ADDICTED TO HIM II (2 page)

Tamia

Rashard and I had been spending so much time together. He’s already ready for me to meet his family but I’m not sure about that right now. The police still don’t have any leads on Armani and I’m extremely worried about her. I was mad at her for the foul shit her and Amere been doing behind my back, but I didn’t stop caring about her wellbeing.

I didn’t find out about them until the day he popped up at my house. It took Rashard asking him questions for me to wonder the same thing. When I looked down at his feet, he had on smoke gray Timberland boots and that was all the confirmation I needed. Remember when I woke up cooking in the middle of night and tripped over a dark gray boot, right? Remember I was sitting on the couch and I heard someone say oh shit but when I turned around, nobody was there?

See, I thought I was tripping that night but now that I have more information, I know what’s been going on. Armani told me everything about all her sponsors except him. I guess when they first started talking, he was flying her back home. I had no idea how she got him in here without me knowing it! I guess I don’t pay enough attention to my surroundings. One thing I do remember though is those boots! Now I know why she wouldn’t tell me about him! Rashard told me he thought that Amere may have left something here and that’s why he popped up.

As trifling as Armani is though, I still want to make sure she’s ok. Once I get her back here, I plan on beating the dog shit out of her and moving out. She can continue to be Amere’s side chick all she wants because he isn’t my problem anymore. I only slapped him because he claimed to want me back, yet he’d been sleeping with Armani!

Anyway, Rashard knows how worried I am about her, so he comes over every day to keep my mind off her. I tried calling her but her phone is dead and the police can’t locate it. I just hope nothing detrimental is happening to her because she’d already been through so much.

Rashard told me he’d been putting his ear to the streets but it’s only so much he can do. I understand he knows a lot of people but none of those people matter if the person that took her don’t know them.

He had been asking me for a few days now to host his homeboy Deuce’s Birthday Bash at a club he said he rented out. The only reason I agreed is because it would give me something else to focus on besides Armani. I was still wondering daily why she didn’t reach out to me in her time of need! The police pulled her phone record and saw she reached out to two men and even Facebook, and no one bothered to help her.

Anyway, I have to get down to the club to see what I’m working with. I’ve never hosted anything before, so I hoped it’s as easy as Rashard was making it seem.

When I walked in the club, it was really nice inside. It looked like a hole in the wall from the outside but it was spacious in here. The bar is the closest thing to the door, which is good because it’s alluring. The chick they have working it right now will not be working it the night of the party. I’m thinking of a hood classy party. I know all these niggas like a little bit of ratchetness but they love class. Women that know how to carry themselves in public with grace are winning! Do what you want behind closed doors but men respect women that respect themselves.

“Hey baby,” Rashard said as he walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Trying to see what I’m going to do to spruce this place up for the party,” I said as I stepped out of his embrace. I looked up at his handsome angry face with his dreads neatly braided straight back and smiled. “Not much is wrong here but this place is missing a lady’s touch. For the night, I’m in charge, ok?” I asked before I stood on the tips of my toes to kiss his lips.

“C’mon crazy ass girl, let me introduce you to Candy,” he said and grabbed my hand. I began to wonder if Candy is her real name or stripper name. Not many people named their children job appropriate names these days, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. Now, before you get offended, put yourself in a boss’ position. Now imagine what type of business you’re in if you will hire a “Candy”. Now do you get my point?

We walked in a nice office and I could see Candy was in deep thought, reading over some paperwork on the desk. Rashard cleared his throat, which caused her to look up with the brightest smile I’d seen in I don’t know how long. She stood up and gave Rashard a half hug, then walked over to me and hugged me as well. “I’m Candy,” she said and smiled, but I was too lost in her aura to respond.

