Keisha moved to the neighborhood when Martin uprooted her from the Bronx. Her apartment, off White Plains Road at 228th and Carpenter, was her paradise until she met Martin one day when she went shopping in the city.
She accidentally walked into Martin because she was gazing at a Chanel pocketbook that she couldn't afford. “I'm so sorry.” She tried to get by him on the busy sidewalk.
“All is forgiven if you let me purchase that pocketbook for you.”
Keisha slowed her steps and looked over her shoulder to view him. She was tempted by his offer. But she decided to keep walking.
He caught up with her and kept up with her pace. “I mean no harm. I just hate to see a beautiful woman not getting what she wants.”
Keisha noticed his expensive suit and immediately knew she wanted to spend some of his money.
“How about if we go to lunch in a public place so you can get to know me better?”
Keisha thought about the Chanel pocketbook and how badly she wanted it, but decided to play it safe. “No, thank you.”
Martin nodded his head in approval. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his business card. “Well, here is my card. You can call me anytime.”
Keisha took his card and walked away, disappearing in the Manhattan rush-hour crowd.
Two months after dialing Mr. Martin Graham's number, Keisha was living in Connecticut with her sugar daddy. He wanted her closer to him even though he was married and lived a few blocks down with his wife and kids. But since he was paying the bills she went along for the ride. People would whisper about their affair but she couldn't care less. But this morning after his wife stormed into her bedroom she knew whatever was left of her reputation would be tarnished. All the neighborhood wives would now put their husbands on a tight leash knowing Keisha was a home wrecker. Martin's wife would take Martin for all he had, leaving him with nothing; but Keisha was no fool. She had blackmailed Martin into paying off her condo, or else she would go public with the videos she made of him and his crazy fantasies. Besides, the condo was already in her name. She knew what she wanted and how to get it.
Now it would be a ritual for insecure wives to come knocking at her door, looking for their husbands. Like this crazy bitch who was still banging her door. Keisha was going to have a field day telling them how great their husbands were in bed for her cruel satisfaction, especially if she was being accused of an affair that she had nothing to do with. She was going to enjoy knocking them off their high pedestals, but this morning she didn't have the energy or the time to deal with this bitch.
Keisha poured a bottle of water that was sitting on the counter into the kettle and turned the stove on without acknowledging the verbal attack of a gold digger gone mad outside. These wives weren't in love with their husbands, but in love with the money, so they felt threatened whenever another woman was in the picture. The ringing of her cell phone made her rush to the bedroom. It was sitting on the nightstand playing a song by Drake. “Hey you,” she said seductively.
Her persona suddenly changed from monotonous to sensual bliss, followed by a smile from ear to ear. She massaged her leg with a Victoria's Secret lotion and smiled at the words that tainted her mind. Keisha released a big laugh, dismissing the negative energy that had made her morning miserable. “I'll see you then.” She ended her conversation.
Standing in front of her walk-in closet trying to decide the outfit for the day wasn't a hard task because she had everything to her comfort. She picked out a white fitted Bebe dress pant with the price tag of $110 still on it. She put her feet in then wiggled it up her legs. The tight-fitted black tank top made her breasts seem as if she had implants. The white fitted blazer made the look complete. She viewed herself in the mirror and saw perfection. Keisha blew herself a kiss.
I feel bad for the people who aren't as beautiful as me.
She heavily applied her Mac makeup then completed the look with her black Michael K. pumps and matching purse. She took a second glance in the mirror and her beauty was undeniable. “Damn I look good.”
She exited the bedroom and sashayed her way to the door. Outside in the driveway her silver BMW awaited her. Keisha covered her eyes with her Gucci shades and turned the keys in the ignition. “She's Royal” by Tarrus Riley started to play. Her cell phone started to ring and it was Tina calling. “Hello,” she answered as she backed out of the driveway with one hand on the steering wheel, looking behind her. “I'm on my way.”
Chapter 3
Within minutes Keisha was outside Tina's apartment. She blew the car horn. “I knew she wouldn't be ready.” She tapped on her horn again. Keisha viewed herself in the mirror to make sure her makeup wasn't flawed. Tina opened the passenger side door and sat in the car. “What took you so long?”
“I had to look as good as you,” Tina replied.
Keisha gave her a once-over. “Not even close.” She drove off. “Let's go over the plan once again because you seem to lose your head sometimes. If he's not falling for the trap you need to come over and act as if I am a business acquaintance of yours.”
“Yes, from
Hustler
magazine!” Tina laughed.
“It's not funny. I know you get nervous around these big shots but you better don't miss my signal.”
Keisha and Tina were up to their old tricks as usual. Seeking out prey was their daily ritual. According to them their bodies would make them rich because they already had degrees in hustling suckers for their money. One of their many tactics would be to Google wealthy businessmen, then seek out their places of business. Keisha would accidentally bump into him on his way out to lunch. This was a craft that she had perfected.
They entered the lobby of People's Bank headquarters in downtown Bridgeport, wearing their confidence proudly.
“Hello. May I help you?” the receptionist greeted them.
