Chapter 4 #2
“We all gotta date one fool in our lives, you just refuse to let yours go,” she went on, sounding as if she were shaking her head.
Paisley was right, as she so often was. It wasn’t about Corey, or even Ezekiel for that matter, but about me and how long I’d been holed up in my house if I wasn’t at work or the gym.
The only thing I lived on after my final breakup with Corey was endorphins, the feeling I got from a killer workout couldn’t be beat.
And now on my quest to be numb over those flowers, an opportunity had presented itself for some much-deserved fun and relaxation.
Corey was probably somewhere picturing me at home, being a good girl, not out but in, waiting for him to come crawling back for another chance.
I clutched the VIP pass tightly in my hand. “Well then, I guess we’re hitting the club Friday night.”
It wasn’t about Ezekiel, but I did get dressed Friday night to go to BLVCKJVCK.
I got dolled up, teased my curls, put on makeup, painted my lips ruby red, and just decided to throw caution to the wind.
For too long I’d stayed in my house being a homebody.
Screw it. A night out would do me good, I figured.
I called up Paisley and together we rode over to the club where we didn’t have to wait in line. The VIP pass was only good for one-time use. The bouncer at the door took and stamped a diamond symbol on the back of our hands, telling us we were untouchable as he took the golden pass.
Once inside the building we were instantly emerged into the world of BLVCKJVCK, and it was a sight to see.
The first thing I noticed as we entered the door was the second set of double doors that led into the actual club, above them, was a sign that read club suite with a club symbol. There was a plaque on the wall with all the playing card suits, illustrating what which area meant for BLVCKJVCK.
Club Suite: Party. Spade Suite: Rooftop deck. Diamond Suite: VIP. By the Heart Suite was a simple symbol of a finger pressed to lips and the word Shh.
“That’s where all the action goes down if you can’t make it home,” Paisley leaned over to whisper to me.
Goose bumps prickled my skin as I tugged her forward, entering the Club Suite to take it all in.
Whoa.
The entire setting was dripping in black and gold. Gold light fixtures, black walls with gold mandala tapestry imprinted on them, and the floor was black with gold marbling. The room was lush with this aesthetic, and even with the lights dim the color scheme popped out.
There was a large line outside, wrapping around the building, showing just how poppin’ BLVCKJVCK was.
The club was packed and alive with excitement.
Up on stage a DJ had the main crowd moving as he played the classic track “Notorious Thugs.” On one wall a bar ran the length of the entire room, and there barely were any empty stools to be found.
The black booths and tables on the main floor were filled with people as well.
There were so many faces, so much dancing, and so much drinking, it was infectious.
Paisley and I grabbed drinks from the bar before heading up to the Diamond Suite. There were several elevators, allowing us to avoid the task of having to take the stairs in our heels.
“I brought the Balencies out just for the look, not to walk, okay?” Paisley said as she settled down in VIP with me at a sofa near the balcony.
The Diamond Suite were really luxury boxes on the second floor on either side of the building, and they oversaw the Club Suite down below. I chose the sofa seating with a great view of the stage.
“I tell you one thing, even if this doesn’t work out? You should enjoy it,” Paisley advised as she raised her cup of beer in the air.
I stirred my beer with my straw. “So you’re saying take advantage of him?”
Paisley appeared thoughtful. “Or just enjoy the benefits while you feel him out. I mean, shit, he’s gotta be livin’ large if this is what he’s bringing to the table. This place is packed!”
Ezekiel’s job and career were impressive, that I couldn’t deny.
Down below, I spotted various bottle girls working the room, not to mention the several that were in the Diamond Suite.
I admired their uniforms. It said a lot about the place that it didn’t attempt to exploit the female employees by having them dress a certain way.
The girls were either in black half tees or tank tops with the club’s name on the front and sporting black jeans.
Security could be seen dressed in all black with the club’s name on their shirts too.
I was just about to question the game plan on how long we were staying when the DJ killed the music.
Up on stage was the guy from the gym, the guy who’d been with Ezekiel. He had the mic in his hand, prepared to address the crowd.
“Ay, I need everybody in the building to stand the fuck up right quick,” he demanded. Everyone did as told except those of us in VIP. “Tonight is a special occasion. How many of us in here love BLVCKJVCK?”
The crowd cheered at the question, eliciting a smile out of the man.
“All of this that you see here wouldn’t be possible without my boy, Ezekiel.
