What They Don't Know (Won't Hurt Them Trilogy #1)

by O. Y. Flemming

  I give him an attitude look then turn to the doorman to be escorted to the private room. As we approach the other side of the club, I can see a man speaking to another doorman. He's handsome; his hair is a bit longer than I like, but it works for him. He's dressed in gray slacks with a nice pin-striped shirt, Rolex on his wrist. He's panty-dropping gorgeous. His face is strong and manly; he takes care of himself. The doorman points in our direction.

  “Is that your second guest?” the doorman escorting me asks.

  “Possibly,” I reply. When this man approaches me, he kisses my hand and I'm sold.

  “B?”

  “Yes.” I nod.

  “I'm Mike.”

  “Mike Stone,” I respond.

  “Ahhh, you’ve done your homework.” He speaks in a calm, husky tone. His voice is soothing, almost like Cruz's but raspy. We are both escorted to one of the private rooms on the upper level, closer to the back.

  “Good, no interruptions,” I say. He looks down at me with a smile on his face that I know women would throw their underwear at... he's already a keeper. The doorman opens the door to reveal my other prospect standing as we enter the room. I glide across the room as if I’m on skates. I amaze myself sometimes.

  “Hello, Frank, how are you this evening?” I extend my hand to test whether he shakes or kisses it. He takes it and places a feather light kiss there. I have to keep up this charade because this will tell me what type of men they are. If I act like a boss, they'll respect me as one.

  After fifteen minutes of questioning these two men, I find out that Mike Stone has a double degree. One in sociology and the other in law. Holy hell, I want this man but there's a rule that I have. Never get high on your own supply. Notorious B.I.G. What? I listen to rap...

  He has no children but what gets me is this. He's in this line of work for two reasons. Women of power pay for escorts and sex. The other tears my soul to pieces; it's the truth because I performed a background check on both men. Mike's mother’s cancer is in remission. He wants it to stay that way, so he's paying for research, cures, and medication for her.

  Frank, on the other hand, I figure is a borderline nympho... He's not going to work out; he's a bit too young. He's freshly twenty-one and may have a drinking problem. He's incredibly handsome, GQ model handsome and possibly a shit starter. I can’t have a weak link or a problem child in my business. I let him down very nicely as I give him a card to a very prestigious modeling agency that is one of Mr. Wilke's clients he has had around for a while; they bring in stars. I also gave him my card.

  “Make sure you give me a call on Monday, Frank,” I say as I see him to the door. “Drink on me tonight if you want to stay. One lady only can drink with you, okay?”

  “Cool, B,” he says. I shake my head as I close the door.

  “And then there was one,” Mike says. His chiseled chin is so masculine I can't stop looking at it. He stands to re-greet me. “So am I the lucky candidate?”

  “Yes, you are, Mike, but tell me why the need to seek a Madame?”

  “Well, I wouldn't say Madame,” he says.

  “Whew, me either, I don't think that title justifies me.”

  He laughs, “No, it doesn't.”

  “Let's see. Why the need to seek a procuress.” He laughs a fully belly laugh. It fills the room. I feel butterflies in my stomach.

  “Mike, I have a few friends here. If you don't mind, I'd like to get back to them. However, you can drink and eat on me tonight. Let me rephrase that. You can drink and eat on my tab tonight. As Frank, one lady can drink with you as long as you are here.” He stands and I notice how fit his body is. His slacks hug his ass neatly. Oh, he smells good, just like fresh linen. I have to leave this room; get away from this man. I stand as he takes my hand and kisses it again, the way he did when he first greeted me. His lips linger a bit longer this time, seductively. Oh, God, I need to leave this room now.

  “Are you sure you have to get back to your friends?” He's looking into my eyes. I look away from the intimate gesture.

  “I do. I apologize. I'm surprised they haven't come for me.”

  He sighs. “Okay. This very gorgeous lady Procuress has granted me access to enjoy the night on her with a lady of my choice. I hate to waste it on just anyone. Is she sure she can't be persuaded to spend a few more minutes with this gentleman? I'm sure he'll make it worth her while.” He kisses the inside of my hand and I'm hot.

