by Mona
“Alright then. Wednesday morning it is.” Malachi clapped his hands together. His gaze made Arianna both nervous and awkward. Unsure of what to do at that moment, her office phone buzzed indicating it was Stacey calling. Clearing her throat, she gladly escaped his gaze by making her way over to her desk. Glancing at Angeline who wore a goofy grin on her face, she pressed the talk button, “Yes, Stacey”.
“Mrs. Aeikan, your ten-thirty appointment is here. Also Mr. Aeikan just arrived and he’s looking for Mr. James. Is he in your office?”
“Yes, he is.” Arianna replied as she looked over at Malachi who was now seated on the couch. “Stacey, tell him to come in here and please have him bring the gentlemen with him.”
“Okay, I will,” she said as Arianna ended the call.
“Well, that’s my cue to leave since you guys are about to discuss business and all.” Angeline gathered her things. Once she had her purse and briefcase in hand she walked to the door and opened it. “Ari, I’ll see you tomorrow night. Later, Mal.”
Arianna walked over and hugged Angeline as Malachi waved at her. As soon as she turned to leave, Andre appeared at the doorway with this tall, older, but drop dead gorgeous of a man. Arianna and Angeline were both in awe, however Arianna was in awe for a whole different reason. She wasn’t sure if Andre noticed or not but this man bear a striking resemblance to him. Other than being two inches taller than Andre, he possessed the same butterscotch complexion, dark eyes, full lips and low cut, soft wavy hair. The only thing missing on him was the neatly trimmed semi beard Andre wore.
“Hey Angie, hey babe,” Andre greeted as he kissed Arianna on the lips.
He turned to the mystery man. “Ian, this is my lovely wife and business partner, Arianna Aeikan and her cousin Angeline St. Jean. Do you guys know who this is?” Andre asked excitedly.
Arianna and Angeline gave him a blank look. Chuckling, Andre patted the man on the back while pointing at him. “This man spent years playing in the NFL. He bought New York a championship. This is the one and only Mr. Ian Waters.
Chapter 9
Gentle’s Men Club
Bloomfield, NJ
“Here’s a fifty, give my man’s a lap dance until I tell you to stop or this fifty runs out. But even then there’s plenty more where this came from.” Andre tucked a fifty dollar bill in the stripper’s G-string as he lightly tapped her on her ass. Leaning back in the lounge chair, he sipped on his glass of coke and hennessey as the stripper sat on Malachi’s lap slow grinding her hips to T-Pains, I’m in love with a stripper.
Got the body of a goddess
She poppin, she rollin
she climbin that pole I’m in love with a
stripper, Out of all the girls she be the
hottest I’m in love with a stripper
she poppin, she rollin she climbin that
pole I’m in love with a stripper
The stripper displayed her best lap dancing skills in which even Desmond was impressed. Desmond didn’t care too much for strip clubs or strippers for that matter. He had this pet peeved about a stream of strange men touching, rubbing and who knows what else to the same stripper he’s doing the same thing to. The whole strip club atmosphere just really wasn’t his scene but this one particular stripper was really putting in work for that fifty Andre gave her. Plus, this was another night of celebrating Malachi’s home coming so he wanted to be a trooper.
The first part of her act, she had her back facing Malachi, Desmond and Andre,
so neither one of them were really able to see her face. Once she was done, Malachi tucked a twenty on the other side of her G-string. Although he was enjoying himself, he couldn’t bring himself to get fully erect. He knew the real reason they brought him here was so he could release twenty years of sexual stress. What they were not aware of, including Andre, was during the fifth year into his bid, he had a secret fling with one of the corrections officer over at Bordentown. He was twenty years old then. Correction officers being attracted to and carrying affairs with inmates happened quite often nowadays. The affair lasted about a year until they were caught and the CO was suspended. Malachi went on with the rest of his time with no sex, despite the fact other female Correction Officers tried to approach him.
