by Joy
“Naw, Miss Lady. It ain’t even like that. It will be kinda like me returning the favor of you rescuing me from that long-ass line out there.”
Hennessey proceeded to log in Dollar’s deposit and hand-write him a receipt. “Here you go, Mr. Blake,” she said, slightly smiling and blinking almost in slow motion.
“Thank you,” Dollar said. “But anyway, that was good looking out, not making me stand in that line.”
“It wasn’t a problem,” Hennessey said. “I’m glad I could be of some assistance. But waiting on customers in line really isn’t my job.”
“That’s right; you’re an investor.”
“Yeah, but my official title around here is personal banker.”
“Personal banker, huh? So what all does the word personal include? Perhaps I’m in need of a personal banker.”
“Perhaps you are, so it would be my pleasure to assign your account to one of my colleagues.”
Dollar’s face twisted up. Had old girl just put him off on someone else? “What’s wrong with you being my personal banker?”
“Ummm, I think it’s better that we don’t get too personal. You know what I mean?” Hennessy winked and started typing away at her computer.
Dollar stood before her not knowing what his next move should be. He wasn’t used to waiting around for a woman to say something to him. What was it with her? Dollar was going to make it his mission to find out.
“There we go.” Hennessey punched a final key on her computer then looked up at Dollar. “Someone will be in touch.” She smiled.
Dollar smiled.
Awkward silence.
“Can you find your way back out?” Hennessey asked Dollar.
And now she had the nerve to dismiss him just like that. This was a first for Dollar for real.
“Oh yeah, yeah,” Dollar said. “I see you’re busy, and this isn’t really your job,” he mimicked, “so yeah, I’ll just go ahead and find my way back out.”
“All right then,” Hennessey said as she went back to typing something on her computer. “Oh, and, Mr. Blake?”
“Yeah,” Dollar said, stopping in his tracks. I knew she couldn’t resist me. He had a huge grin on his face.
“Can you close the door behind you?”
“Uhh, sure. And thanks again.”
“Anytime,” Hennessey said as Dollar walked out of her office and closed the door behind him, his tail dragging between his legs.
He shook his head. “Damn, I can’t believe I froze up,” Dollar said as he looked down at his deposit receipt. Just then his eyes lit up. Underneath his deposit verification was a note that read:
You can return the favor at 8:00 p.m. tonight. 1777 Lake Wave Loop,
Hennessey
855-2755
A huge grin of victory spread across Dollar’s face. He guessed Hennessey wanted to get personal after all.
It wasn’t as chilly as it had been the past few nights as the cold season was coming to an end, so Dollar sported his Fonzie, from the old Happy Days sitcom, leather jacket over his V-neck, long-sleeved ribbed sweater and Hard Knock Life Wear jeans. He couldn’t wait to meet up with Hennessey at her place.
Dollar wasn’t sure exactly how to get to Hennessey’s address, so he left his house a few minutes earlier than he had originally planned. He only had to stop and ask for directions one time when he saw that there was a chance that he might be late. Hennessey didn’t seem like the kind of chick who would wait around on a late-ass nigga. She was the type that kept a brother in check, on his toes. Perhaps she was exactly what Dollar needed in his life.
Hennessey was smooth like the cognac she was named after, but Dollar knew her chaser was bitch mode. Her words were fly, as if they were rehearsed. This is one of the things that attracted Dollar to her.
When Dollar finally turned onto Lake Wave Loop, he saw that the scenery wasn’t residential at all. There were hotels, cafés, and drug stores. Dollar followed the numbers carefully until he found 1777. It appeared to be a lovely, high-class hotel.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Dollar said out loud as he searched for a parking space. As he drove by the hotel he realized that it had valet parking. He turned his car around, drove up to the hotel door, and utilized the valet services.
Dollar walked into the hotel and headed straight toward the registration desk to find out what room number Hennessey was in, prayerfully waiting for him buck naked.
“May I help you, sir?” the clerk asked Dollar.
