Twenty Three
[Rose]
My eyes opened at seven, my legs sore because of the heels. I was hungry and Tired.
But something in me clicked. I didn't want to work for this office anymore. I didn't feel like working for something I did not apply for. I was supposed to be an editor. I was supposed to be working on projects that I trained for. But I was instead given the position of an assistant, I had to bring coffee, and get copies. Then prepare for meetings I was not involved in. I was never involved. I only sat at a chair noting things. For my boss.
My hands brushed over my wet hair and I grabbed my hairdryer, It was already 7:45 until I was done getting ready. I did not expect to see David sitting over the kitchen counter drinking my orange juice.
"Hey, Rose. Leaving for work?" I smiled nodding.
"Uh, ya, I will in a while" He nodded. His eyes following me as I made myself a smoothie pouring it in my goto bottle.
I didn't see him, acting stranger, until last month. I lived here for six months now. I never cared, I never got this unsettling feeling when I was with him. But now I do.
"How's your work going. You coming in real late. I heard the door close at two in the morning a day ago" I nervously chuckle. "Well, I had things to do. Was with people" I muttered. Taking my bottle and a banana and walking into my room.
I took the keys to my room and my bag walking out.
"Bye Rose" I smiled half-heartedly. "Bye David" I replied closing the front door.
It took me time to reach my work but I saw I had no desire to work here, I thought It was because I made money everyday while working at a strip club. But now, I know that this work does not ask for my full potential. I would rather try working on a small scale office.
My legs followed the boss as she walked in on the meeting, Her hands reaching out for a file and I hand her what she needed.
My mind was dozing off. Because I was just tired.
It was already seven in the evening when I got home. And I had made my decision to leave work and hunt for a better one. I had not once, felt like I worked for something I studied for.
It wasn't worth it.
I flop over my bed and closed my eyes, But I had to be ready in an hour. So I set my alarm for seven-thirty.
I had realized how my mind took me to certain someone, I couldn't get his face off my mind. I didn't want it. But somehow I couldn't stop.
"Oh hello, Rose!" I gave Ava a cheeky smile as I placed my bag over the counter.
"Hi, how was LA? When did you get back?" I ask sitting over the chair and taking my pants off since I was wearing what I needed under.
"Girl, It was really worth it. I loved it, I actually got back two days ago. But I was way tired to come work" I nodded understanding. "I really wanna go. Somewhere warm and like, at a beach" She smiled.
"I am going to Las Vegas. Next month. They do new girls. Don't know if it is necessary to go nude thou. But, You can join. I am going with my sister" I opened my mouth nodding
"I guess. I mean. We'll see" She winked walking out.
I did my first dance and got down. My stomach already telling me I was hungry.
It was two hours, I sat in front of the house mom who was fixing my make up for me since I was eating. We had VIP people coming in. I was happy because I was gonna get good money.
I could actually think about getting myself something good.
"You know I was thinking quitting my uh- real job," I said and Carrie hummed.
"Why ?" I shrugged. "I was supposed to do one thing but-", "They made you do something else, Ya no I get it," She said and I chuckled.
"So, are you gonna be a full-timer now?" I thought about it. I was comfortable. With this, but I didn't want to strip to be my primary source of money. I only did this for extra money.
"I don't know Carrie. I don't wanna like- depend? Over this" She nodded, "Got it. So what are you thinking, After quitting" I sigh and she finished fixing me up.
" I actually like fashion, designing. But I thought. I would never go in that. But now I feel like, I know more about helping in costume and theater work cause like, I use to do that " Carried nodded.
"I get it. But like, If you quit. I am okay with giving you a full-time job here. But If not then it's cool" I smiled nodding.
"I actually have a friend. Who does makeup, and design? Like a Photoshoot thing," I nodded.
"You want me to ask her if she needs someone?" I bite my lip.
"I can talk to her. I mean I don't wanna give any problems" She laughed.
"Girl, Please. I'll ask her and get you a new better job. I saw you getting in here all tired since morning. I need my girls all happy and bubbly not depressed." I chuckle in sadness.
"What will your mom think?" I shrugged, "I am tired of working under someone who doesn't respect people's opinions." She smirked nodding.
It was Two in the morning when We girls did with the final room. The club was closing as I sat in the lobby after getting the money and getting ready to leave. But Carrie and I were gonna grabs some things since I didn't have a ride. So she could get my help and leave me on her way back home.
The glass door opened and Kaden and Coby walked in. I could visibly feel the anger in them both as they went straight to the club's main manager who was right behind me talking to someone.
I stared at him as he walked past me when I saw the cut over his lip. He wasn't bleeding badly but it wasn't good
"What the fuck?" I heard our manager say and the guard outside the club walked back in.
I heard them talk for a good minute and I heard Coby.
