Pretty Girls in the Vip (9781617730283) (25 page)

I
was starting to show, and I have been doing everything precisely: taking my prenatal vitamins, not stressing out, and eating healthy. Since we've been back to Philly, I found a new doctor and learned I'm having a girl. My due date is October, right around preseason. I hope Jabril will be able to be there when I go into labor.

This pregnancy has been fine. I'm not getting sick, and I'm taking care of myself. I also have my sister and nephews to take care of me. Claudette, too, but her and Jabril leave me in the house alone all of the time. I see less of Jabril now than I did when we were in Oklahoma. He's out all the time with everyone he grew up with from his neighborhood and other players he knows in Philly. It seems like every week he is partying at a club or gambling in Atlantic City. Some nights he doesn't even come home. He told me he gets a room so he won't get a DUI. And most of the time, when he does come home, he just sleeps all day. I didn't really like his friends from Camden, they all seem like users and want to go out with Jabril just because he pays for everything. Eric and LJ had been his friends since third grade, and they were cool. He gave them money and even let them drive his cars. Everybody wanted something from him, it was all sickening. And something in my gut has been telling me that something is not right with him. I thought that if I called him and called him and always checked on him, he wouldn't have enough time to cheat. I thought that he would know that because of what we've been through and now that I was pregnant, he would be on his best behavior. I didn't want to go through his stuff, but I had to know what he was up to.

I found his phone while he was downstairs and scrolled through his text messages—and it was clean. The only text messages were from me and his mom, his uncle Wendell, Lloyd, and his friends.

I knew he had that other phone, but I didn't know where he kept it. I was so frustrated, because he would be coming back upstairs soon. My phone vibrated, and it was Christie. She had been calling and calling, and I had told her to leave me alone. She had me stick my neck out for her for nothing. Jabril was so mad at me for being in the middle of that mess. Omar isn't talking to anyone; he is really depressed. I was even depressed for a few days, because I was really getting close to her and believed in her and she'd played me. She'd played us all. How she could live with herself I don't know. I scrolled through Jabril's phone some more and was not coming up with any information. I placed the phone back in his pocket and then a blocked number appeared on my phone. I answered to hear someone say, “Hey, Zakiya.” I knew who the unsteady voice belonged to. It was Christie again. Why was she still calling me?

“Christie. What you did was so awful and insane, and I never have anything to say to you again in life. Please stop calling my phone.”

“Zakiya, I didn't know. Me and you were friends. You know me. I'm not crazy. It was a mistake. I didn't know I wasn't pregnant.”

“Christie, I don't know you, and I'm not your friend. We are never going to be friends. I was loyal to you. Now I look crazy right with you. You had me convince Jabril to talk Omar into coming back to you, so you wouldn't have to be pregnant alone—and you weren't even pregnant. You were faking, so that makes you crazy.”

“I didn't know, I swear I didn't know. My stomach was huge—you saw it.”

“Women know when they are pregnant and when they are not. And you knew you weren't. I'm pregnant now and I know I am. And if you did or didn't know, you are highly delusional. You had me and Nichelle buy your baby all that stuff.” I was becoming angry. She was still talking and I didn't want to hear any more.

“That's why I was calling. I wanted to send you all the baby stuff for your baby,” she muttered into the phone.

“I don't want that shit. I don't want to ever see you again. Listen, Christie, this is the last time I'm going to tell you. Don't call me anymore, ever, for anything in your crazy life, bitch. Okay?” I didn't even sound like myself, but I meant it.

“You'll see one day no one is perfect. Not even your Jabril, Zakiya.”

“Don't talk about Jabril, he has nothing to do with this. He had your back, too.”

I was so aggravated from Christie, so imagine how upset I was when she said, “You don't know what Omar was doing to me. You don't know how he talked to me. He cheated on me all the time, and Jabril is cheating on you, too.” Christie had yelled a bunch of nonsense, and most of it I didn't bother to listen to, but when she said the words
Jabril
and
cheating
it got my attention.

“What do you mean, Jabril is cheating on me?” I snapped.

“Jabril is seeing this video chick, Shani More somebody.”

I didn't say any more. I just hung up and began doing my research. I knew Christie was deranged, but I also knew she might have been telling the truth. Jabril had promised me everything, that if I came back he wouldn't cheat on me. I was such a fool because I believed him and now he was dealing with this big booty video girl. I Googled her name and all this stuff came up. Now all my suspicions were true. He was parading around everywhere with her. I looked at these modeling pictures of her on my phone screen. She was okay looking, but her Nicki Minaj body, huge butt, and little waist were disgusting. I researched her some more and found a picture of her online working at Adrienne's club.

