Hermie, James, and I headed back to St. Louis. The ride was quiet. The boys would not talk to each other, but if they did it would have probably been a pissing contest. I sat in the back of the Land Rover with Hermie next to me. He squeezed my hand as he could feel I was nervous. I returned the squeeze but when I saw James’s eyes on me from the rear-view mirror, I let go.
I couldn’t sleep that night. James cuddled me from behind, trying to ease my stress but he couldn’t. We left the house at 6am to make it to the airport and have time to go through TSA. We boarded the Hernandez private plane and prepared for takeoff. I couldn’t even look at my mom and sat talking with Hermie. I don’t know how I managed to get 100 Wink pills through TSA but I did, thank god for a mother who is part of the cartel.
The flight was quick and eventless. We landed in Cancun and a black Mercedes SUV pulled up beside us. A young man about 18 got out of the SUV. “Ms. Martin, I presume?”
“Yes.” I said and returned a small smile.
“I’m Tazio, Mr. Hernandez’s assistant. Please, get in, we have a long ride ahead of us.”
The driver got out and put our bags in the trunk. We all got in the car and another SUV pulled up, in which Tazio and mom got in. James grabbed my hand. “It’s going to be okay.” He reassured me, but I had a feeling of uncertainty in my stomach.
Thank God I changed and peed on the plane before getting off, the drivers said they were not going to stop anywhere along the way.
I wore a light blue sundress with wedges. My hair was slightly curly, and I wore light eye makeup and my favorite lip gloss. James whispered in my ear before we got off the plane that he couldn’t wait to peel this dress off me and have me for dessert, I blushed of course.
We arrived at the Hernandez’s house that afternoon. When we pulled up there was an 8-foot metal gate with guards all over the property. The gate swung open and the cars pulled inside. The house was on the beach, near the water. The front door was huge with natural wood and the house was plastered with cream colored stucco. The landscape was minimal but still beautiful.
The front door was opened by the guard standing outside of the door. He nodded his head at the other guards, but his eyes were glued on me. James stepped in front of me to divert the guard’s gaze.
Once inside, we entered a huge entry room with stairs in front of us leading to bedrooms while the left of the room was a large door and to the right of the room was a sitting area. The maid led us through the sitting area to an office in the back of the room. The office was large in size with glass French doors to enter it. The flooring was tile with minimal decorations except for two chairs in front of a natural wood desk. Behind the desk sat an older man with dark hair, dark eyes, and a cigar in his mouth.
The maid introduced us but the man never looked up, just waved his hand excusing her. She closed the doors behind us.
The man finally looked up and smiled. He noticed my mother first, “Aw, Mrs. Martin, how are you?” He asked and walked over to her kissing her on the cheek. They made small talk for a few minutes before he turned to me, taking my hands in his and kissing the back of my hands. “Ms. Martin, how lovely are you? I am Jesus Hernandez. It is an honor to meet the beautiful daughter of the beautiful Mary Martin.” He was trying to sweet-talk me.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Hernandez. I hate to seem ungrateful, but why is it you have summoned me all the way here?”
He chuckled and walked back behind his desk. He motioned for mom and me to sit. James stood behind me and Hermie behind her. Mr. Hernandez did not even greet them, just mom and me.
“I have heard of this marvelous party drug you have created; Wink you call it?”
“Yes, Wink.” I responded.
“Well, Ms. Martin, I want this drug. I want my share of your profits of this drug. I am the reason your parents’ business is successful, as I funded their startup and provided them with business and trucks. So, any success you have is partly because of me, and I want my cut.”
I shifted nervously in my chair. “I see.” I stated dumbly.
“Tell me about this drug, bello.”
“Wink is similar to that of Molly or ecstasy except once it wears off users do not have such a hangover effect. It has been very popular in my clubs in the US.”
“Ah, I see. So you own your own clubs and have your own drugs?” Jesus responded almost angrily.
“Um, yes. I have five clubs and work closely with a chemist to prepare Wink.” I responded nervously.
“Ms. Martin, do you understand why I need my share in your businesses?”
“No I actually do not” I responded through gritted teeth. “I have started all of my businesses without the help of my parents, yet their decisions in life have ended me up here, in front of you. And you want a cut of my money. Why?”
“Oh Ms. Martin, you misunderstand. I do not want a part of your money. I want a part of your business. I want your drugs and I want you to sell my drugs in your clubs. I want to be your business partner.” He smiled so menacingly.
“Why?”
“Because you are successful, smart, and easy on the eyes,” he said while looking me up and down.
James tensed behind me. He started to breathe heavily.
“I want to go into business with you, bello, and I want that to begin today.” Jesus said almost forcefully.
And that’s when he walked in.