Chapter 15
Addison
After passing all of the other floors, we finally made it to the top floor, which is usually the executive suite for the owner. Now that I thought about it, Bruno had to give the receptionist a secret phrase to get access to Mr. L and Manny was most definitely a part of the security team. I bit my inner cheek to surpass my laugh. Of course, Mr. L would have all of those obstacles just for someone to see him.
Once the elevator doors opened. I noticed an average size white man, probably no taller than 5’7, with sandy blonde hair sitting in the lobby. He had a scruffy beard which was braided and tied on the end with a rubber band. He looked up at us and smiled, showing off his white teeth that had diamonds incrusted on the bottom row.
“Yo, what’s good, baby?”
Bruno pulled me off the elevator and inside of the room before walking up toward the man. Bruno grinned before grabbing the man’s hand and pulling him in for a quick hug.
“X, my boy, just trying to get this money and keep these hoes in line.”
“I feel that 100%.”
Bruno tilted his head towards me.
“This heifer been getting on my damn nerves for the past year and I’m so ready for Mr. L to get rid of her.”
Oh, I know this muthafucka didn’t!
“Man, I wish Mr. L would have let me watch over her,”
X said as he licked his lips and stared at my chest.
“But then again, Mr. L knows best. I mean, we been best friend since high school and he knew my ass would’ve had my tongue deep in her booty as soon as I would’ve been put in charge.”
I scrunched up my eyebrows as nausea rolled through me. I looked around the room to see if there was something I could throw. If they thought they could sit here and be disrespectful to me and I wasn’t going to say anything, then they had me fucked up. I balled my hands into fists and glared at the ground. I took in a deep breath to calm down because at the end of the day, it was them two against me. Bruno already had no problem choking me and I didn’t know what kind of man X was, but I’m sure if he worked for Mr. L, he was just as bad.
Bruno threw his head back and laughed.
“Man! See Xavier, that’s why you not in charge of the merchandise, especially not the pure ones.”
Xavier shook his head as he chuckled.
“No arguments there, but you know what? I’m not complaining since I get first dips with the used merchandise.”
What the fuck? How long have these sick fucks been manipulating and selling off individuals? I clenched my jaws as I dug my nails into the palm of my hand.
“Anyways, y’all came to see boss man?”
Xavier asked, pulling a blunt out of his jacket pocket.
Bruno nodded as he tucked his hands into his pockets. I watched Xavier light his blunt and take two long drags before passing it to Bruno, who mimicked the movement. Xavier walked over to a closed office door and knocked. I could hear a low grumble coming from the other side before a deep voiced snapped.
“Man, what you want now?”
“Yo, Bruno is here with Little Bit.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Ever since Mr. L called me that when I first met him, everyone else thought they could too. There was nothing about me that was considered little and they knew that but continually gave me that nickname. I mean, I had wide hips, triple D breasts, and wore a size eighteen. I was a grown ass voluptuous woman. If I really wanted to, I could probably beat Xavier’s ass. Hell, I was just pushing 5’8’ and towered over him a good an inch. I tucked in my lips and looked down at my feet to hold back a laugh.
The office door finally swung open, and my jaw dropped. The first thing my eyes immediately landed on was a topless woman who was on her knees in the middle of the floor. Her long black hair exposed her smooth olive complected back as she attempted to put her bra back on. I squinted my eyes to see if I could get a better look at her profile, but my vision was blocked when Mr. L stepped out. I swallowed as I took in his 6’2”
and sturdy build. He looked the same as he did when we first met. Even though he was cruel, I had to admit the muthafucka was fine.
As he tugged on his shirt, I noticed that his Caesar taper fade, which was freshly cut, showed off a very descriptive tattoo going down the side of his neck. I slightly squinted my eyes and realized the image was the head of a cobra that wore a large crown. Blood dripped down its mouth as it buried its two fangs into two different dates. I wonder what the two dates represented.
“Miss Addison, I almost forgot how breathtaking you were.”
Mr. L’s sultry voice filled the room.
“Don’t get me wrong, the pictures you send to your new owner are great, but baby girl, they do not do you justice.”
“I’m saying! Little bit is bad. Let me just lick her toes one time,”
Xavier begged.
My upper lip curled with disgust as I glared at all three men. Fucking monsters! Between Mr. L not having a problem taking advantage of men and women who are vulnerable, Xavier using our downfall as a way to get some, and their loyal dog, Bruno, willing to get physical to complete his job – I was absolutely disgusted.
“What I tell you, X? You can’t touch the pure ones.”
