I got up from the table and walked over to the bar. The woman smiled when she saw me coming. “Hello, Mr. Black. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” I said and signed for the bartender. It was obvious that we had met before, but I still had no idea who this woman was or where I knew her from.
“Remy VSOP,” I said to the bartender and turned to her.
“I thought it was you, but I wasn’t sure. And I kept looking and looking. Your friend must have thought I was trying to flirt with him.”
“He did.”
“When you turned around I was sure it was you.”
“You have me at a disadvantage.”
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
“I remember you, or I should say I recognize you. I just don’t know from where.”
She laughed. She had a pretty smile. “I’m not surprised. Even though the last time you saw me I was naked.”
“You were?”
“Yes-I was.”
I was really confused then. “If the last time I saw you, you were naked, I should at least remember your name.”
“But you don’t, do you?” she asked and continued to smile at me. She didn’t seem the least bit angry that I didn’t remember her name.
“No. I really don’t remember your name, naked or not.”
“That’s because I probably never told you my name; at least not my real name.”
“That makes me feel a little better.”
She extended her name. “I’m Jada West.”
“You’re Jada West. I heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” Jada smiled and laughed a little. “Well, I think I should be honored.”
Jada West was slowly making a reputation for herself in some circles. She ran an agency for high-priced call girls. Simply put, Jada West was one of the top madams in the city. But by never being a client of hers or anybody that worked for her, that still didn’t answer the question of where I knew her from.
“Like I said, I’ve heard a lot about you, so it’s me who’s honored to meet you. Or meet again.”
“Let me stop messing with you. We met a couple of years ago at this little club called Ecstasy. They were having a private party for The One and his entourage and you were there. I was one of the dancers that night.”
I looked at her a little closer. “I remember you, now,” I said even though I didn’t.
Jada gave me a look that told me that she knew I still didn’t remember her. “We didn’t talk for very long. You told me that you enjoyed watching me dance. I asked you if you were a friend of Bruce, Bruce. And you said that you owned the company that manages The One.”
“Now I remember you,” and this time I actually did. “I remember watching you dance. You were incredible.”
Jada laughed. “I could do a little something back then.”
“In fact, Bruce, Bruce invited me down there that night to see you; said you were the show.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“And I know why. I take it that this is much more profitable for you?”