Chapter 28
I was rudely awakened from a hot and heavy wet dream with Remy by Ronnie bursting in my room cursing and scaring the shit out of me. Sitting up in bed clutching my heart, I tried to focus my bleary eyes on her as she paced the room.
"GG, get up! Get up right now!" She paused on the side of my bed staring down at her phone.
"I'm up." I rubbed sleep out of eyes. "What the hell is wrong?" I stared at her.
"Look!" She shoved her phone in my face.
Leaning my head back to see the screen clearer, I frowned taking the phone from her hand. "What's this?" I stared at the screen with Siren's booking schedule for the week on it. Only instead of names, dates, and times for Ronnie, I was instead seeing the entire week blocked out in red.
"You see it?" Ronnie demanded. "My entire week and all my scheduled clients are gone!" she snapped.
Blinking, I scrolled down the phone. Nothing. All blocked off for a month.
"Did that bitch fire me?!" She threw up her hands. "Fucking coward, she could've at least called me like a woman and told me to my face," she ranted.
Shaking my head in confusion and still trying to awaken fully, I handed the phone back to Ronnie. "I'm sure this is a mistake. Or a glitch. The men love you. You're one of the highest earners."
"This is bullshit!" she gritted. "I promised my brother I would pay for his prom. And my mama needs me to pay for her medication and mortgage. My sister has some big out of the country school trip coming up." She let out a shaky breath. "This is my livelihood, GG."
"I know, baby—I know." I threw off my covers climbing out of bed.
"Just relax. Let's call Madam and see what's going on.
" Gripping her wrist, I forced her to sit on the bed.
Pulling my phone off the charger, I unlocked it.
Curiously, I went to my bookings for the week.
My eyes widened and my stomach sank when I saw the same shit—blocked for the month.
"No. No. No." I shook my head, scrolling. "This can't be right."
Ronnie sprang up. "What?" She peered at my phone gasping when she saw it. "See! This that bullshit. How she just gon' play us like that with no explanation?"
I held out my hand to stop Ronnie's tirade and went to Madam's number pressing the green icon and placing the call on speakerphone.
Madam's voice hit the line. "Gianna—good morning," she answered calmy.
I forced my tone to stay leveled. "Madam, hi. Sorry to bother you this early but there seems to be something wrong with the system. Me and Ronnie are both blocked off for the month." I cleared my throat. "That has to be a mistake."
"No mistake," she said simply. "I actually was just about to call you both. I need you and Ronnie to come down to the house as soon as possible."
Ronnie and I shared a look.
"Are we fired, Madam?" Ronnie blurted out. "Just tell us now."
Madam paused. "No. You're not fired. Your status with Siren House is however suspended pending results."
"What kind of results?" I asked carefully.
"…STD."
"What?" Ronnie and I countered in unison.
"Hold on, 'cause what you trying to say?" Ronnie snapped. "Me and Gianna are clean. Our shit always comes back A-1."
"This isn't a conversation I want to have over the phone, ladies," Madam responded evenly. "Please, if you would like to secure your position, come to the house. Be prepared for testing."
Ronnie stormed out in frustration, cussing up a storm.
Taking a deep breath, I swallowed down my own irritation. "We'll be there," I said.
"Thank you, Gianna," Madam replied.
I hung up the phone and exhaled slowly, my body heating up with anger.
Ronnie stalked back in. "It's that bitch Monroe, I know it!" She planted her hands on her hips.
"Probably." I shook my head, nostrils flaring.
"I'm telling you right now, GG, I'ma end up snapping that ho's neck," she stated contemptuously between clenched teeth.
"Look—" I took a deep breath. "let's just get dressed and go down there. Once our results come back negative, we'll be back on the schedule." I gripped her forearms. "Relax."
Pressing her lips together, she nodded firmly. "Okay, sis. Let's get this shit over with."
