Chapter 2: Late nights & Early Mornings

The sun gently shone through a small crack in my curtains, and I rolled over just to avoid being open up – until my alarm blared. Shit. I’m late again.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck” I said hurriedly getting out of bed and running to the bathroom. I rushed in turning on the shower and brushing my teeth at the same time. 

“Hey, you want anything to eat” he yelled, standing in nothing but his grey sweatpants in the middle of the kitchen.

“Not really, kinda running late –“ I yelled from inside the shower.

“Okay more for me” he said biting down on a slice of toast and drinking the last cup of my Columbian coffee – which he never replaced by the way. You give a man entry into your home and they finish your only good coffee.

I stumbled out of the shower with nothing but a bath towel around my waist. He watched me thorough my bedroom doorway before putting  his toast down and strutting over to me while I was pulling almost everything out of closet – trying to find something decent to wear.

“Morning” he said wrapping his arms around my torso and kissing my neck.

“No time” I said trying to choose between a black backless halter neck midi dress or my Baby clue flannel patterned midi-dress with a small cut and bow on the front. I turned to him.

“Pick, 1 or 2” I said.

“Can’t I at least get a kiss first before you make me play Russian roulette with your clothes?” he smiled.

“Ugh, Reed Please, I need to hurry, I’m already late and I cannot afford to be late again – I was given a final warning last week” I panicked.

“Okay, okay” he smiled and put his hand on his cheek as if he was actually weighing the pros and cons of his decision.

“Reed” I half-yelled exasperated.

“The blue” he finally said. “You would look beautiful in blue” he said smiling, looking down at me.

“Really the blue?” I asked, eyebrows knitted together and nose scrunched up in disagreement.

“I think you look absolutely gorgeous in that. It makes your body look good, it brings out your eyes” he playfully listed, pretending to know what he was taking about “And “he began.

“It’s the same dress you wore on our first date” he soulfully whispered while looking at me. I began to blush.

“Okay blue it is then” I managed to get out. He smiled and kissed me then his kisses went from my lips down to my neck.

“Reed not right now – I have to go” I said, though honestly, I didn’t want him to stop.

“You told me last night you had a busy day today, so why not start the day off on a good note” he continued.

“But – “I began to protest. He shushed me.

“It’ll help take the edge off” he smiled cheekily. And began making his way down my body, kissing my stomach, my navel, past my belly button and then…

“Oh my god” I said almost losing my balance and gripping onto his hair. My towel now on the floor as he began to go deeper and deeper, drinking and eating in between my legs until I was practically breathless.

“Reed” I softly exhaled. All he did was hum against me. The kept going and my moans got louder and louder. He just kept eating and eating until I collapsed on him with one final scream. He smiled against me and with one last lick, picked himself up off his knees and kissed me.

“There, now didn’t that make you’re day?” he smiled. I playfully smacked him as I began getting dressed while he also started putting his clothes from last night on. I giggled.

“What?” he asked, smiling back at me as he put his waist coat on.

“Nothing, it’s just that – for this first time, it’s not me whose gonna be doing the walk of shame out of your apartment” I smiled.

“Ha Ha” he sarcastically said as he rolled his eyes. As I finished putting my shoes and accessories on, I turned to him – spinning.

“So?” I asked.

“Beautiful” he said and kissed me. “See you later tonight sweetheart” he smiled cheekily, making his way towards the door with me on his tail to say goodbye.

“Sure, Carmen at 17:00 for Dinner ?” I asked.

“Of course,” He said and pulled me in for a kiss, coasting is arms around my waist and smacking my ass before winking and leaving.

“God. He’s gonna drive me insane” I whispered.

“You’re welcome” he yelled back. And I laughed silently. Such an idiot.

“Hi Reed” I heard Jordan cheerfully say as he walked past him in the hallway and heading towards my door. I opened it and found him looking dashing as always in a grey suit and white tailored shirt combo.

“I brought coffee” he smirked.

“Don’t start” I rolled my eyes playfully, while looking for my binder and handbag. “Let’s go we’re going to be late” I said rushing us both out of my home.

“So, he finally stayed the night huh?” Jordan gleefully expressed.

“Not the time” I laughed. And we hailed a cab down 6^th Eastern Boulevard down to the Financial District of the city – otherwise known as “Capital City”. Jordan and I work at the same financial firm – he’s interning at the finance, administration and accounting division of the company while I am on the junior marketing team – speacliasing in social media management and business analysis.

