Sharing the Sheets (14 page)

“Are you there yet?”

“No, just a little more.”

I'd been thrusting in and out for the past forty minutes with my mind on Regina. It didn't matter who I was doing, my mind was solely on her. I watched her today. It took strength not to approach her. Not to hear her voice. Not to smell her scent. Not to touch her soft skin. She was serious about not seeing me anymore and I couldn't stand it.

“Are you there yet?” I asked again forcing myself to stay hard. I pumped harder with conviction. This wasn't a new client, but she was a paying top dollar for me to make her cum. I thought taking a client would get my mind off Regina, but it just reminded me of how much I needed her.

“Do you have to be somewhere?”

My dick went limp. I pulled out of her moist pot and removed the condom. I stood at the edge of the bed and tossed the condom in the garbage.
I should just apologize, pay for the room, and go the hell home!
I mulled over the backlash I would get and the money I would lose. Did it matter?

“Tony, are you okay?” she asked in her sweet tone.

“I'm sorry, it's not you. We can resched . . . Actually, I won't be available anymore. If you like I can refer you to someone. I'm really sorry.” If giving up this life proved to Regina that I wasn't giving up on her then so be it. I had to start sometime.

“Refer me?” Her voice wasn't so sweet anymore. “I'm not going for that. I've paid you five grand every time we met for the past seven months. I've seen you no less than ten times. Now you want to take yourself off the market. I'm married, do you think I want to start this shit with someone new, again? Come on, Tony, I can't teach another young pup how, where, and when to touch to make me cum. Is it the money? I'll pay double the amount. Let's just chalk this up as a bad night on your part.”

“Yes, let's do that. Don't worry about the room. I will take care of it.”

“Are you asking me to leave right now?” She looked at me as if I had two heads.

“Yes.” I walked into the bathroom, shut the door, and locked it. I didn't care anymore. I made my decision. There was no more of this. No more selling my body for the pleasures of other women.
I'm going to be the man she deserves.

I opened the faucet to the shower and got in. I stood under the streaming hot water thinking of my future with the woman I was going to spend it with.

 

 

I arrived home greeted with a manila envelope shoved under my door. It brought a smile to my face. I knew what it contained.
Diana better have done a good job.
I needed this. I ripped the envelope open. I held my breath hoping it was good. I pulled out the pictures.
Yes, yes, this will work.
I took my phone out my pants pocket and dialed Diana.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Tony, I'm on my way to you now. Did I do what was needed?”

“It could have been better, but it'll work. It will have to work.”

“You're still going to help me out tonight right?”

“I really don't think it will be a good idea. She knows what I look like and she's been causing a headache at my boy's restaurant.”

“You have to or at least let me tell you what I'm doing.”

“The tape should be enough to get what you want. I'll see what else you need to do.”

“Open the door, I'm downstairs.”

Diana had a problem with getting just enough; instead she fought for more and beyond. She caused more harm to herself because of her greediness. I buzzed the front entrance open and soon there was a knock at my door. I opened it and turned my attention back to the pictures of her and Mark.

“Hello.” My back was turned to her as she stepped over the threshold.

“Hey,” I answered still showing her my back.

She wrapped her arms around me and kissed at my neck. “What are you looking at?”

I showed her the pictures.

“Who is this guy to you?” She took the picture and pointed to Mark.

“No longer a problem from the looks of these pics. Thanks.”

“So I guess I'm not the only one trying for a payday.” She laughed.

I snatched the picture out her hand. “Unlike you, my goal is not money. It's a future with the woman I truly love.”

Her face showed surprise from my words. “I hope you're not talking about the same woman you showed up at the event with. It seemed to me she had other plans and you were far from being included.”

“Why don't you just shut up! You don't know anything.”

“Oh, but I do. I know that every time she treats you as a toy or what you really are you seek me out. Is that the woman you want? I thought we were more than sex.”