“Damn, do that shit,” Andre coached as he slowly eyed the stripper who was now facing Malachi. Andre was also enjoying himself but he knew his limit. Ever since he and Arianna had that heart to heart things had been like fireworks between them. The sex between them had reached a whole other level. Andre couldn’t help but smile as he thought of her in that very moment. When she said she wanted to be everything to him, she was not bullshitting.
The stripper slow whining to Mary J Blige’s Feel Like A Woman snapped Andre out of his thoughts. The fifty Andre tipped her ran out about thirty minutes ago, but she continued grinding on Malachi. Although he continued tipping her small bills for her efforts, he still wasn’t able to achieve a full erection.
“What’s your name, baby girl?” Malachi asked her as he and Andre tucked dollar bills in her G -String.
“Chocolate love,” she answered in a sultry tone as she continued gyrating on Malachi’s man hood.
“Chocolate Love, would you like to give my brother here a real welcome home session, name your price?” Andre suggested as he eyed her body. This particular gentlemen’s club was more than just your average strip club. This club was known for fulfilling every man’s fantasy and sexual desires. This was considered one of the top-notch high priced club. The drinks, the performances and the extra sexual requests came at a high price. This club attracted only the ballers and the high profile, high paid professionals.
“Nigga, what the hell is wrong with you? Why haven’t you tipped her yet?” Andre asked Desmond.
Desmond sipped on his Corona as he played on his cell phone. “ Uuhh, I tipped her ass ten dollars when she had her back turned, now she’s been facing us for a good thirty minutes and we can’t see her damn face. She wants more money from me I need to see her face. What the fuck is up with that anyway? She’s the only girl in here with a damn mask on,” Desmond replied as all three eyed the girl.
“Yo, Ma, I’m still waiting on that price for a private session with my brother here and I’m a need you to take that mask off. Let us see that pretty face,” Andre requested as he pulled a stack of money out of his pocket. The girl slowed her movement down as she became nervous. She wore this mask when the owner came to her and told her she was being requested by two of the most highest paid men in New Jersey. Andre and Desmond were well known and highly respected in the New York and New Jersey area. Years of hustling and crossing into the professional world earned them a well known reputation. Their money was long and everyone knew it.
Chocolate Love hated being a stripper and hated the extra activites affiliated with being a stripper even more. Truth is, she needed the money. Although she had a full time job that paid extremely well at a high top company in New York City, she still couldn’t seem to make ends meet. Taking care of her son, trying to keep up with the Jones’ and her nasty little habit was becoming quite expensive. Although she despised doing this, she was doing what she had to do for the time being. Once she recognized the men who were requesting her, she came up with the idea to disguise her face with the extra masks the girls keep in the dressing room. She was thankful they didn’t recognize her when she was dancing on stage, however, it appeared that she could no longer prevent the truth from being discovered.
“Eh, what’s your price? We don’t have all night,” Andre asked her once again.
“Uuhm that will be one thousand for the basics,” she replied while eyeing Malachi. She wanted him the minute she set her eyes on him. Honestly, she wouldn’t mind spending some quality time with him for free. He was that sexy. She hated having sex with strange men for money but this one right here was in a league of his own. She would sex him for any price or no damn price at all. As she eyed all three of them, she was thinking how she wouldn’t
mind spending some one on one time with each of them. All three were sexy as hell but one of them wore an eye blinding platinum wedding band on his finger. She wished she could snag a man of their caliber so she would no longer have to turn tricks and dance on the side.
“What the fuck are the basics?” Desmond asked with a scowl on his face.
Andre and Malachi laughed as they waited for her to answer because they too were curious.
“Uuhh, missionary, me riding you, and doggy style are basics. Anything else, such as me giving you head, anal, any role play will be extra.
Desmond shook his head. “Some bullshit.”
Andre laughed as he peeled off crisp one hundred dollar bills out of his pocket and handed it to the girl. “And we going to need you to take that mask off, Ma. Like right now.”
Malachi licked his lips at her smooth chocolate skin. The seven shots of Hennessey and the Coronas he consumed had taken effect and he was now fully erect and ready to release nineteen years of sexual tension.
