worth featuring on a major cable show. I’d call it Divalicious Cribs, with your host Velvet Waters. Forget all those famous rappers and ballers, they need to highlight how female mil-lionairesses do it up,” I said, stretching across the white mink spread on Honey’s bed.
I scrambled to the bottom of my purse, pulled out my cell phone. Nine missed calls. I left the ringer on mute, called my mother back first, to check on her and my son.
My mom answered. “Velvet Waters, child, where are you? Your agent has called here three times saying you’re not answering your phone. Ronnie is worried sick. And you know I’m worried too. It doesn’t take that long to celebrate with Honey. Lunchtime ended hours ago.”
“Ma, Ma, please calm down. I’ma call my agent next. I’m fine. Honey is missing. We’re trying to find her,” I explained, hoping my mother would understand.
“Missing. As in lost?” Mama asked. “She’s a grown woman. Grown women don’t just come up missing.”
“No, Ma. As in kidnapped. Valentino is holding her for his fifty-million dollars. He wants his money back.”
“Lord, Jesus. Yes, indeed. Protect my baby and Honey. Velvet, you’re not making sense. None. Honey is too smart to be missing. Do not get involved in her games. You have a lifetime opportunity in front of you with this movie. Don’t blow it. Ronnie deserves this break. Me too. Get yourself home right this minute.”
My mother had started researching private schools for Ronnie, a nice home for us to buy, good stock investments, and a retirement plan for me. I was only twenty-six. I did not need a 401(k) plan. We lived in a good neighborhood a few blocks from the Twelve Hotel where I used to work. Ronnie was in a decent public school. Having money, millions of dollars, would afford us a better lifestyle, but Mama said it was up to us to live a better life.
“Sorry, Mama.”
My mother scolded, “Sorry my behind. You don’t owe Honey anything.”
Was my mom serious? “Mama, you didn’t feel that way when you asked Honey to find Alphonso, make him pay child support so I’d quit stripping for extra money. She found him. She got me seventy-two thousand from him and she didn’t charge us one cent. I can’t come home, Ma. Not until I know Honey is safe. I love you. Kiss my baby and tell him I love him. I’ll be home soon. I promise. Bye, Ma.”
“Vel—”
I hated hanging up on my mother but there was no sense in arguing with her. I wondered where Honey was, whether or not Valentino had hurt her. “This mink is nice,” I said, rubbing it. I couldn’t sleep. It was almost time to leave for Stilettos and I hadn’t heard from Sapphire or Grant. Mama called back. I let her call go to voice mail. She wasn’t changing my mind.
I called my agent. Got his voice mail and left a message. “Hi, this is Velvet Waters. I apologize for the delay in returning your calls. I had a family emergency. I’m still on schedule and will be in LA in a few days. Call me back.” Felt like I was rambling so I ended the call. Better go upstairs and see if Onyx would let me wear some of her clothes. Honey’s bed felt so good, I couldn’t move. I lay my head on her white mink pillow, then closed my eyes.
Tap. Tap.
I rolled over, then called out, “Come in.”
Onyx opened Honey’s bedroom door. “What the hell! Are you deaf! I told you not to get in Honey’s bed,” Onyx yelled.
I had to straight stare at her for five minutes before responding. If I kept being passive, Onyx would think she could talk to me any way she wanted. If I replied to her in the same way she approached me, either she’d hear how crazy she sounded and stop it or I’d have to fight my way out of this situation and take my ass home.
“Onyx, what is your fucking problem? I have a child. I am not yours. You said, ‘do not get in.’ I’m on the bed, not in the bed. In means under the covers, not on top of the covers.” I got up off the bed. Stood by the edge
I scrambled to the bottom of my purse, pulled out my cell phone. Nine missed calls. I left the ringer on mute, called my mother back first, to check on her and my son.
My mom answered. “Velvet Waters, child, where are you? Your agent has called here three times saying you’re not answering your phone. Ronnie is worried sick. And you know I’m worried too. It doesn’t take that long to celebrate with Honey. Lunchtime ended hours ago.”
“Ma, Ma, please calm down. I’ma call my agent next. I’m fine. Honey is missing. We’re trying to find her,” I explained, hoping my mother would understand.
“Missing. As in lost?” Mama asked. “She’s a grown woman. Grown women don’t just come up missing.”
“No, Ma. As in kidnapped. Valentino is holding her for his fifty-million dollars. He wants his money back.”
“Lord, Jesus. Yes, indeed. Protect my baby and Honey. Velvet, you’re not making sense. None. Honey is too smart to be missing. Do not get involved in her games. You have a lifetime opportunity in front of you with this movie. Don’t blow it. Ronnie deserves this break. Me too. Get yourself home right this minute.”
My mother had started researching private schools for Ronnie, a nice home for us to buy, good stock investments, and a retirement plan for me. I was only twenty-six. I did not need a 401(k) plan. We lived in a good neighborhood a few blocks from the Twelve Hotel where I used to work. Ronnie was in a decent public school. Having money, millions of dollars, would afford us a better lifestyle, but Mama said it was up to us to live a better life.
“Sorry, Mama.”
My mother scolded, “Sorry my behind. You don’t owe Honey anything.”
Was my mom serious? “Mama, you didn’t feel that way when you asked Honey to find Alphonso, make him pay child support so I’d quit stripping for extra money. She found him. She got me seventy-two thousand from him and she didn’t charge us one cent. I can’t come home, Ma. Not until I know Honey is safe. I love you. Kiss my baby and tell him I love him. I’ll be home soon. I promise. Bye, Ma.”
“Vel—”
I hated hanging up on my mother but there was no sense in arguing with her. I wondered where Honey was, whether or not Valentino had hurt her. “This mink is nice,” I said, rubbing it. I couldn’t sleep. It was almost time to leave for Stilettos and I hadn’t heard from Sapphire or Grant. Mama called back. I let her call go to voice mail. She wasn’t changing my mind.
I called my agent. Got his voice mail and left a message. “Hi, this is Velvet Waters. I apologize for the delay in returning your calls. I had a family emergency. I’m still on schedule and will be in LA in a few days. Call me back.” Felt like I was rambling so I ended the call. Better go upstairs and see if Onyx would let me wear some of her clothes. Honey’s bed felt so good, I couldn’t move. I lay my head on her white mink pillow, then closed my eyes.
Tap. Tap.
I rolled over, then called out, “Come in.”
Onyx opened Honey’s bedroom door. “What the hell! Are you deaf! I told you not to get in Honey’s bed,” Onyx yelled.
I had to straight stare at her for five minutes before responding. If I kept being passive, Onyx would think she could talk to me any way she wanted. If I replied to her in the same way she approached me, either she’d hear how crazy she sounded and stop it or I’d have to fight my way out of this situation and take my ass home.
“Onyx, what is your fucking problem? I have a child. I am not yours. You said, ‘do not get in.’ I’m on the bed, not in the bed. In means under the covers, not on top of the covers.” I got up off the bed. Stood by the edge
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