Life After a Balla (11 page)

When Asia finally walked back across the street to her truck the baby was crying. She became irritated thinking about all the fun she was missing out on by having to take care of a child. If it wasn’t for him being her meal ticket to a better life, Asia would’ve surely gotten an abortion. She reached in the back and grabbed him.

“I’ll be glad when your lil’ ass go to sleep. I got some shit to do tonight.”

****

Several hours later, Asia was dressed and ready for the party. Her black strapless mini dress that was embellished with sequins was guaranteed to turn some heads. Not only did she have a goal of chasing after Divine’s new cash flow, she was also taking bids from anybody else willing to contribute to her dry ass bank account. Asia checked herself out in the mirror one last time. She was having a hard time breathing with her girdle on, but had to make sure the fat on her stomach was tightly tucked away.

All I need is some money for a tummy tuck and I’m back in business
, she thought.

Since Asia didn’t have anyone to watch her son, she’d already breastfed him, made sure he was dry, then put him on the bed in between some pillows as soon as he fell asleep. Her plan was to keep sneaking out the party and running back across the street to check on him throughout the night.

“What could go wrong?” she convinced herself.

After fussing with her hair one more time, Asia finally left her hotel room and headed across the street to the party. As she approached the exclusive hotel, Asia watched as several nice cars pulled up to the valet. When she saw a black Maybach Exelero with tinted windows pull up she was speechless. As she stood watching, a tall, brown skinned guy with pair of Gucci Avaitor sunglasses got out. Asia never understood why people wore sunglasses at night, but nevertheless, he was still stylish, and she could tell he was cute. A few seconds later, his entourage arrived in two freshly detailed Suburban’s. The tall cutie and Asia gave each other eye contact. He definitely had money and Asia admired his style.

“Sandino is my Plan A, Divine is my Plan B and I think I see my Plan C. But then again he’s driving a damn Maybach so he might be Plan A,” she chuckled.

They both continued to stare at one another until he finally took his eyes off her to give valet his keys. When the passenger door opened a light skin woman popped out.

“Why the fuck do you keep eye balling my fucking husband, bitch?” the woman ranted.

Asia moved her head back and forth like she was looking for the person the woman could’ve been talking to.

“Yes, I’m talking to you!” she yelled as if she read Asia’s mind.

However, before Asia could respond, the tall cutie walked over to the woman. “Baby, chill the fuck out. I told you if you started that shit tonight you were getting sent home.”

Asia laughed before strutting inside the hotel. She didn’t have time to get into a cat fight over some nigga, especially one she hadn’t even fucked yet.

I wonder if they’re going to Divine’s party? I hope I don’t have to hurt nobody. I’m on a mission to seek cash tonight so all that other shit is irrelevant
.

When Asia entered the plush art deco lobby it was nice and elegant. A far cry from the dump she was staying in.

I miss luxury hotels
, Asia thought as she followed a small group of people onto the elevator to the roof top party.

When she got off the elevator and stepped onto the roof, it was a luxurious oasis that had a birds-eye view over the glistening Atlantic beach. She seemed to catch every man’s attention as she navigated her way through the thick crowd.

Moments later, Asia watched as the crowd went wild when the DJ started playing one of Divine’s songs off his new album. It wasn’t long before she found herself moving to the music. She had to admit, Divine had skills, and it was definitely a song that was radio ready.

She searched the roof for Divine and finally spotted him near the DJ booth talking to the same tall brown skin cutie from outside. As soon as she walked over, Divine greeted her with a big hug.

“Asia, I’m glad you came. We poppin’ bottles all night,” Divine said before looking at her attire. “You look sexy as shit in that dress,” he whispered in her ear.

“Thanks,” she responded with a slight grin.

The tall cutie couldn’t stop staring at Asia and she knew he liked what he saw. However, his pit-bull wife who had just walked up stared Asia down the entire time and she returned the glare right back at her.

