by Diana W.
He barely slept or ate anymore, and when he wasn’t working, he was here at Shadows strip club, trying to quiet his thoughts of Mia. Just over a month had passed, and he was barely holding onto his sanity. Two months would surely be his demise.
Delilah, his newest companion on a tortuous Thursday night, turned around to face him and slowly rocked her hips down to her knees. “Let me take the pain away.” Her hands crept their way up his thigh toward his crotch. “I can make you feel so good.”
“That’s funny,” Mo stated with displeasure before having another go at his drink. “Your homegirls said the same thing to me the last two times I was here. There’s no need for the dream selling. My money’s guaranteed.”
Delilah playfully smirked and stretched her hands up his chest, creating an arch in her back that popped her ass upward, although it was already massive. “I’m nothing like anyone you’ve encountered here.” She jiggled her butt cheeks and placed a gentle kiss on his neck. “You can follow me if you’re ready to find out.”
She stood upright on the red four-inch heels that locked around her ankle and strutted to the door, dragging an ass that he was certain registered on the Richter scale. Bewildered, Mo stared at the doorway and then down at his depleted drink. He’d been abstaining from any sexual acts outside of the lap dances since Mia’s departure but his urges were getting harder to control. Curiosity and horniness trumped his common sense, and he got up and stumbled his way behind her. He could only guess what kind of pain relief she had in store for him.
Once in the mirrored hallway of the club, he looked for any signs of her, almost spinning himself dizzy.
“This way,” she called out to him, and he turned around to see her heading in the opposite direction of the club’s main area. He passed up a few other rooms like the one they were in, and that’s when the décor of the hall began to change. Instead of mirrors, the walls were now black and lined with floor-to-ceiling red lights that illuminated with every few steps. It made Mo second guess if they were still in the same building. When Delilah stopped in front of her intended destination, she turned toward Mo who was now noticeably drunk.
She held his face in her hands and went in for a kiss. The intrusion of her tongue was unexpected but not unwelcomed, and neither was the effect of the pill she inserted that was fizzing in every corner of his mouth. The softness of her lips and her hair that smelled of magnolias masked the inappropriateness he should have felt with a woman that he had no business placing his lips on.
With dilated pupils and absent inhibitions, Delilah delighted in his current state. “Enjoy the ride.” She held his hand to guide him into the room.
“This shit is niiice,” Mo drawled, barely able to open his eyes.
Delilah nodded her acceptance of the compliment, although, she couldn’t take credit for the décor. She sat him down on the edge of the circular bed and began to discard his clothes.
“Lay back,” she instructed once he was shirtless.
Mo followed the directive but noticed red swirls of different shades moving across the ceiling. “What is this place?” He relished in the amazement.
“Whatever you want it to be.” Delilah carefully unzipped him out of his pants and pulled out his brick erection. “Tell me what you want, Morris.”
“I want,” his consciousness became harder to retain. “I want Mia,” he admitted, personifying the whole drunk mind, sober tongue notion.
Not the least bit offended, Delilah bit her lip as she slid on top of him, letting his meaty flesh invade her. She leaned forward to give him a kiss and when she pulled back, the expression on his face made her smile victoriously.
“Mia?” He held her face in his hands. “Baby?” He didn’t know when or how, but his wife was back and doing what she did best to him. He kissed her again, thrusting his hips upward, hoping it felt as good to her as she felt on top of him. When they broke apart, Delilah tossed her long, dark hair behind her revealing her face yet again. The euphoria felt too good to Mo for him to question if what he was seeing was real.
He let his eyes close and relinquished the control he never had. That open wound in his heart suddenly didn’t sting as much and the lingering feeling of dread was replaced with a bliss he hadn’t felt since his wedding day. Delilah was making good on her claims and finding her own enjoyment in the process. She had her way with him, and in his world, he was living out one hell of a dream.
Mo’s eyes crept open to disrespectful sunlight, and with a dry mouth and a drumming head, it took him a minute to realize he was in his own bed at his house. He wished he could remember how he’d gotten there, but the last thing he could recall was the strip club, the room with the circle bed, and Delilah undressing him.
“Shit.” He peeked under the comforter to confirm what he already knew. He was naked and only got that way to sleep or fuck, and judging from the dried, white residue on his dick, it was the latter.
He threw the covers off and frantically searched the room for his phone. The fact that he couldn’t remember having sex made the pounding of his head suddenly seem insignificant. He did a lot of wild shit, but raw-dogging a female who wasn’t his wife was never a part of his twisted forte. He needed to call their family’s doctor and get tested.
His clothes were in a pile on the bathroom floor, and he went for his pants retrieving his wallet, phone, and car keys. His hands shook as he sent the coded emergency text to Dr. Rennis, knowing he wouldn’t take longer than thirty minutes to respond back because he was paid well enough to do so. Mo figured it was best to start getting ready. He cut the shower on, and while brushing his teeth, Dr. Rennis responded with an appointment time within the hour. Relieved, he quickly showered and got dressed, making sure to pop two pain pills for his head.