They strolled past her to the elevator.
“Ladies, ladies, you have to sign in!”
They proceeded without acknowledging the receptionist. The numbers were counting down on the elevator and Keisha rushed over to the door, awaiting a victim.
Five, four, three, two, one.
She counted down the numbers in her head. Ding! The elevator stopped, and a man exited the elevator, and she stepped into him, dropping the folder she had in her hand, and paper scattered on the floor.
“I'm so sorry,” the man said as he gathered up the documents from the ground. He looked up at her.
“Uncle Patrick!” Keisha quickly stepped back. It had been many years since the last time she saw her uncle, and to be reunited in an awkward situation like this. He wasn't supposed to be the one coming out of the elevator. They were both surprised.
“What are you doing here?” Keisha inquired.
“I should be asking you that question.” He quickly stood to his feet, speaking in a deep voice that would be fit for a radio personality.
“I'm here for a job interview on the third floor.”
“What position? I can put in a good word for you.”
“In the fraud department, but I have this job in the bag. My connection, Simone, is going to work her magic.”
“Do you mean Mrs. Simone Preston?”
“No, Simone Merkerson.”
I can't believe that there is a Simone working here. Well, let's see if there is one with this last name. I really hope he doesn't go inquiring.
In actuality she never had a job interview. This particular day Keisha's victim was supposed to be the bank executive Mr. Cooper. And Tina was there as a decoy, a companion just in case their plan fell through so it wouldn't seem suspicious. Mr. Cooper was going to be their next meal ticket.
“You have grown into a lovely young lady. I almost didn't recognize you. So now you think that you are too grown to give your uncle a hug.”
Keisha gave him a tight squeeze. She missed her uncle dearly. He always came to her defense whenever her father would always chastise her as a child. But to sway the attention from herself, Keisha raked her fingers through her hair, giving Tina the SOS signal. Tina sashayed her way over and Patrick turned his attention to her greeting her with a big smile.
“Tina, this is my Uncle Patrick, the CEO of Top Dot Records.”
Tina eyes radiated when she heard the title he held. He stretched his hand forward to greet her with a handshake but Tina embraced him with a tight hug instead.
The elevator door opened and Keisha's attention drifted and she zoomed in on Mr. Cooper.
Make contact, followed by an apology; then get him weak in the knees with seduction.
Keisha went over the steps in her head on how to catch her victim, but today she watched him leave the building, escaping her trap.
Tomorrow is another day. I will get you under my spell.
She brought her attention back to her uncle, and Tina was getting really friendly.
Keisha grabbed her arm, pulling her away, because she wasn't going to let Tina get her claws into her uncle's pocket. Not only that, but Patrick would give Tina whatever she desired and Keisha wasn't going to let that happen. Keisha had to be on top even if that meant holding her friend back. She had no loyalty to anyone. She used people for whatever they could offer her at the moment with no regard for their feelings. She had no female friends except for Tina, who was her rookie in training. Keisha didn't mind her tagging along or sharing the spotlight because Keisha called the shots. Tina only got whatever or whoever Keisha didn't want. Tina idolized Keisha and wouldn't want to feel her wrath if she was to go against her.
“Tina was just leaving to go meet up with a client for lunch,” Keisha informed Patrick.
“I was?” Tina asked in confusion.
Keisha grabbed her arm, leading her to the door. “My uncle is off-limits.” She hastily rejoined her uncle with her arms open wide and embraced him with a hug. “I'm so happy to see you, Uncle.”
Keisha wasn't family oriented. She had no family values. The only things valuable to her were her clothes and jewelry. She hadn't seen her family in years, ever since she ran away from home as a teenager. Keisha was from a middle-class family. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a social worker. Her father was a stern man who ruled with an iron fist. There was nothing more important than getting an education and he wanted his daughter to follow in his footsteps. But Keisha had different plans for her life, none that her father would ever approve of. She wanted to get away from her father's rules and laws, but in order for her to do that she needed money and she knew exactly where to get it. On her seventeenth birthday she conjured up a plan to blackmail her father's business partner into giving her a large sum of money. It wasn't hard for her to pull it off and it took little planning. He was a married man with a lust for younger girls and she used it to her advantage. She convinced him to meet with her and it would be their little secret. He fell for it and honestly it didn't take much convincing. Once she had him where she wanted him, she took incriminating pictures of him. She threatened to send them to his wife and showed them to her father if he didn't comply with her wishes. She wanted $35,000 for her silence and he gave it to her with no hesitation. That was just the beginning of her many schemes to come.
There were two empty chairs in the fancy decorated lobby. Keisha led her uncle to sit. He was in awe to see her all grown up. She was now thirty years old and no longer his little niece. She was now a grown woman. They chitchatted about their lives and she even elaborated on her pretend job as an editor at the nonexistent magazine company she was working for. She didn't want him to know that she was a schemer because he would be so disappointed in her. Keisha knew her uncle was a cash machine and she wasn't going to let him leave without getting him to write her a fat check.