  I gently pull my hand back and step away. He is good... too good. “I'm sure on whomever you decide, it won't go to waste.” I walk to the door to open it; he's standing there, the stature of a Greek icon. I look over my shoulder.

  “You have my card, Mike. Please call me tomorrow, so we can go over specifics.” He nods.

  “Will do, B, I look forward to it.”

  I exit the room. As I round the corner, I run into the doorman who helped me out tonight.

  “I was coming to check on you. Are you okay?” The concern in his voice has caught my attention. I look up at him to reassure him I am.

  “Yes, I am. Thank you.” I hand him another bill.

  “No, thank you, B,” he says. “I appreciate that you offered me more.”

  “What's your name?” He looks down at me as he escorts me back to my VIP section.

  “Ford,” he yells over the music.

  “Is this your full time job?”

  “No, this is just part time.”

  “Oh, okay, where do you work?”

  “Here,” he says.

  I laugh. “Okay, listen, here's my card. Call me Monday.” He stuffs the card in his pocket on the way to the stairs. When I get up to our V.I.P. section, Cruz is M.I.A. and Bryant is in Tracey's face. Shanna is standing on the balcony overlooking the dance floor. Immediately I know where Lisa is. I walk over to stand next to Shanna.

  “Are you having a good time?” She jumps. “Sorry.” I give a sad face look as she turns with her hand over her chest. “Sorry,” I mouth again.

  “I am. I really appreciate the invite.”

  “I apologize I wasn't a good host tonight.”

  “No, no, everything is fine.”

  She can't seem to stop looking on the dance floor. I lean over to see what she's staring at. There, on the dance floor is Lisa grinding her ass on Cruz. “She’s a little drunk,” I say. Shanna wide-eyes me.

  “Clearly, she is.” I look at Shanna with a side eye because Lisa is my friend. I can say what I want, but she can't. She hasn't earned criticism about my friends. She notices my facial expression.

  “Sorry, just calling it like I see it,” Shanna comments again.

  I chuckle to ignore her comment. “Cruz can dance,” I say aloud. Shanna nods her head.

  “How long have you known him?” Shanna asks continuing to look down on the dance floor. I turn and look over at her full frontal. I feel like I'm being interrogated. Instantly, my female intuition kicks in.

  “Not long, why?”

  “Oh, I was just asking.”

  “That's not a getting to know you question. That's more like a getting to know him question.” She laughs, but I don't. We stare at each other for about a minute before I'm handed a shot glass of tequila. I knock it back and hand the empty glass back to whomever handed it to me. What I thought was a night going good, this chick has just ended it. Cruz and Lisa are walking up the stairs. Lisa grabs my hand to pull me away, but Cruz stops me. He holds up one finger to Lisa for her to stop pulling on me.

  “Who was that guy you came out of the private V.I.P. rooms with?” I step back to look at him. He's been drinking. I've never seen his eyes glassy in this way.

  “Work related,” I say as I look straight ahead at Shanna staring back at me.

  He shakes his head. “There were two. Are you going to tell me that both were work related?”

  “Yes, I am Cruz; have you been drinking?” He grabs a glass from the high table and drinks the amber liquor while giving me a mean, sarcastic stare. I snatch away from him, not
making a scene.

  “Come on, Lisa,” I yell. She jumps up and grabs my arm and we head toward the restrooms. I push the door open so hard the person coming out gives me an angry stare. I yell, “I'm sorry, damn.”

  “Please don't be angry, Bria.”

  “Whoa, wait a minute.” I check all stalls before she talks. “Why am I upset?” I ask her to confirm why she thinks I’m upset.

  “Cruz and I dancing. That Shanna bitch was trying to hold a conversation with him without anyone noticing, but I noticed it. So I pulled him away to the dance floor to get him away from that sneaky bitch. The dancing was just a distraction.”

  I scoff, “The dancing isn't what has me in a pissy mood. He's questioning what I'm doing.”

  “Wait, who Bryant?” Lisa questions and I know she’s drunk. She can’t keep up with the conversation.

  I scoff again. “No, Cruz. I'm not even speaking to Bryant.”

  “Yeah, I noticed that, what's with that?”

  “That bitch ex of his is why I'm not speaking to him. If he's back with her, he and I no longer have a friendship.”

