Seek to Touch

by Keke Renée

  “Let people watch me touch you and please you.”

  “Morris! Morris!” We stopped and looked back at Mason who shot daggers at us.

  “He started this.” Lisa tried to point the blame, and I smacked her on the ass.

  “Go home and call me when you make it, so I know you're safe.”

  “All right, how long are you going to be here?”

  “Probably another twenty minutes, then I need to pack before the trip.”

  “Try to not have too much fun in Vegas.”

  “Never.” I pecked her on the cheek, opened the door to help her slide inside, and watched as she reversed, and headed toward the main street.

  “Sorry, bro.”

  “At least do it away from the cameras,” Mason complained, and I laughed. He and I were the only ones with access to the cameras, so he more than likely saw us almost fuck outside. Mason led the way back in the building, went past the bathroom, and saw Claire on the phone. She seemed to be arguing with somebody. She turned away from me and I left it alone, finishing up paperwork.

  The next morning, when I arrived in Vegas at MGM Hotel, I showered and met with potential clients. Barry Lindale owned a chain of smaller casinos, and he was interested in hiring my company to provide security for twenty-four hours. This would lead me to possibly opening an office and moving here.

  “Mr. Fields, thank you for coming.” Barry extended a hand for a shake. I sat in a chair opposite him.

  “When business is called, I run.”

  “It was nice meeting you at Club Seek.”

  The waitress poured coffee and left a menu.

  “Thank you.”

  “Order whatever you want. All on me.”

  “In that case, give me pancakes, scrambled eggs, home fries, and sausage.”

  “Coming right up,” she replied, taking the menu back.

  “When did your flight arrive?”

  “Around six this morning.”

  It just turned nine, and my team was waiting for me to brief them on the details.

  “After breakfast, we can go over to my casinos.”

  “How many do you have?”

  “Like we talked about, I have about ten casinos, but other businesses as well.”

  “You want security for just the casinos or everything?”

  “To start out, the contract is exclusive for the casinos.”

  “To cover that amount, I would need to hire more men.”

  “I saw your background and your experience from the military.”

  “Most, if not all, of my team is either ex-military, police, or trained by the best.”

  “Great.” Our waitress came over and placed the food down, leaving extra napkins.

  “I think you’ll like it in Vegas,” Barry stated, wiping his mouth, while I sipped on the coffee and started to eat, listening to him work out the details of a contract. A few hours after eating breakfast, we headed to his first casino and did a walk through with my men. I had Warren Kingston tag along to help me scope out any potential details I might miss. Barry talked about the layout of the casino, and I stared over the entire first floor, watching as guests interacted at tables. The place stood on four floors with a stage and entertainment for events on the west side of the building. When high-profile clients came to perform, we’d have to do extra planning for big events.

  “He has ten of these casinos?” Warren asked.

  “What are you thinking?”

  He rubbed his chin in thought.

  “Are you planning on moving here permanently?”

  I blew out a breath.

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “Why? Not like you have anything holding you back home.”

  I looked at him with a scrunched face. He laughed and slapped me on the shoulder. Warren was like a brother to me; we were both over six feet in height, loved to work out, had large families, and were the oldest among our siblings. The only difference was he has light brown skin, with a low-cut short fade, from New York, whereas I was more athletic in tone. He was muscular and with broad shoulders.

  “That look must mean your girl pissed you off.”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “See, that’s why I don’t do love.”

  “The time will come.”

  “Not too soon, but I like this place. If you want me to help get it off the ground,” Warren suggested, pointing to the specs on the blueprints.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I know you have the club to worry about. Until you make a foolish decision, I can help.”

  “Thanks, brother.” I reached out and gave him a hug and felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket.

  Barry approached us, and I motioned to my phone. Warren took over the tour.

  “Hey, Mason.”

  “Calling to check in and see how things went,” Mason asked.

  I looked over my shoulder at Barry and Warren talking.

  “Things are good. We might have a deal.”

  “Nice. Just don’t forget about the club business once you become a billionaire,” he joked.

  “My first priority is the club, don’t worry.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. We just got approval for another building to expand.”

  “Email me the information, and I’ll look it over.”

  “Sounds good. See you when you’re back,” Mason said, and we both hung up at the same time. I finished the rest of the visit with Warren and Barry before we spent the night out on the town. I made a note to call Lisa tomorrow.

  4

  Lisa

  Two days later.

  Tonight was my debut story I’d been working on for a few months about a local businessman who was trying to push residents out of their homes to build condos. I’d spent almost a year getting information from residents. Some didn’t want to be named, while others were fine with it. I wore my favorite light-blue and cream dress, red heels, and my grandmother's good luck charm bracelet. I ran over the video coverage last night to make sure I had every angle covered. Rhett was doing everything from harassing more tenants, to sending me threats online, and having people call the station to get me fired. Tonight would be the big reveal and hopefully, he’d run scared and get locked up for his crimes. I couldn't be intimated. By the time I was done with him, I could predict I’d end up getting my own show and probably an award for bringing him down.

  “Okay, Lisa, you're ready.” Frida, my makeup artist, removed the cape.

