It’s late afternoon. We begin walking to Central Park. Wind rustling through the leaves, and bright green trees shedding out most of the rain. Though one dreary day that could only make a depressed person gloomier. My little one is by my side, cozying up in my arms. The Umbrella shields us from much of the rain, but still Luxury radiates from the internal warmth. Our breaths fog out before us. Lux has this air about her now as if no sadness about the past can touch her.
I'm tempted to find this Arnold guy and torture him in the worst of ways. And then kill him of course. First, I need my team to find Doctor Charles Everhart her mother’s murderer and the requestor of her father’s hit.
Murdering anyone that has ever done my little one wrong is at the top of my mind. If I had known her from the start, Luxury would never have doubts about how precious she is.
“What are you thinking, Dr. Finch?”
As Luxury says that name, not my name, I want to tell Luxury my true identity.
Can she handle it? I've considered bringing her into my world. That would require her to... For the first time I'm not confident in my own musing. Luxury deserves better than what I can offer.
But what am I to deny her the truth. “Lux, there's something I need to tell–”
“Vic! Look!” She shakes my arm and smiles. The pale colors of reds and blues and oranges soar across the sky.
“What a beautiful rainbow,” Lux says.
The soft patter of the rain against the umbrella top has stopped. The sky is open wide, boasting an unfamiliar sight.
Wow, I've never really looked up. I mean looked up at the sky in this way. The sky reflects the ocean in a tropical paradise, and I've enjoyed my share.
“Kiss me, Vic,” she leans on her tippy toes.
I bend down. My lips take to her soft silky ones. Then allow my tongue to delight in Lux’s sweet mouth.
“You are the best,” she says. Within her champagne colored eyes, Luxury tells me she loves me without uttering a single word.
That makes me uncomfortable again. I've never considered a woman's needs. Yes, I give them their heart’s desires and their version of needs. But no. I can't start now. “Luxury let's get changed.”
We end up at Burberry. The greeter knows me by name. It was the first place I came to upon arrival to New York. I quickly deter the blonde from calling me D’Ross. “Attend to my lady.”
“Yes, sir.” The attendant’s eyes change from wishful to jealousy since, we’ve flirted in the past.
“Pick something olive green,” I reply and head to the men's area to give the attendant my sizes. Then I feel Luxury following me. I turn around and look down at her.
“Victor uhhh...” Luxury begins. “I have only a few raindrops on the bottom of my jeans, I don’t need–”
Instead of replying, I point to the dress that she will wear. The female attendant heads for it.
“Oh, wow, it's beautiful, but… Vic this place is,” Lux comes closer and whispers, “expensive.”
“Do you want me to pick your shoes, too?” I ask.
Luxury huffs and followed the blond again who is just so stumped that my lady isn't pointing to everything in the store.
Later that evening, I receive a texted update from Bobby George that Whitson is home safe and has been watching TV all evening.
Lux bites her lip, looking over at me as we finish up dinner.
So, to steer her away from my business I ask, “Home or dancing?”
“Dancing!” Her face brightens.
Tonight, I don’t take any notice in the women trying to flirt with me. Really, I hadn’t done so when we went to the club with Suyoung and Graham. Luxury commands attention. She has this “fuck off” attitude with every female passing by. The club is crowded so she exudes hard charisma as I over tip one of the bra and panty-wearing hostesses for a seat.
The hostess places the few hundred dollar bills in her bra, smiles at me asking, what I would like for bottle service.
Luxury, all though entirely tiny even in the Burberry heels, steps in front of me and makes a response. The hostess turns around with a smirk.
“Sit down, Victor,” Luxury commands, pressing her tiny palm into my chest.
I take a seat on the leather couch, and her lips quickly reach mine. “You better not tip that disrespectful bitch either,” she warns.
“Whatever you wish,” I reply, as Lux continues to kiss and bite my bottom lip. Her aggression turns me on as bright dotted lights echo off every contour of her body, while Lux dances just for my enjoyment.
A few drinks later, Luxury has my manhood straining against my trousers as she gyrates on top of me.
“Lux,” I whisper into her ear, as she kisses on my neck. “Keep on and I will fuck you right here, in this club.” She gives a tipsy giggle and I grab her cheeks, kissing her lips hard. “No, I am serious.”
I pull Luxury down on top of me, so she knows exactly what I mean. She moans after realizing how hard she’s gotten my piece. “Vic, take me home,” Luxury begs between kisses.
It's just past one a.m. when we start out of the club. Though Luxury is part-sleepy part-drunk part-operating on anger toward her father, her fuel is beginning to run low. But she still promises to fuck me tonight.
“You’re going to fuck me, huh?” I stop her right at the corner, grab as much of her ass in my hands as I can. “Luxury, I will put your sexy little body to sleep.”
She wraps her arms around my neck. We kiss even more, until my phone begins to buzz in my pocket. Wondering if it’s Bobby George with another update, I pull it out and see Madeline's number. Loyalties tell me to answer. Luxury is becoming annoyed, but I owe Madeline.
“Not too many people call after midnight. Don’t mind me.” Lux folds her arms.
“Just a sec,” I reply, even though it’s impossible to placate two women.
We’re standing outside in the crisp night air, waiting for a taxi. I gather a few paces for space. I keep an eye on Luxury as she stands beneath a streetlamp, and then I answer.
“Victor?” Madeline says. “Thank goodness you answered. Has your plane been delayed? Where are you?” There’s this hope in Madeline’s voice that pales even more. The years have not been good to us.
“Can't make it, Madeline.” I hold the receiver up to take a deep breath, feeling bad for hurting my friend. Every time I bring her pain, I recall the first time she was there to help bandage me up after one of Father’s thrashings.
