Abel
November
2019
Bright, blinding lights shining in my face, I apatheticlly stare out the car window barely paying attention to the busy sidewalks of the Las Vegas strip. Cruising down the crowded streets heading towards the Sahara Las Vegas hotel, I sigh deeply anticipating the end of this night so I can go out with my boys before we leave tomorrow.
Now noticing the hotel about to come up, I see a large group gathered by the entrance and I sigh again not the least bit interested in facing all these rich, snobby assholes.
"So much for an intimate party" I mutter which makes Davina look up from her compact.
"You know Mommy doesn't do small gatherings" she giggles making me roll my eyes. "Besides, this is our engagement party. It's not supposed to be small"
"Yeah, anything to make headlines" I quip already over this.
"I thought you left that repugnant attitude at the hotel. You know Mommy pulls a lot of strings to make the public believe we're in love. Least you can do is play your part when told" she closes her compact with a snap.
A slight sneer I stare up at the closing in hotel wishing I was anywhere but here right now because I do play my part. I've been playing this part for three fucking years now and I'm just about over it.
The car now coming to a slow stop in front of the curb, I take a deep breath putting on my played-out facade. More flashing lights, someone opens my door so I can get out.
Let's get this over with.
Outside the car in front of all the flashing lights, I hear people calling for my attention every which way while I help Davina out the car. Smoothing out her dress while the door closes behind us, I offer her my arm to lead her into the hotel to this restaurant inside called Bazaar Meat.
Making it past the paparazzi, we enter the building finding a couple people waiting in the lobby.
Peering around, I feel a little uncomfortable not seeing any of the people I was allowed to invite. This is more for Davina than me anyway. Honestly, if the choice were mine, we wouldn't even be here right now let alone together.
These past three years with her have been nothing but torture all at her expense. I'm not sure how much longer I can take this, more often than not I feel like I'm living a double life and it's starting to mess with me.
Hearing loud cheers, I look up to see Davina's three friends rushing over to us in chafe excitement.
"Davina, my love!" Her harlot of a friend, Esmae, exclaims giving me a headache. "Congratulations! Let me see the ring, let me see"
"Calm down, Mae" Davina laughs showing off the sixty-thousand-dollar ring I brought her last week.
"I'm sorry, I'm just so excited" she pouts. "Wow, it's so beautiful"
"Thank you. It's exactly what I wanted" Davina beams making me mentally roll my eyes. Of course it's exactly what she wanted; she's the one who picked it out.
Fading into the background, I tune out the useless chatter until someone says we can sit down.
When I imagined my life at thirty, I never saw myself getting married to someone I'm not deeply in love with. I didn't see myself getting married to anyone, actually. The only reason I'm with Davina was to fix my image.
A few years ago, I was the poster child for a typical bad boy rock star. Once I blew up after my album Beauty Behind the Madness, the success kind of went to my head. I was out every night partying, getting fucked up, then taking a girl home to end all the fun. When I look back on it, I see just how reckless I was.
It all came to a head when I was performing a show here in Vegas and got way too drunk. Things got a little wild and the cops showed up to shut everything down. Somehow, I ended up in an elevator with one and I punched him, couldn't tell you why but after that incident my reputation in the public eye took a steep decline.
At the time when my manager Sal suggested a PR contract with an upcoming model to clean it up a little, it seemed like a good idea. I'd date a random girl for a little while, make it seem like my wild party days were over and I was now looking to settle down with someone while she got exposure just for being my girlfriend. Marriage was never part of the deal. Before I knew it, I'd been with Davina a whole three years, she even moved into my house which really pissed me off because our PR deal was only supposed to last for two years and nowhere in that contract did it say we had to live together.
Then I was blindsided when Davina's sneaky snake of a mother blackmailed me by threatening to expose me for cheating since I was sleeping around with different women. I personally didn't see why my fake relationship with Davina meant I couldn't have my fun. What did it matter? We weren't actually together.
Still Valencia had other plans when it was time for our contract to end.