  “Once again, Frida, you’ve outdone yourself.” I stood and checked myself one more time in the mirror.

  “Thanks, lady. Good luck.”

  Production staff stood at the entrance.

  “Lisa, five minutes,” he said, holding the walkie-talkie in his hand.

  “I’m ready.” At the beginning, when I found out how the news station played the photos of Maya and Mason, I was ready to give the station management a piece of my mind, but Maya wanted me to stay out of it and not jeopardize my job. If this promotion didn’t go my way, then I’d know for sure they were never planning to promote me to my own show. I stepped up on the news desk and let the audio attach a mic to my dress, while I read over my cards.

  “Lisa, I’m surprised you're here,” Ryan said.

  “I’m the cohost of the six o'clock news. Where else would I be?”

  “Probably sucking some rich guy dry,” Ryan muttered. Our relationship at work was a contest of who could top who in getting the coveted nightly morning news solo spot. When the cameras were rolling, we put on the best friendly atmosphere. Behind the scenes, we couldn’t stand each other. Ryan Latchman was a yes man, only out to kiss the boss' ass to get ahead.

  “Ready to roll,” the director announced in my earpiece. I sat up straight, looked right at the camera, smiled as the light turned red, and the director yelled action.

  “Welcome everyone to Nightly CBG News. We have a special report,” Ryan said.

  “We do indeed, Ryan, and everything has been v
etted and approved for air.”

  “I agree with Lisa, so tonight, our story deals with the latest details on Rhett Fuller.”

  “They do, Ryan. I personally have worked on this story for the past few months.”

  “Do we have the tape?” Ryan asked.

  “Mmmmm… Morris.” My mouth dropped in surprise.

  “Shit... Lisa, baby.”

  “Wait, is that you, Lisa?” Ryan questioned.

  “I…I… This is not.”

  The video turned off, and I jumped up and ran away to my dressing room. My breath was ragged, my hands shaking, and my eyes watered. I felt nauseous. I covered my face, not understanding how someone was out to get me and switched the tapes. I didn’t know anyone was following me, but thinking back over the past few weeks, Rhett was the only person behind sabotaging me.

  “Lisa, it’s me Frida.”

  “Go away.”

  I grabbed my purse, searching for my phone to call Morris. I hadn’t talked to him since our little blow up at the club before he went out of town. It was childish to not call him, but I needed time to figure out this mess with Rhett. Now, my head was spinning, and I couldn’t believe they’d done the same thing Maya went through. I dialed his number, and the voicemail popped on.

  “Lisa, please open the door.”

  I wouldn’t let them see me weak. I wiped the tears away, stood with my shoulders back, and yanked the door open. Frida stood alone with a bottle of water at my door.

  “The manager is on his way down now,” Frida said, extending the water toward me. I waved it off.

  “I’m suing this station.”

  “First, you need to breathe and take a moment.”

  She opened the bottled water and forced me to drink.

  “I bet this was Ryan.”

  “He seemed pretty shocked. Most of the team was surprised.”

  “Somebody knows something.”

  “What the hell is going on around here!” Taylor, the station manager, barked, stalking into my dressing room.

  “That’s what I would like to know,” I shouted, pointing at the set stage from my room.

  “We're getting multiple calls about showing porn on air.”

  “My privacy was violated!”

  “You did it in a public place. I doubt you were looking for privacy,” he said sarcastically.

  “I want a public apology.”

  “All of our sponsors are thinking of dropping us, and the station owner wants you to take some time off.”

  “What!”

  “Lisa, you’ve put me in a bad position.”

  “My life was just blasted across the world. This has Rhett Fuller all over it.”

  “Are you still on that story?”

  “You don’t believe me… typical,” I huffed, crossing my arms.

  “What I believe is that you need to go and let me try to salvage this station.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  “Then you're suspended. It’s not just about you; we have other people who could lose their jobs.”

  At the mention of other people, I glanced over at Frida and felt a tightness in my chest. I cared about her and the other people who worked at the station. If I put anyone else in a bad spot to lose their job, I’d hate myself.

  “I’ll leave, but I want an investigation into who did this to me.”

  “We will let you know. Go home and don’t talk to any other media outlets.”

  “Fine, Taylor.” I scooped up my bag and phone, trying to dial Morris again. I stomped out of the station and kept my head down, not making eye contact when Ryan ran up to me.

  “Lisa! Hold up.”

  “Ryan, you won. I'm on suspension.”

  “I don’t want the position on a technicality.”

  “How do I know you didn’t set me up?”

  “You know if I stab you, it’s from the front, not behind your back,” he said.

  I peered at him for a long while, thinking about his words. He was right… Ryan was evil, but he didn’t do anything sketchy behind your back if he was coming for you.

  “Well, hopefully, Taylor can find out what happened. Sorry about everything,” Ryan said.

  “Thanks.”

  It was going on seven at night, and I was in bed with a bottle of wine, lying in the dark with the covers over my head. My phone was on silent, while I searched my name online, saw comments about me being a slut, whore, and slept my way to the top. I went to journalism school and had always been independent. Morris still hadn’t responded to my calls earlier, and I wondered if he was pissed off that his business was getting bombarded now.

