GHETTO SUPERSTAR (20 page)

“This morning, they let me come home providing that I go back for therapy a few days a week and take it easy.”

“Casino, I am so happy that you are in the comfort of your own home and that you are doing better. You have sure come a long way.”

“So, you making the drive over here or what? It would be nice to see you.”

She smiled to herself thinking of Casino calling for her to come visit. “I know it would be nice to see you as well. Give me about an hour to get it together and I'll be there.” Fabiola had never been to his house before and the thought of going to see him excited her. “I'm going to need the address. Do you want me to bring anything?”

“I'm good. I've got everything I need. I just would like to see you outside of a damn therapy ward or hospital.”

“Now, are you sure that you don't me need me to bring you something to eat?”

“No, star, I am going to cook for you.”

Fabiola couldn't wait. Her hangover was now officially gone. She got up and showered—careful not to mess up her freshly
done hairdo—and put on a pair of her favorite jeans with a pair of Gucci heels and matching bag. She took a look in the mirror: fabulous.

* * *

“Here's that glass of water.”

“Thanks, Tonk.” Casino was feeling a lot better now that he was back in his own house. Noticing the odd look on his friend's face, he said, “What's on your mind?”

“What are your intentions with her?” Tonk asked.

“With who?”

“Who else? Fabiola.”

“What are you now,” Casino joked, “my father?”

“No. But I've been your friend for more years than I care to remember, and I see how the room gets brighter when she walks in.”

“I tell you what,” Casino said, “I tell you what my
intentions
are if you tell me why you ask.”

“Because I care about you and I don't think you need anything that'll be a distraction in your life right now,” Tonk shared. “We're in uncertain times. It's not a good time to bring new faces into one's circle.”

“Uncertain times,”
Casino echoed. “That's one of the reasons why I not only want her around, but need her around.”

“What do you mean?”

“I believe in her, and I trust her,” Casino confessed. “She's a very talented lady and just needs the right person investing and guiding her through her career. I'm that person.” Casino imagined that's what Puffy thought when he first discovered Mary J. Blige—and look how she turned out. He wanted that same stardom for Fabiola, only he wanted her to both start and end on top—no drama in between.

“So you are getting in the record business now?” Tonk asked.

“From getting to know Fabiola over the past few months, I know that she wants two things: to be a star and have someone to love her. I have big plans for Fabiola, but she's been looking for love in all the wrong places. I care about her and want to take her under my wing, so I'm going to make her my woman and make sure that all decisions made are in her best interest. She showed loyalty for me in my time of need, and now I'm going to be there for her.”

Tonk raised his eyebrows. “Well, boss, I've never heard you talk about a lady like that. And if you want to be in the music business, then I'll do whatever I can to make sure that happens.”

* * *

Casino's mansion was built on four acres of Hanover, a county located on the outskirts of Richmond. Fabiola pulled up in the circular driveway. When she looked at the brick Colonial-style house, she fantasized that she lived there and was returning home from a long tour.
One day
, she said to herself, and then snapped back into reality as she rang the bell. The chimes were music to her ears. … Then someone clicked a few latches, and there was Casino clad in a shadow-striped pair of black silk pajamas and robe. He was taller than she remembered. Now that he was standing like a tall, confident stallion, his presence was even more commanding than before.

“You got here faster than I anticipated. I planned to have on real clothes when you saw me this time,” he said with a laugh.

“You look good in pj's; they fit you well,” she complimented.

“Thank you,” he said and opened the door wider. “Welcome to my humble home,” he said with a sweep of his hand.

“Who decorated this place?” She looked around, admiring his
home. The furniture was the finest she'd ever seen in person and rivaled anything she had seen on television or in magazines.

“I had some help,” he admitted. “You don't like it?”

“No—no,” she said, “that's not it at all. It's beautiful!”

As he led her into the sitting room, she noticed a shiny ebony grand piano. “Oh, this is so beautiful. Who plays?” she asked.

“Nobody plays. It's just for decoration. As a matter of fact I can make it play by itself, but I have to read the book to figure out how to do it.”

