Her eyebrows wrinkled together like an accordion as she sent a death stare towards me. “Are you kidding me, Harper? Seriously? What do you think I am?”
“You are a woman in a struggling marriage, and you have a man with a little penis.”
Her mouth popped open as she pushed me on my arm, “Harper!” She said, looking around as if I spoke loud enough for everyone on the floor to hear. “I didn’t tell you that for you to blast it all around here with your foghorn of a mouth!”
I laughed out loud at her reaction, and our small commotion led the three men near the door to look our way. I stifled my laugh immediately as Gloria was ready to chew into me again. I cleared my throat and nodded my head towards the men, suggesting that she turn around to see that we were now the center of attention.
Her eyes shifted towards them and immediately, a smile appeared on her face as if nothing was wrong. “Um, we were just passing through, gentlemen,” she said loud enough for them to hear her. She looped her arm around mine and walked us through the double doors and down the hallway, just beyond Mr. Kepler’s office. She laughed to herself, “you are right, Harper. That man is gorgeous. I cannot lie!”
“You don’t have to tell me that,” I said, laughing. “I already knew what you were thinking.”
We stopped in front of my office. “Well, shoot, I guess I better get to my room and start finding another place to work.”
I leaned against the wall and exhaled. “Gloria, you don’t know for sure if he is going to demolish the building. I mean, just wait. Who knows? Right now, it is just a rumor. That’s it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, I would rather be safe than sorry. Besides that, Mr. Kepler is leaving next week,” she shifted her eyes to the corner of her face, “or wait, was it this week? Shoot, I don’t even remember. But like I said, that is the writing on the wall. Travis has been here for years, and I never imagined the day he would leave.”
I slid my key into the keyhole and twisted the lock open. “Yeah,” I said, somberly. “You are right about that.”
A mist of sadness sat between us like morning fog as we stood quietly for a few moments until she headed back down the hallway. “If you need me,” she said as she walked away, “just instant message me. Or text me or whatever. I’ll be updating my resume on Job Search.”
“Alright, girl.”
I went into my office and quietly closed the door. The latch clicked softly into its compartment as I strolled to my desk and took a seat. My fingernails tapped against the surface of my polished wood desk like a small, marching army. The mirror positioned to my left reflected the gloom buried beneath my mahogany complexion. I sighed as my pink, matte lipstick covered every inch of my buxom lips.
I wore a tightly fitted t-shirt to go along with my jeans so that I could keep up with the kids. The community center was not only a daycare for parents who had to go to work during the summer days, but it also provided resources like Wi-Fi, computer rooms, a small library and a fitness center for residents in the community. I thought about the first day I started working here just three years ago.
It was my first job out of College at Texas A&M University. I studied education and figured I was going to be a teacher, but once I got here, I realized that I wanted the coveted title of a community director. Mr. Kepler said that he would recommend me as soon as he stepped down. It was bittersweet that the time he finally decided to step down was because the center was being demolished. I exhaled and leaned back in my chair, my eyes glued to the white ceiling above me as if it had the ability to stare back. What are you going to do now, Harper? What are you going to do now?
Chapter 3
JORDAN
The week went by in a blur. I got a lot of business done, so by Friday; it was time to unwind. Alex called me earlier that day and suggested that we head down to the Glass Cactus, a premier party spot inside of the Gaylord Inn, one of the major attractions of Grapevine Texas.
I usually kept my hair cropped because I hated wasted time at the barber and as I looked in the mirror, I admired the precision of my haircut. The top three buttons on my white shirt were undone, exposing the deep crevices between my pectoral muscles. I took pride in working out at the gym and more importantly, I loved when women ran their fingers across the ripples on my chest and abdominals. It was just as gratifying for me as it was for them.
Gray slacks and black and gray Armani shoes to cap everything off with a diamond encrusted Rolex that I had specially ordered at Robbins Bros. Minutes later, my driver called me to let me know that he was downstairs and ready to go. “Alright, Kurt. I’ll be right down.” My loft was positioned on the outskirts of downtown Dallas. My place was on the top floor of the building, and from there, I could see the green Dallas skyline. I couldn’t count the number of times that I entertained guests in the jacuzzi while we caught a glimpse of the beautiful view.
I grabbed my keys from the table, then headed across the marble floor. The soles of my shoes clicked peacefully in the silence and echoed off the walls with each step. The elevator was filled with the hypnotizing scent of Gucci cologne. The scented cloud hoovered around me as I made my way through the lobby, and to the opened door of my Maybach. “You look very dapper tonight, Jordan.”
I smiled as I stepped into the vehicle, “thank you, Kurt. You don’t look too bad yourself.”
He laughed. “Yes, I have become accustomed to the chauffeur look. I like to think that I define the tuxedo instead of the opposite.” He closed the door as I crossed my leg over the other and waited for him to get into the driver’s seat. Once he settled in, he spoke, “so, are we still heading to the Glass Cactus?”
