A Fistful of Love: A Domestic Violence Anthology

by Thomas, Dominique

“You did good,” I replied, putting on my clothes.

  “Did I get the job?”

  “I’ll call you,” I smirked, knowing damn well I would never allow that hoe to work at my conservative place of business.

  Grabbing my condom, I walked to the bathroom and flushed it. After washing my hands, I adjusted my tie and made my way back to work. In a few hours my life was going to change for the better.

  Chapter 4

  Aimee

  “Aimee can you follow me to my office, please?” Jordan, my boss asked, walking inside of the dressing room.

  It was a long night and I was happy I had no classes tomorrow. All I wanted to do was take a nice bubble bath and sip wine when I got home. Lacing up my Nikes, I tied the laces tight then followed Jordan to his office.

  “What’s up?” I asked once the door closed behind me.

  “Have a seat,” he said, pointing to one of the chairs.

  I took a seat and waited for him to explain why I was in his office. I had a gut feeling that it wasn’t a good reason. Praying for the best, while expecting the worst, I waited for Jordan to begin speaking.

  “We’ve heard from numerous strippers that you’ve been participating in illegal drugs,” he said, causing my heart to beat faster.

  I admitted that some nights, Shanice and I would roll one and we would smoke before work, but every girl did it. Hell, some girls even popped X, so I didn’t understand who was snitching and why.

  “Illegal drug use will not be tolerated. For that reason, I have to make an example out of you and let you go.”

  “Let me go?” I asked, feeling my blood pressure rise.

  “Yes, I’m sorry. Here is a check that should hold you over until you find a new job. If I allow you to stay, then the other girls will think it’s ok.”

  “But I…I don’t understand,” I cried.

  “I’m sorry Aimee, please empty out your locker.”

  Picking up the ten-thousand-dollar check, I placed it in my back pocket and made my way to my car. Instead of doing the walk of shame, I texted Shanice and asked her to empty out my locker and to bring me my things.

  Sitting in my car, I broke down crying. I couldn’t believe I’d lost my job before I had the chance to venture off into my career. I had about thirty thousand dollars saved, but with bills and school that wasn’t enough to put a down payment on a studio. Just as I was about to start my car and pull off there was a light tap at my window. Rolling down the window, I was face-to-face with Mr. Handsome.

  “Are you okay?” He asked, displaying the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen.

  “I just lost my job,” I sniffed to keep the snot from running down my face.

  “My brother fired you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” he asked with a concerned look on his face.

  “Drug use. It was only weed, but it goes against the No Drug Policy.”

  “That’s crazy.” He shook his head. “Do you want to know what I think?”

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “You’re too good for that job.”

  “I know, but it pays the bills.”

  “I’m an architect and I own my own firm. I’m looking for an assistant. The job pays twenty-five dollars an hour with full benefits. It’s yours if you want it.”

  “Oh my God! Thank you,” I beamed. “What time should I come interview for the position?”

  “Interview? Didn’t you hear me? The position is yours.” He smiled that sexy smiled that made me want to step out of my panties. “Report for duty tomorrow morning at 8 A.M. sharp with a Grande Pumpkin spiced latté,” he said, handing me his business card with the address neatly printed on it.

  “Thank you very much,” I responded, with fresh tears running down my face.

  “It’s not the same type of money you were making at the club, but the pay is still good.”

  “A job is a job,” I replied, showing my gratitude.

  “Perfect. See you tomorrow morning. Remember, 8 A.M. sharp, with my latté.”

  “See you tomorrow,” I replied.

  “Drive safely,” he said, watching me pull off.

  I drove home feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Although dancing treated me well and kept my body in shape, it felt good knowing that I didn’t have to get groped in order to make a dollar. With twenty-five dollars an hour, I calculated my check to be a thousand dollars a week before taxes. Our bills for the month totaled about twenty-five hundred dollars a month, so I was still in a great position to remain in control of the bills, pay for school, and save for my dance studio. If I didn’t believe in God before, I most certainly did now because he was working highly in my favor.

