Chapter 5
Trooper
“Ay, Troop, you going to the club tonight? You know that shit is about to be lit the fuck up,” Los said from across my living room as he sent a cloud of smoke into the air.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. I ain’t got shit else to do tonight,” I said before mentally running through my day.
“Good, ’cause you know we’ll be shutting that shit down. Ain’t nobody fucking with us on any type of level,” Los said and nodded to confirm his own statement. “Ay, what happened to ol’ girl, did she ever call your ass or what?”
I chuckled and thought about how Sophie had yet to use my number.
I thought for sure she would have called me that night after I put her ass on the spot, but then again, a man like me was out of her comfort zone.
Just sitting across the table from her that night, I had her on edge.
I felt the tension as she tried her best to pretend like she wasn’t feeling me. I saw right through it.
“Hell no. She ain’t fucking with me like that,” I said, joining Los with two beers, one of which I handed to him then sat across from where he was positioned.
“Word, I never thought I’d see the day when Trooper Carter couldn’t lock down pussy.” Los smirked before he lifted the beer to his lips and turned it up.
“That’s not a problem I will ever have, trust, muthafucker.
Sophie wants me. In fact, she’s likely somewhere creaming while thinking about me, but she’s afraid to act on it because of what I’ll do to her.
” I turned up my beer and focused on my TV, which was currently on Sports Center showing highlights of last night’s game.
“Oh, so you doing it like that? Get the fuck outta here with that, Troop. If she not calling, it’s because she scared. Maybe she just ain’t attracted to you.”
“Yeah aight, keep thinking that shit if it helps you sleep at night, but trust me. She wants what I have to offer.”
“I commend your ability to believe in yourself, Troop. If you don’t believe it, no one else will,” Los’s stupid ass said with a smirk before he placed the blunt to his lips again and inhaled.
“Get the fuck up out my spot with that slick ass shit you’re talking.” I glanced at him before I pointed to my front door and Los smirked.
“Aight, cool. I’m leaving, but not because your ass is putting me out. I’m leaving because I have something to handle, but hit me up later and we’ll work out the details for tonight.’
“Fuck you mean work out the details, Los? What are we, some bitches? We ain’t strategically planning our outfits and moves. I’ll meet you there later. That’s all the gotdamn planning we need.” I only said that shit because it would fuck with him.
“You ain’t shit, Troop. Trying to play me.” Los turned up his beer then placed it on the table in front of him before he stood.
“Keep it one hundred.” Los extended a closed fist to me, which I met with mine before he turned to head for my front door.
I chilled for a bit longer, finishing my beer before I decided to get dressed and head out. I had a few things to take care of before I could chill later tonight.
An hour later, I was dressed. On my wrist was my classic Air King and I completed the look with a Giants fitted that hid my face. I decided to switch shit up today, so I grabbed the key to my Lamborghini and left my Manhattan apartment.
As soon as I hit the lobby, all eyes were on me. A mixture of old ass rich white people and the staff who worked there watched as I moved like a king toward the front doors. Not all of them were hating, but it was evident which ones felt like I didn’t belong there. I loved it.
After I made my way to the garage, I slipped into my car and was on my way.
My first stop was the bank. After checking on my accounts and my safe deposit boxes, I left with the intention of making rounds at a few of my businesses.
But for some reason, I kept thinking about Sophie.
I didn’t know if it was because Los had brought her up, but I needed to see what was up with her.
Sitting in the bank parking lot, playing devil’s advocate with myself, I pulled out my phone and Googled her ass. I smiled when her picture immediately came up in my search.
“Sophie Prescott. CEO of Prescott Marketing Group,” I read aloud, impressed by her status.
Not many women were in positions like that. I could tell she was important by how she carried herself, but seeing it was an entirely different story. The crazy thing was that as confident as I was, knowing who Sophie was had me questioning myself.
Not that I ever doubted my abilities, because I had money and respect, but only in the streets.
That didn’t mean shit in her world. I was just another hood muthafucker with money.
