Chapter 13
Mary Jane
A professional beggar had been letting his girlfriend think that he was rich and of noble birth. Once, when he was getting a handout at the neighbor's house, he suddenly saw her. He turned around and said: "Have my dinner-clothes sent here."
–Philogelos (The Laughter Lover)
Before the date, I spent a good two hours straightening my curls with a blow dryer and flat ironing it. If men understood how much women went through to get ready, they’d probably. . .oh, they wouldn’t care.
Curled-up, my hair bounced and barely hit my shoulders. Straightened, the strands almost fell to the middle of my back. I wore a simple sun dress with plain sandals. With my college girl budget, my sundresses tended to serve as formal wear.
Okay. Our first date. This should be interesting. My kidnapper is taking me out on the town. I’m sure there’s a punchline in there.
When I walked out of the room, Noah stared at me for one silent minute and said, “What happened to the curls?”
“I straightened them.”
“Interesting.” He walked up to me and ran his finger through my hair, starting at my scalp and inch by inch, ending around my back. “And when I fuck you tonight, will the sweat make the curls come back or does it stay straight like this?”
I giggled. “It would probably be a little bit of both. Some straight hair and some sweated out curls. You’re pretty much like a tornado in bed, I’m lucky I even have hair with you.”
He fisted the back of my head as if testing the new texture’s ability to withstand his sexual escapades. “Interesting indeed. I like your hair both ways.”
“Good.” I smiled. “Where are we going?”
“The first place is a surprise.”
“O-kay.”
It definitely had been a surprise. We arrived in not time.
I’d never been inside Le Couture, but I’d heard about it. The store boasted high-end fashion with price tags that needed a comma in between several zeros. I’d walked by the place, drooling at the clothes in the window display and dragging myself further down the boulevard to not get depressed.
But on this day, Noah walked me in. “Pick anything you want and not just for today. Pick for several days and many nights.”
“Clothes for several days and nights? I couldn’t do that. Maybe if this was Target, but—”
“Target?” His face shifted to a scowl. “No. Don’t ever say that.”
“But—”
“Welcome, Mary Jane.” A blonde woman handed me a glass of champagne. Silk and pearls draped her body. “When Mr. Brunson requested that we close the store for him, we had no idea what to expect. But then, he told us about you and how he wanted to make this day special.”
“You’re closing the store for me?” I glanced over my shoulder. A black woman with dreadlocks wrapped in white satin, twisted the lock on the front door, went to each window, and slid down large blinds. The store dimmed. A strawberry blonde woman lit candles that sat on every free counter space. And there wasn’t much, because velvet boxes filled with diamonds lay out as if on display for me.
Oh, my God.
Nervously, I turned to Noah. “Can we talk for a minute?”
“No.” His face held a stony expression, but his cheeks twitched as if he was laughing on the inside.
“I think we should, maybe, go outside and talk,” I said. “This is a lot. I was just saying a simple date—like a movie and a slice of pizza.”
“This isn’t the date, sweetheart.” A wicked smile spread on his face. “This is the appetizer.”
I widened my eyes. “Then, what’s the entrée?”
“Oh, we have no time for food.” Smiling, the blond guided me to the back and Noah followed with his gaze planted directly on my behind. She hooked her arm around mine. “A collection came in from Jean Paul Gaultier. He collaborated with La Perla.”
Blinking, I had no idea who either of those people were as I stumbled forward. I felt awkward next to these three women. Instantly, I was that track and field nerd in the high school gym’s locker room, crouching in the shadows while I hurried to change into my clothes—breasty cheerleaders boldly prancing around and tossing me evil glances as if my very existence caused them unease.
I’d never been an It girl. But these women in the store, they had been. And now they gazed at me with dollar signs in their eyes.
The dreadlocked one led Noah to a black and white striped lounge chair. More champagne sat on the table in front of him along with trays of cheeses and meats.
The blonde pulled me forward to one of those dressing screen dividers that I’d seen in old western movies. But this one was more contemporary and matched the room. It had black and white panels and a silver hinge attached each of the panels. Behind the divider, the other two women swarmed on me, slowly slipping off my sundress.