“Come on, girl… we don’t have all night.” Desmond edged on as they sat waiting on her.
Realizing she could no longer prolong the inevitable, Chocolate Love climbed off of Malachi’s lap and stood to her feet. She managed to captured some of the money which fell out of her G-string, as she slowly pulled her mask off of her face.
Malachi, Andre and Desmond sat with wide eyed as they realized who Chocolate Love really was.
“Da fuck? Stacey?” Andre asked in disbelief.
Chapter Ten
Candace James Help Center
Arianna’s Office (Grover Manor)
Arianna was seated at her desk when she heard a light knock on the door. “Come in!” she yelled. Once there was no answer, she thought nothing of it as she continued her paperwork she was working on. After about five minutes, she heard the knock again, but before she could yell for the person to come in, Malachi entered her office and closed the door.
“What’s going on?” Malachi asked as he made his way to her desk and had a seat in one of the chairs behind the desk facing her.
“Nothing much. It’s eleven o’ clock. Where have you been?” Arianna asked as she smiled and eyed him closely. She couldn’t help but notice how tired he looked. She chuckled to herself, because Andre looked the exact same way this morning when she left. She’s very well aware of where they spent their night. Andre told her all about it. Although she was sure he left out a few minor details, it felt good they were able to fully communicate and be completely honest with one another.
“Aaah, man,” Malachi groaned as he rubbed his face with both hands. Removing his hands. He looked at Arianna with semi blood shot eyes. “Had a little bit of a rough night last night,” he grinned.
Arianna laughed and shook her head. “So, I’ve heard. What I want to know is what the hell possessed the three of you to go out drinking and clubbing on a Tuesday
night?”
“Man, it was Dre’s idea. I told his ass let’s wait till the weekend.” Malachi shook his head.
Arianna laughed. “It figures. That’s why he’s paying for it now. He couldn’t even go into the office this morning. He was exhausted.”
“That’s the beauty of being the boss, right”? Malachi asked her.
“Yes, it is. But he better get his butt up this afternoon, because we closed the deal with Ian Waters and he wants to meet with us so he can sign the contracts. Oh, that reminds me. You must be there also, because a lot of your input really impressed him and I feel you partially was the reason he decided to sign with us. So, I’m giving you a percentage of the commission,” Arianna admitted as she smiled at him.
Malachi smiled as he shook his head. “Nah, you don’t have to do that. I’m still learning, I was happy to input my ideas.”
“Okay, and that’s why you should be compensated. This is business and you are part of the team. Okay?” Arianna smiled.
“All right, since you insist.” Malachi stood up and looked around her office. Her office here at the foundation was half the size of her office at Aeikan Marketing and less extravagant. It was very modest and plainly decorated, but possessed a very warm feeling. As he looked around, there was a knock on her door. Arianna stood up, walked over and opened the door.
“Good moring Mrs. Aeikan, sorry to interrupt you,” a man dressed in security uniform said, “A girl is here and she’s very distraught. She’s in one of the therapist’s room,” he whispered.
“Oh, okay, I’ll be right there.” Arianna turned to Malachi as she stood in the doorway.
“Uuuhm, Malachi, do you mind waiting in here? There’s sort of an emergency I have to tend to. I will be back unless you want to leave and we can do this again another day?”
“No, go ahead. I’ll wait. I have nothing else scheduled right now. Go see what’s up with that young girl,” he says with sympathy. Arianna smiled as she nodded her head, walked out and closed the door. Malachi walked up to a desk she had in the far corner of the office that contained countless pictures of them as kids. Smiling, he picked up the first one that caught his eye. It was a picture of all seven of them. Malachi, Andre, Candace, Arianna, Angeline, Desmond and Edward. Yes, they all go way back. The bond they shared went beyond friendship. They each endured their own share of young love, heartbreak, growing pains, joy and pain, but through it all they had each other. They each have a story to tell. As Malachi eyed the picture, his thoughts wandered down memory lane of his sister Candace. He grew emotional as he thought back to the day she passed away.
