Looking for Love Ch. 01

Club Knight

The music was flowing through her veins. Ne-Yo's Champagne Life poured from the speakers. The men were on the hunt and the women were hoping to be caught. This was definitely the spot to be after hours for those who have hardly worked a day in their lives. This wasn't a regular night club where ladies get in free before eleven and gentlemen dressed in the newest gear they just purchased with their whole check after work.

No, this was Knight, the place to be and be seen. Exclusive membership was required as well as a hefty bank account and a desire to remain private in this small piece of heaven known as Knight. Men didn't talk about the newest Jordan's that hit the stores; they discussed the stock, the newest cars on the market, and how just having money makes them wealthier than what they already are. Anastasia Blac loved it.

She could feel a tingle down her spine from the many looks cast in her direction. She had been away from the limelight for awhile but she was definitely back and here to stay. This was her haven, her home away from home.

Styled in five inch red stilettos and a red Herve Leger sleeveless dress which hugged her milk chocolate body in all the right places, she was dressed to kill. A tight eighteen inch black weave hung straight down her back. There definitely was no stopping her tonight. Anastasia was on a mission. She, like the rest of the patrons, was searching for something or rather someone. Unlike the women who wanted to be caught, Anastasia was on the hunt. She needed a benefactor and there was no better place to be than Knight.

The rent on her penthouse was due in two weeks and the new Versace fall line was about to hit stores, so she had to be prepared. Money was running low so she needed to find Mr. Right Now, well, right now. Just as she caught the eye of a well dressed gentleman in an all black suit with matching vest and tie she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Oh my God, it is you!"

Anastasia looked into the eyes of Nicole Pierce. If she ever believed in having best friends Nicole would definitely be number one on the list. Nicole reached out and pulled Anastasia in for a tight hug, "Where the hell have you been girl? It's been almost two years since I've seen you and definitely more than seven months since I've spoken to you. You look great."

Anastasia looked at Nicole in her all black Gucci pantsuit and Louboutin heels. Nicole looked like a million dollars, not that Anastasia would ever tell her that. "Well what can I say, travel definitely agrees with me," Anastasia laughed.

Nicole looked her up and down, "You are really glowing girl. That was some vacation you took."

Anastasia shrugged her shoulders "A lady never tells."

"HA," laughed Nicole, "if you think you are keeping this to yourself you have completely lost it. What is his name and what does he do?"

Anastasia looked briefly uncomfortable. She had wanted to keep everything about her getaway under wraps but she knew Nicole would badger her until she spilled. Besides she trusted Nicole, at least with this info she did. She scanned the club for a vacant lounge area then tugged Nicole in the direction of a low round unoccupied black table with two black high backed seats. Once they were seated she caught the attention of a waiter and ordered two glasses of white wine.

"Maybe you should brace yourself Nicole. This is kind of big news."

Nicole took a deep breath "you didn't kill someone did you? I couldn't take it if you did and I really wouldn't want to know because then that means you would have to off me and I wouldn't go down without a fight."

Anastasia rolled her eyes, "I thought I was the dramatic one Nicole. Calm down, it's nothing criminal."

"Okay then, what is it?"

Anastasia saw the waiter heading in their direction and waited for him to sit their drinks down and walk away. "I met someone," she said.

"Well that much is obvious Ana; the question is who you met."

"Remember when I told you I felt as though I were in a rut and needed adventure in my life before I'm fifty?"

Nicole glanced toward the ceiling, "Ana, you're still a few years away from thirty; don't tell me you're having a midlife crisis."

"Well, no but I didn't want to turn into a bitter old woman thinking about all of the things I didn't do," Anastasia said.

"That is such a crock of shit Ana. There are so many things wrong about what you just said but the main one is the crap about the things you didn't do. Don't you mean the men you haven't done?" Nicole asked.

Anastasia rolled her eyes "Fine Nicole, the men I haven't done. Geez, talk about touchy".

"Anastasia, if you don't tell me who you met I will hurt you," warned Nicole.

Anastasia looked around and lowered her voice as she leaned toward Nicole. "I was with Spencer Reed." Nicole's mouth dropped open. She had actually lost the ability to speak. "Nicole, please close your mouth. It looks as though it's open for business."

Nicole shut her mouth with a snap as she continued to stare at Anastasia. "Please tell me you're joking Ana," she pleaded.

Anastasia shrugged her shoulders. "It just sort of happened."

"That is such a load of bull. That didn't just happen. Are you crazy? Your father will kill you when he finds out. Not to mention the tabloids will have a field day if they catch news of this."

"Well it's a good thing they won't catch news of this isn't it Nicole. As a matter of fact if they did just happen to hear about Spencer and I, then I'd know exactly who opened her mouth," hissed Anastasia. "And as for my father finding out, I could care less what Kristoff Blac has to say."

Nicole downed her glass of Pinot before rising. "I'm heading toward the ladies room. You will finish telling me everything about Spencer Reed when I return," Nicole warned, then picked up her clutch as she headed downstairs.

Mr. Blac

"Mr. Blac, there is a Peyton March on line two inquiring about the legal contracts," his secretary buzzed through the intercom. Kristoff Blac sighed as he tilted his head back.

"Put him through to John Williams. John probably knows more about the contracts than I do anyway."

