Diamond Revelation Read online

“Me neither. And now she’s one of my best friends, too, and my business partner.” Keisha set chilled bottles of water in front of them. “But I really had my doubts about the two of you becoming friends. She was so insecure over your friendship with Sean. I always wondered what that was about.”

  Keisha’s cell phone rang, interrupting the conversation.

  Topaz felt her blood pressure rise as her heartbeat escalated. Her friendship with Sean during his and Jade’s first year of marriage was something Topaz never thought about. She sipped the water to calm her nerves.

  Keisha finished the call and looked at Topaz. “I’m sorry. What were we talking about?”

  “Jade. That girl is mad talented. I still can’t believe those dishes she made. Weren’t they the most beautiful things you ever saw?”

  “They were too fabulous. Jade is really at a great place in her life. She’s matured enough to be a good wife and mother but still be Jade.”

  “I know what that feels like.” Topaz spoke slowly. “I love being a wife and a mother now…even more than singing…” Her voice trailed off as she waited for Keisha’s response.

  “Really, T?” A huge smile lit up Keisha’s face.

  Topaz nodded.

  “Wow! I never thought I’d hear you say that.” Keisha looked at Topaz as though she were seeing her for the first time.

  “I’m surprised at myself, too. I really don’t miss the music biz. I love everything about my life now…my beautiful babies and my beautiful man.” Topaz was beaming.

  “Don’t tell me prayer doesn’t work. You finally grew up. Girl, I am so happy for you.” Keisha smiled and hugged her friend. “Do you know some people leave the planet without learning that lesson?”

  “That would be a tragedy.” Topaz’s face clouded over at the thought of such loss. “I thank God every day for my wonderful family and friends.” She squeezed Keisha’s hand.

  “And no matter what mistakes I made in the past, I always loved my little boy and I always loved Germain.” Topaz wiped a tear from her eye.

  “I know, sweetie. Now the past is where it should be…in the past,” Keisha declared firmly as her cell rang again.

  Topaz’s thoughts drifted to Niki. She dreamed about Niki again and woke up screaming. She was taking a nap on the sofa in the family room, and when she opened her eyes, Chris was standing in front of her looking very frightened.

  Keisha hung up the telephone. “I’m sorry, girl. I should turn that thing off, but I might miss an important call.”

  “It’s okay, Keisha. Really. Handle your business,” Topaz reassured her.

  Keisha made some notes in a file. “Have you had any more of those dreams about Niki lately?”

  Damn, Topaz thought. Is the girl some kind of mind reader or what? I know she’s always talking about how God shows her things, but this is kinda scary.

  “No,” Topaz answered quietly. “I haven’t had that dream again since I told you about it.”

  “Good.” Keisha closed the file and focused her attention back on Topaz. “Cause that was pretty weird. If you were still having them, I was going to suggest you see a therapist.”

  “A therapist?” Topaz spat the word out like poison. “I’m not crazy.”

  “No one is saying you’re crazy. But something’s going on. No one has dreams like that for no reason. A therapist could help you sort things out.”

  “I don’t need a therapist to help me sort anything out. I only had one bad dream,” Topaz lied.

  “And you haven’t had any more. That’s what’s important. You’re probably just pregnant.”

  “Pregnant?” Topaz looked at Keisha like she was crazy.

  Keisha laughed heartily. “I was just trying to lighten things up.”

  “Not like that.” Topaz opened a fresh bottle of water. She took a few sips, readying herself for anything Keisha might throw her way.

  “So, were you feeling what I said about performing here at The Diamond with your guitar and no bling…just Topaz?”

  “You were serious about that?”

  “Of course I was.”

  Topaz was silent for several moments before she spoke. “I was about to tell you I’d love to do it when Nina said that wasn’t my image.”

  “Nina did go there, didn’t she?” Keisha recalled.

  “I’ve been writing songs for the last year. All types of songs about a lot of different things, but mostly about love, relationships, life.”

  “Has Nina heard any of them?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t even tell her that I’ve been writing.”