“Excuse me for a moment,” Divine said to the guy and his wife before grabbing Asia by the hand and heading towards the bar. Grabbing a bottle of Moet, he poured both of them a glass.

I probably shouldn’t be drinking since I’m still breast feeding, but a little bit won’t hurt
, she thought. Asia raised her glass for a toast. “Here’s to your new record deal,” she said, touching his glass with hers.

“To my record deal,” Divine mimicked. “I’ll definitely drink to that shit.”

Over the next few minutes, Asia sipped on her champagne and enjoyed meeting all the different people Divine had introduced her to. Asia could see a lot of the women cutting their eyes at her as she clung to Divine, but she didn’t care. She was the one going to be with him tonight, so they just had to get over it.

As soon as Divine excused himself to go handle something, Asia knew it was time to slip out and go check on the baby. She put her glass down on the table and walked to the elevator and out the door. After quickly running back across the street, Asia looked down at her watch when she reached her hotel door. She’d been gone exactly one hour. When she put her key card in the door, Asia quietly eased it open and tip toed inside. He was still sound asleep in the same spot.

“That’s a good boy,” she said after making her way back to the door and closing it.

As soon as she walked back onto the rooftop a few minutes later, Divine instantly came over and handed her another glass of champagne.

“Where you been? I thought I’d lost you.” When the DJ played another one of Divine’s songs, he started doing a little two step. “Come on, let’s dance,” he said, pulling her to the dance floor.

Asia was finally having some fun as she and Divine danced three songs in a row. It had been so long since she’d danced, every move felt good. She held her glass up as Divine poured her more champagne. While Divine sat in one of the plush chairs with Asia in his lap, two of Divine’s friends came over and pulled him away from her. Immediately getting upset, Asia had no idea what was going on or what that was all about until she watched as several ugly strippers pranced into the party. From their cheap looking dresses, clear sky high heels and oiled bodies, it didn’t take much to know that’s exactly what the women did for a living. As soon as the DJ played one of Uncle Luke’s fast paced songs, the women immediately started taking off their clothes, which sent the guys into an immediate uproar. They all began pulling out wads of money, and soon started making it rain with nothing lower than a twenty.

Throwing back two more glasses of champagne, Asia watched in amazement until she couldn’t take anymore.

“Fuck this. I look ten times better than those hood rat bitches. I refuse to let them get all the money while I just sit around broke,” she said, reaching inside her dress and popping the snaps on her girdle.

She then stepped out of her dress and exposed a sexy black bra and thong before starting to do a little sexy dance. By the time she moved her hips in a circular motion and removed her thong, all the men went crazy. The faster they threw her money, the faster she scooped it up. The ugly strippers were pissed that Asia was stealing the show, but they kept dancing. Asia was so drunk and into her dance moves she didn’t even care that her stomach was hanging out. She also didn’t care that her breasts had started to leak. Realizing that her bra was soaking wet, Asia kept going. She dropped down to the floor and did a split and pulled her left leg behind her head like a true professional.

“Oh shit! Shake that ass, Asia baby!” Divine shouted.

Asia kept up her striptease act until the song was over. And even though every guy in the room kept chanting the word, more, she decided to call it a night. After grabbing all her money scattered on the floor, Asia quickly put her thongs and dress back on, then blew the men an air kiss goodbye. She could care less how many of them booed her, Asia knew she had to get back across the street to check on her son.

When she staggered towards the elevator Divine ran after her. He was so turned on by her performance, he immediately gave her a long passionate kiss filled with lots of tongue as soon as she turned around.

“Asia, please stay wit’ me tonight. I want some of that good pussy,” he whispered.

Asia wanted him bad, but knew she couldn’t stay. She pulled back and declined his offer, then made up a lie about her having an early morning appointment.

I don’t really need him right now anyway since I made enough money to hold me over for a few days
, she thought.

“Can I have a rain check?” she asked.

“You gone leave a nigga wit’ a hard dick after the way you was movin’ dem hips? Don’t do me like this.”

