"Courtney, can you excuse us for a second?"

"Sure, Dior. I'm going to get a soda, do you want me to bring you anything back?"

"No, I'm good, just close the door behind you...thanks."

"Stay away from her, Sway. She's not like the rest of these little wh.o.r.es you f.u.c.k and toss to the side."

"Are you being protective over somebody? That's epic. And I thought the only person you gave a f.u.c.k about was yourself."

"Whatever, but Courtney is off limits."

"Fine, all I said was I thought she was cute but you're my baby."

"Would you stop with all this kissin'."

"What the f.u.c.k is wrong wit' you? You been prancin' 'round here wit' a bad att.i.tude for the last couple of weeks."

"I'm fine, I'm just tired."

"I know what it is, my baby needs a vacation. We wrap up the video today. Later in the week let's go to Cabo for a week."

"Sounds good. Now let me freshen up so I can get on the set."

"A'ight, see you in a few." When Sway left I glanced up and caught my reflection in the mirror. Each curl was falling just right and my makeup was highlighting my best features perfectly. I looked like I had it all. Since my party and getting back with Sway I had been a fixture on the blogs daily and in all the weekly tabloids. I had even got a couple offers for a possible reality show and some guest spots on television shows but the one thing I hadn't received was that phone call from Lorenzo. Everybody seemed to want me but him and it was totally sending me to the breaking point. I had left so many messages begging him to reach out to me but they all went ignored. That day he walked out my apartment he knew he wasn't coming back for me, he just got some sick pleasure out of emotionally torturing me. The only thing that had got me through the pain of his rejection was drugs but it still didn't get him completely out of my mind.

"Dior, they're waiting for you," I heard Courtney say in the background interrupting my mental pity party.

"Coming," I said, before sniffing one more line and wiping the left over powder from my nose.

When we arrived at the penthouse suite on the 53rd floor, I was impressed with the spot Phenomenon chose to have his alb.u.m release party at. I had never been to this hotel and it was gorgeous. It was two huge floors that connected by a dramatic staircase and the color tones were like silvery, midnight blues, metallic and gold's. And the views were f.u.c.king incredible. There were bay windows on three sides with views of Central Park, the Hudson River, George Washington Bridge and the stunning Manhattan skyline. Then there was this, what looked to be a 13 or 14-foot curved sofa in leather and velvet in the center of the room.

"I might need to have my next party here," Sway commented also impressed with the spot. I was surprised he even wanted to come but this was the party to be at tonight so of course Sway had to show his face.

"Yeah, it's incredible," I said, as we walked past the gas fireplace adorned with marble. The layout was so open that there were some people sitting at the expansive dining table, others were by the wet bar and then there was what had to be a specially designed rotating swivel 6-foot day-bed located in front of one of the bay windows. You could spin yourself to any view you pleased.

"What's up, Dior," Phenomenon said, giving me a hug. He nodded at Sway as if he didn't want to speak.

"Hey, congratulations. I know you're gonna move a lot of units."

"That's what they predicting. Pretty soon I'll be taking your spot, Sway."

"You got a long way before you get there. We talking millions, millions and millions of records. In my genre ain't n.o.body moving those type of numbers but me."

"All we can do is try," Phenomenon grinned. "You guys enjoy the party, oh and if you hungry, there's a full service kitchen at your disposal. The chef will cook whatever you like."

"Cool, thanks," I smiled. "Wow, I can't believe his label dropped this type of paper on his alb.u.m release party."

"Please, these labels ain't spending that kind of money on new artist like Phenomenon or mostly any artist for that matter."

"Then who footing the bill, 'cause this s.h.i.t definitely ain't no on a budget party."

"From what I understand Phenomenon has some major Drug Lord with an endless cash flow funding his project."

"Really, do you know him?"

"Maybe, maybe not. If I met him, I doubt he was advertising what he do. But I heard he's a real low key dude that stays in the background."

