A Gathering of Friends

Once outside my fathers office I quickly g****e the location of the closest subway station. Kenzie lives at the other end of the city, I would rather not spend over one hundred dollars on a cab if I can help it. Three blocks away I am descending into the subway station, swiping my metro card I pass through the turnstile and look up at the boards displaying the routes that were available. Locating the one which would lead me to Kenzie’s I move through the crowd to the platform to wait.

The subway slides into the station and with a hiss the doors open. People pass through the doors, emptying the carriage in front of me. Unfortunately, instead of being patient an overly enthused teenage boy attempts to push through the crowd knocking down a young woman.

Pushing my way gently through the crowd, I helped her to gather her things that she had dropped.

“Here, let me help you.”

“Thank you” she says, an edge of pain clearly audible in her voice.

“Are you hurt? I can help you move out of the way if you are?” I ask, knowing fully that if I did I would miss this subway time.

“No, no I got more of a fright than anything but thank you.” An embarrassed flush creeps along her cheeks. She brushes her ebony hair out of her face and stands. “I really should be going, but really thank you for stopping and helping.”

“You’re welcome” I give her a small wave and hurry to enter the subway carriage. I have barely made it through the doors when they hiss shut behind me. Shoving my earbuds into my ears I press play on my music app and prepare to wait out the journey.

******

Climbing up the steps out of the subway station, I find myself standing in the brilliant sunshine. The warmth hitting my face makes me feel slightly better about the crappy day I have had. Unlocking my phone, I search up the nearest liquor store. Finding out that it is coincidentally directly on my way to Kenzie’s, I smile to myself. Yet another thing to make my day slightly better. I let Kenxie know that I am about fifteen minutes away. I also ask if she needs me to grab anything else.

Can U grab another bottle of tequila? I feel this is gunna b a long night. 

Reading her response I smile to myself. Yes, yes it will be. 

I reply : Sure, stuff goin down with u 2?

Yup ttyl.

Well at least we can talk about it together.

I begin to walk towards the liquor store, the events of the day beginning to catch up with me.

******

I am gasping for breath by the time I lug the two bottles of tequila plus the copious amounts of junk food I couldn’t help but buy, up the seven flights of steps to Kenzie’s apartment. Before I can even place the bags down the door swings open and a rather attractive man comes rushing out.

“Just get out! I don’t want to hear it anymore!” Kenzie’s voice rings out from within the apartment.

“I’m going you crazy bitch.” the man’s gravelly voice replies.

A white, ceramic vase comes flying out the door almost hitting me before it smashes across the floor.

“Arrrgggghhhh” Kenzie’s cry of frustration reaches my ears as I step through the door.

“I come in peace” I say with a slight laugh coming through. “Please don’t harm any more household items. I come bearing gifts.” 

I lift the shopping bags in the air, pleadingly.

“I am so sorry Vic, honestly I thought he would be gone before you got here.” Kenzie apologises as she walks out of her bedroom, tears streaming down her face. “I just found out he’s been cheating on me with his ex. Can you imagine? His ex? Of all the cliches”

“Grab the shot glasses.” I say. “It seems we have some commiserating to do.”

******

After a few shots of tequila each I almost have the liquid courage to tell Kenzie about what had happened when she blurts out “So what’s made your day so shit? You’re not normally one for mid afternoon drinking?”

“Well you know how, as bad as it is, when my father says jump I immediately run to do his bidding?”

“Yeah?”

“Well this time what he wanted was, let's say unconventional.”

“Don’t tell me Daddy dearest has a daughter fetish?” she says, laughing hysterically.

“No, not that.” I say, slapping her leg. “But let’s just say it isn’t good either.”

I quickly caught Kenz up on the deal.

“So you're telling me, that your control freak of a father is seriously considering essentially prostituting you to save his business?” she exclaims, the disgust of the idea written clearly on her face.

“Yep, and I only have twenty four hours to decide. But he made it very clear what decision he wanted from me and that he wanted it sooner than that.”

“Oh my gosh! Do you know to whom you would be contracted to? Or did your father skip that part out?”

“Yeah he did. Some business rival of his, Austin Aves.”

“Wait a second Austin Aves? The eco-friendly tycoon currently topping the city’s most eligible billionaires list? That Austin Aves?” With this she is almost bouncing up and down in her giddiness.

“I uh, guess?” I say.

“Oooooh girl you know we have to g****e him now don’t you?” She says as she whips her phone out to do just that.

“Would you look at that? It’s almost worth just saying yes to be near someone this good looking” she says turning her phone around to  show me a picture of him.

The brightest pair of emerald green eyes I have ever seen stare back at me from the screen. Taking a little longer to assess the image in front of me I can’t help but agree with Kenzie. Austin Aves is almost crazy good looking.

“Wow.” I say almost breathlessly. Those emerald eyes are framed by long dark eyelashes that any girl would be jealous of, his black hair has that ‘I haven’t really tried’ look, and that smile, that damn panty-dropping smile.

“Just think,” Kenzie continued. “This guy wants to pay you one hundred thousand dollars a month to have sex with him, when any sane woman would probably do it for free! I think you should take the deal.”

Part of me hopes that it's the alcohol talking when almost without hesitation I reply “Yeah, maybe I should. I mean it's been a while”

“Also it means no more dealing with Daddy for money” Kenzie cackles.

“That’s true” I say, turning the idea over and over in my head. Before I can say more Kezie grabs my phone.

“Let’s just text Daddy and let him know you agree. But you have some terms of your own!” Before I can protest, the sound of a text being sent reaches my ears. Shit.