We worked for this big company, we worked for ‘Westons Finance & Corp’. A big money making mega machine responsible for half of the mortgage loans and out payments of he biggest celebrities and billionaires in the world. They also had a division for investment, private equity and business funding – mainly tech start-ups. They made a fortune on interest rates alone and even more money on the poor social media made first time millionaires who decided to invest their money with them or take out alone they couldn’t afford to reimburse – and that when the real money was made at auctions.

The company got 50% commission split between the auctioneer and them, with the auctioneer having to split their half with the rest of their team, while ours got 2 percent bonus at the end of the month. Was it legal, according to Metro City law, just barely and since the salaries where nothing to really complain about, even for interns, we all just kept our mouths shut and pushed forward.

Corporate life pretty much sucked for most people. I wouldn’t be the exception, to a large degree but Jordan certainly was – aside from the whole getting fucked over thing, he pretty much got this Job through his father’s connections. Robert Wu, his father and Stanely Weston, the [self-proclaimed sole] Founder and CEO of the company had been good friends since college. Both coming from humble backgrounds and furthering their studies at Metro City University on Scholarship.

While both focused on conquering the financial world, each man’s individual view and intentions became clear in no time. Robbert wanted to create a space for people just like him, similar impoverished background with immigrant parents who sacrificed all but their own organs to get their kids where they are today, and Stanley wanted to by one of the high rollers – to play with the big boys and play he did.

Whilst out at Chase, an underground strip club and bar for financial investors and billionaires, Robert and Stanley sat in the velvet green booth smoking Cubans and staring up scantly clad women dance around while they tried to get their next big targets to create accounts with the company. Men known to have money to long, it spanned across the continents. They were also known for being ruthless when it came to business and who they wanted to associate with – and that’s where the problem started.

Rumour has it that while Robert excused himself to go the bathroom, the fat bastards didn’t talk much and simply wrote down a number on a napkin and slid it over to Stanley. They wanted Robert out, and just from having a conversation with both of them – they determined within minutes who would be willing by any means to get to the top, and would do absolutely anything they said.

So, they bought Robert out, the poor bastard came back to the table from a leak, tipsy and laughing with his friend and some wealthy jackasses only to walk into the lobby of the office the next day with a hang over, and see all of his stuff in boxes waiting to be removed. He was out. Just like that. He chose to leave though, at least that’s the story he told their employees.

He fought and fought and fought but at every turn he was rejected, court appearances delayed or cancelled – appeals rejected and finally when he was just about almost penniless once again, Stanley and those fat skid marks came to him with a new offer. They planned on giving him settlement money and in return he would stop fighting them – and to a larger extent keep this out of the press. Robert made a big stink to his younger sister one night while drunk on his parents’ couch about the whole situation, and as lead editor of Financial Digest, she published a rather vague yet intriguing article about a company’s investors illegally buying out its own founder just to make more money and this could be leading to something more nefarious as a consequence.

She asked the right questions, “why so suddenly, why buy the founder out as if he would have stopped them from doing something, why not create a deal where all parties are happy” it raised questions. Although she never mentioned them by name, the financial district was buzzing with the news and although it was pretty common for shady shit to go down, it was all very much under the radar – shares would surely tank if the news got out.

At his all time low, he took the deal and walked away from his friend for good. He took that money, reinvested in his education and became one of the best prosecuting attorneys in the whole country – building a firm of the best in the legal field that money could buy. His company handled all kinds of cases from civil cases to electoral candidate affair scandals. He was the lawyer to the affluent and could basically get you out of anything, and help get anyone you hate put away.

That’s when it all came full-circle – turn out and to no one’s surprise, there was something nefarious happening at that investment company. So allegedly, the fat cats and Stanley had big, big plans for their start-up and the plan was fast easy money. Getting their friends and associates to invest, manage their accounts and keep more profits than they promised. That’s right – money laundering …allegedly.

This went on for years, with the company building its credibility in investment advising and consolidating, with the company growing so rapidly that it made a yearly turnover of almost a billion in profit, and to appease anyone whoever had questions about their initial investment and percentage cuts – they pushed out lumpsums of money one year and virtually nothing the next and kept blaming it on inflation. They also donated to museums, made Stanley make appearances at the openings of art galleries, new school wings and buildings, and put him as the front man for when he sponsored the education of children, All to sway prying eyes from investigating what was really going on.

They worked together with banks, accounting firms and district legal officials to make this whole thing work, creating this giant web of money, power and debauchery. These people helped them carry out their affairs, and in return Stanley and the skid marks hosted lavish parties introducing these sore losers to beautiful women who wouldn’t look at them if they weren’t trapped on expensive yachts and large maze like mansions.

