Greedmont Park

Hump DAZE *Lost & Found*

Wednesday, September 21, 2011 by PointOfLu | No Comments | Category: Entertainment, Relationships, Sex Love Money

Derrick

I heard the knocking as I wiped away the steam that rested on the mirror.
I was still soaking wet, and naked.
I despised departing from a warm, steamy bathroom and entering into the cold world until I was completely dry, so I grabbed my towel and quickly removed the beads of water from my body. I snatched my robe from behind the bathroom door, and made my way toward the slow, steady knocking.
I opened the door to reveal the beautiful woman who I sexed the night before, and bid farewell to earlier this morning. I usually never see the ladies that I bring home from the bar ever again- unless it’s at the bar again. Even then, most of them hardly acknowledge me due to embarrassment, or fear of their significant others finding out about our rendezvous whenever they tagged along.
I couldn’t pull my eyes away from her.
She was wearing a large double-breasted dark blue jacket that enveloped her body, and her stocking covered long legs led to a pair of black flats. She wasn’t made up, or weighed down by accessories like before, yet she was still beautiful.
She seemed so conservative this time.
I caught her looking me over and eying my crass excuse of an outfit as well.
“Hey, Rachel.” I let her in, closed the door and began to walk toward the bedroom. “I apologize for my attire. I just got out of the shower. You can come back and look for whatever you may have left.”
I only made it a couple of steps before I felt a tug on the back of my robe.
I turned around to witness Rachel removing her coat, only to reveal her lack of clothing and stunning body. Her stockings were thigh-high and unconnected to her black, lace panties that matched her bra. Her long, curly hair flowed from her beautiful face to her shoulders. Her confident, sultry smile answered all inquiries.
My reluctance was overpowered by her ulterior motives. Before I could utter a word, she advanced upon me.
The beast in me was aroused immediately.
She pushed me into the wall as her soft lips pressed against mine, and our tongues met again. Her soft hands made it’s way across my body as she pulled my robe from me. I used my free hand to unclasp her bra, and my tongue made it’s way down to her breasts as it fell to the ground. Our mouths didn’t leave each other’s skin as we maneuvered from the lobby into the living room.
Rachel pushed me onto the couch, straddled me and then pulled my face up to hers.
“Do you think you can help me find what I’m looking for, Derrick?” She whispered into my ear.
I loved her aggression.

Ryan

I’d just finished counting the money for the second time when the sleek screen of my iPhone illuminated as it rested on the table beside a stack of hundred dollar bills.
A new text message appeared after a couple swipes of my index finger across the monitor.
She responded.

So is this really the end?

I shook my head in frustration. She was persistent- amongst many other things. However, she couldn’t be trusted.
Without trust, this relationship could no longer work. I needed to get out while there was still time. Though she was more of an asset than anything, I couldn’t shake the thought of her also contributing to my downfall- for the second time.
I remembered the scene as if it were yesterday…

***

“Ryan Grove, you’re under arrest for the possession of marijuana with the intent to sell.” The officer sneered as he pulled the hand cuffs from his belt. “Please turn around and place your hands on the car.”
Life moved in slow motion as I placed my hands on the side of my Civic. I couldn’t believe that this was happening.
I’d gotten pulled over for speeding as Vanessa and I were in the middle of an argument about money.
That was all we seemed to ever argue about- even though we may have figured out a way to escape our financial devastation.
There was an ounce and a half of weed in the trunk.
After months of struggling together, Vanessa introduced a plan to me. Her cousin, a DEA agent, was willing to front us ounces of Marijuana that was seized from other dealers during searches- as long as we split half of the profit with him.
It was free money.
It sounded like a genius plan, but it was deconstructed before we could ever execute it.
“You’re taking me to jail.” I mumbled the obvious.
“That’s what happens when you break the law.” The officer followed suit as he grabbed one of my arms and tightened the cuff around it. “That is, unless your girlfriend wants to take responsibility for it.”
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked down.
The officer led me to the other side of the car, opened the door and instructed me on the correct way to sit in his mobile cage. He shut the door behind me, temporarily separating me from freedom.
I watched the officers take down Vanessa’s information. I watched her nod in agreement. I watched her calmly comply.
A tear dropped from my eye as the police officer entered his car, and pulled off with me as his hostage.
I witnessed Vanessa get into my car and drive away, leaving me in the hands of the law.
According to her, somebody needed to remain behind to bail the other person out.
It took her a week to do such.
Months later I was sentenced to six months in prison for her genius plan.
I spent six months in prison for an argument. I spent six months in prison for a bag of greens.
Though Vanessa sent me letters, called and visited me every chance she had- she still wasn’t in the same position that I was in.
She was still free.
Free to execute her own plans and aspirations as mine were devoured by the justice system.
While I remained behind bars, Vanessa continued to get more marijuana from her cousin and got a few other guys to sell it for her. Amongst my release, she surprised me a black book bag that contained her progress.
$30,000.
She told me to keep it, and consider it “payback.” I invested it in an upscale lounge in the Midtown area of Atlanta, and it became our number one resource for money laundering. Vanessa and her cartel would take care of the dirty work, and I’d organize and host events that generated money to maintain a fluid cycle.
After a couple of years, I realized that the business was strong enough to run on it’s own, and I began to consider cutting all ties that could jeopardize the future of it.
I’d prefer to be a free broke man, than a caged rich man.

***

My response was short and direct.