1988
“Man, I’m going home for a minute. I keep calling my house and Candy not answering.” Malachi said as he had opened the door to Andre’s house.
“Maybe she’s in the shower or she busy or maybe she don’t feel like talking.” Andre insisted as he followed Malachi out of the door.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to see if she’s okay. I called her ten times.” Malachi and Andre crossed the street over to Grover Manor housing project. Entering Malachi’s building, they decided to take the stairs, instead of waiting for the elevator. Feeling anxious, Malachi took the stairs two at a time, something he often did when he was upset. He wasn’t sure why he was feeling upset but he shook off the feeling. Andre was behind him, as they reached Malachi’s door. Pulling out his house keys, Malachi unlocked the door and quickly opened it. Once they entered the apartment, Malachi immediately began calling Candace’s name. “Candy! Candy!” he called out. “Dre, sit in the living room, I’m going to her room. She gotta be sleep.” Malachi ordered Andre
as he headed down the hall to Candace’s room. Once he reached her door, he knocked once, and when he still didn’t get an answer, he turned the knob and pushed the door opened. “No! No! Candy! Noo!” Malachi screamed and immediately vomited. The blood and the razor blade were too much for him to bear. Andre immediately rushed to Candace’s room to see what happened as he too grew light headed once he witnessed the sad scene for himself. As Malachi sat in his own vomit screaming for his sister, Andre stepped out into the hallway. Once the screams ceased and Andre gathered himself, he reentered the room and kneeled down to Malachi and helped him up on his feet. A week later, consoling his mom and burying his sister were the two hardest things Malachi ever had to endure.
****
Arianna returned to her office only to find an emotional Malachi standing at the table she held pictures of mostly Candace on. Rushing by his side she removed the picture from his hands and placed it back on the table. Facing him, she wrapped her arms around his waist as she hugged him. He slightly bent down, adjusting to her 5’4 frame, as he hugged her in return. He let the tears fall with no shame. He wasn’t worried with Arianna seeing him break down since it wasn’t the first time. Arianna was the one girl who had seen him at his best and had seen him at his worst. Wrapping his arms around her waist tighter, he buried his face in her neck. The scent of her perfume was intoxicating to him. Her soft skin and the scent of her hair had him mesmerized. Arianna
lifted her head up and gazed into his eyes. She was experiencing feelings she shouldn’t be feeling as nostalgia was taking over. She tried to free herself from the hold he had on her waist, but Malachi tightened the hold as he lowered her face close to hers.
Before Arianna realized what happened, they were sharing a passionate kiss. Malachi intensified the kiss by running both hands through her long thick hair. He continued kissing her deeply as he massaged her scalp, finger combed her hair and ran his hands down her back. They were lost in the moment and Malachi was on cloud nine. Arianna’s eyes were now closed where Malachi’s were opened. He recalled when he was thirteen and fourteen years old; how he used to brag to Andre and Desmond about how Arianna was the prettiest girl he ever seen.
Twenty years later and his feelings remained the same. His hands were now feely making their way down her back side as he made love to her mouth with his tongue. He dreamed of kissing her lips for twenty years. Even the three years he was upset with her, he failed in trying not to think of her. Malachi ended the kiss right after he sucked on her bottom lip. The sensation of pleasure and pain caused Arianna to reopen her eyes. As she tried to once again free herself from his hold, he held her tighter as he sat on the edge of the table, knocking over a couple of pictures. Pulling her to him, he studied her face. Leaning over, he whispered in her ear.
“Can I touch you?” His hands landed on her thighs as he waited for her response.
Arianna tried to step back but he quickly grabbed her by her waist once again and held her in place.
“Please, baby? I can’t stop wondering and fantasizing about you. I just want to feel you just once. I want to know what you feel like,” Malachi whispered once again.
Arianna felt a mixture of extreme pleasure and guilt. Malachi’s kiss, aggressiveness and touch was turning her on to the fullest, but she couldn’t help it as she thought of Andre.