  Bang! Bang!

  “Go away!”

  “Open this door.” I heard Kyla talking to someone on the other side of the door.

  “No.”

  “Lisa, it’s Maya. No one more than I can understand what you're going through.”

  I groaned, threw the cover off me, crawled out of bed, and went to unlock the door. Kyla’s face held a harsh glare. Lying back on the bed, I moved the blanket back over my head, and Kyla yanked it out of my hand. A few seconds later Chelsey approached and waved her hand in her face, avoiding the smell.

  “Stop hiding and get up.” Kyla dropped the comforter on the loveseat in the corner.

  “My career is over; my life is over.” I reached to the night table to gulp more wine, and Maya snatched it out of my hands.

  “Drinking won’t help.” Maya walked toward the bathroom, and I heard the faucet turn on.

  “Okay, so Chelsey, what are you going to do to me?”

  She looked around the room, turned the light on, and then opened the blinds.

  “Let some fresh air come in. It helps to think clearer,” Chelsey replied.

  “I don’t need an intervention.”

  “But you need friends,” Kyla reminded me and took a seat on the bed.

  “It will take a little time for this to go away,” Maya explained.

  “At least you had Mason to work through the shambles.”

  “Where’s Morris?” Chelsey questioned, and I shrugged my shoulders.

  “He hasn’t called?” Kyla asked.

  “No, and I’ve blown his phone up for the last few hours,” I fussed and checked my messages again.

  “Maybe he’s still in Vegas,” Maya said, which I felt was an excuse she would give since her husband and Morris work together.

  “I don’t care.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “Shut up, Kyla.”

  “Get up. We’re going out,” Kyla said.

  “Nope. I’d rather suffer in my room alone.”

  “This isn’t the Lisa Reyes I know,” Kyla said.

  “Yeah, that Lisa is out of order,” I responded and pulled another bottle of wine from under my bed.

  “Lisa, give me that!” Maya reached out for the bottle, and I shook my head and ran across the other side of the bed.

  “Stop!” Maya screamed and ran to the closet door to hide, and I locked myself in the bathroom.

  “Lisa, sweetie, drinking won’t help you.” Chelsey tried to talk me down.

  “Tell that to someone who’s not dealing with the world seeing you getting fingered.”

  “All of us have things we regret,” Maya said.

  I closed my eyes, took in her words, scanned the bottle of wine, and nodded my head. I went to turn the lock, and they busted in, pulling me in a group hug.

  “Where’s the fighter who threatened to kick everybody’s ass on my behalf?” Maya asked.

  “That’s different. When it’s my family or friends, I become someone else.”

  “Well, you need that same mentality for yourself. It’s not over,” Kyla explained.

  “Great, you tramps have me tearing up in here, and I hate to cry.” I chortled, and they laughed.

  “Do you know who has it out for you?” Maya questioned.

  “Ohh yeah, Rhett Fuller.”

  “Who is that?” Kyla asked.

&nbs
p; “I’ve heard of him. A big-time real estate agent,” Chelsey answered.

  “I was doing a story on him, and I received a few scam calls but didn’t think anything.” The girls followed me to my bedroom, and I went into my walk-in closet to grab something to wear for dinner.

  “That’s how it starts,” Kyla said.

  “I had one tenant… Marisal.”

  “Have you spoken to her lately?” Maya typed in her cell phone.

  “No, I’ll call her tomorrow.”

  “Just be careful.” Chelsey shook her head at me when I held a one-piece jumpsuit up to my chest.

  “Let me freshen up.” I tossed a short skirt and crop top on the bed, with fresh underwear. I planned on going to find Morris after dinner, to find out why he was ignoring me.

  “Maya, do you know anyone who could help me investigate the leak?”

  The atmosphere at the restaurant was chilly while we waited for our food to come. At first, I wanted to wear dark shades and hide, but the girls nicked that idea and told me not to hide myself. If Maya could still walk around with her head held high, I knew I could do the same. Tony was still her security, and he sat a few tables away to keep an eye out for anything crazy.

  “I can ask Mason, but I think Morris would know better.” Maya sipped on her red wine.

  “Call Mason,” I suggested. Hopefully, he could tell me if Morris was back in town.

  “Lisa, I’m not getting in the middle of you two.”

  “I’m not putting you in the middle,” I replied, holding my hands up in surrender.

  “Her face looks like she’s up to something,” Kyla joked.

  I flipped her off.

  “Please… I just need to confirm something.”

  She groaned, picked her phone up, and dialed on speaker.

  “Having a good time with your friends?” Mason’s deep voice blasted through the phone. Maya’s face lit up like a high school girl.

  “Hey, babe. Is Malia asleep?” she asked.

  “We're still watching Soul and painting toenails.” Mason grunted, and we heard Malia in the background.

  Maya snickered, and I laughed. Mason spoiled Malia rotten, and Maya was more of the disciplinarian when she messed up.

  “She needs to go to bed, but we’ll talk about it later. Have you spoken to Morris?” she asked.