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PROLOGUE

Parris, you have one more album left to meet your obligation; but I must warn you. If your next release doesn’t do well, we won’t be renewing your contract, Nathan Rashid, the vice-president over the urban music division, stated over the phone.

What? I asked confused. I’ve been with you guys since I started singing. If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be...

Carmen Grisby, my agent of the last two years, interrupted me before I made things worse. Nathan, Parris will do her part. You just do yours.

While Carmen continued talking to Nathan about the state of my career, I scanned the daily paper. I could feel my blood pressure rising as I read the headline: Is Jovial Records dropping Parris Mitchell?

I read the article and as soon as Carmen ended her call, I blurted, Have you seen this mess? I handed her the paper. Not only is it full of lies about Jovial dropping me. It goes on to say and I quote. This may be the reason the R & B Diva has ballooned to a swelling two hundred pounds; unquote.

You know how the reporters are, she responded.

Lies, lies, and more lies. I’m tired of it, I said.

Calm down. First things first. I need to make some phone calls and we’re going to get you back in the studio.

At that point I didn’t hear anything else Carmen was saying. I was thinking about how my career was over. How had I let it get this bad? My mama warned me that my diva like attitude would cost me?

Was it too late for me to make a comeback?

CHAPTER 1

SEXY LADY

Three months later…

Finding a producer to work with was harder than I thought it would be. Carmen convinced the record company to give me more control over this project but now I’m having second thoughts. I could have went with their recommendations, but as Carmen stated, Isn’t that the reason why your career is in a slump now? Try something different.

I’m used to everyone doing everything for me and this feels too much like work. Regardless of what Carmen says, if I don’t find a producer soon, I’ll go with whoever Jovial assigns.

To see what producers were hot and who were not, I watched the music video stations. Thus far, the only conclusion I’ve come up with is that the videos left nothing to the imagination and barely had anything to do with the lyrics of the songs.

I liked Lance King’s style but didn’t know if I wanted to deal with his drama queen fiancé – the Hollywood starlet Rose Purdue. If I listened to the rumors, they were a package deal and I’ve had more drama in my life to last me a lifetime. I needed a producer who was drama-free.

Twitter and Facebook were places I frequented to see what type of music was popular with the masses. My ego stayed intact as I read comments from people who wished Parris would come out with something new and put some of the new singers to shame. If they only knew songbird, the online name I used, was actually the R & B Diva herself.

The UPS driver at the door interrupted my chatting. The invitation to the Black Essence Awards for Music or as me and my colleagues call it the BEAM awards stared me in the face. Getting booked as a presenter was a top priority. I dialed Carmen’s number.

***

Sparkie’s was crowded and noisy. It was one of the most popular restaurants on the Boulevard during lunch. If Carmen hadn’t been waving her manicured nails in the air, I would have been standing in the long waiting line. In Tinseltown everybody was a star or wanted to be a star, so unless you had an appointment or tipped the maitre’d with a few extra hundred dollar bills you would not get a seat.

I made my way through the crowd as a few jealous women turned their nose up as their men gawked. I couldn’t help it if I still had it going on. As they could tell, the tabloids lied about me being two hundred pounds. I was a svelte one hundred and forty-five pounds, give or take a few pounds and was still a sexy lady. The pink Escada pants outfit I wore accented my curves. I lifted the shades from my blemish-free mocha -brown skin and placed them on top of my jet-black bone straight hair. I put an extra swing in my walk as my size eight three-and-a-half inches Manola Blahnik heels clicked on the golden brown marble floor.

I saw flashes of light from different directions. Yes, snap, snap. Parris is back in action.

I’m so glad you could make it, Carmen said as she talked on her phone while we hugged.

A smile swept across my face. Things never change.

While Carmen continued to talk on the phone, I ordered a club soda with a twist of lime and read over the menu. I normally ordered shrimp scampi, but didn’t have the taste buds for seafood. I opted for a chicken salad. A waiter took our orders. Since Carmen was still talking on the phone, I scanned the room and acknowledged a few people I knew by smiling, nodding my head, or with a slight hand wave.

Carmen wasn’t what most people would call beautiful. Don’t get me wrong; she’s not ugly either. With her immaculate dress from head to toe, bob-cut hairstyle with her signature bangs and radiant smile, she could make the prettiest woman feel insecure.

She had a way about her that demanded attention. She’s perfect for this type of business. She worked for one of the big four management firms for five years before branching off on her own. Since then, she has become one of the highest paid and most sought after agent in the entertainment industry. She normally doesn’t deal with music artist, but once she agreed to take me on as a client, she realized she needed to branch her services out. I’m so proud of her.