One night, one the accounts, let’s call him “cold case”, found himself drunk on several dry scotches and six dirty cigars, that he began blabbing to all the beautiful women who were stroking his body and stealing his belongings about how he was involved in what he called “the greatest scam since the invention of the Ponzi Scheme”. They all laughed it off together, most of them high and drunk and probably thinking he was just as bad and speaking nonsense,only one of them truly paid attention. One of these beautiful exploits decided her ticket out was his ticket to heaven, and so she threaten to reveal everything to the press if they didn’t comply with her demands.

She was the sugar baby and mistress to CEO of the local branch of Financial Digest, and what Robert’s sister couldn’t do, she could make sure was done, but this time they surely wouldn’t come back from it. So they caved, gave her all the money she requested, and with the extra she gathered from her Sugar Daddy CEO, she left town – not before leaving a letter for his Wife telling her all about the affair and the egregious shit her husband loved to do to her, and about how he was a disgusting pig who loved to pass her around to all his cohorts. She then walked into his office in the middle of the day, shot him square in the neck, sent her story to be printed by the Editor with a preapproved stamp from the CEO and left. He died – and she was never found.

Everything came out – and I mean everything. The money disappearing, the fake accounts, the people involved, the women, the drugs, the sex. All of it came out. It was the biggest scandal to rock the whole country. Of course, at this point it was known as just a “rumour” spilled by a scornful mistress who couldn’t make first lady – yet the details were so vivid and so outrageous that the police had no choice but to investigate thanks to public outcry. A majority of the parties got arrested. Some of them put guns in their mouths before the police could even ring the doorbell while others disappeared underground and left for foreign lands that barely had any laws.

Among those that were arrested, was Stanley, otherwise known as the frontman of the whole operation – the frontman who was given another deal he couldn’t refuse, he would sell out his associates to get a reduced sentence, liquidation of his personal assets to pay off his portion of the debt and a personal favour to his new attorney, and in exchange the scandal wouldn’t make to national-wide news channels – all the details would be denied – the mysterious woman who leaked it would have her reputation smeared across the globe to the point where she wouldn’t be able to hide anymore and eventually have to throw herself off a cliff. Option two – if, somehow, it all came out as true and the evidence was there to prove it – then he would fake ‘coercion’. Blame it on his background, wanting to best for is family and desperately doing anything to get it, a whole wounded Bambi Act.

He picked the latter, to play it safe and his lawyer, the Robert Wu, agreed with him. Very long story short – they won and whatever was left of his reputation – he managed to save. Although, stocks for the company overall plummeted, nothing was too bad that he couldn’t rebuild. Now for the favour, Robert’s wife, Ingrid was three months pregnant with their first child, and in order to secure his children’s futures, Robert negotiated places for his kids at the company, from internships to Executive positions, along with 25 percent in total shares for himself, he basically clawed his way back in and Stanley had no choice but to tuck his tail between his legs and let him.

And from that point on they had been cordial, only greeting each other briefly in public spaces and staying out of the other’s way. This included their children, all kids whose professions ended up melting into what the other did would be treated with respect, not kindness just respect – which is why Steven, Stanley’s son and Jordan’s Superior was being such an ass, and why neither Stanley nor any floor managers stopped him.

Bringing us to the present. Both of us getting jobs through nepotism, Jordan’s being seen as far better than mine, but I didn’t really care. I love what I do, marketing and advertising creation was always one of the most exciting things to me. My father was an architect and my mother was an art gallery dealer, so marketing to get people into the door was a definite given. They were so creative and expressive in the ways they made their businesses and services come across; exclusive, high-end and full of colour and so I decided then and there that I was going to be just like them.

Now I am, in the non-traditional sense but still the creative industry was growing and I was growing with it. I submitted my portfolio to so many companies across the board, along with some graphic design skills I managed to pick up along the way, and as much as I was complemented, I was also rejected time and time again – until Jordan stepped in and basically guaranteed me a job at ‘his’ company – mainly because he needed a friend to stop himself from day drinking  due to all the stress he was experiencing.

As far as respect goes, Jordan and I were in the same boat. When I introduced the concept of social media marketing during a board meeting, I was basically laughed out of the room – and made the butt of the joke in the office for several weeks. Meanwhile behind the scenes, apps like Pictorial and Clockwork were taking off – merging work life with relatability and this is how new brands began to grow seemingly overnight, and heritage brands begun their resurgence into the new world.

