SideChicks by Valorie M Taylor

The hour was solemn.

The sky over Los Angeles Memorial Cemetery seemed to weep at the internment of Liset that dreary Saturday morning. Her grave stone would reveal one name and one name only; Liset.

Liset’s name had come to mean newness, escape, future in Lore’s mind. It wasn’t her real name remembered Lore as tears raced down her cheeks. It was the name she’d chosen for herself. “It sounds French,” Lore remembered her long time friend saying.

That name—any name—was better than the one Liset was born with. Now that name was marked by abuse, crime and constant beatings by her mother, her father and finally her husband.

Lore, with eyes stinging from tears, looked up and heard the most heavenly sound in the midst of grief’s silence.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…” angelically sang Rain, her Associate trailed by Illustrious.com’s finest dressed in various degrees of fashionable black. The Women trekked across the Hollywood Memorial Cemetery lawn holding a single calla lily.

The sight warmed Lore’s heart and she tightened her hand of MacBeth’s realizing she wasn’t the only one who had loved and now mourned Liset.

It’s ironic that Liset would be born a sufferer and die suffering. None the less, thought Lore crying as each Associate laid her flower, shed a tear and paid last respects to their fallen comrade, the ones who created this sad, sad day wouldn’t breathe sweet air very much longer.

Now deep into her transformation from street urchin to Illustrious princess, Farrah looked every bit her age wearing cute flare-leg jeans and an asymmetrical white crop top. She strolled through the foyer and onto the porch with Lore’s handpicked chaperone named Rain.

"Rain, you sang so pretty this morning," said Farrah.

"Thanks." Rain sipped a glass of champagne. "It's a gift."

"It is. Hey, I keep hearing about this Sienna from some of the other Associates I’ve met. Who is she?”

Rain stopped short of walking down the stairs and of sipped her champagne. “Sienna is who we all want to be.”

“Really?” asked Farrah whose mind incredible imaginations of her beauty and wealth. “Why? Like is she super rich or somethin’?”

Rain nodded. “She is. You know, Sienna was the first of us to spend a whole year with her Client. Some big muckety-muck custom sports car manufacturer.”

Farrah’s eyes opened wide. “Wow! Really?”

“Yeah. That guy bought her furs, jewelry, a condo in Malibu and gave her one of those custom sports cars he makes. Last year they sailed around the world on his yacht.”

“How much money did Sienna make?”

Rain sipped more of her champagne from the crystal flute, “Lore never reveals anything like that. The only people who know about your money are you, the Client and Lore.”

“So, you won’t tell me how much you make either?”

Rain laughed. “No way, kid.”

“C’mon," said Farrah getting close and looking around. "I won’t tell Lore.”

“See there? We are all beholden to Lore, Farrah. She pulls all the strings. The question you should be asking is will I tell her about this conversation.”

“Yeah, but we’re not competitors.”

“Oh yes we are.”

“Rain?! Sweetie, is that you?”

Rain lowered her sunglasses to see fashion designer MaLisa draped with a jeweled sweater, mini-skirt and and knee high yellow boots.

“MaLisa!” the two women air-kissed each others cheeks.

“Rain, you look adorable! You wear it so well, my sweet. The necklace, the hair and oh, the shoes. Stunning. Simply stunning!” MaLisa turned her attention to Farrah and with a finger making swirls in the air, she asked “who is this?”

“Illustrious.com’s newest princess; Farrah," said Rain. "Farrah, meet the one and only MaLisa.”

"Hi."

“Well hi, Farrah,” said MaLisa taking an analytical stroll around the 19 year old. “My pleasure to meet you.”

Same here,” said Farrah noticing two black passenger vans rolling slowly to the back gate.

“Oh, there’s my staff just getting here," said MaLisa checking her wrist watch. "It’s going to be a glorious day,” said MaLisa making her way into the mans. “See you both in a bit!”

Farrah looked back making sure MaLisa was out of range and finally laughed. “Who and what was that?”

“Your image and fashion designer,” answered Rain.

“My what?”

