What she was doing working in a gentlemen’s club was a mystery I strangely found myself wanting to solve. But later… my first line of business was to taste those amazing lips of hers again. I couldn’t get them out of my mind. Quivering from fear, the plush beauties haunted my dreams all night. I wanted her... bad!
“Umm lady?” Barry asked. “Do you mean the stripper?” Kenny chuckled.
“They’re one in the same my good friend.”
“They’re most certainly not. Which brings me to my next point, and I’m glad you’re here because maybe you can help me talk some sense into our boss.”
“What’s the matter? Is Gabe being grumpy?” Kenny got away with saying things like that, only because he was one of my two best friends. He looked at me and poked out his lip. If I didn’t think it would scare the hell out of Barry I would’ve punched him in it. Kenny and I came from different sides of the tracks. But somehow, he had managed to become like a brother to me.
He was born of the black elite. His grandfather had been a Congressman and his father had followed in his steps. Rumor had it… he had his eyes on the White House. My father on the other hand had been a mob boss, who had used his dirty money to put a couple of Congressmen into office while paying my way into some of the best schools.
I met Kenny at one of them. My first day at Kimberlin Academy the school’s tough guy had taken one look at me and unwisely decided to test me. I tried to walk away because I was aware that this preppy brat knew nothing about who I was, and where I was from. He had no way of knowing that I could make him disappear, never to be seen again.
But then he shoved me… and well at that point I had to make an example out of him. I didn’t give a damn about the fact that he was the captain of the football team. I was getting ready to break both his arms and legs. Kenny slid over and wrapped his arm around my neck like we were best of friends.
“Come on guys this isn’t cool. Is this the way you’re going to treat my friend?” The muscle brain quarterback scratched his head.
“Aww! Kenny, we didn’t know he was your boy.”
“That’s okay, Chad. But, let’s not let this happen again.” He spoke to him as if he was a small child. When the crowd dispersed, the smooth talking teen at the time turned and looked at me with a million dollar smile on his face.
“Don’t worry about them bro. I have them all under control. My name is Kenneth Howard the Third, and it is an honor to meet the only son of the world famous Calhoun.” He bowed and I turned and walked away. I knew then that this school was going to be torture which was probably why my father sent me. He claimed I was the way to turn his dirty money clean. But in truth, he was always looking for ways to torture me.
When the kid looked up and saw that I had walked away he jogged after me. “If your royal highness will allow me, I am willing to be the buffer between you and these snobs.” I came to a halt turning back to look at him.
“What do you mean buffer?” I grumbled. He smiled at me.
“Let me be your voice my solemn friend. I know how to speak snob fluently.” And despite his father’s disapproval, he has been my voice ever since.
“I was just telling my main man here, that we need to do something about his image.” Barry continued, feeling braver now that Kenny was here. Barry was determined to get me interacting with the elites of New York. He spouted out nonsense about how I need to interact more with my peers. I didn’t see why that was needed. I was in the business of buying and selling companies, not making friends. Plus, the less I was around people that was not of my inner circle. The less likely my secret would get out.
Speaking of which, I raised my eyebrow toward Kenny’s direction, it was time for him to get rid of Barry before he upset me.
“Oh yeah?” Kenny asked instead, giving me a thoughtful once over. Twice in our whole friendship I had almost murdered Kenny, both times had been because he played too much and didn’t know when I was just not in the damn mood—like now. The only thing I wanted to do was find my mystery lady and spend the weekend with her. By Sunday, she should be out of my system so that I can focus fully on running my company.
“I don’t know Barry. He looks like a fine fella to me. The ladies love him. The silent dangerous type, I hear that’s all the rave in Paris this year.” I shook my head. And then there were times when Kenny’s sense of humor was actually amusing.
Barry drew himself up, as if he had been waiting for this platform for months. I bet he had his speech ready to go. I don’t know why Kenny was giving him this false sense of hope. Both knew damn well I wasn’t changing anything about myself. It was foolish for them to even be wasting their breath right now.
“Well, for starters he can get rid of the braids and cut his ha—“
“No.” There was no need for him to even continue with that train of thought. I was never cutting my hair. Kenny grimaced.
“Ah Barry my man, haven’t you heard the story of Samson.” My eyes flew to him, and the bastard had the nerve to smile at me as if he was not walking the thin line of betraying my trust.
“His hair is the secret to his strength.” He continued, chuckling as he clapped Barry on