It really bothered me when she threw that out there like it was some big secret; she knew there were other women. She knew I only ever saw Davina as a business deal and nothing else. Still Cash convinced me otherwise saying if I get married it'll boost our popularity then after another three years, I can divorce her.
I wanted to reject the idea, but the public finally accepted me, so I swallowed my pride.
To this day that is one of the worst decisions I've ever made.
"Oh, it's time to sit down, babe" Davina taps my shoulder getting my attention then.
Looking up I see people starting to file into the dining room and I pull in a deep breath counting the minutes until this is over.
Offering Davina my arm, we start for the restaurant entrance with her friends trailing behind.
Inside I see a long table put together in the middle of the room with everyone gathering around it to take a seat. It's then Valencia and her husband come up to hug us.
"Oh, there's the lucky couple. You look beautiful darling" Valencia smiles making me cringe inside. Her smiles are never genuine.
"Thanks, Mom. Everything looks great as usual. Don't you think so, Abel?" She peers up to me and I force a smile shoving my hand in my pocket.
"You've out done yourself, Valencia. Really." I look around the decorated restaurant that's been shut down specifically for this private event, yet I can still spot famous magazine editors and camera people scattered around.
"Thank you" she beams taking Davina's hands. "Nothing is too good for my baby girl" she leans in to kiss both her cheeks.
Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, I place my arm around Davina's waist. "We should probably sit down"
"Oh yes." Davina looks over to the table. "Which seats are ours?"
"The ones on the end. I'll show you" Omar speaks for the first time.
He's not a man of many words. Being CEO of his own company, I don't see the guy a lot. He's always somewhere over seas for weeks at a time. I'm actually surprised he's here now, I low key think he has a side piece he's been running to because I refuse to believe he enjoys being married to a woman like Valencia.
Following him to the other end of the table, he shows us our seats and we sit down and for the first time tonight I'm happy to see a familiar face.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I smile at Paula.
"Oh hi, Abel. I'm here with Jason, he's around here somewhere" she smiles putting her phone down. "And congratulations"
"Jason?" I arch an eyebrow making her laugh.
"It's not like that" she waves me off.
"Oh, I see" I smirk making her blush.
Paula is a little hottie I used to mess around with back in the day. All I have to say is this girl can put it down if you're looking for a wild night.
"Shut up" she glances at Davina who isn't even paying attention.
"I didn't say anything" I shrug.
"Where's La Mar and the crew?" She changes the subject.
"Somewhere around here. We didn't show up together but we're going to hit up a club later"
"Oh really? Which one?"
"Hakkasan at the MGM Grand. Heard it's pretty dope" I let her know and she smiles wildly.
"I may have to tag along then" she says with a sly gleam in her eye.
Dinner continuing on, I sink into myself, talking only when spoken to. To Davina's friends and social circle, I'm just a quiet dude who doesn't really talk when in reality I've nothing to say to these people.
I know how to have a conversation but when it comes to this crowd, the only thing they know is surface level shit like who has the nicest house or most expensive car or how many yachts they have down at the marina. It gets on my nerves because these people have absolutely no depth. Davina included.
When things finally start to wrap up, Davina and I stand to thank everyone for coming out. Another congratulations from the group, I lean down to kiss Davina, and I fight the urge to wipe off her lipstick when I pull away.
I'm so ready to go.
Finally making our way out the restaurant, I lead Davina to the car, and we slip in to head back to the hotel to drop her off.
"I hope you behave tonight. Wouldn't want a repeat of three years ago" she taunts looking at me smugly and I ignore her watching the city pass by.
Now in front of Caesars Palace, we get out to head up to our separate rooms.
Entering mine, I quickly change into something a little more comfortable and sparking up a blunt I hear a knock at my door. Answering it I see it's La Mar and Cash.
"You ready for some real fun" La Mar snickers.
"Hell yeah, let's go. Oh, Paula might meet up with us" I let them know after I grab my room key and wallet.
"Oh yeah? Plan on bringing her back here later?" Cash asks as we make our way down the hallway towards the elevator.
"Nah. I thought she could help me reign one in" I smirk pressing the call button.
