6. Vanya #2
When Kalim handed me the bag, I almost snatched it and took off running.
It took a great deal of effort to keep my composure.
I was excited but still scared. It even crossed my mind that when I turned to leave, he’d shoot me in the back.
Who would tell on him? His receptionist?
He would probably get her to help him get rid of the body.
“Tomorrow, I want us to meet in a public place. We can have lunch or dinner. You choose. After our date, I’ll take the money. I’m also sharing my location with my mother, so she’ll know where I am at all times.”
For the first time since I walked into his office, Kalim smiled.
And it made me shudder. Prayerfully, he didn’t notice because if he knew how scared I was, he’d have a field day with my ass.
I hadn’t been back home. It wouldn’t be hard for Kalim to find out where I lived because I worked for him and had an employee file.
I had been staying with my mother, but I was taking the money he gave me and getting a hotel suite for a week. After that, I planned on skipping town.
“Meet me at six pm at the steakhouse on Copper Cove.”
With a curt nod, I rushed out of the office gripping the handle of the duffel bag in my hand. I had no idea how I was going to meet Kalim and trust that he wouldn’t follow me and kill me, but I was getting the rest of my money. His ass owed me.
My mother had gone to my house and gotten me enough clothes and shoes to last about a week.
When I moved around a lot it caused pain, so I planned to just chill in the hotel and rest. Now that I didn’t have to worry about money that would be easier to do.
Shit, I didn’t even have to leave except to go find something to wear on my fake date with Kalim.
The hotel I was staying at had three different restaurants and room service.
I was also in the vicinity of numerous restaurants and cafes.
There was even a grocery store right across the street.
Hiding out on this side of town wouldn’t be hard.
If I could get the rest of my money without Kalim taking me out, he’d never have to see me again.
When I wanted to see my mother, I’d fly her out to visit me.
In the hotel room, I alternated between drinking, sleeping, and overthinking.
I had to be an idiot to think that a man like Kalim would care about being seen out in public with me.
That wouldn’t stop him from murdering me, getting rid of my body, and calling my bluff about the recording.
If I was dead and there was nothing aside from a recording of me calling his name who was to say he couldn’t beat that?
Not to mention no one had a recording that I sent them.
If he killed me there was a great chance no one would know who it was.
I kept glancing at the bag filled with money thinking about leaving town.
But what if I could actually get my hands on the rest?
One million dollars would have me set for a very long time.
I could find something that I was passionate about and learn a trade, get a degree, or start a business.
I could buy a house and not have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck.
The drunker I got, the more the liquid courage told me to see the plan the entire way through.
A knock on my door scared me at first then I remembered that I had ordered room service.
I had lost count of the drinks I’d consumed so when I opened the door and saw who I thought was Kalim I almost screamed.
With wide eyes I studied him a bit longer and concluded that it wasn’t Kalim, but it damn sure had to be his son or his twin.
“Vanya?” his voice came out in a raspy tenor that shouldn’t have sounded the way it did rolling off his lips since I was almost certain he wasn’t there to be friendly.
“Who wants to know?” my voice cracked, and I couldn’t even get four words out without showing how terrified I was.
Kalim’s doppelg?nger pushed past me despite not being invited in. Turning to face him I narrowed my eyes, but I didn’t close the door. He smirked and the resemblance he had to Kalim made me want to vomit.
“If I wanted to kill you, you having the door open won’t stop that.”
Still, I hesitated before closing it. Not taking a step further into the room, I leaned against the door.
“My father is Kalim Moore. He paid me to kill you. I’ve been following you for the past two days.”
“If you’re going to kill me just do it.” I was giving up way too easily, but this proved that my overthinking hadn’t been my imagination running wild.
“If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead. I’m not here for that.”
“What are you here for?”
“Lucky for you I don’t fuck with my father.
He’s an arrogant asshole, and it’s my goal to piss him off.
The easiest way for me to do that is to defy him.
Then, it’s to protect you. Whether he wants you dead or not, you’re safe with me.
He isn’t bringing the shit to me, and he’s not sending anybody at you if you’re with me. ”
I was telling myself I’d be a fool to trust him. More than likely, he was trying to lure me away from the hotel, so he could kill me.
“Just let me take the money that I have and leave town. Your father will never see or hear from me again.” I could feel my heart beating in my throat. My heart was working overtime, and it was starting to make me feel lightheaded.
“How do you think I found your room? I have money and for the right price, anybody will fold. It doesn’t matter where you go. If my father really wanted to find you he could. If that’s a chance you’re willing to take, then go ahead. I won’t stop you, but you’re safest with me.”
“And why should I trust you? Especially if your father paid you to kill me.”
“You can trust me because I just told you I don’t fuck with him.
I have my own bread. I don’t depend on my father.
He paid my girlfriend of a year off to leave me.
He doesn’t like her and feels she isn’t good enough for me.
I’m a grown ass man, and he doesn’t get to dictate my life.
Instead of killing you, I want to use you to make the nigga mad. I want him foaming at the mouth.”
I was speechless. He sounded convincing for sure. But I would be a fool to just go off his word. We had a brief stare off until he spoke again.
“To show you that I’m serious, I’ll give you the deposit he paid me to do the job. A total of $50,000. I can bring it up here later tonight. Once he finds out I’m not going to kill you, you won’t be safe anywhere but with me.”
“And what are we supposed to do? Be attached at the hip forever?”
“Just until he doesn’t want to kill you anymore. Once he finds out that I know what he did, he’ll let the shit go just off the strength of that.”
Biting my bottom lip. I willed myself not to cry. Did I take the $300,000 and run? Or did I take heed to what he was telling me?
“I already know when and where you’re supposed to meet him later.”
With a small shake of my head, I chuckled sarcastically. Thinking I was doing something had me offering myself up to Kalim on a silver platter. Just dumb.
“I don’t even know your name.”
“Pearce.”
“I’m going to end up being a casualty of war one way or another,” I clicked my tongue.
“If I say I got you then I got you.”
I didn’t know what to do, and it was making me feel like my head was going to explode. Pearce could turn out to be just as vindictive and evil as his father. Or he could have been telling the truth.
“All I need you to do is meet me at the restaurant that you were going to meet my dad at during the same time. I’ll take it from there.
It may take a few days or maybe even a few weeks but once he agrees not to fuck with you, feel free to take your money and leave town if that’s what you want to do. ”
Conflicted wasn’t even the word. I wasn’t sure how to describe what I felt but one thing was for sure. I couldn’t beat Kalim on my own. I didn’t trust Pearce, but it wouldn’t hurt to see if he was an ally. Because like he said, if Kalim wanted me dead then dead, I would be.