Chapter 16

The last two weeks have been both heaven and hell for me; it’s been sort of a good news bad news situation.

The good news is that I’ve spent nearly every night after dark with Michael and on the nights I haven't had to work – with his children also.

At first it was awkward seeing the kids again, especially Paris. Mike had told me about the conversation he and Grace had had the morning after my sleepover and to say I was embarrassed was understatement of the year! I’ve never met Grace but already from what Michael had told me, I can tell that my presence in both his and the childrens lives was not welcomed by her. So that now makes three of Mike’s employees who seemingly hate my guts. If I wasn’t so darn hung up on this guy I probably would have walked away from this situation by now but even if my head is telling me to run... my heart is simply telling me to stay.

So that’s what I’ve done. The second night after my impromptu sleepover at his place, he invited me to go see a performance of Mystère by Cirque du Soleil at Treasure Island with him and the kids. I had been dying to see this show for months! All the girls at work went on and on about how ‘spectacular’ and ‘mystical’ it was, but even the cheapest seats cost sixty bucks. I guess I had felt too guilty to even indulge myself about even thinking of this treat, so I had stuck to watching the free pirate show outside the hotel instead until I could afford guilt-free tickets.

I literally sat for ninety minutes in pure amazement with my mouth to the floor catching flies, as I watched in awe as the performers sang, danced, dropped from the rafters, spun around on huge poles and swung from trapezes.

By the end of the show I must admit I was glad when it was over, as my neck was so sore from looking up to watch the performers dangle from the ceiling so much. It also got a bit weird too when a humongous snail appeared on stage, followed by a full grown fat man in a diaper acting like a baby. Michael and the kids couldn’t stop laughing at this and at one point the actors actually threw popcorn at us to get us all to shut up. Needless to say this only cracked Michael up more.

I guess I also felt a bit weird sat next to Michael who was decked in full disguise consisting of; a black silk surgical mask, aviators, ball cap and a sweater with the hood up. When he had told me that he’d be wearing a disguise I understood that this would be inevitable, but to me a disguise was a wig and a fake mustache! However I must admit he still looked pretty cool, but I couldn’t help but laugh when he pulled up the surgical mask ever so slightly to sip his drink though a straw. Even in our secluded area of the theater he refused to remove his disguise so by the end of the show I had totally gotten used to it. In fact... I thought it was quite kinky and as per usual where Michael is concerned, my thoughts turned to naughty ones and they didn’t get any better when he kissed my mouth through the mask. Ugh feeling the silk against my lips... put it this way, if it wasn’t for the children sat next to us, I woulda jumped on freaky boy next to me and had my way with him right there and then... f**k who saw us!

So with my self control intact and apart from feeling horny as hell by the end of the night, the ‘family date’ was a success. The embarrassment I felt around Paris had finally subsided and with her sat next to me instead of her Dad; it gave us a chance to act quite girly and silly with each other. I really felt like she was warming up to me and I was enjoying her company sincerely. So much so that we ended up going for a mini spa day that weekend and we had a blast.

Michael insisted that I take his black Amex to treat both his “lady” and his “little princess” as he so eloquently put it, but this was something I felt I had to do for Paris even if it meant spending the last of my measly savings. Plus from recent conversations we’d had, I knew how frugal he had tried to be lately. He had told me about countless people in his life who had ripped him off one way or another and I guess I didn’t want him to see me in that same light.

So armed with my employee discount card ~ the one and only perk of working at the Palms, we headed to the hotel spa. First we indulged in some massage therapy and facials and then we headed to the Amp Salon to get matching manicures and pedicures or ‘mani’s’ and ‘pedi’s’ as Paris liked to call them. I was amazed that this child was only ten years old ~ she knew more about these treatments than I did! I guess she’s not called “daddy’s little princess” for nothing though!

Michael thought our matching coral color nails adorned with silver star nail art was adorable. I must admit that spending time with just Paris made me feel so much more closer to Michael as through her, I got to know him just that little bit better and I felt myself fall for him all over again... and hard. 

