The Rolexxx Club - Anniversary Edition

by Meta Smith

  Desiree and Leilani shopped in silence at a shop called Follies located on Lincoln Road. Leilani opted for a nondescript sundress that was neither very casual nor very dressy. Desiree thought it was something a schoolteacher would wear. Who was she trying to fool? Dez decided on a short, strapless denim minidress that looked extra sexy with her stilettos. They purchased the gear on the AmEx card and put their old clothes in shopping bags. Then they hot-tailed it back to the Loews.

  Desiree wanted to confront Bentley, to find out if he had a girl back in New York, someone who had history with him and possibly even his heart. She wanted desperately to know if she was just some ass to him–an expensive piece of ass, but a piece of ass no less. He couldn’t be playing her, could he? As much as she wanted to interrogate him, she held her tongue because she knew that there was a time, a place, and a way to find

  out everything she wanted to know. Besides, Leilani just wanted to get under her skin, and if she caused a scene or initiated some drama, she’d just be letting Leilani win. So instead she changed her game plan. She acted like everything was cool and enjoyed the time she was spending with Bentley to the fullest. She snuggled close to him on the ride over to the radio station and made sure to laugh and giggle a lot, just to work Leilani’s nerves.

  Desiree loved every minute that shewasat 99Jams. The DJ interviewing Bentley made a fuss about her being in the studio, almost as big a fuss as he made over Bentley.

  “You girls have been calling all day for a chance to holler at your boy Bentley. Well, I got a surprise for all you fellas out there. Here with Bentley we’ve got the beautiful Desiree Jackson. Now, for those of you who don’t know the name, I am sure you know the face and the body. You’ve seen her in a ton of music videos. Desiree, tell the listeners who you’ve worked with,” the DJ asked her after he had finished getting the meat of the interview from Bentley as he was preparing to take phone calls from listeners.

  “Wow, I’ve worked with practically everyone. My latest project was P Diddy’s newest joint. I was the lead girl. But I’ve done some stuff with all kinds of artists from Ricky Martin to Aerosmith. Tomorrow I’ll be shooting with Bentley I’m really excited!” she gushed, just to let Bentley know she wasn’t trying to steal his shine.

  “True dat, it’s sure to be a hit. You’re working with the best in the biz. And then what are you up to? More videos? Have you thought about exploring other career avenues?” He grinned at her while ogling her cleavage.

  Sensing the timing was right, she told him, Bentley, Sparks, Leilani, and all of South Florida that she was going to continue modeling.

  “But my main focus is going to be my music. I’ve got a really hot demo, so I’ll be shopping that and looking for the best deal.” She smiled at her good fortune. Her statement had the desired impact: the DJ had allowed her to hype herself up for the whole city to hear, Sparks and Bentley raised curious eyebrows, and Leilani fumed silently in the corner. Desiree would show her that she wasn’t the only one with a talent beyond looking good. As far as she was concerned, Leilani had challenged her, and Desiree never stepped down from a challenge.

  “FLOW!” SPARKS ORDERED. HE AND DESIREE WERE SEATED IN

  the parking lot of 99Jams in the Hummer he had rented. After the interview he grabbed her by the hand and led her there, leaving a surprised Leilani and Bentley behind.

  “Now?”

  “Flow right now!” Sparks made eye contact to let her know he was serious. He was the one that had selected Desiree for the video in the first place. Bentley wanted her, no doubt. But Sparks had the final word. He sensed that besides her looks, she had something special. Desiree was nervous, but she knew he meant business. Sparks’s reputation as an eccentric but shrewd businessman preceded him. And his millions were the proof of the pudding. She cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and spit the lyrics of “Down to Ride,” a hard-core song about her devotion to the streets and to her man. Sparks sat expressionless. Desiree couldn’t tell if he loved her skills or thought she was wack. He put on a CD with an instrumental track and instructed her to freestyle. She did so. After a few bars he cut the track. He sat there in silence, Desiree anticipating his next words as if her life depended on it. Her life did depend on it.

  “What you call yourself?” he finally said.

  “Dez. Nothing fancy, just Dez,” she replied. She wasn’t about to be Lil’ this, Sexy that, or Lady such and such. That wasn’t her. She hoped he would offer her a deal, but really hoped he wasn’t about to make her a clone of the females already in the industry, or some model-chick rapper. She was a model-chick, but at heart she was still a tomboy.

  “I like that,” he said, stroking his goatee. “You want a deal?” he asked her, practically reading her thoughts.

  “Hell yeah!” Desiree didn’t bother to hide her enthusiasm. “Cool. Welcome to the fam.”

  And just like that, every dream she’d ever had was realized.

  “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?” LEILANI ASKED BENTLEY

  after watching Sparks and Desiree exit the studio in a rush.

  Bentley shook his head. “I have no fucking idea. With my brother you never can tell.”

