The Glamorous Life (23 page)

So they all agreed to attend the wake, the funeral, the burial, and the repass. They went by a florist, where each sent a beautiful arrangement to the funeral home. They shopped all day long. They went from the Galleria to Southbriar to all the elite boutiques in the Dallas area.

When the day of the funeral arrived, they were shocked at how star-studded it was. Not only the family but it seemed more than half of the funeral guests arrived in limos. And those who didn’t have a chauffeured car showed up in the hottest, most expensive automobiles. Bambi felt out of place in her four-year-old Mercedes Benz, but then she remembered: It’s not the cars, it’s the stars in them. Besides, Ted’s family owned that Rolls Royce dealership, and someday soon she planned to cash in on that connection.

Because attendance was more than the capacity of the large funeral home, they never got in to see the body the day of the funeral. It didn’t matter, because they really had the best
seats in the house. They stood outside with an excellent view, watching who went in and who came out. Most of the people were dressed to kill, but as at any event, one guy stood out in particular. The brother looked to be in his early thirties and was wearing black jeans, a T-shirt, sneakers, and a sports blazer. He was a beautiful shade of reddish brown. Standing about six feet tall, he had a slight beer belly. His hair was dark brown with ear-length dreads, which only added to his sex appeal. He was warmly embraced by the family as he offered his condolences. The way folks reacted to him, the girls wondered if he was some sort of celebrity. He didn’t look familiar, not like anyone they’d seen on TV or in the movies. Still, there was an aura about him.

At the repass, which was held at a country club that the family had rented out, the people loosened up as they got liquor into their systems. Ruby met a few cats and Egypt wasn’t doing too bad either, but Bambi had other plans. She had no intention of getting acquainted with anyone until she had an opportunity to meet Mr. Sports Blazer. She made eye contact with him and smiled. He smiled back, and when he did, she received a tap on her shoulder. Startled, she almost spilled her drink.

“I’m sorry, did I startle you?” Ted asked.

“Yes. Hi, Ted.” She greeted him with a hug.

“What are you doing here?” he inquired.

Thinking quickly, she said, “I’m here to support my friend who knew the deceased.”

“He knew people from some of everywhere. He certainly will be missed.”

Just then Sports Blazer walked up. “What’s up, Ted?”

“Nothing much, man. Business as usual,” Ted said. “Oh, let me introduce you two.”

You do that,
Bambi thought, but only smiled.

“Loot’chee, this is Bambi, Ms. Party Planner Extraordinaire, from West Virginia.”

Bambi was smiling so much she didn’t even bother to correct him. She was used to it. Most people who never visited Virginia always seemed to get Virginia and West Virginia mixed up.

“Bambi, this is ‘the Money Mogul,’ ‘the Black Donald Trump of Texas,’ my man Loot’chee. They call him Loot’chee because that’s what he does, rakes in the Loot’chee.”

Loot’chee smiled as Bambi extended her hand and said, “It’s nice to meet you.” Bambi didn’t take him too seriously.
Why would a guy deliberately brag on his money by calling himself Loot
’
chee as his nickname? I mean come on, get real! Well, what am I thinking? I am at the repass for a guy name Black Money, so I guess that’s how dudes out here is rolling, huh?

“Same here, baby,” he said, shaking her hand. “Is this the honey that’s been putting on all your lavish parties lately?”

“Yup, right here in the flesh,” Ted boasted.

“Well, maybe I can hire you to plan us a private party, just me and you,” Loot’chee said with a sexy grin.

“I’m going to leave you two alone on that note. Bambi, we’ll touch base tomorrow,” Ted said as he walked away.

Time flew as they sat at the repass getting acquainted. There was no doubt about it: There was definitely chemistry between the two of them. He went to get her a drink and brought it back. When he passed the drink into her hand, their fingers touched and stayed there for a few long seconds. Both of them wore big Kool-Aid smiles as they continued to talk.

CHAPTER 23

Daddy Warbucks

R
ight away fireworks flew between Loot’chee and Bambi. It could never be said that Loot’chee didn’t have class. He wined and dined Bambi at only the best of the best restaurants in Dallas and flew her to nearby Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arizona for fun-filled evenings riding ATVs. It was just what the love doctor had ordered for Bambi. Not only was he refined, with a unique style and flair, he also had a manner of advising and counseling her that always showed he had her best interests at heart. Of everyone that had ever influenced her life, his cheers for her to win were the loudest.

Bambi liked the fact that he was “all man,” he was very independent, had his own money, and didn’t expect anything from her. He didn’t need her to put any cars in her name because he didn’t have a license or anything of that nature. And what made it all the sweeter was the fact that he had his own place that
he
owned. He wasn’t shacking up with his baby’s momma or any woman for that matter. Although not all his income came from
legitimate businesses, Bambi saw that he knew how to live and he had dreams and goals. He might have a hand in the drug trade, but she didn’t think he’d stay there forever, especially if she had anything to do with it. For the first time since Lynx, she felt that she had finally met someone truly worthy of her attention.

Dag, they say God always comes right on time. I truly like Loot’chee. He is the perfect dude, and I damn sure can take him home to Momma knowing he’ll pass her scrutiny with flying colors. The only thing that he is lacking is a big dick, but then his tongue game, now that’s a different story. Between his money, the way he treats me, and the tricks he can do with that tongue of his, I can work with that li’l dick any day!