“Uh, Noah.” I raised my hands. “I really want to thank you for this experience, but. . .I don’t know how I could repay you for all of this.”
His sexy voice traveled from the other side of the divider. “You’re going to model it all for me. Everything that I like, we’ll buy. That’s how you’ll repay me.”
Model for him?
I blew out my breath unsure of it all. This moment felt surreal. One of them had turned on some music. A low piano tune played. Shadows flickered within the candlelight. Where we dressed, they kept the ceiling light on, but dimmed low.
“Let’s put you in this, first.” The blonde showed me a black dress hanging from a satin hanger. The straps were tiny. It had a deep plunge in the front that would expose all of my cleavage. The barely visible cups to hold my breasts had a swirled ribboned design over some sort of sheer fabric. It looked like everything would hug me. Cling to my hips and bottom. Make my legs and thighs appear irresistible.
Naked, all I could do was stand in awe of that dress. “Wow.”
“Wow is right.” She helped me into it. “This is an exclusive piece, embellished with silk ribbon and crafted into three dimensional floral motifs over light tulle. It’s all hand sewn.”
I let them pull the soft material over my hips and help me in, tucking in each arm and breast. “How much is this?”
“$2,255.”
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“Shit is right.”
“Are you into clothes?” she asked.
“Yes,” I admitted. “I have amazing fashion sense. I’m just too broke to prove it.”
She giggled and leaned into me as she zipped me up. “You must’ve done something really special to get Mr. Brunson to do this for you. He only comes in here once a year.”
“Oh.” A little jealousy panged at my heart. “He brings women in here one a year?”
“No, it’s not like that. He comes in with his mother for her birthdays.” The blonde circled me and made sure everything lay just right on my body. “She’s a nice woman.”
The blonde leaned in and whispered, “But usually, she picks simple and boring pieces. She’s not really into the glam.”
“Oh.”
“But when he called this afternoon, he told us to have some fun. Get the best of the best. The only requirement was that everything be sexy and fitting for a queen.”
Oh, my God, Noah. What are you doing to me?
I had to enjoy this moment. For now, this was my life. By next week, I’d be back in jogging pants and scratching my ass on my tiny bed while I caught up on overdo homework. What would it be like to live this way, all of the time? Be Noah’s woman. The Beast’s Lady.
“How about these shoes?” She held up ones that defied logic. A curved horn in place of the heel. They were high and bold. I couldn’t imagine wearing them anywhere but a fashion runway. She continued, “These are Fein’s Unicorn Haze.”
“O-kay.”
“And just in case you were wondering, they’re $1,000.”
“Holy shit.” Somehow, I got into them and they strapped me up and primped me around like I really was a queen.
In seconds, they guided me around the divider. Noah had had his legs crossed. As soon as his gaze fell upon me, he uncrossed them and sat up. Nervously, I took my time strolling his way. I may have swung my hips a little to make sure there was a delicious bounce in my deep plunge of cleavage.
He stood up when I neared. “Mary Jane. Mary Jane. That dress is going to look amazing on my limo floor.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” I whispered as he trailed his fingers down my hips. “You’re not allowed to touch any of the models or merchandise.”
He directed his attention to my very exposed breasts. “I want you to wear this tonight.”
I leaned his way and whispered, “Did you know that this whole outfit is over $3,000 dollars?”
“Good.” He turned to the blonde. “Do you have this dress in white, too.”
She nodded.
He smiled. “We’ll take both.”
“Noah.” I cleared my throat. “Where will I be going? I don’t need two expensive dresses?”
“I have places.”
“We only have a week and you’re pretty busy taking care of. . .other stuff.”
He tilted my way and brushed his lips against my ear. “When I give you a gift, you take it. No matter how expensive. Do we understand each other?”
“And if I refuse to accept a gift?”
“Then, I would be sad.” He poked that delicious lip out into a pout, backed up, and sat back down in the lounge chair. “I’m really enjoying this.”
He gestured to the women. “Let’s see what else we can buy Mary Jane.”
I held my hands out. “But—”
“No.” He pointed to the dressing divider. “Just be happy I’ve allowed that thing to hide you while you undress.”
