VIP (15 page)

She
broke down and cried. I moved to hold her in my arms. I couldn’t cry. If I
started, I wouldn’t be able to stop. I wanted to tell her so many things. I
wanted to tell her everything was going to be okay. I wanted to tell her that I
was sorry, that I loved her and would always be there for her. I would have
done anything to take her pain from her.

I wanted
to tell her that I knew. That I had spoken to her mere hours before her body
was found, that she had called me. That we had been lying to her for years
behind her back. That if it were our choice, we would be together now, she
would still be with us, I wouldn’t have lost her. I couldn’t bare the thought, now
here we were, and Olivia was the one that was gone. She died hating me. I felt
responsible. It was my fault. I should have called someone or done something. I
didn’t…I let her die.

Over the
years I just hurt her, until she finally had enough.

This
whole situation was fucked up. I had saved one of my best friends, and lost the
other. It was all my fault, I had done this. I should have told her that. I
should have confessed.

I didn’t.
She would hate me and I couldn’t lose both of them…I wouldn’t survive it.

I would
give anything to bring Olivia back.

I didn’t
say that, I didn’t say anything.

I held
her until she couldn’t cry anymore, until I heard her breathing even out and
knew that she had finally cried herself to sleep, but sleep never came for me.
I knew my subconscious was trying to protect me from what I had known was true.
Olivia was gone.

This was
it. This was the last day that I would ever see, my Oli. I tightened my tie
through the mirror, studying my face, searching for something, anything. There
was nothing. I was so empty, yet the pain was unbearable.

“You
look very handsome,” Julia smiled, approaching me. I turned toward her and she
straightened my tie. Her hand rested on my chest as she smiled up at me.

“You
doing okay?” I asked, for at least the hundredth time.

I
shouldn’t have asked. She heaved in a wailing breath and the tears were once
again running down her face. I pulled her to me and held her close to me.

“I can’t
do it, Sebby,” she sobbed.

“Shhh,
I’m going to be right there with you,” I tried. I would be right there with
her. I just hoped like hell I was able to hold myself up while holding her up.
“Go clean those raccoon eyes and I will change my shirt,” I beckoned.

She
laughed a short laugh. “I’m sorry,” she apologized, smearing the makeup even
more into my not so clean shirt.

“It’s
okay, Babygirl. Let’s go say goodbye, to our Oli,” I shouldn’t have said that
either. It was all I could do not to throw myself on the floor, curl into a
fetal position and lose it myself.

I tried.
I really did, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t make myself walk to the front of
that morbid room to see her. I didn’t want to remember her lying lifeless in a
coffin. I couldn’t fucking handle that. I wanted to be there for Julia. I
couldn’t. She said her goodbyes securely held up by her parents, one on each
side.
That was better…right?
She should be with her family.

I felt
the lonely tear slide down my cheek as I watched the silver coffin being
lowered beneath the ground. I let my mind contemplate what was happening.

I let
mind and body go to a dark place within myself.

Where
there was no Olivia.

Or hope.

And no
happily ever after.

The one
lonely tear was soon followed by more and more, until I was breathless.

I saw
the pitiful stares from our parents, as Julia embraced me and cried with me.
That was our goodbye. We held each other up and cried our farewells to a girl
that was no longer with us. She would never be with us again. At that moment, I
consciously stopped my mind from going where it had been. If I didn’t stop
asking what, why, and how, I would lose my mind. That wouldn’t do Julia, our
families, or myself one bit of good. As hard as it was, I had to let go. 

<>*<>
Y
<>*<>

After
getting poked, prodded, and pulled in more ways than one, I was standing in the
elevator on my way up to the eleventh floor, condo 1112. My Madam’s condo, I
mean
my condo
. This was going to take some getting used to. The building
was a high rise in downtown Miami. I was on one of the top floors. I wondered if
the other girls lived there as well, or if she had us spread out. The elevator
dinged, bringing my attention back. I stepped into the hallway moving in the
direction of my new home. It was then that I realized I didn’t have a key. I
thought about knocking, that didn’t make sense. Before giving it anymore
thought, I quickly opened the door. Directly stepping into an open floor plan
of a living room, kitchen, and dining room, what really caught my attention was
the wrap around frameless glass view from ceiling to floor.

I brought
my hands up to my mouth. “Holy shit!” I had a view of the whole intercostal
Atlantic Ocean.

“I’m
glad it impresses you, Bella Rosa.” Jerking my head around, I saw Madam who
seemed to come out of thin air. She looked as glamorous as always wearing a white
suit. I thought about how many of those suits she owned. I bet one in every
color.      

“Wow! I
don’t even know what to say. This is unreal, I’ve never been in anything like
this before.” She smiled and walked over to me, pulling me into a hug I mean
she pulled me into a real hug. I easily hugged her back. It seemed so natural,
like I’d been hugging this woman for years. She stepped away and kissed me
right on the tip of my nose.

“Well,
get used to it my precious girl.” She grabbed my hand and spun me around.

“I mean
look at you. You are radiating. I love the caramel highlights it brings out
your eyes. I’m glad we left the length. It doesn’t matter what anybody says,
long hair will always be in. Plus, it gives your clients something to pull.”
She added, winking at me.         

“The
makeup is flawless, not too much- just enough and the mani and pedi look
marvelous.” Raising an eyebrow at me, she asked “How was the wax?”

“Painful.”
She laughed and smiled.

“It will
get easier. Now come.” Holding my hand, she walked me into a room that had the
same view.

“Is this
my bedroom?” Looking around at the room there was a black leather headboard
with white bedding and all sorts of throw pillows. Two glass looking end
tables, a glass armoire in one corner, a full length mirror on the other, and
an accented chair and rug topped it all off with a crystal chandelier, bringing
subtle lighting.

