FEEL THE FIRE #3
“You are fired!” Michelle screamed, still trying to move past Evren, waving an accusing finger at Lotus. “I don’t want to see you ever again!”
Her words stopped Evren, and he pivoted on his heel to face her.
“Hold on, baby—”
“Evren, this isn’t up for discussion. This bitch is toxic. Why would you want her anywhere near our children?” Her piercing eyes canvassed him slowly, awaiting an answer. “Let’s go!”
“Yeah, I agree. It’s best you leave right now before I smear your wife and that Cavalli dress all over this fucking floor,” Lotus threatened.
With one last murderous glare in her direction, Michelle snatched her husband up and fled the hallway, but not before panic shot through his eyes, aimed at Lotus.
Good fucking riddance! As much as she was relieved that she didn’t have to put on this facade anymore, Lotus couldn’t help the immediate realization that now she was without a job.
By the time she made it to the main floor, the crowd had thinned out.
The roman numeral clock on the wall showed that it was almost 10:00 p.m.
This thing should have been dead, but the artist had a lot of potential and made a late entrance, so he was still mingling with other guests and trying to gain more buyers.
She had to admit, the collection was beautiful.
With minimal art knowledge, she was impressed with the portfolio, although it did seem a little pretentious.
She didn’t mind. If people were willing to pay for it, who was she to protest?
Lotus took slow strides to the nearly empty bar, making sure Evron and his boring ass wife were gone.
Tonight was the first time she’d ever seen any bite behind the bitch.
Sliding onto an empty stool in the middle of the set-up, she waved to the bartender.
The blue-eyed blonde woman approached her with a smile.
All the staff for the party were all in the same attire, black slacks, a black vest, and a white button up shirt with a gold bow tie to match the rest of the décor.
“What can I get you?”
“Don Julio. Just bring the bottle.” Lotus had her phone tucked near her inner thigh in a holder she purchased online and swiped the screen to check her notifications.
Her mother texted her, which was nothing abnormal because she was always reaching out. Just as she was about to tuck her phone away, another notification came through.
Trick Daddy: This shit ain’t over, Lotus!
She programmed Evren in her phone under that alias a long time ago.
Ignoring his messages, she proceeded to block him and tossed the phone onto the counter.
The orchestra music stopped, and someone cut on low music over the speakers.
She wasn’t keeping up with the time, but Jewel slid up behind the bar after whispering to the bartender on the other side for the last ten minutes prior.
As soon as he clocked out, he had plans to blow her fucking back out before going home.
Noticing his big sister still at the bar, stirring her drink and looking into it, he pried himself away from Yesenia to check on her.
“What you still doing here?”
“Getting white girl wasted. You got a problem with that?” Lotus sipped slowly.
“I got enough problems of my own without Mama and Pops coming down on me on some shit all the time. I been flying straight, taking care of the girls. Shit, even Rhema coming around and giving me more chances to prove myself.”
“Oh, don’t sit there saying that shit like I’m some headcase who needs to be saved.
I’m not the only fuck up in this family.
As for Rhema, give it time. That girl ain’t stupid.
She knows you better than anybody. Except maybe me.
The last thing you need is to make another baby with some bitch you see no future with.
” Lotus peeped Yesenia near the end of the bar, watching their interaction, and tossed the last of her drink back.
“So, why don’t you focus on strapping up tonight.
” She swung her glass in his direction before bringing it to her glossy lips.
“Fuck you, Lo.” Jewel’s jaw locked, and he backed away from the counter. “Take yo’ drunk ass home.”
“Aw, don’t get salty ’cause you know I’m right!” She grabbed the bottle of Don Julio off the counter to pour another shot.
She wasn’t going to tell him she lost her job and didn’t know how the hell she was going to bounce back without her parents knowing.
Lotus prided herself on her independence, but when it came to men, she made bad choices.
She didn’t need a lecture from either parent on that topic.
She talked shit to Jewel about his womanizing ways when she’d never had a real boyfriend in her life.
It was nothing but single encounters with men who weren’t available to her, whether it be emotionally or physically.
