Last Bitch Standing (14 page)

"Turn the music down, this is an important call."
I was about to ask him what was wrong with his hands
but quickly remembered who I was dealing with and a
remark like that might land me a blackened eye.

"You've been hard to catch up with the last couple
of days."

"My wife got back home so I've been extremely
busy." Oh shit, that sounds like Supreme! Now I was happy as
hell I turned the volume down because their conversation
was clear as shit.

"I understand, family always comes first." I had to
roll my eyes hearing that come out of Arnez's mouth.
He seemed like the type that would have his entire family
petrified that if everything wasn't precisely the way he
wanted everybody was getting fucked up.

"Yeah, but what's up with you. I thought for sure you would have that Nico situation resolved by now"

"Me too but for the last few months he hasn't been
making any moves.. .no business. Something had him
occupied."

"Or someone."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing, so what's up with him now?'

"Word came to me today that he might be partnering
up with a woman named CoCo and this dude Genesis."

"Who the fuck are they?"

"Some people I'm not on good terms with. So if
he's dealing with them, I would need to come up with a
different approach in getting him to do some business
with me."

"I advise you to come up with that approach at
rapid speed because I've funneled way too much money
in your business for you to bring me nothing."

"You know that I appreciate all that you've done."

"I don't need your appreciation or want it. If you
can't get done what I need you to do then I'll have to take
my money someplace else."

"Come on, we've worked together way too long for
you to say something like that. I've made you millions of
dollars."

"Yeah whatever."

"I got you. When you asked me to resolve that issue
I didn't think it would be that complicated. But you know
the problems I've had recently and like I said he's just
starting to get back to handling business. There's a delay, that's all. But not the sort of problem that you would
need to sever our business relationship."

"I hear you. I have to come that way tomorrow to
stop by my parents' place to pick up my daughter, so
before I leave I wanna see you. And our conversation
needs to go differently. You know what you need to get
done... so make it happen. I want Nico Carter out of
commission...'nough said."

I had been dissecting each sentence from that
discussion and I couldn't figure all the shit out but one
thing seemed evident, Arnez worked for Supreme and
Arnez was a drug dealer. So added to Supreme's list of
business ventures was running a drug empire. I didn't
think Xavier Mills had it in him. Now I had another
reason why it was imperative I get the fuck away from
Arnez. Because Supreme was coming to town and if he
found out Arnez was dealing with me, I would be added
to that out of commission list Nico Carter was on.

"I have to get rid of Genesis and CoCo once and for
all. They're going to fuck everything up." I heard Arnez
mumbling under his breath. I hoped if I remained mute
he would continue on oblivious I was interested in every
word he was saying.

"If I could just find Genevieve because having
someone make prank calls pretending to be his sister isn't
enough. I need her for bait."

Damn this nigga off the chain, getting fade motherfuckers to
cal/pretending to be that man's sister If he avasn't a mm,oman beater,
)re could put our minds together and come up with some fabulous scams. He's more calculating than me.

"We're going to the Greenhouse in Soho. 150 Varick
Street between Vandam & Spring," Arnez told the taxi
driver. After letting him know our destination he turned
his attention to me. "Did I tell you how sexy you look in
that dress?"

"No, but you have great taste in clothes, so it's all
you.

"True, but you've pulled if off perfectly," he said,
admiring the black Alexander Wang sheer sleeved minidress. It was a cute dress, I'll admit. But Arnez had me
feeling like I was his personal dress up doll which wasn't
cute.

"So who is this party for?"

"The spokes model for Akil Walker's new women's
clothing line."

"Oh, I've seen a couple of ads for that, his shit is hot.
So he's giving the party for the person who's modeling
his clothes?"

"She's the exclusive model for his women's line. And
this is like her introduction to the heavyweights in the
industry."

"Sounds exciting for her."

"I'm sure it will be." Arnez didn't strike me as the
type who would give a fuck about some models' party to celebrate her introduction to the scene. I knew there
was a lot more to this but I would have to sit back and
observe to find out.

When the taxi pulled in front of the club it had that
red velvet rope, I wanna be a star feel. Two cut the fuck
up security men were keeping post at the entrance and
some chick with a clipboard and headpiece was working
the guest list. Arnez said a couple of words to the girl and
slid on through. The spacious bi-level club was cute in a
unique sort of way. I noticed a little sign that read `first
eco-friendly nightlife destination' I assumed that was
important to the folks running the establishment because
me as a guest could care less.

I followed behind Arnez taking in the interesting
design of the place. The transparent ceiling fixture had
a bunch of crystals, which seemed to be designed to
emulate a rolling landscape. Then the bars were clear
glass, that displayed lush natural scenes and I assumed
it was all recycled since this was supposed to be an ecofriendly spot. None of it was my style but when I noticed
the interior projection screens mounted on three separate
walls playing what seemed to be the photo shoots the
spokes model did for the clothing line. Then the name
`Nichelle' kept flashing on the screen and I assumed that
was the model's name.

"Come on, we're going to sit in the VIP section on
the upper level." I nodded my head and kept following
Arnez, curious as to what he was up to.