“You are no more to me than the bitches I fuck for money!” I was angry so I cut her with my words. Although, she was meaningful to me regardless of how I felt at this moment.

“Fuck you, Tony! You're a piece of shit! I'm trying to get this money for you and this is how you want to treat me. If this isn't some shit after you're the one putting me to shit to benefit your ass!”

“What are you trying to get at?” I wanted her to leave immediately. I wouldn't care if it was the last time I saw her. I didn't need her anymore.

“You think I'm stupid? Just some dumb, pretty chick you could manipulate. Hell, no! I knew from the start what you had in your mind.” She paused with a smirk on her face. “Did you forget who approached you? Did you think it was because of your dick?” She belted a hearty laugh.

Now, I was confused. She had nothing on me. If she reported anything to anyone she would be held accountable too. All the info I had about clients was given to me by her.

“You're just as stupid as the dumb bitches who pay you to fuck them. I admit you were good, shit sometimes you were more than good, but trust me you're not the best. I think you forgot I never paid your ass for anything. That Web site shit you allowed me to take control of was only the start. You allowed me into your life. Tell me who else knows where you live? I mean what is this? Where the hell is all this shit coming from? For the past few months we've been seeing each other every other day. I thought we were more.”

She was right. I'd been leading her on; making her my crutch for when Regina tucked me back into the closet. I dropped my head. “Listen, Diana, we helped each other. We used each other. Now, we just have to go our own way. There was never an ‘us.' You must've known that.”

Her body language changed. Her hands were on her hips. Her eyes filled with water fighting to bust through. She paced the floor, thinking of how to rebut the truth.

“Is that how you really feel? Just like that? I wish I could turn the switch as easy as you. I don't believe this. I may be giving up everything when I go meet Amanda tonight. As a friend, are you going to leave me hanging?”

Oh, my God! Really was she trying to tug on my sympathy strings? It didn't matter. I needed her gone. “Diana, we can't go on like this. This life is over for me. This—you, me—wasn't going to last forever. I'm not that guy. You had to have known that.” Was she being naïve or just plain ol' dumb? I was beginning to lose my temper again.

Diana put her fingers under her eyes trying to push her waterworks back.

It was over. “I did you that one solid with Amanda. You shouldn't have any more problems with her. Just make sure you don't give her all the copies. I'm not going with you. I'm sorry, Diana, but you have to go.”

She said nothing as she walked toward the door. Diana looked back to me with hurtful red eyes.

I just shook my head and turned my back to her. That was it. If I wanted a clean slate, I had one. Feeling bad for her was not a part of me. I gathered the pictures back into the envelope and pulled my phone out my pants pocket.

Minutes passed with no reply. I sent the same message to her Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail accounts. An hour had passed and I did everything under the sun to get a reaction from her, leaving messages starting off sweet, but with the more time passing it ended nasty each time.

Nothing.

I started to pace the floor and replay my options. Going over there at this moment wouldn't solve anything. It would only cause more hurt to Regina. Besides I would never be able to get past the doorman. She would hate me for displaying his so-called infidelity like a trophy. It would have to be private, by herself with no one in earshot or to interject their two cents. I took a breath and reached for a glass to pour a stiff drink.

After drinking one glass after the other of whiskey, I must've passed out on the sofa. I woke up the next morning feeling like shit. My stomach started to bubble, my mouth was building with saliva, and my head felt like a jackhammer was working on my skull. The rush of me standing up put me on auto spin like a washing machine. I threw up immediately all over myself and the sofa. There was no time to get to the bathroom. The smell alone made me empty whatever was left in my stomach again. “You stupid asshole! You know you had shit to handle today! Fuck!” I cursed at myself using my sleeved arm to wipe my mouth. I saw my phone on the floor with the indicator light blinking. “Oh shit,” I said slowly easing myself to all fours to retrieve the phone.

