Devilish Taste

Free trail is over

It's been a month and I was still stuck here in this private clinic. Nino, Noel or whatever his name has called me ever since that night. His mother, which I was correct when her name is Ruby has been taking care of me every second she's free. She came in that night after he left helping me get up from the fall her son's cause. She never asks questions about the two of us which had me curious about her.

All I've been doing is watching television and eating whatever Ruby brings me. I tried once asking Ruby about her past with her son, but all she kept telling me was to talk to Noel.

Does Ruby know about her son actions and what he does in his free time? I didn't want to butt in, but what else was there to do besides be depressed.

Twice a week Nino would send flowers, fashion, candy that's attached to a large stuff bear and I would usually throw in a corner. I didn't care about the gifts he was showering me; well I did care about the candy he was sending which I secretly ate that behind Ruby back. She wouldn't give me any sweets.

I couldn't have a phone in my room, of course, because of the devil man behind this. Every time Nino would call me, someone would enter in my room handing me the phone, and each time they hand me the phone I curse his ass out and throw the phone away from me.

The social media are broadcasting my pictures all over the media saying have you seen me. I know my friends and family been very worried and I know my mother probably going crazy since she already lost a daughter not too long ago. I first saw it when a random nurse came in my room to check up on me, she had a tablet which she was browsing her media and I ask to see it.

When I got on my page all I saw was pictures of me saying have you seen me, rest in peace and people commenting prayers and crap. My friends Tasha and Ashley were posting pictures of me saying we miss you come back. I cried that night, mostly because now people will think I died, people will think of me as a memory now.

"Miss Ashanti, you ready to eat?" Ruby pushes a cart and heads my way. Today was another Friday, Ruby looks nice as usual as today she has her straight black hair into a tight pony tail. I can tell she dye her hair black since I can't seem to find the grey hair she's usually had on her hair.

"I was able to sneak you some soul food that I brought for my lunch." I smile wider as I got up from my bed, walking over to the cart.

"Well look at you, you look all well now. You're not limping, your bruises have healed up, no dried up tears on your cheeks. You look like a new woman, and I love it." Ruby compliments me and I giggle.

Ruby has been helping me so much, especially with the motivation. At one-point while being stuck here, I wanted to take my life. I just wanted to leave this pain and misery and just feel at peace for once you know.

"You look like you gain some meat on you also which you are looking sexier I must say."

"You are a fool Ms. Ruby." I chuckle lightly as I take the plate of food, walking over to the couch to sit and watch television. Ruby place herself right next to me as I flip the channels to find a show to watch.

"I can tell my son is very fond of you." Ruby says this has me snapping my neck at her. what did you just say?

"I know you two are having some complications, but I hope you can help him. I know what he did to you." She talks as if someone is in the room, the way her voice lowers down.

So Ruby does know what her son is into. How can she sit here and let her son do all those things he's done? If I had a son like Nino I would disown him quick, but then again how can I judge when I don't even know their past. I need to stop judging them and just for the facts. I need to grow up, it's life.

"I know what you're thinking, I'm his mother and my son is out here doing all types of s**t out there." Ruby said as if she's reading my mind. I didn't say anything as I continue to munch on the soul food she brought for me.

"My son and I went through so much in the past which made him the man he is now. If you ever question him don't, because he will surely let his temper kill you. Don't get me wrong my son is a mama's boy no doubt about that. His father was never in his life so the streets became his father if you know what I mean." She looks over at me and I nod my head as I understand.

"I've seen the girls he brought over to me claiming he loved them, but I have never seen a girl like you stand up to him. I think that's what made him even more interested in you. You should hear the way he talks about, whine how he doesn't know what to anymore." She chuckles as I smile shaking my head.

"You need to forgive him..."

"Would you forgive your lover?" I cut her off, not trying to be rude, but her request had me choking on my food. She looks hesitate and that told me everything.