“Lore and MaLisa create an image for Clients. MaLisa is the one who makes it happen. See this?” Rain pointed to her ample hips, tiny waist fit elegantly in a body-loving blue dress. “This is a MaLisa original.

Just then a tall Swedish number emerged from the side of the house. Her blonde hair loved the breeze as she made her way up the front steps with the grace and ease of a gazzelle.

“Sienna?”

“Rain,” she said with a white smile. “So good to see you. It’s been forever.”

The two embraced.

“Honey, where’s your car?” asked Rain looking up and down the street.

“My car?”

“Sienna, the little gold sports car you got from your Client?" asked Rain. "I have to admit, I was looking forward to that distinctive re-entry into orbit sound it makes.”

“Can you believe it’s in the shop?” she asked almost jokingly.

“Well, yeah." Rain squinted one eye. "I guess any car can break down.”

“Hi,” said Farrah blushing and shoving her hand forward. “I’m Farrah.”

“How pretty you are.” Sienna returned the handshake.

“Thanks. You’re gorgeous.”

“Rain, is she an Associate?”

“Almost,” said Rain pouring the last of her libation down her throat.

“Sooo, your first time, eh? Well, welcome to Illustrious.com on behalf of the alumni.”

Farrah smiled. “Thanks.”

“Rain, do you have a moment?” asked Sienna.

“Sure. Let’s go inside,” she answered. “Farrah, we’ll see you inside a little later?”

“Yeah. You two go ahead.”

Farrah roamed around the downstairs of Lore’s mans. The pool level was all a-flurry with half-naked models running everywhere, make-up artists and hair people working feverishly as MaLisa stood center stage and commanded every little detail.

She poked her head in the kitchen to find waiters and cooks dashing about completing various artistic culinary tasks. In the middle of it all was the portly Juanita sampling one of the Chef’s chicken sliders.

“Oh! No, no, Chef Burgumont,” she said with her thick Spanish tongue. “Too much salt.”

“What do you mean, too much salt? It’s perfect.”

“Missy Lore will no like it. Please, less salt!”

Farrah slid into the mayhem, pinched a brownie from the countertop and popped it into her mouth.

She rounded the corner of the living room and there sat three Associates she recognized from the memorial drinking champagne.

“Farrah?” said Yasmina, “come over here.”

Farrah tried to hurry and chew the brownie as she stepped into the sunken living room.

Yasmina put a supportive arm around her shoulders. “Did you meet Rosanna and Vetta?”

Still chewing she shook her head.

Rosanna stuck her hand out, “I’m Rosanna. It’s nice to meet you?”

With her tongue, Farrah tried to remove the brownie adhesive from her teeth and say “nice to meet you, too” without opening her mouth.

Yasmina looked strangely at Farrah who was struggling with whatever she ate and then said, “and this is Vetta.”

Vetta was a full-figured beauty with black satin hair, red lips and cornsilk skin. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you, Farrah.”

She used her tongue to wipe her teeth and finally said, “same here.”

The trio snickered and Farrah realized she had brownie stuck between her teeth.

“Ladies, that’s enough.” Lore walked forward looking fashionable from the ‘70’s with an ankle-length white Neru jacket buttoned only between her breasts, white low-rise jeans that framed her picture-perfect abs and a silky white and blue scarf that shaped her afro into a crown. She put her arm around Farrah’s shoulder. “You all remember what it’s like your very first MaLisa Show.”

“Ah, yes. I remember it like it was yesterday,” offered Rosanna reminiscently.

Lore slapped her bottom, “that’s because it was last month, silly.”

Everyone laughed even Farrah.

“Let me steal her, my Lovelies,” said Lore.

“That’s right,” said Yasmina raising her glass of champagne. “The princess gets fitted first.”

“Princess?" asked Farrah in a whisper.

At the pool level, Farrah was lead to a graciously draped private dressing area.

“Undress, please,” said Lore.

MaLisa entered with a male assistant who rolled in a rack of clothes, shoes, hats and accessories. With nothing above her but the Hollywood Hills blue sky, Farrah felt inadequate. Her arms slowly moved to cover her breasts and private area as she stood naked before Lore and MaLisa.

