In the best way possible.
***
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR US to leave the diner and arrive to our next destination. We're in front of a mammoth but beautifully designed slate concrete building with lots of glass and stainless steel on the lobby floor. There's no name on the building, just an address in large, polished stainless letters, which rests above the set of double glass doors.
1907.
There's an older man with a paunch belly standing in front of the building dressed in a maroon short coat with brass buttons who seems to stand at his post as the doorman with pride. I notice that he recognizes Roman and am surprised that he addresses my tatted up cousin with nothing but respect instead of revulsion or fear.
"Going in Mr. Masterson?"
"What's up Tyson. I need to run upstairs for a minute. Floor 15. Also I have a young lady in the car, who I need you to keep an eye on."
He lowers his head to look inside the car and gives me a thousand watt smile.
"Pleasure."
"Hello." I respond brightly.
"You'll stay in the car?" Roman grins.
"What's with you and making me stay in cars? Just hurry up Masterson."
It's the first time I've called him something other than his name. Not quite a nickname like the one he's given me, but something other than Roman. I think he likes it, because he smirks as he exits the car. As the man Tyson opens the door for him, he runs back to the car and signals for me to roll down the window.
"I forgot something." He reaches into the middle compartment and grabs a couple of M&M's. Tosses them down his throat. "Give me fifteen minutes."
"No worries." I assure him.
I'm kind of enjoying hanging out with Roman today, although a part of me is itching to go home and get some work done. I really need to get back to researching more scholarships and adding them to my database. It's important that I create the most complete list that I can, so that I'm ready for my pitch when the opportunity strikes, and the only person who I can depend on to get it done is me.
For the last four months I've been looking for an angel investor, so that I can finally hire a full time coder who works specifically for me and can get my application to where it needs to be. The freelancers I've been able to hire here and there are definitely knowledgeable, but I can only hire them when a few dollars clear up on one of my credit cards, so I don't have someone working consistently on the coding. I feel pretty confident that once I have that last piece in place, and my beta product is excellent, I'll have a better chance of succeeding in the highly competitive app marketplace. Maybe even get some good press. Luckily I have my smartphone and a pad and pen in my bag right now. That's all I need to continue my research in the car, while I wait for Roman to finish his business.
I'm busy for about all of ten minutes when there's a rap on the window. It's a woman. A very beautiful, slender woman dressed in a rather conservative blush colored pencil skirt and blouse with nude pumps. I notice Tyson looking over at us, but he doesn't say anything, he just pulls out an old flip phone and busies himself making a call or sending a text.
I roll the window down.
"Can I help you?" I ask the woman.
It literally takes her one second before she tosses an open bottle of spring water into my face. Now I'm soaking wet, and I don't know what the hell just happened or why it happened. That's when Tyson approaches the car and escorts the woman over to the sidewalk firmly by her upper arm.
"You are trespassing on private property miss. You need to leave before I have you arrested."
She doesn't say a word in response, but she refuses to move any further. Crossing her arms in front of her and clenching her jaw. It's clear that she's waiting for something ... or someone.
"Are you crazy?" Is all I manage to yell out through the window at her, while I grab a couple of napkins out of the glove compartment and wipe myself down. That's when I see Roman walking furiously through the lobby towards the doors, and it all begins to click together for me. She's waiting for him.
He immediately notices my sopping wet face and shirt and then starts walking towards the woman with malice all across his face. It's none of my business. She obviously is one of his lovers, but I can't help but eavesdrop. I'm so ridiculously nosy when it comes to this man. Plus she threw frackin' water at me like some trollop on a reality show.
"What are you doing here Louise? We discussed this."
"I never agreed to anything. I'm not some whore you met off the street Roman. I deserve better than this."
"You deserve exactly what you got. Total honesty. I don't do seconds. What don't you understand about that?"
"Who is she then?"
She points directly at me.