And with that, they rushed me back to try on more things—a decadent corset dress, corded with French lace over nude chiffon, a sultry black bodysuit, a red-carpet gown complete with a mermaid skirt and sparkling bodice.
Where am I going with all of these clothes? Seriously?
At one point, the blonde whispered into my ear, “Don’t worry. He clearly has the money. He’s wearing Brioni. It’s hand-stitched and flawlessly crafted, practically sculpted around his body.”
“Brioni?” I mumbled.
“They’ve been known for dressing all of the James Bond actors. Donald Trump’s a big supporter.” She looked at me like I was crazy for never hearing about them. “That suit is well over $30,000.”
I choked a little on my own saliva.
Remember. This is just temporary, Cinderella. The clock won’t strike midnight, but there will be an end to this and the clock is definitely ticking.
By the end of the shopping spree, boxes of expensive shoes were stacked in huge piles on both sides of Noah. It took about twenty minutes for Fuji and Crusher to load all of the bags and boxes into the car. They waited outside as we left the store.
“Are you ready for our date?” He asked.
Like he’d requested, I wore the first dress with the deep plunge neck line, but I had selected much more comfortable shoes. I had no idea where Noah would be taking me, but I thought it was important for me to be able to walk more than ten feet. “Yes, I’m ready.”
“Are you hungry?” He held the door open for me.
“Yes.”
Before I could ask where we were going to eat, a young girl jumped in front of me and snapped several pictures. I held my hand up in front of me. “Hey! What the hell?”
Noah tried to stop her. “Eh! Get the fuck away from her!”
Crusher pulled out his gun.
Wait. Everyone calm down.
The girl sped off. Fuji charged, but lost his speed after ten steps. If I didn’t have the heels on, I could’ve caught her and ran several more circles, but I didn’t see the point in grabbing her.
Yet, the guys thought it was necessary. Out of nowhere, some young teenaged boy with a mohawk dashed out of the shadows, sped past us, and raced after her.
I widened my eyes. “Who the hell is that?”
“Trouble.” Noah guided me into the limo, but didn’t climb in. “Stay here. We need the camera and that girl.”
“Why?”
Without answering, he shut the door.
“Oh, fuck that.” I opened it up and got back outside.
“You don’t listen, do you?” Sneering, he stayed in front of me and kept the limo at my back.
“Listening is for obedient dogs. I’m a woman, Noah.”
“Boss!” Crusher pointed far off. “The boy is coming back.”
Noah didn’t seem any happier about that. The boy with the mohawk arrived in front of us within minutes. The camera was in his hands. Panting, he said, “I got the phone, but didn’t bring her back.”
“Why the fuck not?!” Fuji stepped toward him, grabbed the camera, and handed it to Noah. To my shock, the kid didn’t shrink away from that monster of a man. “Next time, you snatch her up.”
“No.” The boy shrugged. “She’s a female. I don’t grab females.”
“Good for you.” I smiled.
Everyone ignored me. Fuji leaned toward the boy, tilting his whole upper body toward the kid. “Fuck that. When I say you—”
“Fuji?” I shook my head. “He’s just a kid.”
The big man stepped back and got on my side. “Trust me, MJ. This one isn’t a kid. You can see it in the eyes.”
Noah didn’t even glance at Mohawk. He was too busy studying Fuji and me. “Are you two done?”
“Yes,” we both said.
Noah frowned. “Fuji is right. This isn’t a boy.”
Mohawk smiled throughout the exchange.
I glanced his way. Fuji and Noah had a good point. There was a coldness in the boy’s gaze like Crusher’s and Noah’s, but the spark was still low. There would be more death in those eyes, soon, though. Chances were, he’d probably be worse than Noah. He had a gorgeous face. Probably could’ve been a model, if someone hadn’t introduced him to the streets. Even though he was young, he was already close to my height. His mohawk grew curly and ragged. He had tanned skin, but I couldn’t determine his ethnicity.
While I was studying the boy, Noah glared at Fuji. Something passed between them. I didn’t know what happened, but I guessed I had something to do with it.