"There's Brittani over there by the bar, I'ma go speak."

"Go 'head I'll be over there in a minute."

It was nice to get away from Sway even if it was only for a brief period of time. I hurried over to Brittani. She greeted me with a warm smile which was nice since she had been p.i.s.sed with me ever since I got back with Sway.

"Hey! It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too. I didn't expect Sway to come to this party."

"I know but he has to be in the spotlight and this is where everybody is tonight."

"So what have you been up to? Every time I turn around you're being photographed or featured in something. I even read somewhere you're getting your own reality show. Is that true?"

"I've had a couple of offers but I haven't decided on anything yet."

"Do you even know what the show would be about?"

"Nope."

"Amazing, these networks are just throwing reality shows at anybody these days."

"Well tell me what you really think, Brittani."

"I wasn't trying to offend you. I'm just saying, one minute you're a n.o.body and then you do a video, a men's magazine and run around with the biggest narcissist of them all, Sway and all of sudden your face is everywhere and you're being offered a reality show. I'm officially putting you in the famous for what category."

"I don't need to hear this s.h.i.t from you, Brittani."

"You need to hear it from somebody because I'm sure all the a.s.s kissers you have surrounding you aren't telling you a d.a.m.n thing."

"Are you jealous? Is that what this is about?"

"Jealous of what? All you do is party."

"You seem to be at the same party as me. Plus I know you and Kevin aren't together anymore. He's running around with that R&B singer. Is that what has you acting like your PMSing?"

"Don't concern yourself over my relationship with Kevin."

"Trust me, I'm not. All I'm trying to do is figure out where all this negativity is coming from."

"You don't even see what you're becoming, Dior."

"What a star. I thought that's what we both wanted for me."

"If being with Sway is part of that stardom I'm not cosigning on it. He is poison and I'm starting to think you are too."

"I always thought I was the b.i.t.c.h out of the two of us...actually I am-you're just bitter. And good luck with Kevin. I hope those checks keep clearing," I said, walking away from Brittani and right into Lorenzo. "Excuse me. I didn't see you."

"I know but I saw you. You seemed to be in an intense conversation. I was waiting for you to finish. Can we go upstairs and talk?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. I'm here with Sway and he wouldn't be thrilled if he came looking for me and I was with you."

"Please, I really do need to talk to you."

"My cell works great. Is there a reason you haven't used that to talk to me in the last few weeks? Or is it just more convenient for you to talk to me here, since we're both at this party?"

"I know you're angry with me, and I don't blame you but just come with me so we can talk."

"I'm done talking to you. I have to go, Sway is waiting for me." As I walked towards Sway I could feel Lorenzo's eyes fixated on every step I made and I planned to give him something to really be mad at.

"Who was that guy you were talking to?" Sway asked me when I reached him.

"n.o.body."

"If he's n.o.body why is he staring at you like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like he's f.u.c.king you!"

"Baby, the only person who is f.u.c.kin' me is you. You know this p.u.s.s.y is all yours."

"You always know how to make my d.i.c.k hard." Sway seized my a.s.s and started kissing me right in the middle of the floor in front of everybody. I knew he would if I said that to him. It didn't take much for me to turn him on and once I did he couldn't control himself. I knew we were giving Lorenzo an eyeful and I relished in knowing that.

"Baby, don't you want to go f.u.c.k," I whispered in his ear between kisses.

"Oh yes," he moaned pulling me closer. He was d.a.m.n near trying to f.u.c.k me right here on the floor.

"That's enough!" I heard Lorenzo say grabbing my arm. My eyes widened in shock. I knew he would be p.i.s.sed by what I was doing but I didn't think he would call me on it in front of everybody. "You're coming with me, so we can talk, now!"