“Wh...Why not? You've been avoiding me for long enough. Victor, you're wise when it comes to D'Ross Enterprises–though you do skirt the line by being away so much. I'll even say very much so, when it comes to being Duke of Arlington–if and when you ever come home. Yet, your favor with The Queen allows you to thwart your royal duties and go traipsing across the world!” Madeline has this hardness that I’ve gifted her with. After years of knowing me, bitterness has begun to twine around her spirit. A spirit that reminds me of Luxury and her beautiful laughter.
However, I am the byproduct of a womanizing child beater and a woman blinded by perfection, my parents cold war has made me into the man that I am today. I am a powerful businessman and connoisseur of murder. My presence has changed Madeline for the worst; it is capable of doing the same to Lux after a time.
Madeline finally reclaims some of that innocent, soft tone, asking, “Do I not mean anything to you?”
“Maddy, you are my longest friend,” I begin. “Yes, why would you ask?”
There’s a silence that makes me pause to look at the iPhone screen and make sure Madeline hasn’t hung up. Then my eyes are back on Luxury. She’s staring up at me from her out of earshot. There’s a quick glimmer of learned distrust. Wow, it took Madeline years to glance at me like that. Damn, am I doing this to Luxury, too?
“Vic,” Madeline starts, as if it hurts just to say the words, “Should I ask if your delay has to do with a female?”
“I'll be in England by tomorrow evening.”
“That's great because the newspaper announcement of our set marriage date is ready to be delivered from Arlington to Cambridge! All the way to Camden!” My fiancée provides in a condescending tone that she’s begun to practice in the past few years. “Victor, you can do anything but your title right! I’m sorry for saying as much, but as your friend, I would be wrong if I didn’t say so. Now you’ve always been a man of your word. I’ll operate under the guise that you honestly couldn’t get here this morning, because of something beyond your control…”
Damn, if I want the world handed to me at a certain point in time, it would be at that exact second. Risk assessment coordinators, financial advisors, business wiz’s, I spare no expense or lack of knowledge when it comes to my desires. Madeline rationalizes this for me. I have no desire to break her spirit further.
“Victor, I’ll tell Princess Mary, okay?” Madeline provides this bit of friendship, hopeful that telling Mother of my delay will salvage our relationship. Maddy has made favors all our life. Even going so far as accepting an open relationship that we have now, just to pacify me. When all she wants is me.
“Victor, tomorrow, before the first course is served, I will see you?”
The uncertainty is there, but the commanding in her tone tells me that Madeline has had enough. So, I agree and we end the call.
“Victor, are you having girl problems?” Luxury asks hand on her hip.
“We need to have a serious chat when we get you home.”
“No,” she rolls her neck. “We’re going to have it now!”
I look around. It’s too late, and the conversation is too important to have out in the dark. “Not now, Luxury!”
“Oh, what happened to little one? Easy to manipulate little one. Huh?” God, how she does play the part dressed to the nines and with an attitude to boot.
Luxury starts to slap at me but hurts herself on my forearm when I put it up in defense.
“Owe! That hurt.” Luxury pouts.
“You hit me!” I snap, trying to come to terms with how much I like the cheeky girl.
“So?” She folds her arms. “And that’s another thing. I’m so tired of you keeping secrets and lies–”
“Luxury, we will talk about this later,” I begin, as a car creeps by.
“We don’t need to talk later.” She begins to walk down the street, while shouting over her shoulder, “I feel like walking. Maybe on my way home, I’ll teach you a thing or two. For starters, learn how to pay your debts!”
“Debts?” Now I’m following her, not entirely aware of my surroundings as I’m accustomed to, because she’s consuming me with these illogical allegations.
“Hello, Victor, $500 grand’s!”
“500 what?” I shout so hard that Luxury’s bones jump in fear.
She pauses for a second, as if recollecting her thoughts. Then exclaims, “Thousand dollars! You owe someone $500,000 but would rather spend it on something so stupid as this dress,” Lux looks down at herself, then points at me, “And that fucking suit!”
“What are you talking about? Oh…” Actually, I know exactly what she’s talking about. Damn, she had been listening to my call with the contact from X-Member.
“I’m betting you’re spending so much money on a lifestyle, and to impress the next cutie that walks by, that me and the girl on your cell phone are the only ones suffering. I feel sorry for any woman that has crossed paths with you!”
“Lux!” I snap, but she’s already walking again.
Lux moves as quickly as her short legs will go. So, pissed that she isn’t aware of her environment.
A male and female, jogging, past midnight, comes toward us. Both wear dark sweat suits, about 5’5 each. They represent a man and wife assassin duo. My eyes connect with the husband’s. His steely gray eyes that catch the moons reflection. Instantly, my hand goes for my waistband. Nothing is there. I left my desert eagle in the car before we went into Burberry. Damn, Lux! Trying to make sure she enjoyed the day, I didn’t stay prepared.
“And another thing,” Luxury turns around.
She speaks. I’ve tuned her out. The guy is less than ten yards away. Coming at full speed. Lux has a one-track mind. He goes for the weapon in his hoodie. Sidestepping her quickly, I throw a quick jab. It connects with the jogger’s nose.
“Victor!” she shouts, starting to turn around. “Listen to me!”
The jogger is unprepared and easily fazed by the punch. My hands wraps around his neck. I snap it.
The wife who usually is quick to react is on pause. Her heart breaks as she watches his body fall. Before he hits the ground, I snatch the gun from the front pocket of his hoodie. As she stares, I squeeze two rounds into her forehead before her roundhouse kick can even leave the ground.