Trife Life To Lavish Part 2 Genesis & Genevieve...Am I My Brother's Keeper (9 page)

"Nichelle... Nichelle ... Nichelle.. .

"I'm sorry. My mind was someplace else. I didn't even
hear you calling my name."

"Is everything okay with you?"

"Yes, I just have a lot on my mind."

"I could imagine. You're about to be a star."

"Star ...I never thought that would be a word someone
used to describe me."

"I guarantee you six months to a year from now, a
whole lot of people will be using those exact words."

"So I take it everything is complete with the contract?"

"Yes, it's a go! And I feel honored to have been the
one to finalize the deal. Thank you!"

"You don't have to thank me, you're a great attorney."

"Nichelle, are you sure you're okay? I mean you're
being so calm about all of this. Most women would be
jumping off the walls. Running down a list of all the new
things they're going to buy with their money."

"Veronica, thanks for your concern but I'm fine. I'm
sure once it hits me I'll be doing all those things you were
talking about."

"Ok, but if you ever need to talk I'm here and it
doesn't have to be just about business."

"Thank you for that."

"I know you're supposed to be meeting with T-Roc
so I'm not going to keep you. But try to enjoy yourself,
remember you only live once."

"How the fuck did you let her get away, you fuckin'
idiot!" Arnez belted.

"Look at me, don't you think I'm just as pissed as you.
I'm on these fuckin' crutches."

"Are you whining to me like a fuckin' baby? I don't give
a damn about you being on crutches. I was this close to having the bait I needed and you fucked it up!"

"I told you I'm not giving up! I'll get her. I just need a
little more time."

"Wait a minute," Arnez shouted before answering his
cell. "What can I do for you?"

"I need to see you."

"I'm working on something important so I probably
wouldn't be able to get to the West Coast for another week."

"That don't matter `cause I'm in New York."

"So am I."

"Good, then we can meet right away."

"Sounds important."

"My shit is always important. I'll see you shortly."

When the call ended, Arnez was curious to know what
was so important that Supreme needed to see him immediately.

"Nigel, I have some other shit to handle so we'll
continue this later. But until then, you concentrate on
bringing Genevieve to me. I already had to get rid of two
other men because they couldn't get the job done, don't
you be the next casualty. Now get out."

"Last night was unbelievable," Precious smiled as she
came out the bathroom. "I was hoping you were going to join
me in the shower so we could've kept it going."

"I would've loved that but I got a phone call that held
me up."

"Nothing's wrong is it?"

"No, but I do have to go meet with someone about
some business."

"So do you want me to pick up Aaliyah without you?"

"Yeah, that works. When I'm done I'll meet you at my
parents' house. Now let me get in the shower. The sooner I
get this meeting over with the sooner I can get back to my
beautiful wife and daughter." Supreme kissed Precious and
went in the bathroom.

This time yesterday, I thought my marriage was over. Now
I' more in love than ever. Thank you God for he ping me save my
marriage. Now please let me get pregnant and give my husband the
son or daughter he deserves. I know Aaliyah is his child but I need to
give Supreme the biological child that I know he truly wants. Please let
that happen for us because my family means more to me than anything
else in this world.

Precious believed her prayers would be delivered and
would do her part to make sure it happened.

Knock. . .Knock. . .Knock

Genesis looked out the peephole and saw it was CoCo
on the other side of the door.

"How are you this morning?" CoCo smiled, always
happy to see Genesis.

"Good, come on in. Sorry I couldn't make it over to
the restaurant last night. But after I wrapped things up with
Nico and T-Roc I was exhausted."

"No problem, so what do you have planned for today?
I was thinking we could take Amir sightseeing."

"You don't know how good that sounds but I have to
meet T-Roc at his office. I'm thinking it's going to take up
most of my day."

"So you've actually decided to take the job offer. Wow,
I thought you were bullshitting but you're serious."

"Ver
Y"

"Then I'm serious about moving to New York too."

"CoCo, you don't have to do that."

"I want to do it. Genesis, you can't keep trying to
pretend that the feelings I have for you don't exist. Not
acknowledging it doesn't make them go away. I'm in love
with you. It's as simple as that."

"Nothing in life is ever simple. You know that, CoCo."

"Not when it comes to us I don't, so explain it to me."

"I can't have this conversation with you right now. I'm
already running late and I need to go."

"Then we'll talk about it when you get back."

