LIGHT for DARKNESS

EPISODE 6 - AUGUST

The drive to Grayson's office was smooth. I parked and gave the valet the key to my car as we arrived. Walking through the company's lobby I felt eyes on me. Everyone feeling intimidated, and that made me feel good. We took the V.I.P elevator to the fourth floor where Grayson's office was. The elevator door dung and my eyes landed on the most beautiful face I had ever seen. She looked so familiar, like, I have seen her somewhere. Her outfit was appropriate but at the same time sexy enough. Her black hair was neatly held in a ponytail, her big beautiful green eyes that could reflect oneself if looked into, beamed with affection. She was above average, just the right height. I couldn't take my eyes off her for a moment. She looked very sad and was walking in a robotic motion. I had to stop myself from this emotion. It is never good and would be my downfall. Besides, women are gold diggers. One moment the act all innocent while the truth was, they only come for your money, fame or s****l satisfactory capacity.  Nothing else.

Trying to avoid this strong urge of being drawn to her, I mistakenly bumped into her. She looked pitiful already, and it looked like she was having a bad day and I just made it worse. All her documents went flying with her suitcase falling to the floor.

"Hey, are you alright?" My voice came out in a nice and caring tone instead of the authoritative and intimidating way I spoke. Besides, I will never ask if she was okay. I would just signal my guards to get her out of the way, but I didn't. 

Without looking up and replying immediately, she started picking her things. "I am so sorry. I should have looked at where I was going to." Her words sounded angelic.

" It is totally fine." I bent and helped her put her things back to the case.

"Thank you...." She extended her hand to shake me but did not complete her words before drifting off. It was as if her thoughts and gaze were practically undressing me. She checked me out from hair to toe without even realizing she was doing so.

"What could she be thinking about?" I thought to myself. "You are welcome". As we shook hands, the adrenaline in my body began to flow more than usual. I had to pull myself together. The handshake also brought her back from whatever was running through her mind. "Are you okay?"

"I am totally fine. Thank you so much and I am so sorry. I feel like a total idiot." She fixed herself and her suitcase. With the biggest happy smile, I have ever seen, "do have a lovely day." She walked majestically to the elevator. Her smile affecting me.

Everything was strange. How I felt at that moment and my interaction with, made me want to be with her and take care of her. That wasn't going to happen. But, what surprised me the most was that she didn't cower at the fact that I had almost ten armed men with me. It is either she didn't even take notice of them or, she ignored their presence.

"Phew." I exhaled, walking to Grayson's office.

"August, my good friend."

"Grayson." Shaking hands. I unbuttoned my suit and sat on the white sofa facing his table.

"What do you care for? Moet? Champagne? Vodka?" He walked to his mini-bar.

"Thank you, Grayson, but, I prefer to go straight to business."

"If you say so, my friend." He poured a glass of whiskey for himself and walked back to the single sofa opposite where I was sitting.

"So, business?"

"Yes, business." Taking a sip of his whiskey. "Well, like you know I am looking at expanding." He took another sip "I want to build two new casinos in Seattle and Barbados respectively. I also want to add a hotel to each of them."

"What do you want?"

"I need your protection in these two new developments." His words came out in a whisper to me. 

I was thinking of her again. Her beautiful lips that I would kiss, her breast that was irresistible to taste and... I had to stop this madness. "Are you going to get your hands dirty? Alcohol? Cocaine? Weed? s*x slaves? Pimps? Well, elaborate."

 I was raging within me that I couldn't stop myself from thinking about an ordinary girl. I have always gotten whatever it is that I wanted. But why did I want her differently? Maybe I needed to f**k then, I will get my s**t together. She was just a hoe and nothing more. After all, women are.

"Yes, I am going to add all that" His voice reminded me that I was not paying attention. It was a good thing I had a poker face if not, he would have dictated that I was distracted.

"You know how I work. Forty percent of each business for three years and ten percent afterwards."

"I know how you operate but, August my good friend, it is a new business, and we are struggling. Why not, twenty per cent for three years and ten per cent afterwards."

"Grayson," Rising while buttoning and straightening my suit. " You know that I am not negotiable. It is either my way or no business."

"You don't have to leave. We will agree." He stood.

Scratching my temple a bit, "There is nothing else to agree to. When you finalized, call me." 

"You will be hearing from me immediately," he shook my hand.

My phone rang, cutting my response to Grayson off. "Yes, Kelvin."

"One of your debtors has a proposition for you,"

"You know I don't deal with things like that directly." Nodding at Grayson, I headed for the elevator.

"I know but,"

"What the f**k Kelvin, you can't call me because of s**t like that. That is what you are there for. Take care of it. Call me only when you have better and important news." I hung up on him and put my phone back into my pocket. We got to the elevator, down to the exit and into my car. 

Throughout the drive back to my apartment, her face kept coming into my mind. What is it about this mysterious girl?