Mo descended the steps of his house, and as he went for the knob to the front door, he froze at the sound of locks turning. He stepped back to avoid getting hit by the opening door and thought his heart had stopped when Mia stepped into the house with the same bag she left with on her shoulder. She slid off her sunshades and looked up at him.
“Mia?” he responded, still trying to process if he was dreaming or not. He reached out to touch her face, and when he felt her softness, his eyes pooled. Gratitude washed over him, and he pulled her into his chest and held her tightly, still fearing she’d disappear from his grasp. “Baby, I missed you so much. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for everything I put you through.”
Mia didn’t respond and allowed him to hold her. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, she’d missed him and his touch too. The bond they’d shared since their early twenties wasn’t as easy to sever as she’d thought, no matter how much she enjoyed being with Clark. Her departure from her seclusion with him was as somber as the drive back to her marital home. What she and Clark had, no matter how pure and innocent it was, wasn’t sustainable unless they both cut all ties from the lives they knew. It was a demand neither one of them could ask of each other, although, Clark didn’t seem to need much of a push to do so. He was the black sheep of the Gaines family and could be paid to do his type of work from anywhere in the world. Mia, however, had fallen into her role as a homemaker and had nothing to bring to the table other than her aged dancer’s body and cooking skills. If she was going to leave Mo, she needed a plan for her well-being that wouldn’t be affected by the prenuptial agreement that was forced on them by her father-in-law or push her back into relying on a man to take care of her. She wanted her independence to come with peace of mind, and that would take some time. She needed to stack her money and that meant she needed a job, or at least a hobby, that she could profit from.
Mo was so caught up with Mia’s return that he almost forgot about his appointment. If she was back, he needed to do right by her, and it would have to start with a clean bill of health that only lab results could give him.
“I have to run an errand, but I’ll be back in an hour if not less,” he explained as he continued to hold her. “I don’t know wh
at your plans are, but please don’t go anywhere until I get back. We need to talk. Please.”
“Ok.”
“Ok,” he sighed in relief. He kissed the top of her hair and carried his resistant feet to his car. He got in and almost shat himself at the black thong lying across his steering wheel. He snatched it and shoved it into his pocket, hoping Mia didn’t see it, then unfolded the note that was taped next to it. There was nothing but a ruby red lipstick stain in the center of it.
“Delilah,” he muttered to himself. That was the only thing that made sense. Now he had the answer to how he’d gotten home.
“Shit.” He slapped the top of the steering wheel, hoping there were no traces of her anywhere in the house. That was the last thing on his mind this morning. He needed to hurry up and get back before Mia made a move in or out of the house.
CHAPTER 20
Robert walked into his study and stopped short when he noticed who was sitting behind his desk.
“I was wondering when you’d make it home. You’re a hard man to catch up with.”
“Am I?” Robert ran his hand over his greying hair, a nervous habit that only she seemed to bring out of him. He took a seat in one of the two seats reserved for guests and felt like being anywhere but there. When she was feeling generous, it was usually a phone call. When she wasn’t, he either got personal visits, like this at home or work. He was certain she got off on doing this type of wicked shit to him.
“Now, now, Robert," she smiled and began toying with her ponytail. “We’ve been associates for how long now? I know when you’re lying to me.” She slowly wiggled her disapproving finger.
Robert didn’t respond and instead cleared his throat. “Well, now that you have me, how may I help you?”
“Hmm.” Her eyes dropped to her long red nails. “How may you help… me?” The corner of her mouth lifted, and she continued staring at her fresh polish job. Robert knew that meant that she was irritated but wouldn’t show it just yet. Her anger was always a slow burn. She would question him in a way that would force his answers to understand why she was upset.
“The Gaines Corporation is set to exceed their profit margins for this quarter...again,” she emphasized. “That’s been the trend for about five years now, right?”
Though hesitant, Robert nodded, already aware of the hole he was digging for himself. “That’s correct.”
“And your all-natural products...they’re testing well too, I assume.”
There was no need for him to ask how she knew that. She knew everything.
“Other than needing more scents to choose from, our testers have nothing but positive things to say about them.”
“And from the looks of the pointless, three overpriced cars parked outside, you don’t seem to be doing badly on a personal level either.”
Robert wasn’t sure if that was a question or just a snarky observation, so he kept quiet.
His lack of response made her gaze shift to him. “Do you remember the night you came to me asking for the life you have now?”
Robert wished he didn’t and often tried to forget it, but even in his sleep, it replayed on a continuous loop. “I do.”
“And do you remember what I said to you when you were hesitant about our deal?”
He swallowed hard, suddenly wishing he had a glass of water to sip on. “That there are no gains without sacrifice.”
“And yet, here you are, gaining while I’m,” she opened up her arms, “left in the wind like an afterthought. Tell me...does that seem like proper business conduct?”
Robert opened his mouth to offer an explanation, but she held up her finger to cut him off.
“You cannot sell flight to birds or water to the ocean, and it angers me that you think your words would have any influential or manipulative effect on me.” She stared down at her ample cleavage and cupped them. “Is it this form?”
