Charmed By A Steel City Hustler
Chapter 11 — We Should Join Forces

Lola:

I sat in the fancy waiting area of the law office filing my false nails. This place made me uncomfortable. I was decked out in a Gucci pantsuit with the matching pumps and designer shades. My oversized bag sat in the seat next to me looking fabulous. Every person that walked past had wide eyes or shook their heads.

I mean this office was home to some of the biggest and brightest legal minds in the city. Everyone was rocking pencil neck ties and uncomfortable shoes. All these white women had the same A-line skirt to the knee, and ruffled blouse in every color. This place was a fashion hell naw, and nobody seemed happy. How did Lo work here on the regular? My sister was somewhat stuck up, but she had some soul to her snooty ass.

"Excuse me Mr. Paul will see you now. You can go right through that door."

I got up and snatched my bag from the chair and gave Donnie's secretary my middle finger. That stuck up bitch called everyone by name when they were called back. All I got was an 'excuse me' and 'you.' How fucking rude was that? I should tell him to fire her ass. She probably wanted to suck his dick and get a raise. Wait until I tell my sister.

"Well, hey, now there's my favorite sister-in-law."

Donnie said as he came around his desk to give me a brief hug. I gently squeezed him back and then sat down in the chair that he pulled out for me. He went to close the office door, and I heard the lock click. I got a little anxious by that as being alone with my sister's husband was not optimal.

There was an incident with a boyfriend a while back. When we were in high school that was a misunderstanding, and we got into a huge fight. I vowed from then on to never put myself in that predicament again. A man would never come between Lois and me ever again.

"I was surprised to get your call Lala. You need legal advice for Bash? Defense law is really not my area of expertise."

Donnie started chuckling after his comment. I had to hold my tongue before cussing him out. I didn't knock anyone's hustle or how they made a living. His constant reminder that Bash didn't hold a prestigious ivy-league education was irritating as hell. My hubby banked way more than his square ass did in a month compared to his annual salary.

"Donnie, my husband, is perfectly fine thank you. I am here about my sister. Lois is back on silent mode and not returning my calls. I know she has not been to work because the voicemail keeps licking up. What is going on?"

Lois often had her bouts with depression as a teen and would go into silent mode. Our parents would pull her from school. Send her to a 'retreat' as they called it. Donnie had no idea about any of that as it was an internal family matter. Whatever he did to my sister was the cause of this shit, and I wanted answers. Lois had not contacted our parents, and I didn't alarm them when I called asking about her. My mother would go into an emotional frenzy, and my dad would be ready to kill Donnie on sight.

"We are going through a rough patch right now Lola. Lois is having some mid-life crisis and acting out. I have never seen her this way before. She is living in the guest house and not speaking to me either. She was supposed to come home the other night so that we could talk. She never did and stayed out all night with a friend."

I did not believe a word coming out of Donnie's mouth. Lois was straight old school. She would do everything in her damn power to make this marriage work. Lois couldn't see the truth staring her in the face.

That her husband just might be an asshole. Donnie was the male version of me but ten times worse. His manipulation skills were untouchable. I needed his help in getting in contact with her, so I had to play nice. "Then maybe we can help each other out. You seem desperate for communication. Let me go to the guesthouse and reach out to Lo on your behalf."

"What exactly do you want in return for that Lola?"

The look on his face was one of pure lust. This fool was giving me the sex eye, at his damn place of business. Donnie had life fucked up if he thought anything other than conversation was going on between us up in here. I smiled sweetly and turned on my womanly charms.

"I promise that Lois will be in the main house tonight. In return, you swing by Bash's bar for a little guy talk. He has been behaving strange lately, and I am worried."

I didn't tell Donnie the entire truth but so what. His ass was not being completely honest either. Donnie looked at me as if I had grown a second head on to my shoulders.

"I know you are not his biggest fan. This would mean a lot to me if you could feel him out a bit. If he is having some type of legal problems, perhaps you could give him some advice. I just want him to start coming home again." Okay yes, I was laying on the story a bit heavy. Adonis needed someone to stroke his damn ego around the clock. Adonis gave me a weird expression then placed his thumb to his chin. This situation was a win-win in my eyes. I did just lie to him because Lois was stubborn as all hell.

