4. Temple
Damn, that man was fine.
Never had I ever been speechless when meeting a man, but Solomon had my words in a full Nelson. Rita, my coworker, blurted out exactly what I wanted to say because the man was fine as sin.
But he also made me nervous.
Which was another first for me.
Those eyes told me he would put my ass through the wall, floor, countertop, or anything he could put me through. His smooth chocolate skin, smoldering eyes, thick brows, those lips, and that beard . . .
My God!
I was a sucker for a man with a nice, healthy, neatly trimmed beard and white teeth.
The way he walked and talked, I knew he had to be carrying something dangerous in those jeans.
I hated that he had to leave so abruptly.
Even if he didn’t say anything else to me for the rest of the day, I would have been satisfied just looking at him.
“Girl, I swear if I wasn’t at work I would have got on that. That man was too damn fine,” Rita said as she approached me. “What was y’all talking about?”
“Nothing, really. He just asked me my name, if I was single, and could he take me out tomorrow.”
“Biiih, you lucky!”
I chuckled. “I wouldn’t say all that. I don’t even know him to say I’m lucky. But he was fine.”
“You gon’ go out with him?”
“Probably not. He seems . . . I don’t know.
He’s not really my type. He is fine, though.
” I wouldn’t tell her that I was indeed going to go out with him tomorrow.
It was really none of her business, and we weren’t cool like that for me to tell her anything.
Rita seemed like the type to tell your business and try to fuck your man behind your back.
I didn’t trust any female but my sisters, aunt, and grandmother.
“Well, if he shows up here again, I’m on that. He’s definitely just my type of man. You trippin’.”
I let her have that. She just didn’t know that by the time I got done with him, he wouldn’t give her ass the time of day.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see an unknown number on my screen.
248-721-1060:
Our time was too short. I miss seeing your face already. Lock me in, baby. Can't wait to see you tomorrow.
I felt the heat of a blush on my cheeks and bit my bottom lip to try to contain the smile that tugged at the corners of my mouth. I hadn’t been this interested in a guy since I dated Jared Cristie in high school. He was one negro I regretted ever giving my virginity to.
I decided not to reply just yet. Instead, I texted Sapphire to come by after work to help me with an outfit for tomorrow.
Solomon seemed like he dated a certain type of woman.
One who dressed sexy yet classy. The majority of my wardrobe showed a lot of skin, and I didn’t want him to think I was a promiscuous girl, although I wasn’t.
I just loved to show off this killer-ass body my mama and grandma gave me.
“Hi,” a voice said from behind me. I looked over at a pretty, chocolate woman standing just a few feet away from me.
“Hi,” I replied. I looked to make sure Justice was still in the teacup ride before giving her my full attention.
“I’m Shareece, Solomon’s girlfriend. I couldn’t help but see you all over on the train talking. Did you give him your number?”
My brows furrowed slightly because clearly this was a woman-to-woman moment.
I see Solomon’s ass ain’t so honest. With his lying fine ass.
“He did,” I revealed and shook my head in dismay.
There wasn’t any use in lying if she saw us.
Why he felt the need to lie to a total stranger was beyond me.
“But you don’t have to worry about me answering.
He’s getting blocked. I wasn’t aware that he had someone, considering he told me he didn’t.
” Yeah, I was snitching on his lying ass.
“Well, he didn’t technically lie to you. I just got back in town, and we decided to rekindle what we had. Solomon gets distracted, seeing a pretty face. I just can’t allow him to fall back into his old ways.”
“Old ways?”
“Yes, he used to be . . . for the streets. But I’m back now, so that has changed.”
“Wow. It sounds like he doesn’t know that he has a girlfriend—”
“He does.” She cut me off.
Oh, this bitch is a little loony and delusional.
“Okay, girl.” I chuckled mirthlessly. “Word of advice: If a nigga don’t want you, don’t waste your time wanting him.
You’re way too pretty to be desperate.” With that, I walked away from her.
I wasn’t about to play whatever little game she was trying to play.
Obviously, she was somebody to him and one he couldn’t let go of.
I wasn’t about to tussle with no chick over a stranger.
Hell, I wouldn’t tussle with a chick even if I knew the nigga all my life.
That shit homegirl just pulled was strange and unnecessary. She really didn’t have to do all that and could have addressed ‘her nigga’ before he left.
