Chapter 19
I breezed through the back door of BLVCKJVCK with a pep in my step as I whistled a lively tune. Freshly showered and feeling good, I was ready for the night that lay ahead.
Inside as I came from the back hallway past the Heart Suite, I found several members of our staff out around the empty floor of the Club Suite.
Stella, our female bartender, was on duty tonight.
I tipped my head toward her as I made my way over to where some of security were helping remove chairs from tabletops.
“Knox the ox, what’s goin’ on?” I asked as I slapped my hand against his and reeled him in for a quick hug.
“Not much. Mr. Marcuson was lookin’ for you.” He lifted his chin in the direction of the second floor where the office was.
I hadn’t seen Cesar yet, but the fact that everyone was already here was an indicator that Pops was the one who let them in.
It wasn’t often I missed unlocking the door for everyone, or answering the back buzzer, but I was a little behind after getting in from the fair with Nastasia.
My willpower was working overtime, and so was hers, because we both did the smart thing and said our goodbye in the parking deck.
One step back into my condo with her and I never would’ve made it out the door.
I was already in love with the sounds of her moaning and all I’d wanted to do after being in that photo booth was hear the echoes of her pleasure when I was inside her.
To watch her take great heights and unravel before me.
No longer was Nastasia uncertain. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. But timing was a bitch.
“All right, I’ll be up there in a minute.” I backed away, eyeing my staff and coworkers. “How about a round of shots on me to get this night started?”
No one turned that down. Everyone headed over to the bar where Stella began lining up shot glasses. To go along with the theme, some glasses were stamped with a diamond, others a club, heart, or spade. Every other stamped image was either black or gold. What could I say, I loved selling detail.
Stella poured a bottle of Casamigos down the arranged line of shot glasses until she got to the end. Everyone was quick to pluck up a glass and raise them in anticipation.
I held mine out for a toast. To bless this night. “To good spirits and a good night!”
“Ay,” they all cheered before downing their shooters.
I knocked mine back and set the glass on the counter before going to meet with Pops.
He was up in the office like Knox said, behind the desk reading over paperwork.
More than likely, he was going over our numbers from the Bonnie & Clyde night we’d hosted Thursday.
The club had been fairly packed. Romance was in the air, and it was low key a couples’ night with the theme of hip-hop and R&B collabs.
My favorite moment of the night was seeing a man and woman singing “Crazy in Love” to each other with all the drunken passion in their souls. I just knew they ended the night right.
Pops looked up from the papers before him and eyed me. “Eazy.”
“What up, Pops?” I took one of the chairs in front of the desk and got comfortable. I hadn’t seen him since our brunch last Saturday, but I wasn’t all too surprised he was probably keeping tabs on me.
“Good job last night,” he said as he stacked the papers neatly and set them aside.
“You can thank Cease for that. He figured it’d be a nice buffer before we announce our Battle of the Sexes event,” I said.
Pops nodded, humming a little. “About that, you’re paying her ten thousand?”
“She’s worth it,” I assured.
Pops didn’t push. “And who is the male co-host?”
I still hadn’t thought of who could be a good opponent for Paisley, but I knew music well enough to compete with the DJ if push came to shove. “I could do it.”
“For ten thousand?” Pops chuckled.
I waved him off. “Pro-bono, winning is all I need.”
“Oh, you think you got this on lock?”
“This about to be one for the books.” I leaned back into my chair and threaded my fingers together. “Anything else?”
Pops stared at me and then he looked elsewhere as he loosened up. “No, just making sure things are in order. How’s, uh, Nastasia?”
“She’s doing good. I was just with her at the fair. We had a real hands-on experience.” I managed to keep my face even, no matter how close I was to grinning.
“Uh-huh. Should I stop asking about her now, or is she going to be around for a while?”
Pops was funny on the sly. “Chill, she’s going to be around. That’s the homie.”
Pops drummed his fingers on the desktop and bobbed his head. “She seems nice.”
I stood, because I didn’t need to be thinking about her. Didn’t need that distraction. “Yeah, she is. I’m about to do a quick sweep of the club before we open. You need anything else, let me know.”
He let me go and I headed back down to the Club Suite, ready to start my night.
An hour later, things were in full swing as Friday night at BLVCKJVCK was another live event.
A couple notable figures in the Atlanta area were seen here and there from VIP to the main floor.
Shout outs and hugs greeted me as I meandered through the club making sure things ran smoothly.
Security was posted up at the entrance, the Heart Suite, and throughout various corners of the Club Suite.
The bar was fully stocked and the DJ had the building jumping with the right records on rotation.
Tonight was another success.
“Hey, E!” A silky voice purred my name as soft lips were near my ear.
It wasn’t the voice I’d left earlier in the evening, so I moved back and turned around.
Damn.
An old casual flame of mine, Bria, was standing there looking extra happy to see me. She worked in the entertainment field, trying to get a leg up as a model. She was gorgeous as hell and extra fun between the sheets, and she understood our arrangement with no drama attached.