  “I bet he’s reading her up and down. I mean, did you see the way that

  she tried to take over your interview? Desiree always has to be the center of attention,” Leilani said, hoping to create a rift between Bentley and Dez. “Nah, she was cool. She handled that shit well. That shit was kind of

  smart.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.” Leilani frowned and crossed her arms. “Don’t you feel used? Like maybe the only reason she’s hollering at you is because she wants to get put on?”

  Bentley eyed Leilani suspiciously. “What are you trying to say? Aren’t you supposed to be her girl?”

  “That’s exactly my point. I know Desiree. She’s an opportunist. I’d be

  careful, Bentley.”

  “Yeah, well, I can handle myself. And I could say the same thing about you. Hooking up with my brother can’t hurt you, now, can it?”

  “I’m not even like that,” Leilani countered.

  “Yeah, but how would we know that? I’m giving Desiree a chance, like Sparks is giving you a chance,” Bentley replied.

  Leilani didn’t have a response. She just tossed her hair and fumbled in her purse for a piece of gum. She snapped on it angrily, taking out all her frustration on the cinnamon-flavored stick. As far as she was now concerned, Bentley and Desiree deserved each other. They were equally shallow, all fluff and no substance. Bentley had to be an idiot if he couldn’t see through Desiree; either that or pussy-whipped or both. Her only consolation was the hope that Sparks had seen through her and was putting her in check.

  Desiree and Sparks came back into the studio laughing. Sparks told her he had to say bye to the general manager of the station and handle some business and disappeared into an office with an administrative assistant. She spotted Leilani and Bentley stepping off an elevator.

  Leilani confronted her almost immediately. “What happened?” Desiree ignored her.

  “Baby, you’ll never guess what happened.” Desiree snaked her arms around Bentley’s waist and gave him a kiss.

  He grinned at her. “So tell me.” “Sparks offered me a deal.”

  “He what?” Bentley and Leilani shouted in unison.

  Desiree felt Bentley’s body stiffen, and she took three steps back. She looked at Leilani and Bentley. “Uh, how about a congratulations? I’ve been working hard at this. And I have skills,” she said, defending herself.

  “Nah, baby. That’s not it. I trust my brother’s judgment. But we supposed to be partners. He could have at least consulted with me.”

  “You don’t want me on your label?” Desiree pouted.

  “Listen to me. If Sparks thinks you got skills, you got skills. It’s a business thing. It’s not personal,” Bentley explained.

  Whatever! It didn’t matter, because she had a deal, so Desiree just

&nbs
p; nodded in agreement. Leilani had already heard enough of her business. She’d approach the topic later, if at all. Sparks joined them.

  “Sparks, let me talk to you for a minute,” Bentley said.

  “Desiree, Leilani, why don’t y’all go wait in the car? We’ll be right out.” Bentley tossed the keys at Desiree, not giving them much of a choice. “Dude, why would you offer her a deal without talking to me first?”

  Bentley asked his brother as soon as the ladies were out of earshot.

  “Man, you made it clear a long time ago that you wanted to perform and you would leave the business end to me. Your girl got mad skills,” Sparks explained.

  “That’s just it, man. You know how I roll, man. I’m not one to be tied down. I gotta be able to do my thing. What if I want to hit some groupie after a show? If she’s always around, there’s going to be some trouble. I don’t need that kind of fucking drama.”

  “But you like her, man, don’t you? You ain’t gonna care about seeing her.”

  “Yeah, I like her. That’s not the point. The point is we both know that it ain’t smart to shit where you eat.”

  “I feel you, man. But you can handle that shit. I ain’t sayin’ you got to marry her ass. She might just surprise you and pull a switch once she blows up. She might decide to sample some of her own groupies,” Sparks teased his younger sibling. Bentley made a face.

  “But this is a business, and she’s money in the bank,” Sparks went on. “She’s fine as hell, and she can flow. She ain’t no Amil, we ain’t gotta write her rhymes. She looks better than Foxy, she’s sexier than Kim, and she’s rawer than Eve. She got more ass than Trina, plus she’s got the titties to match, and she freestyles. Man, she’s gonna be large.”

  “That’s cool. But what am I supposed to do when I want to get some new pussy?” Bentley questioned. “You know and I know that it ain’t no pussy like new pussy.”

  “Nigga, you got game. Plus, she’s gonna be so busy she won’t have time to be all up in your face. I’ll see to that. Besides, y’all ain’t about to be Kim and Big. You gonna do your thang, and she’s gonna do hers. I know what the fuck I’m doing.”

  “Aight, then,” Bentley replied reluctantly. “But respect me, brother. I’m not a little boy anymore, I’m a man. And I’ve put just as much into this

  label as you have, dog. Respect me, man. Ya heard?”

  “I feel you, nigga.” Sparks gave Bentley a pound, and they headed to the Hummer.

  “DO YOU HAVE CRACK IN YOUR CUNT OR WHAT?” LEILANI

  snarled in the Hummer.

