In years past, what people thought of and said about Bianca had affected her decisions in life. She vowed to never let that happen again. The world was not going to run her; she was going to run the world. At least a little slice of it in Miami, anyway.
“The beach is not too far from here,” the cab driver said as he approached the hotel. “Folks like to get up early in the morning and run through the sunrise.” He looked over his shoulder back at Bianca as he threw the cab in park in front of the hotel doors. “But you don’t look like you need to work out.” He looked her up and down, removing one article of her clothing at a time with his eyes.
Bianca looked at the cabbie, and for the first time realized what an overweight, lowlife he looked to be. He probably had a wife and a slew of kids at home, yet he was checking for her.
Men. She was about to give him a dirty look, but then decided that a lowlife like him may be just the friend she needed to get what she wanted. It might have been nice to have friends in high places, but sometimes it was more valuable to have friends in low places.
A mischievous grin suddenly spread across Bianca’s mouth. “Well, you know I try to keep it tight.” She ran her hands down her body.
The cabbie licked his lips. “Mmm, I bet it’s tight all right.”
Bianca leaned in, placing her hand on the front seat and then resting her chin on it. She was almost nose-to-nose with the cabbie. “Uh . . .” she looked at his ID that was clipped to the rearview mirror. “Samuel, I’m new in town, and I might need a little help getting around, getting to know the right people, if you know what I mean. I was just wondering if you had a card or anything, so perhaps I can call you if I need you.” She looked him up and down. “Or need anything.” She gave him a coy schoolgirl look.
Without taking his eyes off Bianca, and with a bulge forming in his pants, he reached into his front shirt pocket and dug out a business card. “That’s my cell phone number on there.” He handed Bianca the card.
She slipped it out of his hand and tucked it into her bra while he watched, practically salivating at the mouth. “Thank you, Sammy.” Bianca quickly covered her mouth with her hand, as if she’d said something she hadn’t meant to. “Is it okay if I call you Sammy? I’m really into nicknames.” Her voice was flirty.
“Mami,” he said, glancing at his passenger, who looked about twenty years his junior, “you can call me whatever the hell you want.”
She winked at him. “Thank you, Sammy,” Bianca said, as a bellman from the hotel opened the cab door for her. They had gone to a Marriot near the ocean. Bianca looked out at the placid, azure ocean and felt a sense of peace come over her. Today there were no waves and the ocean looked still. Bianca took a deep breath. Yes, everything was going to work out fine.
“Welcome to the Marriott,” the man said. “Are you checking in, ma’am?”
“I am,” Bianca said as he helped her exit the car with her things.
Sammy got out of the car and went to the trunk. He took Bianca’s things out and set them down. The bellman immediately took possession of them.
“Thank you, Sammy.” Bianca handed the cabbie a hundred-dollar bill that she’d pulled from her purse. She had no idea what the fare was, but she knew it was nowhere near a hundred books for a fifteen-minute ride.
“Anytime.” He took the bill, stared at it with excitement, and then flicked the bill. “I gave you my card, but do you have a number, Miss . . .” He searched for the letters of her name, but she hadn’t told him yet.
“It’s Bianca,” she said. “No, I don’t have a phone, but you know where to find me.” She gave him one last wink before turning and following the bellman into the hotel lobby.
CHAPTER 13
Bianca checked into the Marriott, paying for a week’s stay. She used her real ID. What reason would the Virginia authorities have to come looking for her in Florida? And even if they did manage to connect any dots, it would take them much longer than a week to do so. She’d be gone by then, depending on how quickly she got things done.
Bianca knew better than to use her real debit card to book the hotel. Besides, she’d drained her bank account dry of every dime before departing Virginia. It took a sob story and the shedding of a few tears to get the reservations clerk to allow her to use the cash for security and incidentals. The clerk bought the act hook, line, and sinker, but made Bianca pay for the entire week’s stay up front in cash and another thousand-dollar cash deposit
The bellboy rode up the elevator to the fifth floor with Bianca with her luggage in tow. Once they arrived at her room, he pulled the curtains back for her, revealing the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. She gave him a ten-dollar tip and watched as the door closed behind him.
Wow. She took a deep breath and took everything in. This is it, she thought as she gazed out of the window. Beautiful Miami, the place I will call home for now!
Bianca smiled, thinking