Sleeping in Heaven, Waking in Hell

by Forever Redd

  Lock Down Publications

  Presents

  Sleeping in Heaven, Waking in Hell

  A Novel by Forever Redd

  Copyright 2014 by Forever Redd Sleeping in Heaven, Waking in Hell

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in review.

  First Edition July 2014

  Printed in the United States of America

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Lock Down Publications

  Email: Vodom4@yahoo.com

  Facebook: Authoress Forever B. Redd

  Cover design and layout by: Dynasty’s Cover Me Designs

  Book interior design by: Shawn Walker

  Edited by: Shawn Walker

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I must start this out as I have started out in the beginning. Thank you Lord once again for showing me the light. So many nights I have dreamed of seeing my work on pages, and here we are doing it again. I am truly thankful for all blessings that have been bestowed upon me.

  Ty, Jordan, Raelyn and Davia, my biggest fans and the reason I strive for excellence. You four have made my life worth living, and your understanding and patience will never go unnoticed. I love y’all and I thank ya for allowing me to live my dream.

  Kisha, words could never express my love for you. I appreciate every single thing you have done to support me on my journey. Your loyalty, friendship and dedication has carried me through yet again. Thank you and I love you!

  Jordan Abney, wow, if I had to say I had a true fan, it would definitely be you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  Nook Donalds, baby bro, you already know what it is, (OABS Lil Daddy) real rap, I appreciate ya. You have no idea what your words of encouragement and support have done for me, and for that, I thank ya. I also know this isn’t what I showed you, but you deserved so much more. Aye man, long as I’m eatin’, you and the fam will FOREVER have a plate! Take care of him Brenna! Love y’all!

  My family, thank y’all for the support, in some form or fashion, you have all inspired me to press forward. Love ya!

  Vencer, we did it once again, big bruh!! Thank you so much for everything, I would go on and on but we both know things that are understood need no explanation. Ayeeeeee! Shout out to the best barber in all the ATL, check him out!!

  Qiana Boo, Thanks so much for your professional assistance with my promos and such and of course I must thank you for your friendship. You too, are greatly appreciated. Love ya!

  P-Town, one more time, we in this thang! Thanks girl for your support!

  Twelve, you are one of the newest members on my team and I’m thanking you this go ‘round because I can’t guarantee you will be there next go ‘round!!! But check it…the time that you have been here for me has been wonderful! When I don’t feel like writing, you inspire it. When I feel like writing, you encourage it, and when my work hits the pages, you have supported it. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

  Mary Mcall Reese, we did it again! Thanks for believing in me!

  Cranberry, Thank you for everything!

  Frank Gresham, Linnea, Tranay Adams, Coffee, Royal Nicole, Lady Stiletto, Ms. Writer, my literary siblings! Thank you so so much for your support, encouragement, and motivation to keep pushing. Y’all are the absolute best!

  Lockdown Publications and Ca$h, I don’t even know where to begin on this one. Your guidance and knowledge can never be duplicated and I am just so thankful to have been taken under your wing and study under one of the greatest. Your team has been utterly amazing from start to finish. Thank you so much for having me be a part of such an elite group of authors, editors, proofreaders and promoters. I am deeply humbled. Thank you!

  Very special thanks to everyone that supported my debut, those that support my rerelease and those of you that decided to stick with me through it all. Readers, supporters, followers and friends. Thank y’all for everything! If I have omitted anyone, please charge my head and not my heart!

  1

  Victoria

  Damn, it's going to be hot as hell today, I thought as I locked the door to my apartment and hurried to my car. It wasn't even 8 o'clock yet and already it was scorching outside.

  As soon as I slid behind the wheel of my late model Bonneville, I started the engine and turned on the AC. As the sounds of the new Beyoncé album blared through my speakers, I threw my car in reverse and prepared to make the fifteen minute commute to work. Traffic was sparse that Fourth of July morning because most people didn't have to work. They were off and getting ready to throw down on their gas and charcoal grills. That immediately turned my attitude stank. While everyone in the city would be enjoying family fun or gathering at the park, I would be trapped in the hellhole known as First National City Bank.

  Needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled about that shit at all. The only consolation was the time and a half holiday pay that I would earn which did nothing to improve my attitude, but it did lessen the blow. Who was I kidding? I just didn’t want to go to work, period.

  My job was your typical call center and it had the typical call center shit. Basically, it was high school all over again. The gossipers, the daters, the haters, and the lovers. I took about ninety calls in a day where I would handle different banking issues. I fired up a blunt and tried to get my mind right. I always needed something to help me deal with the annoying people that called in. Aside from that, my coworkers could be a pain in the ass too.

  Nearing my place of employment, I could hear my grandmother's voice in my head. “In this economy, be thankful you have a job ‘cause somebody somewhere ain’t got nann, and be glad it ain’t you.”

  By the time I arrived at work and parked in my usual spot all the way in the back of the parking lot, the blunt was gone and I was better prepared to deal with the routine drama and hassles that came along with my job.