“I’m not hitting no female,” the boy continued.
Noah turned his way. “Did you ask the girl any questions?”
“No. She kneed me in the balls.”
“Sounds like a match made in heaven.” Noah flipped through the camera, but his words held a sharpened edge. “Give Mary Jane some space, Fuji.”
Shocked, Fuji hurried toward Crusher, giving up more than enough footage between us.
O-kay. Men can’t stand next to me and little girls can’t take pictures? Got it.
I peeked over Noah’s shoulder while he studied all of the pictures. Every picture that came across the screen was of me. The girl had somehow found a space between the blinds to get a few images of me modeling for Noah. Not one image had him in it. I’d been her main target.
Noah slung the camera at Fuji. “Find out who wanted pictures of my lady.”
My lady?
Noah glanced at the boy. “What’s your name?”
Mohawk studied me.
Noah snapped his fingers and brought the boy’s attention back to him. “What’s your name?”
“I don’t like my name,” the boy mumbled.
“So what do people call you?”
“Mo.”
“For mohawk?” Noah asked.
“No, for mo money.”
“And what were you doing here?” Noah ran his fingers through his hair.
“Following you.”
“Why?”
“Streets are talking. Now that Domingo and Rasheed are dead. They’re thinking it might be a good idea to kill you.”
Wait a minute. Did he just say Domingo was dead? What the hell? When did he die? What’s going on?
A cold chill radiated up my spine. First of all, the very mention of people dying around me didn’t make me calm. But now, this boy had said that Domingo was dead. That couldn’t have been true. If Domingo was dead, then why would Noah keep me with him?
Mo continued, “Everybody said you’re finally going to lose. They’re betting money on your death.”
Noah’s voice held a bored tone. “And what do you think?”
“I don’t like to lose my money. I’m betting on you, but just in case, I figured I’d be around to help.”
“That doesn’t explain why you’re following me around.”
“I helped you with Domingo. It’s in my best interests to make sure you stay on top. Another guy might not like me.”
“Okay, Mo.” Noah nodded. “Go off with Fuji. He’s in the truck.”
“I brought my van,” Mo said. “I can drive that.”
Noah cocked his head. “But that’s not what the fuck I just ordered.”
“Oh.” Mo bobbed his head and went off with Fuji.
Noah gestured at Crusher. “Check the kid’s van and ask around about him.”
“Okay, boss.” Crusher got in the limo. All the while, Noah kept his back to me as we stood outside of the limo.
When I was sure everyone had given us privacy, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Domingo is dead?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to face me?”
“No.” He placed his hands in his pockets.
“Why?”
“I don’t like lying to you. I’m thinking it’s easier to do it if I don’t look you in the eye.”
I walked around and faced him. When I saw his face, some of the anger and confusion left me. Worry creased his eyes.
People are trying to kill him now. Had he known that the entire time he sat in the store watching me model for him, or is this just a regular day? Are people always trying to kill him?
“Why would you lie now?” I asked. “You’ve already lied enough.”
“I told you that you can leave, after Domingo. That’s not true anymore.”
“Well, when can I leave?”
“I’m working that out in my head. So far, I don’t have a date.”
“What does that even mean? Either everything is over and I can go, or things are happening and I have to stay.”
“That’s where I would have to lie to you. I’m not sure if I’m ready for you to leave yet.”
I took a deep breath. “So. . .you’re saying. . .like you’re a host and you’re really enjoying your house guest so you’re like, ‘Hey, stay an extra week. This is fun.’ That type of you’re not ready for me to leave yet? Or is it. . .creepy kidnapper, chain me in the basement sort of host?”
“I’m figuring that out.”
My voice rose louder than I’d wanted it to. “What the hell does that mean? I can’t just stay with you until you want me to leave. I have a life. I go to college. I’m. . .I don’t know—not freaking used to being around guns or people who use guns. Sure, this made sense because I was scared for my life and—”
He opened the limo door and gestured for me to get in. “You stay with me.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Again, I could not run in these heels and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run. We’d been having a freaking date, before all the craziness.
