“Thank you, Mr. Ward. You will not be disappointed.”
Angelica followed Gerald Lloyd to a tiny room and changed into the bikini he gave her. It was skimpier than the outfit she had on yesterday, yet it felt right. While most of her body was exposed, only she and the pole would make love to each other and the only thing touching her skin would be the Hamiltons, Lincolns and Washingtons that half-drunk men would ease under her G-string, not the repulsive fingers of another female. She looked in the mirror, took out a tube of lipstick from her purse and repainted her lips. She squeezed her lips together, checked herself in the mirror and proceeded to the stage.
On the stage were three poles that were affixed to the floor. A long-ago memory rushed into Angelica’s mind. She was a much younger woman then, and her stage exploits got the attention of the man who became her husband and took her away from the life because he didn’t want any other man laying eyes on her body. Angelica smiled at the memory and, for a fleeting moment, wondered how Hamilton was doing.
“Ready?” Peter asked, startling Angelica.
Angelica faked a smile, but she would do what she had to do.
“Any music preference?”
“Do you have ‘Golden’ by Jill Scott?”
“Gerald,” Peter shouted, “see if we’ve got ‘Golden’ by Jill Scott and put it in the player.”
Before too long, Jill Scott’s voice boomed through a set of speakers that were on either side of the stage. Angelica sauntered over to one of the poles and reached up and caressed it with her right arm. Her body followed, now parallel with the pole, and within seconds Angelica’s body began to move like a belly dancer’s. So smooth was her rhythm that it was hard not to be mesmerized…to be caught up in the lure of the sensual fantasy that was being played out on the stage.
Her ponytail fell back as Angelica wrapped one leg around the pole and extended the other in the air, her head pointed toward the floor. She swung her body around the pole, performed a sultry move and then brought her body upright, making love to the metal like it was made of human flesh. All of a sudden the music died, and Angelica came out of her trance. She was annoyed that her audition had been interrupted.
“When can you start?” Peter Ward asked, looking back at Gerald and giving him a wink.
Angelica started to hesitate but in the next breath said, “Immediately.”
“Be here at six-thirty this evening. You’re going on tonight.”
Angelica smiled. “Salary?”
“You can make up to five thousand dollars a night—depending upon what kind of night you have.”
“I can live with that,” Angelica said. “Thank you, and I’ll be here at six-thirty.”
Peter and Gerald watched Angelica disappear into the dressing room to change.
“She’s a pro,” Peter whispered. “A revenue goldmine. When word gets out about our find, there won’t be a soul left at Club Amazon.”
Gerald laughed out loud. “Goldmine!”
Angelica heard them laugh but ignored it. The job was a stepping-stone on the course she was charting for herself. She walked toward the exit, giving an extra jiggle to remind the owners why they hired her.
Overcast skies awaited Angelica when she exited Club Platinum. She walked to the corner to catch a cab, but took a moment to reflect on what to do next. Angelica looked at her watch. It was two-thirty in the afternoon, four hours away from show time. What would she tell Ari? She needed a place to stay, but she didn’t want him all in her business. If he’d give her a key to his house, the matter would be resolved. The wheels in her head began to click.
She pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed. No response. She clicked off, then dialed the number again.
“Hello,” said the voice at the other end.
“Ari, this is Angelica.”
“Hey, love. Something is going down at the condos. Police cars are lined up out front. Can only talk for a second.”
“Okay, well, I got a job!
“Great, Angelica!”
“Problem is I’m working the night shift.”
“The night shift? Where at?”
Angelica was in no mood to play twenty questions, and she owed Ari nothing but the rent she would pay him for her temporary shelter.
“Ari, my shift begins at six-thirty, and I need to go to the house and freshen up. Is it possible to get a key to your house?”
There was a moment of silence. “Sweetheart, I’m not in the habit of giving out my key. You seem like good people, but I’ve known you for less than a week.”
“So why did you invite me to your house? Look, I’ve been straight with you from the beginning. My time is temporary, but I will pay rent until I get on my feet. Right now, I need a means to access my things so I can freshen up.”
“All right. Come by your cousin’s condo and I’ll give you my spare key. You may not be able to get close to the condos because of the cops. If you have any trouble, call me on my cell and we’ll work it out. I’ve got to go.”
“Thanks, Ari. I owe you.”
The line was dead.
It was easier than she thought. Angelica waved down a cab and headed for the condos. It took less than five minutes to reach the street where Donna lived, but as the cab got near, she could see that up ahead the street was blocked off and there seemed to be a lot of commotion going on.
Angelica dialed Ari’s cell phone and asked him to meet her down the street. When he arrived, his face was ashen. Ari handed the key to Angelica and, without a word, he turned and walked away. Angelica looked in her hand and smiled. Ari was having a bad day, but she was on the road to recovery and possible success.
20
Malik sat in the restaurant parking lot, rehearsing what he would say to Jefferson. This was his frat, his boy, yet he felt like he was meeting a complete stranger. He should not have been surprised when he received the call from Jefferson, who asked why he was not at his welcome home party. Now he waited with dread in his heart all because he had fallen in love with his best friend’s wife.