  “Whoa, Bria, that's major. But why the hell was very delicious Cruz questioning what you were doing?”

  I stare at her with a ‘you know’ look.

  “I knew it. I knew there was something between you two.”

  “No, it's not like that. I think he's taking Bryant’s place in my life,” I lie. I can't bring myself to tell her that his mouth has been between my thighs. He's been around and Bryant hasn't; but as soon as this deal is done, I'm going to force all interactions down to emails. “Right now, I'm just making Mr. Wilke happy. And get this. Shanna is also questioning how long I've known Cruz.”

  “What! I told you, Bria, there's something up with that one.”

  “I don't know, Lisa. I can't go out and just have a good time without drama.” Lisa shakes her head entering a stall. I go into the next stall, might as well while I'm here. We both exit the stalls when we’re done. I wash my hands and touch up my lip-gloss.

  “I have to get on the dance floor once tonight, Lisa.”

  “Dancing it is,” she yells as we head for the door. We exit the restrooms, and Lisa pulls me to the bar.

  “Give me four double shots of tequila.”

  “Four?” the bartender confirms.

  “Yes,” I shout. Lisa and I take our shots.

  Arm and arm we head out to the dance floor. Something from Maroon 5 is blasting through the speakers. The shots have started to make me hot. I feel sated. My body is feeling the music, and I’m on the dance floor rolling my hips. I feel eyes on me. I glance up; both Cruz and Bryant are staring down on us. “Fucking idiots,” I say. Lisa grabs my hips and we both begin to grind our hips to the music. I can see that Bryant has left our V.I.P. section.

  Before I can whisper in Lisa's ear, I'm being spun around. Bryant has placed his hand on my hips while I'm trying to dance toward Lisa. She takes my hands and spins me again to change places to where I am. Now she's in front of Bryant grabbing his hands so I can make a quick getaway. I'm being pulled by strong hands. It’s low lit in the club so I have to wait until the strobe light reveals my mystery hands. When it does, I see Mike Stone. He’s turned so my back is to his front.

  He whispers in my ear, “Thank you for a lovely night.” He grinds on my ass. He is rock hard; his cock is poking me. He has both my hands in his. He lifts our hands then slides one of his hands around the front of my neck. I'm getting aroused by the second. He kisses the side of my neck. “Until tomorrow, my Procuress,” he says softly into my ear. He spins me then kisses me on the cheek. He turns and walks away.

  I look up and see Cruz no longer there. Instead, he's on the lower lever staring me in the eyes. I can see his eyes have darkened when the light reflects on his face. He looks primal again; I can tell his breathing is erratic. Shit, he's actually intimidating me right now. I don't want to walk in that direction to go back to our V.I.P. section. I'm a brave chick though; besides, I have to go see what this mysterious Shanna is all about. I start to walk towards V.I.P. I get Lisa's attention to let her know I'm going back up. She nods in acknowledgement.

  I quickly try to make my way to the stairs without having an altercation with Cruz. He is hot on my feet as he grabs my waist to guide me up the stairs. When I get to our section there's a note.

  Thanks for a great time tonight.

  Shanna & Trace.

  “Ohh, Trace,” I say.

  Cruz is in my ear. “My cock didn't get hard for her, Bria,” he says gruffly.

  “I don't care about that, Cruz. It was only dancing, right?” I tell him.

  “So you care?” He smiles at me. I think I'm drunk because I'm smiling at him when clearly I'm pissed about his questioning. I feel relieved that Shady Shanna is gone. I'm even content with Bryant being around. Just as the thought enters my mind, he and Lisa come back up to our section. I like this area, very secluded and private.

  “Evil Lynn and her side kick are gone?” Lisa asks. I hold up the note.

  “Yes,” I shout back.

  “Bria, we need to talk.” Bryant speaks loudly over the music. He removes Cruz's hands from around me.

  “Cruz, give me a few minutes.” He's clearly not cooperating tonight. He gives Bryant the coldest look I've ever seen. Bryant hasn't been drinking that I can tell, but he says something that leads me to believe he could be drunk.

  “Look, man, let me have five minutes. I handed her to you with no arguments; you owe me this.”

  Cruz winces and shakes his head. He removes his arms from around me.

  “What is he talking about, Cruz?”