The two women just stared analyzing every inch of their subject. Finally Lore spoke. “My Client wants youth and spontaneity.”

“Yes,” said MaLisa. “I’m thinking shorts and rompers for the summer. She has great legs.”

“I agree.” Lore squinted and used her hands to gesture. “I see lot’s of flesh showing even with a cute cocktail dress. What about you, MaLisa?”

“I like that idea. Maybe something that dips down the back.”

“Love it!”

Just then another assistant rolled in a sewing machine and Lore exited the dressing area.

An hour later, Lore used a little knife to clink against her champagne flute. “Good afternoon, my Lovelies!”

“I’m so glad we could all get together this afternoon for our seasonal MaLisa Show!”

Everyone applauded.

“I know you all know I love giving gifts. And each of you has worked so hard to make Illustrious.com the success it is today! So, in honor of our beloved Liset and PJ who is retiring, I want to gift you with not one but two of your favorite outfits today!”

Some of the Associates gasped. Everyone applauded

“We love you, Lore!” shouted Vetta.

Lore laughed. “It’s nice to be loved. You may also shop among the Designer tables and choose two handbags and two pairs of Pure Glama shoes!”

The Associates where excited and many of them clapped.

“And now, to start our MaLisa Show, allow me to present our newest Associate Farrah!”

The music blared and out walked Farrah donning high heels, crochet trimmed little denim shorts, and a backless t-shirt MaLisa’s assistants made on the spot. Everyone cheered for Farrah and encouraged her to turn, pose, give attitude and just enjoy herself.

There she was strolling Lore’s pool level looking hot like she owned the place. The grim streets of Downtown L.A. was a distant memory.

The remaining models also made their rounds sporting MaLisa’s carefully selected creations as Associates drank champagne, nibbled on Chef Burgumont’s culinary delights and chatted.

Just as Farrah turned to go the restroom, she ran smack-dab into one of MaLisa’s young models.

“Hey! Watch it!”

“I’m sorry,” said Farrah.

“I didn’t see you.”

“Whatever,” retorted the young model re-arranging her clothes and jewelry from the impact.

Farrah started toward the house again.

“Hey, what is this place? You work for that Black lady or what?”

“It’s a business and yeah, I work for her.”

“Doing what?”

“Look, I gotta pee.”

“I just wanna know what’s going on, that’s all.” When she said under her breath, "you ain't gotta be such a bitch about it," Farrah spun around ready to fight.

She took a deep breath and, remembering all Lore had taught her, she exhaled her anger. “This is Illustrious.com. Travel Concierge Service.”

“Oh. But she’s giving away designer purses and shoes. I want in.”

“It’s a bonus thing,” she started to explain. “You know, maybe it’s not for you.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

Farrah turned around ready to clap-back. But she calmed herself again. She knew the type; kind of pretty, a little edgy, very desperate. “You gotta kinda have to apply,” she told the model.

“Oh. Okay, I will.”

Farrah made her way to the restroom.

MaLisa’s young model whipped out her phone and Instagrammed herself saying “Modeling for MaLisa at Illustrious.com,” she flipped her hair. “Chance of a lifetime. IDK. Illustrious.com’s not what it seems.”

Farrah opened the door of the restroom and began her way down the hall back to the pool area.

Suddenly the statuesque Sienna emerged from the shadows and sashayed toward her. Sienna moved toward her with such intensity, such laser focus that when she turned to let her pass, Sienna pressed her mouth on Farrah’s.

Sienna was an experienced kisser. Farrah’s protesting mouth didn’t stand a chance as the beautiful Sienna melted Farrah’s resolve.

“You been to sex training, yet?” asked Sienna never letting her lips leave Farrah’s mouth.

“No,” she said still startled by what was happening.

Sienna massaged Farrah’s breast. “Then consider this a teachable moment.”

“You mean like this?” Farrah turned Sienna around, slid one hand into her blouse pinching her nipple and the other into the crotch of her shorts. She kicked Sienna’s legs apart and used nimble fingers to bring her to a raunchy, back alley climax.