"I'm not sure what time that'll be. It might be late."

"Then I'll wait up." Genesis could see from the look in
CoCo's eyes that this was nonnegotiable and decided not to
waste any more time with the back and forth.

"That's fine. IT call you when I get back."

"I'll be waiting," CoCo made clear, as they both left the
hotel room.

"Nichelle, it's a pleasure," T-Roc said, standing up
from his chair. "Seeing you in person, only confirms what I
already knew-you are the perfect fit for my perfume line.
You're actually even more perfect than I originally thought."
As with most of T-Roc's business decisions, he went with
his gut instinct and that included hiring Nichelle without
seeing her face to face first. He made the choice strictly off the billboard she graced and her portfolio. There was
something raw about her look and T-Roc gravitated towards
that.

"Thank you," Nichelle said, putting her head down.
Not wanting T-Roc to see her blush."

"Are you shy?" T-Roc questioned in a teasing voice.

"I think your praise is embarrassing her a tad bit," Akil
cut in and said.

"I'm fine. But I do truly appreciate you giving me this
opportunity. You could've chosen any girl in the world but you
chose me. I'll always be grateful to you for that."

"Remember you said that, because when the money and
fame starts pouring in, people quickly become ungrateful.
I've seen it too many times."

"I can't imagine ever being ungrateful, I've lost way
too much," Nichelle said, as her voice faded.

"Repeat that, I didn't catch that last part," T-Roc stated,
curious to know what Nichelle had said.

"It was nothing. I just said I'll always be grateful. I
promise you that," she smiled.

"And you know what, I believe you. So let's not waste
any more time and get to it."

"Sounds like a plan to me. So when did you want to
start?" Akil inquired.

"Tomorrow morning, seven a.m."

"Are you serious? I thought you would need more time
to plan everything out." Nichelle couldn't hide her surprise.

"My Dear, I've been planning this since the moment
I decided to launch my perfume line. The only piece
missing-was you. So it's a go."

"Is it possible to be scared and excited all at the same
time, because that's what I'm feeling right now"

"Of course, that's only natural. So make sure you get
a lot of rest tonight because I want you to shine in front of
that camera tomorrow. No dark circles, no fatigue and no
being late, are we clear?"

"Yes, T-Roc, we're clear. I won't let you down."

"Good, I'll see the two of you tomorrow"

"No doubt," Akil said as he and Nichelle left T-Roc's
office.

"Who was that?" Genesis questioned, catching the
back of Nichelle and Akil as they were leaving.

"That was Nichelle, our new spokes model for the
perfume line. You'll have a chance to meet her tomorrow
morning, when we begin shooting."

"Tomorrow morning is no good for me."

"Why not?"

"I have business with Nico that cannot wait."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Taking on this job with you is already gonna
squash a lot of time that I need to devote to my business.
I know you my boss and all but can you at least grant me
some time to tie up some loose ends?" Genesis chuckled,
causing a smile to creep across T-Roc's face.

"Since you put it like that, how can I decline your
request? But joking aside, would it be so bad to have me
as your boss full time? I mean, it would be more so like us
working together."

"Are you playing right now or is this a serious question?"

"I'm serious! I mean come on, Genesis. How long do you plan to stay in the game? I'm offering you a legitimate
job where you can make a lot of money."

"Yeah, a lot of money for most people, but nowhere
near the type of ends I'm bringing in on this street shit."

"But that's exactly what it is-street shit. You know I
have a lot of love for the hustle but when an opportunity
knocks to take you out of the streets and still be able to live
good, you should take it."

"I feel you but this game is like my identity. These
streets define me, the same way sitting behind the desk
brokering deals define you."

"Yeah, but sitting behind this desk ain't gonna have
me doing 25 to life."

"My Man, I ain't got no plans to do that shit neither...
trust me."

"I'm not gonna continue to hassle you about it but
think about what I said. The offer is on the table. You never
know, these next few months of being my eyes and ears,
you might fall in love with a new profession."

"T-Roc, know I appreciate your concern. That's why
I'm willing to do whatever you need to see if you have
snakes within your camp. But you best believe, once we get
down to the bottom of the bullshit, it's back to business as
usual for me."

T-Roc knew Genesis meant that shit. Not living a life
of crime was like not living at all for a man like Genesis.
The streets were his high, his addiction and only a new and
powerful high would be able to break him away from it.