A Hustler's Queen

by Saundra

  A feeling of emptiness and betrayal took over me and seeped from my veins, because I would never have the answers that I wanted. Needed. No, I would be left alone for the rest of my lonely life to wonder why, and what if. Then I remembered that I only had my father to thank for that.

  Chapter 11

  I couldn’t shake my dad’s betrayal, no matter how hard I tried; it had consumed me. Feeling depressed, I shut myself inside the house, unable to go anywhere. A new semester had started at school and I had missed an entire week. I wanted to go, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to concentrate because the only thing that had my full attention was the mother that I didn’t know. Was she still out there? Had she given up on me after begging for so long? I couldn’t shake the constant funk I was in. To make myself feel better, I had even tried to rationalize Dad’s state of mind. But I concluded that Dad was a strong man and he never did anything that he didn’t want to do. So there was no excuse.

  In the kitchen, I pulled a can of Sprite out of the refrigerator, popped the top, and started pouring it into a glass. The sudden ringing of my doorbell annoyed me. I didn’t have any idea who it could be. But I wished that whoever it was would just go away; I wasn’t in the mood. Wrapping my hand around the cold glass, I took a swig of the Sprite. The doorbell started ringing again. I sighed and realized I might as well answer it, because whoever it was didn’t seem to be taking the hint and going away.

  Placing my glass on the kitchen counter, I reluctantly headed to the door. Annoyed, I didn’t even look to see who it was before swinging the door open. With a scowl on my face, I was prepared to kick whoever it was off my property. But to my surprise, I came face-to-face with DaVon. Never in a million years would I have expected him to show up at my house unannounced. The first and only thing that came to mind was the headscarf that my hair was wrapped in. Without saying one word, I immediately shut the door in his face and raced to the hallway bathroom. Quickly, I unwrapped my hair and allowed it to fall to my shoulders. DaVon started to knock again. Making my way back to the door, I yelled, “What?”

  “Aye, I wanted to check on you to see if you were okay.”

  Am I okay? I silently repeated to myself. What was this all about? But I didn’t want to ask him that; it would require me to hold a conversation. So I decided to keep it simple. “Yes,” I replied from my side of the door.

  He didn’t reply right away, so I hoped that was enough for him, that maybe he was gone. “Precious, will you please open the door?” I should have known that would be next.

  “Listen, I would but I’m busy. I’ll call you,” I lied.

  “Come on, I just want to see you for a minute,” he begged.

  For some reason his begging made me feel guilty. Turning the bottom lock, I opened the door halfway and stood in the gap. “What’s up?” I sighed. I wished he would just go away.

  “I just wanted to come through and check to see if you were okay. I been hittin’ you up for a couple of weeks. Your phone been going to voicemail, so I thought what could be better than face-to-face?” He hunched his shoulders.

  “Well, you’ve seen me, I’m fine. Now you can say goodbye. Cause like I said, I’m busy.” With that, I attempted to shut the door.

  He placed the palm of his hand on the door, stopping it. I paused and glared at him. He was looking so good. “Can I please come in?” he asked with a slight smile on his face. “I promise not to stay long.” He was not giving up.

  Opening the door wider, I stepped to the side so he could enter. I shut the door behind him, and he stared at me as if he was trying to take me all in. I felt so unsexy. I had just gotten out of the shower not long before he arrived, so I only had on a pair of sweats and T-shirt. I led the way to the den. “Go in and have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

  In my room I changed into a pair of fitted jeans, fitted T-shirt, then pulled my hair back into a soft ponytail. Back in the den, I found DaVon looking around the room at my old pictures. Some were of me in school and some were family pictures Dad and I had taken.

  “So why are you really here?” I asked.

  “Like I said, I really wanted to check on you. I haven’t heard from you. I tried reaching out by phone but got nothing.” I really wished he wouldn’t repeat that.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” I offered. I thought it better to change the conversation because I didn’t know what to say to that. My life was complicated, but I didn’t want to share that with him.

