Part 26 (2/2)
”We're in Los Angeles,” Mason tells me. ”He's here to attend the Grammy's this coming Sunday. I thought he would have mentioned it to you.”
”No, we haven't had a lot of time to talk about what he's been up to when he's not with me and the others.”
Mason knocks on the black lacquered door we're standing in front of.
Deon answers it and smiles when she sees me.
”Just the girl I wanted to talk to,” she says, grabbing my left hand and dragging me inside the room. ”Come on in here so I can get your input.”
I have no idea what Deon would want my input on.
I see her look down at the hand she's holding and notice the ring but she doesn't comment on it.
Deon's helpers are buried in racks of clothes in the middle of the living room. Chandler is in the midst of them looking at outfits. When Chandler sees me, his face lights up with unabashed happiness. Deon lets go of my hand and Chandler comes up to me to give me a hug.
”Remember,” he whispers to me, ”we're boyfriend and girlfriend to these people.”
I nod understanding the ruse we're still involved in.
Chandler takes one of my hands into his and drags me over to the racks of clothing. Mason stands off to the side letting me take the lead and trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.
”Now,” Deon says, ”we're trying to decide if we want to go retro cool or current rock star cool.”
Deon pulls out some outfits Chandler is supposed to choose from to wear to the Grammy's. I've always been a sucker for simple and cla.s.sic. So I tell them I think he should wear the white suit and black s.h.i.+rt combo that's presented. Chandler agrees.
”Ok, those colors will work with whatever Jess is going to wear,” Deon says.
”What do you mean it'll go with what I'm wearing?” I ask, looking from Deon to Chandler.
Chandler laughs nervously. ”You remember,” he says like I should know what he's talking about. ”You're coming to the ceremony with me. We talked about this the other day. JoJo Armand is designing your outfit.”
I suddenly feel like strangling Chandler. I love him like a brother but at the moment I want to kill him.
”Oh, yeah,” I say having no choice but to play along, ”I forgot.”
”Ok, I guess we'll get out of your hair for a little while,” Deon tells us, waving to her entourage to get ready to leave. ”We'll just leave these clothes here for now and pick them up later. I'm sure you two could use some alone time together.”
Chandler drapes one of his arms across my shoulders.
”Thanks, Deon. You know I don't get to spend much time with my sweetie.”
I instantly wonder if anyone would notice me slamming my fist in Chandler's smiling face. I could make it quick. Very little blood would be spilt...
Once Deon and crew are gone, Chandler drops his arm back to his side.
”Don't hit me,” he says, holding up his hands in front of him to ward off my attack.
”The Grammy's?” I almost yell, but don't because I'm not sure how thick the walls are in the penthouse suite Chandler is in. ”You didn't think it was important to ask me if I wanted to go before you told everyone I would be there with you.”
”It slipped my mind,” he confesses. ”With everything else that's been going on, I just forgot until my agent had us on a plane to fly here yesterday. Deon asked me if you were coming with me and I just blurted out that you were without even thinking about it.”
I sigh, letting my anger fade. ”Well, there's nothing to be done about it now. Everyone thinks I'm going. Is JoJo really making me a dress to wear?”
”She will be right after I call her,” Chandler says sheepishly. ”I just figured you would rather have her make you something than have Deon arrange something for you to wear.”
I couldn't fault that logic.
”Why are you guys here anyway?” Chandler asks looking from me to Mason.
”We came to see Horace,” Mason says. ”Where is he?”
”Probably down in his room.” Chandler looks confused. ”Why on earth would you want to see my agent?”
”We know what he is,” Mason says.
”My...agent?” Chandler asks, clearly still confused.
And it's then I know I was right about what I said before.
”Do you know what a jinn is?” I ask Chandler.
”I'm not even sure what you just said,” Chandler admits, his face a complete blank.
I look to Mason and I know my expression says, 'I told you so.'
”How long have you known Horace?” Mason asks.
”Horace has been in my life forever,” Chandler tells us. ”He was good friends with my dad. When I was younger I used to call him Uncle Horace. Then when I made it in the music business, he offered to manage me because he knew people who could help me out.”
”Horace is like a genie,” I tell Chandler. ”He can make peoples wishes come true but apparently those people have to take care of their jinn for the rest of their lives.”
”Usually such a bargain requires that the patron lose the love of their family and friends though,” Mason says. ”You still have family you keep in contact with?”
”Yes,” Chandler says. ”I didn't lose anyone but I don't remember ever making a wish either.”
”Could you call Horace and ask him to come up here?” Mason says. ”Don't tell him we're here. I have a feeling he's been avoiding us for a reason.”
Chandler gets on the phone and Horace is at his front door within minutes.
”What's up CC?” Horace asks as he walks through the door.
Horace is about my height, slightly overweight with balding light brown hair. He has a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee. He's wearing stylish black framed gla.s.ses and a tailor made blue suit.
When Horace sees us standing in the room, he comes to a complete stop. He does an about face but Mason quickly phases to him, grabs the back of his blue blazer and yanks him back into the room.
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