  “Nothing, Bria,” Cruz answers.

  “Bryant, what are you talking about?” I turn to question Bryant.

  “Never mind, Bree. Just please, we need to talk.” Lisa is between the two of us. She has a horrified look on her face.

  “What did you just say?” she shouts at Bryant like she's his mother.

  “Lisa, this isn’t any of your business.”

  “What the fuck, Bryant? She’s my friend. What do you mean it isn’t any of my business?” She's getting louder by the minute. I'm standing here with the feeling that my inner body has just stepped out.

  “Did you say you handed her over to him? She's no whore, Bryant!”

  “I didn't mean it like that, Lisa,” Bryant yells. He reaches for me. “Bree, you know I didn't mean it that way.” He’s trying hard to redeem himself for that statement. Everything is a blur. I'm not sure if it's the liquor or that fact my body has been shocked.

  All I know is that my feet have carried me down the stairs with Lisa on my arm to the ladies’ room.

  “He did not say that,” I say to Lisa barely audibly. We have both crammed ourselves into a one-person stall. Well, at least it doesn't smell bad.

  “I have to get out of here, Lisa.”

  “We can catch a cab,” she says. “Shit, your car.”

  “I'll deal with it tomorrow. I'm too intoxicated to drive. Stay with me tonight, please, Lis.”

  “Okay, I will,” she says as she hugs me. We both use the stall we are in because our state of mind hasn't grasped the concept of either of us going into a separate one. That's the type of mind frame we are both in right now. Nothing matters; only going home matters. We wash our hands and exit the restroom. “I'll settle the tab; you can grab a cab, okay, Lisa?”

  “Okay, hurry though, Bria, before they notice what we are doing.”

  I get the bartenders attention.

  “B, please.”

  “Will do, give me a second,” the bartender says. He turns to the register.

  “$480, hun.”

  “Okay.” I hand him my card. He swipes it.

  “Settled.” The bartender says as he hands me my card. I walk out of the club. Ford is at the door.

  “Please don't forget to call me Monday. Better yet, call me in the morning. I may need a favor.”

  “Will do, B,” he says he
lping me in the cab Lisa has gotten us.

  “Your car, B?” Ford asks.

  “Exactly.”

  “Bria,” Bryant shouts, coming out of the club with Cruz in tow. They aren't wasting time.

  “Ford, please prevent them from leaving right away.”

  “Will do, for about how long?” Ford asks.

  “As long as you can.”

  “Got it,” he says closing the door. We pull off into the night... well, morning. I already know the rest of the morning won't be good.

  CHAPTER 15

  I pay the taxi early so we can just jump out before Cruz and Bryant show up at my house. Bryant doesn't have the new keys, but Cruz claims he gave me back the extra set. I'm not taking any chances. I'm intoxicated enough to know I am. I can lock myself in my room.

  “C'mon, Lisa.” We both stagger from the taxi. I fumble for my keys. In the distance, I hear the roaring of the engine in Cruz's car.

  “Holy shit, Lisa, c'mon.” I knew Ford couldn't hold them off for long, but he did an awesome job. The way Bryant drives, he would have made it to my house way before that slow-ass taxi. I get the key in the door.

  “Lisa!” I yell. She’s barely coherent.

  “Okay,” she slurs. We both stumble into my house. I lock the door because Lisa doesn't look like she's capable. I hop on one foot to take off one heel and dash to the alarm panel. I deactivate, and then reactivate it. I'm not scared, but I'm also not sure why I'm avoiding them. In my drunken state, I can't remember why.

  Oh, yeah, Bryant's chauvinistic ass claims he handed me over to Cruz as if he was done with me. I'm no one's charity case, nor am I a whore. I'm no one’s possession. Who does Bryant think he is?

  Thud! Sounds like someone fell. I remove my other shoe, and I peek out of the small window on my door.

  “Bria, I know you are here. I can see.” Bryant pulls his phone out. I hurry to my clutch to silence mine. Still looking out the window, I can see that Bryant is well dressed; I really didn't take the time to notice him tonight. What the hell am I thinking right now? Lisa stumbles toward me. “Shhh.” I hold my finger up to my lips. She nods in agreement. I grab her to walk her to my spare bedroom.