Sorry dear, but when duty calls.

I interrupted Carmen before she could finish, I know, it’s your job to handle it.

Carmen laughed. Glad to see you’re in a jovial mood today.

Life is good.

I need a drink and it’s not even one o’clock, Carmen stated after glancing at her black diamond designer watch.

I twirled the straw and took sips of my club soda. Don’t let your work stress you out.

Easy for you to say. She took out her make-up mirror and used her hand to smooth over her bangs.

When you die, they’re going to bury that mirror with you. I joked.

We’re meeting someone here and I wanted to make sure I looked the part.

I looked up. I didn’t know WE were meeting anyone.

Carmen snapped the mirror shut before dropping it into her small Gucci handbag. I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.

By now, I was antsy. You know I don’t like surprises.

Don’t worry. This will be a welcome surprise, Carmen stated, as I followed her gaze to a man who looked like a chocolate Adonis.

He was beyond handsome. Dressed in a charcoal gray pin-striped suit, he strode over to our table. His stylish shades added a mystic to the man. My heart was beating so fast, it felt like it wanted to exit my chest. Before I knew it, Carmen was standing up, shaking hands with the object of my increased heartbeat.

Casper, I’m so glad you could make it, Carmen said as she turned her attention towards me. Casper Johnson, this is Parris Mitchell.

Casper extended his hand. It took me a few seconds to respond. When our hands touched, I felt a jolt of electricity through my entire body. From the look on his face, I think he felt it too. I flashed my pearly white teeth. Nice to meet you.

The pleasure is all mines. Casper took my hand and kissed the back of it before sitting down.

I wanted to fan myself. His soft luscious lips connecting to my skin sent a chill over my entire body. My imagination took over. I wished those same lips were somewhere else. Thank goodness the waiter came over with another club soda. I needed something to cool me down. When he removed his shades, I was hypnotized by the gleam in his hazel eyes. I could hardly concentrate on what Carmen was saying.

Parris, I was telling Casper you wanted a new sound. I think you two would work perfectly together.

I mentally tried to register his name. A light bulb went off. It dawned on me that this was the same Casper who made People’s most eligible bachelor list for the past few years. He was known in the music business as CJ--The Hitmaker. This was my first time meeting him face to face. With his exotic good looks and constant media attention while on the party circuit, he had gained a playboy reputation; a warning sign for me to keep my hormones and emotions in check.

Parris, I heard Carmen say my name several times before I responded.

Yes. I drank the rest of my soda while trying to avoid eye contact with Casper. I could feel him staring.

What do you think of my idea? Carmen asked.

Uh. Uh, I stuttered. I’ll have to think about it.

Casper, in a smooth sexy voice, said, I would love the opportunity to work with you.

When I looked into his eyes, I wanted to scream, You look so good to me, but instead I repeated myself, I’ll think about it.

What is there to think about? You need a hit record and Casper is available. Carmen didn’t hesitate to add.

I don’t know why I responded the way I did. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I knew I had to get out of there or I would make a bigger fool out of myself. Thank goodness, my cell phone rang. Excuse me, I said while answering my phone.

I pretended it was somebody important. It was only the gardener telling me he would not be in until tomorrow. Yes, I’ll be right there. Sorry to inconvenience you. I hung the phone up and turned my attention back to Casper and Carmen. Casper, thank you for coming. Looking at Carmen, I said, I’ll call you.

Is everything okay? Casper asked, sounding as if he was concerned.

Yes. No. It’ll be alright. This man was going to think I had a stuttering problem. I reached into my purse to pay for my meal.

Carmen halted me. I got this.

Before I could get out of my chair, Casper was behind me moving my chair back. Thank you was all I managed to say.

I didn’t hear him or Carmen say another word, because I rushed out of there. Excuse me, I had to say several times because the lunch crowd had only gotten thicker as I made my way out the front door. The valet brought my car around. I handed him a tip and sped away. My cell phone rang before I could leave the parking lot. I saw that it was Carmen and let it go to voicemail.

I knew she would be upset at me for running out on her and Casper. She’ll get over it. I didn’t feel like talking to her anymore today, so I’ll return her call tomorrow. She’s tripping now, so one more day wouldn’t change a thing.

***

Girl, he was so fine, he had me stuttering, I said, recanting what happened earlier that day to my best friend, Mason Blue.

