CHAPTER FIVE

“Hey Roz!”

Roz was sipping her wine when she heard the voice behind her. When she sat her glass down on the restaurant table and saw an old client of hers coming her way, she smiled and stood up. “Hello Sherm.” They hugged. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“Tee didn’t tell you? I’ve been working in Paris, girl. At the Moulin Rouge of all places.”

“Well howdy do to you! Who are you opening for?”

“Opening my ass. I’m the star of the show.” He took the cape he wore and wrapped it around his body. “Acts are opening for me. It’s a queer show, which wasn’t what I truly wanted to do, but it’s packing’em in, girl, so I can’t complain.”

“I’m impressed.”

“Finally, you’re impressed. You fired me, refused to be my agent anymore because of my unprofessionalism as you called it.”

“Not me. Every director you worked for called you that.”

“Whatever. But now I impress you. Well about time!” he said happily and loudly as they both laughed and clasped hands. “Sit down, sit down,” she said as she sat down and began moving over so he could sit beside her. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“Meeting with a few friends who haven’t arrived yet. I miss Philly. Haven’t been back home in months. I’m trying to catch up on that old Philly grapevine. I want the tea and I want it to spill all over me, girl.”

“There’s plenty to spill, I’m sure.”

“However you don’t know any?”

Roz shook her head. “I stay out of the gossip columns.”

“Except when your husband’s in it.”

Roz didn’t respond to that. Sherman knew, like all of her current and former clients knew, not to cross that line.

“So what are you doing here?” he asked her.

“Speaking of my husband, I’m waiting on him.”

“So you two are still together then?”

Roz looked at him. “That’s an odd question to ask.”

“Not odd at all. I was there during Paris Fashion week. Yes, it was months ago, but I saw Bella Caine on his arm. I thought he was back with Bella.”

“She thought so too. But no. He’s still stuck with me.”

“That’s what I call a miracle. For real. From the moment you started dating his mean, gangster ass, I knew y’all weren’t going to make it. I’m sorry, but I just knew it. No offense, but I’m shocked y’all still together.”

Roz wasn’t offended. “Kind of shocking to me too.”

“But it’s not just a marriage of convenience, right? Like all those mob marriages tend to be. There’s love there, right?”

Roz looked at Sherman. Where did he get off being so personal with her? But they had been close friends once long ago, back in her early, struggling, Broadway days. She cut him some slack. “Yes, there’s love there. And no, it’s not a marriage of convenience.”

“You sure?” Sherman asked. “I hear so many rumors about that man.”

“You believe everything you hear?” Roz asked as she took a sip of her wine.

“Not everything, no, but when it comes to your man? Fifty-fifty. Is that him?”

Roz looked toward the entrance where Sherman was looking, and that was when she saw Mick being escorted to her table. “That’s him,” she said.

“Damn, Roz, that man still got what it takes.” He was looking Mick up and down. “He’s fine. I’m sorry, but that man is super fine. But I don’t do mobsters. They are the worse.”

“I’m sure he’s not interested in doing you either, Sherm,” Roz said as if it should have went without saying. “Brace yourself,” she added. “He’s going to make you move.”

“Move? Why? There’s an entire seat vacant in this booth. Why should I have to move?”

Mick walked up to them and stood beside Sherman. Sherman looked at him as if he was a stranger. “Hello?” He extended his manicured hand. “I’m Sherman. And you are?”

“Her husband. Move,” Mick said.

“The manners,” he said as if Mick was offensive. But he stood up. Mick sat beside Roz. Roz smiled because she had warned her former client, but he wouldn’t listen.

“Anyway, girl, I’ll see you around. Hopefully again before I head back.”

“Okay, Sherm, see you later.”

“And goodbye to you too,” Sherman said, looking at Mick.

Mick gave him a look that chilled him to his bone.

“Never mind,” he said and hurried away from that booth.

“You didn’t have to frighten him, Mick,” Roz said as she looked at him. She would have liked a hug from him, or even a kiss. But she got neither.

Mick looked at her. His heart fluttered whenever he looked into her beautiful, passionate eyes. “How are you?”

“I’m good.You?”

“Tired,” he said as his phone began to ring. “More shit at those docks.” When he looked at his Caller ID. “I’m not talking to that fucker,” he said and tossed his phone on the table.

Roz picked up the phone and looked at the Caller ID too. When she saw that it was Hammer Reese, she answered it.

Mick looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “What are you doing?”

“It might be about Amelia. Hey Hammer. Millie okay?”

“Hello Roz. I’ve been trying to call his ass all morning. Put it on Speaker.”

“It is on Speaker. What’s up?”

“Mick, I need you to come to Charlemagne tomorrow at noon.”

“For what? So you can criticize my activities? You can do that shit over the phone.”

“Noon tomorrow.And Mick?It’s not optional.”

Mick frowned. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“You have to be here. Period. And bring Roz with you. You may need her.” Then Hammer ended the call.

Roz looked at the phone. “What the fuck?” Then she looked at Mick. “And what in the world does he mean you may need me?”

But Mick just sat there keeping his own counsel, his mind blindsided by such an incredible request. Or order , given how Hammer operated.

He was as puzzled as Roz.