Bitch Reloaded (11 page)

"As tempting as that sounds, unfortunately these plans are unbreakable. Maybe tomorrow or another day this week?"

"We'll work something out. I'll give you a call later on. Enjoy your evening." I was furious that I had to hang out with Nina all night when I could be with Mike. But Jamal needed me, and if anyone deserved my help it was him.

With so much going on, I hadn't been focusing on finding Nico. It seemed all my leads had dried up. The police weren't making any headway and even the private investigators that Supreme had hired before his death were hitting dead ends. It was becoming frustrating. I did want to see where things could go between me and Mike, but I wouldn't truly be able to go on with my life, until I got retribution for what Nico did to Supreme. But I knew patience was what this situation required. If you keep putting your questions out there, sooner or later, the answers find their way to you. Eventually Nico and I would have our showdown, and my face would be the last he'd see when I gave him the kiss of death.

"This place is cute, Nina," I commented when we walked right in to the slick two-level club/lounge in the Meatpacking district.

"Isn't it? The who's who always comes to this spot. Getting a table is damn near impossible, but with Jamal's connections it was smooth sailing. Now that he is the president of Atomic Records, everywhere I go, I get red carpet treatment. Red carpet, I thought to myself, this chick is straight tripping. Talk about Hollywood, Nina acting like she's Halle Berry or some shit like that. Unfucking believable.

"Yeah, it seems pretty exclusive," I said noticing Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri at a corner table. "What's the name of this spot again?"

"AER. Do you want to stay up here or go downstairs?" Nina inquired.

"It's up to you."

"I'll show you around then we'll come back upstairs, because this is where our table is." I followed Nina downstairs and the spot felt like an intimate private VIP room. The floor was transparent with a pulsing video projection underneath. Lining the room were plush suede couches with Lucite armrests. Nina then showed me two smaller rooms, one with nothing but a few antique throne chairs and a movie playing on the wall. The spot was definitely official.

After Nina gave me the tour we went back upstairs and Young Jeezy's new single was blasting from the speakers. The crowd was dancing on the thickly upholstered ottomans and when they would come up for air, they'd grab a drink from the metallic cocktail tables. Some other patrons were getting their party on by dancing on the banquettes and the carpeted platform that wrapped around the room. The `it' crowd was predominately white with a sprinkle of black people, but the music was all hip hop so I was cool.

The moment we sat down, the waiter approached with two magnums. "Nina, did you order some champagne before we got here?"

"Nah," she said shaking her head.

"Sir, we didn't order no champagne, at least not yet."

"These are complimentary," he replied.

"From who?"

"Who cares," Nina said with her face lighting up. "It's free, and top of the line bubbly." Nina broke out into a little celebratory dance, grinding in her chair. "Can you pour me a glass?" The waiter obliged and poured both of us a glass. In the middle of her sipping, Nina nudged my arm. I turned in the direction she was nodding her head to see what looked like some NBA players were walking through the entrance.

"I told you, Nina, I only fuck wit thug niggas."

"First of all, there are a lot of athletes that's straight gangsta with theirs."

"Name me one?" I gave Nina the screw face waiting for her answer.

"Allen Iverson." Nina paused and stared at me. "Him, and all his people carry heat." That I could believe. I didn't know who too many basketball players were, but I could see Allen Iverson being `bout it, `bout it.

"Whatever, he ain't in that crowd, besides he's married with enough kids to start his own NBA team."

"Girl, you so crazy, I'm engaged anyway. I was just playing with you, but it doesn't hurt to just flirt a little bit. We're just having fun." I continued to drink my champagne, as Nina made eye contact with one of the players. To her delight they were seated at a booth across from us. Before long the dudes were offering us drinks and shit, even though we had two big-ass bottles sitting on our table. But Nina didn't care she accepted them anyway. Then they started motioning their hands for us to come join them, and I pretended that I didn't see that shit.

"Precious, they want us to join them. Let's go over there." Nina was all giddy. I really wanted to scream at Nina and tell her I didn't think Jamal would approve of her ho-ass antics. But I was trying to befriend her so she'd feel comfortable to do and say anything she pleased around me.

"Hell no, I'm not about to sit at a table with a bunch of niggas and ain't none of them my man."

"Stop being so uptight, it doesn't hurt to play a little bit as long as you know where to draw the line. I'm committed to Jamal, and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that."

"I hear you, Nina, but still. If they want to talk to us they can come over here." I don't know if the niggas read my lips or were just mind readers, but before I even completed my sentence three of the guys strolled over to our table.

"How you ladies doing?" The ring leader said as he extended his arm. Nina shook his hand and I just nodded my head and smiled. Shoot, I didn't know what he had been touching on before he came over to see us. "Can we have a seat?"

"Sure," Nina responded before I had an opportunity to shut them down. But it was a good thing they came over. Now I could see how far Nina planned on taking her so-called flirtation. "I'm Nina, and this is Precious."

"How you doing fellas?" I asked casually.

"Better after meeting you ladies. I'm Keith and these are my boys, Jalen and Mark."

"What's up?" the once mute fellas said.

I finally took a good look at the three men and they all had the same style; jeans, a button-up shirt, fresh sneakers and enough bling between them to open up their own jewelry store. They were a variation of browns with low cut hair. Each was above average in the looks department, but nothing to make you wanna write home to your mama about.

"So, what do you ladies do?" Keith asked.

"I'm a model. I do music videos and stuff like that."

Then Keith looked at me waiting for my answer.

"I don't do anything."

"What, you somebody baby mama or something, sitting back collecting checks?"

"Yes I am collecting checks as a matter of fact, but I ain't anybody's baby mama. How many do you have, while we're on the subject?"

"What you mean by that?"

