Free The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale by Danielle Santiago

her.
                  “Evan didn’t pass out. Someone knocked her out.”
                  “Who would do that to her?”
                  “I don’t have a clue. She swears that someone is stalking her, but I know she’s lying.”
                  “How do you know that?” Bev asked.
                  “Trust and believe if Evan was being stalked I would’ve heard about it as soon as it started.”
                  “Well Rhamel did mention something to me when I was closing Luxe the other night. I didn’t say anything to you because I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries coming to you about your best friend."
                  “Look Bev, unless it is some petty he-said-she-said mess you can come to me. So, what did Rhamel have to say?”
                  “Evan was sitting in her car in the parking lot. He said that when he walked up on her he scared her and that she had a gun on her lap.”
                  Something is definitely up, Joey thought to herself. She knew that Evan would never have her gun out unless she felt that she was in danger. Truly concerned about her friend, Joey wanted to know what was going on so that she could be there for Evan; especially since Evan didn’t really have anyone else. Finding out would have to wait. Joey’s only focus for the rest of the day was the grand opening of Penthouse later that night. There was a lot of work to be done.
                  “That only adds to a long list of suspect shit Evan’s been doing lately,” Joey said as they stepped off the elevator into Penthouse. “The lying is what really bothers me. It is what it is though and I have no time to get caught up in that chick’s mess. Not today.”
    ***
                  The Penthouse opening was a fabulous celebrity red carpet event. Over a dozen players from Charlotte’s professional sports teams that held Penthouse memberships attended. More than a few of them brought teammates, pro athletes from other cities, or friends from the entertainment industry. In an effort to attract new members Joey and Bev went all out. The top shelf bar was open for the duration of the event. There were three food stations. The seafood station offered colossal shrimp, king crab legs, and two-pound lobster tails. At the meat station the choices were filet mignon, New York strip, and prime rib. Two esteemed Japanese chefs manned the third station making sushi per the guests order. Stunning waitresses dressed in fitted low cut white blouses, black mini-skirts, and four inch heels served the crowd.
                  The club’s luxury sports bar ambiance alone was enough to make most of the charter members pay for the pricy membership. A sprawling seven thousand square feet, The Penthouse was a rich sports fanatics dream. Ten eighty-inch screens lined the walls. Oversized brown leather chairs were situated throughout for members to relax in while watching games, drinking, or just chilling. There were two gaming rooms; one for poker and the second casino style black jack and roulette. A private room equipped with poles and a bar could be for private events such as bachelor or birthday parties.
    For the lavish event Joey played it pretty low key in a white tank, light blue True Religion skinny jeans, and beige Charlotte Olympia peep toe platform pumps that were embe llished in metal spikes. In her element Joey worked the room chatting, taking pictures with guest, and just taking in and enjoying the scene.
                  Zay was not at all thrilled when he arrived to see Dawhar Bradley, an NFL standout, talking to his wife. He was convinced that Dawhar had a thing for Joey. Zay went right over and placed his arm around her waist, greeted her with a tongue kiss, and then smoothly whisked her away.
                  “Every time that nigga come to something he always up