The money will be placed in the regular place. Once received, please cease all contact with me. It was a pleasure working with you. Thanks for everything. I’m out.

Though this wasn’t what I wanted, it needed to be done.
I read it over a few times before I sent it.
I cared about Vanessa, but I couldn’t allow her to take away what I’ve built due to her greedy character. No amount of money could replace the time I wasted, nor the opportunities I lost. I was finally seeing decent income from the business, and I didn’t want an illegal influence to extirpate everything that I worked for.
Plus, Vanessa’s constant advances were getting old. I wasn’t a fan of mixing business with pleasure.
I stuck around, because I needed her. But now that I didn’t, I was going to leave her.
Just like she left me years ago.
A new text message popped up on the screen.
My heart dropped when I realized that it was from an unknown number. Could it be the cute waitress that I left the note for at The Strip?
I opened it.

Hey, this is Antoine. We met earlier…in the bathroom…lol. My sister is having a kick back tonight for her birthday. You should stop by if you’re not busy. 896 Oak St.

That sounded like it could be fun. I was in dire need of a night out that I had no part in organizing. Plus, it could help with getting my mind off of Vanessa after I made the drop.
I dumped the money out of the book bag, and began to count it for the third time.

Jonathan

There were three people in line blocking me from my sale.
It took me an hour and a half to get to this point, and I’d finally given up on looking like a decent human being. The old television was now on the floor, and the DVD player rested on top of it. Whenever the line moved up a few steps, I’d just use my knees to push my merchandise up.
I was over this.
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I rolled my eyes, well aware of whom it may be.
The mother of my child, Diamond, had been badgering me all week about covering day care expenses for the next month. When her attempts failed, she began using child support threats to force my hand.
It was working.
It was interesting how an unexpected turn in a relationship could become the very fatality of it due to people’s reaction to enexpected crisis.
Diamond used to be a sweet, caring, beautiful addition to my life- until she conceived. Ever since the birth, she became a sort of vacuum- just taking, and consuming. She took my time, my patience, and attempted to take every last penny that I had.
I didn’t have many pennies.
As an aspiring actor and model, experience seemed to fuel the field- rather than money.
Experience wasn’t going to pay for my child’s day care, though.
I just couldn’t stand her threats. She knew that I was in between jobs. She knew that I was making a conscious effort toward making ends meet while trying to balance rent, my phone bill, car insurance and other expenses like making sure I looked up to par for my auditions.
The bills piled up, and the money dwindled down- along with my patience.
All these money problems made me consider doing something fast and illegal- just once. It would just take one perfect robbery to restart my financial situation.
One perfectly planned, perfectly timed and perfectly executed robbery.
I wouldn’t consider myself a criminal. I was too broke.
Determination didn’t mix well with desperation. Money was the root of all evil, and the tree seemed to grow even more the less nourished it was.
I checked my phone, and released a sigh of relief.
The text was from a promoter.

The A-list will be in the building @ Havana Lounge! Send names for FREE VIP B4 11! 2nite only!

Tempting.
I loved going out to the club and networking. You never knew who you may run into. They say They say you reach success once preparation meets opportunity. I was prepared. I just needed to make myself available for opportunity.
I knew that I didn’t have enough money to get there and pay for drinks, so I figured I’d find somebody to tag along to be a wing man, and shave off some of the cost.
Matthew.
I forwarded him the text.

Matthew

“Wrong door!” A co-worker barked into my ear as I entered the “out door.”
I rolled my eyes.
I just spent almost an hour running plates or bussing tables for other servers as they took up every decent section in the restaurant, and outside on the patio- where most of the guest preferred to sit on Bangin’ Wednesdays. My tables were right next to the kitchen, and every time a hostess attempted to seat somebody there, the guests denied the invitation.
I felt as if I were working for free.
There were no clocks in the dining room. There was no clock in the kitchen.
Our only opportunity to get an idea of the approximate time was to take a quick glance outside of the skinny rectangualr windows, or to escape to the patio as we ran a plate.
You could ask a customer if you were brave.
Phones also weren’t allowed in the building, and they were confiscated if you were caught with one. According to the owner, John, time was a distraction from our jobs.
Basically, I graduated college only to enroll into a fucking high school.
The only thing that made me the slightest bit interested in remaining was one of the hostesses.
Sarah.
She was tall, slender and stylish. My three preferences; dangerous when mixed together. Her smile brightened my mood almost every shift. I admired her- from the way she spoke to me, to the way she bounced around the restaurant placing menus on tables and explaining our specials to guests. She was gorgeous, but her attitude was the icing on the cake. She was patient, kind and positive. While other employees were huddled in a corner operating the rumor mill, she stuck to herself and did her job.
There was only one problem.
She was dating one of my co-workers.
“You have a table, Matt!” Another co-worker called into my ear as they maneuvered past me with a tray of food.
Finally.
I was tired of walking around in circles aimlessly.
I grabbed a bowl of tortilla chips, a small cup of salsa and made my way back to my section inside of the dining room.
I almost dropped everything in my hands as I noticed the familiar face at the table that I was about to serve.
I could tell from the astounded look on their face that I was also recognized.
The child from the bathroom glared at me as I approached the table.

I hope you enjoyed the 6th chapter of my weekly short story series, Hump DAZE! If you happened to miss the 5th installment- or just need to refresh your memory, CLICK HERE! Stay tuned for the 7th chapter next Wednesday!
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