Hustling on the Down Low

by MT Pope

  “What would you be doing if you could not be doing what you are doing now?” he asked. I had to admit that that was a very good question.

  “I’d be a ho,” I answered. He looked at me for a second and then burst into laughter. I loved his laugh as well. It was so freeing to hear. It was loud and boisterous. I couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

  “No, I really don’t know. I’ve never thought about that. I love what I do. What about you?” I threw the question right back at him.

  He paused for a few seconds. His eyes danced in his head momentarily while he thought. “Well, something in the medical field for sure. I love the human body and its form. God has blessed my hands. I smell our dinner finishing up. Let me go check on it. I’ll be right back.”

  He got up from the sofa and walked out of the room. I wanted to scream in excitement as if I were a schoolgirl. It also gave me time to get my thoughts together and wonder what he might be asking next when he came back.

  It didn’t take him long to come back into the room with a glowing smile on his face. “Dinner is ready. Follow me to ecstasy.” He turned and used his index finger over his shoulder to beckon me to follow him.

  I rose from the sofa and followed behind him. The dining area was just as nice as the rest of the house. I could get used to this. I could be the house husband that he needed and deserved. I just needed to convince him of such.

  He seated me, and then went back into his kitchen. A great aroma followed him as he made his way back into the room.

  A meal of braised lamb and seasoned vegetables was presented perfectly. We said a quick prayer over the food and began to dig in. In between forkfuls of good food, we continued to talk.

  “So, where do you see this going?” he asked. The question caught me off guard, but I was happy he was thinking about a future. Maybe I was in it. I wasn’t in it for the money, but it was a good add-on to the package before me.

  “I see a bright future and infinite possibilities.” I hoped that was a good enough answer for him.

  “That’s nice to hear. I hope that it is going to happen. I have a very good feeling about you. Love is a necessity in this life.”

  “I believe that as well,” I agreed.

  We finished our food and the rest of the night went by without a problem. No physical intimacy happened, but the intangible intimacy was on point.

  Chapter 25

  Avery

  Check In

  “Hello,” she answered the phone as if she was surprised to hear from me.

  “Good day, Monica. I was calling to check up on you.” I tried to sound convincing, but it was hard. Her tone of her voice told me that she needed something.

  “Really?” There was some disbelief in her voice.

  “Yes, I normally don’t get personal with the parents of the children I rear, but I felt a connection to you. There is something about you that is enchanting.”

  “That’s nice to hear.”

  “It was nice to say, and it is the truth. You will not get anything less than that from me.” You must plant lies in the heads of others so they get a picture of you in their head that’s not painted by themselves. I was a Picasso of minds. I painted you a picture of me long before you made up your mind about me.

  “Now, that’s nice to hear as well.”

  “So are you and your husband okay?” I moved on with my plans. I already knew the answer. I just wanted to hear it from her lips.

  “Well, that didn’t go exactly as planned.”

  “Wow, really? It seemed like a sure thing.” I feigned hope and concern.

  “Yes, I felt the same thing. Something is just off, and I don’t know what to do.”

  “I don’t know how to say this, but I will ask. Are you sure he’s not with another woman?”

  “My husband is not that type of man.” She sounded convincing. She believed it. I did as well, but I still had to put it in her mind.

  “Monica, no man is that dedicated. Men are creatures of habit. If habits change, then so does the creature.”

  “I don’t believe that.” She sounded defiant. I loved it.

  “You don’t have to believe the truth for it to be true. You just die because of your ignorance.”

  There was silence on her end of the phone. Maybe I hit her too hard with the last words that I gave her.

  “Are you still there?”

  “Yes, I’m here, or what’s left of me,” she chuckled after she spoke.

  “The truth stings, but it can be rather healing in the end. Truth is I don’t know what your husband is capable of. I just wanted to give you a different point of view.”

  “I appreciate that. It’s what I needed to hear. It wasn’t easy to hear but necessary.”

  “Well, I don’t want to hold you. I was just checking in on my star player’s mother.”

  “Again, I appreciate the call.”

  I hung up and smiled to myself. I was deep in my lair and work on plans to seal the deal on my hold of the city.

  Chapter 26

  Leroy

  Making Amends

  I was sitting in a meeting with my some of my leaders, and my mind was clouded with my family, mainly, my wife. I had to make it up to her. Maps and graphs were spread across the table, but all I could think about was my hand around my wife’s neck in the shower the other day. I saw so much fear in her eyes in those few seconds. I was a man on the edge, and I needed to get my bearings before I lost it all.

  “Y’all continue this shit and keep me posted on the progress. I have to take care of some things.” I got up from my chair and exited one of my safe houses. It wasn’t late, and I had to do something to make amends with my wife. There was no reason for my behavior over the last few weeks. And putting my hands on her was a no-no. I had to recover the situation. I can’t let my kingdom rise and my castle fall. That would be stupid.

