Elite (C)
It all happened so fast. The lights, the celebrities, the parties. It seemed like a scene out a film. All of it seeming so surreal, at times I had to pinch myself to prove that I wasnât dreaming. I had become the object of attention. Flying from country to country, Appearing on talk shows and T.V. shows alike, and being put on the cover of Vogue. It was just intoxicating. I was what girls aspired to be. I was the talk of the time. Every step I took, every breathe I had to take, was now being seen by the entire world. I had now become a part of the select few who would no longer live the average life. I had become a celebrity, an icon, a new member of the Elite.
      I fell for a man of equal status. The son of a wealthy businessman, he had followed in his fatherâs footsteps, owning businesses far and wide, ranging from Hotel Chains, Apparel lines, and Music Labels. Starting off at the age of 15, he began to invest in local artists in his neighborhood, and thanks to his father, in time, grew to be some of the top charting artists of our era. He then began owning businesses internationally, managing to build his net worth to $20 million by the age of 24. This same man, was the same person who was so embarrassed to ask me to dinner, he had to send a waiter to ask for him. But once we had got to talking, I had realized that this man would steal my heart, and in time, he did. He had understood me completely, and I to him. We grew together in the madness and insanity of this fast paced world and industry.
      Now, 2 years later, just arriving from fashion week in Paris, I pull up to his condo in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Before I get out, I admire the rainfall in the city. The way it slides down the glass window, joining the rest of the earth. A true representation of how no matter how much we build and create in this world, the earth will always show its dominance. âEverything alright, Ms. Lockwood?â I look at the driver as he stares back through the rearview mirror. âIâm doing just fine, thank you for askingâ, I say as I open the door. Right when I step outside, Iâm bombarded with paparazzi. Flashing lights and photographers huddling around me, their questions seeming like the buzzing sound a swarm of bees make around their hive. The doorman of the building quickly paces towards me with an umbrella and rushes me inside. The photographers surround the door, taking picture after picture. âTheyâre like maggots in a trash canâ, the doorman says as he wipes the water off his coat. I couldnât stop myself from releasing a small laugh. I go up to him and give him a $20 tip. âItâs the price of fame. Itâs the contract we signed with the devil when we entered this worldâ, I take a quick glance around, âIs Drake here?â He laughs as he puts the bill into his coat pocket, âYes, Mr. Remy is here. He got in earlier todayâ.  âThank you Carter, I sincerely appreciate itâ, I say as I walk towards the elevator door. âMy pleasure Ms. Lockwood, All in a dayâs work, as they sayâ, he says as he takes his position back at the door. I look at him and smile before I enter the elevator. I click the button to the 45th floor. I try to straighten myself while I wait. The elevator door opens up and I step into his luxurious apartment. The aroma of lavender fills the air. I walk up to the main window overlooking the city and stare at the skyline being covered by rainfall. Clouds cover the sky, leaving the sun nowhere in sight. I can hear his voice drift through one of the rooms. Heâs on a business call. I can always tell by the half forced laughs and emasculated tones. Being pushed into this world I grew to understand the language of men with money. I lay my coat on one of the loveseats, and step over to a mirror placed in the middle of his living room. I take a look at my face and try to salvage any damage made by the rain. âA beauty that launched a thousand shipsâ I turn around to see him staring right at me from a corner of one of the rooms. I let out a small laugh, âIâm hardly anything close to the fairness of Helen of Troyâ. His face gives a little smirk.  We both pause and stay in place. We stand still in complete silence, only allowing our eyes to speak for us. He then walks over and brushes a piece of my hair behind my ear, âTo think, a woman of such allure and stature stands before me with equal admiration, itâs hard to believe at timesâ. I scoff at him, âYouâd think after 2 years you would start accepting the factâ. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls my body closer to his, âThatâs what love can do to a man, creating a type of madness in his mind, fearing that what heâs experiencing could only be that of a dream, having him doubt realityâ He then takes my face into his hand, âI love you Camilleâ he says as he pulls our lips together.