  “WHAT HAPPENED?” Shanice yelled in my ear when I answered my phone.

  “Jordan fired me!”

  “Why?”

  “Somebody ratted me out about the weed.”

  “Those jealous hoes are so grimy! Whenever I find out who it was I’m going to fuck them up,” she said displaying her anger.

  “It’s cool bestie, calm down; I’m not even sweating it.”

  “I hope you don’t plan on returning to that Molly the Maid job.”

  “No. I have a new job and I start tomorrow.”

  “New job? How did that happen?”

  I pulled into my driveway, parked, and sat in the car. I ran down tonight’s events to Shanice.

  “I think he’s feeling you,” Shanice cooed into the phone.

  “You think so?”

  “Duh! Who else hires a former stripper without an interview?” She quizzed.

  “A kind-hearted person, I mean, I was crying. He probably felt bad for me.”

  “Mm,” she replied.

  “I’m about to walk in the house, I got an early morning ahead of me. Talk to you later.”

  “This friendship is forever,” she sang into the phone.

  “Roger that,” I replied, hanging up.

  ******

  My alarm clock screamed, begging for me to wake up. I hit the snooze button. I almost turned over and went back to sleep, but I didn’t want to be late for my first day of work. Performing my morning stretches, I waked into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower making sure I was nice and clean. I took extra care in the way I dressed this morning; I wanted my first impression to be a good one.

  I put on my white button-down blouse, my black high waist pencil skirt, then finished my outfit off with a matching black blazer. I slipped my feet into a pair of black Nine West pumps, and grabbed my matching Nine West bag, switching all of my necessities into it. Lightly brushing my face with make-up, I added ruby red lipstick, and styled my hair into a professional bun. I wore pearls around my neck, some in my ears, and my pearl bracelet next to my Michael Kors watch. I sprayed my body with the intoxicating “Candy” by Prada perfume and was ready to start my day.

  “Where are you going looking all pretty?” my mother asked, placing a bowl of cereal in front of my brother.

  “My new job,” I smiled, grabbing a yogurt.

  “Your new job? What Job?” she asked with a puzzled look on her face.

  “I got a new job as an Assistant for Lucas at the Lucas Architects, Inc.”

  “Really? That’s great! So does that mean--”

  “Yes, no more Apple,” I spoke in code so my brother wouldn’t understand.

  “Great. If I have to start working to help out with the bills I will.”

  “No mama, focus on your daycare, the job pays well. So I’ll be able to continue with the bills.”

  “You are a godsend,” she said, kissing me on the cheeks.

  “Anything for family,” I smiled. “I have to go, I don’t want to be late.”

  “Have a great day baby.”

  “You too, mama. Be a good boy today, Ashton,” I said over my shoulder, as I walked out of the door.

  When I pulled into Starbucks, I noticed that Krispy Kreme’s hot sign was on. I wasn’t sure how many people worked at
the firm, so I decided to purchase four dozens of doughnuts. I went into Starbucks and bought enough coffee for twenty-four people, along with Lucas’ latté. Grabbing cups, creamers, sugars, and stirrers, I made my way to my car and blasted Rihanna, Bitch Better Have My Money, until I arrived to my destination.

  When I made it to my new workplace, it was seven forty-five. Getting out of my car, I carried as many things as my hands would allow me to.

  “You made it early,” Lucas winked, helping me with the doughnuts. “And you brought treats.”

  “I figured I could start every one’s day off with a smile,” I said handing him his latté.

  “You started my day off with a smile,” he replied.

  “It was my pleasure,” I lightly flirted.

  “Let me show you to your office.”

  “I have an office?” I asked in amazement.

  “Of course you do,” he said, opening my office door for me.

  “Oh my God, this is beautiful!” I exclaimed, walking around the spacious office.