"Who the f.u.c.k is you? And get your hands off my girl!" Sway knocked Lorenzo's hand off my arm and Sway's security guards came running up to make sure he was protected. But then like six big bodyguards dressed in black seemed to come out of nowhere to protect Lorenzo. All I could do was wonder what the h.e.l.l he did that warranted that sort of protection. Before any more words were exchanged ma.s.sive chaos broke out between both sides of security. In the midst of that Sway grabbed my arm, pulling me out the suite and into the elevator.

"What the f.u.c.k just happened in there?" Sway yelled so loudly I thought my head would explode. "Answer me," he continued slamming me against the elevator door.

"I don't know!" I yelled back.

"Are you f.u.c.kin' that n.i.g.g.a? Why else would he grab on you like that!" As we were going down and the elevator stopped on another floor, when the doors opened he roared, "Step the f.u.c.k back, this elevator is out of order." The older couple ran back, startled and scared.

"Sway, would you stop it!"

"Shut the f.u.c.k up! Don't tell me what to do," he spit before hitting me in my face. By the time the elevator hit the bottom floor Sway was in full blown anger mode. He was using me as his personal punching bag. It was like a switch had gone off and he couldn't turn it back on. When the elevator doors opened I was crawling out and my face was battered, bruised and b.l.o.o.d.y. There was hotel security already in the lobby and the police were coming in. Between the old couple and the ruckus going on at the penthouse suite I wasn't surprised to see both but Sway was. He was totally shocked when the handcuffs clinched his wrist and he was arrested. I was taken to the hospital and all I thought about was that I hoped n.o.body got a picture of me looking like this.

"Courtney, thank you so much for coming over and bringing me something to eat."

"Of course, I would do anything for you, Dior."

"Is it still crazy out there?"

"Yes, it's like a zoo. There are photographers and news people everywhere. They all want to get a picture of your bruised face."

"It looks bad, doesn't it?" I could tell she didn't want to admit it, but Courtney nodded her head yes. But I didn't need her to tell me, I could look in the mirror and see the damage Sway did to me.

"I can't believe Sway beat you up like that. I would've never thought he was that type of guy. You know what happened has been on the news all morning and every radio station is talking about it."

"I know. The crazy part is that I always dreamed about getting publicity of this magnitude but I didn't want it like this. I don't even know what to say. They keep calling my phone, I can't leave my apartment. I just want it to stop."

"It's not going to stop anytime soon. Sway is an international superstar. He makes Chris Brown seem like a n.o.body and you know how long the media kept that story going. He has to be somewhere regretting he ever put his hands on you."

"Do you know if he's out on bail yet?"

"I'm sure he is. You know he has the best attorneys on speed dial. I can't imagine them letting him stay in jail."

"That's true but I figured if he was out he would've called me by now."

"You think he would have the audacity to call you after what he did!"

"Courtney, this isn't the first time Sway has put his hands on me. This is just the first time he got caught."

"If this is the life of the rich and famous I don't want any parts of it. I idolized Sway now you're telling me he's a typical woman beater." Courtney kept shaking her head as in disbelief.

"Courtney, don't idolize Sway or any of these people in the entertainment industry because they'll disappoint you every time."

I picked up the paper I had Courtney bring over and there was a picture from an event Sway and I attended together a few weeks ago splashed across the front page. If you went by the image of us we appeared to be the perfect couple. I was even smiling in the pic which was a joke in itself since Sway never made me smile. I didn't know how I could turn something so tragic into a positive. I was lost and I desperately needed some direction.

Lorenzo Complicated When I pulled up to Alexus's townhouse, I had so much s.h.i.t on my mind, mainly Dior, that I was tempted to turn around. But she had been back home for over a week and this would be the first time I came to visit. Before I went inside I decided to try and call Dior again. Right when I was about to hang up she answered.

"Hi."

"I've been blowing your phone up, why haven't you answered?"

"I wasn't in the mood to talk."

"Now you are?"

Not really. But I know how it feels to be ignored so I didn't want to keep doing it to you."

"I deserved that."