She had this presence about her that I had never been in the company of. Most females aren’t like this. She is indeed a rare breed. Hell, even I was judging her by her name before I ever met her and that’s what females do. It doesn’t matter what your name is, a female somewhere is going to comment on it. It’s either your parents are ghetto or they think they’re white. Once you get passed that, they will mentally judge you based on what you’re wearing and how you carry yourself. Not Candy though, she exuded so much confidence! I could tell right off back how strong she was.

Rashard nudged my arm and jarred me out of my thoughts. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m Tamia. I was a little lost in my own thoughts,” I said, apologizing for being rude.

“It’s ok,” Candy replied and took a seat.

“Well, I was coming in here to introduce ya’ll but Candy took over,” Rashard said, which caused us all to laugh. “Well, Tamia is going to host the party and she’s doing a little makeover, so let Raphael know what’s up. I have to go,” Rashard said before he kissed my forehead and walked away.

“I’ll be right back, let me go tell Raphael what he said,” Candy said as she stood to her feet.

“I’m coming with you,” I responded and allowed her to lead the way. I followed her to the bar as she took a seat next to who I assume is Raphael.

“What’s up Candy?” Raphael asked, without bothering to look behind him where I was standing.

“Shard said Tamia will be hosting the party tonight. Whatever she says goes, cool?” she said to him.

He turned around slowly and looked me up and down. “You Tamia?” he asked.

“Yes,” I responded with a smile. I glanced at Candy and she was smiling too.

“Well, do you, just put everything back when you’re done,” he said before he turned back around.

“Will do,” I said and walked away.

Now, it’s time to get started on bringing this club to life! I mean, it’s fine the way it is but not if I’m going to host a party here. I set speakers up in each corner to see where it sounded the loudest from the dance floor. I figured if the people barely heard the music, they’d spend more time talking than dancing. I couldn’t have that at a party I was hosting.

“Excuse me. I’m Tamia, what are your names?” I asked as I approached two guys that were standing by the bar. They had security on the back of their shirts, so I decided to ask them to help me out a bit.

“Tony,” the taller darker one answered.

“Roy,” replied the other one. “What can I do for you, ma’am? The club doesn’t open for a while,” Roy said to me, like I was aggravating him. If me approaching them bothered him, then wait until I put them to work!

“I need the speakers and stage moved to this corner over here,” I said and pointed to the corner I wanted them moved to.

“Ma’am, the boss doesn’t like when things are moved,” Roy said to me. I could already tell that he was going to have a problem taking orders from a woman. It’s nothing he had to get used to, hell, I’m only here for one night.

“Roy, I wouldn’t come over here asking for help if I had not already spoken to Raphael. It’s a go sweetie, so can we get this done before the club opens?” I asked plainly with a serious face.

Roy walked away without saying a word to me and headed in the direction of Raphael’s office. “I’m sorry Tamia, Roy just don’t like females ordering him around. You should see how he does Candy,” Tony said as he apologized for Roy’s behavior. Something he said about Candy caught my attention. Rashard made it seem like she was just a dancer here but it seemed like Ms. Candy got clout!

“It’s ok, Tony. I only have to deal with him tonight,” I replied with a smile.

I watched Roy storm out of Raphael’s office and headed back in our direction. I reached for my purse but forgot I left it in my car. I needed to get my brass knuckles out if I was going to have to fight this big ass nigga! I knew he’d kick my ass either way but with my brass knuckles, I could do some damage. I could leave his big ass something to remember me by. “Let’s get to work!” he yelled as he took his frustrations out on Tony. Tony didn’t reply, he just walked away.

I stood around directing them on where to put each speaker. I had the stage slightly out of the corner with the DJ booth sitting on the back left hand side of the stage. I got Roy to bring the small refrigerator out of the office and plug it in behind the DJ Booth. I already had bottled water in my car, so I went out and brought in six bottles for the DJ. He smiled and thanked me. It wasn’t until he told me that he normally doesn’t get anything like this that I realized why he seemed so appreciative. I don’t know what kind of business Raphael is running if he ain’t taking care of his employees.