I moved around my room quickly, pulling on some leggings and a T-shirt, my mind racing as I brushed my teeth and then placed a trucker hat over my head. By the time we were done, our energy had shifted from anger to purpose. Mostly.
I drove but the drive there was quiet. When we arrived and went inside, a few girls were scattered around, talking in low voices, eyes flicking toward us the second we walked in.
Yeah. Something was definitely up.
Ronnie didn’t hesitate; she stormed ahead. We made it to the back where Madam’s office was, and before Ronnie could barge in, I reached out and grabbed her arm. “Wait,” I said quietly.
She looked at me, breathing hard. “For what?”
“Going in there hot isn’t going to help us,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “We need answers, not a scene.”
She stared at me for a second longer, then exhaled sharply and nodded once. “Fine.”
I released her and knocked.
“Come in,” Madam’s voice called from inside.
I pushed the door open and stepped in, Ronnie right behind me.
Madam was seated behind her desk, composed as always, a tablet in front of her. She looked up at us, her expression calm. “Good,” she said. “You’re here.”
I stepped forward, folding my arms loosely across my chest. “We need to understand what’s going on.”
Madam gestured toward the chairs in front of her desk. “Please sit down.”
Ronnie didn’t move. “I’d rather stand.”
Madam’s eyes flicked to her briefly, then back to me. “Suit yourself.”
I sat.
Madam folded her hands together, resting them on the desk. “As I stated, your bookings have been temporarily suspended pending testing.”
“For what reason?” I asked, keeping my tone even.
She studied me for a moment before answering. “I received multiple reports,” she said carefully, “from clients expressing concern.”
My stomach dropped. “Concern about what?” I pressed.
Madam didn’t hesitate this time. “Possible exposure.”
Silence.
Ronnie let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. “That’s bullshit. You know this has the claws of that jealous bitch Monroe all over it, Madam.”
"I don't make assumptions without a plausible reason," Madam replied.
I leaned forward slightly, my voice quieter now, but sharper. “Who made the reports?”
Madam’s expression didn’t change. “Client confidentiality protects both parties. You know that.”
I sat back slowly, my mind already putting the pieces together. Monroe didn’t have to say anything directly to us. All she had to do was whisper. Plant doubt—let it spread and the system would handle the rest.
I pressed my lips together, nodding once. “Alright,” I said. “We'll do the testing." I looked up at Ronnie. "Right, Ronnie?"
Ronnie rolled her eyes. "My pussy clean as a whistle so I have no problem getting tested." She shrugged. Her eyes moved to Madam's. "But if I find out Monroe is behind this—I'ma drag that bitch from here to Fremont Street."
Madam sighed heavily. "Ronnie—please. I will investigate on my own." Straightening in her seat she rolled her neck. "The doctor and nurse are on their way. You'll be getting blood drawn as well. Go have a seat in the lounge. I'll let you know when they've arrived."
Ronnie opened the door and stormed out.
I stood slowly though. "Thank you, Madam. I know you're just doing your job," I said calmly.
She let out a soft sigh. "I am. And I want you to know that I also plan to follow up with the clients and talk to the girls.
I don't like mess in my house, so I'll do my due diligence to nip this in the bud.
" She leaned back in her chair. "In the meantime…
get some rest. I have a feeling that once this is all over with, your schedule will be back being as busy as ever.
You and Ronnie's" She held my gaze. "You ready for that? "
I paused. With all the gaps I had, I had been spending a lot of time with Remy and Melo.
Soft mornings filled with Melo's giggles.
Late nights wrapped in his arms. It had been a wonderful distraction.
But…I had a goal. A few months tops and I would be able to meet it.
Only then would I feel comfortable leaving. "I'm ready," I answered finally.
Madam nodded.
I walked out closing the door quietly behind me. Ronnie was in the lounge area. Her legs and arms were crossed tightly together, leg bouncing in agitation as I sat down next to her.
