Trife Life To Lavish Part 2 Genesis & Genevieve...Am I My Brother's Keeper (23 page)

"You right it was and I know how profitable it is. But
there's no need to be greedy. There's more than enough
money to be made in Philly for all of us. I give you my word
that I won't try to make any new moves on Philly territory
without discussing it with you first. I don't want a war. I'm
just trying to do profitable business."

"Good because you know how quick shit can get ugly
in this business. The last street war I was in almost cost
me my entire team. I don't want those types of problems
again.

"I'm assuming you're speaking about your beef with
Arnez."

"That's right," Delondo answered lifting up his head,
"I guess you've done your research too."

"Arnez is on my enemy list too. But he's a hard cat to
find."

"Maybe that's something else we can work on togeth))
er.

"No doubt because I won't ever have any peace until I
locate Arnez."

"Genesis, I see we have more in common than I
thought."

"Me too. I think we will take you up on your drink
offer after all," Genesis said eying Nico.

When Nichelle hit the red carpet, the flashing lights
almost blinded her. She had watched a scene like this
play out on television but never did she imagine one day
it would be her in this position.

"This way, Nichelle!"

"Over here, Nichelle!"

"Turn this way, Nichelle!" That's what she heard the
photographers scream out over and over again. She watched
Akil stand to the side, smiling as if he was so proud of
her. Nichelle posed, taking each picture like a pro. But she
was relieved when her publicist decided that she had taken
enough pictures and swooped in to take her inside the party.

"You were great out there," Akil whispered in her ear.

"Wow, I can't get over how great it looks in here!"
Nichelle commented, glancing around the venue that had
a fantasy dreamland decor. The lavish space was turned
into a cream labyrinth with an immaculate orchid display,
black dance floor and black chandelier. There were flashing lightening strikes on the wall that went from a midnight
thunderstorm theme into a beautiful sunset. "This place
looks simply incredible," Nichelle kept saying over and
over again.

"I told you T-Roc was going all out," Akil said, not at
all surprised by how lavish the place was.

"Wait! Is that Sade up on stage singing?" Nichelle
gushed. Akil simply nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"There is no freakin' way Sade is performing at my party.
This evening is already starting off beyond incredible, if
only my mother was here to see how far her little girl has
come." Nichelle felt tears swelling up in her eyes and swiftly
shook them off. She wanted to enjoy her evening and not
get burdened down with pain from her past.

"Nichelle, you look absolutely stunning tonight,"
T-Roc said when he seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"Thank you. I was told you specifically had this dress
designed for me."

"I did and it fits you to perfection." T-Roc was accurate
with his statement. The plunging v-neckline with side drape
and dropped waist, hugged every curve on Nichelle's body.
The beading and embroidery detail that cut diagonally
across from front left chest to right hem gave the nude silk
dress the illusion of contour lingerie.

"I'm glad you're pleased."

"Pleased is an understatement. I can't wait to show you
off tonight. But I want to start by introducing you to my
right hand man. I'm not sure he's arrived yet but he's been
dying to meet you. Follow me." T-Roc grabbed Nichelle's
hand and whisked her off into the awaiting crowd.

"Say what you want about T-Roc but that man sure knows
how to throw a party," CoCo said to Genesis as they
maneuvered through the crowd.

"This night was very important to him. It seems to
be turning out better than even he imagined. I thought
with that long ass line outside it would be dead in here but
that's far from true. I believe everybody that received an
invitation showed up and then some."

"You ain't lying." When Genesis and CoCo made it
through the crowd they smacked right into Precious and
Supreme who were holding hands like a young high school
couple in love.

"Precious, it's good to see you and hello to you,
Supreme," Genesis said politely.

"It's good to see you too. Hello, CoCo," Precious said
dryly. CoCo gave her a half grin.

"Precious, excuse me for one second. I see somebody
I need to speak to for a minute."

"Okay, I'll be right here." When Supreme wandered
off, Precious turned her attention back to Genesis and
CoCo. "So y'all having a good time?"

"We only got here a few minutes ago. It took forever
to get in. The line outside is out of control. Luckily T-Roc
had one of his assistants working the door and when she
saw me standing in line she let us right in."

"Yeah, it was funny because I peeped some of those
so called A-list celebrities giving us mad heated glares `cause
they didn't understand how we walked right in but yet they
were still behind the velvet rope," CoCo chimed in.

"That makes it evident that it's not who you are but who you know," Genesis said to both Precious and CoCo.
Right then, Chantal came up and she began engaging in a
conversation with CoCo. Of course she gave Precious a
fake smile and wave while doing so. Precious didn't have
time to think much of it because in came Nico and Quentin
who made a beeline straight towards their growing circle.

"Man, I was wondering when you were going to get
here," Genesis said to Nico when he walked up.

