Rich or Famous...Rich Because You Can Buy Fame (19 page)

Trife Lif
e
To Lavis
h

Chapter
1

Arnez stood in the impressive penthouse suite, gazing out the 34
^th
floor view of Times Square. He extracted a Zino Platinum Crown Series Rocket from the sleek metal tube, and then trimmed the end before firing it up with a palm-sized blowtorch lighter covered in silver reptile skin. He exhaled a cloud of smoke as a smile crept across his face.

“It is so lovely to see you again Genevieve,” Arnez smirked, admiring the massive billboard she graced in the heart of Times Square. “We have so much catching up to do, since the last time I saw you.”

Arnez walked over to the plush white couch in the center of the exotic wood floor and sat down before lifting up his glass of Sassicaia, the great Italian wine off the coffee table and taking a sip. He let out a deep sigh placing his wine glass down and then picked up the manila folder off the table. He opened it up and stared at the pictures
of Genevieve that the private investigator he hired had given him earlier in the week. For the first time in months Arnez had a tangible lead on his prized target and he had no intentions of letting her slip through his fingers.

“Yes, Genevieve, I believe our reunion is long overdue,” Arnez said, before depositing his ashes across her face.

“Genesis, if we don’t leave shortly we’re going to miss our flight.”

“I understand that, but I have to wait here for this delivery. Maybe it’s best you go ahead without me. I can take a flight out tonight or tomorrow morning.”

“I don’t want to take the flight without you. We’ll wait together.” Coco turned away from Genesis as she huffed, not wanting him to see her disdain.

“Finally!” Genesis said when he heard the doorbell. He anxiously made his way to the front door. The FedEx carrier greeted him with a smile and a pen as Genesis signed for the priority overnight envelope. He had practically ripped open the package before the door had completely closed.

“What is that?” CoCo was beyond curious to know what had Genesis’ attention so occupied. And for that very reason he either ignored CoCo’s question or just didn’t hear it because whatever papers he was looking over had his interest on lock.

“This is it! I was expecting so much more…fuck!” Genesis roared, tossing the papers to the floor.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” CoCo
asked, trying to quickly pick up the papers just in case Genesis decided he immediately wanted them back.

“This private investigator I hired to find my sister and mother said he came across some great information for me. I’m thinking he was close to finding their whereabouts but all this information is from over ten years ago, when they were living in Charlotte, North Carolina. This ain’t no recent shit!”

“Wait, Genesis, did you see this?”

“See what?”

“Look,” CoCo reached her hand out to Genesis. “When I was putting the papers back in the envelope I noticed this picture, it was kinda stuck in the corner.”

“A picture, I was pulling the papers out so fast I must’ve overlooked it.” Genesis took the picture out of CoCo’s hand and was silent for a few minutes. He examined every inch of the picture and then turned it over and the names, ‘Kevon, Genevieve and Teresa’ were written on the back.

“Genesis are you okay?”

“This is my mother and sister. It’s an old picture but it’s them. Genevieve can’t be no more than six or seven, and my mother,” Genesis said with a slight whisper to his voice as his finger traced over her face. This must be the man she married,” he reasoned, sizing up Kevon.

Genesis sat down on the sofa, clutching the picture. It was the first image he had seen of his family since the last time his mother came to see him at the juvenile facility when Genevieve was only a baby. Having something concrete in his hands once again brought Genesis hope that one day soon he would be reunited with his family and he wouldn’t

give up until that happened
.

“Supreme, we really need to go.”

“What…we’re gonna miss the flight,” he sulked sar
castically. “It’s a private jet, they leave when we get there, we ain’t on nobodies time but ours.”

“They’ve been waiting for over two hours.”

“A little longer isn’t gonna hurt.”

“Do you not want to go, is that it?”

“Precious, if I didn’t want to go, I wouldn’t fuckin’ go.”

“Well that’s how you’re acting.”

“Do you really think I’ma miss Aaliyah’s birthday party? Get the fuck outta here!”

“You making it hard to tell by delaying the time we’re supposed to be leaving.”

“Whatever, I have some shit I need to take care of.”

“Fine, you take care of
your shit
and let me know when you’re ready,” Precious barked back, walking out their bedroom. She was tempted to pick up the crystal vase off the dresser and throw it at Supreme, on her way out but decided against it. Those sorts of volatile feelings had become the norm for Precious in recent months.

