by J. J. Bella
Leon gave her one last hard poke with his foot and the girl's eyes shot open. She looked around, trying to figure out where she was. She appeared confused at first, but once her eyes settled on Leon, her expression was replaced with one of sensual delight.
"Hey," she said, her voice heavy with sleep. "What's up?"
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Wow," said the girl, "you really were fucked up last night."
"Out with it," said Leon.
"I'm Carly," she said. "I'm the girl you spent, like, two hours talking to last night."
"Sorry, Carly," said Leon, "but I don't remember a fucking thing about yesterday."
A look of disappointment flashed briefly across her pretty face.
"Did we…" said Leon.
"Nope," she said. "I really, really wanted to, though. But whatever Anton slipped into that drink of yours didn't really put you in the mood, I guess. Especially after that fucking girl barged in."
"What?" demanded Leon, blood now rushing through him, his eyes wide.
"Right when we were about to fuck, some girl barged in here and said she was your girlfriend or something. I told her to fuck off."
Leon took in a slow draw of air through his nostrils. He was angry beyond belief.
"Then what?" asked Leon, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Then she left. Then you fell asleep. And now you're right here, in bed with me."
She dragged her fingertip over Leon's bare stomach. Carly was clearly in the mood for what she didn't get last night.
But Leon wasn't. Not even a little. He swatted her hand away and sat up, looking eagerly for his phone. He found it buried in a pile of his clothes and, checking the time, he saw that it was almost one in the afternoon.
"Fuck," he said. "Fuck!"
He'd hoped for a call or a text from Jade, but there weren't any messages that he cared to read.
"Come on," said Carly. "You had a great night last night, you've earned a little R&R."
"If you had any idea just how mad I am right now, you wouldn't even think about saying what you're saying," said Leon.
"Come on, baby," said Carly. "I wanted that dick last night and I want it this morning. Don't leave a girl hanging."
Leon realized that he wasn't going to be getting anywhere with this girl. He'd gotten out of her the information about last night that he needed, and now all he could do was think about trying to set things right. He leaped out of bed and began throwing on his clothes.
"Is that a ‘no'?" asked Carly, disappointment in her voice.
"It's a ‘hell no'," said Leon, starting towards the door once he was dressed.
Carly let out a harrumph as Leon pulled the bedroom door open.
"Call me!" she shouted as he slammed the door behind him.
Leon rushed through the wreckage of last night's party, his heart boiling with anger. Once he was on the front lawn, he pulled out his phone and called Jade.
No answer.
Then, he sent her a text.
We need to talk- major misunderstanding last night. Call me ASAP.
There was no response, and Leon hopped onto his bike and took off in the direction of Jade's apartment. As he approached, he saw that there was an extremely expensive-looking luxury car, for fancier than even Jade's nice car, parked out front of her unit. He pulled his bike into a parking spot and started towards the apartment complex.
But before he could even get close, the door to Jade's apartment opened and a tall, well-built man with salt-and-pepper hair done in a professional style, his body clad in an exquisitely-tailored suit, stepped out and glared at Leon from the porch.
Leon realized right away that this guy was either a professional bodyguard or her father – which was pretty much the same thing.
"Where's Jade?" asked Leon as he stormed towards the door.
"Leon, huh?" asked the man in a stern voice, his eyes narrow with anger. "You've got a lot of goddamn nerve coming here after what you put my daughter through."
"You don't get it," said Leon, still making his way towards the front door. "There's been a misunderstanding. I need to talk to Jade."
"You stay right where you are, you little prick," said Jade's father. "She told me all about what you did last night. What's your explanation? That you got too drunk to realize what you were doing?"
"No," Leon said.
But then he realized that the truth, that he'd been drugged, wouldn't sound much better. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"I know all about you," said Jade's father. "I know what kind of shit you get up to, where you live, what you come from. And let me make it clear that you're not worthy of my daughter. So, you can get the hell out of here right now, or I can call the police and let them know just how you've been earning your pocket money."
Leon glared hard at Jade's father. But he realized that he was stuck; Jade's father didn't look like he was screwing around.
But before Leon could say or do anything, the curtain of the front window of the apartment rustled a bit. Leon saw the flash of Jade's face through the window, but only briefly.
"Jade!" he shouted. "Nothing happened! You have to know! Nothing happened!"
"Alright, that's it," said Jade's father.
Then, with incredible speed, he rushed over to Leon, put Leon's arm behind his back and began shoving him away from the apartment. Leon realized he could've fought back, but knew that getting into a fist-fight with her father likely wouldn't endear Jade too much to him.
Once they reached Leon's motorcycle, Jade's father gave Leon one last shove.
"You've screwed with my daughter enough already," he said. "Consider yourself lucky that you're only leaving here with wounded pride, and not in the back of a cop car."
Leon took one last look at the apartment before climbing back on his bike and heading off as fast as he could.
God dammit, he thought as he drove. God-fucking-dammit!
He felt helpless and angry – he didn't have a card to play.