“Absolutely. Alex called me a few moments ago. He is already there.” I laughed to myself. “You know, it is funny that that guy always seems to make it to the lounge on time, but for some reason, he is always lagging behind for the meetings.”
Kurt chuckled as he put the car in drive. “Sir, that is your cousin, and I believe you know him best.”
I grabbed a bottle of pinot from the small compartment on the right and poured a glass. The liquid flowed effortlessly out of the bottle, and as Kurt moved along, I kept a steady hand.
Before I knew it, we were at the Glass Cactus. Kurt drove to the front door as patrons walked into the establishment. The front of the building was nothing but glass. You couldn’t see what was going on inside, but those who were inside could see everyone before they entered.
The glass structure was outlined with green lights, giving an explanation as to why it was called “The Glass Cactus.” Kurt opened the door, and as I stepped out, crowds of women headed to the building. I rolled my sleeves to the middle of my forearm, exposing the sleeved tattoos that covered my skin. A few women looked in my direction as I stood idle, admiring who was headed into the lounge. “Kurt,” I said, sliding a couple hundred dollar bills into his coat pocket. “Stay close, alright? Go ahead and get yourself a bite to eat or whatever you’d like. I think it is going to be a long night.”
He was gracious. “Very well, sir.” I winked at him, then headed to the front of the building. A line was forming to the right as I passed by the chatter of men and women who were waiting to go inside.
“Edwin, my man. How is it looking in there?” The security guard stood tall with his chest poked out as the line formed to his right.
“You know how it is, sir. So far, so good. We gotta keep the ratio leveled, though. We don’t want a sausage party, so you know, I gotta be selective with the guys tonight.”
“As always.” The base of the music thumped from inside the lounge, increasing my anxiety to step in. “Have you seen Alex?”
“Sir,” he looked to the right and motioned for a handful of women to step inside. “Go ahead, ladies. Enjoy yourselves tonight.” They smiled and winked as they walked in wearing short dresses and skirts that would make a religious man blush. His eyes followed the small group as he held the door open for them. “Damn,” he said, as he let the door cl
ose. “What was I saying?”
I laughed. “Alex.”
“Right, right. He is already on his fourth drink. You have a long way to go if you want to catch up with him. He was upstairs in VIP. Go ahead and go in there, though, Jordan. Have fun tonight. I let a few in that I knew were exactly your type.”
I shook his hand with a smile, “my man. Thanks a lot, Ed.”
“You got it.” As I walked in, he barked out directions to a handful of men that were waiting to go inside. “Hey, hey, stop harassing the ladies! Leave them alone!”
The music drowned him out when I stepped in. Strobe lights lit up the dancefloor as women moved sensually to the beat, lowering their heads, then whipping it back, snapping their hair around like a whip. The base thumped, vibrating my chest as I looked at the second floor of the building. The VIP section overlooked the dancefloor, and from there, I saw Alex with a drink in his hand, dancing with a woman.
I laughed, then parted my way through a crowd of people. I slipped past women as they licked their lips and brushed against me. “I’m sorry,” I said as I bumped into one of them.
“The pleasure is all mine,” she said, her eyes low as she wrapped her lips around a slim straw. I wanted to dance with her, but I had just arrived. I wanted a chance to check out the place before I sunk my teeth into anyone. I made my way up the glass steps, and when I got to the top, Alex looked in my direction.
“Jordan! The Michael fuckin Jordan of business!” he said, the liquor clearly embedded in his bloodstream as he stumbled towards me. “Man, this place is live!” The lights bounced off the walls as the waiters perused the VIP section, picking up discarded glasses and small plates. He put his arm around me, then called the waiter over in a drunken slur. “Hey, hey! Buddy! Come,” he lost his balance but squeezed his arm tighter around my neck to keep himself up. “Give… give my man a shot of fuckin’ um, Patron. Hell yeah, Patron! That shit will… that shit will get you started!”
The waiter took the order with a smile, then walked away. “Damn, Alex. How many have you had?”
He looked at the glass in his hand for what seemed like forever, then locked eyes with me again, “shit man, I’ve fuckin’ lost count!” He laughed out loud and smacked me on the back much harder than what I was prepared for. Minutes later, the waiter came back with the small glass in his hand.
“Thank you,” I said as I held it to my lips. I could smell the strong stench of the drink as soon as I brought it to my nose.
“Bottoms up!” Alex said, urging me to swallow it. I put the glass to my mouth and threw the drink down my throat. It burned like lava on its way down, causing me to whence. “Yeah! Fuck yeah, man! It is time to fuckin’ party!”
I didn’t feel the buzz until I had my fourth drink and from there, everything was a blur. Next thing I knew, I was in the back seat of my vehicle, laid out on the seat with my head facing the roof of the car.
“What the fuck? Am I being kidnapped? Open… open the fuckin’ door. Do you know who I am?!”
Kurt’s voice was barely recognizable through my drunken haze. “Sir, calm down. I am taking you home and there; you will be safe until you have sobered up.”