I had Roy to turn all four speakers diagonally towards the dance floor. Once I got the stage, speakers, and DJ booth how I wanted it, it was time for a sound test. I grabbed the mic and stood in the middle of the dance floor. “Mic check 1, 2. Mic check 1, 2,” I said into the microphone. I walked through each part of the club and repeated the same phrase. I got Candy to take me up to the VIP booths because I didn’t have security access to get to them. Candy loved how everything sounded this way. As strange as it may seem, I felt good knowing I had pleased her, especially with this being my first time.

“You’re doing awesome Tamia,” Candy said to me.

“Thanks girl. I been working the fuck out of Roy for getting an attitude with me though,” I said, which caused her to laugh.

“Girl, I do the same shit! You would think he’d be use to taking orders from a boss bitch cause I stay on his ass!” she said to me.

“So, what do you do here?” I asked her as we descended to the dance floor.

“I’m a dancer, host, and I’m over the bar and security,” she answered me.

“Wow. You’re a jack of all trades huh?” I said to her as she nodded and laughed again.

“Well, let me finish up and I’ll come chat with you in a bit,” I said to Candy as I walked away. As lonely as I be, I hope we could build a friendship after this. Armani is ok and all but we can’t ever have a conversation without arguing anymore. Now that she’s missing, I miss cleaning up behind her and fussing about dumb stuff. I really hope she’s ok.

I stood back for a second and tried to figure out what I wanted to do with this place next, when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket.

Amere: Tamia I really am sorry.

Tamia: I know.

Amere: Can I see you?

Tamia: No

Amere: Why not?

Amere: cuz u wit dat nigga?!!!

I slid my phone in my pocket because this nigga has some nerve! How the fuck he gone cheat on me when we were together, have a baby on me, fuck my best friend, and then try to get back with me? I swear, I don’t understand the logic behind some people’s thinking.

Rashard: how’s it going beautiful?

Tamia: everything is everything

Rashard: whats wrong miss lady?

Tamia: nothing.

Rashard: I’ll be there in a few minutes.

I have no idea how Rashard always knows when something is bothering me. I’m normally pretty good at hiding how I feel but his ass really sees right through the bullshit!

Instead of standing around mad at the nerve of a nigga I’m never going to be with again, I decided to finish working. I look around and notice some of the girls that worked here are arriving. I’m glad too because I had no idea what they looked like.

I walked up to a skinny dark skin chick and checked her out. She had on a loose fitting tank top shirt with some black shorts that said carte blanche on the back of them. How tacky is that shit? I looked around and noticed the other girls had on the same thing. “Excuse me. I’m Tamia. What’s your name?” I asked the chick I was checking out.

“Goldie,” she responded dryly and my mouth dropped. I watched her walk away, like no this extra black ass bitch don’t call herself Goldie! What’s really going on here?

I don’t know how long I was standing there but Candy approached me giggling, which snapped me out of my trance. “What did she say to you?” Candy asked.

“Now Candy, ya’ll know ya’ll wrong for calling that bitch Goldie!” I said as Candy cracked up with laughter. She was in tears bending over and everything. I’m standing here looking crazy because I didn’t see a damn thing funny about this bitch who is as dark as Blade, calling herself Goldie!

“Come on girl. Let me introduce you to the girls,” she said still chuckling. As we walked into the dressing room, I was surprised that it looked nice. Candy and I walked to the front of the room and I waited as she cleared her throat.

“Is she a new girl?” Blade, I mean Goldie asked, which caused Candy to glare at her. Goldie completely ignored her as she gave me the once over.

“Listen up ladies! This is Tamia and she will be hosting Deuce’s Party tonight. Raphael has given her free reign so what she says goes. I’m sure she won’t make you do anything you aren’t comfortable with. If she tells you to do something you don’t want to do, don’t come to me because I respect her judgement and I’m going to back her decisions. Are we crystal?” Candy asked.