"Paula is one hell of a wing woman" La Mar laughs.
"She always finds the badest bitch. And they always go both ways" Cash shakes his head. "I don't know how she does it"
"Me either bro but with her I know I'm not going to bed alone."
Although Valencia threatened to expose me for sleeping with other women, I haven't stopped. I'm just more careful about it. I never pick girls in or around Los Angeles, I never spend the night, and I never sleep with the same girl more than twice. That's where I fucked up the first time.
So far Valencia nor Davina have caught on.
Getting in my waiting unmarked SUV, we climb in, and the driver takes off to Hakkasan at the MGM Grand.
"Davina know you went out?" La Mar wonders.
"Yeah, she just doesn't know where" I say scrolling through my private Instagram liking half naked girls' pictures that catch my attention. "I'll be happy when I can go out whenever I want without a leash"
"Three years, kid" Cash tells me. "Then y'all can get a divorce and go your separate ways never to interact again"
"Three years is a long ass time" I grumble.
"If Tom Cruise can do it, you can too" he shrugs making me roll my eyes.
"I'm not Tom Cruise, I'm The motherfucking Weeknd. I ain't supposed to settle down" it's then I get a message through my insta message, and I look to see Paula texted to tell me she's on the way. "In fact, I'm gonna score the badest bitch tonight. Just watch"
10:40 PM
Pulling up in front of the MGM Grand, La Mar, Cash, and I step out the SUV to make our way inside and to Hakkasan that's on the other side of the hotel.
When we finally make it, I straighten my jacket up on me as we come up on the bouncer. Giving us a once over, he lets us in, and I immediately feel at home. The place packed wall to wall, the speakers blare my single Heartless while everyone lets loose to the beat. Walking through the crowd, I notice bad bitches all over the place making me feel like I'm in a candy shop with all my favorite flavors on display.
Eventually finding the bar, we order up a round of Patrón to start off the night.
"I think I heard there's a lounge on the third floor" I hear Cash yell above the music as I take a sip from my drink.
"Probably a little more chill than this crowd" La Mar shrugs looking around at the exuberant group of people dancing on the floor.
"Wanna check it out?" I ask.
"Why not" they agree.
Ordering another round, we start for the third floor where we find the Ling Ling Lounge.
Inside we find people sitting and chatting while severs offer guests drinks.
"Better" Cash nods making me laugh.
"Let's find a seat" I start for a booth.
Finding an empty one, we sit down, and I pull out blunts for us to smoke on.
"Hawk and the crew would dig this place if they could have come"
"Yeah, you know how Davina feels about them"
"Not rich enough to hang around her" Cash snickers and I shake my head.
"I've lost a lot of good friends because of her" I sneer lighting up. "I'm lucky if Belly picks up the phone"
"Or Sal invites you over to hang out" La Mar adds.
"Thanks" I give him a look.
"I was just agreeing with you" he finishes his drink.
"Can we talk about something else. I'm not here to think about that girl" I sit back to scope the room once I pass off my blunt, a nice blonde walking by I check her out kind of liking what I see.
"Is Paula on her way?" I hear La Mar ask.
"She said she was. I'm sure she'll show up eventually"
"Another good one Davina ran off. I'm surprised she was at dinner" Cash laughs.
"She was someone's plus one" I let him know eyeing another woman who walks by.
"Maybe she was hoping to see you again. How long has it been?" La Mar passes me my blunt.
"At least a year but I'm not interested tonight"
La Mar tips his head, "Nothing wrong with wanting a new girl. Plenty around that's for sure"
"I know, I've already seen a few bad ones too" I say seeing three new girls walk in, one in particular catching my attention. My arm resting along the back of the couch, I watch her, and her friends find a booth and I'm pleased when they choose one diagonal from us.
Sitting in a way she's facing me; I subtly check her out not wanting to be too obvious and I like what I see. Long legs that go on forever, the body of a runway goddess, long curly hair that falls around her shoulders, and a smile that can kill. Under these blue lights her skin looks brown though I don't mind at all.
