CHAPTER NINETY-TWO — I miss you

The instant Joan exchanged numbers with Bonnie and Clyde or whatever their funny stage name was; she knew she had hit the jackpot. These were the big boys, rich and generous. She loved men like that. The other night, she had gone home with a couple of dollars. With that, she had been able to settle some debts. There were even a few notes left after sorting out her bills. One more outing with them, and she was sure she would have more than enough. Maybe some to set up herself a small business. She laughed as she thought about that. A business? Maybe that could work, really. After all, there was no job to go back to. A few business ideas began to run wild in her brain as she did her morning chores.

And one by one, she ticked them off. Selling jewelry seems like the only standing one out of them all. That required no store. She could buy online and sell. As a matter of fact, with the advancement in the internet and delivery services, she could sell on preorder. All she needed was to post pictures, whoever likes and order, she quickly orders and sell. That sounded smart enough. She just needed the right jeweler for the project. Stopping her chores, she jotted down the idea before she forgot it. Another business idea she felt she could do was selling wigs to her girls. They were always running around looking for good wigs since most were on low cuts. She smiled and jotted that down. Who knew she’d be running a business soon?

The ideas were still running wild in her head when she got the call. Bonnie called for a meetup this night, which she gladly accepted. Finally, it appears she could try both projects. Dropping the call, she thought about her friends. Which of them would be a perfect fit for the guys? They had asked for a special request to bring two girls with her. The favor, they said, would earn her a few more dollars. “And there goes the beginning of my company.” she yelled as she jumped up excitedly. “Now, who the heck am I calling?” Doreen came to mind. She was sassy, classy and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her business. But Doreen had a big mouth. You never can tell where or when she would open her big mouth. And she needed her to not open her mouth. She was a woman who prided in her privacy. Nobody knew much about her. And things always went wrong when she was around. If shoes don’t get thrown at her or whoever was at the table with her, the order comes out wrong. If that didn’t happen, you can bet something would go missing, or she would take pictures. The last three outings with her had ended precisely that way. Weird things happen with that lady! She scoffed and discarded the idea of picking her.

What about Catherine? Picking her phone, she dialed the lady’s number. Catherine was a more suitable candidate for this job. She likes her privacy too. “Hey yo.” she said, putting her phone on speaker. “You busy tonight?”

“Nope. Free. Anything for the lady?” asked Catherine with a smoldering voice. She had just awakened from a drug-induced sleep and was slurring. Shaking her head, she grabbed a cup of water on the table washing down her dry throat.

At the mention of other lady, Joan smiled. Her friend was no lady. She was a hoe. And they both know it. That information was privy to only those who knew them. Still, their job entails that they pretend all was right. After all, they work their butts off, like every working class lady. “Lady Catherine.” she said with mocking politeness, “I believe I have a job for you tonight.”

“The usual?” she asked, feeling excited already.

“Yes, but with a little touch of gold. They are wealthy”

“Good.” her tone changed instantly from sloppy to business. “Where do we meet?” She listened attentively as Joan gave the location. When the other lady was done, she smiled and replied. “Got it. See you soon.”

“Okay.” she ended the call. “Now, I just need one more lady.” tapping her head lightly, she tried to think of who among her friends would be the excellent fit. A few seconds later, she jumped up excitedly. “Fiola, why didn’t I think of you?” she asked, wrapping herself in her fur coat. She dashed out immediately. Walking down the corridor, she took the right turning and went to the building adjacent to hers. She knocked lightly. “It’s me, Fiola.” she knocked again as the door flung open almost instantly. “Hi.”

“Come in.” Fiola said, stepping aside. “What brings you to my house at this hour?” she questioned while she locked the door.

Joan walked inside and sat down on the couch, waiting for Fiola to join her. “Sit, I’ve gone something to….”

“I don’t think I want your something anymore, Joan.” Fiola interrupted rather rudely.

Though she looked taken aback by the abrupt cut, she wasn’t surprised. “I don’t think you understand. This is huge.” She said, smiling shakily. She had almost forgotten what had transpired between them the last time. But that was several months ago. The incidence had also been sorted. So why was she still upset by that? “It’s just the right kinda stuff you always like.”

Fiola sat down and crossed her legs. Her expression was pure evil, and she didn’t hide it as she stared at the lady seated. “What happened this time? Do you need money? Lost your job? Need…” she topped, seeing her friend had flinched when she mentioned the lost job. Smiling wickedly, she said, “Oh, so that’s it. You lost your job.” the lady’s whimper was all the proof she needed. Leaning closer to her, she asked, “And now you run to me?”

Joan didn’t look as confident as she had when she ran here. How could she have forgotten how Fiola could hold her grudges? She had forgotten entirely. “Look.” she began, trying to appease the lady. After all, she did offend her. “I didn’t think about this apparently.” she tried for a smooth apology. “I would have….”

“What? Ditched me? Like you always do.” She spat out bitterly.