So I guess you could say that this was the good news situation that these two weeks had brought, but the bad news put the brakes on my ‘life-is-starting-to-look-rosy’ outlook of late.

Call it female intuition or call me psychic but I just knew things weren’t going to be good for too much longer. I seriously think I must’ve done many evils in my past life as karma seemed to be kicking the s**t out of me these past twenty-six years so why would the present be any exception right?

Enter Lucas...

I knew this dude wasn’t gonna let up on me and the A4 envelope that was pushed underneath my door first thing this morning proved my suspicions. I had gotten back from Michael’s a little after six am and it was sat right there on the floor waiting for me.

At first I didn’t really understand what I was looking at, but once I’d removed the contents of the envelope I could see that it contained photos. The first few were just of me getting into some car and then getting out of said car... and then it dawned on me.

When I saw Javon first and then Big Bill holding open the door for me outside my apartment I knew where these pictures were going. Seeing a picture of Michael in disguise touching my waist as I got into the car, I knew that by the time I got to the end of the ‘slide show’ of my life over the past month that this was Lucas’s doing.

On the final picture that captured me and Paris coming out of one of the elevators in the Palms lobby was a yellow post-it note saying:-

Call Me!
702-299-5641

Scrolling through the list of contacts on my cell phone, as soon as I matched the number on the post-it to the number stored against Lucas’s name my stomach dropped.

It took me about half an hour to calm myself before I pressed the call button on my cell and after the fifth ring his sleazy voice picked up.

“Ava, baby, you got my little present I see?” 

The smug tone in his voice made me wanna throw up and visualizing him smirking made me regret the day I ever met this punk.

“W-what do you want Lucas?” I kick myself inwardly for stuttering my words but this guy really scares me. Shawna has told me a few stories of him going ape s**t in the past over the slightest thing and I swear he’s the one who’s given her a few noticeable bruises lately, as when I question her and mention his name she clams up and acts all shady.

“Girrrrrrrrlll”, he lazily drawls out, “you wanna be more nice to me. After all you haven’t forgotten already that it was me who introduced you to him have you?” The way he emphasizes me and him is not lost on me and my brain is working overtime trying to figure out where this is going to lead.

“N-no Lucas I haven’t forgot... but what do you want from me?” 

He chuckles and blows out a whoosh of air through the speaker as he says “what we all want Ava baby... to get paid!” 

What the hell does that mean I think to myself? Get paid how?

Before I can even ask him how, he’s telling me.

“See girl, you think you all clever now dontcha? You thinkin’ you’ve won the lottery after the first trick I had you pull and you now tryna walk away from what I handed you on a plate?” The menacing tone that he’s talking in has the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention and I stay silent praying that this conversation will end soon.

“But the thing is woman, you don’t know what or who you messin’ with. You know I got double prints of these pictures right? I wonder what the world will think of your sweet boyfriend if they know he’s f**kin’ a wh**e?” 

I want to scream. But first I feel like I’m gonna throw up. ‘I’m not a wh**e’ my mind is repeating like a mantra but would people believe that? If people found out what Shawna does and the pictures of me in the club sat next to other well known escorts? How the hell did I not notice him taking these? Clearly they were taken on his cell as they’re quite grainy and not the best quality but there’s no mistaking me, the other girls and then... me and Mike.

I just want to cry. All I can think is that Michael doesn’t deserve this. I knew it was a bad idea to taint him with my cursed a*s and now my doubts and fears were coming true.

My insecurities surge to the surface as I worry about him thinking I’m in on whatever scheme Lucas is cooking up in that psycho oven of a mind that he possesses.

“I-I-I’m not a wh**e” I say more as a whisper. It’s the only thing that escapes my mouth and at first I’m not even sure he has actually heard me.

