Drama Is Her Middle Name by Wendy Williams Read Free Book Online

in the way of making money.
    Everybody who was anybody wanted to get into Chas’s
parties, especially when he had one at Bungalow 8, where
you needed a special key to get in. A-list celebrities were always present. Chas would hover around like a black ghost
making sure things ran smoothly. His reputation was everything. He was such a perfectionist that he watched over
everything at his parties, from the bar to the bathroom.
    Tuesday’s were Chas’s party nights at Bungalow 8. He was
able to get a great deal on the rate because it was not a hot
party night. He was astute enough to know that in New York,
though, there was never an “off ” party night. If you threw the
right kind of party, people would show up. The first Tuesday
out, Chas netted more than fifteen thousand. He made his
real money, however, promoting undercover parties for elite
actors, ballplayers, and entertainers. These parties were for
gentlemen only and were by invitation only. They were very,
very private—so private that those invited could not bring a
guest. If your name wasn’t on the list, you didn’t get in—no
exceptions.
    Chas started throwing these “undercover” parties after attending one four years earlier at a private loft in downtown
Manhattan. He was placed on a list through one of his club
connections, and when he arrived at the double metal doors,
the bouncer/doorman, who was about six-four and three hundred pounds of muscle, handed him a brown paper bag and
told him to take off everything—including his underwear—
and place his things in the bag. He also was given a rich,
white terry-cloth robe, like the ones at the Plaza or the Four
Seasons. When he returned with his bag wearing the robe, he
was given a number, which he placed in the pocket of the
robe.
    Inside, the loft was divided into dimly lit “stations” set up
for various activities. Chas could choose from the “voyeur
station,” where he could watch from a chair in the corner
of the room while different men participated in various sexual activities. There was the “orgy room,” where Chas could
jump in and join the fun—whatever fun he chose. There was
the “bottoms-up room,” where men could have their choice
of being a “bottom” or a “top.” Bottoms were required to be
naked with their bottoms in the air. Tops would have their
pick of which bottom they wanted to “tap.” Chas switch hit
from time to time, depending on his mood. He chose to sample the “one-on-one” room, designed as a mini club scene
where men got to chat and know one another.
    This is where he first met Ivan Richardson. The architect
from Miami had never been to a place like this before. He
was nervous and very out of his element. His buddy from
school, Gerard, told him he was taking him someplace special. He had a guest pass and wanted to show Ivan a good time.
Once he stepped into the room, Ivan had second thoughts
and then a third thought: “You only live once. What the hell!”
    After hurriedly checking out each station, Ivan rushed to
what he considered the only safe room in the place. He went
straight for a table in the corner, leaving his friend in the
voyeur room. Ivan hadn’t had a relationship for a year and
was not into casual sex. He would get through the night, he
told himself, one drink at a time. Ivan ordered a Belvedere
neat and sipped it while he watched the men come and go.
    Chas noticed Ivan immediately. He had the same wide-eyed look Chas imagined that he had. Chas may have
felt
like
he had a wide-eyed look, but he was too smooth for that.
Chas casually walked over to Ivan’s table and boldly sat
down.
    â€œCan I buy you another drink?” he asked.
    â€œUm, I’m not quite done with this one,” said Ivan.
    â€œYou’re not from New York, are you?” Chas chuckled.
    â€œWhat gave it