Solomon's Hidden Temple

1. Solomon Matthews

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory. Forever. Amen.” I finished my morning prayer, then stood from my kneeling position in my war room.

Every morning I recited the Lord’s Prayer because somehow throughout the day, someone managed to test my faith.

I tried to stay humble, patient, operate with integrity, and stay strong on my walk, but each day, someone thought it was wise to come for me negatively.

Prayer helped.

Sometimes.

There were still times I had to come out of pocket because of my job.

I was the owner of Exclusive Security which provided security for famous people, politicians, and some street people.

My job sometimes had me putting hands on someone, or shooting to wound, so things didn’t always go in a godly favor.

My walk began after almost losing my life trying to stop a robbery from happening.

The bullet grazed my head and my heart. I flatlined twice, and in those moments when I died, God gave me a choice to either live or die.

I chose to live since I was still young and wasn’t ready to leave Earth yet.

When I came to, I promised myself that I would live right and get closer to Him.

I struggled for a while, but I had been getting better over the past year.

I knew the way I lived wasn’t right, so I made the choice to surrender my lifestyle of sexing different women, drinking, and being reckless.

Blowing out the candles, I shut off the light then walked out, locking the door behind me.

I sauntered down the hall to my gym to do my morning workout: fifty push-ups, fifty chin-ups, fifty lunges, and a thirty-minute run on the treadmill.

Once my workout was complete, I went to shower, get dressed, then went to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast.

Two boiled eggs, avocado toast, and two cut up strawberries.

While plating my breakfast, my elevator’s motor resounded, and I looked at the camera to see my mother and father coming up.

Instantly, my mood shifted because they never said they would stop by.

I didn’t mind, but when they didn’t call, it made me feel like they were invading my space, something my mother could never seem to stop doing.

Once the elevator pinged, I prepared myself to stay cordial and not go off on them as I went to open the door. I had to remember to tell the security at the desk to screen everybody now.

“Good morning, Son.” My mother greeted me first, a huge smile resting on her lips.

I wondered what the hell she was so happy about.

“Morning, Son.” My father greeted me next as they followed me into the kitchen.

“Grand rising. What brings you two by unannounced?” My eyes went to my mother, who continued looking at me with a smile on her face. “What is it, Ma?”

She shrieked. “I’m sorry, I just can’t contain my excitement. We just left the church, and guess who’s back in town?”

“I’m not into guessing games, Mommy Dearest.”

“Shereece!” she exclaimed, putting her hands together in a praying manner. My face remained void of the excitement my mother exuded. There wasn’t anything for me to get excited about concerning Shereece’s return.

Shereece was my high school girlfriend and someone my parents adored. If they only knew that shorty was spreading those long pretty chocolate legs for half the city, they wouldn’t be so excited about her being back from wherever the hell she went to hide.

We were together two years before I caught her sucking di—penis in the back seat of Kevin Truman’s car. After that, all her secrets were uncovered, and I was the laughingstock of CMA High School.

Seeing that ended relationships for me. I played around a lot after her but had recently been celibate for the past year. It was a struggle because I missed feeling the warmth that pu—sex provided, but I was on my journey and couldn’t be deterred.

“Oh.” I replied unenthused as I took a seat at the kitchen island. I said grace over my food, then dug in.

“You don’t sound so happy about it,” my father said. They both took a seat across from me.

I frowned. “Why should I? Shereece is my past.”

“I know, but she asked about you. Her family invited us over for dinner tomorrow night. We’re going and wanted you to come with us.”

“That’s what’s up. I hope you and Pop enjoy your time with the Henrys. I won’t be attending.”

They both looked at one another, then back at me. I was frustrated with them and this eye communication they kept doing. “If y’all came here to say something, just say it already. All this eye talk is annoying.”

“Baby, we just want you to find a nice, wholesome woman and give us grandchildren. You haven’t brought anyone home since Shereece. We’re getting older and need some new life around here. What is really going on?” my moms asked.

“Nothing is going on,” I replied. “Why does something have to be going on because I’m choosing to be single?”

