Out of Control

“Yes you. So now that you know, you need to stop treating me like I’ll break if you touch me and start treating me like a woman that you find attractive.”

Black put down his drink and stood up. “Let’s go, because I have always found you to be a very attractive woman.”

“Not now,” Jada said and smiled. “Come on, sit down and relax.” Black sat down and picked up his drink. “I will call you tomorrow and if you’re not busy. I’ll let you know where to find me.”

“Is that how I treat you? Like a porcelain doll?”

“Yes, Mr. Black, you do.”

“I respect you. Respect what you do and how you carry yourself. And you are so beautiful, I thought I was treating you like a lady.”

“Is that how you treat your woman?”

“Yes. She’s a lady and I treat her that way.”

“But you fuck her and that’s the difference.”

Black looked strangely at Jada.

“What?” Jada asked and giggled that giggle of hers that Black enjoyed hearing so much. It was part of her appeal to him.

“Nothing. I just never heard you curse before, that’s all. You’re always so lady like.”

“See, like a porcelain doll.”

“Okay, Ms West, I get it.”

“I used to curse all the time. If you hadn’t disappeared so quickly that night we met at Ecstasy, you probably would have heard some choice ones coming out of this mouth,” Jada said and Black eyes were drawn to her lips. “No, Mr. Black the me you see today, I owe to a woman named Sasha Deverox.”

“Who’s that?”

“She was my madam when I worked the trade. She taught me everything I know.”

The next morning around eleven, Black received a call from Jada. “Good morning, Mr. Black.”

“Good morning, Ms West. How are you today?”

“Wonderful,” Jada said sweetly. “Are you busy?”

“No, as a matter of fact I wasn’t doing anything.”

“Good. I was hoping that you would join me for lunch.”

“Just let me know where and what time?”

“Provence. Say, in two hours?”

“That’s fine.”

“Good. I’ll see you in two hours then,” Jada said and hung up the phone. Since she refused to live at Paraíso, Jada maintained a residence at The Suites at Sandyport. Black thought that she would just call and invite him over there. But Jada had her own way of doing things.

Provence, a restaurant located in Olde Towne in Sandyport, served elegant French Mediterranean cuisine. Jada had reserved at table for them on the open balcony, which featured an excellent view across the marina. She arrived for lunch with Black

wearing an Akris Tulle inset shoulder appliqué dress and David Yurman black onyx and sterling silver earrings. Christian Louboutin Venus Orlato Suede ankle boots and Dolce & Gabbana Miss Coquette flap bag.

Jada began with Salade Niçoise, a South of France specialty served with tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, tuna, eggs and balsamic olive oil vinaigrette. She had Dungeness Crab Cakes with Mediterranean Salsa Aioli. For dessert she selected the Apple pie, tatin style and espresso. Black, who didn’t want to eat anything too heavy, had the Riviera Salad, with sauteed shrimp, feta cheese, cucumbers and asparagus served with balsamic vinaigrette. His entrée was Fritto Misto, an array of tenderized conch, calamari and golden shrimp served with garlic aioli. He decided to pass on dessert.

Lunch was excellent and as always the conversation between Jada and Black was an engaging mix of business and personal topics and lasted well after their plates were taken away. Then they just stopped talking and looked at one another. Jada smiled. “I have a suite reserved at the British Colonial Hilton. Why don’t you meet me there in half an hour.”