I dialed Adrienne to find out who this girl was.

“Adrienne, Jabril is cheating with a girl that was working at your club, a girl named Shani More. He has been staying out and now I know why. It is all these pictures of them together at all these clubs. Call her and tell her to leave him alone.”

“Zakiya, Shanice doesn't work here anymore, but I'll have a conversation with her. She is reasonable. I told you to watch him. I'll call her and see what she says. ”

“Okay, please do.”

 

I confronted him as soon as he came up the steps. “Who is the hell is Shani More, Jabril?”

“Who? Shani More?” he asked like he had no idea what I was talking about.

“Jabril, you know her. It's all over everywhere that you are dealing with her. Come on, you promised me you wouldn't cheat on me anymore.”

“I thought you were going to stay off those gossip sites. I told you before that they are filled with lies. I think I know who you are talking about, and she is just cool with me. She hosted a party with me before. I don't know her like that.”

“Stop lying, Jabril. We got back together and now you are making me look like a fool again. Jabril, really? You did all of this to get me here to do wrong by me again. Huh? Why? Why would you want to play me? I love you. But you keep hurting me. I'm carrying our baby, the child you begged me to have, and you do this?”

“Kiya, listen to me, no one will ever be in your shoes, no one. I don't know what you heard or saw, but it is not true. I take care of you and buy you everything because I love you. You have to trust me I would never hurt you. So don't come to me with these rumors.” He walked out of the room leaving me with my thoughts. I was so angry but I couldn't go after him. I knew he was lying, but I could not prove it. I almost went crazy last time seeing and worrying about all the rumors. But this chick wasn't a rumor. She was a real person and I was going to find out what was going on.

I
don't know what happened to my beloved Belize. One day the line was around the corner to get in and then the next day it was the club that no one wanted to come to. I've tried everything to get this club back on track. I reached out to a bunch of players and D-list reality show people and even offered them free parties and money to come and host events, and everyone has been turning me down. Nerv Trap getting into that fight was really the beginning of the end of my club.

So, I had to do what I had to do. We needed business. And I could no longer be selective with who could come in. I had to open my doors to everyone.

Belize now hosted an “International Night” on Wednesdays. Oh God, my club was like the United Nations. I didn't have anything against the badly-dressed people. I just hated the music they played. It was a type of techno music. The beat went
boom boom boom boom
in every damn song.

And worse than the International Night were the old-school, after-work parties we hosted on Fridays. We had drink specials and contests for the grown and sexy. You no longer had to be someone or know someone to get in Belize. Anybody could just stroll on in, and I hated it. I grabbed a glass of wine and went to my back office.

The one thing that was taking my mind off the club and everything that was going on was Shelton. But even he had suddenly been missing in action too. I hoped his wife didn't find out about us. I don't know. I suppose he will call me when he gets some time.

From my office I called Shanice. I was in a very awkward position with her. I liked her. I saw her transformation, but she couldn't fuck with Zakiya's man. After a few rings she answered.

“Shanice. It's Adrienne. I need to talk to you.”

“Hey, Adrienne. What's going on, girl? How's the club doing? How are you and Malaysia?”

“Well, good, the club is good, but I'm calling you about something else. Shanice, I'm calling you about Jabril Smith.”

“What about Jabril?” she asked rudely.

“Listen, I'm really proud of your success with your videos and modeling. But I know you have been dealing with Jabril, and I know his girlfriend. She is a really good friend of mine, like a little sister, and whatever is going on between you two has to end. I need you to leave him alone.”

“Adrienne, me and you are cool, and you did a lot for me, but you can't tell me who to date. I date whoever I want to. Remember, you're single until you are married. Well, Jabril is not married, either. And how come it is okay for you to be engaged and be sleeping with a married man and it is so wrong for me to be friends with a dude that's not?” If I was near her, I would have smacked her. She was so right, but so wrong.

“I asked you nicely, Shanice. I thought we were friends. I guess not. So consider me done with you.” I disconnected the call and felt like Shanice was now my enemy.

Entering the house, I thought of ways to get back at Shanice. I didn't like how the call had ended, but I was still going to call Zakiya back and tell her I'd handled it. The last thing I wanted was fragile Zakiya worrying about someone like Shanice.