  I knew what my wife liked, and those were the places I went to get some gifts to cater to her at this moment. Every woman loves pampering and surprises. I was going to blow her out of the water. I shopped to no end to satisfy myself and my wife. It’s true what they say: “happy wife happy life.” My wife has been there for me through it all, and I needed to acknowledge that. This was all my fault, and guilt was pushing me to get more, which I did. During the shopping, I texted my son to request that he get his mother out of the house for a few hours so that I could go home and set everything up. I knew that I had to make it up to him as well, but it wouldn’t take much for me to get back in his good graces. I knew that my son wanted me at his practice and games, but he understood what a man had to do for his family. I made sure I trained him on providing for his family at all costs. I was sacrificing for the greater good of all our lives.

  I got home and set up the house as best as I could get it in anticipation for my queen to arrive home. I talked to my son a few times while setting up, giving him instructions. His last instruction was to drop my wife off at home and make up an excuse to go out with friends.

  The jingling of keys in the door signaled my wife’s arrival back home. As soon as she entered the house, she was greeted with a huge bouquet of white and yellow roses. Her face was full of surprise. I loved it.

  “What’s this for?” she inquired, stunned.

  “This is sorry for all that has happened over the last few weeks. My queen, you are my world, and I don’t want you to forget.”

  “Roy, I’m speechless.” She covered her mouth with her hand. A few tears slipped down her face letting me know that she was getting emotional and in a good way. I knew I was at the threshold of forgiveness.

  “It’s not over. Let’s go into the living room. There’s more,” I said as I gently guided her with my hands around her waist. I was excited to see the look on her face when she got there.

  We got to the room, and her face lit up once again.

  “This is . . .” She couldn’t even finish her statement because she was looking at a brand-new living-room set that I had
to pay big bucks to get here on such short notice. On the sofa was all kinds of pocketbooks, shoes, and outfits that I knew she would adore. I did pay attention to my wife’s taste a lot of the time because if I hadn’t, I would have been in trouble trying to put this together and making sure she would approve. My phone vibrated letting me know that her other gift had arrived and was at the front of the house waiting. I knew that she would love this.

  “Monica, it’s not over. Go to the front door and open it, please.”

  “What have you done?” She smiled. She was almost giddy with excitement.

  I trailed behind her as she went to the front door and opened it.

  “Oh my Lord!” She covered her mouth with both her hands in sheer joy.

  “Is it mine?” she asked.

  “Yes, take him or her.”

  She reached her hands out and pulled the Yorkipoo dog out of the hands of a dog farmer whom I also lucked out and got to come all this way from close to D.C. to get the dog here. My wife has always wanted to have one of these, but I was a no-pet type of guy. I had to show her that I was serious about how sorry I was. If this wasn’t enough, then I don’t know what else I could do.

  She came back in the house, and I closed the door behind us, but not before I handed off three stacks to get that damn shit factory here on such short notice.

  My wife was all over that dog. Shit, she forgot I was even in the room now.

  “You like him?” I asked, more so to get some attention back on me.

  “Leroy, you have totally outdone yourself. I’m just floored by all of this.”

  “Nothing is too much for you, baby. Nothing.” I smiled and secretly patted myself on the back. I was just hoping that this was enough to keep her occupied and busy. I was going to continue to be absent for as long as it took to get my empire where I wanted it to be. This ghost guy was not making it easy to track him down, but I was determined, and I would not stop until he was at my feet.

  Chapter 27

  Monica

  Smoke Screen

  I sat on my new living-room set still in awe. “Leroy, you really did it up,” I said to myself out loud. It was a few days after he lavished me with tons of gifts and my new Yorkipoo dog.

  “What is this all about?” I raised Monroe, that’s what I named the dog Leroy gave me, into the air and talked to him. The conversation that I had with Coach the other day was still in the back of my mind. My husband was saying he was sorry for mistreating me, but was this all that it was about? I mean, my husband knew my sizes and all when it came to dresses and bras, which is rare for a husband, especially one that was in the street life. It made me wonder who helped him with all of this. He couldn’t have done all of this by himself. Could he?

  “I just don’t know what to think any more. So much has changed over time, and I’m totally lost in a marriage that I was completely sure of a few short months ago. Now, I don’t know if these gifts were an apology for something else and how he was treating me or just how he was neglecting me.

  “What do you think, Monroe?” The dog looked at me, but nothing came out, which was expected. I didn’t want to become one of the CSI wives, but I think I just may have to do some detective work and see what else has my husband’s attention out in the streets.

  I needed some help in that area because I have never had any reason to do it. I need someone who is impartial in the matter and has nothing to gain from it.

  Today was one of the last days of practice before the boys’ basketball team started their city tournament, and I was going to have to pull Coach aside and ask him if he knew someone who could do a little spy work for me.

  “Ma, you ready to go?” Corey yelled as he came down the steps. He seemed more upbeat these last few days. I guess the anger that he had when I told him about his father was dissipating over time.

  “Yeah, Corey. I have to get the dog carrier; then we can be on our way.”

  “Ma, can you do me a favor and don’t ever refer to that dog as a sibling of mine.” He looked serious.

