Part 3 of the book…
“What the fuck was that?!?” Side swiped, Richard spun around trying to see where the hit came from. Another blow to his kidneys knocked him to the ground. On his knees, he glares into the night to see his girlfriend and three other women standing behind her. “That’s how you going to do me?!?” He said as the tallest woman hits him with a baseball bat. The women started to mock Richard’s outcries for help. Repeating his bellowing only added to his pain. As another blow is struck, he asked “what did I do to you?”. After another few minutes of brutality, the women walk off satisfied.
Only a few weeks ago, Richard and his girlfriend were enjoying each others company.
Then reality hit.
Richard had no idea who he was dealing with.
Ms. Bianca Pratchett, a 22 year old high society socialite who loves pretending she is “ghetto” was put to a test by her “sisters” to prove she is worthy of being in the Lady Sovereigns. Her usual day starts several hours before the others in the suburbs. At 6am she wakes to shower, dress, and put her makeup on. Her father is one of the members of the boards of trustees at M&B, usually too wrapped up in work. As usual doesn’t even notice her. Her step-mother as she passes her is in the “downward dog” position with her overly attentive assistant Leila. After a few verbal stabs back and forth, Bianca is delighted she was able to make her step-mother cry. After her lively conversation, she heads over to catch her 6:45am train, which she rides to another train for a total of 3 hours. She prides herself in her dedication just to get to the city.
Around 10am she’s on the block waiting for her “sister’s” to meet her. Most days she ends up going up to their apartments and waking them. A task that seems to become lately her daily chore.
When the women assemble, with a smile on their faces they strut over to the park to claim their benches. Gliding like gazelles, they take over without any resistance. They talk shit, get high, drink, and talk about who’s “pipe game” was weak the night before. Although the Lady Sovereigns have nine members they also have several dozen associates. They’re usually split up between newbies and veterans.
Bianca’s fourth cousin, Krista was recently promoted to train and watch over new associates. Sandra and Minka, are her right and left hands. “Pretty face soldiers” was tattooed on their shoulder to commemorate their bond to Krista. Since then, all three have become inseparable. They have all respectfully either dropped out of school, graduated, or in Krista’s case she took one college course and thought is was too much. They get respect from the local men’s gangs, Vikings and P.R. Monarchs, so from time to time they have thrown money or jewelry to get time to handle business on Lady Sovereign corners. To the women, this is the best time of their lives.
Bianca desperately wanted to become a Lady Sovereign. She was willing to do anything, at least that’s what she told Queen Franky (short for Francesca). Franky was a tough as nails kind of woman. She had a pair of steel balls she wore attached to her belt, to compliment them, she would accessories with a steel dagger she wore on her hip. Bianca idolized Franky, she modeled herself to become more like her, walking and talking with the same attitude. Bianca even flirted with Franky’s “hubby” whenever she saw him. Entertained by the idea of teaching Bianca a lesson, Franky told Krista it was time to initiate Bianca.
“Let’s make her official! Have her pick out her mark. She has to bring in $5,000 or she gets denied.” Franky barked at the end of of her statement, beating her chest and waving her arms hyping up the crowd. Although Krista isn’t a captain or anywhere near the upper chain of command, her new promotion in rank gives her a certain level of power, or at least she thought. “Why are you making her get $5,000?” With a curious look, she waited for an answer. Silence is all she got. It was so quiet, her breathing sounded louder and louder, hear ears hummed with the roar.
Thinking for a moment, she decided to assert herself and speak up. “I’m not trying to upset you, but it’s always been $2,000. Why are we making this harder for my cuz?” With the swiftness of a lioness, Franky pounced on Krista, landing her on the floor. “Get your scuzzy ass up! Fuck you think?!? Opening your mouth to me, you must think she can make $10,000.” With a pause in her step, she shot a look back at Sandra and Minka, neither woman made a move to help Krista. “Ya’ll three better make sure she makes that 10G’s or all of ya’ll will take the beating.” Even though Krista is the only member, Sandra and Minka are just as accountable in her eyes. As Franky exited, she winked and smirked at Bianca.
Bianca, ecstatic to hear the good news, “I’m in! This will be easy! I could make 20G’s if I needed to. This is a piece of cake!” Krista cautioned her “if you don’t make the money, we all will suffer.” With a laugh, Bianca walked over to the mirror and through the reflection said “maybe ya’ll need glasses or something!” Adjusting her curls, she continued to say “I mean, none of the Lady Sovereigns have what I have. No disrespect ladies, I’m just saying. You know?!?” Krista smiled, but behind that smile she was calculating her next move and what she might have to do if things didn’t go well.
The four women traveled downtown, mingling with their potential targets, they narrowed it down to two men. A tall good looking man that owned his own construction business, Albert or Big Al as he told Bianca. His only problem is he’s being guarded by his older, unemployed, heavily attached brother. Bianca’s other choice is Richard, a nerdy man with lanky arms and big broad shoulders, a young basketball player in the Development League without a body guard attached.
Giggling, the girls gather around a high top table in the dim area of the swanky club they’re prowling. Sandra, patting herself on her back as if she landed the biggest fish of the night. “Did you see Thomas Forlong? That sexy man just told me he landed a six digit bonus this month. He’s prime for the picking!” Everyone at the table burst out in laughter. Bianca, rolling her eyes, exclaimed “Well I guess Mr. Frugal needs a second look.” Looking across the room, Bianca looked Thomas up and down in search of a reason to qualify him as a candidate. With a sad sigh “Sorry Sandy, but he still isn’t on my radar. Now can we move on to the real men in the room?!?”
After a few minutes the girls dispersed, taking different sides of the room to watch Bianca work her magic. In amazement, Krista couldn’t take her eyes off her cousin, she watched her say a few words and then disappear out the back door of the club. Minka followed them for four blocks, then took down Richard’s address.