“It has to be something. Do you date at all?” Pops asked.

I tilted my head and glared at him. “Why?”

“Because you’re still living in this penthouse alone, there’s no sign of a woman’s presence anywhere around here, and you never bring anyone around . . . Are you . . . you know?” my mom asked.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at these two.

It wasn’t enough that they were judgmental; they were intrusive too.

If they only knew what I kept in one of my spare bedrooms, how many women I turned upside down and made gymnasts in said room, they would call on every name in the bible and try to douse me with holy water.

I dropped my toast on my plate and made sure to give them eye contact while I prepared to tell them about themselves, then respectfully tell them to get the hell out of my crib.

“I don’t bring anyone around because you two can’t seem to not analyze and pass judgment on anyone you think isn’t a saint. If you all remember correctly, I dated Arya Simpson for a week before you both made her feel like crap on the bottom of your shoe.

“From then on, I vowed to never bring anyone around y’all again unless I know they can handle y’all.

Secondly, for my mother to insinuate that I like men is diabolical.

Which further proves why I rarely come around or bring anyone else around y’all.

I’m all man, Urina. Before I became celibate, your son indulged in lots of vaginas.

Good, bad, decent, and great. And I enjoyed having sex.

I enjoyed it so much that I knew if I didn’t stop, this penthouse would be full of half-naked broads catering to my deep, healthy, sexual appetite.

So, I need you to never think some sh—mess like that about me again. ”

I could tell I caught them off guard with my truth by the shocked looks on their faces. I didn’t care at this point. They were too nosy and made bad assumptions about me all the time, and the fact that my mother thought I was gay pissed me off.

“Sol, it’s not like that. I just want—”

I held my palm up to stop my mother from speaking.

“Respectfully, it’s not about what you want.

I’m thirty-six, and this is my life. I’m going to live it how I see fit.

Now, I have a meeting with my team in an hour before I begin my workday.

Thanks for coming by, but I won’t be attending that dinner with y’all.

Tell the Henrys I said what up.” I stood from the stool and walked over to the door and opened it for them.

I could tell my mother was in her feelings about my dismissal of them, but had she come in here with the sense God gave her, I wouldn’t be kicking her ass out.

She stepped on, and my pops stopped in front of me.

“You’re our only child, Solomon. While we may seem overbearing or intrusive, we only want what’s best for you. I apologize for us stopping by without calling and making you uncomfortable. We were just in the neighborhood and wanted to see you,” my father said.

I scoffed lightly.

Always trying to be the voice of reason.

“I never have a problem with y’all stopping by, but sometimes, it’s best to call because I’m not always in the mood for company.”

“Or in the mood for anything else for that matter,” my mom mumbled.

“Urina,” my dad called out in a warning tone. She waved him off. My pops’ eyes came back to me. “Come by and see us sometimes. And again, I apologize for the impromptu visit.”

“All good, Pops. I’ll come by this weekend since I’m off.”

“Okay. And the church is having a fundraiser this Friday at the Northwest Care Center. You’ll come by, yes?”

“I’ll let you know. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

He nodded, then stepped onto the elevator. I let the door close, shook my head, and went back inside to brush my teeth again. Once complete, I grabbed my keys, phone, gun, and hat, then left my penthouse to head to the meeting.

I stepped inside of ES headquarters and greeted Martell and Sylvester, who were in the lobby watching the cameras.

It was imperative that I secured my building as well because it was smack dab in the hood.

Too many crackheads frequented the area and broke into any business or home that wasn’t secured.

I had too many high-tech things in here, so twenty-four-hour surveillance was needed.

“Mar, Syl. Grand rising.”

“Mr. Matthews. How has your morning been going?” Syl asked.

“Better since I’m here. I’ll see you fellas later.”

“Absolutely,” Mar replied as I kept my stride toward the elevators.

I got on and took it up to the second floor where our conference room was located.

As I stepped off, the huge room sat behind the large glass doors, and I saw that all my team members were in attendance.

I walked inside and greeted everyone, then took my place at the head of the table, opening the portfolio I brought inside with me.