T
omorrow was my cover release party for
Chrome and Platinum
magazine. Me, Shanice Whitaker, aka Shani Amore, was on the cover of a magazine. I was so excited when April sent me the email, but then when I got the hard copy by FedEx this morning, I jumped up and down. It was my night, and a few of the other Eye Candy Queen girls were coming down from New York to support me. I really wished Courtney was here with me to help me celebrate, but she just doesn't know how to act. I missed my aunt and my cousin, but if every time Courtney does something Aunt Rhonda is just going to take up for her, then I don't have anything to say to her, either.

Life is good. I have a good guy in my corner, my career is taking off, and I'm on the cover of a magazine. It does not get any better than this. Jabril is coming to my party tomorrow night at Rapid, and he is letting me drive his car to the club.

 

I had a hair appointment at ten and I intended on being my stylist Daphane's first client. I thought that was the way it was going to happen, but judging by all her clients who arrived before me, that might not take place. I still needed to get to the nail salon and I wanted to go to King of Prussia Mall to make my final selection of what I'm wearing. Then after that I wanted to relax until tomorrow, when it was time for my party.

The shampoo girl finally came, washed and set my hair, and put me under the dryer. She said she was going to start braiding my hair and sewing my tracks in once she washed a few more heads. Out of boredom, I picked up a hair magazine and completed the entire issue front to back. I was waiting for my stylist to rescue me from underneath the dryer, but she was still curling the same woman's hair. I sighed and checked my cell phone screen for the time, and I saw I had nine missed calls and five text messages.

I scrolled down to see that most of them were from Darcel. I hoped she would be able to make it to the party tomorrow.

I called her phone and as it rang I checked the text messages. I couldn't believe what I was reading: YOUR COUSIN IS GIVING INTERVIEWS ABOUT YOU CALL ME ASAP.

Interviews to who and about what?
I thought. I knew we weren't speaking, but I knew she would not go and tell anyone my business. I read through the texts and saw a link, and I clicked on it. It went to a gossip website called BallerAlert.com, and the headline read, “Wannabe Video Vixen Is the NBA's Jumpoff.” I wanted to cry and scream. There were all these pictures of me online. I saw a picture of my old bed, all my old clothes stacked high in the closet, and a picture of me and Courtney when we worked at the strip club that she had conveniently cropped herself out of. I got up from under the dryer and ran out the door. The stylist assistant came out and asked me if I was okay and said not to go too far because I was next. I read the paragraph in horror:

Video girl groupie Shani Amore is the NBA # 1 jumpoff according to her cousin, model and actress Court-NAY. Shani Amore is a former stripper, escort, and bottle girl at Philadelphia nightclub Belize. But now she is making her money through videos and ballers. Her latest financer is Oklahoma Thunder forward Jabril Smith. We hear Shani Amore doesn't care that Smith has a girlfriend and a baby on the way. “I hate to say it, but my cousin is a whole whore that fucks for money and she even fucked teammates on the same team, now that's just trifling,” says her cousin Court-NAY. Damn, when your family go in on you it must be a problem. If you don't know who Shani Amore is, check her out in the following videos below and on the cover of this month's
Chrome & Platinum
magazine.

Underneath that horrible story there were YouTube clips of my videos, pictures of me with Jabril stolen off my Instagram and Twitter, and then next to that was a picture of Jabril and his girlfriend. This had to be the saddest day of my life. Who does their family like this? Not a regular person. Even when you mad, you don't do this. I went out of my way for my cousin and she still stabbed me. The assistant stylist came outside and said it was my turn to go in the chair. At this point I didn't even care about getting my hair done anymore. I waved that she could take the next person.

I couldn't do anything but cry. All I kept thinking about was,
Who is reading this and what are they thinking about me
? If April reads this, I know she is not going to represent me any longer, and I know Jabril and I are over. And just when I didn't think it could get any worse, there was another text with a link to a website. Courtney gave an interview with a radio show on 103.8 The Heat with a girl named Milo Gossip. I cringed as more tears poured from my eyes while I listened to the interview and heard Courtney laughing and telling the radio hosts how I didn't take care of my daughter and had given her away. I fucked old men for money and she gave me all the money that had gotten me started. She was telling every secret I ever told her in my life and even making some things up. Courtney said that I'd forgotten about my family and would do whatever for money. I couldn't listen to any more. My fucking cousin had accomplished her goal to end my career. When everyone saw and heard all of this, my name would be mud in the industry. Then my day got worse. Courtney started texting me naked pictures of myself, and under each one she texted:
If you sexy and you know it clap your hands.
She said I could pay her or she would send them everywhere. I got myself together and realized I was going to have to kill Courtney or die trying.