Regardless, that didn’t take away from wanting to see what she was about, so I was about to take my Black ass down to Prescott Marketing and drop in on Sophie.
As soon as I made it to her building, I parked and headed to the entrance.
It was nice as fuck, but that was to be expected.
Even being from the streets I knew a little about the Prescott family, mostly who I assumed was her father though.
He basically owned the business world in New York.
Prescott had his hands in all media arenas—television, radio, print.
I remembered coming up and Story telling me that my goal should be to own half of what Prescott owned.
Story was hood as fuck, but he was smart as hell too.
Even from prison, he made sure I took my ass to college and invested in businesses.
He was the only person in my life who ever cared about me or my future.
He put me on my first real street hustle, and when he got knocked, he handed over everything to me as long as I promised I would get out before I ended up like him.
I did just that, and to this day, I respected and appreciated him for making me the man I was today.
Once I entered the smoke colored revolving door, I checked out my surroundings. The marble floors were trimmed in gold and embossed with the Prescott crest. I made my way to the security station and nodded at the guy behind it.
“What floor is Sophie Prescott on?” I asked, glancing at the wall behind him lined with gold plates listing names and suites.
“Ms. Prescott is on the twelfth floor, but I’ll have to call up to see if she’s available. May I have your name, sir?”
“Trooper Carter,” I said, annoyed that I couldn’t just go on my own. I wasn’t used to other people controlling my actions and that didn’t sit well with me.
“Just a moment, Mr. Carter.” He lifted the phone and dialed while I watched and waited.
“Ms. Prescott, please, this is Martin.”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Prescott. You have a Mr. Carter here to see you. Is it okay if I send him up?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll let him know.”
He placed the phone down and smiled. “She said she’ll be right down.”
Ain’t this some shit? She won’t even let me come up and see her. I smirked just thinking about it. Aight, I see you, Sophie. “You can wait over there.” He pointed toward a wall lined with a leather bench across from his station and I chuckled.
With a slight shake of my head, I stepped away and waited.
About ten minutes later, I heard heels clicking against the marble floor, so I turned to see Sophie moving my way.
She was dressed professionally in a navy pencil skirt that fell just below her knees and a pale blue blouse.
Even as professional as it was, she was still sexy as fuck.
Her hair danced around her face in loose curls, which she swiped away and tucked behind her ear just as she stopped in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” she questioned with a partial frown.
“You didn’t do what I asked and I wanted to know why?”
A smile finally surfaced and she peered at me. “Does that bother you?” she questioned, mocking me.
“Hell yeah, it does.”
“Are you afraid of rejection?”
“Actually no, I’m not,” I said confidently. “But I don’t consider that rejection. Your reason for not calling had nothing to do with not wanting me. That, I’m sure of. It was likely more about being afraid of how much you want me.”
My statement forced that frown back onto her face and she eyed me from head to toe before speaking again. “Are you really that arrogant?”
I chuckled and let my tongue move across my lips, which she watched lustfully. “Yes, and for good reason. Come take a ride with me.”
“Maybe you don’t have much to do with your time, Mr. Carter, but I do. I have a business to run,” she stated bluntly.
“Trust me, baby girl. I am a very busy man, so being here right now means somthing has been put on hold, but you’re worth that.” I winked at her before I smiled and pointed toward the floor just below where we stood. “Isn’t that your name?” I questioned.
“Yes, which is why I can’t just leave with you.”
“One hour, Sophie. If things falls apart because you leave for one hour, you might want to rethink your business plan.”
I watched her watching me and she eventually spoke. “Where are we going?”
“Just for a ride. You’re safe with me.”
“I’m not questioning my safety, but I would like to know where you’re taking me.”
I smirked and took her hand. She was used to being in control, but she would have to get over that with me. “Let’s go.”
Stopping short and pulling away, she tilted her head to the side. “I need to get my purse and phone.”
“You don’t need it. If you have to make a call, you can use mine, and I can cover whatever we do.”
Again, I took her hand, and this time she followed.