"Maya," I heard someone call out my name but Soho wasn't my neck of the woods so I glanced around to see
who it might be. "Maya..." I heard the same female voice
again. But this time I saw who it was.

"Tashawn, girl what are you doing here?" We gave
each other a quick hug.

"You remember Dionne."

"Yeah, you talking `bout Dionne from Queens?"

"Exactly, she dragged me to this bullshit. She heard
Akil Walker would be here and thought if she showed up,
she'd get discovered and be his next spokes model." We
both burst out laughing because that sounded like some
dreamer shit Dionne would come up with.

"Has she found him?"

"Hell no! And if she did, his head is probably so
far up the ass of his new model up there," Tashawn
pointed toward the projection screen, "so he wouldn't
give Dionne a second thought. Plus she know the PR
chick that put this shit together and supposedly Akil nor
is that model Nichelle showing up. Akil's publicity people
just threw that out there to get a bigger turn out and I
see it worked... but moving on, what are you doing here.
We ain't seen you in none of the boroughs for a minute.
Where you been?"

"I've been in Miami for a minute."

"So what brought you here?"

"Him," I said pointing at Arnez who was making
gestures for me to bring my ass on.

"Girl, he don't look cool wit' you being over here
talking to me."

"That nigga a nut. Don't nothing make him happy
but himself. You driving?"

"Yeah, why?"

"How much longer you gon' be here?"

"Dionne in the bathroom. When she come out we
probably leaving in a few. This not my type of party. And
Dionne only came to meet that Akil dude, now that she
know he ain't showing up, she ready to go."

"I hear that so can you do me a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Let me get a ride wit' ya'."

"Girl, that ain't nothing. It'll be like old times when
we used to skip school together and ride the trains going
no fuckin' where."

"Yeah, but we ain't getting on the train. .not
tonight," we laughed thinking about old times.

"So do you want me to just come get you when
we're ready?"

"I'ma ditch homeboy so I don't want him to have a
clue I'm bouncing. Here put my number in your phone.
I'll meet you on the corner of Spring within ten minutes.
But if I don't show up, you got my number, send me a
text."

"Cool, we'll be in a black Explorer."

"Thanks, Tashawn. Girl, I owe you big time." I was
so happy I ran into Tashawn, I was tempted to break
into a two-step in the middle of the dance floor. But I
remained cool and smiled when I reached Arnez. He
appeared as if he was ready to choke a bitch up.

"Who were you talking to?"

"This girl I went to school with. I hadn't seen her in
a minute so we were playing catch up. So what's up, are
you enjoying the party?" I asked wanting to switch the
dialogue off of me.

"It's cool, I just wish the guest of honor would hurry
up, show her face."

"You talking about her, that model Nichelle?" I
pointed at the screen.

"Yes, but her name is Genevieve," he huffed like I
didn't know who I was talking about.

"Huh? That model up there, her name is Nichelle."

"Yes her... "he shrugged, seeming annoyed.

"Oh baby, that's the closest you gon' get to seeing
her face."

"What are you talking about?'

"She's a no-show and so is the dude Akil."

"Who told you that?" he practically screamed the
question in my ear.

"There's no need to get upset. I'm sure you'll be able
to see them at some other party."

"Just answer the question," he pulled on my arm.

"Listen, I'm getting tired of you manhandling me!"
I was ready to take off my shoe and go upside dude's
head but since I knew I was about to make a getaway I
calmed it down. "I apologize baby, what was the question
again?"

"How do you know Genevieve isn't showing up?"

"Who is this Genevieve chick you keep talking about?"

"Excuse me, I meant to say Nichelle."

"The girl I was speaking with, her girlfriend is cool
with the PR chick that did this event and she told her
neither one of them was showing up."

Are you sure?"

"I mean I wasn't there taking part in the discussion
but I'm sure you can go ask the girl yourself. My friend
told me she was upstairs. Ask for the PR chick and she's
wearing one of those headsets."

"You stay right here." Arnez pointed his finger in
my face like I was five years old. "I'll be right back."

"No problem baby, take your time I'll be right
here... Not!" When I saw Arnez motherfuckin' ass make
that turn to go upstairs I grabbed my purse and hit it.
Whatever shit he had bought me at the mall he could keep
it. I had all the essential goods right here in my purse. I
bolted out that club so fast and never looked back.

I stood in Aaliyah's bedroom thinking about all I had
missed out on from being away from her these past few
months. Looking at her pictures, she had grown so much.
Although she looked a lot like me, it was amazing how
much she resembled my mother. When I came across
one particular picture on her dresser, it took every ounce
of strength I had not to completely lose it.

"Yo' ass will be mine! I don't give a fuck what I have
to do!" I spit, holding a picture that Maya and Aaliyah
took together. The anger that had come over me wanted
to rip the picture into tiny shreds, but then I was torn,
because my sweet Aaliyah was also in the picture, and for
some strange reason I would feel guilty tearing up her
image too. So, I did the only other thing I felt comfortable with. I tossed the shit in the trash.

"We're gonna take a flight out in the morning."