Jarell

      I was at the gym working out, one of my favorite stress relievers, when Michael came in and positioned himself on the bench next to the one I occupied. He didn't bother using a spotter as he began to lift weights. After a couple of minutes he began speaking.

      "What's going on with you and Emmanuelle?"

      "Not that it's any of your business," I started to let him know that he was walking a fine line, "there's nothing going on."

      His snort told me that he didn't believe a word that came out of my mouth but he didn't really press it. But he did throw me a bit of warning, "I respect you and so does Manuello but he wouldn't hesitate to kill you if you fuck with his daughter...his underage daughter so just leave that alone."

      "As I said before there's nothing going on," I repeated before doing one last rep and leaving the bench in turn for the lockers.

It was Christmas Eve and my boys were over my house picking up their bonuses when the doorbell rang. I asked O to get it as I handed the last envelope to De and sat back on the couch to continue watching the marathon of Boondocks. Five minutes later Omari walked back in with a small package in hand. He tossed it to me before taking a seat at the end of my black leather sectional and getting into the show.

      I glanced over the package, looking for a return address before shrugging and opening it. After pulling off the brown paper wrapping, a folded piece of stationary fell out. In neat cursive read: Jarell, I saw this and thought you'd wear it well. Have a blessed holiday ~ES

      I frowned, not knowing who it could have possibly been from but shrugged and opened it anyway. Now, I wasn't someone who was easily surprised or impressed but this gift just took the cake. Sitting in the midst of smooth velvet was beautiful Piaget watch that must have set whoever it was who sent it to me back a grip. It wasn't one of those gaudy overly iced-out watches but its design was unique.

      "Who sent you that?" Dru asked me as he grabbed the box out of my hand.

      I shrugged and said, "I couldn't tell you."

      He pulled it out of its case and looked over it before shaking his head and handing it back to me. "Shit, I wouldn't mind getting to know whatever female sent this to you."

      That sparked my interest. Not too many people knew my government name and I could count on two hands the amount who knew my real name and only a handful knew my address.

      "What makes you think it was a female?" I asked him.

      "What nigga you know is going to send you a Piaget watch?" Druex asked me rhetorically.

      I froze suddenly as pieces of the puzzle began to connect and grabbed the note again to look at the initials. Emmanuelle had sent me this watch but why?

Emmanuelle

      Christmas morning arrived and I laid around in bed for a while enjoying my moment alone. As I stared out my open balcony door to take in the beautiful cerulean sky, I wondered if Jarell had gotten my gift and if he liked it. When I had decided to go out and spend some of my father's money the last thing on my mind was buying anything for Jarell. My main mission was to pick up a few things for myself, mostly clothing to fit the new climate along with a few accessories thrown in. It wasn't until I was strolling through Roberto Cavalli when I realized that Christmas was right around the corner and I hadn't gotten any of my friends anything.

      Chanel was a treasure trove of gifts, basically because majority of my friends were female (go figure) and what female didn't enjoy Chanel accessories? After leaving the store with several chain belts, a few cute purses, and several pairs of sunglasses (none of which were mine) I started on the somewhat lengthy drive to Bal Harbour where some of the more exclusive jewelry stores were located. Harry Winston was calling my name and I was ready to trade in the platinum visa I'd been using for my smaller purchases earlier for my titanium centurion American Express.

      While browsing, and buying from, several stores I happened to come across a store that specialized in watches. I was picking up a little something for Michael, Shawn, and my father when I came across the Piaget watch that had Jarell written all over it. To be honest I still can't tell you why I bought it and why I had it expressed to his house other than the fact that I was feeling in a good mood and wanted to fuck with him some more. Besides, it was Christmas and he didn't seem like the type of person you sent a twenty dollar gift certificate to Applebee's to.

      After another fifteen minutes of lying around I slid from beneath the warm comforts of my covers and headed into the bathroom while untying the strings that held my red cami-doll together. An hour later I left the bathroom fully awake and smelling faintly of lavender. I'd moisturized my skin, slid on my lace tanga's, and was in the process of adjusting my cream racer back bra when there was a knock at my door.

      "Yes?" I called out as I grabbed my black LOVE from Ya-Ya cargo's and pulled them on.

      "Are you up mam?" one of the maids’s asked.

      Clearly, I whispered sarcastically to myself before saying, "Yes. Is there something you needed?"

      "You father wants you downstairs," she replied before walking off.

