21. Chapter 20
It had been four months since the whole debacle with Allure outside Heaven’s Door.
Four months since she made a spectacle of herself in that parking lot screaming, crying, and trying to fight June in front of half the city.
And somehow that wasn't even the worst part. One bartender got caught stealing thousands of dollars from the register. A dancer’s jealous boyfriend busted out somebody's windshield in the parking lot one night.
Two VIP clients stopped coming after one accused security of roughing him up during an argument.
Then somebody anonymously leaked rumors online claiming Marcus was laundering money through the club.
Then came the gossip online. People whispered that Marcus was running a whore house in the basement of the club.
Others claimed the club was tied into dirty money.
Somebody even spray painted BLOOD MONEY across the back alley wall behind Heaven’s Door one night.
Every week brought some new bullshit. Nothing felt peaceful anymore.
Sleep had become just another battle. At this point Marcus felt like somebody had laid hands on Heaven’s Door and cursed the damn building itself.
But tonight?
Best believe… he was determined to change that.
Marcus spent damn near fifty thousand dollars making sure Heaven’s Door threw one of the wildest Halloween parties Philly had seen in years.
If the city wanted a night to remember? That was just fine.
He was gon give the people exactly what the fuck they asked for and more.
The line outside stretched halfway down the block.
Luxury cars filled both sides of the street, and women climbed out of Ubers looking like they had no business being that fine.
Marcus had got decorators to install smoke machines placed around the front entrance with flashing orange lights hanging above the door.
Every few seconds a burst of fog shot into the air while a DJ outside hyped up the crowd waiting to get in.
Purple up lighting covered the front of the building while oversized jack-o'-lanterns, black roses, and gold skeleton displays surrounded the doors.
Actors dressed like grim reapers and demons wandered through the crowd posing for pictures and jumping out at people every chance they got.
Inside was another story altogether. Heaven's Door looked less like a nightclub and more like a Halloween movie with a seven-figure budget.
Purple, orange, and black lights hung above the crowd while fake fog covered the floor.
Giant crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling wrapped in black roses and orange lights.
Fake blood streaked different parts of the walls while oversized jack-o'-lanterns glowed throughout the club.
Marcus clearly wasn't playing no games when it came to the decorations.
He even had the stage hooked up. Twisted dead trees stood on both sides of the dancers while giant skeletons towered behind the poles.
Fog rolled across the stage floor as orange spotlights flashed through the smoke.
Marcus hadn't just stopped at the decorations though.
He went all out making sure the menu was on point as well.
Food covered tables were spread throughout the whole left side of the club.
Massive char-spookerie boards were stacked with cured meats folded into roses and brains, premium cheeses, dark grapes, blackberries, and artisanal crackers.
Raspberry jam spilled from carved Brie wheels to look like fresh blood while plastic skeletons appeared buried right in the middle of the displays.
Nearby, hollowed-out pumpkins overflowed with rich Gruyère and white wine fondue surrounded by bread cubes, pretzel sticks, and green apple slices for dipping.
Silver trays carried black garlic wings, seafood pasta tossed in squid ink sauce, Cajun shrimp skewers, lobster mac and cheese bites, steak sliders, and other appetizers that disappeared almost as fast as they were brought out.
The dessert tables looked just as crazy.
Eyeball cake pops stared back at guests from black display stands.
Chocolate-covered strawberries were decorated like tiny ghosts while red velvet cupcakes oozed raspberry filling whenever somebody took a bite.
Mini cheesecakes covered in chocolate spiderwebs sat beside brownie coffins topped with edible gold dust and white chocolate skeletons.
The bar stayed three people deep all night.
Rows of syringe shots filled with spiced cherry vodka sat inside giant ice buckets while bartenders poured drinks from bubbling Witch's Brew cauldrons filled with dry ice and premium liquor.
Purple cocktails had smoke coming from them and green cocktails glowed.