“Wow!” She was amazed. “May I?”

“If you like.” He gestured with his hand.

Fabiola sat at the piano and Casino joined her. Casino was mesmerized. Fabiola played beautifully as she sang “Tell Me Something Good” by Chaka Khan. After she finished they were both silent for a moment.

Casino clapped for her. “Very impressive, Fabiola. You are truly talented: You sing, you play the piano, you never cease to amaze me. That was the first time that I ever even heard that damn thing play, and I must say that you playing really made me appreciate the fact that I am home.”

“Then, as an entertainer, I think I've done my job.” She smiled at him as she stood up.

“You can play it anytime that you want to.”

“Thank you so much, Casino.” She hugged him. “You know no words could ever say just how much I appreciate you and all that you've done for me. Not just for helping my family when we didn't have a place to go or all that you've done to sow into my career. But also for all the wisdom and knowledge that you've passed on to me.”

“You are worthy. I have never met anyone like you, Fabiola. And I've been running these streets a long time. I never met a
young girl as sweet and genuine as you. And I never got to thank you for coming to check on the old man.”

“That was the least I could do, Casino. But aren't you supposed to be in the bed resting?”

“I've had it with beds for a minute. Turns out the doctor kept me in the therapeutic center a week longer than I actually had to be there. For some reason he thought that if he let me go home that I wouldn't get the rest that I needed.”

She smiled. “Looks like the doctor outsmarted you, and he was probably right.”

They moved over into his den, which was filled with green-and-black, odd-shaped, oversized soft furniture.

“So, I didn't interrupt your company this morning when I called you, did I?” Casino fished around.

“No, not hardly,” Fabiola said nonchalantly with the wave of her hand.

A trace of a smile flashed over his face.

“So, Mademoiselle Fabiola, what exactly are you into?”

Fabiola admired the aquarium that doubled as a wall separating the family room from what looked like a study. Fabiola tilted her head, not understanding the question. “What do you mean? I'm into a lot of things: As you know I like to sing, I like to read, I like to laugh and have fun, I like horoscopes, I belly dance. I like a lot of things.”

“I mean your sexual preference. Do you like women or do you like men?” he bluntly asked.

“Women? Why would you ask me something like that?”

“No offense, it's just that I've noticed that a lot of young girls these days like girls. It seems like a growing fad, and I've never seen you with any men nor have I heard you really talk about any that you are romantically involved with.”

“See, that's what I really don't understand about men. Let me get this right: A woman is a whore if she fucks around, but if she doesn't then she's gay.”

“I don't make the rules—well, not all the rules anyway.”

“I love men,” she declared. “No doubt about it!” She paused for effect. “However, now I'm all about waiting for the right man … the right situation.”

Casino smiled as she continued.

“I mean, let's face it. I've known I was going to be a star my entire life. Now the entire world is about to know my name. I can't just be with any Joe Blow—a nigga that's going to have me jumping out of windows half naked to avoid God only knows what, or riding through the middle of drive-bys with him, or the police kicking our hotel room door in looking for drugs.”

“You sound like you're speaking from experience.”

“I am.”

“Then you're right, you can't be in those kinds of predicaments. You have too much to lose.”

“Sometimes it has to smack you in the face for you to get it. You know?”

They were interrupted by the doorbell. Casino went over to the intercom. “Who?”

“It's me, Casino,” Roxy said.

“What do you want?”

“What the fuck do you mean what do I want—to come in. To know why in the fuck you didn't tell me that they were discharging you. Open up the door, Casino.”

“Fab, excuse me for a minute. I have an unwanted guest.”

Fabiola nodded but she didn't know what to think. She hoped it would come down to her having to put her foot in Roxy's butt.

Casino went to the door. “Roxy, you are not welcome here.”

“And why the hell not?” she screamed. “Oh, because your little young bitch is over here? What, you got that bitch swinging from a chandelier?”

Casino spoke in a deadly calm voice. “Stop being disrespectful—you're embarrassing yourself. Now, pull yourself together and get off my property with some damn dignity.”