After they had been dating for six weeks, Loot’chee decided to get a guesthouse and game room added to his house; so he suggested to Bambi on the down low to get a luxury apartment for them to stay in together in Dallas since Egypt lived with her in her house in Dallas. She was able to rent an expensive, upscale apartment for the two of them in the suburbs of Dallas. Together they decorated it, picking out expensive furniture that he paid for without hesitation. At first it was awkward living with a man, but then because they were both constantly on the move traveling, living together in that apartment was not an actual burden. After a while, Bambi felt the apartment was a waste of money since they seldom actually stayed there. Still, she never complained since the rent was always paid. More often, Loot’chee would just show up at the house Bambi shared with Egypt in the middle of the night and slide into the bed with Bambi.

L
oot’chee called Bambi from Las Vegas, where he was taking care of some business. Bambi was in her headquarters in Richmond.

“Hey, B, what’s up, baby?” His sexy voice sent chills up her spine.

“Just sitting here thinking of you,” she said freely.

“I was laying here thinking of you, too. Look, I want to see you.”

“And you know that’s likewise. I wish we could see each other,” Bambi said to him in her sexy, seductive voice.

“Look, baby, call the travel agent on three-way and see what time the next flight leaves.”

She got the travel agent on the line, who told them that the last flight scheduled to Las Vegas would leave in two hours. Bambi said, “That’s not enough time, because I won’t have any time to get packed.”

“Don’t worrying about packing,” Lootchee said. “I’ll take you shopping once you get here.”

“That’s what I am talking about! I sure wish I had a man like yours, Bambi,” the travel agent cut in.

Lootchee gave the agent the info to pay for the ticket. And just like always, Loot’chee always seemed to fulfill her every wish and need.

The next day they had dinner at the restaurant atop the Stratosphere Tower, with a breathtaking view of the entire Las Vegas Strip. Loot’chee tried to make small talk, though Bambi seemed distracted. When he realized he didn’t have her undivided attention, he commented, “Baby, I see your beautiful body is here with me, but where is your mind? What’s running through your mind? What are you thinking?”

She smiled, pleased at how attentive he was to her, and said, “Nothing much.”

“It’s something! You’d be lying if you tell me nothing again. Baby, you know you can tell me anything,” he said as he looked into her eyes and tried to reassure her.

Bambi was reluctant to pour her heart out to him as she had done over two years ago to Lynx. So she decided to lie. “I’m just enjoying the moment. And brainstorming about ways I can make my business even more lucrative than it already is. Then I’ll be able to always live this life, with or without you.”

“Well, baby, just keep on making me happy and being you. If you never change, then I’ll never change and we’ll always be happy. I’ll make sure we live a life of luxury.”

“Sounds good, but baby, you’ve got to understand, slinging cocaine doesn’t guarantee a long life of luxury,” she said, letting on that she knew that he had been doing something illegal as much as he tried to hide it from her.

“Baby, I want to share something with you, though I know you probably won’t believe it….”

“What?”

“I’ve been out of the drug trade since shortly after we met.”

“Really?” she asked, surprised and happy at this new development.

“Yup, I’ve always known how to make money, a lot of money at that, in many different ways. I only flipped keys of coke because it was plentiful and at my disposal. Before I met you, I’d always thought about quitting while I was ahead, but I never did because nothing really motivated me in that direction.” He grabbed her hand. “But then I met you and I knew you were the one for me. You gave me the desire and initiative to back up off of the life, and now I’m using what I have to go in a positive direction.”

Bambi was speechless. Loot’chee pulled a small velvet box from his suit jacket. Bambi froze, unsure of what was coming next. Loot’chee opened the box, revealing a sparkling six-carat certified natural Colombian emerald.
“Oh my God!”
she exclaimed.

She started fanning herself; she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Emeralds are my birthstone,” she said when she caught her breath.

“Baby, this ain’t just any emerald. I had to order it from Fred Leighton over in the Bellagio.”

When he said Fred Leighton, she knew that meant money—
big
money!

Damn this nigga must really dig me. I remember looking at one of those certified Colombian diamonds, but they were worth more than my car, cashing in at close to eighty G’s. I know I got a winner on my hand any time he’d pay for a ring like this.

She admired the ring on her finger.

“Baby, there’s one thing you need to know,” he said.

“What?” she asked, never looking up from the bling-bling of the ring.

“This ring is not your engagement ring.”

She never spoke but thought,
Damn if this ain’t the engagement ring, then if it ever comes to that, I wonder what it’ll look like?

“This is a promise to you from me. I promise one day we’ll get married. I’m just not ready for that yet, but I want you to know that I do truly adore you.”

“Just remember, a promise is a promise,” she said.

“I agree! All I want to do is bring safety, security, and happiness to your life. And the day I can’t do that is the day that I want you to roll out.”

“Just like that?” she asked.

“Just like that.”

Later that night as they were lying in the bed, making pillow talk, he said to her, “Baby, I was just thinking over what you told me today about your business. I know a way you can make some major money with your parties.”

“How?” She wanted to hear what he had to say.

“I know that in moving to Texas, you feel you took your business to its next level. Well, I have a foolproof way that you can make a lot more money. I’m talking about six-figure money. You know how entertainers and personalities do those cruises to the Caribbean?”