Relapse: A Novel Read Free Page B

let him get caught,” Seville said, following her.
    Beijing shot a look at her cousin and Seville knew Beijing meant business, so she changed her tune. “You know I got yo’ back. But I am only doing this because of you, not to help that self-absorbed booty bandit.”
    “Well, let’s put the plan in motion. I will call you when the coast is clear and then you take the freight elevator and meet me upstairs, Room Nineteen Thirty-four.”
    When Beijing arrived at Johnny’s room, it was apparent that he was worried. He looked vulnerable as he paced the floor and continuously peeped out the window.
This is not the same arrogant man from yesterday—not the way he’s on edge sweating bullets
, Beijing thought.
    “Calm down, everything is going to be okay,” she assured him.
    Beijing turned to Johnny’s lover. “Will you please put this on?” She handed him one of the hotel housekeeping uniforms she had grabbed on the way up. There was a knock on the door. Beijing checked the peephole and saw Seville standing in the hallway,twirling a finger in her long hair. She quickly let her into the suite.
    Seville strutted through the door swaying her hips from side to side, looking fashionable and seductive with a twist of class.
    Beijing made her introductions. “Johnny, this is my cousin Seville, your date out of here.”
    Seville was the perfect person to play the role. She stood five foot nine, with a long black deep-wave hair weave. She didn’t need the makeup that she painted on her mocha skin, but it made her eyes stand out. She was beautiful.
    Johnny’s eyes met hers. “Thanks for coming to help me wiggle out of here,” he said sincerely.
    Beijing could see the relief overtaking the worry on his face when she began to explain how they were going to maneuver out of the hotel and to the airport. “Beijing,” he said nervously, “the reason I don’t want anyone to know about this is because of my mother—”
    Beijing stopped him. “You don’t owe me, or anyone else, an explanation. It’s simply nobody’s business what you do. Johnny, I am here to make your stay here and your transition home as smooth as possible.”
    He took a deep breath and smiled at her.
    “Thank you, Beijing.”
    “My pleasure, Johnny.”
    “Do you think this will work?” he asked, still somewhat unsure.
    “Of course it will,” Beijing said with confidence.
    “If it does, you know I will owe you big-time,” Johnny Wiz said. He pulled a wad of folded cash from his pocket and started counting out hundred-dollar bills. “Take this,” he said with his hand full of money, extended toward Beijing.
    She shook her head no. “I can’t accept that.”
    “You have to, you saved my ass; this is only a small token of my gratitude.”
    “Johnny, it was my pleasure, and if you want to do something nice for me, just refer another client or two my way.”
    “You can bet on that,” he said smoothly.
    She looked at him with a smile. “Now let’s get you to the airport.”
    Before they left the room, he reiterated, “Beijing, I am in deep debt to you. Please, if you need anything, and I mean anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
    Beijing was at her post at the front desk smiling as Seville played her part as Johnny’s girlfriend, sashaying through the lobby like a stuck-up celebrity princess.
    While Beijing watched the taillights of the car move farther and farther away, she wanted to pat herself on the back, proud of the publicity stunt that she had pulled.
I swear, every day I get better and better at this
. She turned around and saw the reporter angrily pick up his camera bag and head toward the door after Johnny and Seville drove away.
    “Didn’t your friend show up?” she asked.
    The jilted paparazzi snarled at her, “No, he didn’t. I’m actually going to leave.”
    “Well, before you go, why don’t you have a drink on the house?” She asked for his business card, then led him to the bar and told the bartender to pour the