you’re still in school.”
“Yes.”
“And I’m also safe to assume that you would like to keep it that way?” She shook her head. “I’m just trying to line up all my VIPs, you understand?”
“I do. And no… I would not like them to find out.”
She sucked in her bottom lip and then slowly pulled it out with her top teeth skimming it. “Now why is that? The truth, Brooke, no bullshit.”
“The truth… I’m doing this for me. Not them. My life is separate from my families. I don’t want their say or approval in what I do, since they never asked for mine in what they do,” I honestly declared.
She nodded. “I see. So you’re just returning the favor?”
“You could say that.”
“Huh… now what if I told you that I’m not okay with that? That would mean I couldn’t have them at parties, or send you to certain places, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. It would mean loss of money for me and more time and effort to make sure you don’t cross paths. It seems like a lot of work for someone who hasn’t proved herself to me. So what makes you think that I’m willing to go the extra mile for you?” she asserted in a tone I couldn’t tell was serious or not.
This woman was a Rubik Cube, and just when I thought the colors matched, they moved again.
“What do you want me to do?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“I’ll do anything.”
She smiled, wide and high. “That was precisely what I wanted you to say. I’ll keep your secret, for now…”
“Madam—”
“You’re excused,” she stated, turning away.
“But I’m not—”
“Second rule to learn is never question me. I don’t love you… yet… and you have to earn that right. Now. You’re excused.”
I bit my cheek, wanting to object, but I knew better and walked away. I drove to Christine’s apartment. She lived near campus with her boyfriend, Derrick. I needed to clear my head and to stop thinking about the afternoon I had experienced. I felt like a failure. I barely knew Madam and she had me feeling disappointed in myself. I wanted to make her proud, and the fact that she told me she didn’t love me was a phrase I wasn’t ready to hear.
I knocked on the door and my day went from bad to worse.
“Hey,” Landon greeted.
“Hi,” I replied, taken back that he was there.
We stared at each other for a few minutes, not saying anything. He finally stepped aside and let me in.
“Christine isn’t here,” he announced.
“Oh…” I answered, immediately looking at the ground. I couldn’t look at his face; it was too painful.
“You just missed her. She had class.”
“Right, I knew that.”
“You look beautiful. I mean, you’ve always been gorgeous but now you’re just stunning.”
I peeked up at him, taking his gaze of lust and torment all at the same time.
“Landon…” I whispered.
“What? Don’t say the truth? Am I not allowed to do that anymore? What’s with the makeover? I’ve seen you in heels maybe a few times. Just wanted to look more grown up?”
I shrugged.
“Is that all I get now? I can’t even get you to talk?”
I sighed. I didn’t know what to say.
“Okay… I get it. I’ll see you around.”
I nodded.
He took one last look at me and left.
I spent the entire day mourning over a loss that I never had.
At least not to me.
A year went by and I was twenty-nine, although I felt like I was much older. I’ve always felt like I was way beyond what my age reflected, even when I was a kid. My sister had her daughter, Deahna, who I was absolutely in love with, and Liv actually made the dean’s list at school. Her husband, John, was also advancing nicely. I was very proud of them both. We all helped out with the baby as much as we could.
One afternoon will forever stay in my mind. It started off like any other day, but the moment she walked into my bar with her bright green eyes, I knew I was in trouble. Her name was Ysabelle Telle and I didn’t know how much she would
“Yes.”
“And I’m also safe to assume that you would like to keep it that way?” She shook her head. “I’m just trying to line up all my VIPs, you understand?”
“I do. And no… I would not like them to find out.”
She sucked in her bottom lip and then slowly pulled it out with her top teeth skimming it. “Now why is that? The truth, Brooke, no bullshit.”
“The truth… I’m doing this for me. Not them. My life is separate from my families. I don’t want their say or approval in what I do, since they never asked for mine in what they do,” I honestly declared.
She nodded. “I see. So you’re just returning the favor?”
“You could say that.”
“Huh… now what if I told you that I’m not okay with that? That would mean I couldn’t have them at parties, or send you to certain places, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. It would mean loss of money for me and more time and effort to make sure you don’t cross paths. It seems like a lot of work for someone who hasn’t proved herself to me. So what makes you think that I’m willing to go the extra mile for you?” she asserted in a tone I couldn’t tell was serious or not.
This woman was a Rubik Cube, and just when I thought the colors matched, they moved again.
“What do you want me to do?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“I’ll do anything.”
She smiled, wide and high. “That was precisely what I wanted you to say. I’ll keep your secret, for now…”
“Madam—”
“You’re excused,” she stated, turning away.
“But I’m not—”
“Second rule to learn is never question me. I don’t love you… yet… and you have to earn that right. Now. You’re excused.”
I bit my cheek, wanting to object, but I knew better and walked away. I drove to Christine’s apartment. She lived near campus with her boyfriend, Derrick. I needed to clear my head and to stop thinking about the afternoon I had experienced. I felt like a failure. I barely knew Madam and she had me feeling disappointed in myself. I wanted to make her proud, and the fact that she told me she didn’t love me was a phrase I wasn’t ready to hear.
I knocked on the door and my day went from bad to worse.
“Hey,” Landon greeted.
“Hi,” I replied, taken back that he was there.
We stared at each other for a few minutes, not saying anything. He finally stepped aside and let me in.
“Christine isn’t here,” he announced.
“Oh…” I answered, immediately looking at the ground. I couldn’t look at his face; it was too painful.
“You just missed her. She had class.”
“Right, I knew that.”
“You look beautiful. I mean, you’ve always been gorgeous but now you’re just stunning.”
I peeked up at him, taking his gaze of lust and torment all at the same time.
“Landon…” I whispered.
“What? Don’t say the truth? Am I not allowed to do that anymore? What’s with the makeover? I’ve seen you in heels maybe a few times. Just wanted to look more grown up?”
I shrugged.
“Is that all I get now? I can’t even get you to talk?”
I sighed. I didn’t know what to say.
“Okay… I get it. I’ll see you around.”
I nodded.
He took one last look at me and left.
I spent the entire day mourning over a loss that I never had.
At least not to me.
A year went by and I was twenty-nine, although I felt like I was much older. I’ve always felt like I was way beyond what my age reflected, even when I was a kid. My sister had her daughter, Deahna, who I was absolutely in love with, and Liv actually made the dean’s list at school. Her husband, John, was also advancing nicely. I was very proud of them both. We all helped out with the baby as much as we could.
One afternoon will forever stay in my mind. It started off like any other day, but the moment she walked into my bar with her bright green eyes, I knew I was in trouble. Her name was Ysabelle Telle and I didn’t know how much she would
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