My sister never acted irrationally unless she was forced into the situation. I stood up and left the office not saying another word. While walking to my vehicle the thought to call Lois crossed my mind. Then it was gone just that fast. If she knew that I was coming, she would bolt. I felt like the biggest dummy right now.

Why the hell did I not think to go out back and check her guest house initially? Why did I not just go over to her house after the tenth unreturned call? I really needed to apply myself more in the relationships I have with my loved ones. I put my car in drive and pulled out into the moving traffic.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

The Guesthouse "Nise, I didn't think you would... Lola? What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"

"Well hello to you too my dear sister. Why do I have to track you down through your husband? Why are you ducking and dodging my calls and messages? You never called me back the other day and-"

I had so many questions and not a single damn answer. Hold up she called me Nise, as in her childhood friend. I hated that broad with a passion back in the day. She was a true project chick that came from a family of criminals.

A few of my hood home girls knew of her and they never got along with her. Nise had a ton of brothers, and they kept her safe out in the streets. She always came off as bougie to me even though she was not suburban. Nise made it clear she didn't like me and constantly tried to come between Lois and myself.

"You have been in contact with that ghetto ass trap queen but not your own sister? That is fucked up Lo!"

Jealousy was never in my wheelhouse of emotions, especially when it came to men. They fell at me feet without incident. Lois was my heart and the closest person to me on this planet. I never wanted to share her with anyone.

"Lola not everything is about you okay. I am going through a very rough time right now. Let's be honest you are not a very good help. You will encourage me to be childish, petty, and vindictive. That is not what I need right now. I need a voice of reason in my darkest hour."

"Did you just call me stupid Lo?"

Lois shook her head and continued moving around the living room. Lois and I could always read each other like twins when we were children. The connection between us was uncanny, and everyone thought we had a psychic link. Right now, I was getting bad vibes. From her feet up to her scalp was oozing bullshit. I wanted to know what the fuck was going on. Usually, I would throw a tantrum, and she would give me what I wanted.

That bitch Nise being back in the picture meant I had to take a different approach. I sat down on the couch and waited for her to finish straightening up so that I could get her full attention. Lois was avoiding eye contact which meant that she was hiding something big. I stared her down all while she continued to move around. The gaze was penetrating, and I know she felt it. Finally, after fluffing the same pillow over five times, she broke her silence. "I have been cheating on Adonis."

My eyes bucked and I had to clutch my nonexistent pearls. Lois was the good daughter who always did what was told of her. She never broke the rules, or even back talked our parents.

This revelation was one for the books and made me feel a little better about myself. The perfect daughter had flaws too. Damn I am selfish as hell to quickly turn this around and make it about myself. This tea was too damn good to pass up, and I wanted all the dirty details.

"Lo daaamn! I never would have bet money that my sister had a dark side to her. You a late in life hoe Lo ha."

Lois shook her head and went into that miniature kitchen, and I was right behind her. The set up looked like she was ready to start dinner. My ass was damn sure staying to hear all this drama. Her ass was not going to just drop an atomic bomb and not elaborate.

I washed my hands at the sink and rinsed the vegetables off that were in it. Lo still had not spoken as she seasoned the meat. I decided to open the conversation about my own marriage woes.

"Bash has pulled a complete three-sixty on me. I did think he was cheating at first. Now I'm starting to wonder if his illegal business is what's keeping him out all night. What do you think since you-?"

"Lola, you are un-fucking-believable. Did you come here because you were concerned about me? Or did you come here to seek out some great advice? Plan on how to keep your damn husband. What I did to Adonis was short, brief and a mistake. I am not proud of myself, but circumstances and events can create new feelings. You need to talk to Bash and maybe look in the damn mirror. If he is not coming home trust me it's not all his fault."

This new attitude from baby girl was not welcome. The mystery man must have been fucking my sister something fierce. I slammed the vegetables into the pot and put it to the fire.

Lois was in her feelings so she could have that shot. I was going to take the high road. I did need her to do some legal snooping for me. Bash was too damn quiet lately.

That fool was either cheating or plotting his escape. I loved my husband. I be damned if he left me empty-handed. We continued to prepare the food in silence maneuvering around each other. By the time tonight was over I was going to have Lois reviewing Bash's financial records. I also wanted to know who the mystery man was that had her on this new level of confidence.