The parking lot was filling up. “Avalon, Maxima, Honda, Camry, Altima, Saturn,” Malik said out loud, playing a childhood car game. “Mercedes, Margo’s Mercedes,” Malik said.
He sat up and watched as the driver of the Mercedes pulled into a parking space. A few moments passed before the door to the car opened. There he stood, all six feet of him. Then he noticed the walker. Malik had almost forgotten that Jefferson had been in a wheelchair. He had not visited Jefferson in the last six months. He couldn’t do it. Malik could not tell much about the way Jefferson looked from where he stood. This was the moment he regretted. He got out of the car and waited.
Jefferson walked slowly toward Malik until recognition set in.
“Malik, that you?” Jefferson asked.
Malik offered a half smile and offered his hand. “Hey man, you look good.” Jefferson looked malnourished and tired about the eyes. Prison food is supposed to be good, Malik thought.
“It feels like a million dollars.” Jefferson paused. “I wish I had listened to you back then, Malik, but the last five years have taught me more than I asked for, and I can say that with all honesty. I never want to see the inside of prison again.”
They dropped their hands, and Malik looked at Jefferson.
“I’m glad you’re home, buddy. Why don’t we go on in? We can catch up in there.”
“Lead the way,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson followed Malik into the restaurant, and the waitress seated them. Sadness was etched on Malik’s face as he watched his friend push the walker in front of him and then maneuver into his seat. Jefferson seemed in full control of his handicap, though, moving about as if he didn’t have one at all.
“What’s good on this menu?” Jefferson asked Malik.
“Almost everything,” Malik responded. They laughed.
“I was sorry to hear about Toni and the baby.” Malik tipped his head in acknowledgment. “I know it was tough on yo
u. I hated I missed your wedding.”
“Toni was a beautiful woman. Our day was special; our life was special. It still hurts, man, but I’ve got to move on.”
“Well, what’s the good word? What’s been happening in Fayetteville since I’ve been gone?”
“Not a whole lot has changed. They’re bringing in about twenty thousand troops to Ft. Bragg. It has to do with all these base closures throughout the country.”
“This would have been a goldmine for me.”
“What are you going to do, Jefferson? Margo is doing well with the real estate, but your business…”
“My business is dissolved,” Jefferson began. “I probably will be unable to work in securities again. For sure, it will be hard to get bonded. While I sat in prison, Malik, I thought a lot about what I was going to do when I got out, but I’m not sure what that will be. I do know that I am going to enjoy my family.” Jefferson hung his head.
“You know Angelica is out of prison. She’s been out almost a month.”
Jefferson did not speak. “Humph. That’s a memory I’d like to forget. Is she in Fayetteville?”
“I’m not sure where she is. She volunteered to work for me, and after one day on the job, I had to let her go.”
“What happened? She came on to you, didn’t she?” Jefferson laughed.
“Man, that woman is something else. That’s exactly what she did. Started taking her clothes off right in my shop.”
“Get out of here, Malik! In your shop? You know she used to be a stripper.”
“Yeah, you told me.”
“So, are you seeing anyone?” Jefferson asked.
Malik looked at Jefferson with suspicion. He had not expected the question so soon. As he prepared to respond, a waitress approached their table. Grateful for the interruption, Malik quickly gave the waitress his order. Jefferson followed and then stared at Malik.
“So, you’re keeping the lady a secret?” Jefferson continued.
“Wha…wha…oh no. I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. It hasn’t been a year yet since Toni…died.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to bring it up. My last memories of you were of Malik the ladies’ man. Always had a woman at your beck and call. I guess Angelica thought she had another chance. How is it that she ended up at your place of business?”
Malik recounted how Angelica showed up at the church and Margo offered Angelica’s services and said that they should forgive her.
“So Margo has forgiven Angelica,” Jefferson said matter-of-fact. “I don’t trust her.”
“I don’t either,” Malik agreed. “Angelica had the nerve to tell Margo that she did not have an affair with you.”
Jefferson looked at Malik and then turned away. He sighed and rubbed his chest, as if remembering another moment he cared to forget.
“Look, hopefully she’s gone forever,” Malik interjected. “Margo has tried unsuccessfully to call Angelica, so it’s evident to me that she doesn’t want to be bothered. We have not heard from her in over a week or so.”
“Thanks, man, for taking care of Margo in my absence.”
Malik flinched. “It was nothing. We’re best friends, frats. Brothers always take care of family.”
“Well, I want you to know that I appreciate it, and I’m sure Margo felt secure, knowing there was someone around she could trust.”
“No problem, man.”
“It’s going to take some time before Margo and I become romantic.”
“What do you mean?”
“Frat, she seemed happy to have me home, but also somewhat distant. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it’s as if she has something on her mind. She turned away from me in bed.”
“I’m sorry, Jefferson. It’s not necessary to share the intimate part of your life, if you don’t want to.”
Jefferson wrapped Malik’s fingers with the back of his hand. “You’re like a brother to me, and I feel I can share anything with you. I’ll need you to get through this.”
“I’m here for you, but maybe you need to talk with Margo about how you’re feeling. She’s the one who needs to know.”
