CHAPTER 1
KNK BLACK CARD
ALORA
It’s another Friday night, and I’m at home again. It’s not that I don’t want to get out and have a social life; it’s just I’ve been a homebody for so long that I don’t know how. The few friends that I have stopped asking me to go out years ago. I only keep up with them through social media and group chats. My cousin slash best friend, or who I call my best cousin, Bianca, is the only one who hasn’t completely given up on me. It’s really a sad existence when I let myself think about it.
I start up another movie app and scroll through my choices. My mood really turns sour when I can’t find a movie that I haven’t seen yet.I really need to get out more.
I switch to another app, and I still can’t find a new movie. “Lord above, I cannot be this pathetic.” I roll my eyes at myself.
I finally put on my favorite paranormal show to just play in the background, so I can get up and go to the kitchen and pour myself a glass of wine. I don’t drink often because, let’s face it, I would be an alcoholic if I did. Nothing goes hand and hand like alcohol and self-pity. But tonight is one of those nights that Ineeda drink.
I guzzle down half the glass before sitting it on the counter and pushing it away. Although the wine tastes great, it isn’t satisfying. I need something that’s going to fill up this emptiness that I have in the pit of my stomach.
Bianca, tells me that it’s sexual frustration. And the more I think about it, the more I’d have to agree. The last time I had sex was over a year ago with my ex-boyfriend. He wasn’t the most gracious lover, but he got the job done…sometimes.
Before I can continue on my downward spiral of epic proportions, my phone rings. I know without looking at the screen that it’s one of two people, my mother or Bianca. I plop down on my couch and pick up my phone.
“Hello?” I try to keep the boredom out of my voice but fail miserably.
“Alora! Get up and get ready. I have a surprise for you, chica!” I can feel the excitement vibrating off Bianca, even over the phone.
“Bianca, you know damn well I don’t like surprises.” Exasperation drips from my every word, but I can’t help the smile that covers my face.
“And you know damn well, I don’t care about that. I was given an exclusive invite, and it comes with a plus one. And tag, you’re it!”
“Bianca, taking me to some club is like dragging a wet blanket around. Why would you want me to go?” We’ve had this conversation many times in the past, and she never answers.
I have no idea why she continuously insists on dragging me out, and even though the last thing I want to do at the moment is go out, I know that’s probably exactly what I need to do.Maybe I just manifested this phone call without even realizing it.
“Lora,” Bianca heavily sighs. “I know you think that, but I’ve known you my entire life. You’re fun when you want to be. And tonight, you definitely want to be. So, remember that questionnaire you filled out last week?”
“Questionnaire? Bianca, I think I’d remember filling out a questionnaire.” It’s my turn to heavily sigh. Sometimes, I’m convinced that my best cousin smokes entirely too much weed.
“Well, I didn’t exactly tell you that you were filling it out. I just asked you the questions, and bam!”
I sit flabbergasted at the memory of Bianca asking me some weird questions about my sexual fantasies. As crazy as it may seem, sexual conversations between the two of us aren’t unusual. However, the questions themselves were extremely strange. Like one question she asked was if I had a choice between a muscular Werewolf or a mysterious Vampire, which would I take to be my lover? I remember laughing at the asinine questions and joking about how I would love to be ravished by a tanned muscle-bound Werewolf.
“What do you mean, bam? Are you saying you found a werewolf somewhere for me to get my freak on?” I chuckle at how crazy Bianca sounds.At this point, I think an intervention might be necessary.
When Bianca doesn’t laugh with me. I had to pull the phone away from my face to make sure the call didn’t drop. “Bianca? Are you still there?”
“Uh, yeah. So, remember that agency everyone is always talking about? KNK, the matchmaking agency?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess. Why?” I ask with a frown
“Um, I have a black card.”
I sit up from my couch so fast that I damn near end up on the floor. There have been so many rumors about the infamous KNK agency. It’s so exclusive that even people who used the service have never divulged what exactly goes on there.
If you’re single and ready to mingle, it is guaranteed that you have heard of the KNK agency. And if you’re tired of being single, you’d do just about anything to get the elusive KNK black card.
“How the hell did you manage that?” I ask, my voice louder than usual.
I have to clear my throat and calm down. But my heart is racing like I just won the lottery. I mean, shit! I practically have. Nobody I’ve ever known has gotten such a prize as the mysterious KNK black card.
“Don’t worry about all that. Just get your ass up and get ready.” Bianca has the audacity to sound irritated.
