2 - SUGAR DADDY
Three months ago in a meeting at Mr. Grey’s office, Mr Lucas, a modeling consultant, couldn’t take his eyes off Lola and it made her uncomfortable. She tried so hard to avoid locking eyes with him but she could feel his gaze on her.
“Pardon me, my darling, but your face, eyes and body are screaming to me,” he said, stroking his beard. “Ever been on a runway before?”
“No,” Lola said, shifting uncomfortably.
“You should come model for me.” He slipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a business card. “Here’s my card.”
Lola looked to Mr Grey for any sign of approval but only got a cold face.
Unsure, and not willing to be the reason Mr Grey loses the business with Mr. Lucas–whatever the business was–she took the card, and after getting his order, she proceeded to her office to input them.
Mr Lucas stopped by her office on his way out to say goodbye, and it was one of the creepiest goodbyes Lola had ever had the displeasure of experiencing.
“Girl, this man was very creepy,” Lola complained on the phone to Kamari.
“Hold on, don’t spill yet, I’m on my way to your apartment.”
The excitement could be heard in Kamari’s voice.
“Alright,” Lola chuckled, “Are you spending the night?"
“Yeah."
“Tacos for dinner?”
“Sure,”
Taco nights were always exciting but Lola didn’t pay attention to the pack of Pepsi and had forgotten to restock on soda so Kamari was going to have to bring the drinks as well.
“So how was work? Tell me about this creepy sugar daddy,” Kamari guffawed.
Lola laughed with her. “Don’t be disgusting. Besides, he wasn’t quite a sugar daddy but he wasn’t young.”
“He fits just perfectly.”
“Ok,” Lola rolled her eyes with disgust and moved on. “Well, your sugar daddy is a creep.”
“I’m listening,” Kamari said with way too much excitement than usual.
“Chill.” Lola waved her down. “So when I entered my boss’s office, I met this creepy guy and he almost ate me up with his eyes. He kept on staring at me while talking to Mr. Grey.”
Kamari paused, then grinned slyly “That’s kinda hot.”
“He reached out for a shake and when I took his hand, he kissed it and held on for a moment.”
“I mean that’s normal,” Kamari said. “Guys do it all the time.”
“On his way out he did the same but this time he licked my fingers. I don’t think that’s normal.”
“That’s nothing compared to what some guys do at the agency.”
“That’s right,” Lola replied with a mouth full of tacos. “He also gave me his contact card.”
She passed the card to Kamari.
“He’s Mr. Lucas!!” Kamari exclaimed. “He’s one of the top modeling consultants in Ottawa. He’s a really big deal.”
“Yeah.” Lola rolled her eyes, then added in her best mimicry of Mr Lucas’ voice..”He made mention about my face screaming at him and asked if I wanted to be on his runway.”
“What?” Kamari stuttered. “He asked you to come over just like that?”
She shook her head in disbelief, stared at the card, and then back at Lola.
“Wait,” she said. “Did you tell him you’re not a model? I’ve been trying to get him to book me for a while now.”
“Well,” Lola gestured at the card dramatically. “Here he is.”
“Could you drop some good words for me?”
“I mean, I could try? Not promising anything, though. He gives me the creeps,” Lola said.
***
At the office the next day, Mr. Lucas stopped by on his way to work just to see Lola.
His blue eyes showed hints of lust “Lola, darling,” he said in a sultry voice. “I hope your day is as beautiful as you look.”
Then he extended his hand to receive hers.
She took his hand, placing hers in it. He kissed and caressed her hand, his tongue lingering on her fingers too long to be anything but uncomfortable.
Lola cleared her throat and mustered a fake smile “I’m having a wonderful day and you?”
“Seeing you today has brightened up my day.” on hearing this Lola internally rolled her eyes “Care to sit?” She asked, pointing to the chair beside her table.
“No, darling,” he said in disappointment. “I’m heading to work now and I can’t be late. I just stopped by to see you. So do you accept my offer?”
“About that sir-”
“I’m not taking ‘No’ for an answer. I’m having a small get-together on Thursday next week, you should come.”
Lola sees an opening “Do I get to bring a plus one?”
“Sure, I don’t see why not."
With that, he left the office as quickly as he’d come, Lola finally breathed a sigh of relief hoping not to experience that again.
Lola called Kamari to break the news to her, “Hello, would you be free next Thursday?”
“Not sure, why do you ask?” she said with a little hint of suspicion in her voice “Well not to toot my own horn, but I just got us an invite to Mr. Lucas’s office party. He said they’re having a small get-together.”
“Are you sure your nasty fiance would like that?”
“Urgh kamari, why do you always have to bring up Shawn in every conversation?”
“The real question here is do you think it's a good idea to marry that piece of shit human being?"
“Do you think it's a bright idea to have your mom drive down from Toronto to Ottawa to witness her sweet baby join in "Holy Matrimony" with a douchebag?” she added casually. “Poor woman, she doesn’t know how Shawn treats you”
Lola bit her lip a bit and thought hard for an answer. Knowing Kamari, her reply had to come out witty to avoid unnecessary arguments. She sighed, defeated, and said, "Kamari, I know you care about me and this is how you show it."
Kamari's voice was laced with disgust "What's wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
“That man has hurt you so many times both physically and emotionally, Why do you still want to get married to him?" “Are you that dumb or are you just desperate for a dick?”
“Come on now, don't be like that, Shawn will change I promise. I know he loves me and I love him too, he just gets carried away sometimes when he gets angry, plus it's not easy being with someone for years, loving them and not being able to know how sex feels like with them. You know what I mean?”
Lola paused, thinking of how best to explain it without sounding… naive. "I'm not saying his actions are justified, I'm just saying I understand, and if he's promised to change I'm sure he will, I love Shawn and he's done a lot for me, he's the only reason my mom is alive, and with him, I would live a comfortable life”
“Bitch, you think and talk like a 6-year-old.”
“Is that all you got from what I just said?”
“Nope, because you're talking trash.”
“Anyway, I'm free.” Kamari was doing something, panicking in the background. “I’m free next Thursday.”