“Has she been seeing anyone?” Jefferson asked.
Malik’s eyes widened. “Frat, what would make you ask that question? A few Sundays ago in church, she talked about your possible release. She seemed happy.”
“Just a feeling, Malik. Just a feeling.”
“You may be reading Margo all wrong. Give her some time. I’m sure that, with you now at home, some of the memories of the trial and even your affair with Linda may have come rushing back. She’ll be fine. Excuse me a minute; I’m going to the men’s room.”
Malik found the men’s room and fell against the wall. He walked from one end to the other, peeping to see if anyone else was in there. When Malik realized he was alone, he raised his hands in the air and let out a mini scream to release the pent-up anxiety. All of Jefferson’s questions about a new person in his life were getting next to him. Sleep had eluded him, and it had been a while since he had had a decent meal. Malik resisted the urge to admit to him that there was someone else in his life.
Jefferson’s sudden confession about his and Margo’s sexual relationship made Malik wonder. Malik knew in his heart that Margo felt something for him. It was the way she looked at him when they had been together. They had a carefree friendship before…before the day Ivy called and spoke to Margo. Yes, that was it—the day that Ivy called. But what did Jefferson’s confession mean? He had to find out. Malik hit the stall with his fist. He was in love with Margo…smitten, for lack of a better word. There was no way he could turn down the heat in his heart or slow the palpitations that were coming a mile a minute. He had to do something about it, even if it meant being guilty of the same crime Jefferson had committed. Malik shook his head. Somehow, adultery wasn’t so dirty when it concerned him.
21
Angelica’s day was looking up. In less than twenty-four hours, she had lost a job and then become gainfully employed. There was not much difference between the two, but one appealed to her more than the other and she was no longer at the mercy of Donna Barnes Reardon; she didn’t care if she was Hamilton’s cousin.
Arriving at Ari’s, she used the key he had given her to let herself into the house. It was peaceful here. For the first time, Angelica took a real look around the place. It was warm and homey—had the touch of a woman from long ago. Everything was simple but tasteful. A large crucifix with the figure of Jesus affixed to it hung in one corner of the living room.
Time was ticking. Straight to the shower was where Angelica went. The water rolled over her body—the pulsating water made her come alive, causing her to rehearse the performance she was going to give tonight’s patrons. Angelica swung her head to the left, then to the right, twisting her neck as she did. She swiveled her hips from side to side and lifted her arms in the air. It was so natural, as if she had been doing this all her life.
Angelica quickly toweled her body off and looked for something to wear. She hadn’t emptied her suitcase, and hopefully she would find something she didn’t have to iron. Since there was no clock in the room, Angelica picked up her cell phone to check the time. “A call from Ari.” Angelica was too hyped to call him right now. It was now four o’clock, and in two and a half hours she would be performing live on stage again.
Rummaging through her suitcase, Angelica found a nice jean outfit, complete with rhinestones that ran up the sides of her pant legs and studded the pockets of her jacket. She looked at herself in the mirror and decided to let her hair flow freely. Angelica released the ponytail from its band, and her reddish-black mane fell to her shoulders. A few curls would give pizzazz to her limp hair.
The taxi ride to Club Platinum was uneventful. Angelica wanted to call Ari and share the details about her new job. She felt comfortable talking to him because he did not judge. It was at that moment that Angelica remembered Ari was acting a little strange earlier in the day. She would make it her business to t
alk with him before he left for work in the morning.
Confidence made Angelica walk into the club as if she was the star of the joint. Angelica was met by Gerald Lloyd, who introduced her to Desiree. Desiree was the head stripper, the one who made the schedules and passed out the costumes the dancers wore. It was not hard to sense that Desiree was not feeling her by the scowl on her face and the way she handed Angelica the piece of costume she was to wear. Angelica took the outfit and proceeded to a work station that was pointed out to her. Once there, she ignored the haughty stares the other ladies gave her.
Dressed in a revealing, gold-sequined bikini top and thong, Angelica waited her turn. It was a revolving door as dancer after dancer went on and returned after her twenty-minute set. After an hour and a half, her name was called.
“Angel,” Desiree said with a frown in her voice. “You’re on.”
Angelica walked proudly with a little sway in her hips. The small chatter that could be heard in the room ceased, and Angelica poured it on. Now on stage, the music began to play for her. Angelica nearly skipped to the pole and caressed it like it was her forever lover. Then she heard the announcer.
“Give it up for Angel!”
She heard clapping and, for the first time, Angelica looked at the crowd. The place was filled. Men in business suits, men in casual wear, and men who looked as if they didn’t have a nickel in their pockets were there.
Angelica danced her heart out, occasionally jumping on the pole, wrapping her legs around it, and twisting her upper torso until the audience roared. She slid from the pole and performed some Tina Turner moves. When the men covered the edge of the stage with their dollar bills hanging from their hands, Angelica moved toward them. She let them place the money in her G-string first, and the rest was either placed in her hand or in the cup of her bikini top. It was intoxicating, and Angelica continued to deliver as she heard screams for an encore. When she ended her set, whistles and loud clapping met her ears.
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