  My office was on the fifth floor, overlooking Las Olas. The view was amazing. I could see myself getting lost looking at city lights. Walking over to my massive oak cherry desk, there was a MacBook Air, with an iPad Air 2 sitting right beside it. There was also the newest iPhone 6S plus in rose gold, pens, papers, and other office supplies.

  “All of this for me?”

  “Yes, that is your new phone. I programmed all of my contact information into it so you won’t have a problem keeping in contact with me.”

  “Thank you.”

  “This is your office, decorate it as you please.”

  “This building is amazing,” I gushed.

  “I sketched this myself. I wanted my firm to be something I would love coming to every morning, so one day I sat down and drew it out exactly how I envisioned it.”

  “Your work is nice.”

  “Thank you. On your desk is a list of clients I need you to reach out to and make appointments for. Once you’re done, forward me the appointments, dates, and times.”

  “I can handle that.”

  “Good,” he smiled, walking out of my office.

  Taking a seat in my plush office chair, I twirled around, looking around my office, filled with excitement. I expected to have a desk outside of Lucas’ office, but to actually have my own office was amazing. After making a list of things to pick up to make my office feel like home, I got right to work.

  Chapter 5

  Lucas

  Aimee was so damned beautiful to me. She had the body of a goddess. She was thick and in shape, just how I loved my women. I wanted to make a move on her, but I had to scope her out first, which was the reason for me hiring her. Once I got to know her, I’d be able to see if she was worth my time.

  While I watched her though the security monitor, Monica walked in my office.

  “Sorry, Mr. Stinger. She just barged in past my office,” Aimee ran into my office behind her, apologizing.

  “It’s ok. Monica here, has no manners,” I replied, cutting my eyes at her.

  Monica sat down and crossed her sexy toned legs with a smirk on her face.

  “I’ll take it from here, Aimee. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” she smiled that beautiful smile before closing the door behind her.

  “What do you want?” I snarled at Monica.

  “You know what I want,” she replied, undressing.

  “Monica, I’m not in the mood for this shit.”

  “If you want to keep my business then you’ll do as I say.” She said, playing in her pussy.

  Fucking with Monica had me feeling like a gigolo. In order for me to seal the deal as the lead architect for the bank they were building downtown, I had to play nice with her. The fact that Monica was fifty years old made it hard for me to digest fucking her. She wasn’t hard on the eyes, but she was just too damned old for my personal tastes.

  “Get on your hands and knees,” I ordered, pulling my dick out.

  With thoughts of Aimee flooding my mind, the anaconda sprang to life. Grabbing a condom out of my office drawer, I rolled it on my dick and shoved my dick forcefully into her.

  “Ahhhh.” She cried out, throwing her ass back at me.

  “Shut the fuck up and take this dick,” I demanded pounding deep into her.

  “You like this rough shit huh,” I said smacking her ass.

  “Yessssssss. Oh yess!” She cried out.

  “Your husband can’t fuck you like this, can he?”

  “No daddy, noooooooo!” She moaned.

  After sliding in and out of her pre-menopausal pussy for an hour, I finally came. For Monica to be so old, she had a high sex drive that her Viagra-popping husband couldn’t keep up with. She was a loving wife to her husband by day and a cougar at night. If I didn’t need this deal so bad, I would have stopped fucking her dry pussy ass.

  “That was good. Here’s the paperwork with my signatures,” she said pulling a manila folder out of her brief case.

  “It was a pleasure doing business with you,” I smiled, smacking her ass.

  “Oh, you’ll see me again,” she smirked, adjusting her clothes. After touching up her lipstick, she blew me a kiss and left.

  Tidying up my office, I sprayed some Febreeze to eliminate the smell of sex, before calling Aimee into my office.

  “You called, Mr. Stinger?” she asked, blessing me with her presence.

  “Yes, what are you doing for lunch?”

  “I was going to grab a salad downtown,” she replied.

  “Care if I join you?”

  “Be my guest,” she smiled.