“I’ll make it up to you Divine, but I have to go baby.”

After exchanging numbers, Asia gave him one last deep kiss before heading off the elevator and outside. Intoxicated from all the drinks, she stopped and pulled off her heels before continuing across the street. When she finally staggered off the elevator and onto the floor her room was on, Asia could hear the baby crying to the top of his lungs.

“Alright…alright, I’m coming lil’ boy,” she said, searching her purse for the hotel key.

However, before she could open the door, an older lady from the room next door, poked her head out.

“Is everything alright, that baby has been screaming for the past twenty minutes.”

Asia looked at her and said, “Mind your business, bitch!”

CHAPTER 11

Asia sat on the edge of the bed counting the money she’d made from stripping at Divine’s party.

Damn, this is almost a thousand dollars. At least I got enough to pay for this room a little longer until I can get some real money. I wanted to ask Divine for some cash, but I didn’t want him to think I was only after his money, which I am, she thought. I need to play that situation smart
.

When she heard the baby make a noise Asia looked over at him praying he wouldn’t wake up. She breathed a sigh of relief after realizing he was still asleep.

“Thank God he stopped all that screaming after I fed him,” she said out loud. “His ass blew my damn buzz after hearing all that mess. I don’t know how much longer I can do this shit without a nanny.”

After taking off her dress, Asia slid the baby over a few inches and got into bed with just her underwear on. Looking for a pair of pajamas wasn’t at the top of her to do list, but flicking through channels trying to find something good on T.V. was. When she turned to VH1 and saw a rerun of her favorite reality show
Basketball Wives L.A
., Asia put the remote down. She loved to see what insane things Jackie Christie was gonna be involved in.

“That bitch is crazy. Somebody needs to beat her ass for starting all that shit between the girls,” Asia said, shaking her head.

She was just about to make another comment, when suddenly a loud knock at the door startled her. Instantly, she jumped up and wondered who it could’ve been since no one knew where she was staying. After tiptoeing over to the door and looking out the peep hole, to her surprise, the tall brown skin cutie driving the Maybach was standing on the other side. Glasses and all.

How the hell did he know how to find me
, she wondered.

He knocked once again.

“I just heard you talking, beautiful. I wanted to come meet you without all the interruptions. Are you gonna open the door or leave me standing out here all night?” he asked.

There was silence on both sides until Asia finally yelled out, “Hold on for a second, I need to get decent.”

“Get decent? Girl, I just saw you shaking your ass for cash an hour ago,” he joked.

Looking over at her son asleep on the bed, Asia had to think fast. She didn’t want him to see the baby. She’d learned the hard way in Chicago that having extra baggage was a turn off for most men. Coming up with a quick plan, Asia decided to wrap him up in the dingy hotel blanket, then walked inside the bathroom, placed him in the bathtub and closed the door. She then grabbed her money that was spread out across the table and put it away before walking back over to the door.

I’ll just make it quick, get his number and holla at him later after I find someone to watch SJ,
she thought.

Asia grabbed her robe off the chair before messing up her hair to look like she’d been asleep. She then opened the door with half her body in the hallway and the other half still inside the room. She looked him up and down.

“So, are you gonna let me in, beautiful? I can only stay for a minute. I got people waiting on me.”

“Sure, come in,” she said in a sexy voice.

Asia looked both ways down the corridor as he walked past her making sure his crazy wife wasn’t lurking around before closing the door. He walked in taking inventory of the room, then shook his head at the cheap looking pullout couch and table.

“Why is a pretty lady like yourself staying in a dump like this,” he asked, looking at all her clothes thrown around the room.

“It’s just a temporary thing until my place comes available,” she lied. Scared that the baby might wake up, Asia had to make this visit short and sweet. “I’m really glad you took the initiative to find me, but I’m afraid this isn’t a good time. I’m exhausted and have to get up early for an appointment in the morning.”