Once back at his place, he turned his anger towards getting the apartment fixed up, using some of his newly-earned money to order some nicer furniture after he'd tidied up the last bits of the mess that remained from when his father left.
The days trickled by, Leon doing his best to make the holidays something special for Hunter and his mother. Soon, it was the first day of the new semester, and Leon, though still aching from what had happened with Jade, walked onto campus with a new sense of purpose. He knew that the end was in sight and that soon, he'd be able to leave this town behind, degree in hand, ready to start his new future as anything but a small-town drug dealer. But he hadn't heard a single word from her during the break, and he took that as a clear sign that she was done with him.
And he wasn't ready for what he saw that first day back.
Stepping out of his economics class and into the cool winter air, Leon squinted as he looked over the snow-covered campus towards the building where his next class was to be held. Students walked here and there, all of them bundled up in their winter clothes. Leon started off, but as he walked he spotted a familiar figure. It was a girl, and though he couldn't really tell due to her clothing, something about the way she walked struck him as familiar.
He drew a little closer, and as she looked off to the side, Leon realized at once that it was Jade. And at her side was a tall, well-built man, a handful of students flocked around him.
Who the hell is that? Leon asked himself as he moved through the snow, trying to get a better look without drawing attention to himself.
As he got closer, he spotted the handsome face and square jaw of the man. Then, the man opened his mouth and let out a booming laugh at one thing or another. As he walked, students would come up to him and ask for what looked to Logan to be autographs. Then, it hit Leon just who that was.
It was Logan Walker, the captain of the football team.
And he's with Jade? he thought to himself. I mean, she's certainly p
retty enough for a guy like that, but I just never really imagined her to be the type to go for a captain of the football team-type.
As if the universe wanted to make the issue abundantly clear to him, Logan's hand fell upon Jade, starting at the small of the back and stopping right on her ass. The sight of Jade with another man was like a dagger made of solid ice being driven right into his heart.
Part of him wanted to rush off campus, get onto his bike, drive to the nearest bar and get as drunk as he possibly could. But he realized at that moment that he had a choice: he could stay on his current path, finish up school, and move onto the next phase of his life. Or, he could wallow in self-pity. Once he considered the family that now depended on him, the choice was an easy one to make.
The semester went by at a galloping pace. Soon, the snow melted and spring arrived, and with it midterms. Leon had been spending every free minute at the library, so he was more than prepared. Straight A's were his reward.
As far as Anton and the work, Leon began the slow process of getting himself out of that world. He took fewer jobs, only taking the ones he needed to in order to keep the household running and to set aside a little savings for him to be able to get out of the city when the time came. Anton realized what was going on with Leon, and when it became clear that Leon was about to leave his life of crime behind for good, Anton couldn't help but try to get him back.
"Just like that?" asked Anton one warm, spring afternoon at their local diner, a pair of coffee mugs on the cheap table in front of them.
"Yep," said Leon. "Just like that."
Anton crossed his arms and sat back in his seat.
"Fuckin' shame, man," he said, shaking his head. "You're one of the best dudes I got. I mean, you're the only one with his fuckin' head straight on his shoulders. Every other little wannabe thug I got is some punk just looking for a reason to pull out his piece. You, you're the only guy who knows how to think ahead, how to strategize."
Anton nodded in realization.
"But then again, that makes sense. You're going into business or some shit, right?"
"That's right," said Leon.
"Good," said Anton. "You'll be good at that; make some real money, not have to worry about endin' up in jail or in the fuckin' morgue. The streets are no place for a dude like you – you got too much potential."
They chatted for a little longer, and when they got up to leave, both of them seemed to know it was the last time they'd meet. And it was.
The rest of the semester ticked by, and Leon stayed just as studious as he'd been. Soon, the end was in sight, and after one last visit to his guidance counselor, he had everything lined up for graduation. And as he stepped out of the administration building, Leon's phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he secretly wished it was Jade, like he always did. But instead, it was an unknown number.
"Hello?" said Leon.
"Leon Sebastian?" asked the voice on the other end, a deep, man's voice speaking with clear, crisp professionalism.
"That's right," said Leon. "Who's this?"
"My name is Harold Delahunt; I'm with Sanderson Holdings in New York City."
"…OK," said Leon.
"Are you familiar with our firm?"
"Sure," said Leon. "I've heard about you in my business classes. One of the top firms in the city, and all done over the last ten years."
"That's right," Harold said. "One of the top firms, and one of the best firms for those looking to get their feet wet in the world of high-stakes wealth management. I've been tasked with seeking out some of the most promising business students in this current crop of college graduates, and I recently came across your name. Tell me, Leon, what exactly do you have planned after you get that degree placed in your hands?"
"To be honest, I hadn't really considered the specifics," said Leon. "I just figured I'd worry about the details once school was over; exams don't really give you much time to think about anything else."
"I understand the feeling," said Harold. "I was once in your shoes, after all. However, no one extended me the hand that I'm about to extend to you."
Leon was intrigued.
"Go on."
"How would you like a fast-track to the top? It'll be a hard climb, but with a little guidance and the right opportunities, I think you might prove to be just the man for the job."
