Gutter Princess

by Kimmie Easley

  Ma’Linn and Baby went over a few more housekeeping details and said their good-byes. She made sure she had the correct mailing address for her mother, hoping to keep in touch. It might make for an easier transition when she returned.

  Whenever that might be.

  Baby hadn’t thought about how long she and Lucky would be gone. He didn’t usually stay in New Orleans long. Would he come back and settle down? Would he expect her to stay on the road indefinitely? If he did, would she want to?

  The only thing left on her checklist was to talk to Mickey. Panic set in and her nerves made her empty tummy flip-flop.

  It was an overdue conversation. Baby decided to walk down to the club and do it in person. The entire way there, she played out various scenarios in her head. None of which were realistic, knowing what a hothead Mickey was when he didn’t get his way. It also pissed her off that she hadn’t heard from anyone at the club since passing out in the bathroom almost a week ago.

  Standing outside the front door, Baby Jade sucked in a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She pulled open the door and stepped inside the dark room. Since it was too early for a dance, the DJ booth blasted a standard southern rock track. The bartender looked up from cleaning the racks. Seeing it was Baby, he ducked his head and went back to busying himself.

  Coral wiped down tables. When she looked up, her eyes widened and she looked as if she were fumbling for something to say. Baby cut her eyes and scanned the room. Jewella stumbled out from the hallway leading to Mickey’s office. Some things never changed. She spotted Baby standing by the entryway.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Jewella cocked her hip to the side, her voice booming across the empty club. Her words must have piqued Mickey’s interest because he bounded around the corner in seconds.

  “Holy shit. She lives,” he said, dramatically clapping his hands in the air.

  Baby gave an annoyed huff. “Not that you care.”

  “Hey, don’t come in here being a bitch. What are you doing here anyway?” As the words left his mouth, Jewella looped her arm through, staking claim. Pathetic.

  “Got a minute?”

  Mickey looked at her for a few seconds before waving his hand, motioning for her to follow him to his office. She walked across the room, staring down Jewella as she passed. She closed the door to Mickey’s office to piss her off.

  He sat in the worn-out chair behind his desk. “Sit.”

  Baby folded her arms across her chest. “No, I’ll stand.”

  “Suit yourself. What’s up?” He reclined back in the chair.

  His flippant attitude pissed her off. It didn’t take her long to realize she had made a mistake by coming in person.

  “I’m not here about what happened.”

  Mickey’s back snapped, propelling him forward. He placed both palms on the desk. “It’s a good thing because I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” His brow furrowed as his narrow eyes glared at her.

  “Yeah, right. Like I said, that’s not why I’m here.” She shifted, trying to muster up the right words. “I don’t know if I still have a job or not, but …”

  “You haven’t been here in days. You never called in. I had to have someone cover your shifts. You know I don’t put up with that shit.”

  Setting her hands on her hips, Baby bit the inside of her cheek to keep from going off on him. “Are we going to play this game?”

  “Again, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Whatever. I don’t know if I have a job, and at this rate, I don’t give a shit. I thought I’d do the responsible thing and come down in person to talk to you. That was obviously a mistake. Anyway, I’m leaving town for a while.”

  “What? For how long?”

  “No idea yet.” Baby’s hands trembled. She shoved them into her back pockets and shifted again to keep her feet moving. Mickey didn’t scare her, but she knew it was only a matter of seconds after she walked out of the office before Slade knew she was leaving.

  “Where the hell are you going?”

  Baby shrugged her shoulders.

  Mickey looked at her as if he was sizing up the situation, and then he stood. “Maybe this is a better question, who are you going with?”

  “That’s none of your business.” Baby turned toward the door as Mickey shot out from behind the desk, closing in on her.

  “You know Slade ain’t gonna go for you taking off with the stud.”

  “I don’t give a shit about Slade. I almost died. None of you gave a shit about me. As a matter of fact, you made sure I had enough dope to get the job done. I can only imagine how disappointed you all were when you found out that I was still alive.”

  “Girl, you might wanna watch what you say. I’d hate for someone to have to shut you up.” Mickey gripped her arm.

  She yanked away, opening the door to make her escape. “I’m not scared of you. You can all go to hell and that includes Slade.” She bolted out of the office and busted through the front door without looking back. She heard voices but couldn’t make them out. She didn’t try.

  Jogging all the way back to the apartment, Baby Jade locked herself inside and hid in the bedroom, praying Lucky would show up before Slade did.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Lucky

  Lucky drove his bike into the parking garage at Gauthier Offshore Services. As a board member, he had an assigned parking space, but he refused to use it. Instead of taking the private entrance, he went through the front and checked in at the reception desk.

  An instant smile plastered across the young girl’s face who sat behind the counter with a headset. “Mr. Gauthier, welcome.”

  Lucky stopped short of the desk. It pissed him off that everyone knew who he was although he only stepped foot in the building once a year. Everyone treated him like royalty, and he knew it was a sham. They didn’t know him from any other Tom, Dick, or Harry. They only gushed because of his last name. He didn’t have time for the fake bullshit.