Sienna, now with every hair out of place and panting like a dog, looked at her orgasmist. Farrah didn’t return her affections this time.

“Where’d you learn that, Farrah?”

Farrah only smiled and began her way to the pool area.

“Farrah, listen to me.” Sienna handed her a business card. “Don’t tell Lore.” She put her finger to her mouth. “You could totally make way more money with me.”

Farrah stared at the card in her hand and heard Sienna say, “I’ve got international Clients that pay way more than the 25% you’ll make with Lore.”

There was along silence between them.

Farrah made her way outside.

Later that night, Lore opened the door of her office, smiled at Sienna and closed them in.

“Sienna, did you pick out your two outfits and purses and shoes?”

“Yes, Lore," she said pointing to the black MaLisa monogrammed garment bag and matching totes. “I always enjoy these Soirees. Thank you.” She crossed her long Swedish legs and batted her beautiful hazel eyes. “But what did you want to see me about?”

Lore relaxed her backside on her desk in front of Sienna. “I wanted to talk with you privately.”

“About?”

“Sienna, you’ve asked no fewer than fifteen of your fellow Associates for a loan of $2,500 each today.”

Sienna smiled and shrugged. “Word gets around, doesn’t it?

“You do realize that is a huge no-no at Illustrious.com.”

Still smiling, she admitted. “I know, Lore.”

“Sienna, what happened to all of your money?”

“Bad business deals.”

“Bad business deals?” repeated Lore.

She nodded. “Really bad business deals.”

“You do realize that I keep a Harvard graduate Fortune 500 business consultant on retainer for my Associates so they don’t have to make bad business deals?”

Sienna refused to look at Lore as she admitted, “yes, I know.”

“Then why didn’t you consult him?”

“It’s complicated, Lore,” she said behind closed eyes.

“No! No! There’s nothing complicated about it, Sienna!” Lore got in her face.

Sienna’s eyes popped open.

“You let Durkah mind fuck you, didn’t you?”

“What? No.” Sienna gripped the armrest of the chair. Her knuckles turned white.

“You did,” breathed Lore. “He gave you all those expensive gifts and then he convinced you to reinvest your commissions on one of his schemes.”

“No, that’s not what happened!”

“It’s exactly what happened or something like it. Admit it. You let him mind fuck you!”

“Okay. Yes.”

“And the money you’ve been asking for?”

“It’s just to live, Lore.” She shook her head slowly. “Bills. Life. It’s expensive living the life of a billionaire’s ex-girlfriend.”

“I’m sure it is. But you, Sienna, had enough just in commissions to live at least two lifetimes.”

“Yeah. Easy come. Easy gone.”

Her attempt at humor didn’t phase Lore. It was painfully obvious when Lore asked, "how else have you been supplementing your income?”

“Well, you see there, I haven’t. I’ve got nothing. Nothing at all.”

“No businesses on the side?” asked Lore.

“Nope.”

“No part time work?”

Sienna laughed. “Imagine me at Walmart?”

Lore slid the business card from her pocket and snapped it onto the desk. Sienna’s eyes got big. Lore turned the computer screen around that displayed camera surveillance of Sienna’s orgasm in the hallway. “And what exactly would you call this?”

Sienna exhaled. “Oh shit.”

Lore rose to her feet and towered over Sienna. “How dare you come to my house and solicit my family, Sienna. And when I gave you a chance to come clean, you lie to me?”

“Lore, you have everything! Absolutely everything!” Sienna buried her face in her hands. “You don’t know what it’s like to lose everything you have and everything you are!”

She grabbed Sienna’s ponytail and spoke directly to her anguished face “I gave you everything, Sienna. Durkah is the biggest catch Illustrious had and you managed to fuck it up! And now you’re broke, desperate and beautiful! No better than the hoes on street.” Lore released her ponytail. “Get out, Sienna.”

“Lore, you don’t mean that.”

“There’s money in the box on the table in The View. Take it.”

“Wait, wait, Lore don’t—“

“Never again, Sienna. Get out!”