  “Nah, I’m cool. Seeing you is enough.”

  I wasn’t sure what those words did to me, but suddenly I was glad he was there and I was not in a hurry for him to leave. We got to talking and decided on ordering up some food and watched a movie.

  That night turned into more nights, and just like that we were back to hanging out and going on dates. I was enjoying myself and his company. Turns out, his company was what I needed to begin reviving myself. Keisha had reached out. She was ready to hang, but I was too busy for that. I had returned to school and I had booked my free time with DaVon in advance.

  I still thought about my dad and his betrayal daily, but I was ready to push it to the side. I was tired of torturing myself with the ifs, ands, or buts. Whatever his reasoning was, be it selfishness or for my own good, I would never know. What I did know was that he didn’t have the right to lie to me. And I was angry as hell about it. But this was my life now and I could live it the way I saw fit. No one could tell me what to do with it, how to think, or assume what was good or bad for me. I had believed that my dad was a good, honest man who only sought to raise his daughter to be the best person that she could be. All lies. But now my eyes were wide open. I saw life as it really was, and I had a new take on it. And I was taking control of mine and officially becoming DaVon’s lady.

  Chapter 12

  Although DaVon and I had fallen into the role of being a couple, we hadn’t talked about it yet. We were still just having fun, enjoying each other. Especially me. I laughed as much as possible, and I needed it. I guess you could say it was therapeutic. But tonight was something different. I had finally accepted his offer to have dinner at his house. Originally, I planned on driving, but he insisted on sending a car, so I gave in. After the long ride I was glad that I had accepted his offer, especially once we pulled up to the gated community in Bel-Air where he lived. The driver slowed down so that I could take in the full sight of the mansion. Its outside beauty truly made my jaw drop. Like everyone else I knew, I had heard about Bel-Air and seen it on television a few times. I mean, who hasn’t watched The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? But never had I been there.

  The circular driveway was unbelievable. The driver opened my door and I climbed out and made my way up to the door. I wasn’t sure because I didn’t want to stare, but I could have sworn there was a chandelier hanging outside the door.

  “I thought you might never get here.” DaVon opened the door before I could ring the doorbell or knock.

  “Well, never didn’t come. Cause here I am.” I smiled. For a brief second, I felt nervous about going inside. Butterflies jumped around in my stomach like hot firecrackers.

  DaVon reached out for my hand. I was glad he had done that. Otherwise I might have just stood there like a statue. “Come on inside.” Soon as I was inside, he wrapped me in his arms. “I waited all day for this.” A smile spread about my lips. My eyes captured the floors. I wasn’t exactly sure what real marble looked like, but my intuition said this had to be it. And I was too embarrassed to ask. “You look beautiful, as always.” He ate me up with his eyes.

  “And you too,” I returned without hesitation. Since he was cooking—well, his chef was preparing the meal—I had decided to wear a cute mini dress and some heels so that I looked formal. “Your house is beautiful.”

  “Thank you. Let me show you around. I want you to feel right at home whenever you are here.” He said that like I would be there all the time. Maybe he had forgotten, but I was just there for dinner.

  The house was
amazing; he showed me every inch and I was wowed. Never in a million years could I have imagined it would be like this. I had never envisioned being invited to a place so beautiful. Then I realized that with all that was going on with myself, issues with school, and my dad, never once had we discussed nor had I asked him what he did for a living, but I guessed now was not the time. I was about to say forget it and ask him anyway when his chef announced dinner was about to be served. I decided to save it for another time.

  * * *

  “Would you like another slice of pie?” DaVon looked at me like I was on the menu.

  “I can’t eat anything else. I am stuffed. Compliments to you and the chef.”

  “It was nothin’. This is what he do,” he bragged playfully. “Let’s go in the den for drinks.”