"Right away Mr. Blac," she said.

Kristoff stood from his high back comfort chair behind the dark wood desk. He walked over to the window to admire the view and take his mind off his troubles. There was so much on his mind. Mainly, his daughter Anastasia. She was his pride and joy as a child. Stubborn and willful much like himself. But there was also a side to her that disgusted Kristoff. She was spoiled and selfish, just like her mother Martine. She thought the world revolved around her and her own needs.

Glancing at the file on his desk, Kristoff knew Anastasia thought she was punishing him. If she only knew in the end she would only hurt herself. He knew all about her so called vacation. He knew exactly who she was with also, Spencer Reed. Reed was a borderline criminal who hid behind legit companies to make his money. He used them to clean up his image and the companies used him to cut through the red tape.

Kristoff was disgusted just thinking about Reed and his daughter being in the same room together much less. No, he wouldn't let himself go there. Not tonight. He wanted to reach out to Anastasia but he was tired of the arguing and dishonesty.

Kristoff glanced at the phone one last time before walking to the coat closet and shrugging into his dark gray blazer. He wouldn't give himself a headache trying to understand his daughter. Not that he would stop trying but he refused to waste another moment on this when he had more important things to do. Like contacting his ex-wife about a vicious voicemail she left on his phone. The night was just beginning.

THE EX- MRS. BLAC

"Ma'am, the fare is two dollars, not seventy five cents," the bus driver said.

Martine couldn't believe this. First her car service didn't show and now the city bus driver was harassing her for an extra dollar and twenty five cents.

"Do I look like the type of person who carries change? Hell, do I look like I even want to be on this bus. You're lucky I had seventy five cents. Now shut up and drive the damn bus. You're supposed to be on a time schedule." The passengers applauded her as Martine walked to a single seat and gingerly sat down.

God...I hope I don't catch anything sitting on this bus, Martine thought. An elderly woman wearing a worn brown coat smiled cheekily at Martine as she faced the window. She thought about the turn of events tonight. How did this happen, she thought? How did I end up on this bus with these people?

Martine checked her phone for the third time. No one was returning her calls. Anastasias' phone went straight to voicemail,then again she expected no better from her only child. Josephine, her former sister in law, wasn't answering her phone either which wasn't surprising considering the argument they had earlier, but now was not the time to hold a grudge. She needed Josephine. After all, she was living with her rent and food free.

She glanced at the time on her watch then caught the eye of a young man watching her. If he even thinks I am one to be messed with he has another thing coming, Martine thought.

She returned the young man's stare. "I suggest you turn your thoughts in another direction because if you're considering taking me on you should know I am packing and I never miss."

The young man smirked, his blue eyes laughing. "Lady, I wouldn't dream of it. Besides I have no doubt you'd put me in my place."

He rang the bell and stood to exit at the next stop. "Of course who's to say I wouldn't like it," he laughed as he got off.

Martine shook with laughter as she watched him exit. These young ones were a trip. On a good day she would be tempted to give him just what he was asking for but she had to get home. That is if she still had a home. Her cell phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced at the screen and sighed with relief as she answered, "Nice of you to call me back."

Kristoff sighed, "Martine, I do work. I can't come running whenever you call."

Martine whispered angrily into the phone, "You mean to tell me after all this time; you can so easily dismiss me. After all the years we spent together?"

Kristoff remembered all of the years they spent together vividly which made it so easy for him to ignore Martine. "You said on your message that you were stranded. Do you need help or not Martine?"

Martine glanced around the bus, "I absolutely need help. I'm on the bus heading towards Josephine's house because the driver failed to show and after many attempts to call I decided rough it. But I'm not quite sure if I'm heading in the right direction."

Kristoff shook his head, Martine was never headed in the right direction. "If you're on the bus then you aren't stranded Martine."

Martine pulled the phone away from her ear. "Did you hear me Kristoff? I'm practically in the middle of nowhere. Browns Bank should be coming up in about ten minutes. I could get off there and wait for you to get me."

Kristoff sighed heavily, this was the last thing he needed. He knew he shouldn't have returned her call. "If you know Browns Bank is coming up on your route then once again, you're not stranded. You know exactly where you are. You're obviously on the M33 so stay there and exit at the last stop then walk about 3 miles until you reach Josephine's," Kristoff laughed.

Martine's brown complexion reddened with anger. "You are such a bastard Kris. How can you desert me like this? This is just like you."

Kristoff cut her off before she could continue her diatribe. "Look Martine, just stay on the bus until the last stop and you will be picked up. I refuse to argue with you. The car will be there before the bus, now I'll talk to you later. Goodbye."

Kristoff hung up the phone as he squeezed his eyes shut. He called his driver and sent him to Briar Hills for Martine as he headed home to relax. Glancing at his reflection in the rearview mirror he couldn't believe what he saw. At just fifty years old he developed dark circles underneath his dark brown eyes. It was bad enough his low cut started to go gray a few years ago, now he developed circles around his eyes.

He could already feel a headache forming. He decided tomorrow he was going to work from home. As he waited at the light heading toward his penthouse his cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller id on the display. A smile graced his well shaped lips as he answered. "Hello sweetheart." His deep voice was a mere caress. "You've been on my mind all day."