“Excuse me?”
“Is. It. This. Form?” She stood up with her hands still to her chest, showcasing the rest of her bodycon-style black dress and instantly saw the glimmer of inappropriateness in his eyes. “It is,” she confirmed with a diabolical laugh to the ceiling and dropped her hands to her hips. “It is truly amazing to witness the spectrum of reactions from a man. One minute, you’re doing anything that I ask and the next, you assume I’m easily dismissed.”
“That’s not true.”
“And now you call me a liar.” She moved in his direction and took a seat on the empty space of his desk in front of him, making sure to cross her long, bare legs in his direct line of vision. “Let me make something clear.” She leaned forward and gripped his face so tight that it should’ve popped one of his teeth loose. “I selected this body because it was disarming, but I’m starting to think I need to reconsider how I look when I come to you.” Her pupils morphed into vertical slits, mimicking that of a serpent, and sent a harsh chill down Robert’s spine.
He shook his head repeatedly, not wanting to witness more than he already had. “I’m sorry,” he attempted to say through smooshed cheeks.
Feeding off his fear, she tossed his face from her grasp and sat back, upright on the desk. “You do understand that no matter how much you attempt to change the course of their lives, the end result will still be the same. I always get what I’m owed,” she stated matter-of-factly.
Robert continued to massage the pain from his jaws, but her statement made him look away with shame and regret.
“If you think about it, this entire situation is quite comical,” she grinned. “You fear them having to experience the same pain of loss that you’ve endured, but what about the pain of betrayal? What’s going to happen when they find out that daddy is far worse than a money-hungry asshole? Seems like your future Father’s Days will be filled with rolling tumbleweed in this horribly decorated mansion.” She slapped her thigh, thoroughly tickled by her cruel joke.
“Anything I’ve ever done to or for them has always been from a place of love,” he spoke confidently.
“Oh, Robert.” She held her chest, trying to contain her sputters of laughter. “If this entrepreneur thing ever fails, comedy should be your next endeavor. I mean, I am truly entertained.”
Still giggling, to his disdain, she stood up and smoothed out her dress.
“Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” She placed a finger on her chin as if she was in deep thought. “I’m not one for the messenger, but you are indeed a walking advertisement for that message.” Hand to his shoulder, she leaned forward to whisper in his ear. “And I love that shit.”
She gave his temple a kiss then straightened up. “Oh, and before I forget, can I just commend you on raising such handsome and virile sons. They are truly works of dysfunctional art. The eldest and middle one especially.” She did a little shoulder shimmy. “There’s beauty in their torment.”
Robert bit his tongue, although her damnation was skirting on the edge of his lips. He didn’t like whatever it was she was implying. Her knowledge about the ins and outs of his life was completely different from her interacting with his sons. They didn’t need to cross paths with her in any capacity. He didn’t want them to make the same mistake he had. He’d already ruined their lives, unbeknownst to them.
“Well, Robert, it’s been a pleasure.” She picked up her red and gold clutch and ran a hand over her hair to tame any unruly strays. “We’ll be seeing each other again very soon.” She threw him a knowing smile and strutted out the door.
Robert held his forehead and exhaled. The relief he felt from her departure took a sharp turn to unease when he thought about what she said. It wasn’t a casual “see you later”; it was a warning. Except for Mo’s NDA screw-up, he hadn’t the time lately to keep tabs on his sons like he used to. He knew where each of them stood with women...or at least he did, but it was apparent that something had changed.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and called the first person that came to mind.
“Rennis, we
need to talk.”
CHAPTER 21
The ocean breeze felt good against Harley’s skin. She wiggled her toes in the sand to the beat of Jhene Aiko’s “Bed Peace” playing in her right ear while she stayed alert with her left. They’d gotten to Fort Lauderdale less than four hours ago, and she’d already spent two of them on her beach towel. Justin only had enough time to change into his business attire and kiss her goodbye, but she wasn’t complaining. Their hotel sat directly on the beach and the room service menu was extensive. Justin gave her carte blanche and even recommended going to the spa to pass the time while he was away. He was an honest to God sweetheart, and the more they talked, the more she enjoyed being around him. They spent the entire flight rambling about nothing and she’d even initiated their handholding. The lingering pain from seeing Cornell was always dulled the minute she stepped into Justin’s world, and she needed more of that if she was ever going to get past her “situation” with him.
Harley did a quick scan of her surroundings. Although she didn’t expect Justin back anytime soon, she wanted to be confident about making her phone call without interruption. Gianna had been blowing her up, just as Harley expected, and she always had to give her some random excuse as to why she was texting her instead of calling her back or why she would only call her at random places outside of the house. The most acceptable lie was to tell her was the house had horrible cell service, and although Gianna accepted it, she could tell from her tone that she often didn’t believe her. She went to her favorites list and clicked on Gianna’s name.
“I was two seconds from sending a search party out for you,” Gianna greeted in a flat tone.
“Oh, whatever,” Harley chuckled. “I'm glad to know you miss me. What you up to?”
“Laying down, reading about some different cosmetology programs in the area.”