For a few weeks Bianca led Richard on, she pretended to find all of his jokes funny, talked NBA basketball dreams with him, she even met all of Richards friends. They all thought the new couple was perfect for one another. Richard was head over heels and falling for her act.
After several hints from Bianca, Richard offered to give her a couple thousand to help her with her bills. Hearing her talk about “the slave driver at work” and “the nasty landlord”, he felt compelled to move her into his apartment. Besides, he was being a gentleman. He offered her the extra bedroom. After giving her a total of five thousand six hundred eighty dollars, Bianca moved in.
In less than a month’s time, Richard was sleeping beside Bianca. Even if their was a wall between them it brought him joy. Although after the past few “passionate kissing session” otherwise described as two kisses to the cheek and hand holding, as any man, he felt cheated or in his words “toyed with”. This is just a small hiccup in their relationship. At least that’s what Bianca told Richard. Bianca quickly diffuses the situation by reminding Richard how much she respected him for not trying to bend her “not before marriage” rule.
Richard walked around on clouds. He was happier than he’d ever felt. His game improved, giving him more on the court time. Scouts were starting to make a buzz around him. He was even offered a bench position on his favorite NBA team. Life seemed to be perfect since he met Bianca.
He was about to find out not everything is as beautiful as it seems. Reality was about to hit him, literally!
Franky, agitated and feeling testy became enraged when she got her update from Bianca. “Why is it so difficult for you? You’ve had five weeks and all you can show is a measly $5,000. Time is running out. I’m giving you 72 hours to get it done.” As she spoke she directed her attention to Krista. “You know what’ll happen if she can’t make it. Don’t you?!?” Without hesitation, Krista lowered her head and walked up to Franky, like a child being scolded, “Yes ma’am.” Even though Krista is the only member, Sandra and Minka are just as accountable.
Quickly the girls devised a plan.
Richard had a full day of training, the back breaking, sweat till you pass out type of work. He text Bianca, but got no response. He waited, then called her, it went straight to voice mail. “That’s not like her.” With his mind racing to the conversation they had the night before, he was sure he’d enjoy an intimate night with Bianca. Discussing their future and her exciting promotion in her company. Thinking she would enjoy a romantic dinner, he began to bake some potatoes and grill salmon. He thought for certain he would finally get Bianca to move to the next stage in their relationship. He even thought of proposing over dinner. Thinking it was too soon, he removed his grandmother’s heirloom engagement rings from his pocket and placed it back in his closet safe.
The hidden truth is Bianca has never allowed herself to be intimate with a man. As she says “a woman who knows how to out think a man never opens her legs! You have to train him first.” In the past, she would boast “that’s the only thing my mother could teach me. You know?!?” One day Bianca’s mother sat her in their luscious garden and openly told her how she seduced Bianca’s father. Detail after detail, this was a lesson she never forgot. Beyond the attitude, hair adjustments, and lipstick applications what’s more important is Bianca knows how to prey on good men.
Preparing herself for her task, she makes one final adjustment to her pulled back hair and makes a big smile. “Today is the day! Your going to be the Queen! Your going to be envied by everyone! Move over Franky, here comes QUEEN B!” Feeling excited she shakes out her arms. “This is going to be a piece of cake. Two minutes and then it will be over. You got this Queen B!” Taking position in the dark alley that connects to the back of Richard’s building, Bianca begins to set her plan into motion. Clearing her throat she begins to talk in a panic.
“Help me Richard. I can’t walk any further.”
“Where are you?” Concerned, Richard turned off the grill and darted out the apartment.
Bianca, spoke as if it were her last breathe, “the alley”. Richard thinking horrible thoughts as the words “the alley” rang in his ears. Already down one flight of stairs, Richard dashes down the rest. As he reached the back door of the building, he said a small prayer hoping she is well enough to make it to the hospital. He can’t see much in the dark alley. With desperation in his voice he calls out for Bianca. No answer.
Out of the shadow, Minka utters “I see you.” With a flash of her flashlight she swings and connects with Richard’s jaw.
“What the fuck was that?!?” Side swiped, Richard spun around trying to see where the hit came from. Another blow to his kidneys knocked him to the ground. On his knees, he glares into the night to see his girlfriend and three other women standing behind her. “That’s how you going to do me?!?” He said as the tallest woman hits him with a baseball bat. The women started to mock Richard’s outcries for help. Repeating his bellowing only added to his pain. As another blow is struck, he asked “what did I do to you?”.
Although Richard wasn’t a flashy man, he wore a Longines watch, Santos 100 Cuff Links by Cartier, Berluti’s hand made shoes, and a slew of “one of a kind” pendants he wore on a trinity chain by Cartier. After the women bagged up his jewelry and took his shoes, they searched him and took his wallet.
The final blow of the night, Bianca knelled down to whisper in Richard ear, “it’s nothing personal. Don’t feel bad.” Looking at his face and hands she said “your wounds will heal and your life will move on. Be content in knowing you were no match for the “Pretty Face Soldiers”.”
As she walked away, she yelled out “I called an ambulance for you.” She never looked back.
After eight months of rehabilitation and strength training to gain the use of his right hand; Richard was able to play one more game on the Development League before he was cut. Since it wasn’t a work related injury and instead it was his personal life’s drama wrecking havoc on his game. He wasn’t able to get picked up for another D-League team.
Working at a local fast food restaurant cleaning tables, Richard had an epiphany. Mumbling to himself “lies, all she did was lie. That woman was the devil in disguise.” Looking down at his mended arm, he smiles. “I’ve met Satan and I survived. I am alive.”
Image Source: © Adda Birnir, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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