  *****

  “So Aimee, tell me about yourself?” I asked, as we sat at CoCo’s Asian Bistro enjoying Sushi.

  “Ok well, let’s see. I’m twenty-three. I’m a junior at Broward College, and I’m majoring in Business Management, with a minor in Performance Arts. When I graduate, I have plans of opening my own dance studio. Prior to that, I had a full ride to Julliard, but had to come home because my father passed away,” she said with sadness in her eyes. “Anywho, I live with my mother, who’s in the works of opening her daycare in our den, and my brother, who will someday become a professional football player. That’s about it. Oh and my best friend Shanice, she’s like the only friend I have; My support system.”

  “What about your love life?” I asked.

  “I had a boyfriend, five years ago; my first love, my first everything. One day, I tried calling him and got the memo that his phone was disconnected. I went to his place and everything was gone. He just disappeared into thin air. I tried searching for him, but came up with nothing.”

  “Five years ago was the last time you were in a relationship?” I asked.

  “Yup. With going to school and helping my mother, I never really had time for a relationship. I’ve dated here and there, but nothing serious.

  “What would you say if I wanted to take you out on a date?”

  “Ask and you’ll see,” she smiled.

  “Aimee, is it ok if I took you out on a real date?”

  “Wouldn’t that be conflict of interest, since you’re my boss?”

  “What if I fired you?”

  “I need my job,” she replied with wide eyes, causing me to chuckle.

  “With me as your man, you wouldn’t want for anything.”

  “So you’re trying to be my man?”

  “Let’s have our first date, first.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Aimee replied before taking another bite of her sushi.

  Everything about her was just so perfect. If I could prolong our lunch I would have, but the meeting that I had set up wouldn’t allow me to.

  “Tomorrow night at eight, I’ll come pick you up. You’re free to take the rest of the day off, along with tomorrow, you will be compensated.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind working.”

  “Positive,” I smiled grabbing her hand.

  Call it corny, but I
could felt a bolt of electricity shoot through me as soon as we made contact. Then and there, I knew that Aimee Lee Johnson was going to be my wife, for better or for worse.

  Chapter 6

  Aimee

  “Shanice, stop!” I yelled at my best friend who kept snapping pictures of me.

  “My bitch finally going on a real date. I’ve got to Instagram this moment,” she replied.

  “Language,” my mother said, walking into my room.

  “Sorry, Mrs. Johnson.”

  Dressed in a long khaki wrap-around maxi high-waisted skirt, a white crop top, and a pair of gold Steve Madden sandals, I was ready for my date. My hair was now parted down the middle in wild curls. Shanice tried to talk me into wearing weave, but I decided to rock my natural inches. My hair stopped in the middle of my back so, weave for me, was an option.

  “You look gorgeous,” my mother smiled.

  “You don’t think it’s too much?” I asked.

  “No. That’s perfect for a casual date. I did my research on Mr. Lucas Stinger and he is the shit,” my mother replied, handing me a pair of gold drop earrings.

  “Ma, why are you researching my dates?”

  “Never mind about that, I want you to be yourself and don’t be too nervous. When you’re nervous you began to sweat,” she said wiping my damp forehead.

  “I’m fine, mom.”

  Before my mom could open her mouth to say something, the doorbell rang.

  “Hmm, fifteen minutes early,” she smiled, walking off to answer the door.

  “Oh my God, what if I screw this up?” I panicked.

  “Aimee, you’re a lovable person. I doubt you’ll screw it up. Plus, you look too damn fine. So, even if you say something stupid, he’ll be too distracted by your beauty to notice.”

  “Thanks bestie.”

  “Anytime love,” she said with a kiss to the cheeks.

  “Aimee, Lucas is here,” my mother called out.

  Checking myself in the mirror again, I walked down stairs to find a handsome Lucas holding two roses. I assumed he had three when he came in because my mother was holding one between her perfectly manicured fingers.

  “You look beautiful,” he commented, handing me a rose.

  “Thank you,” I blushed, accepting it.