Never Kiss A Stranger

TWENTY-SIX

Ellis

Never trust the hype…

“What exactly is that?” I ask, rubbing out the crick in my neck from sleeping in my car. Yes, you heard that right. I slept in my car while waiting outside Kiki’s house, in the mere hope I’d get to see her and try to understand why she said the words she did.

Is she right?

Is this whole thing going nowhere?

My life is in Atlanta, but I know she’s my life now, too.

My brother draws back my attention when he clicks on the email. “It came this morning. From the Wright Brothers and Associates. Says they have no dealings with us.”

I slam my fist on the desk. “What does this mean? Henry played us?”

Urban clicks the mouse, trying to back out of the email to see if there’s anything else explaining what’s going on in his inbox. “I emailed their company a few days ago, just to make sure everything was on the up and up and we were ready to move forward. Ya know, because I was tired of Henry not committing to anything real.”

“Right.” Any time Urban or I asked Henry numbers and figures he always laughed and pushed it aside. Now I see we were taken for...what exactly? “It doesn’t make sense.”

“I know. We haven’t signed any paperwork. We haven’t given him anything. So, I’m not really sure what’s going on.” Urban stands from his chair. “I’m going down there.”

“Well, I’m coming with you.”

We hop in Urban’s black SUV and head downtown to the Wright Brothers Investment Firm. If anyone can put an end to all the back and forth that we can never seem to get answers to, someone there can. Now that I’m thinking about it, Henry’s been calling the shots and making sure no one knows which way is up or down.

“That man sure talks a good talk.” I stare at my brother, wondering if he’s realizing what I am.

“Yeah, like a con man.”

The type of man to make you agree to anything he’s asking you. A part of me wonders if that’s why Kiki said yes to his proposal. I shake that thought away as quickly as it came. Henry is a player, in the worst kinds of way.

Not like how Urban plays around with women, but a different kind of player. A user. A kind that makes you believe every word that comes out of his mouth. Like, yes, he has the money to back every project we’ve ever needed to get done. “Are we stupid for believing this guy?” I ask him.

He shakes his head as he speeds through the streets. Like the faster he goes the more the truth won’t sting. “No, he had the card. I’d heard of Wright Brothers. He said all the right things. Why wouldn’t we believe him?”

“And we’ve known him for years,” I say, relaxing a bit. This must be a mistake. Henry would never.

“Exactly.”

“Yeah, he did everything right except cut the check.” And that worries me.

I know Urban and I both have the same thing on our mind. The email better be a fake. The company better not be some sham of a thing, and Henry’s ass better be there when we get there.

“Maybe you should call him,” Urban says.

“No, he’ll just talk us out of coming there today.”

Urban nods, pulling the SUV into the parking lot of the firm. We both fly out, walking as quickly as we can without downright running. To make matters worse I keep checking my phone like a teenager to see if I’ve missed a call from Kiki. I haven’t.

We burst through the doors like bank robbers ready for action, even though we’re not here to take money but to find the money that was promised to us.

“May I help you,” a busty blonde says at the entrance.

“We’re here to see Mr. Wright.” My brother smiles at me, like he’s not even sure if the name is just a facade, or if there really are two brothers, last name Wright running the whole operation. “Do you have an appointment?”

Before we can even answer, we both spot Henry coming out of the elevator.

“Henry,” I rush up to him, Urban right behind me, and the receptionist right behind him.

“Gentlemen, I’ll have to have you make an appointment.” She races after us, trying her best to halt our progress.

Henry turns, his eyes widening to the size of grapefruits, ok maybe not that big, and he stammers over his words, “Ellis, Urban, what are you doing here?” He checks his phone, most likely looking to see if we called before stopping by.

Another man comes out of his office and steps closer. “Henry, what’s going on here?”

I can already see this whole scene escalating, and I take charge. “Sorry sir,” I shake his hand, “we’re clients of Henry’s and we’re just looking to meet with him to discuss some numbers.”