“Kurt? Damn. Shit. When did you get here, buddy?”
“Just relax, sir. All will be well in no time.”
I slowly leaned back on my seat and closed my eyes. The next time I opened them, I was inside my loft, laying face up on my bed in my clothes. Am I dreaming?
As soon as I tried to get up, I realized that my room was spinning much faster than I was prepared to handle, so I fell back down onto my bed. I searched my pockets for my cellphone, and as I felt around, I realized that I didn’t have it. Fuck. Where the fuck is it?
After a few minutes of searching my pockets and everything nearby, I helplessly fell asleep. The next morning, I woke up with a splitting headache. I scooted to the edge of the bed and reached beneath my nightstand where I kept my spare phone. I scrolled through the contacts with one eye open, trying to shield my eyes from the bright rays of sun that were shooting through my window. When I found my number, I started the call.
It rang twice before someone answered. The voice on the other end was soft and inviting. “Hello?” I said with a raspy morning voice, devoid of life. “My phone. You have my phone.”
“And who is this?”
I slumped back onto my mattress. “Jordan. Jordan Hilton. I lost my phone last night at the Glass Cactus, and I would like to retrieve it from you, please. I’ll give you reward money.”
“Jordan Hilton? That Jordan Hilton?”
“Yes. Look, ma’am, I just want my phone back. That’s it. Please.”
“Well, Jordan. How about you meet me at the Henson Community Center. When you get there, just ask for Harper. I have your phone.”
***
I drank cups of coffee by what seemed like gallons. The room spun like a Ferris wheel as I struggled to get a hold of myself. I looked down at my shirt. Wrinkles decorated it as if it was the latest fashion. I knew better than to go out with Alex if I didn’t want to party hard, but I felt like I needed it. I had closed three tough business deals earlier that week, and I felt I could use some time to unwind.
When I sobered up a couple of hours later, I had Kurt drive me to the community center. It was a Saturday when I headed up there, and the center was usually the busiest during the week, so I didn’t expect many people to be there. Kurt parked in the same spot he did when I had my meeting here a few days ago. I called my cell phone, and she answered again, her voice was as soft as butterfly kisses.
“It’s me, Jordan. I am outside the building.”
“Alright. Come on in. I’ll be at the front door.”
Kurt let me out of the vehicle, and I made my way up the winding path to the front door. A small pack of birds flapped their wings as they flew above my head, chirping as if they were in the middle of a heated argument with one another. My reflection bounced off the glass door as I headed to the building. I was dressed down; a white t-shirt and shorts with white sneakers. I wasn’t there to impress; I was just there to claim what was mine.
The sweltering heat was sucked away from me as soon as I stepped into the building. I glanced to the left, and as soon as I looked right, I saw her descending the steps. I squinted my eyes as she walked closer to me. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail and dipped down to the middle of her back. Her eyebrows were freshly arched on her brown skin, and her jeans hugged her hips as if they were painted on. Her heels clicked against the steps as she held onto the banister.
She stood in front of me with a crescent smile. “So, I see that somebody likes to party hard,” she said, removing my phone from her pocket and extending it towards me.
I smiled. “Yeah, um, sometimes. Sometimes I like to just kick back and relax. Unfortunately, my friend had a lot to do with that, though. I rarely ever party hard enough to lose myself,” I took the phone from her hand, “and my phone.”
She took a step back and shoved her hands into her pockets. My eyes drifted down to her legs, but I quickly averted my attention upward before she caught me staring. “You… you were standing right up there,” I pointed to the balcony, “when I was speaking with Travis a few days ago. You and your friend, right?”
She looked in the direction I was pointing, then hung her head. “Yes,” she said, “that was me. Well, that was us, rather.” She fidgeted with her cellphone for a few seconds, giving me enough time to gloss over the rest of her body. Her stomach was flat like the walls that held this building up. Her breasts were just enough for a mouthful, and her lips were fluffed like a brand new pillow. She shook her head, then slid her phone back into her pocket.
“So, are the rumors true?”
“I’m sorry?”
She sighed. “Are you going to tear down the building?”
A couple opened the front door and a beam of sunlight shined onto us as we stood front and center. They smiled and spoke to Harper as they walked past us to the right, a
nd into the computer room. She continued, “I mean, a lot of good people come here. A lot of people that use these services because they aren’t fortunate enough to own certain things. This community center is a staple here, and it has been for years now. I just… I just think that it needs to stay put.”
I slid my phone into my pocket. “Well, Ms,” I paused, “can I call you Ms?”
“For now,” she said as a subtle smile escaped her countenance.
“Ms. Harper, I know that this center has been up for years. I understand that completely, but, this is just the business side of it. I have to do what is best for the community, and although you may believe it is keeping this center up and running, I know that there are other ways that this neighborhood can benefit.”
“Do you mean other ways that you can benefit?”
“Listen, I would be lying if I said one of my goals was not to make money.” I looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “But, that is definitely one of the goals. I am sorry that it has to be this way, but it is the best thing.”
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