The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale (2 page)

             
Today they were celebrating the grand opening of the Luxe Enclave, a semi-circle of three buildings. At the entrance was Evan’s brainchild, The L Room; an event hall that consisted of five ballrooms, five dressing suites, a kitchen, and Evan’s PR firm’s offices. Next door to the L Room sat Cee’s creation, Luxurious; a two-story salon and full service spa. The Luxe Group’s headquarters would be run from the fourth floor of the third building. It was five stories and it housed Club Luxe, a posh three level nightclub only comparable to the nicest spots in Miami or Vegas. The Luxe Penthouse, a private membership club located on the fifth floor. Both Clubs were created and executively managed by Joey.

             
Joey, Cee, and Evan held hands as they took the stage at the front of the room. The crowd was filled with family, friends, politicians, supporters, and celebrities. Evan took the microphone from the stand.

             
“I would just like to welcome everyone to The L Room and thank you for coming out to celebrate this special day with us. A special thank you to those of you here who also joined us for the ribbon cutting this morning. This night is um-um,” she stuttered nervously as her eyes focused in on a man at the rear of the room who was giving her an icy stare. All of the color flushed from Evans face and it became covered with perspiration. “This night,” she tried to continue, but paused again as she fought the urge to panic. “I’m sorry but the staff is calling for me,” Evan lied. “I believe it’s important. Thank you and please enjoy the dinner.”

             
She handed Joey the mic and rushed off the stage. Cee and Joey exchanged curious glances. “That’s how it is when you’re the boss,” Joey joked while trying to figure out the cause of Evans sudden departure. “I would like to thank you for not only celebrating the opening of our Luxe Enclave, but also purchasing a two-hundred and fifty dollar plate. As you know one hundred and seventy five dollars from each plate was set aside for the charity of our choice. We chose the Westside Boys and Girls Association; a place that Cee, Evan, and I credit for keeping us out of trouble with year round sports programs.” Evan passed the microphone to Cee. “Due to your generosity,” Cee pointed at the crowd, “we raised one hundred and fifty-seven thousand dollars.” The crowd roared with applause and two formally dressed models came out with a poster sized check. “With pleasure we present this check to Westside Boys and Girls Association.”

             
An older lady and gentleman, representatives of the Westside Boys and Girls Association, came up to receive the check. After taking a few photos with the representatives Joey returned to the microphone. “Once again thank you, please enjoy your meal, and when you are done please come over to Club Luxe for the grand opening. The first two drinks are on me and we have free champagne all night.”

             
“What the hell is wrong Evan?” Cee asked Joey as they stepped off the stage.               “She looked like she saw a ghost”

             
“I don’t know what’s going on with Evan. We rode to the gym together the other morning. I swear to God we weren’t there twenty minutes when she gets a call and just like that,” Joey snapped her fingers, “she got all jumpy and was ready to leave, but she absolutely refused to tell me what was wrong.”

             
“Well she needs to tell us something right now, because that little episode just now was crazy.” Cee scanned the room. “Look there’s Evan coming back in now. Come on let’s find out what’s up.”

             
“No,” Joey said. “You go start making the rounds and I’ll talk to Evan because I don’t want the two of you to start going at it out here.”

             
Joey went over to Evan, “Is everything okay?”

             
“Yeah, everything is fine,” Evan smiled weakly.

             
“Oh really, well why did you almost fall to pieces on the stage?”

             
“I thought I saw someone that I knew from a long time ago and it shook me up a little, but I’m okay now.”

             
“Alright, I’m going to let it ride for now,” Joey said, deciding not to push for the moment. “But I know you like I know myself and something isn’t right.”

             
“I’m good.” Evan assured walking away.

             
Yeah right,
Joey thought, walking in the other direction.

             
After going around the room to personally greet guest at each table Cee and Joey sat down briefly with their families. Instead of eating, Cee doted on her husband Petey. Between their careers, and five children, the high school sweethearts didn’t get to spend much time together. Therefore, any time they got a moment to just sit together Cee would give him all of her attention. Petey was a great husband and a wonderful dad, and Cee never failed to show him how much she appreciated him. Cee’s marriage was the envy of many women, but most didn’t know of the couple’s turbulent beginnings.

             
At the age of thirteen, Cee had the great misfortune of becoming pregnant by a fourteen year old Petey. The fact that she was pregnant with triplets complicated matters exponentially. Both Cee and Pete were blessed to have big supportive families. Although their mothers were furious at them, they banded together and helped out with the triplets so that the two young parents would be able to continue their education. Of course Cee faced ridicule and gossip from the people in the community, especially her peers. She paid them no mind. Cee had been cornrowing and curling the neighborhood girls’ hair since she was ten for free or candy. Once she gave birth to a set of triplet girls: Taleah, Talia, and Tanine, the freebies went out the window. From then on out she charged every time she picked up her comb.

             
Pete went to work for his grandfather’s towing and trucking company doing odd jobs. At age sixteen Petey got his workers permit and went to work full time at the trucking company. At this point Cee was enrolled in the cosmetology program at West Charlotte Sr. High and worked as a stylist assistant. Upon graduating Cee became a licensed cosmetologist and Petey took on more responsibilities at the trucking company while attending UNC Charlotte as a business major.