  “What is your fucking problem, bitch?” Desiree asked her, knowing full well what her problem was.

  “Oh, so you’re a rapper now?” Leilani responded sourly.

  “You’re the one constantly talking down on me about shaking my ass in videos, acting like I’m stupid. Well, now I got something because of my talent, and you hating. I do have talent, you know!”

  “You still used your ass to get what you wanted. If you weren’t fucking with Bentley, Sparks never would have given you the time of day.”

  “That’s cool. You know that’s not true, but even if it was true, it would have been someone else if it wasn’t Sparks. Believe that,” Dez replied, full of confidence. “This ain’t my first deal offer, just the best.”

  “I wouldn’t be shocked if you sucked Sparks’s dick to get your deal.

  Nobody saw what y’all were doing out there.” “Feeling threatened?” Dez suggested.

  “By a whore like you? Never!” Leilani retorted defiantly.

  “You need to watch your fucking mouth before I punch you in that shit, bitch. Don’t get it twisted. Keep fucking around and trying me. See if you’re working tomorrow.”

  “Fuck you, Desiree,” Leilani spat. She had no idea what the big deal was about Dez, but she for one was getting sick of all the hype.

  “You probably want to.” Desiree glared at Leilani, her eyes a vibrant green. She decided right then and there that Leilani had one more time to say something slick, one more time to jump bad, and she was going to give her the beat-down of a lifetime.

  WHEN HE AND BENTLEY FINALLY GOT IN THE HUMMER, SPARKS

  suggested they go get something to eat and discuss the changes that would need to be made at the video shoot so they rolled out to Monty’s on the Beach for stone crabs while listening to Desiree’s demo on the CD player. Desiree could tell by the expression on Leilani’s and Bentley’s faces

  that her shit was hot.

  “We can’t have you be like another one of the models in this video. I know you got cast in the lead and shit, but unless you want people to think you’re a puppet you’re going to have to take one for the team,” Sparks told them while pounding a stone crab claw with a wooden mallet.

  “I hear you,” Desiree agreed, though she had really been looking forward to her role. She picked nervously over a shrimp Caesar salad.

  “But what I have in mind is you doing an a cappella freestyle at the beginning and end of the video. When we edit, we can give the audience a teaser to your first release. What do you think, B?”

  Bentley was busy grubbing on a steak and lobster combo.

  “I trust you, Sparks. That shit could be real hot if we do it right. Everybody will be trying to hear what my baby got to say,” Bentley squeezed Desiree’s thigh, and she felt a chill run down her spine.

  Sparks turned to Leilani. “Lani, you know that Hype and me are directing this. But you wanna be second A.D.?”

  “Of course. Are you kidding?” Leilani nearly spilled her water at the news.

  “Cool. It’ll be your responsibility to make sure that Desiree looks her very best. Make sure her lighting is real good to emphasize her beauty. And why don’t you call the stylist and make sure that she has some shit that really stands out? Not too sexy, because we want people to hear her, but sexy enough so that they won’t be able to take their eyes off of her. The number is in my two-way.” Leilani was happy about the promotion, but couldn’t believe that she was going to have to cater so Desiree. It was like she was Desiree’s do-girl.

  Desiree smiled smugly and sipped on a glass of iced tea. Your title may have changed, but you’re still a P.A., she thought.

  “Sure, Johnny,” Leilani agreed, and went to work. It was official. She

  hated Desiree.

  Sparks got on his cell with his lawyers and had them draw up a simple three-album deal for Desiree. He assured her that he wouldn’t dick her when it came to her points and royalties, but just in case, Desiree told him that she’d have her own lawyer look over the paperwork. Desiree had many corporate connections from her days as a dancer and had learned a thing or two about the industry while she was with Dan. She decided that she would always have someone strictly in her corner to protect her interests, even though she’d have to pay a pretty penny of her own money to do so.

  Desiree thought about how proud Ginger would be if she knew the

  direction her life was about to go in. Maybe. Ginger was so caught up in her religion that she thought everything was evil. Desiree missed her sister- friend but resisted the urge to call. That was a lifetime ago, and Ginger probably wouldn’t talk to her anyway. Chicks like Leilani and Ysenia thought they were so smart and had their shit so together, but they were ignorant peasants compared to Ginger. Desiree figured she’d never have a real friend again once her face was really out there. Everyone would just want a piece of her fame.

  Desiree needed to go back to her house to get ready for the shoot the next day. Bentley insisted on coming with her, which Desiree didn’t mind at all. At least he wouldn’t be out with some other female, and she’d be able to get to the bottom of Leilani’s allegations. They stopped off at a small market near her apartment so she could pick up a few things, and arrived at her place as the sunset was streaking the sky in crimson gashes. “It’s so fucking pretty here.” Bentley admired the lush courtyard surrounding the swimming pool that was in the center of Desiree’s />