Chapter 24

The year was 1992 and I was thirty-two years old. It had been five and a half years since I had taken over. The last five were probably the most pivotal in my growth as The Madam. I built a solid foundation for VIP with the clients, the city, and of course the girls. Miami changed in more ways than one. On August 24th of that year, hurricane Andrew made his appearance known to all of Florida, especially Miami, causing over twenty-five billion dollars in damage alone. It was the strongest hurricane to hit Florida in thirty years. The downfall was severe.

Miami was completely unprepared for a hurricane of that measure, during and after its effect. The city was in debt and it took a really long time for it to get back on its feet; slowly but surely it did. However, just because the city was in debt didn’t mean people weren’t spending money. The rich always get richer; it’s a well-known fact, the reality of life, my friends.

The nineties were also the time of mainstream sex. The seventies and eighties did everything behind closed doors. The nineties said “fuck that”. Women wore bikinis that showed off everything, thongs became a thing of the norm, including women walking around topless on South Beach. Playboy took over the world; it was everywhere. Hugh Hefner was the man of the hour, his empire was everywhere and it did wonders for VIP.

The nineties were also the time for blondes to have more fun, they were everywhere and men were crazy about them! They all wanted the California girl, and the face of beauty was a needle and a scalpel away from being you. Plastic surgeons were all over South Beach. Everyone wanted a quick fix. It started the era of instant gratification; from cell phones, to the internet. VIP became much more accessible to old and new clients. I had all black business cards made up with silver VIP lettering on the front and the number and address on the back. It gave clients the liberty to market for me without me having to lift a finger.

It was genius.

I spent most of my time in my office believe it or not. VIP almost ran itself…almost.

The door opened and Mika walked in with coffee in one hand and a box of donuts in the other.

“Get that shit out of my office, Mika. You know I can’t eat that, but I will take the coffee.” He sat down in the chair and opened the box; I could smell the calories from behind the desk.

“You never fucking eat, Angel. A donut isn’t going to kill you and you’re gorgeous, so shut it,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you and to bring you breakfast. You’re welcome.” He grinned.

I rolled my eyes again. “Seriously…what are you doing here?”

“I came to ask you something.”

“You could have picked up the phone.”

“I wanted to see your face. I miss it.” He smiled at me again.

“Sweet talking me isn’t going to get you what you want. Just come out with it. I don’t have time to fuck around today. I have a plane to catch in a few hours,” I announced, trying to make sure I had all the paperwork I needed.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Switzerland,” I responded.

“Want some company?”

“No,” I said without hesitation. “It’s not that kind of trip.”

“All the more reason for me to come. Literally.”

I laughed, “Oh my God! What do you want?”

“Fine. There’s a gala in a few months; I want you to go with me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s what you came over here to ask me?”

“Mmm hmm, Scouts Honor,” he said, raising three fingers together in the air.

“I have to check my schedule but some of the girls are going, I can set you up with one of them,” I stated, trying to dismiss him.

“Angel,” he said in the tone that made my panties wet. “If I wanted one of the girls I would have asked for one. I didn’t. I want you.”

I sighed. “Mika, I don’t have time for your shit today. I told you that I would see if I could; if I can’t, then you’re out of luck.”

“Then make time,” he demanded.

This was Mika to a T. You would think that over the years, I would have gotten used to him playing games with me, but it was quite the opposite. He didn’t pussy foot around. The more I ran and pushed him away the harder he pursued, that’s definitely one thing I learned about him. It was just easier to give him what he wanted and I got used to digging myself deeper into a hole with him.

I was already ten feet under, how much further could I possibly go?

“I told you. I will see.” I smiled and my phone rang. I quickly answered it, trying to get Mika out of my office. The fucker leaned further back in his chair, folded his arms, and put his legs up on my desk. My eyes widened as I continued my phone conversation and all he displayed was a smug look on his face. I flicked him off and he laughed. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote on it.

L: Get your feet off my desk.

M: Make me.

L: You are incorrigible. Fine. I’ll go.

He grinned and left my office.

<>-<>-<>-<>

Two months came and went and The Gala was upon us. It was a fundraiser for Hurricane Andrew and the wealthy of Miami came out to share their support, and by that, I mean their checkbooks. I dressed in a strapless lavender fitted gown that was low cut, and my hair flowed loosely in large curls. Mika dressed in a black tux with his hair tied back in a ponytail. He looked good enough to eat.

I had several girls working the event and they were all dressed to the nines. My girls were dime pieces, every last one of them. The night started off with its usual antics, mingling like you pretended to care what they were saying. I had that down to an art, as did Mika. We worked the room ridiculously well together and I always had men eating out of the palm of my hand.

We were about midway through the night when I felt something shift. Call it a sixth sense, woman’s intuition, or just basic instinct. Someone tapped on my shoulder and Mika and I turned. I recognized the man immediately; he was high profile in Miami and one of VIP’s regular clients. I smiled when he leaned in to give me a kiss on both cheeks.

When we pulled away from our embrace, my eyes caught something from across the room and I couldn’t turn away. I watched the next few seconds of my life happen in slow motion. He was speaking to me, but I didn’t hear a word that came out of his mouth. All I could hear was the sound of my heart beating its way out of my chest. My ears were ringing from the palpitations and I could feel my mouth hang open. It was the first time that I wanted the earth to literally open up beneath me and swallow me whole.

We stared into each other’s eyes as the whole room seemed to disappear in the background.

We knew who we were to each other.

All the memories came tumbling down on me and I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was suffocating from the emotions that I felt in a split second, all of them hitting me at once, one right after the other. I hadn’t felt any of it in almost two decades. I didn’t think it was possible to feel so much and not physically die.

I told you I never saw him again.

I wasn’t lying.

Lilith didn’t ever see him again.

The Madam did.

Julian…