Color Me Grey

by Michelle Janine Robinson

  “Maybe the next time,” he said.

  “Of course,” Bridget responded.

  She was shocked that he hadn’t wanted her to at least give him a blow job. Then it occurred to her that next time he probably wasn’t going to give her any money; especially after tonight. But, she suddenly realized that, even if he didn’t, she really didn’t care.

  He told her that he would be staying, so that she could leave before him. She took the hint and prepared to leave but, before she opened the door to leave, he handed her more money.

  “Wha...”

  Before she could finish, David explained.

  “Oh, that’s for a taxi.”

  Once outside, Bridget looked at the cash and it was an additional fifty dollars—just about as much as she sometimes made in one night. Bridget made a mental note not to tell Jade how much money he had given her. The fifty dollars would be sufficient and she would hold the five hundred dollars in reserve. She had been putting money away here and there (without Jade’s knowledge). And this money would be a nice addition to the little she now had saved. For a moment she even considered not telling her she met him at all, but she thought better of it.

  After riding the subway uptown, Bridget found Jade on Hunts Point, giving one of her regulars head in between two doorways. Bridget decided she would only tell Jade she made fifty dollars off the guy in the Mercedes and another fifty from three other johns; that way she could pocket the other four fifty and she wouldn’t feel like she had to work for the rest of the night. If Bridget didn’t pull in enough johns, Jade would always try to push her to work more. Jade had pretty much given her a roof over her head since the beginning, so Bridget felt obligated to do what she said. But if Jade felt Bridget had had a busy night, she wouldn’t push it.

  When Jade was done and her john left, Bridget approached her.

  “Guess what?” Bridget said excitedly. “I met Mr. Mercedes tonight and he gave me fifty just for talking!”

  “Get the fuck out of here!” Jade said. “I knew that MoFo was different. What did I tell you? If he gave you fifty just for talkin’, what do you think he’s gonna give you to do anything else? Damn! You gonna see him again?”

  “Yeah. He said he’ll be back the same time next week.”

  “Good, good. And, did you have a chance to get any of that info I told you to get?”

  “Yeah. I got it. It was hard though. It’s a good thing I’ve got a good memory. I memorized it when he gave his identification and credit card to the hotel clerk. Otherwise, I would’ve been up shit’s creek. I was planning to get it from him after we were done, you know, but we didn’t do anything, so I had to rely on what I memorized from the front of his driver’s license. I got the name, address and his date of birth.”

  “Not bad. I’ve trained you well.”

  “Jade, what are you going to do with the information? He seems like he’s a nice guy. I’d hate to do anything to hurt him.”

  “You know, Bridget, I don’t understand you. You livin’ in fuckin’ squalor and suckin’ dick to stay alive, and you’re worried about some rich motherfucka that hasn’t got a care in the world. Don’t worry about what I’m gonna do with it. I’m gonna improve our lives; that’s what I’m gonna do with it.”

  Although Bridget and Jade were friends, she had heard enough stories from other girls on the street about different ways that Jade exacted revenge on people that crossed her. She was ever mindful of the fact that she didn’t want to ever get on Jade’s bad side, so she left the entire line of discussion alone.

  Bridget was surprised to find that one week later, David actually showed up as he had promised.

  “You didn’t think I was going to come, did you?” he asked.

  “No, not really. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about this business, nothing is guaranteed.”

  “Get in,” he said, and with that, they drove to the same hotel they had gone to before.

  David was sympathetic of her situation, but he also found he was feeling something else. Bridget was right on his heels as he opened the door to the hotel room. He could feel her hot breath on his neck. Once inside the room, the two were standing face to face, and he felt that same old stirring he had felt with Marie, a combination of desire mixed with guilt. Bridget was standing so close to him, there was nothing he could do to conceal his desire.

  “You want me to do something about that?” Bridget joked, touching him.

  David couldn’t figure out why, with her being a hooker and all, but he was suddenly very embarrassed. However, before he could tell her no, Bridget was on her knees, unzipping his pants and relieving him of any thoughts, other than the sweet release being offered by her expert lips. He grew inside of her mouth with each stroke she offered him and, before he knew it, he was shooting what seemed like oceans of cum inside of her mouth. It was unlike anything he had ever felt in his entire life; even with Marie. The fact that Bridget seemed to swallow every ounce with great ease only served to work toward getting him excited once again. But before he could think of that, he wanted to do something for her. They both made their way to the bed and, from his briefcase, David extracted a list of employment agencies that he thought might be helpful for finding Bridget employment.

  “I won’t be able to see you next week, because I’m going out of town, but if you’d like, until you find other work, we could have a standing appointment with one another. It might even be enough money so that you won’t have to work as much on Hunts Point.”

  “That would be great!”

  “As I said, I’m going out of town, but before I leave, I’m going to stop by and drop off something you can wear for your interviews and also for when you and I meet. You’ll need clothes that are more conservative. Not that I don’t love what you’re wearing, but if you’re wearing something more conservative, we can also go someplace other than here. If that’s okay with you?”

  “Okay. That’s more than okay. Thanks!”