      As I zip my dress back on and put myself back together again, I step go into his living room, only to see him standing in front of the window, waiting for me to be done. His eyes completely fixated on the city. I walk up and stand there with him, staring at the city as well. âItâs so interesting at how much promise is out there, how many opportunities lay before usâ, he says, his eyes still glaring towards the skyline. I think for a second and smile, âItâs really beautiful isnât it? How much every individual is capable of and how much they can achieveâ. He turns and looks at me with confusion, making me look at him in the same manner, âIâm not sure what youâre talking about, how does the people have anything to do with this?â he says with confusion all over his face. I sit there and question my statement for a second but then shortly respond, âWell I was assuming you meant the opportunities that each and every individual has in this world.â He looks at me bewilderment and laughs afterwards, âThatâs not what I meant at all. The people donât matter, theyâre just puppets and pawns awaiting our next move.â I take a step back as I take moment to understand what he said. âWhat do you mean by Our next move? Who are you referring too?â He takes a step towards me and tries to grab my arm, âI mean us. The people who have the ability to make change. The few individuals who have influence and power over what people think and say. What they buy, what they do, and how they do it is all influenced by us. Weâre the ones who get to decide how they live their lives.â I move away before he can touch me. I stand still in disbelief at what he had just said. He senses my shock and grabs me, pulls me over to his couch and sits me down. âCamille, you canât pretend that this hasnât crossed your mind before. You yourself is a living example of this. Everything you do and say is all monitored by the entire world. You can dictate if people should wear yellow or blue. You have the power to influence millions. People want to be you. They want to follow your example. You cannot sit there and tell me that the mere thought has not crossed your mindâ. I sit there and take a moment to process everything heâs saying. I have thought about it. Multiple times. Sometimes it overwhelms at how much responsibility I have and how much I have to live up too. There are nights I sit in fear at what I might do and how it may affect all of those who watch me with complete admiration and devotion. I look to him and see his eyes pouring into mine. I stand up and walk towards the window, staring towards the landscape of the city. Sitting there in silence, his eyes still on me, I turn around with my arms crossed together, âYouâre right, I have thought about it. Many times.â He smiles wide, stands up, and paces towards me but I hold a hand out keeping him in his place, âWhat I donât grasp is how you view the people who we have influence over. How you can view them as puppets and pawns. Does their existence only serve one purpose? Are we not the same flesh and bone as they are?â He looks at me with the same confusion as he did before and stares at me blankly, âDo you honestly think that we are the same as the people below us? People like Carter who remain in their mundane lives, forever in their same routine? Camille, weâre nothing like them. Yes we are of same flesh and bone but we are not like them in any way. We create the world around us.â I stand there in silence, just looking at him as he goes on, âFor instance, I just got off the phone with one of the managers of my apparel line. Weâre going to start a new trend where people start using the phrase âgrippinâ. Weâre going to put it on T- shirts, Hats, even Jewelry. Iâve even started conversations with artists who said theyâll feature the phrase in their songs. All of that because I wanted too. Donât you understand how powerful that is?â He starts to laugh with this new look in his eye. A look Iâve never seen before. I still stand in silence as he starts to calm down. He realizes my reserved composure, takes my face into his hand and motions my eyes into his, âCamille, I want you to know of what I, or should I say, what We are capable of. I want you by my side throughout all of this. Iâve even considered going into politics in the near future, and if I do, I want you, my Beautiful Penelope, to be there right by my side.â Before he can go on, a phone starts to ring, he reaches into his pocket and realizes whoâs calling, âCamille, I have to take this, itâs a very important business call, but I want you to know that I love you. I need you to trust me, thereâs nowhere but up for us.â He grabs me in his arms, looks at me with his eyes, and kisses me on the forehead. He then walks away into one of the rooms.
      I have always feared of what man is capable of. Seeing the history of our humanity and what we have been able to do with just a simple idea and the power to do it. Iâve even questioned my own power and have been afraid of what I may do with it. I stare out towards the skyline and watch the rain cover everything, gloom covering the sky. I can hear the beginnings of thunder in the distance. I hear him laugh in one of the rooms and slowly walk towards the doorway of the room heâs in. I stand by the corner and just watch him as he carries on with his business. This man is capable of change. He has the will and power to do it. I saw the look in his eye when he told me. I could see the person he would become. Yet, why was I scared? This man who had stole my heart. Who had allowed me to feel safe and warm. I kept staring at him thinking at what potential truly he was capable of. At what he may do, and how it might affect the rest of the world, for better or for worse.
Circa 2015.
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