  Half of the tramps that I spoke to didn’t speak back. That wasn't unusual nor did it faze me. I had heard all of the petty things they whispered behind my back. Tamika, a girl fresh out of training who had yet to get caught up in daily drama, had given me the run down on the things she’d heard.

  “That ho is stuck up. She act like her ass is better than the next bitch. I don't trust that trick. There's something real ratchet about her,” Tamika reported to me what she’d heard one day at lunch.

  I never confronted any of them about that foolish mess because as long as they were bumping their gums and not approaching me on that bullshit, I would pretend that they didn't even exist. But the minute any of them brought their drama to my face, I was going to show them that all pretty bitches weren’t punks.

  “They haters, baby, let ‘em hate,” was all I said to Tamika on that subject because the same dog that will bring a bone will definitely take one back.

  In truth, though, they weren't even worth breaking my nails over and their jealousy was so damn trivial. I didn't concern myself with making friends at work. I was there for one reason and one reason only. A check. Everything else I could get once I clocked out.

  “Good morning, Victoria. I like your new hair color, it fits you well,” the compliment came from Tamika.

  “Thank you, sweetie,” I smiled and stopped to toss a compliment back her way, “Love those shoes, mama. They don’t belong on the floor, they belong in the air girl.” I gave Tamika a wink and kept it
moving to my destination.

  I finally made it to my seat after the long walk through the droves of non-speakers and sat in my corner cubicle with the window behind me overlooking the parking lot. I put my purse in the top drawer of my desk, logged onto the computer, checked my daily messages, brought up the applications needed to do my job, and then waited for a call.

  Glancing down at my hands, I noticed that I had chipped a nail. “Damn it, man.” I hated when that happened. I couldn’t even get it fixed until my day off which was three days away. I would have to walk around with dishpan hands for the next few days, and that was not a good look.

  I let out a frustrated sigh just as my first call of the day came in. No sooner than I got my greeting out, the bullshit started.

  “Why is my account overdrawn one hundred and twenty dollars?” the angry man yelled on the other end.

  “I do apologize. I understand that you are frustrated, I would be more than happy…”

  “I don’t give a damn about your happiness, fix the shit, and fix it now.”

  I tried to assist the caller and make the conversation flow a little easier for us both, but he wasn’t having it.

  “Look, it’s the Fourth of July, and I have other things to do other than spend my time on the goddamn phone. Do your job and fix my account,” he demanded.

  For fifteen minutes he tore me a new one, then hung up in my face.

  Top of the morning to me!

  I’m not psychic, but I could already see my day was headed to shit. When I heard the beep for a new caller, I braced myself for what was yet to come. I bit my fist to stifle my scream and pressed the accept call button.

  “Thanks for calling First National City Bank, my name is Victoria. How may I help you?” I put a smile in my voice as I spoke. Truth be told, I could give a rat’s ass what they wanted. People in hell wanted ice water.

  I heard a deep sigh before he spoke. Here we go, I thought. “Good morning, Victoria. I am having some problems with my debit card and I’m hoping you can assist me.”

  Wow, I wasn’t ready for pleasantries. The frown that was once on my face had been replaced with a thousand kilowatt smile. “Of course, I can, sir.”

  “Sir?” he questioned with a slight chuckle. “Sir is reserved for my father. You’ll do fine calling me, Major.”

  I blushed at the sound of his baritone voice and almost giggled at how it carried me away. “It’s a courtesy,” I responded while biting my bottom lip. It was something I did when I was at a loss for words. I shook my head in hopes of clearing my thoughts and bringing the call back to business. “Ahem,” I cleared my throat. “I see that you verified your information through the automated system, but for security purposes and to further validate the account, may I have the last four digits of your social security number?” I didn’t need all of that, but I wanted to extend the call a little longer than I should have.

  “Fifty-four,” he paused sexily, “sixty-nine.”

  Was he being sexy? Well, that’s what it sounded like to me. The way he dragged out the last two numbers so seductively made me imagine that the words came from a set of thick, juicy lips. Damn! The silkiness in his tone slid from his mouth and lingered in my ear. In his voice, there was familiarity. I could feel his southern comfort blanketing me with its warmth. I could detect a hint of an island. I concluded he was definitely from somebody’s low country.

  “One moment, I’m accessing your account right now,” I professionally rebounded from the slight trance of his voice, but who was I kidding? I was intrigued and I wanted to hear more, so I decided to make small talk as his account loaded in my system. “So, how’s the weather where you are?”

  “I’m traveling to Florida, but I am currently in South Carolina. So, the weather here is beautiful. Nice and sunny. And if the weather is this nice wherever you are, you shouldn’t be cooped up indoors.”

  “I too am in South Carolina, so I am very familiar with the beautiful day I’m missing,” I pouted a little through my speech.

  “Get out of here! What are the odds of us being in the same state? Should I include you on my itinerary?”