  Fear can be the great equalizer; especially when a person is made to believe they are little more than nothing. In the week since David had left and given her the list of agencies to contact, Bridget had looked at the list over and over again. But, not once did she attempt to contact any of the people on the list. Her first fear was that the moment she used her social security number on any documentation, a red flag would go up and the police would come knocking at her door, ready to arrest her for murdering Buster. But her biggest and most overwhelming fear was that she was incapable of doing anything other than what she was already doing. Although David was disappointed when he returned to find that she hadn’t acted on any of the leads he had given her, he understood. The two continued to see one another, at least once a week. Bridget would always give him head and afterward, they would spend some time talking. It went on like that for quite some time. And, eventually Bridget began to speculate as to why he had never penetrated anything other than her mouth. After all, it should have been a natural progression, given the circumstances. Her minimal self-esteem always being a factor, Bridget began to wonder if he was afraid of catching an STD from her. She never asked, but even if she had, David probably wouldn’t have been able to tell her anyway—his only fear was how deeply he might fall for her if they did anything other than what they were already doing.

  When Jade thought she knew enough about David from the things Bridget had told her, and when she had taken enough pictures of him and Bridget in as many compromising positions as she could manage, she knew it was time to spring into action and work on everything she had planned.

  “Hey, Freckles.”

  Jade and Bridget turned around to find Big Rob standing directly behind them. It wasn’t often that Bridget had seen Jade come close to anything that could be described as happy, but somehow, when she was around Big Rob, Jade came as close as could be expected from her.

  “You can’t be sneakin’ up on a sista like that in the ’hood, baby. You might get somethin’ you hadn’t bargained for.”r />
  “What you got?” Big Rob teased.

  “Bridget, I’m gonna call it quits for tonight; I’ll see you at the house.”

  Bridget didn’t particularly care for Big Rob’s type ; the street thug. But, if Jade was happy, she was happy. Not only that, Bridget was doing everything she could to brush up on her office skills and get off the streets. She would feel a lot less guilty about leaving Jade, if she knew there was someone else there for her. Not that she planned on never seeing Jade again. As far as Bridget was concerned, Jade was her sister, in every sense of the word, and she had saved her from prison and God only knew what else. Yet, she knew that Jade would be crushed when she left. They depended on each other. Somehow, though, she thought the blow would be lessened if Jade were otherwise occupied.

  “Can I drive tonight?” Jade asked.

  “Baby, you can have whatever you want.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  Big Rob pulled over in front of the subway station on Elder Avenue and switched places so Jade could drive.

  “Damn, girl, you drive like you tryin’ to kill somebody out here. We not in a rush. Slow down.”

  “I’m just anxious to get you home, baby.”

  “Freckles, you ain’t gotta run the hustle on your man. You already got my nose wide open.”

  “What makes you think I’m tryin’ to run a hustle? I might be in love.”

  “As much as that would flatter the hell out of a brotha, somehow you don’t strike me as the love type. No offense, baby.”

  “Hey, none taken.”

  Jade slowed down her driving and the two rode the rest of the way to Big Rob’s place downtown in silence. Jade’s mind was always workin’, thinking about the next thing. Big Rob wasn’t as easily manipulated as most, but even he had his weaknesses, and Jade had come to learn that she was indeed one of those weaknesses. Yet, even she had to work it right. And, Big Rob opened up a lot better when he was relaxed. So, Jade would drive his car the way he wanted it driven, and fuck him the way he liked it, feed him what he wanted to be fed, and even spend some time cuddlin’ up in his crib and flattering him about his accomplishments; then she would go to work.

  A few of Big Rob’s boys had followed David when he was on Hunts Point and they had been watching him for weeks now. One of his runners even had a cousin that worked at the firm as a long-term temp. In fact, she was very excited that she was soon going to be hired by the firm as a permanent employee. That would give Rob’s runner an opportunity to get information. As far as Jade was concerned, David McDonnell was the big score; the sucker that would lead them to even more suckers like him: rich, influential men with fat bank accounts and a whole hell of a lot to lose. Between Bridget and what Big Rob could offer in the way of information, she would be well on her way to knowing everything there was to know about David D. McDonnell.

  “His firm is quoted in the New York Law Journal and the National Law Journal like every fuckin’ week. It’s one of them firms that was started by his father’s father’s father and shit. Hell, I’m impressed with the muthafucka myself. Once upon a time, before reality hit and I grew up, I used to wonder what it would be like to go to law school or medical school or some shit like that. Knowing myself as I do, I’m pretty sure my shit would have been on a large scale. Hell, I almost hate to take him down. In another life, I mighta’ been rollin’ with somebody like him.”

  “Yeah, I hear you, but take him down we will. I’ve been hustling and scrapin’ since I was fuckin’ born. This is my chance to make that big score all the way around, and go legit. That’s the only difference between us and them. Their shit ain’t always legit, either, but they got resources to make it legit; like investments and property. If I had all that, I’d never have to trick another day in my life.”

  “Why you gotta trick now? You got the boostin’ thing, and the snatch-and-grab thing, and you got me. Why don’t you give that trickin’ shit up? You ain’t no ten-dollar hooker, baby. I knew that from day one.”