“Yes, can you phone Miss Hennessey Monroe’s room and let her know that Mr. Blake has arrived?” Dollar replied.
The clerk punched a few keys on her computer before saying, “I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t have a Hennessey Monroe checked into this hotel.”
“Well, there must be a mistake. I’m sure she’s here.”
“There’s no mistake,” a voice crept up on Dollar from behind.
Dollar turned around to see Hennessey standing in a black floor-length halter gown with a split in the front that almost played peek-a-boo with her kitty cat.
“You look good,” Dollar said to Hennessey, turning away from the desk and walking toward his beautiful date.
“Thank you,” Hennessey replied. “You’re lookin’ fine.” Hennessey circled Dollar like he was her prey, nodding her fondness of the fineness before her. Hennessey licked her lips and winked. “I hope I don’t have to come out the heels tonight and beat down nobody over you.”
“Would you do that for me, baby?”
“Umm hmm.” Hennessey smiled.
Hennessey had a smile that humbled even a hardheaded dude like Dollar instantly. The contour of her lips allowed for just enough of her beautiful white teeth to show. She had a memorable smile, like Laci Peterson, the woman whose smile was plastered on every news channel and newspaper when her husband was accused of murdering her and her unborn child.
Dollar stood before Hennessey, mesmerized by her smile. The two stood there looking each other up and down. Hennessey especially admired Dollar’s chest muscles peeking up out of the V on his sweater. She could have stood there and counted every chest hair if time had permitted.
“We should head to the hotel restaurant,” Hennessey said. “We have reservations, so we don’t want to be late.”
Dollar followed Hennessey over to the restaurant where the hostess led them to a quaint table for two.
Dollar slightly nudged the hostess, who was about to pull Hennessey’s chair out for her, and pulled it out himself. He then removed the little black evening bag she was carrying from her shoulder and placed it on the back of her chair by its gold chain strap.
“Thank you,” Hennessey said, surprised at Dollar’s manners.
“It’s my pleasure, Miss Lady,” Dollar replied.
The hostess presented them with menus and said, “Take as much time as you need to look over the menus. Your waiter will be right with you.”
As the hostess began to walk away, Dollar stopped her. “May we see the wine menu?” Dollar asked.
“Certainly,” the hostess said. “I’ll bring one right over.”
Upon the hostess returning with wine menu in hand, Dollar allowed Hennessey to scan it and order the wine of her choice.
“By the way,” Hennessey said to Dollar, “Rutherford Alleghany is your new personal banker. He said he has some great investment ideas in order for you to make money, so he’s going to put something together for you.”
“I appreciate it,” Dollar replied. “But why didn’t you just be my personal banker in the first place since it looks like we are getting personal after all?”
“Didn’t want to mix business,” was Hennessey’s short reply.
Dollar and Hennessey shot the breeze over a bottle of Zinfandel and a nice, elegant dinner that consisted of steak and lobster, preceded by an appetizer of crab-stuffed mushrooms, and followed by a delicious dessert of cheesecake covered in caramel syrup.
When the waiter had originally brought out Dol
lar and Hennessey’s main course, Hennessey sent her steak back to be prepared a little longer. Instead of diving right into his delicious-looking food, Dollar waited the ten extra minutes for Hennessey’s plate to be served and then ate with her. That had to have gotten him bonus points with this class act of a woman.
After feeding Hennessey the last bite of the cheesecake the two had shared, Dollar signaled the waiter over to the table. He was ready to get out of there in hopes that Hennessey would invite him back to her place . . . just to talk.
“Is there anything else I can get you two tonight?” the waiter asked before handing them the bill.
“No, we’re fine,” Dollar said, sticking his hand out. “Unless the lady would like something to go, for, perhaps, a midnight snack or something.”
Hennessey put her hand up and shook her head. “Oh, no, thank you. I’m fine.”
“The lady says she’s fine,” Dollar told the waiter, then looked to Hennessey. “And I’d definitely have to agree.”
Hennessy put her head down to hide her blushing.
