“Yes! Since when we haven’t brought the New Year in together? Oh, I forgot. Since you wanted to go to Lux and meet some bad bitches.” Dallas rolled her eyes.
“I keep telling you stop touching my phone.” Big Boy shook his head. He constantly reminded Dallas that when she went looking for trouble, that was exactly what she’d get.
"Whatever, I got you." Was all Dallas replied.
She was thinking about her winnings and how he'd be sniffing all under her ass when he noticed she was stacked with dough. Dallas was instructed to come collect her earnings this morning, but no one mentioned how much she had won. She pulled her purse from the chase and ignored Big Boy as he drank from the Minute Maid carton of juice.
By the time she had made it to her car, Norah had begun calling just as excited as Dallas.
"Good morning."
"Morninggg. You up and ready, I see."
"Girl, yes."
"Oh lord, Big Boy?" Norah asked, sensing the slight attitude.
"Girl, yeah. Nigga ain't explain shit but had the nerve to say stop touching his damn phone." Dallas blew into the phone frustrated.
"Man, fuck him. Go get yo’ bread and take yourself somewhere special."
"Takeussomewhere special," Dallas corrected because one thing she wasn't gonna do, and that was leave her best friend out. "I’mma hit you as soon as I get back."
"Okay. Be safe, bestie," Norah emphasized, thinking about last night.
Although they had a great time, there was something about the establishment that left a bad taste in Norah's mouth. Everyone seemed so unordinary. The people that visited seemed like damn zombies, and the staff seemed as if there was some CIA shit going on. Norah wasn't quite sure, but she just had this weird feeling. She wanted so badly to ask Mama what she knew, but she didn't want to get chewed out for disobeying her warning.
"I will."
"Okay. Love you. See you later."
"Love you too." Dallas disconnected.
The concerned tone in Norah's voice made Dallas want to bring Big Boy along with his gun, but she was instructed to come alone. Pushing any uncanny thoughts from her mind, she pulled off from her home excited. She turned on her Chloe Bailey, theTrouble In Paradisealbum, and pushed off to begin her day.
***
Coming face to face with the large metal doors for a second time, Dallas got that same frantic feeling. The doors had opened as if they awaited her, but no one stood on the other side.
Maybe they're just electric.
She thought, stepping through the doors. Looking across the room, she spotted a sign that readPayouts, so she moved across the threshold toward the sign. When she made it, she was stopped by a guard that had already expected her. She was told to have a seat and someone would be with her shortly.
After waiting about thirty minutes, two large men approached Dallas cheerfully. She was told to follow them, so Dallas excitedly stood to her feet to follow. She was escorted up an elevator, then down a long hall that led to the chambers of hell. At least that was what Dallas envisioned. She couldn't help but laugh to herself, but unbeknownst to her, that was exactly where she would visit.
Being escorted into another set of doors, Dallas had become weary. It didn't look like a place to collect winnings, and the smell of cigars disturbs her nostrils. When she stepped inside, she saw a man who sat behind an oak table with an immoral grin. She assumed the metal chair was for her to be seated, so she sat down slowly, still uneasy about the environment.
"Ms. Devin." The man spoke her name confidently.
She didn't remember giving them her name, but she ignored it.
"Ummm, I'm here to collect my winnings. I can . . . ummm, I can come back another day."
"That won't be necessary. The money is yours."
"It is?" she asked eagerly.
The man nodded, but something in Dallas's gut sang a different tune.
