A Bittersweet Kind of Love

Chapter 1

February, 1994

My father managed the suites at the five-star hotel Hollywood Hill, located respectively in West Hollywood. After I finished school and got my degree in hospitality management, I started working full time at the hotel's nightclub V.I.P. Dream. I was assistant manager.

The club was opened Thursdays through Sundays, 8 pm to 2am but closed 3 am on Friday and Saturday nights. I worked all four days but way more than the 26 hours we were opened. This hotel was the setting of my life story.

My uncle Leo was actually the manager of the entire hotel and wanted me to work my way up into taking his spot one day. He appreciated my workaholic-ism. So until my big promotion, I was enjoying the night life at Dream. It had a great lounge/club area, a 70-seat restaurant, and a wine cellar with over 3,000 bottles of rare wine and champagnes. It used to be opened to the public but after the remodel of '93, it became a members-only club, with the exception of paying hotel guests. In that case, you're allowed full access, a perk for spending $1,000-plus a night for a room.

A lot of elites were members and occasionally would throw parties. I was living just on the edge of this glamourous world but wouldn't consider myself in it. They have orders and I fulfill them. Yeah, I've met Whitney, Mariah, Madonna and Pacino and more but we weren't friends. They were clients.

On a Thursday night around 6pm, my uncle Ricky came to talk to me as I was cleaning up the bar area.

"Hey, baby girl," he said kissing my forehead.

"Hey." I could tell by the brightness in his eyes that someone high and mighty had called him. "Who is it now?"

"Someone new. Big time. They're coming soon and want to throw a private event so I need you to be my second set of eyes and ears and take some notes as she tells me what she needs."

"Okay. Who is it?"

"Leila Jackson."

"Oh." Hearing the woman's name instantly brought up a three-year-old memory of when I awkwardly met her husband—Michael Jackson.

Even if I needed to, there was no time to mentally prepare. She and her shadowing posse walked into the club a minute after Uncle Leo said her name.

Like the diva she was, she came in with shades on, high-high heels and some stupid furry thing around her neck. Reaching my uncle, she gave him one of those hugs where you just lean in and tap the back of the other's shoulders. "Ello Darling," she said, giving him one kiss on each cheek.

As they laughed and chit chatted, they met me over at the bar.

"This is Kayah," Uncle Leo said. "Assistant manager here at Dream. She'll be here the night of your party making sure her and her fellow employees are taking good care of you and your guests."

"Wonderful," she said giving me her eyes. "It's very nice to meet you, doll."

I took her hand that she placed in front me and shook it lightly. "Nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Jackson." Her hands were as soft as a baby's. "Finally a member of the club?"

"Yes. I don't know what took me so long. Elizabeth said this place is as fabulous as me so I thought it was time." Flashing a perfect smile, she removed her sunglasses to look around. And geez, this woman was breathtaking. I mean, she was always dolled up on TV but up close, it was even more impressive to see her beauty translate to real life. No wonder Michael is so crazy about her.

And one couldn't help but look at her breasts. They were huge & just sitting out there! If I was a b-cup she had to be like a g...

She flipped her long, brown hair over her shoulder. "I want to do some decorations Ricky. I have to."