Leon thought over the words, wondering if this was some kind of prank. Was Anton screwing with him for some reason?
"Alright, you've got my attention," said Leon. "Let's hear what you've got."
The conversation still bouncing around in his mind, Leon drove back to his home. The offer was enticing – a job with one of the top financial firms in New York, a place to stay until he found his own apartment, a generous starting salary, and the mentorship that could make the difference in the long run between a six-figure salary and an eight-figure one.
The offer sounded great, but Leon told Harold that he'd need to think about it, but that he shouldn't wait too long – plenty of other recent graduates were chomping at the bit.
But as he walked into his home, Hunter looking up at him from the couch, he realized just what the cost would be. Leon plopped down on the couch next to his brother and mussed his hair.
"Hey, Leon," said Hunter, taking his eyes away from the TV. "What's gonna happen when you graduate? Are you gonna leave?"
"I don't know, buddy," said Leon. "Gotta go where the money is."
"Oh," said Hunter, disappointed. "Does that mean you're not gonna take care of me and Mom anymore?"
It'd been months since their dad left, and none of the three of them had heard a peep since he took off. For all Leon knew, his father was dead in a ditch somewhere.
"Not a chance, my man," said Leon. "I'm your big bro; I'll never forget about you. And I'm gonna get you out of here someday, you and mom both."
"Good," said Hunter, looking up at Leon and smiling.
Leon got up from the couch and went into his room. He knew what he needed to do. Leon knew that leaving his family behind would be rough, but as long as he could support them, at least for a time, he'd be doing the right thing.
Taking his phone out of his pocket, he called back Harold.
"Mr. Delahunt," said Leon.
"Good to hear back from you, young man. What do you have for me?"
"I'm in."
Chapter Thirteen
Eight years later…
Jade stared at the computer screen with a dumbfounded look on her face. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Scanning the subject of the email, she read each word very, very carefully in order to make sure that she wasn't reading something other than what she thought she was. But sure enough, it said what she'd thought it did.
FIRST MONTH SALES – AN AUTUMN AWAKENING – JADE INGRID
She wasn't sure what kind of sales figures she'd been expecting for this, her second novel, but not this. Jade read the line with the all-important number once again.
Total sales……….42
Forty-two copies. In the entire planet, only forty-two people bought her book. That was less than the hundred and five who'd bought Lilacs & Cinder, her debut novel. She did the math, subtracting about ten from her total for friends and family who'd likely purchased the book out of some sense of obligation.
Thirty people, she thought. How the hell did only this many people buy my book?
She thought back to the words of Ari Nussbaum, her agent, who swore to her up and down that An Autumn Awakening would be the one to crack four figures, the book that would put Jade Ingrid on the lips of just about everyone worth knowing in the New York City literary world.
Jade stood up from the cheap Ikea desk that took up far too much floor space in her tiny studio apartment and looked out of the window at the passing seven train, the train clanging down the tracks in a way that vibrated through the floor, as it always did. Off in the distance, between two large buildings just outside of her apartment window that otherwise blocked just about ev
ery bit of her view, Jade could spot a handful of the towers of Manhattan.
Leaning against the windowsill, she sighed, wondering if her decision to move here after grad school had been a mistake. After all, she'd been here for almost two years and hadn't moved up any further in her career than she'd been when she arrived. Sure, she'd managed to get a second novel published and had written a few articles here and there, but she was still in the same tiny apartment in the same crummy neighborhood, with the same measly total in her bank account.
She knew she had to figure out something fast. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she dialed up Ari. As the phone rang, she thought of her parents, wondering if they'd been right about every step of her career, from getting her undergraduates in creative writing, to earning an expensive MBA in the same, to spending the last little bit of her savings moving to New York. Jade imagined having to go back to her parents, hat in hand, asking if she could move in for a bit while she looked for a "real job" somewhere nearby.
The thought made her sick to her stomach.
Finally, Ari picked up.
"Is that my little Miss Ingrid?" came the eager, avuncular voice on the other end.
"It's me," said Jade. "It's me, alright."
"I take it you've seen the sales for the latest, hm?"
"Sure did," said Jade, still pacing back and forth. "How the hell did this happen?"
"You know what, Jade?" asked Ari. "I got a real feeling about this one. I think that An Autumn Awakening is gonna be one of those slow burners, you know? One of those books that takes a little time to find an audience. After all, you know, you're still in the process of making a name for yourself."
"This is all exactly what you said about the first book. The one that actually sold more copies."
"It's, ah, um, this is a fickle business, you know? Not for the faint of heart. But you know what, kiddo, I believe in you. I wouldn't be representing you if I didn't. You've got some real talent, and if the rest of the world doesn't see that, then, well, they're missing out. And that's what I think!"
"Why do I have a feeling that there's going to be a ‘but'?"
"Um, well, because there is," said Ari. "Here's the deal: we're going to be doing some, uh, housecleaning, let's call it, here at the offices. Meaning the boys up top want us all to go through our little rolodexes here and get rid of the, um, dead weight."