In high school, she didn’t date, and when she met Zuko, that ended with him taking her virginity and being in and out of jail so much she had to put her foot down and cut him out completely.
He was currently doing another bid, and she refused to feel sorry for him.
He chose that life, and she chose not to be that ride or die for him.
Then, there was Evren, doting on her like she wanted a man to, with the physical attraction to match, yet he was married.
Part of her thought it was why she even took it there with him anyway.
She knew he wasn’t hers to begin with, so there was no letdown.
It was pushing nearly eleven o’clock when Lotus stumbled from the women’s bathroom after emptying her bladder and paused on the gallery floor.
Something was different. For one, there wasn’t a soul in sight.
The lights were off, but there was a spotlight on several of the pieces on the walls, giving it a mysterious ambiance that she took in.
Taking slow steps toward the front entrance, she went to let herself out and realized it was locked.
Rattling the door impatiently, she finally relented and sighed.
“Now, how the fuck am I supposed to get out of here?” she whispered, eyes skimming the dark room, swearing she heard something in the back.
Moving slowly across the concrete floor, she found her way to the bar, which was still lit by warm lights underneath.
The bottle of Don Julio she requested remained too.
When the doors opened from the back, her heart thrummed anxiously, causing her stomach to flutter.
Eazy was surprised to see her standing there.
He tossed a record keeping book on the counter and rested his hand beside it.
His deep, dark almond eyes narrowed on her, and tension immediately filled the space between them.
“What you still doing here?” he questioned, voice sending a shudder to her middle.
“I was in the bathroom.”
“The event is over. I thought everyone left. I was doing some inventory before locking up,” he explained.
“You look like you could use a real drink.” She held the bottle up. “Feel like giving me a personal tour?”
Everything in him told him to reject her offer.
A man like him around a woman like her could only end one way.
Tugging at the tie to his suit, his eyes met hers.
Logic faded. All the right shit he was supposed to do, he couldn’t remember, and pure, heated need filled him up.
Before Niva, he was on his player shit, leaving broken hearts in his trail.
Since she’d been gone, he wasn’t lonely, but he had needs that several women were programmed to fulfil.
Each of them knew not to sit around, waiting for him to call.
Lotus’s mesmerizing eyes drank him in like she did her tequila not long ago.
He was beyond handsome; this man was fucking gorgeous.
God, Allah, Buddha, or whoever left him simmering in the pot and soaking up every attractive feature they could think of.
His rich, dark molten chocolate skin was smooth, covered in tattoos, making him even sexier.
“You seem like you’ve had enough to drink.”
“I can hold my own, and I don’t live far.” She shrugged, heels clicking in his direction in slow steps. “There are some beautiful pieces around here. Tell me about them.”
Sliding the bottle down the counter toward him, she smiled when he caught it with one hand, never breaking her alluring stare.
Lotus knew what she was doing, and Eazy was going to let her have her fun.
She might have thought she was ready for whatever he had to offer, but she had no fucking idea.
He popped the cork on the bottle of tequila and took a gulp.
“Aight. Come on.” Leading her through the space, he described all the pieces to her in detail while they took shots.
He took his time, letting her ask questions and listening to her remarks on what she thought each individual piece meant.
Eazy was impressed by her knowledge. She wasn’t an expert on art, but she could hold a conversation and comprehend what he was saying about it.
He was very passionate when he spoke, fluent with the origin of pieces and comparing and contrasting between modern and contemporary art.
The excited glint that shined in his eyes while giving her his take on what the artist was trying to put across inspired her.
She found herself obsessed with the smooth and sexy tenor of his voice and wondered what it would sound like a little closer.
The thought was fleeting, but it flushed her with fever, making her blush under her warm beige skin.
“So, Jewel took a few art courses in college. What about you?” Lotus asked Eazy once they made it back to the bar.
She paused, pressing her back against the counter while he stood a foot or so in front of her.
Between the two of them, they killed not only the bottle of Don Julio, but a half bottle of champagne that was left behind too.
All her inhibitions suddenly lowered, making her forget about her shitty night while in his presence.