Please read the previous chapters before this one to understand the story up to this point. None of these chapters are stand-alone.
Enjoy!
When I drove Angel into the Westin reception area, two valets rushed to open our doors. It was the first McLaren they had seen, evidently, and were surprised when my door opened up. They just stood there with mouths open.
Finally, the young man on my side said, "Welcome to the Westin, sir. Are you planning to check in?"
"No, we're here to meet someone."
"Can I park your car over here next to the other Mercedes?"
I looked over and saw two SLK's and agreed that he could park it there.
I went around and activated Pam's door and held her hand as she stepped out of the car. Suddenly, photographers came from all directions and an explosion of flashes went off as each scrambled to get the perfect shot. She was surrounded and people were trying to push me out of the way. I was getting a little scared. Then two men in dark suits rushed over and started pushing them out of the way. Three Atlanta police officers also came and blocked an area big enough to give Pam some room.
"Nikki, where have you been? We've had security looking everywhere for you! You worry us to death sometimes." He took Pam by the arm and started trying to escort her inside as the police ran interference. Pam refused to move.
"I'm not Nikki. I'm Pam Davis."
He turned and looked at her again. "What's with the southern accent? Nikki, don't do this. I'm in enough trouble already and I've got to get you into the dressing room right now."
Pam looked at me. "Tom, would you give me a hand here. Please tell this gentleman I'm not Nikki." He looked at me and I confirmed that she was Pam Davis.
Just then a black limo pulled in behind us and Nikki Lee emerged. All hell broke loose when she stepped out. The photographers suddenly didn't know which way to point their cameras. The police didn't know who to protect and the security guys were dumfounded with two Nikki Lee's.
One of the security guys pushed his way over to the recently arrived Nikki Lee, who we could just barely see through the scrum of photographers. He hollered back to our guy, "I've got her Jay. This is Nikki."
We still had photographers snapping Pam as fast as they could; I guess because she was so beautiful or they didn't hear she wasn't Nikki. I looked over the scrum again and police were trying to force everyone out of the way so the real Nikki could enter the hotel. Then she suddenly stopped and looked directly at Pam. Her mouth flew open and she just stared.
I suppose she asked her body people to open a path to Pam because the whole scrum just changed direction and moved toward us. It took a while but she finally was face to face with Pam and she just stared. The photographers were yelling, pushing and shoving, trying to get a photo of the two together.
Nikki finally said over the yelling, "This beats anything I've ever seen. Did you have work done to make yourself look like me?" I could see her looking closely at Pam's neck and face.
Pam replied, "No, I've always been told I look just like you. I wanted to meet you."
Nikki smiled and replied, "Can we talk a little later? I'm running really late." She turned and whispered something to her bodyguard and he nodded. The scrum then moved to the front door and Nikki was able to escape into the safe confines of the lobby. The Atlanta police then returned and stood next to Pam and me to keep everyone away, as much as possible. The flashes were still going off and blinding us.
In just a moment, the bodyguard returned. "Miss, I've been instructed to escort you and your associate into the conference room for the reception and announcement." He then walked with us and our police escort into the hotel and directly to the conference center. All along our route people was gawking at Pam and trying to take her photo with all the little digital cameras and smart phones.
We arrived at the reception and immediately knew that everyone there thought Pam was Nikki. They were applauding and trying to get close to her for an autograph and photo. The bodyguard told us to follow him and he took us to a front cordoned-off area where only the dignitaries were allowed. He leaned over and spoke directly into my ear. "You should be safe here. Don't go anywhere. When the show is over, I'll escort you out. Nikki wants to talk to you."
I finally had a chance to see if Pam was OK.
"Tom, I never imagined this would happen. I would hate to be such a public person and have to endure this every day. How does she do it?"
"I really don't know. We could have been injured out there."
We sat marveling at all the energy in the room. I guess when seven of the
Playboy
all time favorite models show up in one place, the world notices. In just a few minutes, someone, who turned out to be an announcer, walked onto the stage and welcomed everyone. The music then came on and the ladies walked out to the beat of Tom Petty's "American Girl." They were gorgeous, elegant, stately, sultry, or any other word you could think of to describe feminine perfection. I was shocked and so was Pam. There was a loud murmur in the crowd when Nikki walked out. They thought she was sitting in front of them already.
The ladies were followed by top executives of
Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
The reason for the major announcement was that Luxembourg adult entertainment giant Manwin was acquiring
Playboy TV.
The two companies wanted to use this opportunity to describe the strategy and introduce the Chief Operating Officer of Manwin who appeared via Skype. And, of course, when you can parade the best of the best models in front of everyone, you get attention to your message.
After the executives were introduced, the ladies were introduced one at a time to wild applause and catcalls from the less sophisticated in the audience. I was surprised that Nikki had appeared in
Playboy
nine times including five in their famous holiday editions. This lady really was a legend.
The whole event lasted maybe 40 minutes including the Q&A period. The ladies were then ushered off the stage and we waited for our security guy. He arrived in a couple of minutes with another bodyguard and they asked us to follow them. We went backstage, where the models had gone, but no one was there. They continued to lead us down a long hallway and onto an elevator. We were taken to the 41st floor and were met by another security person when the elevator door opened.
"Miss, Ms. Lee has asked for you to come to her suite. Please follow me."
We arrived at her door and the security person knocked. A man we had not seen opened the door and invited us in. "Hi, my name is Robert Adams. I'm Nikki's manager. What are your names?" He politely offered his hand to me as I introduced Pam and myself. "I can certainly see why Nikki is so anxious to talk to you, Pam. You are a carbon copy of her. This is the most amazing resemblance I have ever seen."
Just then, Nikki walked into the room from what appeared to be a bedroom. I again introduced Pam and myself. Nikki was all smiles and asked us to be seated.
"Pam, I'm totally shocked. You look just like me but maybe a few years younger. Do you think there is anyway we could be related?"
"Nikki, thank you for inviting us to meet with you. We drove from Chattanooga just on the odd chance we could meet. I think you are my sister."
Nikki became agitated and quickly said, "That's impossible. My mother told me that my birth mother died in childbirth and that I was her first baby."
"Where you born in Greenville, South Carolina, on January 18, 1984?"
Nikki now turned white. The blood had drained from her face. She turned to Robert and he shook his head for some reason. "No one knows that, how did you find out?"
"My mother, who is very much alive, told me two weeks ago."
"Are you implying that my mother lied to me?"
"I'm not implying anything. But it wouldn't be unusual for an adoptive mother to try to discourage their child from looking for their birth mother. Is there anyway you can ask your mother about it?"
"I wish that were possible. She and my dad died on Flight 93 on September 11."