But I digress.
I was just ready for this day to be over so I could take a nap before going to my night job.
It was fast money Friday, and I knew I would be taking home a bag tonight.
Club Lucid was on one thousand tonight.
Cars filled the parking lot, and the streets were like a wedding was about to ensue. The line was wrapped around the corner, and I already knew some shit was going down tonight that I wasn't aware of.
I parked in the back of the building in the employee parking lot, grabbed my duffel, then exited the car.
Nuke stood at the back entrance along with Ronnie and Coop.
Three black trucks lined the gate by the entrance.
I walked across the parking lot to the back entrance of the club and approached Nuke.
“Hey, what’s happening tonight that I wasn’t aware of?”
“Knowledge and his wife are on their way here. It’s a full house tonight.”
That made me smile inside. Anytime celebrities entered the building, it was money showers all night.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. They called last minute and bought out the VIP.”
“That’s what’s up. Thanks, Nuke.”
“No problem, pretty mama. You gon’ cop that new Lex Coupe tomorrow.”
I laughed then entered the building. Immediately, “Make It Rain” by Travis Scott filled my ears.
Once I made it down the small corridor, I peeked around the corner to see what the crowd was like.
There were niggas and females from wall-to-wall, and I could see some of the dancers who rarely ever showed up were swinging from poles and poppin’ pussy on a handstand in the booths.
“Temp!” I turned to see Marlo approaching me.
“What’s up?”
“Boss lady wants to see you upstairs.” I nodded, walked back down the corridor, and opened the door that led up the stairs to the boss lady’s palace.
I wouldn’t lie and say that Ms. Arie didn’t intimidate me sometimes.
Her aura just screamed I’m a boss bitch and I’ll kill a bitch without a second thought.
She had calmed down a lot since getting married and having a baby, but it still didn’t completely exemplify her dominant aura.
I reached the top of the stairway and turned right to the double doors at the end of the hall. Once I approached, I tapped lightly on the door until her voice told me to enter.
“Hey! You wanted to see me?” I asked, poking my head inside. I could see Angel, Vanilla Rose, and Dominican Barbie sitting on the couch along the wall, and Ms. Arie’s bodyguards, Mayani and Megan, sitting in the chairs across from her.
“I know Marlo told you I did, didn’t he?” she asked with a light smirk on her face.
I chuckled lightly. “I just had to be sure.”
“Come in and close the door.”
I walked inside, doing as I was told, then stood in the middle of the floor, clutching my bag.
“You good?” Arie asked me.
“I am.”
“Then sit your ass down, girl. You acting like a Fed right now.”
I laughed and found a seat in the chair next to the couch.
“We got a call last minute from Knowledge and Kema P.’s manager, saying they wanted their after-party to be here once their concert is over.
Since you four are my best dancers, I need y’all in those VIP sections.
The tip out increases by five percent tonight only, then back to twenty percent after tonight,” she explained, and we all nodded.
“Will I still be headlining?” I asked.
“Yeah, but not at your original time slot. I want you last on the stage, so one o’clock is your new time slot.
I need you to close out the show. I hate how many motherfuckas are in my club right now.
I’m getting overstimulated, so I’m about to take my ass home and enjoy some peace before my baby gets home tomorrow.
” She stood from her desk as her guards followed.
“Y’all ladies can go get dressed and hit the floor.
Give the percentage to Deb at the end of the night, and don’t forget to make me proud. Y’all are dismissed.”
I stood and followed my coworkers out of the office. Dominican Barbie turned to me once we made it to the staircase leading to the dressing rooms.
“Try not to step on our toes tonight, youngin’.”
“Right. We know you’re the club’s favorite and shit. Let us make some of that cash,” Angel countered as they laughed.
I frowned, but didn’t respond. It was crazy how these hoes were always worried about me. It wasn’t my fault men gravitated toward me when I stepped on the scene. These were the very few dancers that rarely showed up but had the audacity to tell me not to get my coins.
Fuck these ol’ washed-up hos, Temp. Don’t even respond.
I continued on my way to my locker to get dressed. Tonight was about to be crazy, but I anticipated it.
“Move” by Mello Bucks blared through the club’s speakers as I bounced up and down on stage.
Vanilla, Diamond, and Gucci had joined me on stage, and my eyes were glued to the VIP where Knowledge, Kema P.