      I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I grabbed my thin stripped Joie tank and pulled it on and thankfully it, somewhat, covered my pierced belly button before rolling on deodorant and leaving my bedroom. It was slightly chilly so I shrugged on the cropped hoodie I'd been carrying as I made my way down the stairs.

      "Tell me that's not one of the new outfits you went out and bought," was the first thing my father said as I came into his view.

      Currently my arms were elevated so that I could pull my hair up into a messy high ponytail.

      "Then I guess I won't say anything," I replied as I took a seat next to Camille on the couch.

      "We really need to discuss your clothing choices," he started.

      "It's Christmas," I started with a sigh. "Let us at least have one day without a confrontation."

      "Did you forget who the parent is in this equation?" he asked.

      "Explain to me what's wrong with what I have on," I demanded as I stood.

      "Well your shirt doesn't have a button and because of that design flaw you're showing your breasts to the world," he started.

      "No it isn't because I have on a bra. It's showing a little bit of cleavage. That isn't at all offensive and is quite less revealing that half of the girls I saw while purchasing it," I countered his argument.

      "Your pants could be a little higher as well and-wait a minute," he replied as he got closer and lifted the hem of my shirt. "Tell me you didn't get your navel pierced," he ordered as he stared the diamond dahlia navel ring I'd purchased yesterday to replace the simple one carat diamond ring I'd been wearing.

      I didn't say anything. I just gently pulled his hand off of my shirt and pulled it back over my stomach. With that done I headed back over to Camille and sat down.

      "What happened to you?" my father asked.

      "I grew up papi. I'm not a little girl anymore and before you go off the deep end I didn't just get my navel pierced. I got that done a year ago," I replied.

      "Don't you need parental consent for things like that?" he asked me knowing good and well he would never have consented to that.

      "Normally but when your best friend's older brother owns the shop, rules tend to be null and void," I replied with a shrug.

      He just shook his head and grabbed two gifts from the tree and handed one to me and the other to Camille. "Merry Christmas."

      I thanked him and turned to Camille to see what she got before opening my gift. She opened her gift to find a Bez Ambar jewelry box and inside the case were a pair of the most magnificent pair of yellow and white diamond earrings I had ever seen. Camille squealed lightly and all but threw herself into my father’s arms and feathered kisses over his face before pulling off her medium sized white gold Tiffany Hoops and replaced them with her new diamonds. While she was showing my father some love I grabbed the GIA certificate and I didn't have any doubt in my mind that my father was getting some tonight off the strength of this gift. Gracing Camille's ears were 12 carats of VVS2 stones. Talk about crazy.

      After watching Camille and my father for a minute I began to open my own gift and I paused when after tearing off the silver paper I came face to face with the familiar Harry Winston insignia. I froze before turning to look at my father and step mother who looked at me with smiles on their faces. With their faces in mind I slowly opened the case and my heart stopped and I closed the case before opening it again to make sure I was seeing things clearly.

      "No you didn't," I muttered loudly and closed the case again.

      For the first time in weeks a real smile bloomed over my father's face as he asked, "I take it you like it?"

      "Like isn't a strong enough word. I just know you didn't buy this for me. Please tell me it's borrowed," I pleaded as I opened the box again only to see the same thing I'd seen the first couple of times I'd completed the gesture.

      Resting on black velvet was an amazingly designed art deco watch that I didn't even want to know the price of. I knew jewelry and its creators well enough to know that every piece of jewelry with the Harry Winston name was flawless. In my lap was 46 carats of flawless colorless diamonds. In that moment I knew that spoiled didn't even begin to describe the way I was treated. Just thinking that I'd been pissed off at my father just moments before when he'd went out and paid an obscene amount of money for this watch, which I quickly realized converted into a simple bracelet, made me feel like shit.

      "Thank you so much," I replied genuinely. The tree was cluttered with gifts waiting to be opened but in this moment I didn't need anything else. This gift right here was worth every other present under that tree.

Natalie

      It was about a week after Christmas and I was still on break from school so I'd called Emmanuelle and invited her to come out to lunch with me and a couple of my girlfriends. Claire had gone to school with Emmanuelle and me but Cameron, Anastasia, and L eticia hadn't. There were some conflicting personalities within the group but hopefully everyone would get alone well.

      I glanced down at the digital clock before turning off the ignition and stepping out of my car. After popping the alarm I smoothed my tan silk blend halter designed sweater over my black leggings before heading over to the restaurant we'd decided to meet at. The heels of my brown boots clicked lightly as I headed over to the table my friends sat at.