When I picked up the phone and looked at the screen, there were five missed calls listed from Diana. I thought I'd made it clear to her that there was no reason to contact me. She left a couple of messages, but I didn't bother to listen to any. I erased them all. I swiped the screen checking all my social accounts hoping there was something from Regina. There was only my hope and foul-smelling breath responding to me. “Oh shit.” I looked at the clock; it was almost seven. “Damn, I better clean up and get myself together.” I had to get my head back into the game if this was going to work.

It was almost ten when I got into the cab. Thank goodness no one knew I was carrying over $30,000 in cash tucked neatly into the front pocket of my satchel bag. I was nervous as hell. I suspected it would be Daniel meeting me.
Slimy dirt bag of a man, stooping lower than the shit on the ground to extort women. Don't worry, Mr. Daniel Tatum, I'm going to get you someway somehow.

I exited the cab at the main entrance into Washington Square Park. It was late, but the summer night brought the college students to the dealers and swindlers of the community out to enjoy the night air. I stood under the arch scanning the groups of people. I didn't see him. I clutched my satchel tighter to my waist. I looked at my watch; it was five after ten.

People were walking their dogs, jogging through the park, sitting around the fountain, but he wasn't there. I walked into the park toward the fountain; that's when someone walking behind me touched my shoulder.

“Excuse me, do you have a light?” a familiar voice asked, coming from a dark hooded sweat suit.

“I don't smoke, sorry.” I titled my head to get a better look at the person asking.

The person stepped closer and pulled off the hood.

“By the look on your face, I'm sure you expected someone else.”

I was floored—a cluster fuck to the tenth power. Shit!

“Still nothing to say, okay I guess I can tell you the headline of tomorrow's news desk, highly reputable defense lawyer accused of rape and extortion. How does that sound?”

I laughed to relieve some of my nervousness. Diana looked at me with eyes of permanent hurt. She started to shake her leg and folded her hands across her chest: a sign of impatience and aggressiveness. This was not going to be easy.
Not having all the money may cause more harm than good,
my mind revealed.

“I guess I have your answer.” She turned around and started to walk away.

I wanted to let her go, but I couldn't risk it. “Stop, Diana.”

She halted and turned toward me. “Why should I? Weren't you ready to bring me down, pin me as some functional junky with a distorted past? All I wanted was the appropriate amount of monies due to me. Did you actually think when I found out who you really were I wasn't going to come at you? Don't be stupid. All I want is sixty grand and your dark little secret goes to the grave with me.”

“So that guy works with you or is he your boyfriend who put you up to it? I hope he didn't come up with it.”

“First, that wasn't my boyfriend.”

Her expression changed; I felt some malice in her voice.

“He was just another dick being used for my purpose.”

There was an opening to get this Daniel, I thought. It was time to plead my case. “Can we go somewhere and discuss this like two women instead of standing here like we're in search for a fix?” If she agreed, there was definitely a chance to come out on top.

She looked around the park, as did I, at the surrounding drug dealers staring at us, itching for a sale.

“Yeah, we can go down to the diner across from the West Fourth Street train station.”

We walked the few blocks in silence. There was something that pissed her off about Daniel and I needed to know what it was.

When we entered the diner we walked to the farthest booth away from everyone. We waited for the waitress to hand us the menus. I ordered coffee for the both of us and shooed her away.

“Listen, I'm willing to pay you whatever price you put forth. I shouldn't have done what I did to you and quite honestly I never thought I would see you again. So when you approached me again, I was angered by your threats and demands, that's why I had all the ammo stacked against you.”

“Look, Amanda, I'm not here to hear why you did what you did. I'm not stupid, you're a lawyer, and I know what you are up to. This is just a ploy to negotiate. What's your offer? Before I get up, walk out of here, and make your life a horrible mess.”

I guessed she knew a little more than I thought! I smiled as the waitress strolled over with our coffee in hand. “Thank you,” we said in unison.

I reached into my satchel and pulled out the neatly folded paper bag then placed it on the table. Diana seized the bag, opened it under the table, and shook it back and forth.