Ever since Aaliyah needed a blood transfusion and DNA test proved Nico was her father, it seemed to be war of the roses between her and Supreme. Precious knew that Supreme still loved Aaliyah like she was his own, the problem was she wasn’t and Nico made that very clear. When Aaliyah was recovering from her surgery, Nico never
left her side. He demanded to play a full-time role in her life and damn near seemed like he wanted to move into the Mills’ home or at the very least be their next door neighbor. So Precious had no choice but to come up with a fair and reasonable visitation arrangement that would bring some sort of peace in what had turned into a beyond chaotic environment. With them living on the West Coast and Nico residing on the East Coast it wasn’t an easy task but somehow they made it work. Well, Precious and Nico made it work, Supreme was an entirely different story. Precious couldn’t fault Nico for wanting to play an active role in his daughter’s life but she could also understand Supreme’s pain and anger over the entire situation. So she went out of her way to try and appease him. But no matter how hard Precious tried, Supreme seemed determined not to forgive her.

“I still can’t believe it’s me on that billboard.” Nichelle stared in awe.

“Well it is. I said it would happen. I never make a promise I can’t keep.”

“I’ll never doubt you again, that’s for sure,” Nichelle smiled. Akil walked up behind her and gently massaged Nichelle’s shoulders as they both looked out the massive window from his loft apartment.

“I’m so proud of you. I knew I saw something special in you, but I wasn’t sure you would allow me to help you bring it out for the world to see but you have.”

“I think you’re giving me way too much credit.”

“I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. And trust me, this is only the beginning. You’re a star, Nichelle. If seeing your billboard plastered in the middle of Times Square doesn’t make you a believer then I think what I’m about to tell you now will.”

Nichelle turned around and faced Akil with a puzzled look across her face.

“Have you ever heard of T-Roc?”

“Of course, who hasn’t? He’s a mogul legend in New York.”

“You’re right. I actually got my start as an intern for T-Roc. He taught me everything I know and then some. He’s much more than a legend in New York. His business savvy expands across the world. So when T-Roc reached out to me and said he wanted you to be the face of the new women’s fragrance line he’s launching, I felt pleased that someone I admire sees the same winner in you that I do.”

“Wait, press rewind for a second, did I hear you correctly?” Nichelle’s mouth dropped back open waiting for Akil’s response.

“Yes, you did. T-Roc wants you to represent his perfume line. Forget about just billboards. We’re talk
ing commercials, magazine ads, and national coverage. He’s prepared to dedicate a huge campaign budget so this perfume can compete with anybody in this market.”

“And he wants me, why? I’m not exactly what you would call polished. Real talk, at the end of the day; I’m just a project girl.”

“No, Nichelle, you’re so much more than that. But being from the projects, and being able to still exude an innocence
although I know you’ve faced so many obstacles, makes your story that much more powerful. You can inspire so many young girls.”

Nichelle shook her head in disbelief with all the good fortune that seemed to be coming her way, virtually overnight. “I don’t know Akil. I still can’t believe that with all the beautiful women in the world, that T-Roc actually wants me.”

“Well, maybe this contract will make you a believer,” Akil said, opening up his briefcase. “I reviewed it and to me it’s more than fair, as a matter of fact it’s very generous. But have your attorney look over it. I believe she will agree.” Akil handed Nichelle the papers and her mind instantly be
gan having flashbacks to what her life had been like for the last several months.

It seemed like only yesterday she was running for her life, trying to escape death at the hands of her ex
boyfriend’s cousin Arnez. Now she was sitting in Akil’s loft, holding a contract worth more money than she ever imagined. No, it wasn’t going to make her a millionaire but Nichelle’s biggest dream was to one day get a job making fifty thousand dollars a year with benefits.

So much had changed in her life but a lot more had stayed the same. Instead of running, Nichelle was now plastered on a billboard in Times Square which would make most people feel on top of the world. But, Nichelle was miserable and was suffering deep depression. She was do
ing a wonderful job of hiding it from people but at night she cried herself to sleep. Nichelle still had no clue what happened to her best friend Tierra. The nightmares contin
ued to haunt her, which consisted of hearing gunshots and watching Tierra fall to the ground. Nichelle didn’t know if Tierra was dead or alive.