  “Thanks.” He signed the visitor book, scrawling his name hoping no one could make it out.

  “Sir, you do know you can take the private elevator, right? I can show you where it is if you’d like.” The girl eyeballed him, letting her gaze fall. Tossing her head to the side, she fingered the top button on her blouse.

  There was no mistaking she was coming on to him.

  “I’m good. I know the way.” Lucky didn’t give the girl the time of day. Women like that were a huge turnoff, lusting after a guy because of his name.

  Punching the button on the elevator, Lucky pulled out his phone to check his calls. Four missed calls from his mother. He deleted the call log and waited for it to arrive at the top floor. What the hell does that woman want?

  As soon as the ding went off and the heavy doors opened, Lucky didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  “James.” His mother only used his given name, saying she’s the one who gave it to him. If she had wanted to call him Lucky, she would have named him that. Then she would laugh at the mere thought of naming her Gauthier son, Lucky.

  His mother was a tall, statuesque, brunette. Her fair skin was flawless from all the high-end products she hoarded. Her thin frame was exactly the same size as her early twenties, and she made sure everyone knew it. There was no denying that the last thirty years had been good to her. Of course, Tilly Gauthier had enough money to buy her happiness and everyone else’s.

  “Mother.”

  “Is that how you greet me after all these months?” She opened her arms and tilted her face upward. Lucky bent over and gave her a weak peck on the cheek. She adjusted her pastel pink business suit. “Why haven’t you returned any of my phone calls, James?”

  By now, everyone in the foyer found a way to appear busy. Lucky chuckled on the inside. It probably wasn’t every day that Tilly Gauthier loitered outside the public elevator.

  “Mother, you knew I’d be here today. I told you I would and I’ve never broken my word.
Whatever you have to say, say it now. What is it?” Lucky stepped to the side of the hallway, hoping to draw less attention to himself.

  “Well, I do not think that is the most appropriate way to handle your business, James. Regardless, I was attempting to do you a favor.”

  “A favor? Oh, this should be good.” Lucky leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

  Tilly pursed her lips. “Is this how you conduct yourself in front of your mother?” She paused, waiting for him to answer. When he ignored the question, she continued. “I wanted to let you know that Gauthier has a new employee. A new head of acquisitions for the international division.”

  “What the hell does any of this have to do with me?” He didn’t bother to go into the fact that was supposed to be his job, the one he was aiming for when he started LSU. Whatever, whoever it was could have it; it would be a cold day in hell before he would work for his father.

  “Son, it has a lot to do with you.” Tilly’s lips snapped into a harsh line. He knew she was trying to control her anger. She never approved of him using profanity.

  “Get on with it, Mother.”

  “The head of the department now holds a chair on the board. She was given shares in her package.”

  “Her?” Lucky’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Women never made it up the chain that fast at Gauthier. He had been in town last year for the annual meeting and Tom Reynolds held the position, an older man who spent fifteen years working his way up in the company. Colby Gauthier was known for being somewhat of a chauvinist in the office.

  “Yes, the division head is a woman. James, it’s Carrie Scott.” She spoke in a soft, but firm tone.

  Lucky’s face fell, and he let his weight fall against the wall. He stared at his mother as if she had a second head. His stomach lurched into his throat when he realized in a matter of minutes he would be face to face with the woman who decimated him.

  This was a new low for his father. Why was she here? How could he hire her to work at the family business? Lucky told his parents about the abortion and the way it had happened behind his back. They knew how devastated he was.

  His father made it clear that he was relieved that Lucky wouldn’t be stuck marrying a girl like Carrie. The Scott name didn’t carry much weight in this town, and the name was the only thing his father considered where people were concerned.

  It had been a month-long battle after Carrie’s abortion. His father couldn’t hide his satisfied smile and his mother was pulled in both directions as Lucky spiraled into a deep depression and started self-medicating.

  The breaking point came when he and his father got into a knock down drag out. Lucky lost it when his father told him he would be a horrible father and that Carrie did the kid a favor. Lucky packed a bag that night and hauled ass out of New Orleans.

  “James. Did you hear me?” Tilly placed a hand on Lucky’s arm.

  He braced himself against the wall, regaining his composure. He moved his arm out of her reach. “Yes.” Lucky stalked down the hallway to the conference room, not giving his mother a second look. Taking a deep breath, he pulled open the conference room door and casually walked toward his seat.

  Stares followed as he crossed the room. He brushed past Carrie, who was conveniently sitting next to his father. As Lucky took his chair, Colby Gauthier turned in his direction and nodded in acknowledgment. Lucky did not return the gesture.

  The bemused look on Carrie’s face confirmed that he had ruined her attempt to ambush him. He guessed he had his mother to thank for that. He would never let the bitch know his legs were heavy, as if they were made of cement, or that his stomach was bobbing around in his throat.

  The only reason he glanced in her direction was because Lucky didn’t want her to think she affected him. If he completely ignored her, Carrie would take it that she still had some power over him. That would only happen over his dead body. Bitch!