“Yes, I
picked the colors just for you. You remind me of a pretty, pretty princess, and
every princess deservers color. This is not what I wanted to show you.” We
continued walking through the biggest bathroom I had ever seen. Marble floors
and showers, Greek columns supporting detailed archways, elegant detailed gold
fixtures, glass sink bowls, and a gigantic roman soaker tub that could fit four
people. We stopped at two solid mahogany doors.

“Now
this…this is what dreams are made of.” She opened both doors and my jaw
dropped. Endless rows of clothes, shoes, and purses. All of it color coated by
style and design, the middle had two islands that held panties, bras, lingerie,
bikinis, and jewelry. I had stepped in Couture heaven, everything was name
brand; it was a fortune.          “Darling, close your jaw it’s not ladylike.” Handing
me a simple black dress, I couldn’t help that I noticed the label said
Valentino.

“Put
this on. I can assume that you like what you see.” She said.

“This is
all for me?” I ask.

“Of
course, who else would it be for, Bella Rosa.”

“All of
this…the condo, the furniture, the clothing. I mean…it’s so much. How can you…
I mean where… I don’t und-“. She put her finger up to my lips.

“I’m
very good at what I do, and by that I mean you. My girls provide a comfortable
environment for you as well as I. I treat you like you treat me. We both carry
mutual respect and admiration for each other. We’re partners, Ysabelle, through
and through. I will always take care of you. Please, start trusting in that.” I
nodded.

“Now.
Please, change into that and pick out whatever heels you’d like. I suggest some
color. I will be waiting in the living room. Would you like a glass of wine?”

“Yes,
please.” Before changing into the dress, I grabbed a new black lacy see-through
bra and panty set. I slipped into the dress and chose red stiletto heels. I
also added some light silver jewelry from Tiffany’s. I left my hair in the
waves, fluffed it out some and reapplied a bit of makeup. I stared at myself in
the mirror; I didn’t look that much different. Except I felt different, I felt
beautiful and taken care of. For the first time in my life, I felt safe.

On my
way out, I snatched a matching black Valentino clutch. Madam was on the phone
when I walked in. She handed me my glass of wine, and smiled while giving me a
thumbs up with her eyes, scanning my body.

“Yes, of
course Gabriel. I have my best girls coming tonight. Mmm hmm, I will also be
escorting one of my new jewels, Ysabelle.” I could hear the other persons
muffled voice on the other end.

“She is
a diamond in the rough. You know I don’t throw my girls in the deep end, when
they don’t know how to swim. It’s not my style. She will remain hands off for
tonight. Don’t you worry, she’ll come out to play soon. Yes, okay, ciao Bella.” 
She hit end and dropped her phone in her clutch. She finished her wine and
refilled another.

“You are
picture-perfect, Bella Rosa.” She reached in her bag.

“Now, I
don’t condone too much drug usage. I have seen too many girls go downhill at
alarming rates, because they couldn’t stop. Recreational use is okay. I trust
that you know the difference, yes?” She asked.

“I have done
drugs, they aren’t really my thing.” I replied.

“Yes,
they aren’t really my thing either, though under the circumstances, I think
this might help.” She opened a silver jeweled container the lid had a nozzle
that she brought up to her left nostril and then her right.

“Have
you ever done cocaine?” She asked.

“Yes,
I’ve tried it a few times.”

“Fabulous,
then I don’t have to explain.” She handed me the container.
I guessed it was
my turn
. I carry on as she did and hand it back to her. Not even ten
seconds later, I could already feel the drip at the back of my throat. I sniffed
and swallowed, damn this shit was strong. My face felt numb, my eyes watered,
and I rubbed my lips together. My surroundings became brighter and clearer, and
I could feel my perceptions sharpen. I downed my wine in one sip. Suddenly, I
felt comfortable and confident. Madam was smiling. She was always smiling.

“Good,
huh?” She asked.

“Yes, I
feel better. Thank you.” I replied.

“Madam
knows best, trust that too. Now…that we’re pretty and polished, we should get
going, the driver awaits.”

The limo
ride was quiet. Madam spent most of the ride talking on her phone. I didn’t
understand a word of what she was saying, it sounded Italian. I thought about
nothing and everything as I stared out the window. My heart was beating a mile
a minute. I was sure if I had looked in the mirror, all I would see would be
black irises. I couldn’t help, but watch my Madam, her mannerisms and demeanor,
she exuded wealth and beauty. She was everything that I wanted to be.

I wanted
to ask so many questions. I wanted to know everything about her. I wanted to
know who she was, where she came from. She was such a mystery to me, like a
puzzle that wanted put together. She said I could ask her anything that I
wanted, I was too new and didn’t want to seem eager. I wished she would
voluntarily tell me these things without my asking. My thoughts were racing as
much as my pulse was. I was fucked up. I started playing with my hair, a
nervous habit from early childhood. Fuck it, I had nothing to lose. She came
after me. I didn’t go after her.

“Lei è
in per una vera delizia. Mmm hmm…Ciao.” She hit end on her phone.

“I can
hear your thoughts all the way from over here, Bella Rosa. How about you
share?”

“I was
admiring you. You’re so put together. It’s inspiring.” I boasted.

“And…”

“Well…I
don’t really know much about you. Other than what you do. I mean…I’m not trying
to be nosy or anything. Just curious.” I said, fidgeting with my fingernails.

“It’s
rude to not look someone in the face as you talk to them, Ysabelle.” That
immediately made me look up. I recognized that Madam called me by my name when
she was upset. I didn’t want to make her upset.

“Much
better. There’s not much to know. I’m not married. I don’t believe in it. I
have seven beautiful girls that I consider my own. I live and breathe VIP. I
travel, I love, and I live. Period. Exclamation point. Anything else?”
Ok…let’s
try this again.