“Then here you are.” The waiter laid the bill down on the table. “I’ll be back to pick it up whenever you’re ready.” He smiled and walked away.
Dollar reached for the bill. Hennessey stuck her hand over top of Dollar’s to stop him from picking up the bill. She then reached into her little black evening bag for money.
“Hey, I thought I was supposed to be returning the favor,” Dollar said.
“You did by having dinner with me. Your company is opulent. I feel like a priceless, angelic antique.”
“Well, damn, does that mean we fuckin’?” Dollar quickly raised his hands in both surrender and defense before she could catch and attitude. “I’m playing,” Dollar said as Hennessey shook her index finger at him.
“You are so bad,” Hennessey said, smiling. She then whispered, “But, between you and me, that’s how I like ’em.”
“Really, Miss Banker with a personal office throwing words around like ‘opulent’ and ‘angelic’ and shit? I find that hard to believe.”
Hennessey couldn’t help but laugh as Dollar imitated her. “Shut up, Eddie Murphy, and kiss me.”
“Huh,” Dollar said, being caught off guard by Hennessey’s forwardness.
“Lay one on me. Pucker up. Stick your tongue down my throat. Am I speaking your language now?”
Dollar looked around the restaurant to see if anyone was watching them.
“You embarrassed?” Hennessey asked.
“Who, me?”
“You know what? Forget about the kiss. I’m sorry for putting you on the spot like that. Excuse me, waiter,” Hennessey said, raising her hand and signaling the waiter over.
Dollar couldn’t figure out if this woman had an attitude with him for not kissing her. Had he bruised the lady’s ego?
“You mad, baby?” Dollar asked. “Well, I’m sorry. I don’t know who you mistook me for, but I’m not one of those guys who kisses on the first date. You think just ’cause you buy me an expensive meal I’m supposed to let you stick your tongue down my throat?” Dollar said, enjoying his and Hennessey’s role-playing.
“I understand. I ain’t trying to rush things. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do. It’s cool,” Hennessey said, winking at Dollar.
When the waiter came over to the table, Hennessey handed him the leather check presenter with the bill and two one-hundred dollar bills inside of it. Dollar tried to leave the tip, but Hennessey wouldn’t allow him to do so. Hennessey laid a thirty dollar tip on the table and then excused herself to go to the ladies’ room.
Dollar stood up when Hennessey stood up. Upon her return, she and Dollar exited the restaurant and hotel.
“So, where did you park?” Dollar asked Hennessey once they were outside. “I’ll walk you to your car. Or did you valet?”
“It was much too lovely of an evening to drive. Besides, I just live a few blocks around the corner,” Hennessey said.
“Then let me walk you home,” Dollar insisted.
“No, that’s okay. But if you’re up to it, I wouldn’t mind going for a walk. There’s a little park behind the building with a penny fountain. I’m in the mood to make a wish.”
Dollar obliged Hennessey by walking her to the fountain. He dug all of the change from out of his pockets and he and Hennessey threw coins into the fountain and chatted.
“So, Dollar,” Hennessey said. “How did you get the name Dollar?”
Dollar laughed and replied, “When I was a kid I had big dreams, dreams of becoming a thousandnaire. I did and sold everything I could think of to try to make a dollar. I would try to sell eggs to a chicken if I could. And no matter what it was I was selling, everything had the same price.”
“A dollar,” Hennessey jumped in.
“You got it,” Dollar said, mocking his days as a child. “Dollar Bill. It’s just one dollar, dollar bill, y’all. Pretty soon folks in the neighborhood started calling me Dollar.”
“Oh, I bet you were so cute,” Hennessey said pinching Dollar’s cheek.
“Well, Miss Hennessey,” Dollar said, turning the tables. “How is it you were named after an alcoholic beverage?”
“Actually, I’m not named after an alcoholic beverage. My name is spelled ‘e-y’ at the end instead of just ‘y.’”
“Okay, aaannnd? It’s still pronounced the same.”