  Colby Gauthier called the meeting to order. The process was always the same. Lucky tuned the majority of it out. They made redundant votes and discussed upcoming events. He paid close attention to the treasurer report and was pleased to hear everything sounded normal. He didn’t care about the money, but as a shareholder, he kept close tabs on his funds. Not that he had touched a penny of it in years.

  After the old and new business, Colby adjourned the meeting, and his assistant Sara passed out the previous meeting minutes. Lucky tossed his copy into the trash on his way out the door. A few different people stopped him to catch up and make small talk. It was the same every year.

  He tried to make his escape but didn’t manage to pull it off before his father cupped his shoulder. “Son, you look good.”

  Lucky took a step backward and gave him one quick nod.

  His father shoved his hand in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “How’ve you been? Things going well?”

  “Couldn’t be better.”

  “Well, I’m glad you made it in for the meeting. There have been a few changes around here.” Colby looked around the conference room and threw his chin toward Carrie.

  The audacity of his nonchalance made Lucky’s blood surge to his head. “Yeah, I can see that.”

  “I know you’re probably shocked. It’s kind of a long story. Maybe you can stick around and we can grab a scotch while I fill you in.” His hopeful gaze searched Lucky’s face.

  “No, I’m getting ready to head out of town.”

  “Come on, James. Surely you can stick around and have a drink with your old man.” His father placed his hand on his shoulder and ushered him out of the room. “Your mother would love to have you come by the house. There are a lot of things to discuss since Flanagan’s passing.”

  As the words left Colby’s mouth, Carrie walked up to his side, her mouth twisted in a wicked grin. Lucky couldn’t think of one damn thing he had ever seen in that woman.

  “Hello, James. It’s good to see you.” Her words dripped of malice.

  “Wish I could say the same,” Lucky growled through gritted teeth.

  “I hope you’ll be around for a while. I’d love to take you on a tour of the improvements here at Gauthier since I’ve arrived.”

  Lucky couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw his dad give a slight eye roll as she spoke. Something wasn’t right. Part of him wanted to take his father up on the offer for a glass of scotch to get to the bottom of this shit. He deserved an explanation as to why Carrie was a department head at his family’s business.

  Then he thought about Baby Jade, and those perfect green eyes, her soft lips, and the way she made his heart beat faster. He craved every part of her. There was no way he was staying around here a second longer than he had to.

  “No thanks. I don’t see anything here worth seeing.” Lucky turned his attention toward his father. “Dad, please tell Mother I’ll call her soon.”

  Lucky marched toward the elevator. Once it opened, he stepped on and looked back down the hallway only to find Colby and Carrie talking. According to their hand gestures and rigid body language, it was more like they were arguing. There was something huge going on.

  It didn’t matter. It wasn’t his concern anymore.

  As Lucky headed out the front entrance, the young woman called after him. “Mr. Gauthier, if there’s anything you need, you know where to find me!”

  He never looked back. It was insane how being in the enormous building had a claustrophobic effect on him. He stripped off his long sleeve shirt, revealing a black t-shirt from the Rock Store in California. It was one of the places he wanted to take Baby. The thought brought a smile to his pressed lips. He was ready to leave this town behind him.

  One quick stop and he was gone.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Baby Jade

  Baby Jade fought the urge to leave the apartment. She felt like a sitting duck, sitting in the bedroom waiting for Slade to bust down her front door. She folded herself into a ball and rested on a small stool in the corner. There was no way he didn’t know
by now. Mickey wouldn’t wait long to fuel the fire.

  A knock on the door startled Baby, making her jump to her feet. She crouched down, as the rap on the door grew louder.

  “Baby,” Lucky yelled. “Baby, are you in there?”

  Relieved by the sound of his voice, she ran to the door and unbolted all the locks in record time, flinging herself into his arms before he had a chance to enter. “Hey, everything ok? What’s wrong, sugar?” He snaked his arms around her and drew her close.

  “I’m glad it’s you!” She smothered her face in his neck, tears stinging her eyes.

  He pulled back, easing her into the apartment. “Who else would it be?”

  Her hands shook as she ran them through her hair, trying to calm herself enough to speak. “I thought it might be Slade. I went to see Mickey and it didn’t go well.”

  “Why the hell would you go down to the club?” His forehead wrinkled and anger filled his brown eyes.

  Baby lowered herself onto the couch. She sized him up; thinking something else must be bothering him. “Don’t yell at me. I thought it was the responsible thing to do. Why are you mad?”

  “Dammit, Baby.” Lucky mindlessly played with his beard. He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. “I’m not mad at you. I think you’re a glutton for punishment sometimes. You could have called.”

  “I know, but that’s not who I am. I thought I’d try to smooth things over. I was hoping to still have a job if I needed it.”

  Lucky sat beside her and placed his hand on her leg. “Ok, I forget sometimes that you’re better than the people I’m used to. Let’s not talk about all of this bullshit right now.”

  “I’m guessing things didn’t go well for you today either.” The way he lowered his head, confirmed her suspicions. “I’m sorry.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Not a second thought. I’ll fill you in later. Right now, I want to get the hell out of here.”

  “Yeah, me too.”