Once we were outside, I led her to my car, opened the passenger door, and waited for her to get in.
After she was situated, I hopped into the driver’s seat and pulled into traffic.
I had no idea where I was going because I hadn’t thought that far ahead. At this point, I just wanted her time.
“So, what do you do, Mr. Carter?” she asked, running her fingers across the center console. I saw her admiring the feel beneath her fingers, and for some reason, that simple motion had me bricking up.
“It’s Trooper and I own things. Why?”
“You own things?” I could tell she didn’t believe me by the look she gave. “Like businesses, legal businesses.”
“Yeah, I do, and who the fuck are you, the gotdamn feds?” I glanced her way with raised brows and she laughed. I was lowkey serious though, because it was strange for her to ask.
“No, I’m not the feds. In fact, I’m not even close, but I have to admit, there’s a certain vibe about you that makes me wonder. I assure you though, I have no intentions of complicating your life with legal issues.”
I pulled up at a red light and looked her way. “You tossing out things like that got me looking at your ass like you suspect, Sophie.”
“Like what?”
“Complicating my life with legal issues. Who says shit like that? You’re about to make me pull over and search your ass for a wire.”
“You most definitely will not be putting your hands anywhere on my body, but if you don’t trust me, take me back. I’m perfectly fine with that,” she said with a seriousness that made me laugh.
I could tell she was uptight as hell and I would have to break her of that. I didn’t know why, but I was feeling her stuck up ass.
“You’re good. I trust you,” I said just as my phone sounded and filled the car. I answered, not concerned about who was calling.
“Hey, baby, where are you?”
“Out, what’s up?”
Sophie burned a hole through the side of my face, which had me smiling on the inside. If she wasn’t interested, she wouldn’t have cared.
“Can I see you tonight?”
“Not tonight, I have plans.”
“With who, Trooper?” Orin whined, annoying the fuck outta me. This is what I didn’t like. Nobody needed to clock my moves, not even her.
“Ay, I’ll hit you later. I’m in the middle of something,” I said, not wanting to embarrass her ass in front of Sophie.
“Well, will you at least consider it, Trooper?”
“Orin, I have to go, baby girl.”
“Okay,” she said softly before she hung up.
When I ended the call, I glanced at Sophie, who looked angry. “You just don’t care, do you?”
“Care about what?” I questioned, not sure where she was going.
“About being disrespectful. That right there is why I didn’t bother calling you. If you treat the women already in your life with so little respect, why should I feel you would be any different with me?”
I smirked and glanced her way at the next red light.
“I treat women how they allow me to treat them, Sophie. It’s not disrespectful if I make it clear to them what they should expect from me and they agree.
If you don’t like something, tell me, and I’ll either adjust or I won’t.
If you don’t want me taking calls from other women while I’m with you, just say it, and I won’t.
Not many women can get that from me, but I’ll do that for you, if you’ll do something for me. ”
“Why do you always do that?” she questioned with a frown.
“Do what?”
“Make deals?”
I laughed then looked her way. “I’m a hustler. It’s in my blood, I guess,” I admitted.
“Okay, so what’s the deal?”
“I will give you one hundred percent of my attention when you’re with me if you’ll let me kiss you.”
“I thought you were a businessman, Mr. Carter?”
“I am,” I said with a curious stare.
“Then you should know better than to offer a deal with no guaranteed gain for the other party. Who’s to say I’m interested in seeing you after today? So, offering me the ability to have all of your attention in exchange for a kiss doesn’t appeal to me.”
I smiled at her witty reply, but ignored her and leaned across the seat, gripped her chin, then brought her lips against mine. After a few seconds passed, I let my tongue penetrate her lips until it found hers and the two tangled together for a few moments before I backed away.
With a smug grin, I pulled off just as the light changed. “No more calls when I’m with you, Sophie. You just earned that.”
I saw her smile from the corner of my eye and knew I had her. This was the start of something with us. What, I didn’t know, but I had a feeling Sophie was about to disrupt things in my life.