  “Boy, go ahead out to the car and get out of my face. Besides, your little brother’s feelings is hurt by that. Just look at his face.” I held Monroe up to him and then laughed. Corey smirked but then left the room for the car. I did what I said and was in the car in minutes.

  “Corey, so why are you so happy all of a sudden?” I asked as I hopped on the expressway.

  “What do you mean, Ma? I’m always happy.”

  “You weren’t happy when I told you about your father the other day, so that actually cancels the word ‘always,’ son.”

  He looked at me like I had said something wrong. “Ma, that is not the same. That was an isolated situation. I’m over that now.”

  “I can see that. I think there’s a person in your life that is fueling this happiness. Am I correct?”

  “Why does it have to be a person to make me happy? I can’t be happy on my own?” He had an attitude.

  “Corey, that didn’t answer my question. You’re avoiding it. Good job with the evasive offensive defense. I’m not the one, though. Answer my question.”

  “Ma, I’m a single man. I’m happy of my own accord.”

  “She better be treating you right. That’s all I’m saying.”

  He didn’t say anything after that because he knew that I was aware of the change of pattern. He was a happy guy. But today, he was just floating almost. I remember that feeling all too well in the beginning stages of his father’s and my relationship. I still loved his father. I just wasn’t “floating” at the moment.

  It didn’t take long before we were pulling up at the gymnasium. I exited the car, and Corey grabbed his gear out of the backseat. I was glad to see my son at practice most days, but today was all about me. I couldn’t wait to pull Coach to the side and see if he knew anyone that could help me. I had a strong feeling that he knew someone.

  Practice seemed like it was taking forever to end, and when it finally did, I was down those bleachers and headed over to where the coach was standing.

  “Coach, may I have a moment of your time?” I asked after all the boys went into the shower area.

  “Sure, is everything okay?”

  “Yes and no. I need you ask you something in your office. It’s rather personal.”

  “Sure, follow me this way.”

  I followed him, and as soon as we both sat down and got settled, he looked at me and waited for me to begin.

  “Well, after the incident with my husband, he decided that he would surprise me with a few lavish gifts that were all on point in every way imaginable. But it also made me curious as to the motives.”

  “Motives?” he questioned.

  “Yes, motives. I don’t know if my husband is sorry or cheating. I have never been worried about my husband until he picked out clothes and bras in my size precisely. I think some chick is helping him or trying to get at him. I hope not, but that’s what I feel.”

  “Feelings don’t have facts, Monica. They never do. With that being said, what do you need from me?”

  “Well, I’m hoping that you had a friend or someone that can spy on my husband. He’s not an easy target, but I can give you some information on places he frequents.”

  “I’m not sure about this, Monica. Is this really something that you want to do?” His hands were folded on the desk in front of me. He looked concerned.

  “Yes, I just want to put this feeling to rest.”

  “Okay, well, I have a friend that I can call; then I can report any findings to you. I hope and pray that he finds nothing. You are a nice lady, and your husband is probably just busy. You don’t just develop these problems; they are there from the beginning. If you say he wasn’t like that in the beginning, then he probably hasn’t changed, but I will do what you ask and since your son is my star player, I’ll do this on the house. He owes me a favor anyway.”

  “Thanks, Coach, and please leave my son out of this. He doesn’t need to know anything until I’m sure of
the situation.”

  “I can respect that.” He nodded his head in agreement.

  I reached out and shook his hand, and then exited his office. Coach seemed more confident about my husband than I did . . . and that worried me.

  Chapter 28

  Corey

  Perks

  “That’s it right there.” I had my hand on the back of Dre’s head as he bobbed up and down on my manhood. The feeling of power over a person can be quite exhilarating. I see why my father was trying to do what he was trying to do in the streets. Being at the top had some very great perks. Yes, I was still a bit apprehensive when it came to Dre because he had my secret, but that was still on the back burner of my cares. Dre was looser than he was when it came to being sexually free from the first time in the motel. He was the perk of my father being his boss and of my father’s disdain for the homosexual movement.

  Money, power, and sex . . . They reigned well together, and I was loving it. I didn’t have the money per se, because it was my father’s, but I did share in it, for sure. I was just beginning to get the taste for power, and you already know where I am with sex.

  We’ve been at the hotel for about fifteen minutes, and this is where he started . . . on his knees. For a guy that was as well built as he was, he sure was submissive, and I could get used to it. I had two other boys that I would knock off from time to time, but they just may have met their match. I wasn’t in love or any of that, but this guy was mature and handled himself like a pro. Maybe mature men are the way to go. Now, he was not senile or old. He had me by at least ten years. It’s said age is nothing but a number, but we’ll see. I hope that this dude is loyal. He got my life in his hands for sure. I didn’t want my business out in the streets, and I hope he don’t try no ransom type of shit with my secret. He didn’t seem like the dumb type, but we have only been in contact with each other twice. I want to see what he’s all about and how he hid his sexuality from my father. I could see, but I wanted to pick his mind.