I opened my mouth, but then Lawrence told me to hold on. I decided to be placed on hold, but not because I was being polite. Oh, no. I was about to give him a good cursing out if he hadn’t walked away. I waited because I could hear Sandra’s ass in the background.
“You are not to pay that bitch shit!”
“Sandra, baby, please. We don’t know if your uncle is going to let me into his exclusive circle, and I’m already in with Mr. Hunter’s.”
“I don’t give a fuck! If you and she are over, that means you cut ties with her family as well. That includes her dad’s little country club.”
I clenched my jaw. As much as I wanted to drag her ass again, she was speaking facts. If he didn’t want to be with me, that meant he didn’t need to be in contact with my family.
“And I will,” Lawrence pleaded. “Once your uncle accepts me and vets me in with his club, then I’ll cut ties with the Hunters.”
Sandra let out a long sigh. “Fine, but don’t give that bitch any of our money. She was the dumbass for paying me while I worked with y’all, but I am not as stupid as she is. Either she helps voluntarily, or we find a different way. Period.”
Oh, this bitch has lost her mind. She was bold and loud when I wasn’t there to fuck her up. If I’d known what she and my ex were up to, of course, I wouldn’t have voluntarily given her money. I shook my head. I got something for her ass.
Lawrence huffed out a breath before I could hear him picking up the phone. “Sorry about the hold.”
“I’ll help you,” I spat out.
“Wait, you will?” Lawrence asked, surprise in his voice.
“Yes, but I want ten thousand a month.”
“Ten! Natalie, don’t you think that’s extreme? Look, I think five is...”
“Either you pay, or you can forget it,” I interrupted, placing my hand on my hip.
The line became silent, and I knew Lawrence was weighing his options. He may have been sleeping with that tramp, but he knew that if he wanted to stay ahead with whatever plan he was scheming, then he needed my help.
After a long moment, Lawrence broke the silence. “Okay, I’ll pay you. All I need is a few months, and then I’ll come clean to your folks. Deal?”
I rolled my eyes. “Deal. Send me my money within ten minutes, or I’ll unleash hell.”
I heard Lawrence curse before I hung up the phone. He knew I wasn’t playing. I had his balls in my hand, and he couldn’t do anything but obey. If he didn’t, he would have to kiss his reputation, business, and whatever goals he had goodbye.
I sighed as I flopped back down on my bed. A small part of me felt stupid for agreeing to help his ass. I mean, screw him! I wasn’t the one who cheated and ended our engagement. I wasn’t the one who threw away years of a committed relationship down the toilet. So why should I bother? If I were being honest with myself, there was a sick, twisted part of me that wanted Lawrence to stay around. I could admit that I still loved him and wished that this entire ordeal was merely a bad dream.
Since it wasn’t, then I’d agree to this stupid plan if only to have contact with Lawrence a little longer. However, while I was still angry, I was going to allow him to fatten up my bank account, especially since it was going to piss off Sandra. As a matter of fact, I was going to open the shop I wanted at last.
Dexter
Present
Pushing up my glasses,I finished the last bit of coding before taking a sip of my water. This project for my software design and architecture class was seventy percent of my overall grade, and I refused to fail. Granted, I was already passing with a 4.0 GPA and on the Dean’s List while on track to graduate at the top of my class. Still, I couldn’t slack off. I was in my final year at college, and I could feel my bachelor’s degree at the tip of my fingers. Plus, if this project were successful, it would only push me to finish my own gaming prototype I had worked on last summer.
My phone buzzed, and I noticed a call from George, one of my parents’ coworkers, back at home. Overall, he was cool people. He was older than me by a few years and more outgoing compared to my laid-back demeanor. He was usually loud and chased after every woman he crossed paths with, but my parents loved him. He wasn’t your typical corporate employee, but he was a hard worker.
“What’s up, Geo?”
“Dexter, my man! What are you doing tonight? Wait, let me guess, playing one of your computer games.”
I huffed out a chuckle as I adjusted my keyboard. “For your information, I am finishing up some homework…then I’m playing one of my games.”
George snorted out a laugh. “It’s Friday night, and instead of getting into something wet, your nerdy ass is doing homework.”
I rolled my eyes. “Did you only call me to make jokes? If so, you can send it in a text.”
“Actually,” he said, drawing out the word. “I need that favor.”