  Keisha was shocked. “Why not? Nina’s always had a lot of smarts about the business.”

  “Probably because I thought she wouldn’t like them. This music is totally different from the stuff on my first two CDs.”

  “You should let her hear them. She is the head of Revelation Music now.”

  “Don’t you want to hear them?” Topaz fixed her amber eyes on Keisha.

  “Of course I do. You know I’m always your number one fan,” Keisha replied. “I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got.”

  “Wonderful.” Topaz took a CD out of her bag and handed it to Keisha. “I brought a few songs with me just in case I needed to leave my material with The Diamond’s owner.”

  “I can’t wait to hear this.” Keisha headed toward the club, and Topaz stopped her. “Why don’t we listen to them in the Rover. I’ve got a bumpin’ audio system. Somehow the club just seems so big and impersonal.”

  “Whatever, gurl. I just want to hear your music.”

  Keisha and Topaz went outside to the parking lot and got in the car. Topaz placed a CD in the player and tried not to look at Keisha for a reaction. When the three songs completed, Keisha was practically whispering.

  “That was amazing. Topaz…” Keisha shook her head. “I can’t believe that was really you. I didn’t know you could bring it like that.”

  Topaz squealed with excitement. “You really like it, Key?”

  “Like it? I loved it. Gurl…you came neo soul, gospel, jazz, R and B. It was…”

  “Me,” Topaz quietly interjected.

  “I honestly didn’t know you could sound like that.”

  “I realized I’ve been a little too flossed and polished,” Topaz explained. “People want the real thing. I’m just not sure if they want it from me.”

  “Has Germain heard this?” Keisha inquired.

  “Of course.” Topaz was full of smiles. “Germain loves my music. He said this was the best he’s ever heard me sound.”

  “He’s right. How many songs have you written?”

  “More than enough for a couple of CDs.” Topaz was excited.

  “Can I keep these songs to play for Eric?” Keisha picked up the CD case.

  “Sure.” Topaz smiled as she watched Keisha typing on her BlackBerry.

  “I can access the club’s schedule from my Berry. I just slotted you in. Is three months enough time for you to get a show together? Remember, you’re not wearing any makeup.” Keisha laughed.

  “You were serious about that too?” Topaz giggled nervously.

  “As a heart attack. I can just see you in a pair of faded jeans and some cute little sexy top with your guitar…”

  “My guitar? Do you realize that I haven’t played in years? And you want me to perform with it?” A million thoughts were exploding in Topaz’s mind as they talked.

  “That’s why this is so perfect. You know how artists are always reinventing themselves.”

  “But I’m in between deals and I don’t have a manager or a label,” Topaz protested.

  “We’re talking about one night and one show. It’ll be your Unplugged…. Hey…you know we should get MTV to come and make it a special.”

  “MTV?”

  “Yes, girlfriend. That would be so hot. And then you put out an album.”

  “I don’t know, Keisha. What if my fans hate it?”
Topaz was still skeptical.

  “Just get out the guitar and start practicing. The club will take care of everything else.”

  “Keisha…”

  “Just trust me, girl. It’ll be a night to remember,” Keisha promised.

  Chapter 6

  It was hotter than July in Burbank and it was only mid-June. It was almost ten-thirty in the morning and the streets were eerily quiet. Everyone was inside cooling themselves in some form of air conditioning. Topaz pressed the number six once she was inside the elevator at the Burbank Music building. Despite the coolness inside, she could feel beads of perspiration forming around her hairline and over her full top lip. As the elevator began its ascent, she didn’t know why she felt so nervous. Nina had been more than willing to take the meeting and hear her ideas. During Topaz’s career, she had sold millions of CDs, which had been certified platinum several times over.

  “There is no reason why Nina wouldn’t want the Grammy-award-winning, beautiful wife of Dr. Gradney,” Germain reminded her. “Every record label on the planet would sign you to a deal. And don’t forget Nina is your best friend and cousin.”