Now I had executives at my feet showering me with complements, offering raises and team leader positions, after only working here for about 9 months by the way, all just to implement my social media strategy and after negotiating my way to a personal office, a team meeting room and a personal office machine, I was helping scale the company all the way to the top. After a year and a half of working here I took our I gathered clients from all types of backgrounds, retaining old money wealthy clients and mixing in New age money social media millionaires, hotel heiress, modern century duchesses and ladies. They were all investing with us and it was all thanks to me.

“I’m sorry did you just say I’m fired” I gasped wide eyed, and looking between Canon, my office floor manager and Sandrine, the head of the Human Resources department.

“We just feel like you’ve outgrown your position and since we have no other position to offer you, we feel like your skills would be better suited somewhere else.” He sighed. I can tell he’s had to give this speech a hundred times and he would have to give a hundred times more, so this was just another Monday for him.

“I don’t understand, what did I do wrong” I asked, still in disbelief.

“It’s not that you did anything wrong, it’s just that we aren’t the right fit for each other.” He continued, “And honestly we’d be doing you a disservice by keeping you here” he finished.

“So, this disservice is noticed only after I managed to get us 35 million dollars worth of investment accounts?” I said sarcastically, I couldn’t fucking believe this. They use me for all I’m worth then toss me to the side like some common…ugh.

Canon pinched his brow and sighed.

“Listen, you know I like you” he started, then stared at Sandrine who he then asked to leave the room so we could have a moment.

“I really do” he continued “ the truth is the company just doesn’t see the use for you anymore, you taught your team well, one of them too well” he eyed me and I knew exactly who he was talking about.

“Shuffling the cabinet this way involves way less legal processes and honestly I fought to hard for you but since you’re not sleeping with the bosses son, you’re the one who unfortunately has to step down” he said.

“I’m sorry” he touched my hand, clearly disappointed in what he had to do.

I simply nodded, got up and headed towards the door.

“Listen” he said as I turned back to face him.

“Just go home, take the rest of the day off. I’ll have your stuff boxed up at the end of the day and sent to your place so we don’t make a big deal out of this” he said quietly.

“Thanks” I said softly.

“No thanks needed, half of us in here wouldn’t have jobs if it wasn’t for what you did. You kept us afloat, it’s the least I could do” he said as his slips formed a thin line. 

I nodded one last time and walked out of his office, heading towards mine. One my way there I was bumped on the shoulder by a strawberry blonde faded hair bitch who smirked at my before heading into Steven’s office.

She then proceeded to sit in his lap and lightly peck him on the lips, forgetting that the entire office front wall was made of glass. Guessing either the dye seeped into her brain and the most obvious thing wouldn’t be recognisable, or that she just wanted to keep pushing the knife into my chest and doing that would just push me other the edge. Considering that she was basically dry humping they heir to the company in front of the entire office, class and subtly weren’t things she was used to having, thus the latter was mu conclusion.

“Hey, where are you going” Cindy, one of my team members asked as I walked past her cubicle with my handbag towards the elevator.

“Lunch” I smiled forcefully.

“But it’s only 11?” Cindy continued curiously.

“Early lunch” I said wanted to end the conversation. Cindy sensed my agitation and just nodded. I sighed.

“Sorry just stressed out” I said. She smiled softly and I reciprocated.

“Take care of the rest of my tasks today okay” I pleaded, and she only nodded and continued smiling. I smiled back one last time before heading out.

“Hey Maya” someone called after me. I turned looking at who it was, rolled my eyes and then turned back around to face the elevator. Why was it taking so long?

“Hey, I hope you can understand” He said huffing” It’s nothing personal” he finished.

“Yeah, I get it Steven” I said, narrowing my gaze on him.

“I hope you also understand that she’s only after you for one thing” I said.

“Yeah, I know, but common I mean look at her” he smiled, and we both looked back at the blonde currently sitting in his chair, heels on his desk and playing with her phone.

“Yeah, I see” I said “Same thing your dad said” I retorted when the elevator dinged, and the doors opened.

“What?” he asked, wide eyed.

I stepped into the elevator and looked at him before pressing the button for the doors.

“Don’t catch anything” I winked at him sneeringly, and having the elevator close on what I can only imagine were a million follow up questions be proceeded to half-yell at me.

I texted Taylor and SOS with a margarita emoji.

“Sandra’s Brunch Spot” she texted back.

“And they let you go just like that?” Emma questioned.

“Like pee in the wind” I said scarfing down my third Mimosa. Taylor smiled while Emma scrunched up her nose in disgust.

“Well, you can always get another job” Taylor said “Why don’t you come work for me?” she asked. I laughed slyly.

“Will I have to sleep with my clients if I come and work for you?” I smiled.

