Chapter 4
Addison 5 Months Ago
We pulled up to a massage parlor that had a black and green cobra sprayed on the side wall.
The sign on the front door read L & K massages.
Outside were two buff men, one Korean and the other Black, wearing a black shirt with L&K crew on it.
They had identical bald heads and wore a pair of dark sunglasses with scowls across their faces.
“Dang, since when did a massage parlor need bouncers?”
Olivia laughed as she hopped out of the car.
“Girl, you’d be surprised.”
“They be wildin’ like that?”
I asked nervously.
“You’ll be fine. Now c’mon.”
Olivia walked towards the two men and gave them each a hug.
“You been staying out of trouble?”
The Korean man asked.
“You know me,”
she said, winking.
“Is Mr. L. in?”
He nodded his head and opened the door for us.
We walked in and I expected to see a standard receptionist desk with potted plants, gentle lighting, and some sort of water fountain.
To my surprise, as soon as we walked in, the room was lit up with a pink, fuchsia color.
There was a sign that had one arrow pointing to the right that read play area and an arrow pointing to the left reading offices.
“This way,”
Olivia gently pulled my arm, taking us to the left.
The hall had two private offices on the left and right hand side with an executive office in the center. Olivia walked up to the center office and knocked three times.
“Come in.”
a loud voice boomed from behind the door.
I took a step back as my heart pounded in my chest.
“I-I don’t think I should be here.”
“Girl, relax. Mr. L is cool people, trust me.”
Olivia opened the door and stepped inside.
I chewed on my bottom lip before following behind her.
The office space was quite empty with the exception of a black leather couch on the far wall with a few affirmation posters hanging up.
Focusing my attention to the center of the office, I saw Olivia sitting on the edge of the desk with a chocolate-skinned brutha eyeing me.
He had small coils on top of his head and deep hazel eyes.
His shoulders were broad, and I could see the tattoos going up his arms and across his chest through his undershirt.
He was handsome, but there was something dark behind his eyes that made my stomach knot.
I shifted uncomfortably as he licked his lips. His eyes traveled up and down my body before he looked over to Olivia.
“What you think?”
Olivia asked, looking over at Mr. L.
“She’s pretty. I can make some good money off of her.”
My eyes scrunched up.
“Hold up. What the hell are y’all talking about? Olivia, what the fuck have you brought me into?”
“Calm down, Little Bit. I’m not here to hurt you. I heard that you need some help, is that right?”
Mr. L asked, leaning back in his chair.
I swallowed and nodded.
“Look, I-I just need a little money to get my grandma’s house up to date and to pay for a full time caregiver. I can’t really pay you back in installments, but maybe I can clean one of your houses or clean around here.”
Mr. L huffed out a hearty laugh.
“Olivia, did you really tell this girl she’d be cleaning?”
“I had to say something. She looks so timid, and I couldn’t flat out say what she’d really be doing.”
My eyes widened as I stared between the two.
“What the hell do you think I’d be doing? If you think I’m fucking for some money, then y’all got me messed up! I’m not having my first time be with some stranger.”
The smile on Luther’s face vanished as he abruptly stood up from his desk.
“What did you say?”
“I-I-”
“She’s a virgin, baby.”
Olivia cooed, licking her lips.
I slowly began to step backwards but Mr. L was already in my face with a maniacal smile. He grabbed my arm and pulled me towards his desk, pushing me down into the seat across from him.
“Look, I-”
“I can help you.”
Mr. L interrupted.
I sat with my mouth open before shaking my head.
“Wait, you will?”
“Yes.”
“So, I can pay you back in installments?”
He chuckled.
“No. Let’s make a deal. I give you the money to save your grandma’s house and I will take full ownership of her medical bills if you accept my offer.”
I scrunched up my nose.
“What offer?”
“You agree to marry my client.”
“What?”
I shouted, hopping out of my chair.
“You must be out of your fucking mind!”
“Girl, calm down. You were literally crying on a bench trying to come up with a way to get some money. The opportunity is right in your face.”
Olivia said, rolling her eyes.
“Yeah, but. I…I can’t. I mean, marry some complete stranger? That’s absurd.”
“Welp, good luck getting the money. Maybe they’ll allow your grandmother into a homeless shelter.”
I swallowed the bile in my throat. Shit, what was I supposed to do?
On one hand, I’d be giving myself away to someone I had never met. What if they were cruel or abusive?
I’d be stuck with them until I had the funds to get away. Then again, that money would help out so much.
I wouldn’t have to worry about my nana losing her home or ending up in an assisted living facility. Shit!
I stared down and briefly closed my eyes. I didn’t have any other choice. My nana had done so much for me and helped me become the woman I am today. This was the least I could do for her.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”