Noah’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Running from me isn’t a good idea. Din City isn’t that big and I’d always catch you.”
“Those have to be the most romantic words I’ve heard in my life.” I stepped up to him and poked his chest. “You don’t ever talk to me that way.”
He stared at the fingertip stabbing at the center of his chest. “Could you not do that?”
“Or what?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet, either. I’m not sure I could hurt you.” He captured my hand, moved it away from his chest, and drew me to him smoothing my body against his. “I haven’t figured out how to punish you in a way that never hurts you, because that’s the biggest problem with me. I have a short list of people that I won’t kill. Very short.”
“Who’s on there?”
“My parents.”
“That’s a very short list.”
“You’re on there, too.”
I blinked.
“Sometimes, Crusher too. His safety varies from day to day. It matters on how often he sings.”
“Noah—”
“This makes things hard.” He captured my hips and consumed my lips. “I want you near me, all the time, but I don’t know how to make you stay. I’m sorry I lied, but I’m figuring this all out now.”
“You could’ve asked.”
“There’s no need to ask when there are no other options.” He devoured my mouth and whispered against my mouth, “I’m falling for you, Mary Jane. I’m so sorry.”
Shocked, I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m falling for you, baby, and we’ve just met, but I can’t get enough of you, so yes, you’ll stay, until I figure it out.”
“No.” I climbed out of his arms and let out a nervous breath. “I will stay for a few days and we will figure something out, that’s less creepy and restricting of my rights as a woman and human being.”
“Women have rights?”
“Fuck you, Noah.” I punched his gut. “That’s not funny.”
Unphased by the punch, he frowned. “I thought it was a great joke.”
“It sucked.” I climbed in. “This is a great joke: what did God say after creating Adam?”
“I should make a creature named Eve that will keep Adam addicted to what’s between its thighs?” He got in the limo and pulled the door behind him.
“No. After God created Adam, he looked at the man and said, ‘Hmmm. I bet I can do even better. This time I’ll make the creature perfect!’”
“I missed that part in the Bible. Either way, you should definitely add my joke to your act. The whole concept of women having rights is funny in itself.”
I glared at him.
“What? Was the punchline not working?”
A smile didn’t appear on my face. “Don’t lie to me, anymore.”
He looked away. “Okay.”
“And I can’t stay with you forever.”
He sneered. “Let’s talk about this after dinner.”
“No. We will figure out something that works and soon because I have to go. I can’t live with you. I don’t even know you. We can date. Sure, but—”
“Date?” Noah asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t do that.”
“But you’ve dated, before.”
“No.”
“Well, guess what? Now, you’ll be able to check this off of your bucket list items.”
“Does dating involve you dating other men?” There was something about the way he said those words that gave me chills.
“I’m thinking that’s probably not a good idea,” I said.
“You’ve always been a fast learner.”
“But we take our time and—”
“I’ll see.”
“It’s we’ll see or I don’t date you. First of all, I don’t even know if I could. Your life is. . .not. . .like my life. I don’t know how much of it I can deal with. And I need you to assure me that I’m safe around you. Also, if I want to leave you, you won’t make me sleep with the fishes.”
He sighed. “Sleep with the fishes?”
“Kill me.”
“I know. You watch too many mafia movies.”
“Anyway, that’s not an answer about me being safe,” I said. “I will need a safe out or I can’t date you. This is a regular dating situation, not gangster craziness.”
He furrowed his brow as if I’d been asking for something complex and foreign. “Let’s talk more about this, later.”
“Are you a cave man? You don’t honestly think that I can’t just walk away. That you’ll always get your way with me?”
Confused, he asked, “Is that a trick question or a joke?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not talking to you. You’re insane.”
“Good. I don’t want to talk, right now, anyway.”
A moment later, he had me back in his arms, decorating my face and bare shoulders with kisses, trying desperately to take off my dress, taking my breath away, and whispering how sorry he was that he’d fallen in love with me.
I couldn’t even deal with the damned issue anymore, because things were moving too fast and I felt more confused than ever. Because in the end, I was falling for him, too. And although I should’ve been pissed about him lying to force me into staying, I wasn’t.
What was happening to me?