  “That’s what I’m tryin’ to do with this, but I need your help,” Jade said.

  Jade learned early on in life that the best way to divert a man, or to get him to do what you wanted, was to stroke his ego. In truth, she was thinking that there was no way in hell she was going to depend on any man for her bread and butter, but she wouldn’t dare reveal her thoughts to Big Rob. Instead, she made it seem as though she needed him another way.

  “So what did your boys get on him anyway? Anything?”

  Big Rob was feelin’ Jade more and more each day, and he had some shit on this mark that would even shock Jade. She wasn’t a sista’ that shocked easily, but he wasn’t gonna reveal that info yet. Any good game was only as good as its biggest ace-in-the-hole. And, what he had on Mr. David McDonnell was a pretty big fuckin’ ace-in-the-hole.

  “A few indiscretions with hookers here and there, most recently with your girl, Bridget, an ex-wife with a drug problem. She spent some time in rehab, but nothing major. Just enough to serve our purposes, dangle the threat of a scandal in front of him,” he lied. You’d be surprised what embarrasses white folks. Drugs is a fact of life in our world, but in there’s even an ex with a drug problem can be considered scandalous if the person in question is high profile enough. And ya boy, David McDonnell, is pretty damned high-profile!”

  In truth, Big Rob had learned some things about David, that David himself might not even know yet. All he needed was a little time and he’d have all the pieces of the puzzle.

  Jade wasn’t stupid. Big Rob was keepin’ something from her. He knew something that he wasn’t telling her, but why? It occurred to her that she would probably have to do her own discreet investigation. But, in the meantime, she would need someone on the inside. It was only a matter of time before Bridget slipped away and got herself one of those “honest” jobs she kept nagging about. What better way to strengthen her hold on both her and Mr. McDonnell than to force him into giving Bridget a job at his firm?

  Until now, David had had no contact with Jade. She decided it was about time. David and Bridget had a standing date with one another every Wednesday night. Jade ensured that the next time Bridget and David were to meet, she would make sure Bridget was otherwise occupied. When David showed up, instead of Bridget, Jade was there waiting for him.

  “You looking for Bridget?” Jade said, as David’s black Mercedes kept circling the area where they were supposed to meet.

  He had seen Bridget talking to Jade on more than one occasion, but was uncomfortable. There was something about her that didn’t sit right with him, and he wanted to avoid any contact with her. But, what if something was wrong with Bridget?

  “Yes. Is she okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, she’s fine. She had an errand to run. That’s cool though, because I think you and I should talk anyway.”

  “I can’t imagine that the two of us have anything to talk about.”

  “Then, you would be wrong,” Jade quickly responded.

  “Really?”

  “You want to continue this here, with me yelling at you from across the street, or are you going to invite me inside your car, so we can talk like civilized human beings?”

  Against his better judgment, David opened the car door so that Jade could get in. She walked toward his car, got in and placed a large manila envelope on his lap. David was smart enough to know that whatever was in it, couldn’t be good. He was right. Inside the envelope were numerous pictures of Bridget giving him head. He couldn’t figure out who he was more angry with—himself, Bridget or Jade. He decided it was Bridget.

  “So, I suppose you want money?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I do want money, but that’s not all I want. There’s something else.”

  “For the sake of argument, let’s say that I do give you money, and whatever else it is you want. What do I get out of this? You have the pictures and God knows how many other copies. What’s to prevent you from blackmailing me forever.”

  “You’ll have to
trust me. There are only two sets. The originals and these copies. And, if you give me what I want, both sets will be yours.”

  “What else is it that you want?”

  “Give Bridget a job at your firm.”

  “So, I’m supposed to hire the very person who’s blackmailing me to work at my own law firm. I would have to be a complete and utter fool to do something like that.”

  “You have no choice. Either you give Bridget the job and the fifty grand that I want, or these pictures will be splattered across every newspaper in New York and probably even some national ones. I’m not as stupid as I may look, Mr. McDonnell. I know more about you than how that cute little ass of yours looks. I’ve read most of those articles you’ve written, as well as all the speculation about your love life and the very many “beautiful people” you’ve been involved with. You’ve got a mighty fine reputation you’ve established for yourself. I also know about that whack-job of an ex-wife you have, with her stints in rehab, her questionable taste in men, and her arrests. How would your reputation fare if the media got wind of her, or even your own stay in rehab all those years ago? And how do you think the embarrassment of it all would affect your mother? Do you think she would continue to be oh-so-very proud of her baby boy? David, you really don’t want to fuck with me!”

  She didn’t have to convince David that she would do exactly as she said. She was holding all the cards. She had nothing to lose, but he had everything to lose.

  “And when do you want this money?”

  “Immediately, of course,” she answered.

  “And the job for Bridget?”

  “Immediately. And that’s not all. I want intros to some of your colleagues; the ones that might be interested in having a little fun with me and a few of my girls.”

  “Okay, now you’ve lost your mind. I can’t exactly go around acting like your...your pimp, or something.”

  “I didn’t ask you to be my pimp. I want a few introductions. You decide who’d be the best people to hook me up with. I’ll do the rest.”