Mason stated, I still can’t believe you ran out on him.

I fanned myself with my hand. It was either that or attack him right there in front of everybody.

Well Shreveport has been getting some A-list actors filming here, so I might not need to move to Hollywood after all, Mason stated with pride.

That’s what I hear. It’s being called the Hollywood of the South, I responded.

I’m auditioning for an extra in Martin’s new film.

I hope you get it. You’ve always been overly dramatic, I teased. Mason and I were childhood friends. While growing up, we both had aspirations of making it big one day. She wanted to be an actress and I wanted to be the next Diana Ross. She ended up getting pregnant our freshman year at Southern University in Baton Rouge and had to move back home. After graduating from college at the age of twenty, I moved to Los Angeles and she stayed behind in Louisiana. Mason put her acting plans on hold, went to school during the day and worked at night to keep a roof over her and my god-child Jericka’s head. She was now the head RN at one of the local hospitals.

With a name like Mason Blue, I was born to be a star, Mason said, with a little sadness coming from her voice.

Mason, I know your life may not have turned out exactly how you wanted it to but you have a beautiful daughter and a husband that adores you, I stated.

Easy for you to say, she mumbled.

If you take away the glitz and the glamour, your life is a whole lot better than mine if you ask me. I hoped I sounded convincing because I hated to see Mason depressed.

I guess you’re right. The adoring fans, the parties, the money; I could do without all of that.

Try the fickle fans, the paparazzi and the fact that your ex boyfriend slash manager swindled you out of some of your money, I added.

If you put it like that, I guess life with an adorable man like Victor isn’t so bad.

Chapter 2

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

We heard you were going back into the studio, the stranger’s voice said, when I answered the phone after being interrupted from finding out who the killer was in the book I was reading.

It took me a few seconds to register this was an annoying reporter. No comment, I said and then slammed the phone down.

Not again, I yelled before reaching for the phone. I checked the caller-id and wasn’t familiar with the number. I answered on the fifth ring. What!

An unfamiliar male voice came across the other end and said, May I speak to Parris?

It depends, I responded, still annoyed at the reporter’s call from a few minutes before. Whoever this man was, he had a sexy laugh. Depends on what? he asked.

If you’re somebody I WANT to talk to. I put my bookmarker in the book I was reading and laid it on the bed.

The way you ran out of the restaurant, I’m not so sure.

A twinge of guilt swept my conscious. With his last statement, his voice registered. I had an emergency. There was a slight pause, so I continued to lie. Things are okay now.

Cool, was Casper’s only reply.

I felt like a kid who got caught cheating on a test. To change the subject, I asked him a question, although I already knew the answer. How did you get my home number? I don’t remember giving it to you.

We BOTH know it was Carmen. He didn’t hesitate to say.

I don’t like people I didn’t give my number to calling me.

In Carmen’s defense, Casper stated, She called you several times. An according to her, she only got your voice mail.

I should have hang up the phone but his voice was as demanding on the phone as his physical appearance was in person. Really, I hadn’t had a chance to check my messages.

Now that we have that straight, I need to know when will be a good time to get together and discuss some ideas I have for your CD?

I sat straight up in the bed. I didn’t agree to anything.

But Carmen said.

Forget what Carmen said. I have the final say so. I slammed down the phone.

The phone rang seconds later. I answered, WHAT?

Did we meet in another lifetime or something? I swear you act like I stole something from you, Casper said.

I had to hand it to him, he was persistent. I don’t know you. But what I do know of you, I don’t particularly like.

I could say the same about you, Casper responded.

He had me riled up by now. Curiosity had me wondering why he was snapping at me. I don’t think so, I said.

I heard it through the grapevine that you were a real DIVA, he said in a sarcastic tone.

Oh really, well this DIVA has better things to do than talk to a man who thinks women should just fall at his feet just because he’s… Casper’s laughter stopped me from completing my sentence. I hung up without saying another word. Why am I letting this man get under my skin?

The phone rang again, but this time I didn’t answer it. A part of me was amused that Casper insisted on talking to me after I hung on him not once, but twice.

***

I fell asleep with Casper on my mind. He entered my dreams and the only thing that saved me from his wrath was the alarm clock. The book I had last night was crushed under my body. I got up and threw the covers off the bed. My bladder insisted on some relief. The bathroom was my first destination. Warm water soaked the lime washcloth. I squeezed it and washed my face. I rubbed cleansing cream on my cheeks, forehead and chin. After making sure my entire face was covered, I plugged up my electric toothbrush