My upper lip curled with disgust as I glared at all three men. Fucking monsters! Between Mr. L not having a problem taking advantage of men and women who are vulnerable, Xavier using our downfall as a way to get some, and their loyal dog, Bruno, willing to get physical to complete his job – I was absolutely disgusted.
“What I tell you, X? You can’t touch the pure ones.”
“And I don’t want to. The ones we have are barely legal and I don’t want that. You got lucky with Little Bit. Not too many women as mature as she is that hasn’t been touched.”
I’d be lying if I said I was surprised by Xavier’s revelation. Of course, Mr. L had more people like me under his thumb. However, to hear that they were barely eighteen broke my heart. I ran into money issues well after the fact that I graduated high school and was in college. I couldn’t imagine what those other poor souls have been through for them to seek out Mr. L for help.
“Hands off, X. Anyway, Addison, you know seeing you in person again has me thinking about upping your price. I could probably adjust the contract with your husband and get more money. You are fine as hell. You remind me of my own woman that’s out here in Philly.”
“Oh, so your girlfriend is cool with you selling others to pervs who want their virginities?” I asked, placing my hands on my hips. “If she does approve, thenshe’s a dumbass or just greedy as hell because I’m sure you’re offering her up some hush money.”
“Just like I offered yo ass hush money? Oh, my bad I didn’t mean hush money but money to save your sick ass Grandma.”
My jaws tightened as I glared at him. Bruno and Xavier snickered behind me, and it took everything in me not to just start swinging on them.
“Exactly!” Mr. L said, snapping his fingers. “Everyone has a price so you can shut that other dumb shit up.”
I exhaled as I shifted my eyes towards the window behind him. He was right and I didn’t have an argument against him. I stooped down and came to one of his brothel houses for help and agreed to give myself away. Who was I to pass judgement when I willfully placed myself in this position. Yes, it was to help someone I loved, but still, I chose this path.
“Now that you’re back in town, what are your plans?” Mr. L asked, lighting up a blunt that he pulled from his pocket.
I swallowed the bile in my throat and returned my attention back on him. “I want to visit my grandma, and I need to meet with the realtors so that I can get her house on the market. Since I am to be sold soon, there’s no point of keeping her house. At least I can use that money to pay up my grandmother’s bills until, hopefully, I can meet back with her one day, or have her move closer to wherever it is I’m going. If that’s okay with you.”
Mr. L nodded his head as he tapped the ashes from his blunt into a trashcan outside of his office door.
“I see no problem with that. While you handle your business, I can accommodate your room and transportation. Consider it your graduation present.”
I provided Mr. L a tight lipped smile. He exhaled a long chain of smoke before his eyes shot over to the other men in the room.
“Unless she’s still giving you problems, Bruno.”
I stiffened as I glanced at my driver from the corner of my eyes and inhaled. I didn’t have to look over to recognize Bruno staring a hole in the side of my head. Should I tell on him about what just happened outside of his office? I shook my head. No that would be stupid. It was his word against mine and I was already on thin ice for sneaking out with K. I held my breath and waited for his response.
After what seemed like an eternity, Bruno shook his head. “Nah, we’re good. She has a smart mouth, but nothing I can’t handle.”
I exhaled a shakily breath as Mr. L threw his head back and laughed.
“Mr. O is going to love Little Bit.” Xavier chuckled.
“Agreed. Addison, the driver who picked you up from the airport, will take you to the realtor office and then to your hotel. I need Bruno for a few hours but then he’ll be back. I’ll ensure he takes you to visit your grandmother, too. Don’t try anything stupid with this new guy.”
I nodded my head. “Understood. Anything else?”
“At the end of August, the ink will be dry on the contract, and you no longer have to deal with us. Instead, you will be moving to your new home.”
My eyes bulged. “W-what? At the end of August? That’s barely a month away.”
He shrugged. “I’m glad you know how to read a calendar but ask yourself, what the fuck does it have to do with Mr. L?”
“Well,” I was floored. I literally was at a loss for words. I knew that Mr. L was selling me, but I didn’t realize how much time I did not have. I took a quick breath and collected my words so that I could quit stammering. “That doesn’tgive me enough time to ensure the house is sold. That doesn’t give me enough time to get all the affairs in order before I leave my grandmother behind.”
Mr. L exhaled a fake yawn before staring at me nonchalantly. “Addison, I. Don’t. Give a. Fuck. Like I said, you’re gone at the end of August. You’re dismissed.”
I scoffed before spinning on my heels to head back toward the elevators.
“Addison?”
I stopped in my tracks as Mr. L’s voiced called after me. I kept my back to him as I slightly looked over my shoulder.
