Chocolate Dove Read Free Page B

Lawson saw this as his opening and leaned over and kissed Basra. She pulled away and jumped up from the couch. Lawson quickly rose as well and pulled her body close.
    â€œJust one kiss,” he said.
    â€œNo. I have to go.”
    â€œKissing is not sex!” he yelled, following her to the door.
    Basra grabbed her shoes and tried to exit, but Lawson placed his hands on the door.
    â€œI’m sorry, please stay,” he said gently as though he were suddenly another person.
    â€œNo. I am not comfortable.”
    â€œBut we were having such a good time. I’ll pay you extra, under the table. What do you want, another couple grand?” Lawson said. “Wait right here.”
    Lawson disappeared into the back room, and when he was out of sight, Basra quietly but quickly exited. She hurried down the hall with her shoes in hand and jumped inside the elevator. She heard Lawson calling her name as the doors closed. The temptation of the extra cash didn’t even hit her until she was rushing through the lobby and nearly tripped over her long feet, trying to place on her high-heels.
    â€œAn extra two thousand,” she whispered before shaking the thought from her mind. Outside, she hailed down a taxi. But, immediately after sliding in, the tears started to stream as she rested her head on the back of the torn leather seat.
    â€œWhere you headed?”
    â€œTo hell, probably.”
    â€œExcuse me, ma’am?”
    â€œThirty-seven West Twenty-first Street.”
    After five minutes in traffic, the tears subsided and Basra started to think of the money she’d just made. For the five hours she’d hung out, she would get $4,000. As uncomfortable as it was, she couldn’t deny the easy money.
    â€œThis is how people get caught up,” she whispered. “I can’t get caught up.” Basra took a deep breath, rolled down the window, and loudly yelled, “ I won’t get caught up!” into the late-night air. The release sent surges of energy through her body, and its power brought another flow of tears to her eyes. She rolled up the window, leaving a small crack for fresh air. Then, with a tiny smile on her face, she closed her eyes the remainder of the ride home.

Chapter 2
    The following morning at nine, Basra was buzzed upstairs to the penthouse suite of 155 Riverside Drive. She was immediately greeted by Hollis Perrigo, owner of Choice.
    â€œBasra, my love. How are you doing this Thursday morning?” Hollis greeted Basra with a tight embrace. “A glass of wine?” she offered.
    Basra shook her head with confusion. “It’s early for wine, right?”
    â€œJesus served wine at every meal, and if it’s good enough for His people, it’s good enough for you,” Hollis said with a giggle. “Have a seat and tell me how the date went.”
    Basra walked over the plush white leather couches and sat. She looked out of the ceiling-to-floor windows and gazed at the smog whisking across the Hudson. She daydreamed about the thousands of cubicle sitters who worked eight to ten-hour days just to bring home a fraction of what she’d made last night. Was she wrong to complain?
    â€œMy date went well,” she mentioned.
    â€œLawson is a pussycat. He’s been with us for a while, has a thing for brown skin. God bless him with his pale self.”
    Basra burst into loud laughter.
    â€œI know I have no right to talk about him. I’m as pale as snow myself but at least I get a good tan once a year. Those red-headed Aussies repel sun rays.”
    Basra continued to laugh at Hollis, who often said just what was on her mind whether it was appropriate or not.
    â€œYou know we don’t have many ladies of color; in fact, there are only two: you and Jasmin. She’s American. So you are going to be one hot commodity as the only African. Many of my clients will pay top dollar to have an African princess.”
    â€œYou’re not