“This is not sixty. More like half, if that. Do you really think I'm joking? Did you not get the message when I sent that video to your secretary? Okay, I'll just have to—”

“It's thirty only because I was in court most of the day and couldn't get to the bank. You will have the rest tomorrow morning.”

“Fine, but if I don't have the rest in the morning before ten, court or no court, your embarrassment will be ten times more. I swear on everything I love.” She sipped her coffee.

“I understand. We both know I don't want any of that footage out. I'm a great defense lawyer, but you know the saying, ‘a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.' Besides there's no way to deny footage. I just have one request.”

“And that is?”

“All copies of it. Since you sent the little snippet via e-mail, I trust you have a flash drive with the entire video.”

“As soon as I receive all my money, I will gift wrap it for you.”

“That's not all. I want Daniel.”

She laughed almost spitting her coffee on me. “Do you plan on prosecuting him? Or fucking him?”

“Maybe both, what is it to you? He's nothing to you, right? Why would you care if I use him for my purpose now?”

She sat back and sipped on her coffee a little more before saying anything.

“First his name is not Daniel. It's Tony and he can be easily bought for a fee. I think his going rate is five grand.”

I didn't know how to digest her statement. Did I really get conned by a gigolo?

“He's what I call a ladies' man, but I think his lifestyle has changed.”

“And what does that mean?”

“He broke the one rule of the handbook: he fell in love with his own client. A married one at that. There's no coming back from that.”

By her tone, I could tell she was heartbroken. “Were you a client?”

She cut her eyes at me. “Hell no!” I saw the waitress look over to us.

I touched a nerve.

“That's it with the interrogation. Just have my money tomorrow.” She got up from the booth and stuffed the brown paper bag in her purse.

“I'll pay you an extra twenty grand to put him in front of me.”

She laughed. “Oh, so now I work for you? I don't think so. You want him, get your detective to look him up. Good luck.”

“Let's make it another forty, then. Are you really going to pass on something that takes no effort? I just said you had to put him in front me. I'm sure that will come easy to you, no?” I baited her, hoping to ignite her resentment against him.

“Get me my money.” She walked out the diner without another word.

I pulled out my phone and swiped the screen.

“Amanda, what's up?”

“Steve, I have a job for you, but it's a bit personal.”

“You know how I feel about personal shit.”

“Yeah, I know. Double the fee with a bonus for your confidentiality.” I sighed.

“Personal is my specialty. Send me what you need and give me a few days. Whatever it is you'll get. Is that it?”

“Yes, I'll send it to you once I'm home. I need you on this right away. Good night.”

I hung up feeling confident he'd get me what I needed to tie this Tony up so he'd be begging for my help. I called the waitress over to pay the check.

As soon as I stepped out the diner my phone rang, Regina displayed on the screen. “Hey, girl, wha—”

“You dirty fucking bitch! You slept with Mark and then befriended me. You sly, sneaky bitch! Were you friends with me just to be close to him? Did you tell him all that I told you thinking he would leave me for you?” She was on ten.

“What in the hell is going on?”

“Shut the fuck up, you nasty, sneaky little bitch! I never want to see your ass again! If we happen to see each other out somewhere, you better hope I don't embarrass your ass. Or, better yet, stoop to your level and beat the shit out of you.”

“Regina, can you just calm down for a second and explain to me what the fuck is going on?” I never heard her talk to me with such hate and disgust. What the fuck was really going on?

“You heard me, bitch!” The phone clicked in my ear. I rushed to call her back, but pushed End as soon as it rang.

My entire body shook. I stood there staring into nothing holding my phone, wondering if I should call Mark. Calling him would only make things worse.
What makes her think she can talk to me like that? She just pissed off the wrong one. If she wants to see a bitch, I can show her how much of a real bitch I can be. I think it's time Regina finds out I'll be in their lives forever whether she wants it or not. The real shit is about to hit the fan!