"I'm sorry Ruby, but he needs to earn it not abuse it. I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I want him to talk to me not send you for his dirty work." Ruby smiles over at me.

"You're very observant I see." I nod my head and continue to munch on my food.

After our conversation a knock on the door had us silent.

"Who could that be?" Ruby got up from the couch to head over to the door to let whoever it was in. I turn off the television so my attention could be at Ruby and the visitor.

"Hey baby."

"Hey mama."

"Do you think I can have some alone time with her?" I already know who it is, that voice I can never forget. I sigh getting mentally prepared for him.

"Only if she agrees." I silently thank Ruby even though she can't see me.

"Ashanti dear, Noel is here to see you. Do you want me to let him in?" Ruby catches my eye and I debate if I should let him in. we've been so complicated well actually I've been putting him through hell, but for some reason I felt like I wasn't ready to stop being petty. Then again, I was going to see him no matter what, so being petty was off the radar.

"Yes." I answer to Ruby; she opens the door wide letting her son enter.

"I'm leaving now." Ruby tells us as she exits the room not before sending a wink over to me. I shake my head at her, as the door is not shut with only us two.

He looks around the room I'm in like he hasn't seen it before. His eye's roam around the room until it stops in the section of bags and balloon of gifts he had sent. I haven't open them, because I wasn't impressed. There's no emotions showing through his eyes like he always has. His eyes have baggage on them showing how tired he was.

He lets out a loud sigh and rub his chin with his hand. My eyes land on the new hair that's grown on his chin, side burns and mustache that are about to connect giving him more of a sexy cave man.

"Ashanti, it's been a month. I can't stand it any longer with you ignoring me and the gifts I send you every week for your forgiveness."

I hope he's about to apologize to me. I was beginning to think I went too far into the pettiness. I mean we're both adults and not in high school anymore, we should be able to talk like two grown adults.

'I know my son is very fond of you' Ruby voice comes into my mind.

"So I want you to know you're coming with me to my place."

Wait what? I didn't hear anything because of my mind wandering through my thoughts.

"Wait what?" I respond to him.

"I want you to come with me and stay with me." He repeats to me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable knowing he wants me to stay with him. We haven't even attempt to fix this relationship or whatever it is. Coming with him is going to be too much, and I don't know if we should even be around each other right now.

I shake my head. I can't go with him. We need space from each other.

"No Noel." I use his real name to see his reaction. He takes about five steps until he's arm's distance apart.

"Nino."

"Noel." I correct him. I'm not calling him Nino anymore.

"I didn't say you can use my real name Ashanti."

"Are you going to call those bitches to beat me to death if I continue to use your name." I respond harshly at him. He automatically tenses up from my comment.

"Please love." That comment sends shiver down my back. He sounded so helpless and defeat was surely written all over his face.

"I want to go home please. I won't tell no one Noel." I walk closer until I'm under his chin since I'm short. He breathes in hard, and he places his hand on my waist bringing me closer. I can smell the cologne that he always wears on him. That cologne is making my head spin of how intoxicating it is to me.

"No, you will come with me and stay with me so I can watch you."

I forcefully step back making sure I created distance between us. Here we go again, I see.

"The f**k you got life mess up Noel. I'm not a f*****g baby that you need to watch over. If I knew you was going to act like a b***h, then I should sneak out and run away from you like I planned." I told him. There were so many times I could of escape, because of Ruby not paying attention to her keys.

"That's exactly why you're coming with me."

"I promise you..."

"You promise what?" He cuts me off. I just smirk at him.

"Once I get there I will give you hell. I will flirt with all those niggas that's in your damn so call crew. You told me you won't hesitate to kill a nigga for touching me right? Well I'll purposely get your niggas kill just because you won't leave me alone." I smile sweetly at him as his eyes darken. I'm not going to lie; Noel became even more sexy in just a blink of an eye with the way he changes his expression.

"So you are telling me you want to be a f*****g hoe?"