  In the den, I was equally stunned to find he had it set up for the date. A bottle of Montrachet Chardonnay chilling on ice, chocolate-covered strawberries, candles, the whole nine. Seeing the room set up like this sent my brain cells hopping around. What was he expecting from me? My thoughts must have been written on my face.

  “Don’t be alarmed.” He gently grasped my right hand. “I just want us to relax and unwind after our meal,” he explained. “No expectations.”

  “No, I like it. It’s nice.” I took in a deep breath, thankful that he’d quickly cleared that up.

  He took the lead and I followed him inside. I sat down on the huge, comfortable sofa as he poured us both a glass of wine. After handing me my glass, he sat down next to me. I took a sip, and the taste sent tingles through my whole body.

  “That was good,” I said. I sucked in my bottom lip to savor the taste.

  “That good, huh?” DaVon grinned at me.

  “Yes.” I grinned. Leaning into me, DaVon came in for a kiss and I was more than willing to oblige him. The wine had done its job and relaxed me. DaVon was such a good kisser. He had schooled me and I was getting better.

  “Now that was good for me.” He licked his lips like he could taste me on them. I laughed. Looking around again, I was wowed by his home. “This house is so beautiful. I can’t believe you live here all alone.”

  “Yep, just me. I have a housekeeper named Maria; she comes about three to four days a week. I consider Maria family. Other than that, I’m always here alone.”

  “Well, it’s spic-and-span, so she does a good job . . .” I paused as I thought about all the nice cars that DaVon drove, this big house that he lived in alone. Everything about his lifestyle smelled like money. I didn’t want to be out of line. But the question was eating at me like a bedbug at feast time. I spilled my questions in his lap. “So, what is it that you do for a living? Where do you work?” I broke it down even more. I didn’t want there to be any question about what I was asking.

  Silence covered the room and I was not sure if that meant that I should be alarmed, so I sipped my wine and waited.

  “I expected you to ask me this eventually,” he finally said.

  “I guess it would be only natural. And no disrespect is intended, but I would like an answer.” I had not expected to say that, but at this moment in my life, I was not about to accept lies. My dad had done enough of that to last me a lifetime.

  The gleam left his eyes and a serious look took over. I would have braced myself, but I wasn’t exactly sure how. So I just listened.

  “I deal in supply and demand . . . lots of it.”

  The glass in my hand suddenly felt slippery. I didn’t need him to go into full detail because I knew exactly what he meant. I may have been sheltered growing up, but I was from South Central, and had attended public school all of my life. Drugs were nothing new to me. I just had never dealt with anyone up close and personal in it.

  “In fact, some might say I’m on the fast track to become a kingpin. Quincy and everyone you have seen around him. . . they work for me,” he went on to explain. I didn’t say anything, but suddenly everything made perfect sense to me. The whole setup. “I know it’s a lot, but I gotta know, are you okay with the hustle? Because that’s what I do full-time. Nonstop.” His question was bold and the acceptance in his tone was blunt.

  “Yes.” The word jumped out of my mouth so fast I was in disbelief. But I sounded bold and in control, as if I knew what I was accepting. Inside though, I was frightened as to what I was stepping into. What would my dad think? I answered that question in my head right away. I didn’t care. This was my life, and now DaVon was my man. His life was my life.

  Placing my wineglass on the table, I gently pulled DaVon’s glass from his hand and set it beside mine. Placing both arms around his neck, I stuck my tongue in his mouth and started to suck his; he matched me stroke for stroke. A warm feeling took control of my entire body and led my every move. I reached for DaVon’s shirt and tugged at it. I wanted it off and desired my clothes off as well. DaVon wasted no time helping me undress. Laying me down, DaVon took full control.

  But I had to share my secret first. “DaVon,” I whispered.

  “Yes, babe?” he whispered back.

  “I’m a virgin,” I announced as if I would be charged a fee for the slight inconvenience.

  Hovering over me, he kissed my lips gently. “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle. Next stop, ecstasy.”

  And that he did. I relaxed as he continued to guide me and successfully led me to complete ecstasy, a feeling I would never be able to describe.