      As usual Claire and Leticia were arguing while Anastasia looked on with open amusement. Leticia, or Letty, and Claire were arguing over, of all the things, the best indicator of whether a man had an above average package. Talk about a conversation that wasn't usually held in a cafe. Before I could add my two cents Cameron walked over dressed simply in a pair of blue jeans that rode low on her hips, a black corset designed sweater, and a pair of simple black sandals. She flung her hair over her shoulder before taking the empty seat beside Anastasia and asking me where the new addition to our clique was.

      "There she goes," I replied nodding my head over towards Emmanuelle who walked over in a pair of super low rise jeans, a black cropped wrap around hoodie, and a pair of black Converse All Star's.

      Cameron quick sized her up and I hope she didn't say anything slick out of her mouth as Emmanuelle walked over and said hello before taking a seat in the only available chair at the table. She crossed her legs before grabbing the menu and looking it over.

      "So what school do you attend? I don't remember having ever seen you before and we all know how Natalie gets about charity cases," Cameron asked.

      Emmanuelle glanced at her and flung her hair to the side revealing a pair of beautiful Tahitian pearl and diamond earrings before saying, "Well up until a couple of weeks ago I attended a private boarding school in upstate New York. I doubt you've ever heard of it, they only patron people from families of substance."

      Anastasia let out a laugh and Cameron snapped her head over at Anastasia. Ana shrugged and said, "What? It was funny."

      "It's so good to see you again Elle," Claire replied with a soft smile.

      "I know, it's been awhile."

      "You two know each other?" Cameron asked.

      "You didn't know?" Claire asked with a small frown, "Natalie, Emmanuelle and I went to the same primary school. We were really close but then Mr. Suarez sent her to boarding school..."

      "Suarez?" Cameron asked.

      "Yes, sweetie," Emmanuelle said with a grin. "I'll be sure to let my father in on the joke of the day. Some lawyer's snobby daughter thought that her parent's measly little six figure a year salary made me beneath her."

      I winced at that. Emmanuelle was usually a cool person and got along with just about everybody but Cameron had started off on the wrong foot. I'd been telling her for years that her little 'I'm better than everyone' attitude needed to go but she wasn't trying to hear any of it. I bet she'll think twice before saying something slick.

Emmanuelle

      "What are you doing for New Years?" I asked Michael as we sat in my father's home theater watching Madea's Family Reunion on the big screen.

      "I plan on hanging out with a couple of friends why?" he asked.

      "Just wondering. These are the last couple of days I have free before my father brings in the tutors so I want to make the most of it," I told him.

      "Where were you the other day?" he asked.

      "Minding my business," I told him with a wink.

      Michael wasn't slick and my father wasn't as crafty as he liked to think. Just because I loved Michael like an older brother didn't make me forget the fact that his job was to watch out for me and report my comings and goings to my dad. We shared affection for one another but I wasn't stupid.

      "Are you sure that's what you were doing or were you having lunch with the girls?" he asked.

      I cut my eyes at him and he laughed before saying, "You're not slick either little Miss-Missy. Your father runs Miami. He has eyes and ears everywhere. You need to remember that."

      "If that's true then he needs to let a bitch breathe," I snapped before turning back to the show to watch some grit ball.

Jarell

      It was New Year's Eve and Club 9-1-1 was filled to capacity with people ready to bring on the New Year. Though I was about business and getting my paper, I liked to have a little fun every now and then so me and the boys were out, acting a fool while their girls were out doing the same. Currently, I was by the bar waiting for the bartender to get to me so I could get my drink when I felt fingers slide across my back. I turned around and no one was there...well no one who looked like the obvious one to have had made the gesture.

      "I see you liked your gift," a feminine voice I'd come to know stated from the right of me.

      I turned my head to the side to see Emmanuelle standing at an empty space beside me in this black dress that just screamed she wanted to be fucked and a pair of heels that put her at my nose. A beautiful diamond necklace graced her delicate neck while matching earrings hung from her ears. She was flawless and she knew it.

      "You like?" she asked.

      "Does daddy know his baby girl is out playing dress up?" I asked her ignoring her question.

      "Should he?" she asked. "Does the thought of him get you off?"

      "What?" I asked disgusted by her question.

      "For some reason, every time you're around me you bring my father up. There has to be a reason for that. So what is it?" she asked me.

      "I don't have time for this," I replied.

      "Baby, all you've got is time. What you don't have is too many opportunities to get at me. Let me know when you grow some balls. Until then enjoy the gift," she replied as she was handed an apple martini. She slid a fifty to the bartender before walking off and getting lost within the crowd.