Placing my hand on her knee I leaned in. "You have got to keep it together, sis. Don't let these bitches think they can fluster us with some gossip, aight?"
Ronnie let out a huge breath and nodded. Uncrossing her arms, she licked her lips. "You right. I'm cool."
Patting her knee, I sat back and pulled out my phone. My usual good morning message from Remy was on the screen. Smiling, I typed my reply.
"You and Mr. Chef Boyardee." Ronnie nudged me lightly with a smile.
"Shut up," I snickered.
"When are you gonna let me meet him officially?"
Placing the phone on my lap, I turned to her. "We can see about setting something up, You're gonna love him," I smiled proudly.
Ronnie smiled. "If he got my girl grinning and giddy like this…I already know I will."
I looked down at her over my eyes. "Just promise me you won't scare him, Ronnie."
She waved me off. "He's a chef. That nigga can stand a little heat. I need to vet him if I'm gonna sign off on this relationship."
"Here you go." I rolled my eyes with a smirk. My phone chimed with Remy's reply. Picking it back up, I clicked on the message and was greeted with a dick pic instead. "Oh shit." Quickly, I turned the phone away, but not before Ronnie's nosy ass saw it.
"Now hold on, bitch!" she laughed trying to peer her head over more. "I definitely need to vet that!" She tried to grab the phone from me.
"Go away!" I cracked up holding the phone out of her reach. "Don't be trying to look at my man's dick."
"Your man…"
Like nails on a chalkboard, that aggravating ass voice doused our joy like ice-cold water. Monroe strolled her rude ass in with Bianca right on her heels wearing that same snide and condescending expression.
"I know I didn't hear what I thought I heard." She stood in front of us. "Gangsta Booty here got herself a man," she dragged out, folding her arms across her chest. "Your man know you selling pussy?"
"Oh that's it." Ronnie was already taking off her earrings.
We both stood up.
I was tired of this back-and-forth shit. "Holla at me outside, bitch." I gestured towards the door. "Since you want a problem so bad."
Bianca jumped in front of Monroe like the minion she was.
Me and Ronnie looked at each other and laughed.
"Oh bitch, you can get it too," Ronnie said.
"Hell naw…" one of the security guards popped in the entryway with a warning look. "It's too early for this catfight bullshit. Don't do it." He waved his hand back and forth. "Make some space, ladies."
With exaggerated eye rolls, Monroe and Bianca moved back some.
"Security ain't gon' protect your ass outside of here," Ronnie warned. "I'ma see you. I know you dizzy, bird bitches are responsible for those fucking rumors."
Monroe snorted a laugh. "Oh please." She waved her off. "Don’t blame us for your series of unfortunate events, Lemony Snickett. I don’t even know what rumors you're talking about."
"Monroe," I began looking her up and down in pity, "why don't you and your emotional support bitch, carry y'all ass the fuck on.
" I shook my head scoffing. "I swear, I've never met a more insecure woman in my life.
At this point, Madam need to give you crown and a sash for how desperate you are to prove your worth. "
That got a reaction. The slick smile slid off her face as she glared at me.
"A real bad bitch doesn’t have to do all this," I continued, voice dropping. "She's not intimidated by other women." I locked eyes with her. "But you're worthless, Monroe. To me and every man who walks in here. Don’t overestimate your value outside of your pussy."
She couldn't hide the effect of my words even if she tried. That cut her. Deep. Right in the center where she probably buried all her insecurities. I saw the flash of sadness streak her face. The way her jaw tightened. Her confident posture shifted.
"I fucking hate you," she bit out, chest rising and falling quickly, eyes filled with malice and rage.
"Ditto, bitch," I replied, coolly.
Without another word, she stormed out with Bianca click-clacking behind her.
"Damn—" Ronnie looked back at them letting out a low whistle. "I be forgetting how vicious your mouth is, GG." She turned back to me shaking her head. "That shit hurt my feelings," she exhaled.
"Fuck that bitch," I breathed out.