Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“You suggested it after the second joint,” Troy said.
“Have you seen Mom yet?” I asked.
“Nah. You’re the first address I went to. Grandma picked me up and I gave her one of the envelopes your letters came in.”
“Will you be visiting Mom any time soon?”
“I doubt it.” He frowned, signaling for me to drop it. I bit my lip as I slung off my scuffed heels, which were another thing Lucy had ordered me to trash as soon as possible.
“Do you have a plan?” I sat on the floor since there were no more chairs. “You need a plan or you’ll be right back in jail.”
“Don’t start.” Troy sucked his teeth. “I’ve reread all of your letters three times. I’m not like Sherman, Neil, and them. I’m done with jail, man.”
A knock sounded from the front door.
“Troy being out here will be the thing that helps him stay out of prison. I believe in him.” Vivian jumped up and headed to the door. “Troy, tell Jasmine your good news.”
I raised my newly tweezed, plucked, and waxed eyebrows. “News?”
His lips remained in that tight-lipped frown. “It’s nothing big. You know Viv likes to make big things out of nothing.”
“He received his associate degree in general studies.” Vivian opened the door.
“What?” I threw my shoe at him. “You never wrote me that you were taking college courses. Awesome. And why didn’t you tell me you would be up for parole?”
“I didn’t want you to get your hopes up.”
“Well fine. You’re here now and I’m so freaking impressed,” I said. “That’s so awesome. We have to celebrate tonight.”
Vivian rushed back in the living room with three large boxes stacked in her arms. She dropped them on the floor. “These have all of our names on them, even Troy’s.”
“What?” Troy and I said in unison.
“The delivery man said it was from Mr. Chase Stone.” She tore open one of the boxes. Confusion clogged my brain.
Even Troy’s name?
I yanked the top off another box. A black tuxedo lay inside.
A gold card with black lettering said, “Dear Mr. Troy Montgomery, please join Stone Industries in celebrating the grand opening of Pyramid.”
“How did he find out Troy would be here?” I tossed the card to my brother and wrenched open my box.
“This is shady.” Troy read the card and plopped it on the coffee table. “Does this company work with the CIA or something?”
“No.” Vivian heaved out a ruffled silk-organza gown outlined in sea-green beads.
How did he know her favorite color was green?
She twirled around with the dress as if she were heading off to the prom. “My dad has worked on Stone’s corporate legal staff for twenty years. The company mainly deals with the entertainment industry—record labels, video game systems, casinos, night clubs, and movie production. They’re invested in a lot of stuff, but nothing dealing with intelligence.”
“I was told I would be monitored, but I thought Lucy was over-exaggerating.” I fingered the strapless gown in my box.
Copper satin cords embellished in sequins started at the top of the dress and ended at the waist. Bronze silk flowed from the center and formed a skirt that would probably end above my knees.
I can’t get used to people dressing me.
A card larger than Vivian’s and Troy’s was attached to my box’s top corner. Black lettering said, “Be in the VIP section at eleven. C.S.”
I glanced at my watch. 10:00 p.m.
Goodness!
Chapter 3
Gold Penis
A cool breeze blew through my hair as Vivian and I stood in line outside of Pyramid.
We celebrity-watched while Troy parked my rusty car blocks away from the club. Although Oshane City boasted the highest amount of wealthy residents in any American city on the east coast, few famous men and women lived here.
Where did all of these actors and entertainers come from? Did Chase invite them all?
People bumped into us while they struggled to get a good look at whatever big name person arrived. Cameras flashed each time an entertainer sauntered down the red carpet. A diverse array of elegant gowns draped all the women—from silk to taffeta, lace to crepe. Many men maintained the typical tuxedo look, while others flaunted bold colored jackets or crushed velvet vests with no shirt underneath.
Music blared each time the club’s double doors opened. So many sophisticated scents blended together. Sweet notes of rose mingled with the subtle bouquet of jasmine. The closer we moved to the club I caught whiffs of citrus perfumes and earthy colognes.
“Are you sure you’re okay with Troy staying with us?” I asked Vivian.
“It was my idea. Remember?” Vivian held her hand up. “Stop worrying.”
“I’m not.”
“Sure you’re not.” Vivian stuck her tongue out at me, which smudged some of her pink lipstick.
I wiped at the corner of her lips with my thumb. “You look lovely as usual.”
“Let’s hope I meet an art gallery owner who is so captivated by my beauty he buys all of my paintings without looking at them.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “Then Dad won’t complain so much.”