"A girl got to do what a girl got to do." I shrug my shoulder turning my direction to walk to the couch. I didn't mean anything I say. I'm not really going to flirt with anyone. I just wanted to toy with him. Beside I would never want someone to die, because of my action.

He grabs my arm from behind, causing me to halt.

"Don't f*****g turn your back when I'm talking."

"You f*****g turn your back when I needed you the most." I spat harsh on him. I try to snatch my arm back from his death grip, but no progress was made. I didn't mean to bring up the past again, but I'm tired of him being so controlling.

"I told you I'm sorry Ashanti f**k! What more do you want from me?" He yells eagerly at me.

"I don't know, maybe some truth and you to talk to me, spend time with me and not send some whack ass gifts like you do with your hoes. I'm not your f*****g hoe Noel, you think I'll forgive you because you brought some basic ass gifts." I stared at him hard.

"Take your stuff we're leaving now." He ignores everything I say.

"No."

"I'm not playing with you."

"I'm not playing with you either Noel!"

"Stop calling me that!" He roars at me, causing me to shut up.

"You are so stupid sometimes you know that? You act like a damn brat. I gave you a f*****g month to have some space and get better. You told me to leave remember? Yes, I hurt you and yes, I almost got you killed back there. I came back and I realize my action towards you. Some people wanted me to just kill you and get it over with. I put you here so you can get better, you know how much money I lost, leaving you here in this private clinic my mom works at?" He looks at me for me to answer and I stay quiet.

"My mom had to f*****g talk to her boss to let you stay for a month, because the princess you want to f*****g act like can't think of anyone else other than herself. I had to do so much s**t for you to stay here. You act like a damn child, naw forget that you act way worse than a child. I'm only human and I make mistake just like your family makes mistakes right? So why you keep acting you all high and mighty when your family got all sorts of problem." I'm utterly speechless by his outburst. My brother and I argument rings through my mind. Reminding me of how selfish, I am once again.

"So since you want to act like you all and mighty. I'm going to force you to come. f**k this relationship I thought we could of have. I'm going to put your ass in the damn underground strip club, since you want to flirt with niggas and s**t. You might as well make some money for me anyway. Like you said you accepted death so why should I care about you wanting to f**k a nigga." He repeats my words back at me with so much venom.

My mind is filled with all sorts of things that can happen to me once I enter that strip club. My heart was hurting as it felt heavy. No this can't be. I can't be a f*****g stripper! What if my family founds out?

"Nino, you're mad and you don't know what you're talking about. You're just saying things." I use his nickname so I wouldn't get him even more angrier.

"Nino not Noel huh?" He chuckles out loud.

"Please we can talk okay?"

"I've been trying to talk to you for a month. You're free trial is over. It's time to get back to reality." He said, turning his back towards me.

"Nino stop I'm tired of this back and forth. If I have to go back with you so we can start over, then..."

He cuts me off.

"I actually don't want to start over, I want to end this s**t with you. I never tried so hard to say sorry to a woman before." He shakes his head and I began to panic.

"Please Nino."

"Now you want to talk? Cause I got you scared about making you into one of my workers, huh?" He smirks at me. I can't believe this. I didn't know what to do anymore. I drop down to my knees, covering my face with my hand as tears begin to leak out.

"I don't give a f**k if you are crying, you wanted to brand yourself as a hoe talking about you'll flirt with niggas just to get the job done. I can't believe you staying here had my mom doing over time and all sorts of s**t so your ass can remain here living good while my mom over here stressed out. I'll send someone tomorrow afternoon to pick you up or something. I don't want to see you anymore." He spats. He walks out as I continue to cry out.

Every time I try to stick up for myself I get buried in deep with the devil behind me laughing. This is getting to out of hand now. Is this the life I was original to supposed to live through? Should I just accept the fact that I may never see my friends and family anymore? How can I adapt to this world? I'm going to be a f*****g stripper! I have to stay strong and go along with Nino until I get my chance to be free.