I hadn’t seen her in a while, not since she began being back and forth from the A to LA. So, like a gentleman, I went and gave her a hug, but not too close.
Bria hung back and cupped my jaw, smiling into my eyes. “I been lookin’ for you, stranger.”
Bria was standing there in a red leathery dress that clung to her like a second skin, pushing up her perky breasts and poking out her round ass. Her hair was black and curly, cascading down her back and framing her beautiful brown face.
I ushered her to the side where the tables were and raised her hand in the air and twirled her around so I could see the full three-sixty of her look. “You lookin’ good. How’s the modeling coming?”
Bria groaned and her shoulders sagged. “I did a couple of videos, some shots for an Instagram boutique, I got a calendar coming out next year, and now my agent is thinking about acting classes. I’m tired-tired, you feel me?”
I laughed. “Yeah, but I wouldn’t mind seein’ you on the screen.”
Bria smirked and gave me a little shove as if I were feeding her a dream. “Anyway, what you doing later? Like I said, you been scarce.”
I liked Bria, she was fun and understanding. But a gnawing in my gut couldn’t bite. I wasn’t interested.
Scratching at my neck, I took a step back. “Outside of the club, I’ve been coolin’ it.”
Bria reached out and swung my hand. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, and I’ve been sorta talking to someone, too. So I’m not really out there like that right now.”
A look of surprise sent Bria into a blinking fit.
She wasn’t the only one, because I had no idea why I had just said that and why I actually meant it. In the past, I could hit up Bria or she could text me, and all roads would be clear. It wouldn’t mean anything, just like it wouldn’t if I decided to invite her over after my shift.
Still, something in me said no.
“Wooow,” Bria stretched the word out.
Trust me, I know. “I’m trying to be good. I got business ventures I’m trying to achieve, so I don’t need the distraction of any messy webs.”
“You know I don’t do messy,” Bria said. “But if you talkin’ to one person, she must be special.”
I pawed at my chest as my mouth fell open. “What that mean?”
Bria patted my cheek as she began to walk away. “You know how you are, E. Text me whenever you are free, though. We can grab lunch or something.”
“Got you,” I let her know.
Bria disappeared into the crowd of bodies on the dance floor and I turned to go check on the Diamond Suite. In the distance, I caught Cesar heading the same way. He slowed down and we got together and went out and boarded the elevator.
“Leslie here?” I wanted to know.
Cesar shook his head as he watched the symbols above the doors change from a club to a diamond as we reached the second floor. “Nah, this is a once-in-a-while thing for her.”
“Feel it,” I said as we stepped off.
The Diamond Suite was under control, as different parties in huddled circles around tables were laughing and drinking.
Phones were out here and there taking selfies and group shots.
The energy was good and that was the way I liked it.
Going out was supposed to engender positive vibes and good nature. BLVCKJVCK was purely here for escapism.
Cesar and I went over to the balcony railing and peered down below at the scene before us.
Future and Drake were playing all throughout the club, setting the tone effortlessly. Life was good.
“You and Bria about to get into it after this?” Cesar asked.
This was Cesar, one of the few people in my life I could be completely honest with. “Nah, didn’t really feel it.”
“Aren’t you allowed to do you?” he pressed on.
“I am.”
“So…?”
“So, I don’t want her. I just left Nas.” In my younger days, it was nothing to swim a couple of laps in one day, but something about it now, even contemplating another woman after the day I’d had, felt off.
Cesar studied me. “Did you get into some skin?”
Before, it was never a problem to go into detail about a hookup, but I didn’t feel the need to about Nas. Nor did I want to. “Not exactly.”
Cesar whistled. It was barely audible against the music. “Trust me, it’s never a bad time to hang up the jersey.”
“Sheesh,” I joked, cracking a smile his way. “Go out now when I’m MVP?”
Cesar shook his head. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but Monday night she was talking about goin’ on dates and shit. You ready for that?”
We’d both been honest from the beginning. She set the tone, she could date and I could do me until we knew what we were doing together. “She can do whatever she wants.”
“Yeah, but are you ready for that?”
Truth? I didn’t like hearing her say that Monday night.
Didn’t like the idea. I’d turned down Bria, but would Nastasia shoot down a date?
Not knowing left me perplexed. Why I cared stumped me, and I didn’t like it.
Didn’t like being this fogged up. It had been thirty days, and here we were in this void.
Something had to give.
In that photo booth, I’d been in a trance it seemed. I wasn’t sure what possessed me to do it, but I just knew when Nas found out what I left on her neck she’d be heated.
The thought brought a smile to my face.
Cesar was standing beside me, gauging my silence and reading me. Like only a brother could, he knew me too well. He grabbed my shoulder and shook it as he faced the main floor again. “You’re playin’ with fire, Eaze.”
There was no denying that. Trouble was, I didn’t mind getting burned.