know she’s lying.”

  “How do you know that?” Bev asked.

  “Trust and believe if Evan was being stalked I would’ve heard about it as soon as it started.”

  “Well Rhamel did mention something to me when I was closing Luxe the other night. I didn’t say anything to you because I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries coming to you about your best friend."

  “Look Bev, unless it is some petty he-said-she-said mess you can come to me. So, what did Rhamel have to say?”

  “Evan was sitting in her car in the parking lot. He said that when he walked up on her he scared her and that she had a gun on her lap.”

  Something is definitely up, Joey thought to herself. She knew that Evan would never have her gun out unless she felt that she was in danger. Truly concerned about her friend, Joey wanted to know what was going on so that she could be there for Evan; especially since Evan didn’t really have anyone else. Finding out would have to wait. Joey’s only focus for the rest of the day was the grand opening of Penthouse later that night. There was a lot of work to be done.

  “That only adds to a long list of suspect shit Evan’s been doing lately,” Joey said as they stepped off the elevator into Penthouse. “The lying is what really bothers me. It is what it is though and I have no time to get caught up in that chick’s mess. Not today.”

  ***

  The Penthouse opening was a fabulous celebrity red carpet event. Over a dozen players from Charlotte’s professional sports teams that held Penthouse memberships attended. More than a few of them brought teammates, pro athletes from other cities, or friends from the entertainment industry. In an effort to attract new members Joey and Bev went all out. The top shelf bar was open for the duration of the event. There were three food stations. The seafood station offered colossal shrimp, king cr
ab legs, and two-pound lobster tails. At the meat station the choices were filet mignon, New York strip, and prime rib. Two esteemed Japanese chefs manned the third station making sushi per the guests order. Stunning waitresses dressed in fitted low cut white blouses, black mini-skirts, and four inch heels served the crowd.

  The club’s luxury sports bar ambiance alone was enough to make most of the charter members pay for the pricy membership. A sprawling seven thousand square feet, The Penthouse was a rich sports fanatics dream. Ten eighty-inch screens lined the walls. Oversized brown leather chairs were situated throughout for members to relax in while watching games, drinking, or just chilling. There were two gaming rooms; one for poker and the second casino style black jack and roulette. A private room equipped with poles and a bar could be for private events such as bachelor or birthday parties.

  For the lavish event Joey played it pretty low key in a white tank, light blue True Religion skinny jeans, and beige Charlotte Olympia peep toe platform pumps that were embellished in metal spikes. In her element Joey worked the room chatting, taking pictures with guest, and just taking in and enjoying the scene.

  Zay was not at all thrilled when he arrived to see Dawhar Bradley, an NFL standout, talking to his wife. He was convinced that Dawhar had a thing for Joey. Zay went right over and placed his arm around her waist, greeted her with a tongue kiss, and then smoothly whisked her away.

  “Every time that nigga come to something he always up in your face.”

  “Zay don’t start with this again. Dawhar is not thinking about me, besides he has a wife.”

  “That doesn’t mean shit.”

  “You should know,” Joey retorted.

  “Oh so you wanna take a low blow at me about some old shit, because I’m telling you that I don’t like the way another dude getting at you.”

  “Yes because I’m tired of you constantly hurling accusations at me about this. I’m not the one that cheated in this marriage and I’m tired of getting treated like I did.”

  Joey stormed off she got a few feet away then came back, “I’ve never done you wrong so respect me and most of all respect my place of business.”