"Yo, it's bananas out there. Quentin suave ass is the
one who got us in here so quick." After saying hi to both
CoCo and Chantal, Nico made his way over to Precious.
"You look absolutely beautiful tonight."

"Thank you. You look very handsome yourself, but
then you always cleaned up nice."

"Don't nobody fill out a tailored suit quite like me," he
boasted.

"Nobody but my husband," Precious smirked.

"Where is Supreme anyway? If you were my wife I
would never leave you alone."

"But I'm not. Besides Supreme will be back any
minute, he saw a business associate he needed to talk to."

"I don't mean to interrupt but Nico if you don't mind
can I speak to my daughter for a moment."

"Quentin, we don't have anything to talk about unless
you've decided to dead this get Maya out of jail movement."

"Damn! Who is that?" Nico's question caused Precious
and Quentin to halt their conversation and look at what
had put so much excitement in his voice.

"There you are," T-Roc beamed when he saw Genesis.
"I've been looking everywhere for you. I wanted to introduce you to the star of this entire party."

"You must be Nichelle," Genesis said reaching out
to shake her hand. "I've been looking forward to meeting
you.

"Nichelle, this is Genesis, my right hand man that I've
been bragging on."

The room seemed to stop for Nichelle. When her
hand locked with Genesis she stared deeply into his eyes
and wouldn't let go. "Did I hear T-Roc correctly, your name
is Genesis?"

"Yes, you heard him right. I'm Genesis, Genesis
Taylor."

Precious watched as CoCo seemed like she was ready
to drag the young beauty across the dance floor. Although
she wasn't a fan of CoCo's she couldn't blame her. She
thought the chick in Genesis' face was a bad bitch. Precious
knew that if a girl who looked and was built like that was
holding onto the man's hand, that she wanted to make hers,
she'd be heated too.

It seemed everybody was trying to be up in their
conversation wanting to know what the two were talking
about, especially CoCo. The longer Nichelle held onto
Genesis' hand the more he began to be drawn into her. At
first Nichelle's never ending grasp on his hand perplexed
him but now he was feeling so much more, like some sort
of connection but he didn't comprehend why.

"My name isn't Nichelle."

"Excuse me," he asked leaning forward to better hear
what Nichelle said. With the crowd continuing to grow
and the music getting louder it was hard for Genesis to understand what she was saying.

"My real name isn't Nichelle," she screamed out. "It's
Gene..." but before Nichelle could get her name out the
entire party erupted in chaos. The sound of bullet shots
ripped through the air. As partygoers ducked, trying to
hide, making sure they weren't an unfortunate casualty, the
lights flickered and then the room went pitch black.

"Nichelle, where are you?" Genesis called out as he
realized her hand was no longer interlocked with his.

"Everybody remain calm," T-Roc yelled to the crowd
although he couldn't see shit. Paranoia ensued and you
could hear glass breaking, tables being knocked over and
screams of fear echoing through the room.

"Precious, are you okay," both Quentin and Nico
yelled out in unison.

"Yeah, I'm fine. But what the fuck is going on and
please let Supreme be okay," Precious huffed, hating feeling
so helpless.

"I'm sure Supreme is fine. We all need to stay together
until we figure out what's going on," Quentin said being the
voice of reason.

"Nichelle," Genesis continued to call out. "Does
anybody know where Nichelle is?" Then T-Roc called out
to her but there wasn't any response. At this point both
Chantal and CoCo were sick of their men being concerned
about the next chick and not checking on them.

"I don't know where this Nichelle girl is, but your wife
is fine, just in case you care."

"Chantal, of course I care. Are you okay?"

"I'll be much better when these lights come back on."

"I think we all will be."

"CoCo, is that you?"

"Yes, did you find your little friend yet?" Genesis
ignored CoCo's question as he could hear the tartness in
her voice and he wasn't in the mood. He felt compelled
to make sure Nichelle was safe as if he was supposed to
protect her.

It took another twenty minutes and then as if nothing
had ever happened the lights suddenly came back on. The
frightened crowd seemed reluctant to stand up as if they
thought more bullets would start spraying the room.

"Precious, there you are...I was over there going
crazy." Supreme was one of the first people bold enough
to get up as he came running over to his wife. Once she
saw her husband, Precious felt confident enough to get up
too. She hugged Supreme relieved that neither one of them
would need to go to the emergency room.

"Genesis, you locate Nichelle and I'ma find out what
the fuck happened. Whoever is responsible for ruining this
party, might as well consider themselves already dead."
T-Roc stormed off like a man on a mission.

Nigel glanced to the backseat at a knocked out Nichelle. He
smiled with pride at his accomplishment. His relishing was
interrupted when he heard his cell ringing. "Hello," Nigel
answered in an upbeat tone.

"All is well?"