She's gorgeous and she has my name written all over her.
I just need to know what her name is.
Her hair flipped over her shoulder, I see her eyes slide to me as I finish off my drink just as La Mar stands to his feet, "Oh, there's Paula now" he waves her over and she comes to sit down beside me a bit too close.
"Hi boys, where's the entertainment?" She smiles crossing one leg over the other.
"Waiting for you to get the party started" Cash laughs.
"I'm the life of the party, huh? I see not very much has changed for our engaged friend here" she pats my leg, and I raise my hand for a new round of drinks.
"I'm not actually engaged though" I roll my eyes, "so I can have as much fun as I want"
"As long as you don't get caught of course" La Mar adds, and I give him a dirty look just as the waiter comes up. Ordering Patrón, the waiter moves on.
"Anyway, you see that girl over there in the reddish bronze dress" I nod over making Paula crank her head to see her.
"She's pretty. Not really my type" she shrugs.
"Good thing she's not for you" I smirk.
"Oooh, want me to invite them over here so you guys can stop acting like creeps?" Paula smiles.
"Very funny but no," I shake my head. "That's too obvious"
"So, what do you want to do" she flips her hair while I watch this girl curious if I'll be able to get her back to my room. She actually looks a little up tight.
"Wait for an opening to invite her and her friends over here" I take a sip of my drink.
"What if they don't come" I hear Cash say.
"There's no shortage of girls around here" I reply though the only one that's really caught my interest is her. "They don't wanna come over here, I'll find someone else" I shrug just as our waiter comes back with our drink order.
Falling into light conversation, Cash asks Paula what she's been up to while La Mar talks to me about my plans for my music video Until I Bleed out. The entire time I watch this girl, and her friends order two rounds of drinks.
It's not until about an hour minutes later she gets up to walk over to the bar on this floor that I see my chance.
"Hey, I'm gonna get another drink" I stand up.
"Oh, bring me back a shot of Burbon" I hear La Mar say as I get up to walk away.
Approaching the bar counter, I come up beside her making sure there's some distance while I lean on my side. The servers too busy to notice her, she waits her turn while I'm recognized and immediately helped by a girl who just gave someone else their drink.
"Hello, how can I help you?" She asks with a sweet smile.
"Um, can I get a bottle of Hennessey and a shot of Burbon?"
"Sure thing" she starts to turn until I say.
"What will you have?" I ask the girl next to me and she looks at me surprised.
"I'm sorry?"
"Is it all right if I buy you a drink?" I smile and she looks at the bar tender as if unsure.
"Um, a Tequila Sunset would be nice" she finally answers.
"Coming right up" the girl finally disappears leaving us alone.
"Thanks for that" she turns to me.
"Oh, it's no problem, seemed like you'd be waiting a while. I'm Abel by the way" I offer her my hand, and she takes it with a smile.
"I'm Remi, pleasure" she kindly looks me up and down.
Is definitely all mine, I smirk holding her hand a second too long before she finally pulls it away
"So, you here alone?" I wonder.
"No, I have two friends waiting for me. You?"
"I do too, just came up here for another bottle" I look over at my booth.
"I see. Are you celebrating?"
"Nah, it's our last night here, just looking for a good time" I nod. "What about you?"
"It's our last night here too" she lets me know and I smile.
"Well why don't you and your friends join mine. I'm sure our booth is big enough"
Looking at me for a long second, she peers out on the room before finally saying. "All right, you appear normal"
It's then the bar tender comes back with our drinks and picking hers up I hand it over, "One Sunset Tequila"
"Thank you. Where's your booth, I'll get my friends" she takes a sip of her drink.
Pointing it out, we separate, and I go sit down.
"Well?" La Mar asks the second I do and before I can say anything Remi and her two friends are walking over. "Oh, maybe I spoke too soon" he sits back.
"Hello, your friend invited us over" Remi greets everyone. "These are my friends Karter and Sierra."
"Welcome, I'm La Mar, that's Paula, and Cash" La Mar makes room for them to sit down. "Where y'all from?"
