The following day, Kareem was alarmed to hear a knock on the hotel door. He opened it and found, Toi and Marquis. Toi jumped into Kareem’s arms, while he avoided face-to-face contact. He had not brushed his teeth and did not want her to feel the heat of his morning breath. He put her down and disappeared into the bathroom.
Restlessly, Kareem emerged from the bathroom and got back under the covers. Toi sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulders.
Marquis sat at the desk and flipped through the hotel guide, as Kareem told him and Toi about the police station drama. He strategically left out the private investigator portion of the story. He didn’t want to alarm Toi into thinking that he would have an investigator follow her. Toi was fascinated, but she was eager to hit the luxurious streets of Hollywood. She sat there done from head to toe, ready for Sunset Boulevard.
Kareem picked up the phone and called, Bianca. Marquis went through his luggage and pulled out a handful of fresh, stolen credit card numbers with all of the customers information included.
With the clothes on the way, Kareem asked Dre and Marquis, “What are ya’ll doing today? There’s no way that we are going to flank Toi like body guards.”
Toi gave Kareem an encouraging smile, before she said, “That may not be a bad idea, though. Give LA the idea that I am a celebrity.”
Marquis answered, “We don’t need ya’ll. I got this. Dre, pack what you have, I’mma get you your own room, and then we outta here.”
Marquis took Dre to the front desk and got them both their own hotel rooms on the same floor as Kareem’s. He had left Kareem with a folder full of all the essentials, he needed to do his business in Los Angeles.
***
At two-thirty, Kareem and Toi exited the staircase on the main level of the Grafton and had all eyes on them. Toi wore the sexy Mandarin-like scent of Dior Bronze Sweet Sun fragrance by Christian Dior. Kareem had spritzed on a soft musk scent of Yves St. Laurent Rive Gauche Pour Hommes, a complimentary gift from Bianca. Bianca had also sent Kareem a white with yellow pin stripe technical mesh blazer, and pant, both, Burberry Prosum. His attire complimented Toi’s yellow strapless number by Tom Ford for Gucci. They were an up- and-coming Will and Jada entering the stretch limo to tour the celebrity homes of Hollywood.
Toi was excited to see where the celebrities laid their heads during their down time. Kareem was equally excited, but his excitement was smooth and restrained. They took photos of the experience.
Kareem eventually looked deep into her eyes and romantically put his arm around her shoulders. “Make no mistake. One day...We will live like this, fo’ sho’.”
Toi rested her head on his shoulder and trusted his every word.
***
Dre and Marquis were on a more mischievous mission. They had attacked Rodeo Drive and the Beverly Center with stolen credit cards. Dre had more bags in his hands than a street bum. He hadn’t stopped shopping until he couldn’t carry another bag.
At every boutique they went into, Dre looked in amazement, and asked each clerk for the hottest clubs and underground nightspots in the city.
Along with the shopping, Marquis had the duty to further bring Dre into the twenty-first century. Kareem had focused on image. Now, Marquis set out to focus on wealth. Marquis emphasized the importance of a plentiful financial security blanket. He noted the worth of stacking cash, while pursuing a dream career to get out of any illegal activity. “Shoot to be an entrepreneur in the field that you love most, so that you’ll live a rewarding life doing what you’re loyal too,” was the words that most inspired Dre.
Dre was forced to see that there was something outside the ghetto, and rich, white people were not the only ones privy to it.