, and their entourage had just entered the club.
I climbed to the top of the pole as Gucci followed me.
She stretched her limbs out horizontally, and I came down, placing my heeled feet on her while she spun and I shook my ass.
Money came raining down on us, and that prompted me to go harder.
Once the song faded out and “Pop Dat Thang” by DaBaby queued, I got down off the pole and worked the stage. After the fourth song, Marlo summoned me off the stage.
“They want you in VIP in thirty minutes. I’ll collect your money for you.”
“Thanks, Marlo.” I didn’t have to worry about Marlo skimming me because he was solid.
Plus, I could always run the camera back to see if his ass shorted me.
Since I was sweaty and needed to freshen up and change my outfit, I headed toward the dressing room.
While maneuvering my way through the club, I felt someone grab my arm.
I looked over to see Nathan’s ass, smiling wide at me.
“What’s up, bae? Why I ain’t heard from you in two days?” he asked.
“Because I haven’t needed you in two days.”
“Damn. Can I see you tonight?”
“You see me now. I gotta go. I’m working,” I told him, attempting to walk away.
“Hold up, bae. Don’t do me like that. I miss yo’ fine ass,” he said, pulling me closer and wrapping his arms around me. “Don’t do ya boy like that.”
I pushed away from him. “Nate, I’ll talk to you later. I have to go.”
He yanked me back over to him. “Why the fuck you gotta treat me like that? You only want me when it’s convenient for you. I’m tired of that shit, Temp.”
“Nate, let me the fuck go. You trippin’!”
“I got every reason to fucking be!”
“Nate, if you don’t let me go, I’m going to crack your shit.
” I yanked my arm out of his grasp and walked away.
Mike and Mo ended up stopping me on the way, and I couldn’t not service my best customers.
While giving them a twenty-minute dance, I felt myself being lifted off my feet, tossed over a broad shoulder, and carried away.
“Hey! What the hell? Put me down!” I yelled, about to kill Nate’s ass, but when I looked over and saw Nate with a dancer in his lap, my anger turned to worry as I tried to wiggle out of whoever had me in their grasp.
“Aye, nigga, put her down. The fuck you on?” I heard Mo say.
“Respectfully, mind your business. I need to talk to shorty real quick.” That voice sounded familiar. It was too smooth and deep to ignore where I’d heard it from.
Solomon?
“Mo, it’s alright,” I told him. I could tell he and his brother were ready to get busy, and I didn’t want to get fired. I was also embarrassed that he had to see me like this. I certainly didn’t want him to know about my night job.
We began moving again until we entered the hall to the dressing rooms. He then placed me on my feet and glared down at me.
I glared at him right back because what did he think this was?
We just met earlier and only talked for ten damn minutes.
Now, he was pulling me away from my money like I was his woman or some shit.
“W-what are you doing, Solomon?”
“I could ask you the same.”
“But you can’t. Why would you snatch me up like you’re my man or something?”
He pulled the hairs on his chin and licked his lips. The act caused a tingle to hit my clit as I tried to look at something else on his face. The nigga was too fine for his own good.
“I didn’t like what I saw.” He finally spoke.
“Yet, you’re in a strip club full of naked-ass dancers. Make it make sense.”
“I’m working. I didn’t expect to see you here of all places. Now I see why you didn’t respond to my message. I know we don’t know each other, but . . . I like you, and I didn’t like seeing you shake your a—lady parts in them niggas’ faces.”
“It’s not your place to care that much, and I’m busy, as you can see. This is how I get my extra money. If you don’t like it, then maybe you should pursue someone else.”
“Not happening. I want you, and I’m going to have you.”
“Oh, you’re that confident, huh?”
He nodded. “I am.”
“Yeah, okay. With that stunt you just pulled, I don’t think it’s going to work out between us.
So, you have a good night.” I stormed away and headed to the dressing room to change so I could hit the VIP.
As hard as it was for me to walk away from his fine ass, I couldn’t allow him to fumble my bag. Not tonight of all nights, at least.
I didn’t take Solomon for the crazy type, but obviously, I misjudged.
There was no way I’d let him stop me from getting money to save my grandma’s life or what maintained my lifestyle.
If he didn’t like it, oh well. I had bigger problems to deal with than worrying about whether a nigga liked what I did.
Maybe in the next lifetime, . . . but not this time.