"Out of town. It's my girls twenty eighth birthday tonight and she's never been to Vegas before" the blonde one smiles; I believe her name was Karter.
"How you enjoying the scene. There's a lot to get into around here" Cash says.
"So, we've found out. We've been here for three days now hitting up the casinos, saw a few shows" the one named Sierra tells us.
"They've been hitting up the casinos. The show we saw last night was my idea" Remi explains once she's taken a seat beside me.
"Not much of a gambler?" I ask.
"Can't say I am" she smiles. "If you ask me, the games are all rigged and a waste of money"
"Oh, stop it, you think everything in this city is rigged." Her friend laughs. "It's our last night here and you promised to lighten up"
"I did," Remi defends herself. "I lost one hundred and forty dollars to a slot machine; I've lightened up enough" she rolls her eyes.
"Damn, sounds like you need a little luck"
"It has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with random chance" she speaks into her cup.
"Oh please, you know you hate it here because you're bad at gambling" Sierra snickers.
"So, are you guys on vacation too?" Karter questions changing the subject.
"Yeah, it's our last night too so we were trying to get into something" La Mar tells her.
"Oooh, then you've found the right girls" Sierra smirks.
"What makes you say that?" He gets comfortable beside her, and they fall into their own conversation while Remi and Karter tell Cash about all the places they've been to.
Not really listening, I let my eyes wander Remi's frame curious what's underneath this bronze, red piece. I like to think it's a thong and nothing else.
Sometime later Sierra convinces La Mar to return to the club downstairs. Liking this idea, Paula stands to her feet inviting Cash and Karter who accept with a shrug.
Leaving Remi and I alone, I sit forward for the Hennessey to pour myself another glass.
"Want some?" I offer.
"Sure, why not" she lifts a shoulder.
Pouring the drink, she takes the cup for a sip, "So you think you'll come back here?"
"I've been here many times; I just don't find the gambling bit entertaining. What about you?" She sits back.
"Oh, I've been here before too. Long time ago" I nod.
"Uh-oh, what did you do?" She smiles.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you said long ago' like you did something you shouldn't have, so what was it?"
"Damn... um uh... I punched a cop"
Her eyes widen hearing that, "Why? Was he trying to hurt you?"
"No. We were in an elevator, and he felt too close I guess" I scratch my chin.
"Oh. Did you get time?"
"I had to do community service"
"Lucky, lucky"
"I guess," I shrug. "I don't really like to talk about it"
"I wouldn't either. That's embarrassing" she giggles, and I roll my eyes.
"I guess your record is squeaky clean huh"
"No, I have a few DUI's, a few traffic stops but I've never punched a cop" she tilts her head to the side.
"Well, there's a first for everything" I look down into my cup.
"Were you drunk?"
"Maybe..."
"Maybe you should slow down then. Wouldn't want you punching anyone else" she giggles.
"I'm not violent. It was an accident"
"I'm joking, I'm sorry" she raises her hand in an apologetic way. "I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it"
"So, where you from?" I change the topic.
"Not here" she finishes her drink to put it down.
"So where?"
"Why?" She looks at me. "You invited me and my friends over here for one reason and it's not to learn where I live"
"Um-"
"It's alright. Smooth buying me a drink to get me over here but it was very obvious. Especially when you're sitting a few feet away"
"I'm sorry" is all I can say. Never been called out for the way I pick someone up before.
"Like I said, it's alright" she giggles moving closer. "Someone had to make the first move right?"
"Um, right" I agree kinda taken back.
"So, Abel, now that that's out the way, where do we go from here?" She leans her head to the side.
"You don't waste time, do you?" I bite my lip when I feel her foot brush my leg when she crosses her legs.
"Games are for children and I'm a woman" She leans into me. "When I want something, I go after it, and I always get what I want"
Hearing that I begin to wonder if she's been watching me this whole time too. Maybe I wasn't as slick as I thought I was.
"So, you wanna get out of here?" I reach in my pocket for my phone not minding in the least.
"Now you're talking my language" she smirks.