Okay, say it, she murmured to herself. Her inner mind shifted back, giving the offended lady time to spit out her bitterness. “Fiola.” she called with no intention of saying anything.

The angry lady stood up then, “I needed you for a simple task. Just a simple task. And because of your stupid job, which you’ve lost now.” she stopped and laughed so hard she began to cry. “I was going to use the money for my rent. I begged you. I sent you the cab. Paid for everything. All you had to do was show up.” she stopped talking then, “But you never did….”

“I called.” Joan tried to explain as she had tried several months ago. “I wanted to explain what happened that night.” she said to the lady. It was true they had an outing. Fiola had gotten a gig, and she was supposed to be there. But her boss had come in last minute for some error she needed to correct. She had been stuck at work with the boss and secretary. There was no getting out of there. Unless she wanted to lose her job. And at the time, her job was paying far more than she could afford to lose. Then again, the birds, one of them was sick. She had been seeing black dropping mixed with blood on her floors, directly below their nests. The bird needed help, and she would get some drugs at the store and give them that night. If she didn’t, the bird wouldn’t survive the night.

How was she to explain that to anyone? She knew how they all thought she was weird because she speaks with birds. They didn’t know she understood them as they did her. Of course, she knew not to say anything to anyone. It’s not like she could have called her to say, ‘sorry, I’ll pass for today, but my birds, the only roommates I got are sick, and I’ve gotta take care of them.’ she could picture the sympathetic loom she would be given like she was sick. So, she had weighed her options and decided to turn down the offer. Thankfully, she had the perfect excuse. Her boss didn’t release her that night until it was too late to go anywhere but home. Only Fiola refused to listen to her. she wouldn’t even pick her calls. “You wouldn’t pick my call.”

“Because I was there already, and you made me look stupid.” she said, breathing heavily, “I had to look for a last-minute slot.

“Who?” she asked, dreading it even before the name was mentioned.

“Doreen”

“Oh, Gawd!” that explains why she was upset then. Everybody knew Doreen was no lady to take out. The lady was a mess. She always somehow ends up making a mess of things. “Tell me she didn’t ruin the night for you.”

“What do you think?” asked Fiola, sitting down. “She didn’t just ruin the night. Doreen ruined me.” she said and proceeded to explain how the lady had gotten drunk. “She drank until she couldn’t take in anything anymore. I kept tapping her under the table, but she ignored me. Then she had the gut to vomit the whole drink on my client.” steaming, she stopped talking. “Do you know who my client was?” she asked Joan, “Thomas freaking Stone, CEO of FABBS”

“The famous FABBS?”

“The one and only.” she affirmed. “He wouldn’t see me since then. And that connect was a big one. The things he gets me. I’m still on his block list to date.”

“I’m so sorry.” apologized Joan. Standing, she went to take the vacant seat beside her. “I didn’t mean to.”

Fiola considered her viciously. Even if she had odd her out that night, Joan was one sure babe. She never messed up, and she had good clients. She could go on with this stupid war, or end it now, have fun, and make some money while at it. “I’ll go with you.” she said, smiling devilishly.

“I can sense a but come.” she smiled, “Anything.”

“Good.” she sighed, getting up. “Since you cost me a client.” she raised her brows, testing her. the lady nodded that she should go ahead. “You’ll give me this client. If he’s huge.”

Joan stood up with a smoldering look, “Technically, Doreen cost you that client.” she explained, but shrugged, “Still.” she stepped closer to her. “They are big shots. You can have one of them.”

“So, deal?” she stretched out her hand.

“Yes.” she took the hand firmly in hers as they shook hands. “We have a deal.”

A few hours later, the three ladies met in front of the club. They were dressed to kill in their skimpy outfits and stilettos. They strolled purposely into the club while heads turned as they walked in.

“They are here.” Bonnie whistled, waving at Joan and the other two girls. “What do you say?”

“Waiter.” Clyde called, equally impressed with what he was looking at, “Make this table merry.” he bellowed. The waiter curtsied and dashed to do as he was told. “Hello ladies, welcome to the best day of your life.”

Joan looked at Fiola, then at Catherine. “I told you, ladies, it’s going to be fun all the way.”

They had a few drinks, then danced and partied hard. The ladies all had a fun time picking the notes the men sprayed. And luckily, they were in the VVIP. There wasn’t anyone to drag the notes with them. Joan smiled at her purse, which was now filled to the brim.

“Loving that?” asked Bonnie with a nod at the purse.

“Yes, thank you.” she smiled as she leaned towards him. They kissed passionately. His phone started to vibrate, but he ignored it. Clyde reached for the phone then opened it. There was a text message. Reading it, he laughed. “Hey, Bon.” he said to his partner. Looks like our mutual friend has a presentation.” He passed him back the phone.

“Damian?” he smiled as he read the text message from Axel. His friend nodded in affirmative. “And it appears Axel wants us to help with the presentation.”

“What say you ladies? Are you up for some fun?”

“Sure, duh.” Chorused Joan and Catherine.