“And I don’t want to. The ones we have are barely legal and I don’t want that. You got lucky with Little Bit. Not too many women as mature as she is that hasn’t been touched.”
I’d be lying if I said I was surprised by Xavier’s revelation. Of course, Mr. L had more people like me under his thumb. However, to hear that they were barely eighteen broke my heart. I ran into money issues well after the fact that I graduated high school and was in college. I couldn’t imagine what those other poor souls have been through for them to seek out Mr. L for help.
“Hands off, X. Anyway, Addison, you know seeing you in person again has me thinking about upping your price. I could probably adjust the contract with your husband and get more money. You are fine as hell. You remind me of my own woman that’s out here in Philly.”
“Oh, so your girlfriend is cool with you selling others to pervs who want their virginities?”
I asked, placing my hands on my hips.
“If she does approve, then she’s a dumbass or just greedy as hell because I’m sure you’re offering her up some hush money.”
“Just like I offered yo ass hush money? Oh, my bad I didn’t mean hush money but money to save your sick ass Grandma.”
My jaws tightened as I glared at him. Bruno and Xavier snickered behind me, and it took everything in me not to just start swinging on them.
“Exactly!”
Mr. L said, snapping his fingers.
“Everyone has a price so you can shut that other dumb shit up.”
I exhaled as I shifted my eyes towards the window behind him. He was right and I didn’t have an argument against him. I stooped down and came to one of his brothel houses for help and agreed to give myself away. Who was I to pass judgement when I willfully placed myself in this position. Yes, it was to help someone I loved, but still, I chose this path.
“Now that you’re back in town, what are your plans?”
Mr. L asked, lighting up a blunt that he pulled from his pocket.
I swallowed the bile in my throat and returned my attention back on him.
“I want to visit my grandma, and I need to meet with the realtors so that I can get her house on the market. Since I am to be sold soon, there’s no point of keeping her house. At least I can use that money to pay up my grandmother’s bills until, hopefully, I can meet back with her one day, or have her move closer to wherever it is I’m going. If that’s okay with you.”
Mr. L nodded his head as he tapped the ashes from his blunt into a trashcan outside of his office door.
“I see no problem with that. While you handle your business, I can accommodate your room and transportation. Consider it your graduation present.”
I provided Mr. L a tight lipped smile. He exhaled a long chain of smoke before his eyes shot over to the other men in the room.
“Unless she’s still giving you problems, Bruno.”
I stiffened as I glanced at my driver from the corner of my eyes and inhaled. I didn’t have to look over to recognize Bruno staring a hole in the side of my head. Should I tell on him about what just happened outside of his office? I shook my head. No that would be stupid. It was his word against mine and I was already on thin ice for sneaking out with K. I held my breath and waited for his response.
After what seemed like an eternity, Bruno shook his head.
“Nah, we’re good. She has a smart mouth, but nothing I can’t handle.”
I exhaled a shakily breath as Mr. L threw his head back and laughed.
“Mr. O is going to love Little Bit.”
Xavier chuckled.
“Agreed. Addison, the driver who picked you up from the airport, will take you to the realtor office and then to your hotel. I need Bruno for a few hours but then he’ll be back. I’ll ensure he takes you to visit your grandmother, too. Don’t try anything stupid with this new guy.”
I nodded my head.
“Understood. Anything else?”
“At the end of August, the ink will be dry on the contract, and you no longer have to deal with us. Instead, you will be moving to your new home.”
My eyes bulged.
“W-what? At the end of August? That’s barely a month away.”
He shrugged.
“I’m glad you know how to read a calendar but ask yourself, what the fuck does it have to do with Mr. L?”
“Well,”
I was floored. I literally was at a loss for words. I knew that Mr. L was selling me, but I didn’t realize how much time I did not have. I took a quick breath and collected my words so that I could quit stammering.
“That doesn’t give me enough time to ensure the house is sold. That doesn’t give me enough time to get all the affairs in order before I leave my grandmother behind.”
Mr. L exhaled a fake yawn before staring at me nonchalantly.
“Addison, I. Don’t. Give a. Fuck. Like I said, you’re gone at the end of August. You’re dismissed.”
I scoffed before spinning on my heels to head back toward the elevators.
“Addison?”
I stopped in my tracks as Mr. L’s voiced called after me. I kept my back to him as I slightly looked over my shoulder.
“I forgot to mention, Dr. Johnston will be flying out this evening and will continue to do your weekly checkups, so don’t get any fucking ideas.”
The elevator dinged before the doors opened. I hurriedly walked in, not caring that Manny was glaring at me again. I had to get the fuck out of there.