"Rose? What are you doing here?" I looked back and Coby walked over to me sitting down.
"Carrie and I are going to grab somethings, She is gonna drop me home" He nodded.
"Everyone was gone?" I nodded.
"Apart from Brad," I said poting at the guard, He nodded.
I heard Kaden curse as he sat over the bar counter chair and held his bleeding lip.
"Is everyone gone already? Where is Drake? He needs ice" Coby said and I jump up going behind the counter to grab Ice.
"Um- he left like five minutes ago," I said.
"What happened to you?" Carrie asked walking in.
"Take Rose home, Also I need the-, Give me the keys to the upstairs" Said Coby grabbing her arm. She looked at me. "Okay, wait. Kaden, you need to put ice over it" she said taking Coby upstairs.
He stared into space and I slid the ice towards him.
I didn't speak but somehow my eyes stared at his lip and he grabbed the ice in his bare hands in spite of me putting a cloth near the glass.
I bite my lip as he closed his eyes and showing pure frustration. His hands were busted too.
"Do-" I pause. "Do you want to put some medicine? On it?" My stomach flipped as his brown eyes lift to look at me. "I'm good" I nodded getting out the back of the bar and looking somewhere else.
"Thank you Roselyn" I heard his voice clear for the very first time. I looked back nodding.
"Ya," I whispered. His voice was deep. But smoothing. I walked away from him.
That was the first I heard my actual name being called. Somehow, His voice made it sound different.
[Coby]
(Previous Night)
He watched Lily walk away, his eyes staring at her as she climbed up the ladder. His hand clenched over the wheel as she turned around after getting inside and turning around.
Waving at him because she knew he wouldn't leave unless she closed the windows and locked them.
He nodded lifting his three fingers up from the wheel and pulled out the driveway.
It took every nerve in his body to not go back, and pull her out that house she was locked in. But he couldn't. Bceause he was no one. Because he had no right to do that.
"Hey man, Can you Cover me for today? I am heading for the tracks with Kaden" His co worker Samy nodded.
He left early that evening. Right at seven and headed towards the tracks.
His could visibly see Kaden and his car. As he and his other mates stood smoking and waiting for Brandon.
"Hey" Kaden's eyes snapped towards Coby.
"Where's he at?" The boys looked over towards a distant truck.
In five minutes Kaden's eyes shifted towards the back of the Truck. He clenched his jaw walking straight at him.Coby and the other following right behind him.
"What's up" Coby said as Brandon and his three friends stood up straight staring at Kaden.
"What are you gonna come fight me like a bitch for keying your car huh? You saw it coming man, You rigged the game man. You tested my patience. You saw it coming-"
The sharp punch forwarding straight to Brandon's right cheek had send him stumbling towards the right. His hand hand holding his now brusied red cheeky and his two friends getting in front but were pushed back by Coby and his other man.
"What the fuck!? " Brandon shouts.
"You messed with the wrong person bro" Coby stated, pushing his friend back and Brandon made a lunge at Kaden aiming for his face but he missed punching barely over his lip. Unfortunately, Brandon didn't know who Kaden was.
The sudden gun pulled out over Brandon's head had him step back, his face in utter disbelief.
His eyes turning from pure anger into terrified, "Weapons ain't allowed here man. You want me to get you banned? You know I can"
Kaden stepped forward causing Coby to put a hand over his shoulder pulling him to stop it.
"You think I am scared of that fucking shitty gun?"
"We ain't shooting anybody here. All you gotta do and pay him back for keying his car. Simple." Brandon chuckled. "No, No. I am calling-"
His phone was suddenly pulled out his hand, His neck now behind Kaden's hand.
"You didn't just key my car, You keyed Taylor's car. You harassed his sister right behind his car. You want people to recognize your ugly face or do you need me to make me uglier?" He heard Kaden speak soft and slowly. His eyes turning to Talyor's who was walking over to them.
"What's up motherfucker. You tryna put a hand over my sister" Taylor said as Kaden pushed Bradon over to him. The second punch was given by Taylor.
"The security will be here any minute. We gotta leave" He said staring at Brandon once before nodding at Kaden as thanks.
"Don't bother reporting. My father runs this place" He said walking towards the tracks.
Coby saw Brandon spit blood out as he stared at Kaden in haterate. It didn't take him long to get in his truck and drive out.
"Hey man. Let's go hit the club real quick, We need to let Carter know" Coby said and Kaden got a nod in response.
It was a stressful night. But he had seen worse. If it weren't for Taylor they would've been banned from the tracks.
That night after they left the club, Coby stopped by Lily's house. His eyes stared at the closed windows. He couldn't take his eyes away thinking about what she could be thinking right at that moment.
Her face flashing before his eyes as he tried to sleep that night.
