BLACK
JEWEL
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any reference to actual events, real people, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations are intended only to give the novel a sense of reality and authenticity and is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 by Bella Dama
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing, 2012
ISBN 978-0-615-66132-2
Bella Dama
PO Box 480677
Charlotte, NC 28269
For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address listed above.
BLACK JEWEL
Foreword:
While writing this book, I kept genre in mind. I wanted one that exposed Latino people, and their culture. It had to demonstrate their spice, flavor and sensuality. I also wanted a pleasurable book with feel-good reading. And it had to deal with current, real-life issues in today’s times.
In researching the available genres, there wasn’t a specific one I felt my book fit into. There were a combination of many. So, I came up with Latin Contemporary Fiction.
Latin Contemporary Fiction has the following criteria:
• The main character(s) must be of Hispanic/Latin descent
• Occurring in modern or present time
• The setting seems to be or is a real place
• Real life-like stories: events in the story that can occur in real life
• Story plot includes a love relationship between people and/or objects, account(s) of human sexual relationships creating arousal for the reader and conflict or drama creating a suspenseful storyline.
As a Hispanic woman, it was important to me to have a genre that fits my passion. I hope you enjoy.
Dedication
First, I ‘d like to thank my sons: Refugio, Angelo and Kristofer. Thank you for loving me, supporting me and dealing with my daily antics. Everything I do, I do for you. You’re the reason for my existence. I love you very much.
To my other kids: Saied, Stevie, Jossie, Schiler, Reggie, Tre, Iliana, Hanna, Ernst and Ricky. Thank you for making a difference in my life and keeping me motivated. I love you all very much.
To my princess: Miliyana . . . I love you very much.
To Rudy and Leslie, thank you so much for your love and support.
And a special thank you to Ms. Georgia Brown, whose name I have to mention in its entirety. You stepped up when I needed you the most. I appreciate you and love you.
Chapter 1
The Plane Ride
“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. At this time, we’d like to welcome you aboard Miami Airlines, Flight 100 from JFK to Miami International. We ask that you . . .” said a woman’s voice making the usual flight announcements before take off.
After the safety instruction video, the flight attendants walked the aisle visually scanning between the seats of the plane. They had to make sure all baggage was properly stowed and all electronic devices were powered off.
Lola, one of the flight attendants, stopped at row 13. She saw a bag sticking out in the aisle. She asked the female passenger to properly place it under the seat in front of her. The woman turned it and pushed it back with her feet.
Lola continued down the aisle.
As she approached row 18, she saw a male passenger typing on his laptop. But he smiled, closed the top and returned the tray table to its position when he saw her coming.
Then in row 22, she saw a man on his phone. At first glance, he looked like Reggaeton artist Don Omar. But then she thought to herself, “That’s absurd”. She laughed at herself as she politely tapped him on his shoulder. Without looking, he put his index finger up implying for her to wait.
“Sir,” said Lola. “Please turn off your cell phone. We’ll be taking off momentarily.”
All she heard him say was “Get it done. I’ll be there in three hours” and shut his phone off. When he looked up attempting to apologize, he was speechless. He couldn’t believe his eyes. In front of him was this beautiful, young woman with the most beautiful set of green eyes and caramel-colored skin.
“Thank you, Sir,” she said as she kept walking.
“Sorry,” finally came out of his mouth as she made her way to the back of the aircraft.
Lola thought the guy sitting in 22A was really cute. She told her friend Sherry, another flight attendant on board, about her Don Omar look-a-like. Sherry had to see him for herself. So, she went up the aisle checking the cabin one last time.
“Flight attendants, prepare for take off” was announced over the intercom. Sherry closed the curtains to first class and rushed to the back to sit with Lola.
Lola was glad it wasn’t a full flight. It was her last day on the job and she really didn’t feel like working that hard.
Once they reached their cruising altitude, beverages and snacks were served. Sherry made sure she didn’t serve 22A. She allowed Lola that pleasure.
“Hi. Can I get you something to drink?” Lola asked him staring into his hazel eyes.
“Water, please . . . Lola,” he said looking at her badge.
She grabbed a cup, scooped ice from a bucket, poured his water and grabbed a napkin. She handed it to him with a bag of pretzels.
“Thank you,” he said.
“You’re welcome, Mr . . .” she said smiling waiting for him to say his name.
“Hernandez, but please call me Mauricio,” he said extending his hand out.
She shook his hand. “Let me know if you need anything else, Mauricio,” she said winking.
He smiled and nodded.
Mauricio was the only one in his row, so that made her job easy. However, she did notice his freshly pressed suit jacket with a Dolce and Gabbana tag lying in the seat next to him. And he was wearing a Rolex. That was impressive.
After serving everyone, the ladies inched their way back down the aisle with the cart. Mauricio got a side view of Lola’s butt as she slowly passed him. It was round and voluptuous. He couldn’t help but stare at it as the back of her skirt pushed outwards.
Lola and Sherry stood in the back galley talking. Sherry was on the inside while Lola stood between the back area and the lavatory. In her peripheral vision, Lola saw a person get up from their seat. When she looked, she whispered “22A”. Sherry leaned over to see. They looked like deer caught in headlights.
“Damn” said Lola under her breath as this tall, tanned skinned man wearing the hell out of his suit made his way to the back.
“Hi,” he said.