“Casino, what is it?” Roxy was hurt. “I've always played fair with you. I never stole from you and always patiently waited for you to sow your oats. I never complained when you dated this woman and that one. I handled all your business for you and never ever took one dime.”

“Yeah, but you betrayed me; a violation that is normally punishable in a much more severe way—much more—but due to our history I'm doing you this one last favor. I'll let you continue to enjoy life, and all I ask in return is for you to get the fuck off my property and out my life.”

Roxy stood in Casino's doorway sobbing. “Casino,” she hiccupped his name between cries.

“Don't, Roxy,” he said firmly to her and then shut the door in her face.

Fabiola could not believe her ears and she wanted to jump for joy. Instead she looked up to heaven and smiled—God is indeed good! Now maybe she could have Casino to herself.

Casino joined Fabiola back in the den. “I apologize for the distraction.”

“What happened? What did she do?”

“I can't discuss it; it will make my blood pressure go up.”

“And Lord knows we don't want that.” She said it in a joking way, but the truth is always in a joke.

Casino changed the subject. “Tell me about last night.”

“Now last night will make my blood pressure go up for sure,” she said, but she told him anyway.

She filled Casino in on the details from the night before. He was quiet for the most part while she spoke.

“Spade told me that he heard that you went to the club last night performing,” he probed. “That type of stuff got to stop. You've got to keep your nose clean. I know I'm not telling you nothing that you don't already know.”

She agreed. “You are so right.”

“You should use your spare time to enjoy nice dinners, movies, plays, and things of that nature.”

“Yes, I would like that!” She let out a deep sigh, saying, “And those are all things that I would do if I had a man to do them with.”

Casino nodded in agreement. “Well, what kind of men do you like? I might know somebody.”

“Please, not your son. I've heard about Spade.” She smiled and shook her head. “He's a little too wild for me.”

“I was thinking more of a very dear friend of mine. He's maybe twenty years your senior, a nice-looking fella, has a salt-and-pepper goatee.” Casino stroked his face.

“Really? I think I could be with an older man, but I've never had a man that much older than me.”

“He's never been with a younger lady before, not even when he was a young buck.”

“Do you think that we would be able to get past the great age difference?”

“I think so. The way I see it, as long as two people have the same philosophies about life and are willing to team up to get the things they want and have understanding and respect for each other, age shouldn't make a difference.”

“So, do you think that he and I could make it work? Enjoy ourselves and share lots of good times?” Fabiola was hoping that her wish was finally coming true.

“Well, we've been doing that for a few months now, so actually we've had a relationship, we just haven't crossed the bridge to the intimate part of town. The important thing is that I want you to know that I have your back.”

“And I have yours.”

He kissed her on the cheek.

“Damn, that's all I get? A daggone peck on the cheek? And you just told me that I am going to be your woman?”

“I've never been a big kisser, so you are going to have to work with me.”

“Okay, but two questions?”

“Shoot.”

“How come you never dated a younger lady? And does it work?”

“I never found a younger woman with enough to bring to the table. Most seem like they just want to run wild.”

“Some do, but some old ones are that same way. You shouldn't stereotype.”

“You are right. And then most young girls think that sex is the answer to everything.”

She laughed. “How ironic you should say that. Most men are sure that sex is the answer to everything.”

“Sex too fast can destroy a relationship.”

“But I don't want you to have to turn to someone else, since I do realize that it has been a long time for you.” She was thinking of some of the other women she had seen at the hospital on that first day.

“I don't want you to get it from somewhere else,” he assured her. “I turn down more pussy than I accept on a regular basis. It's not about who I can fuck, it's about who I want to fuck.”

“One more question. What's the deal with you and all your fans?” Fabiola said with a slight chuckle.

Casino answered, “I have a couple of intelligent ladies that I've known for years, some I was with. Some I wasn't. I'm not really interested in any of them and I never gave them reason to think there was anything more to the relationship, if you want to call it that. Only you.” He grabbed her hand. “That's it, that's all.”