             
At twenty the couple married and moved into one of Petey’s father’s rental properties. The early years of their marriage were no fairytale. Cee struggled with balancing her successful career and her young family. There was also infidelity on both parties, in some aspect it was to be expected in their situation. Neither had experienced anyone else before taking their vows. In the long run both learned from their cheating that they only wanted one another. Though it had been a rocky road, life had come into a full circle. Cee had become an über successful stylist and salon owner. Petey was now the owner and operator of his family’s truck business. He’d expanded and taken the trucking company to heights his grandfather never even dreamed of. The triplets or Trips, as they were affectionately called, were in their freshmen year of college. In addition to the Trips, Cee and Petey were the proud parents of a seven-year old boy, Petey Jr. and a four-year old daughter, Shelby.

             
Joey didn’t have much conversation for Zay, her husband of ten years. Yes she’d been away from him more than usual lately, but this was the first meal that she’d had in two days and she was beyond starving, so there wasn’t much time for talking. In a matter of minutes it would be time for her to head to over to the club to complete last minute preparations before the grand opening that was only an hour away. While eating Joey did manage to keep a close watch on Evan who had yet to sit down.

             
Although Evan was single and both of her parents were deceased, she did have aunts, uncles, and cousins in attendance. She zoomed around the room like a Tasmanian devil busying herself with the smallest things. Things that Evan’s highly skilled staff is more than capable of handling. The dinner was flowing smoothly without a hitch just like all the events that Evan planned. Evan’s movements only confirmed Joey’s suspicions that Evan was hiding something serious.

             
“Slow down baby,” Zay whispered to Joey. “Can you even taste the food?”

             
“I don’t need to,” Joey blushed. “Besides I have to get over to Luxe to make sure everything is straight before the doors open.”

             
“There is nothing more for you to do. I stopped by there before I came in here. Everything is good, so slow down and enjoy your food.” he kissed her cheek, “when you’re finished don’t take off like your girl ran off the stage for no apparent reason,” Zay chuckled.

             
“You caught that too?”

             
“Hell yeah. I was standing at the back of the room and not one person motioned for her. I’ve been telling you for years something not right with ya girl.”

             
“Oh Zay, please there is nothing wrong with Evan. Just admit you don’t like her and you haven’t from day one.

             
“Not true at all. I don’t dislike Evan. My instincts have just always told me that she got some extra shit with her.”

             
“The street nigga in you tells you she got extra shit with her.” Joey shook her head. “That has been my bestie for over twenty years. She has never done anything for me not to trust her and for the ten years that you’ve known her you’ve been trying to find something wrong with her.”

             
“I’ve been telling you for a long time you can be down with someone for thirty years and they will betray you like they never knew you. Anyways,” he said changing the subject. He wasn’t going to waste his time arguing over something petty. “You are beautiful in that color.”

             
“Thank you honey.”

             
“I meant to tell you that when you first sat down, but you went in on that plate like a beast.” Laughing, Joey nudged him with her elbow, “Shut up boy.” Biting her bottom lip sexily she eyed him up and down. “You are looking real presidential in that tux. If I had fifteen minutes I would take you in my office and do you real good.”

             
“Ain’t no if about it. You got time.”

             
“Nah, I don’t have time. As a matter of fact,” Joey looked down at her gold Rolex.               “I have to go change my clothes right now. I’ll peel you out of that tux tonight and               give it to you until the sun comes up.”

             
“That ain’t happening.” Zay spat.

             
Joey frowned, “Why not?”

             
“First of all, I’m coming up out this monkey suit before I go in Luxe. And you know the sun will be up by time you get home. But hey we haven’t fucked in two weeks what’s another day?” he winked taking a sip of Hennessy.

             
“Really Zay? You wanna do this right now?”

             
“Not at all. I’m only messing with you baby. I know how hard you’ve been working and it has definitely paid off. I’m proud of you.” Joey cupped his face in her hands.

              “I’m going to make it up to you. We’re going to leave together early.” She kissed him adoringly, and then said, “I gotta go. I love you.”

             
“Love you too.”

             
With fifteen years of club management experience in Miami and Manhattan, Bev Garcia, the operations manager of Club Luxe, ran a tight and efficient operation. Bev’s expertise came with an expensive price tag, but it was well worth it. She had the club’s staff well prepared for the huge grand opening which included: performances by three of the biggest stars in hip-hop and R-n-B, two hour open bar, and free flutes of champagne all night for VIP guest. Two hours after the doors opened the club was filled to the maximum capacity of three thousand. This forced the bouncers to turn away a line of hundreds.

             
Clad in a short, silk white romper and fuchsia platform pumps, Joey moved through her club greeting guest, checking the five bars, and constantly making sure that celebrity guest and performers were okay.

When Bev went into the stock room, she found Joey loa
ding bottles into a box that she had tucked beneath her arm.

             
“What are you doing?” Bev asked.

             
“I am getting some Vodka and Patron for the first floor bars. They’re both almost out.”

             
“I know,” Bev said then took the box from Joey. “That’s why I came to pull bottles. The bar hands are on their way to pick up the orders.”

             
“Well I can at least help you pull bottles so the boxes will be ready when they get here,” Joey replied reaching for the box.

             
“Joey, I have everything and I mean everything under control. I just sent three bottles of Ace up to your VIP section. Go celebrate your night to enjoy all of the hard work you’ve put in.” Joey checked her watch. It was a little after midnight. “Okay,” she said reluctantly.