“But your cousin is and that makes you guilty by association! I wonder how that would look for Mr. Jackson.” He says bitterly.

Still unsure of where this conversation is heading, I remain silent hoping that it isn’t going to get any worse.

“We need to talk face to face tonight.” The demanding way he says this I quickly realize I have no choice but to meet up with him. I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid him for much longer but the way things were starting to look up recently, I thought I was gonna catch a break. Wrong again I guess.

“You know the 40/40 club right?” I did know this club. I had been a hostess at the opening night but didn’t make the final cut of girls who were kept on. Needless to say I wasn’t all that thrilled that this is where he wanted to meet ‘face-to-face’.

“Yes Lucas I know it.” I can’t help but feeling annoyed that I’d gotten myself into this mess.

“Well meet me there tonight at ten, I gotta take care of some bidness first but don’t be late. Oh and Ava, where something black and short” he orders and before I get a chance to debate his request he hangs up on me.

Ok so now he has me freakin’ out. Not only do I have to meet him to discuss whatever it is he’s scheming but he wants me to dress up for him?

Before I can worry too much about his intentions with me, my cell is buzzing again and I feel the unshed tears sting the back of my eyes when I see his name flash up... Michael. 

My hand was apparently too quick for my brain because after the fourth ring I’ve already answered before I can even compose myself or my thoughts.

“Hey babygirl.” He coos. “whatcha doin’ tonight?” Even though I feel s**tty as hell, I love how he just cuts straight to the chase.

I have to chuckle because every day for the past two weeks this is exactly how he’s greeted me on the phone, which tells me exactly what his intentions are each time I arrange to see him. This guy it seems just can’t get enough and honestly... neither can I.

Except tonight, wasn’t gonna be one of our little rendezvous nights. Tonight I’d have to grudgingly swap his company for that sleaze I wish I’d never laid eyes on.

What do I tell him? Should I tell him the truth? Or would he think I was in with Lucas from the get go?

Unable to think straight, once again my body takes charge before my brain can kick into gear.

“Uhm, I-I’m working Babe.” Wow did I just lie to him? That came out too quickly for my liking but I guess a small white lie couldn’t hurt. Could it?

“Can’tcha call in sick again.” He says teasingly “then Dr. Michael could make you all better.” The deepness of his voice when he says this last bit has me all tingly inside, but I know if I don’t meet up with Lucas tonight, things are gonna get worse for us. Wow us! There may not even be an ‘us’ after tonight and this thought has me feeling pretty bummed.

Trying not to show my disappointment I chuckle as I say “baby I saw you just a few hours ago... aren’t you bored of me yet?” How insecure do I sound? I think to myself. I mean I still can’t get over how he genuinely wants to be with me and even though the physical stuff between us is mind blowing, what else except my body do I have to offer him?

“Bored? Girrrrrlll are you for real? You’re like Disneyland to me... I could never get bored of your sweet, charming, enchanting, sensuous.... conversation.” This has us both cracking up and it amazes me how he can turn me from feeling bummed to making me feel all giddy and teenage-like in the space of thirty seconds.

“Conversation Mike? Yeah I think not for some reason.” I laugh. The most talking we do as of late is when the children are around. When they’re not... let’s just say my lady parts are quite relieved when I do eventually go home.

“Well can I see you after work?” Ok so now he sounds desperate.

“Are you that hard up baby” I tease him pun intended.

I hear him suck some air through his teeth before he brazenly says “mmmm what are you wearing?” 

Looking down at my snoopy PJ’s somehow I don’t think this is the desired answer he’s looking for.

“Just you” I say in my most sultry voice, telling another white lie for the second time today. “I haven’t had a shower yet and I can still smell you on my bare skin.” Well at least that part is true. I hear a breath catch in the back of his throat at my response and I know for sure where this conversation is heading...

Oh well, might as well make the most of the time we have together even if it is only over the phone... because after tonight, I’m not sure ‘this’ or ‘us’ will even be a possibility....