At this point she regretted cutting her uncle out her life. But she felt as if to get a clean break from her father she had to cut all ties with everyone. She didn't want anyone giving up her whereabouts. But now she was a grown woman who was no longer in hiding.
“Uncle, I'm tapped out of money and I need help with my rent.”
Patrick didn't hesitate; he quickly took out his checkbook. “Fill in the amount you need.” She did as she was told with a smile on her face. She passed the checkbook back to him and he chuckled. “That's a lot of money!”
“That's just loose change to you.”
Patrick adjusted his tie and cleared his throat. He filled out the check then ripped it out of the checkbook. Keisha stretched her hand forward but Patrick put the check into his pocket. Keisha wore a look of confusion.
“I have a business proposition and I think you have the perfect skill for the job.”
“Job?” she repeated as if she didn't hear him clearly. The word gave her an instant migraine. Keisha never had a job, nor was she interested in having one. She always depended on her looks and so far she was doing great. Keisha had men eating out of the palm of her hand and for her selfish pleasure. She viewed her manicure nails and the thought of doing work made her want to hurl. “But I already have a job.”
Patrick patted her hand. “This is a weekend position and you already have the skills for the job.”
Keisha wrinkled her brow in curiosity. “A magazine editor?” She searched his face for an answer.
“No. Something more exciting.”
Keisha pouted her lips and squeezed them together. “You got my attention.”
He held her hand in his. “There are a few young talents that I want to sign to my label but there are two who are playing hardball.”
“I don't see where I fit in.”
“Simple, your job will be to get him to sign with my label.”
“I'm listening.” She adjusted her body to face him.
“All you have to do is go to a party or two and get their attention and convince them to sign.”
“How would I do that? I know nothing about the business.”
“You are underestimating yourself. You are very attractive and that's good enough.”
“I'm still not following.” Keisha shook her head from side to side and pushed her shoulders upward.
“Okay, listen. These entertainers have a weakness for beautiful women. Look at you. How would they be able to resist?”
“Now you are speaking my language. This is a position that I'm more than willing to accept, so when do I start?” Her eyes were glowing and excitement took over her body.
“I know I would be able to count on you but under no circumstance can they know that you are my niece.”
“I have no problem with that. I can reel them in on my own.”
“Well if you can reel Bling in I'll owe you big. He has a little island flava. The other artist I also need to sign, his name is Hype. He's young but he has what it takes to sell albums.”
“How young are we talking? I look too good to go to jail, especially for seducing a minor.”
“Come on, Keisha, you are my niece. I wouldn't put you in a predicament like that.”
“How young is he?”
“Twenty-three,” he said while coughing.
“Seriously, Uncle, no, I won't. Seem as if you forgot that I'm thirty years old.”
“Come on, he is way over twenty-one. Beside he's a hothead and loves a pretty woman. I see him in action at the clubs.”
“So why don't you just throw in a few more dollars on the signing bonus and maybe you can catch him that way?”
“I've tried but he's not biting. Everybody is talking about doing independent records. It's taking money from my pocket. Do you know what a hit song does for my pocket?
I can only imagine what you are going to do for my pocket. If I bring these artists to him he will bring the Benjamins to me. After all, “it's all about the Benjamins, baby.”
“Once they sign on the dotted line, then and only then you can have that five thousand dollar check.”
“C.O.D. Cash on delivery.”
“You have the mentality of a hustler. I like that. So are you going to give me your friend's number?”
Keisha got up and hung her pocketbook over her shoulder. “She's a gold digger.”
“I have some loose change to spare.” They both laughed.
Keisha departed from her uncle, exuding confidence because she was up for the challenge. Keisha walked to the parking lot where Tina was awaiting her in the car. But before she could get her foot in the car Tina lashed out at her. “Why the hell did you dismiss me like that?” Tina questioned.
“I wanted to talk to my uncle in private. Is there a problem?” Keisha searched her for answers. “Are you interested in my uncle?” Keisha laughed and refreshed her lip gloss in the mirror.
“What if I am?”
“Don't waste your time because you are not on his level.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Tina was disturbed by Keisha's statement. “Are you saying I'm not good enough to date your uncle?”
Tina's persona changed as she stared at Keisha with a look of dismay, but Keisha looked at her and laughed even harder. “Are you serious? Do you honestly think that you are on his level?”
“And what level is that?”
Keisha flipped the mirror up. “You know you're not wife material.”
Tina was infuriated and hurt by the statement. She put her shades on because her eyes told exactly what her heart felt at the moment. Keisha drove out of the parking lot and turned her music up. Tina sat in her seat as an obedient child. Yes, her feelings were hurt, but she knew better than to prolong the conversation. It was as if she was in a cult and Keisha was the leader or she was under a spell. She idolized Keisha and Keisha's word was the law. Tina dismissed her anger and replaced it with the tainted belief that Keisha was right.
They left the bank and headed to Rootsman Kitchen to get some Jamaican food; but Keisha suddenly changed her mind and quickly jammed on her brakes to do a three-point turn.
“Are you trying to kill me?” Tina screamed as she placed her hand on the dashboard to brace herself from going through the windshield because she wasn't wearing her seat belt.