Somebody was already dancing on a chair with a drink they probably shouldn't have ordered.
Money was being spent from every direction.
Pumpkins lined the VIP sections. Gold skull centerpieces sat on tables surrounded by bottles worth more than some people's rent.
All you saw were beautiful women dressed as devils, nurses, angels, vampires, and Playboy bunnies.
Every costume looked one size too small and highlighted the women's best assets.
The whole club looked like lust, liquor, and regret waiting to happen.
And upstairs near VIP? June looked good enough to make a nigga question every decision he'd made that week.
Baby had recreated Beyoncé’s Crazy In Love look down to the damn attitude.
Honey blonde curls hung past her shoulders while the white tank top hugged her upper body perfectly.
The tiny denim shorts showed off her long tanned legs with gold hoops in her ears.
She looked phenomenal in her ensemble. Marcus stood near the railing upstairs dressed exactly like Tony Montana.
He had the white suit with the dark slicked-back wig and gold chains gleaming against his chest. Mercedes walked over to her dressed like Janet Jackson from Poetic Justice with the long braids box braids hanging down her back.
She wore a tight black crop top with hoop earrings and low-rise jeans that hugged her petite yet curvy frame nicely.
She looked June up and down dramatically before lifting her drink.
“Bow down, bitches.”
June burst out laughing immediately. “Girl, please.”
Mercedes flipped her braid over her shoulder. “It's Ms. Jackson if ya nasty.”
"Bitch, shut yo drunk ass up," June laughed.
June shook her head smiling before taking a sip from her drink.
She peeped Steelo staring at Mercedes from across the room.
That man barely took his eyes off her all night.
Apparently watching wasn't enough anymore, he was tired of admiring her from a distance.
A few minutes later, he made his way over dressed like early 2000s Usher in all black leather with shades hanging from his shirt collar.
“You looking good with your Janet Jackson costume on baby. Just let me know the time and the place." He looked her up and down.
“Matter fact, just give me the place. I'll make time.”
Mercedes blushed. “See? That’s why I like him.”
Before June could respond, somebody downstairs started yelling. "Tony Montana and Beyoncé!"
The crowd immediately picked it up. "AYEEEEEEE!"
June covered her face. "Oh hell no."
Marcus looked over from the balcony and yelled up at her. "Nah. Get down here."
"No." June shook her head defiantly.
"June." He made a sad puppy dog dace.
"Marcus, leave me alone."
The crowd got even louder. "LET'S GOOOOO, Get yall asses down here!!!!!"
Marcus came down from the balcony and walked over to June taking her hand in his.
He gently pulled her toward the dance floor.
The crowd cheered while Marcus spun her around dramatically like he was auditioning for a music video.
She decided to have a little fun and entertain the guests who came out.
Once the DJ dropped the song Butta Love by Next, June started gyrating her ass in a circle against Marcus' crouch and Marcus grabbed her hips and grinded against her ass like they were fucking from the back.
"Look at this nigga, he bout ready for some bedroom action now!" somebody yelled.
Even June couldn't stop laughing.
Eventually she made her way back to the other side of the room shaking her head while Marcus stayed behind soaking up the attention on the dance floor.
He was doing the famous Moonwalk that Michael Jackson was known for doing back in the day.
She grabbed another drink and zoomed in on Mercedes and Steelo carrying on like two high school teenagers.
She smiled as she watched the two of them flirt back and forth.
Watching Mercedes laugh freely again felt good as hell after everything she’d been through with Ohaji.
Mercedes finally opened up and told June about the whole ordeal with Ohaji from the cheating down to the abuse.
June was enraged hearing how he put his hands on her.
But June understood why she never said anything.
She was glad that Mercedes had put herself first and finally gave Steelo a chance.
Mercedes looked happier now. She had a certain glow to her.
Getting rid of Ohaji's sorry ass had done wonders for her.
She seemed lighter these days. Like somebody had finally taken their foot off her neck.
Meanwhile across the balcony…