  “Isn’t that called nepotism?” Topaz, never big on words, learned its meaning just the other night while looking over her son’s spelling homework.

  “No, baby. Nina signing you to a deal would not be nepotism. If you hadn’t already proven yourself, that would be different. If anyone could be accused of nepotism, it would be Nina because she never ran a label.”

  Topaz sighed with relief. Germain even offered to attend the meeting with her, but Topaz told him that wasn’t necessary. But they were going to have dinner at G. Garvin’s later that evening to celebrate the new music deal she would certainly be offered.

  So why the hell am I so nervous then? Topaz asked herself, but she already knew the answer. She couldn’t fight off the insecurity about her age. It was a fact she constantly dealt with despite her countless accolades and accomplishments. She knew she was older than most of the artists she deemed worthy competitors. Pop divas were superstars and millionaires at seventeen now, and even though she was still beautiful, Topaz couldn’t help feeling that she was as old as dirt.

  Jamil’s comments about her and Sabre the night of the Divas concert had only helped to fuel her growing fears. His words constantly played over and over in her mind. “If you’re gonna lose sleep over any female in the room, this is the one,” Jamil had said, referring to Sabre, whom he called gorgeous. Topaz could see Sabre now all snuggled up under Jamil like she was his woman.

  I wonder if they were sleeping together, Topaz wondered for the first time as she recalled the scene in her mind. That ho probably was having sex with him, Topaz concluded. It had only been a few weeks since his fiancée, India, had been murdered. But Jamil was still a man, and Sabre was a pretty young thing. “I’m gonna sign her to a solo deal in a few years and she’s gonna blow up. Sabre is a diamond,” Topaz remembered Jamil saying. And it was no secret that Jamil had purchased the five-carat diamond she wore around her neck from Jacob the Jeweler the day after the concert.

  That was less than two years ago, and now Sabre was signed to a solo deal. She had indeed blown up. Sabre had the number one song on the radio. Her ever-growing popularity seemed endless. People loved Sabre. She was in demand. Topaz and Baby Doll watched her on TRL just yesterday.

  After I was finally able to get Jamil’s words out of my head before my solo performance on VH1, that little bitch had the audacity to walk on stage while I was singing, wearing my dress that she stole from my house, Topaz remembered angrily.

  It had taken every ounce of willpower Topaz had to not go off on Sabre during the song. Topaz still wanted to kill Sabre every time she laid eyes on her, which was all the time now that the young diva was really headed for superstar status.

  “Hell no,” Topaz said out loud. This is an important meeting, she reminded herself. This is not the time to trip about Sabre.

  She looked down at the new pair of Apple Bottoms that she purchased especially for her meeting with Nina. She shampooed and conditioned her hair before she left the house, and it had dried into lots of curly ringlets with gold, blond, and copper highlights. Her lips sparkled with her favorite shade of MAC lip gloss and she had only applied mascara.

  After what seemed like forever, the elevator doors opened and Topaz stepped into Revelation Music offices where the receptionist led her to the conference room. Her eyes fell on a framed poster of So Fine’s CD cover on a wall. When she saw Sabre, her anger was as fresh as ever. Hood rat, bitch, and a couple of other expletives passed quickly through her mind. Then she saw the plaque from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for her last CD that sold over five million copies. Before she could look any further, Nina appeared dressed in the cutest pink sundress and her pink diamond earrings.

  “Hey cuz.” Nina kissed Topaz on the cheek before she arranged her BlackBerry, a tablet of yellow legal paper, and pen in front of her on the conference table.

  “That’s a very pretty dress,” Topaz remarked. “It goes perfectly with your pink diamonds.”

  “Thanks. I got it in a boutique at the Lennox Mall in Buckhead while I was in the ATL.” Nina smiled at Topaz as a few additional people joined them at the table. “I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Danny, my A&R executive, and a few other staff members to join us.”

  Topaz smiled at them and whispered so only Nina could hear. “I wanted to talk to you, not them.”

