SUGAR - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

"You sure you didn't fuck him?"
"What? I was barely in the room 30 minutes," I said sitting in the seat across from Paul.
"It don't take 30 minutes to fuck. Trust me, I know."
"Why would you even ask me something like that? I do my job, get this money, and stay out the way."
Paul leaned forward placing both arms on his desk, interlocking his fingers.
"Baby girl, that's 10 bands wrapped in that plastic. He paid a $10,000 deposit and I'm giving you half."
"FIFTEEN THOUSAND?!" I yelled standing up from my chair.
"Shh! If I wanted the whole club to know I would've told Cash to make an announcement."
"Paul, I swear on my life I just danced," I pleaded, sitting back down.
"Mhm, I'll believe it. For now. Be careful around that nigga. Anybody willing to pay that much money for 'just a dance' might be looking for something more in return and Drew can't save you from everybody. I'll tell Big Steve to walk you to your car just in case."
I smiled and stood to walk out of the office.
"Jordyn." Paul never called the girls by their government name unless he was serious.
"Remember what I said."
"I will, Paul. Thank you."
I grabbed my things from the dressing room to follow Big Steve out to my car.
"Hm, Big Steve walking her out so I guess she took my advice," Pearl said as I was leaving. I ignored her and kept walking. I just made almost half my tuition for next semester in one night. Nothing was going to kill my high. As we headed out of the back door towards my Jeep, I noticed a small duck with a tag and a yellow rose attached to it.
"I'll get rid of that for you," Big Steve said reaching for the duck.
"No!" I quickly responded. "Duck, duck, Jeep. Another Jeep owner probably left it there so I can put it on my dashboard."
He shrugged his shoulders and went to put my earnings for the night in my backseat.
"Be careful getting home. See you tomorrow," Big Steve said walking back towards the building. I got in the driver's seat, took the tag off the duck, then placed the duck on my dashboard. The tag didn't say anything, just a phone number. Before I could dial the number, a call from Drew came through.
"Hello?"
"Hey, baby. I'm still up waiting on you. Everything good?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm getting ready to leave the club now. I'll be there in like 30 minutes."
"Alright, drive safe. I love you."
"I love you too," I responded, hanging up. I sat for a minute staring at the tag wondering if I should call or not. What if it wasn't Slim? What if it was just a random nigga that saw a Jeep and had an extra duck in his glove box and decided to pass it on? What if it was somebody that had been watching me in the club and wanted my number to stalk me? I decided to call Bria to help me decide.
"Bitch its almost 4. Somebody better be dead," Bria answered in her sleepy voice.
"I have a problem."
"Oh my God, what happened?" she asked now fully alert.
"Slim came back to the club."
"Who the fuck is Slim?"
"The nigga I was telling you about from the other night."
"Oh this hot tea, spill it!"
"He booked a private dance for 10 bands then paid me another 10 to dance. Paul split half of the deposit with me."
"Bitch you gotta pay a deposit to watch somebody throw ass? Y'all hiring?"
"Absolutely not, and we don't even take deposits."
"Oh bitch he like you. Ain't no nigga just giving out 20 bands. Wait, you made $15,000 tonight?! That's tuition for next semester!"
"That's exactly what I said and that's not even the craziest part. Security walked me and the money to the car and there was a duck on my Jeep with a rose and a phone number."
"BITCH CALL IT RIGHT NOW! Put me on 3way!"
I dialed the number and added it to the call.
"I'm glad I woke up for this. I'm excited," Bria said after the first ring. Second ring. Third ring. Voicemail.
"I know you lying. Call his ass again."
"It is almost 4. Maybe he sleep. We don't even know who it is."
"I bet my scholarship its him. You just got that Jeep like a month ago. If it was somebody else they woulda left their number on it by now."
"But how would he know what type of car I drive?"
"Girl he paid 10 racks to secure an appointment to see you do the same thing he saw you do last night. You think he won't pay for information? For the right price I woulda told the nigga your whole life story."
"You know what? Get off my phone," I said laughing.
"You done broke my rest for nothing. You want me to stay on the phone with you until you make it home or you calling Drew?"
"No we can talk, I'm about to go by his house."
"Bitch, you better hope Slim don't call you back when he wake up and Drew answer that phone while you sleep."
"That's why its going on do not disturb," I laughed and threw my car in reverse to head to Drew's.
(2 hours later)
Drew went straight to sleep after sex and I've been tossing and turning since. I just wanna know who's number it is but I'm scared to find out. What if it is Slim? Drew and I made a promise to not entertain other people and as far as I know he's holding up his end of the promise. Meanwhile I can't get this man out of my head to the point where I imagined him instead of Drew during sex. I don't know what it is about him that has my mind gone like this. Is it how fine he is? The aura of mystery that changes the energy of the room when I'm around him? Am I starting to get over Drew because of the constant bickering about me dancing? My phone screen lit up, breaking my train of thought. I looked over and saw a text from a 281 area code.
I see you got my gift
yes but I would like to know who I should thank
I'm sure you know
how did you know that was my car?
I have my ways
should I be worried?
Nah lol that was something light. The right price gets results.
was $10,000 the "right price"?
Maybe. Not sure yet. Let me come find out.
when?
Right now.
i cant rn.
Oh you witcho nigga. Next time, Sapphire.
It was him. I locked my phone, rolled over, and went to sleep.