“Hey now, the fun is in getting to not having to” she smiled, “Plus I believe in earing my interest in  ways that suite me” she winked.

“Mhm-hmm” I rolled my eyes. “And that’s how you get them to buy homes along the coast” I said

“It’s all part if the deal, doing it in a brand new house is basically a christening, I recommend everybody does it.” she smiled through her Martini.

We all laughed.

“Ooh, you could come work for the gallery – we could create a whole department for you. I could take to my manager” Emma suggested sweetly.

“Thanks babe, that would be great. Meanwhile, I need to find something to do until then – I’m going to go crazy if I have to sit at home all day” I sighed running my fingers through my hair frustratedly.

“I’ll just have to pick up freelance work in the meantime” I said and Emma rubbed my back while both her and Taylor looked at me with pity.

“So how are things with Reed?” Taylor asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“They’re good, he’s sweet and smells so good and the sex – ugh its like I’m constantly in a state of ecstasy” I moaned.

“Sounds like a nice time” Taylor smiled.

“It is oh my god - I was thinking about this one time where he basically had me screaming for 2 hours straight – kinda –  and I was thinking about that while I was making breakfast the other day and my knees buckled” I giggled.

“My goodness, he sounds like a Greek god – when you’re done with him toss him my way, will you? I need some invigorating stimulation in my life” Taylor winked, and I laughed.

“Will’s not working out” Emma questioned.

“Ugh, the whole mother Mary virgin stuff was all cute before we were sleeping together but now it just feels like I’m doing all the work” Taylor complained.

“I’m getting tired of being on top, my hips feel like they’ve widened and are going to unscrew.” she continued.

“That bad huh?” I asked.

“It’s just not working out. I want a guy that’s gonna throw me over his shoulder and use me like a ragdoll” she expressed. Emma and I laughed.

“I’m serious you guys, I want to feel wanted in bed. I want a good, aggressive, wild fuck. I’m tired of ‘making love’. It’s so overrated” she expressed annoyedly.

“Well luckily I don’t have that problem” I winked at her playfully, to which she rolled her eyes at me. We both then looked towards Emma who started blushing.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing on your front” I asked.

‘Or in your front” Taylor added.

“Wha- No! God no!” Emma said smiling through her embarrassment.

“Seriously babe, nothing – just cobwebs for the last 3 months” Taylor interjected horrified.

“I’m still looking for the right guy” she shrugged.

“What’s got to be right with him? If he has a penis and it works, those are all the right parts you need in my opinion” Taylor stated.

“Well, I have standards” Emma said.

“Ouch” I sarcastically said with a mouthful of fries.

“Not like that- I just – a guy for me has to have certain appeal” she sighed.

“Like…” I asked egging her on.

“Well, for starters he has to be single” she expressed judgingly looking at Taylor who stuck up her hands in defeat.

“And he was to have a respectable, job and come from a good background –“ she said

“Ah, so he’s from the gilded age” I interjected and this time is was Taylor’s turn to laugh.

“Look I know he’s out there somewhere” She said cutting up her eggs benedict.

“Of course, he is sweetie” Taylor started “But he’s probably 40, been married at least one already, pays alimony, pays for private school and only let’s you take out the yacht during the week cause god forbid if the first wife finds you out on the boat named after her during the weekend. she’s going to blow a fuse and then it’ll be his problem” she said.

“Look, I don’t judge you guys for your choice of men you find off the street so just try to give me some grace and stay positive, okay?” she asked clearly irritated with us.

It’s not like we were lying to her, she knew it as well. What Emma was looking for was status, the type of status that comes with money built back when land was one sale for a penny. She had high standards and although I commended her for that, being realistic when it came to love at our age was the only way to go here. Sure, we had a good bag of ben to choose from when it came to the heir of wealthy companies, but what she was looking for was much more than that. She was looking for the life of a first lady, multiple properties, clothes only available through appointments and a mile high passport.

“I’m sorry sweetie, we support you. A thousand percent” I said, kissing her hand.

“Thank you” she smiled.

We continued having eating and engaging in good conversation until –

[group chat]

Jordan: Party at my parents, Friday 17:00 – 153 Cornell Drive, Shorecrest Cove. Lots of networking to be done, lot’s of old men to marry – dress appropriately, be polite and don’t fucking embarrass me.

Love you.

We smiled. As much as we fooled around and no matter how much we acted our age, we all understood the type of city we lived in and what it took to make it. All of us decided we wanted to be something when we entered into that University and by all means we were all going to make it. If it means going to events like this, working the room to make our way to the top then so be it. Let’s just hope there’s no distractions.