  “I already know where this is going, girlfriend. We don’t have a lot of time. This way we can accomplish everything in one meeting.” Nina folded her arms and reclined in her chair and began making introductions. “So let’s do this. Meet Danny, the best A and R man in the business; Cookie, the head of video; and Anita, my executive assistant.”

  Topaz gave everyone her best smile.

  “I just want to welcome you to Revelation in advance.” Danny was almost blushing. “I’ve been a fan since your first CD. This is truly an honor.”

  Topaz smiled warmly at Danny. She felt herself begin to relax in the chilly conference room.

  “That goes double for me.” Cookie smiled at Topaz. “I look forward to working with you to capture your music visually.”

  “A’ight, girl. What’s up? You said you have something for us to listen to?” Nina demanded excitedly.

  “I sure do.” Topaz took out the CD of her songs and placed it on the table. Nina snatched it up and handed it to Danny. “Music maestro.”

  Topaz watched as he walked over to the audio equipment and placed the disc in the player. “I’ve been writing and recording my own material for the last year or so. I’ve been thinking it’s time to do something with it, so here we are.”

  Danny cranked the volume as Topaz’s voice flowed through the speakers.

  Her vocals were strong and clear. The melody was hypnotic and the acoustic guitars soothing. The track was clean except for light percussion that she had programmed. After the third song Danny clicked off the CD.

  “I’m speechless.” Danny looked around searching the others’ faces. “That was phenomenal, incredible.” He took Topaz’s hand and kissed it. “Mesmerizing.”

  Topaz was too pleased. She looked at Nina, who was busily writing notes.

  “It’s a different sound for you,” Cookie began, carefully choosing her words. “Definitely not what I was expecting, but I like it. I like it a lot.”

  “It’s nice, T. Real nice. Do you have a publishing deal?” Nina inquired.

  “No,” Topaz replied, quietly wondering where Nina was going with this particular question.

  “We’ll have to hook something up for you because the material is absolutely wonderful.”

  Topaz finally relaxed now that Nina had given it her stamp of approval. “I’m so glad you like it.”

  “However…” Nina cut in. “I don’t feel it’s right for you.”

  “What?” Topaz’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

 
; “I agree,” Cookie added quickly. “You’re this gorgeous, glamorous pop diva. That’s your image. It is so not you.”

  “My sentiments, exactly.” Nina tossed her pen on the table. “If you recorded that material, it would prove disastrous to your career.”

  “I disagree.” Danny was on his feet. “Young people are looking for the real deal. This is as real as you can get.”

  “Young people want to go clubbing. They want music you can dance to,” Nina countered.

  “So let her write a couple of dance tunes. If they don’t work, we’ve got plenty of material in Jamil’s catalogue to choose from.” Danny winked at Topaz.

  “Do you think Jamil would record this material?” It was the first time Anita had spoken during the entire meeting.

  Everyone was quiet as they pondered Anita’s words.

  “No.” Cookie shook her head emphatically. “Jamil was about hip-hop and club tunes.”

  “Jamil was also about real raw talent,” Danny cut in. “And that’s what this is. We add some instrumentation, poof…we’ve got some great R&B here. It’s neo soul…it’s fresh and it’s hot.”

  “Neo soul artists don’t sell as well as pop artists. Topaz is pop,” Nina pointed out.

  “This is pop,” Danny countered. “It will sell, because Topaz is singing it.”

  “I think Jamil would have loved it, just like I do.” Anita obviously only spoke when she had something to say.

  Topaz looked at Nina, who was seated at the head of the table doodling on the pad. She felt a knot forming in her stomach, and she was beginning to sweat profusely.

  “Jamil loved Topaz,” Nina began quietly. “He signed her to her first deal. He produced her second album and wanted to sign her to this label to produce her third. He’d be on the phone with legal right now nailing out the details of the contract. But would he sign her to do this material? I worked very closely with Jamil over the years…I was almost his wife, so I think I know him and his music pretty well, which is why I’ve been given the task of running Revelation Music. Based on that…I have to say no. It’s too risky, and the label can’t afford to take any chances right now.”