  “I bet you casanova all the pretty girls,” I blushed as if he could see me. I wanted to listen to the deep melodious sounds of his sensual voice all day. It reminded me of that old singer, Barry White, and after my last few calls he was music to my ears. His voice was so deep that it sent sound waves through the course of my body. It was smooth and mellow. I could see him. He was tall. Yes, he was tall with bedroom eyes to match that “meeting in my bedroom” voice.

  “Not at all. Only the ones that can handle my finances,” he laughed.

  I literally laughed out loud and started biting my lip again. I had to bring it back to business. Getting lost in his voice was a sure fire way to lose my job and until my husband came along, unemployment benefits were not an option.

  “Okay, Mr. White, your available funds aren’t the issue. I see the balance in your account is $58,290.82.” I delved a little further. “Because you are traveling and hadn’t alerted the bank, a freeze was automatically placed on your card for fraud prevention. Anytime you are traveling you must notify us so you can have access to your monies. One moment,” I casually allowed my voice to soothe his distress. Calls were to be resolved within five minutes and I’d had this brother on the phone for ten. Something about him made me want to end my day with him. It wasn’t what he said, but there was definitely something about him. I daydreamed about the gentleman a little while longer before I resumed the call. “I have removed the hold from your account, so you will not incur any additional problems. Is there anything else I can do to assist you?” I hinted flirtation, but if that wasn’t the vibe he was on, he wouldn’t notice anyway.

  “Actually, I thought you’d never ask. It’s not business, though.”

  “Okay,” I stretched the word and bit my lip.

  “I know it’s probably against policy, but I would love to speak with you again. I mean after work.”

  I wanted to tell him, Hell yeah! Boy, if you don’t take my number right now, but I digressed. Although, the more that man talked the more I wanted to hear. I wanted to see him when he spoke. I wanted to watch the rise and fall of his Adam’s apple as he laughed. The more I thought of the possibilities, the more I began to tingle down below. I could only attribute such behavior from Ms. Kitty due to the fact she was long overdue for a good petting. I threw my right leg over the left and tapped my foot against the small wastebasket underneath the desk in hopes that the friction would soothe her. “It’s been my pleasure helping you, but that’s as far as I can take this,” I felt faint when those hideous words escaped my lips.

  “What a disservice to have met you this way. You have an amazing voice and I could have listened to it forever,” he spoke with so much heat in his words, it could have melted the sun.

  I was a second away from spilling it. I was going to go against policy and give him my number when he thanked me for my excellent customer service and released the line.

  “What the—” my words were cut off by the silence from the other line. I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t resist. I jotted his number down before I completely closed out of his account. I had yet to decide if I would use Mr. White’s number, but I would rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

  Taking that man’s number for possible use was no indication that I was desperate. I was in no way, an unattractive chick.

  My complexion was the color fine of brass, appearing as though it had been kissed by the sun. My short hairdo perfectly framed my round face and accented my big almond shaped eyes. My body? I stood exactly five feet even and I was built like a brick house. Make that a brick mansion. I do have a little extra. I have short bowlegs, thick thighs, and a walk so ferocious it would make you wanna fuck me. I was known to mesmerize with the sway in my hips and hypnotize with the bounce in my ass. My thirty-six double d’s sat damn near high enough to have my chin rest on them. My p
hysical was on point and needless to say, I am the shit. So, to say I am “walk-beside-able” is an understatement.

  Not only was I easy on the eye, I had brains too. I was currently in my last year at USC getting my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration.

  My personality was on point, at least one of them. I have several, not because I am crazy, but because I like to be able to adapt in all environments. So, I have a personality to accommodate whomever I am with at any given time. But with all these amazing qualities I was left wondering, where was my good man?

  The dating scene had just gotten so tiresome. I’d had so many failed attempts at finding “my guy” it was ridiculous. The last guy I dated over a year and I thought he was the one. We were friends first, but that didn’t work out as well as I thought it would have. The comfort level was just too cozy. He would say anything to me and think it was funny, or do shit and expect me to accept it. I could get over some of the nonsense, things he did when we were younger, but sometimes you just outgrow shit. He didn’t and I got tired of that, so I felt it was time to press on.

  The guy before that was only for a few months. That dude had no ambition. He didn’t want to work, but he had the time to smoke and play video games all day. I knew when he told me, “I quit my job,” we were done. I was so tired of the game. I just wanted to chill. My dude and me laughing, talking, and enjoying each other. I was ready for a ring on my left ring finger and the promise of a future.

  Since it was a holiday, management surprised us with lunch from a local restaurant, so I was able to get my barbecue after all. I brought my lunch back to my seat and continued taking calls. Some of them were good and some were bad. As I took a bite of the perfectly grilled chicken, I giggled to myself. That Mr. White was something else.

  My calls had slowed down tremendously, so there was nothing left to do but ride the clock. I did listen to a few stories being swapped between cubicles. It seemed like guys talked just as much as women, if not more. I wondered if Major had loose lips. He couldn’t have, he was too suave for that. He was polite, well versed, and poised.