“Let me finish, why don’t you?” Hennessey continued. “My mom was going to be a lawyer if it was the last thing she did in life, only she could never seem to afford law school. So, until the day she could afford it she studied law by watching every court show that existed. The last name of one of her favorite characters on one of the court shows was Hennessey, therefore, naming me Hennessey. My mom was a homebody. She had no idea that Hennessy was a cognac.”
“Nice story,” Dollar said.
“It’s the truth,” Hennessey said, play nudging Dollar on his shoulder. “Besides, she was a geography buff as well. Hennessey is the name of a city in Oklahoma, but see y’all black folk only know about where da liquor store at,” Hennessey joked.
“I get where your moms was coming from,” Dollar said. “It’s like that Justice shit in that movie with Pac and Janet Jackson. What was it called?”
“Poetic Justice.” Hennessey laughed. “You know I never thought of it like that.”
“Well, did your moms ever make it to law school?” Dollar asked.
“I’m putting her through it now,” Hennessey said proudly, almost as if she wanted to cry at just the thought of it.
Dollar turned Hennessey’s face toward him with his hand and kissed her softly on the cheek. The tear that had made its way from her eye slid onto his lips. The warmth from the tear melted Dollar. He could feel where Hennessey was coming from. His own mother had been his motivation in life. Dollar wanted so badly to share his thoughts with Hennessey, but for the first time in a long time, he was afraid. He felt that there was something special about Hennessey. Dollar couldn’t risk losing something before he even had it. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake his father made.
Dollar sat holding Hennessey for a few more minutes.
Hennessey ended up walking Dollar back around to the hotel where he waited on the valet driver to bring his car around. When the driver drove up in Dollar’s car, he exchanged the twenty dollar bill in his hand for the keys to his car.
“Well, Ms. Monroe, we must do this again sometime.”
“We must,” Hennessey said, placing a kiss on the side of Dollar’s neck. Dollar tried to push up on her, but Hennessey pulled away. Her eyes said, “Not yet,” as she watched him drive away.
As Dollar drove off he was in complete bliss. He looked in his rearview mirror at Hennessey who was standing in model stance, leg stretched out, one hand on her hip, and blowing him a kiss good-bye with the other. He wanted so badly to catch it in the air and place it on his lips, but he knew that would be some corny-ass shit. So instead, he drove on.
Honey had Dollar cheesin’ all the way home. Just the thought of Hennessey put a smile on his face. She was beautiful, smart like his mother, and no-nonsense like his auntie Charlene. She was two of the most influential women in Dollar’s life rolled up into one. And on top of that, Dollar saw that same look in her eyes, that determination to do anything she could for her mom by any means necessary. That same look he used to possess.
Dollar made it up in his mind that Hennessey was going to be his main girl. He liked her style. She wasn’t necessarily going to be the only one, not just yet. But she damn sure would be number one. Maybe, in time, the little spark that existed between the two would grow into a flame. Who knew what the future held for the two?
CHAPTER 20
Hit Hoes
“So, how was you and your wife’s little trip to the NYC?” Becka asked Storm as they got dressed in their dance costumes.
“It was very productive,” Storm replied as she looked over at Tommy who was lining her lips with a chocolate Mary Kay lip liner. “I ran into a dude there who said he had been up in here the last time he came through the city.”
“Oh yeah?” Becka replied, none the wiser that Storm and Tommy were having a conversation over her head. “Small world. Well, I’ll holler at y’all hoochies later. It’s show time.” Becka put on her cover-up and walked out of the dressing room.
“By the way,” Storm said to Tommy. “This is yours.” Storm handed Tommy a wad of cash. Tommy flipped through it, puzzled.
“What’s this?” Tommy asked.
“That dude I ran into,” Storm said as she headed for the door, “well, he said the last time he was here he forgot to tip you. He wanted you to have that.”
Tommy’s eyes almost watered as she flipped through the $3,000 Storm had just handed her. Storm winked at Tommy and then closed the door behind her.
“Now that’s a down-ass chick,” Tommy said to herself. She tucked the money in her Crown Royal bag that was down inside her gym bag. It was almost show time for her as well.