He’s the brains behind this whole operation.
Tonight is a special night, because it’s my boy’s birthday,” the man went on, causing the crowd to cheer once more.
He glanced off to the side. “So, I need my boy to come up on stage real quick for a second so we can celebrate properly.”
And there he was.
Ezekiel came up on stage and joined his friend and the club applauded his entrance. When I’d met him, he was in a durag and his gym clothes. Now he’d cleaned up, and it was real nice.
He dressed debonair. Black on black. A dress shirt that was unbuttoned at the top tucked into black pants. His sleeves were rolled up just a little, exposing that inked arm and a gold watch on one wrist. His clothes said he was serious, mature, and polished.
Paisley’s mouth fell open as she gawked at Ezekiel. “Holy shit.”
“I know,” I said dreadfully.
She turned, gaping at me in shock. “You didn’t say he was that fine.”
“Didn’t I?” I tried to downplay, but there was no other way around the fact that Ezekiel was the best-looking man in the building, and I didn’t have to do a lineup.
“It’s hard to get someone something when they have everything,” the man at the mic said as he looked at Ezekiel. “But you know what they say, Dymonds never go out of style.”
In the next moment two more men came up on stage and the crowd went wild as I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Remy Dymond and his younger brother Galen were here at BLVCKJVCK, joining a very shocked Ezekiel and his friend on stage.
Everyone knew the Dymonds, they were West Coast hip-hop royalty.
From their father, famed hip-hop legend Willie D, to the oldest Dymond son, Owen, who was a sometimes rapper but mainly a producer, to Remy, who was a hot rapper, and Galen, who was an R&B singer.
Talent was in their genes much like their good looks.
Their good looks that had women squealing all throughout the club.
Remy and Galen dapped Ezekiel and his friend up before pulling Ezekiel into a hug to wish him a happy birthday.
Remy had the mic. “What up, BLVCKJVCK?”
Everyone roared back at him.
“I’m here to wish the big homie, E, a happy birthday. Make some noise for my boy, man.”
The club shouted for Ezekiel and soon the DJ put on a song and Remy started rapping along to his hit record, “Diamond in the Rough,” causing the club to move.
Paisley sucked in a breath, admiring Remy as he owned the stage and shot a few women in the front row a grin. “He looks even better in person.”
Remy was gorgeous, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Ezekiel. Even in the midst of big names and a crowded club he was calm and collected. That nonchalant aura was definitely attractive.
Paisley pulled herself from her wanton daze as she’d been caught up ogling Remy. She tapped my thigh and gestured at where Ezekiel had his arm slung around Remy’s neck as well as his friend’s, while Remy had his arm around Galen’s. “High. Value.”
Ezekiel wasn’t a regular guy. It was clear the relationship between him and the Dymonds wasn’t staged for his birthday celebration as Remy could be seen whispering and grinning into Ezekiel’s ear as he finished his rap. He had real friendships with the celebrities who frequented this club.
“Cha-ching,” I joked.
Paisley smirked. “Hey, I wouldn’t blame you if you did go for it.”
A couple of bottle girls ascended the stage holding large bottles of champagne with sparklers sticking out of them.
Ezekiel took the mic and had our full attention as Remy and the guys stood back.
“Give it up for the Dymonds one time for me.” He placed the mic under his arm as he led the round of applause briefly.
“I just want to thank my boy, Cesar, for doing this for me, and I want to thank all of y’all in attendance tonight for showing love and always knowing where the livest party can be found.
If it ain’t BLVCKJVCK, it’s a dub. So let’s celebrate! ”
The DJ put on “Let’s Go Crazy” and Ezekiel took and raised a bottle of champagne in the air, signaling a toast to the late and iconic spoken intro from Prince.
The club resumed as Prince sang on and Ezekiel was busy taking photos with the Dymonds and posing with his champagne.
“Okay.” Paisley clasped her hands together, turning so that she was facing me. “You need a resurrection fuck.”
I paused, my face scrunching up. “A resurr-what?”
“You need a new man to come and bless your vagina with some new dick, some holy dick, some dick that’s going to mess up your walk for a week and awaken your senses.”
I snorted. “Sure.”
“Yes,” Paisley insisted. “You’re too damn loyal to Corey. Even when you break up with him you put the coochie on the shelf for him while he fucks everything that moves. And that is a great act of terrorism.”
“So I should just start sleeping around?” I challenged.