  Chapter 13

  To say my relationship with DaVon took off full speed ahead like The Fast and the Furious would be an understatement. And we decided right away that we wanted to be close with each other at all times. So I moved in with him and fell right into position. Even though I was still angry and confused about my dad and his true intentions for my life, I did not want to sell the house. It still held all of my childhood memories and I did not intend to lose that. I had lost enough. And since DaVon’s house was so far, there was no way I would be making that long drive to keep it clean. So instead I hired a housekeeper to go in twice a week to clean. I would drop by every other week or so to check on the house and retrieve the mail.

  Everything was working out for the best. I was doing well in school and looking forward to putting that accomplishment behind me. As for DaVon, I couldn’t have asked for a better man. From the time I woke up in the morning until I lay down at night, he made sure I was happy and didn’t want for anything. Recently, he had bought me a G-Class Mercedes jeep that I adored. I wasn’t used to driving around in luxury. Sometimes I considered pinching myself to make sure it was really me behind the wheel. But while I loved my truck I was equally attached to my Toyota; it was a piece of my dad, just like the house I refused to lose. Instead I had DaVon follow me home to Dad’s house and I parked it alongside Dad’s vehicle.

  And today was an even better day for me. DaVon and I were meeting a Realtor for the dry cleaners. A week ago, I had found out that it was still for sale; apparently things hadn’t worked out with the previous buyers. When I found that out, I instantly called the Realtor and set up a meeting. I was really nervous and hoped everything worked out, so I could be the proud owner of my dad’s beloved dry cleaners. It would be back in the family where it belonged. Even though the worst tragedy of my life had struck there, it was a part of me, the only family that I could revive. Because my dad, I could never get back. But his legacy was in front of me.

  “This is it,” I announced as I pulled in front of the dry cleaners. From where I sat, the building still looked to be the same. It had been a minute since I had seen it, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t know if all the windows would be knocked out or if graffiti would be all over the building. I just worried something would be wrong. To my surprise, it was free of any harm. “That must be the Realtor right there,” I pointed out. We watched a tall, skinny black guy dressed in a suit approach the door and use a key to unlock it.

  “Let’s do this. And don’t worry.” DaVon winked at me and climbed out of the truck.

  My heart skipped
a beat when I put my hands on the door to go inside. I felt scared when I thought about the tragedy that had happened inside and claimed my father’s life. But I also knew his loving presence was inside, his love for the cleaners, and knew that he would want nothing more than for me to reclaim what was rightfully ours. I took in a deep breath, held my head high, and stepped inside with DaVon behind me. His presence gave me courage.

  The Realtor greeted us, his hand extended. “Hi, I’m Dexter Raymond.”

  “Hi, I’m Precious and this is my boyfriend, DaVon.” I instantly wondered if I should have referred to DaVon as my boyfriend. While it was true, it sounded so immature. I brushed it off though. We were here for business and at the moment that’s exactly where my mind should be focused.

  “What’s up, man?” DaVon said, his eyes roaming around the cleaners.

  “I’m glad you could make it. I hear your dad was the original owner,” Dexter said.

  I nodded my head yes. The mention of Dad as the previous owner touched a soft spot.

  “I understand that gives you a personal interest in the place?”

  “Yes,” I confirmed, holding back tears.

  “Well, I hope we are able to reach a closing cost that will get it back for you.”

  DaVon spoke up. “Never mind the closing cost.” I glared at him and realized that he had walked away. He had made his way around the counter. For a brief second, I could see Dad and me standing behind the counter laughing and talking like we used to do when there were no customers. “Just get her the paperwork and keys; money is not a problem.” I looked at him and tears formed in my eyes. I should have known he would make sure I got the cleaners back at whatever cost. The man was good to me.

  “Not a problem. I will draw up all the papers and get the ball rolling. You will hear from me in a couple of days.” The bright expression on Dexter’s face told me this was the easiest sale he had ever made.