"What I mean is, how many baby mamas do you have, Keith? Is that question clear enough for you?" The nerve of that nigga stepping to me asking me a question like that, and now he wanna act like he don't understand when I throw the shit back at him. Even if I was sitting back collecting checks as somebody's baby mama, it wouldn't be none of his business.

"Yeah it's clear. I actually got three."

"Three kids or three baby mamas?"

"Three baby mamas." Jalen and Mark chuckled a little bit.

"Seems you've been a busy bee. Are they sitting back and collecting checks from you?" I asked sarcastically.

"I'm a NBA player. I make plenty of dough, so all my kids are straight."

"Good for them. Make sure you keep making that money, `cause you have a few mouths to feed."

"Anyway, back to you." Keith got the hint and started his conversation back up with Nina. See, that was the reason I didn't fuck with athletes. Most of them are some real soft niggas. They were pampered all through high school and then college. They expect everybody to kiss they ass. Then when they go pro and make all these millions, the ego becomes out of control. Because they was too busy practicing their hoop game they never truly had to get their hustle on in the streets. I had no time for dudes like that. A bitch like me would have to cut one of them when they crossed my path on some simpleass shit. Then my face would be spread across every paper in America. Nah, I was better off with my thug niggas.

"So you got a man or what?" One of Keith's friends asked me. I couldn't remember if he was Jalen or Mark, but I knew he might be the one with a little gangsta in him if he was still thirsty for me after I checked his friend.

"No, I'm single."

"We're playing the Knicks tomorrow, and then we fly out. Can I get your number and maybe you can come visit me, since you said you don't really do nothing but collect checks?" We both started laughing.

"Yeah, I did say that didn't I?"

"No doubt, but that's cool. I don't know if you're into basketball, but I can leave some tickets for you if you wanna see the game. It'll be a blowout `cause that's how we do."

"Is that right?"

"That's a promise. Let me take down your number and I'll call you to set everything up."

"Okay, but I'll need two tickets. I'm bringing Nina."

"No problem, I got you."

"What's your name again?"

"Jalen."

"I like that. You look young. How long you been in the league?"

"This is my fourth year. I got drafted straight out of high school."

"You must be really good."

"I was the league MVP."

I decided I might have to make an exception to my athlete rule, because Jalen seemed cool. He was laid back and not so boisterous with his shit. I was feeling his easy-going attitude. I was beginning to relax and get comfortable kicking it with Jalen. I still kept my eye on Nina to see just how up close and personal she was getting with Keith. I caught the occasional fake, sexy laugh she was giving him, but nothing else.

Then, in the middle of Jalen telling me one of his locker room stories, I felt the coldest hands pressing down on my shoulders. "What the fuck!" I said, turning my head to see who was testing they're life by sneaking up behind me and touching on me.

Jalen was just as surprised as me, and immediately stood up as if ready to go to blows for me. He was definitely my type of man.

"Did you enjoy the champagne I got for you?"

I instantly recognized the voice. "Mike, how did you know I was going to be here?"

"Oh, so you know this guy?" Jalen asked as he sat back down in his seat.

"Yes, she knows me very well."

"I was speaking to Precious. I don't need your input," Jalen spit.

"Young blood, I think you need to check who you speaking to. I'm not David Stem and I don't give a fuck about you being the MVP. If you want to keep dribbling that ball correctly, stay out of grown people's conversation." It was obvious Mike knew who Jalen was, but poor Jalen had no idea who he was dealing with. I'm not saying on a one-onone battle Jalen couldn't hold his own, it was the aftermath I would be worried about. Mike vicious ass might put a street hit out on Jalen just because.

"Nigga, ain't nobody tripping off of you. You can get it just like the next man. I know how to beat down grown-ass men too," Jalen said as he stood back up. Then the other three players that were still sitting in their booth got up and came to our table.

"Listen, this is some bullshit. Mike, let's go."

"You leaving with this nigga?" Now Jalen looked like he wanted to whip my ass.

"Yes." Call me, I silently mouthed. The last thing I wanted was a brawl. One thing I was sure of, Mike wasn't in here alone. Somewhere close by I'm sure he had some niggas that were strapping lingering about.

"Come on, Nina, let's go."

"Do we have to?"

"Ah...yes, unless you wanna stay here. I'm out."

"Baby, you stay right here. I'll take you home." Keith stood up and put his hand around Nina's arm.

"No, I can't. If Precious is leaving, then so am I."

"Fuck her. You ain't gotta leave `cause her punk-ass man is dragging her home. You can chill with me."

I just shook my head, because I knew it was about to be on.

"My man, what the fuck did you just say?" Mike asked calmly.

"You heard me, and I ain't yo' man, nigga. Nina's staying here with me."

"Understand one thing. The only interest I have at this table is Precious. Everybody else is irrelevant to me. But if you keep riffin' wit' yo' mouth like something is sweet over here, you gon' have a problem."

"Nigga, bring it on. Do you know who the fuck I am?"

It happened so fast. One minute Keith was running off at the mouth, the next he was hitting the floor. All it took was one right hand punch and Mike's fist had Keith laid out. The other players looked like they were ready to jump Mike until three niggas in all black stepped to the table with guns drawn.

"Let's go, now!" I screamed. I grabbed Nina's arm and Mike followed me out the club. When we got to the car, I was mad as hell.

"Omigoodness, that was crazy in there," Nina said as if she was star-struck off of Mike.

"You always startin' some shit. When I first met yo' ass you was in the middle of that brawl with Supreme's bodyguards. That's why Nathan don't like yo' ass now!" I yelled back at Mike as I walked to my car.

"Fuck, Nathan. Besides, that nigga in there was out of line. He lucky didn't nobody put a bullet in his head." Mike ran up behind me and grabbed my arm.