Those Black Roses. Joyce Zeledonis
doing anything except going to bed.
Her father was not awake when she entered the apartment, but he left the light on. She let out a heavy sigh. What a night!
A black car was sitting outside of Nichole’s apartment as she climbed out the taxi, and Gabriel Lafayette climbed out with her. They kissed passionately, but they did not notice the car. The young lover broke apart, and Gabriel climbed back into the taxi. The black car drove away quickly. Nichole watched the taxi drive away, and she knew she was going to have Gabriel eating out of her hand. This was the best thing she could do with her life; she wanted to turn it around and live life like Elizabeth. She knew she had to cut ties with her past. She walked into her apartment and into her bathroom. She glanced at the razor and the small mirror sitting on her vanity. There was small amount of cocaine left, and she closed her eyes. She did take some before the fundraiser, and she knew she had to give that up. She wanted a future, not a problem. Her stomach twisted inside of her as the urge grew, and she wanted more of the drug. It had a grip on her, and she had to free herself from her monkey before it controlled her. She threw it in the trash and hoped the urge would go away. But it did not. She was digging in her trash for the powder, crying, her hands shacking. She needed the drug, and fast. She was addicted and took the drug, not caring. All she cared about was the high and how it made her feel. No one knew about this, and she looked at her phone as she wiped her face. Her drug dealer was on speed dial, just in case. She needed more. Yes, more! That was what she cared about now. She would deal with Gabriel later and her goody-two-shoes life. She dialed her drug dealer, her heart pounding in her chest, and she began to sweat.
He answered on the third ring. “What do you need, babe?”
“More.” Nichole sniffed; her hands were shaking.
“Do you want to party?” he asked and laughed. His voice was gruff. “Come down. We will party together.”
“All right.” Nichole was willing to go to him. She had done that in the past. She always met him at his nightclub.
“Then come.” He laughed as he hung up the phone.
Yes! She was hurrying around, making sure she had everything, and left her apartment feeling like she could fly. She was going to stay up all night. She could sleep in.
Nichole woke up feeling like her head was on fire, and her stomach was being ripped into pieces. She found herself beside the drug dealer, and her eyes grew wide, and she was naked. She jumped out of bed, her heart racing. This was the first time she did something like this.
“You know where to come when you need more.” He laughed as she hurried around his apartment, getting dressed.
She was appalled and swallowed the gall that built up inside her throat. What the hell she was doing! Her life was spiraling out of control.
*****
The next morning, Elizabeth’s father was in the kitchen already making coffee and some croissants.
“Good morning, Dad.” She kissed him on the cheek and took some coffee and croissant.
“Good morning, my dear.” He kissed her on the cheek, and they both sat at the small table together. He was still dressed in his nightclothes. He looked good for his age—salt-and-pepper hair, and fit. He was still going strong at fifty-five.
“How was the fundraiser?” Dominic asked his daughter, glancing at her.
“Interesting,” Elizabeth said. “Nichole was with Gabriel, and I was with Simon Lafayette. He kissed me and asked me out on a date.”
She couldn’t lie to her father; he would know. And he would find out in the paper in the social column—reporters love the gossip—and the dirty laundry.
“Yeah, he asked me about you.” Dominic did not like where this conservation was going, but he knew his only child had a head on her shoulders. But she got out of a meaningless marriage. And he added, “Simon told me he was going to date you. He better not hurt you, or he has me to deal with.”
Elizabeth looked at her father; he looked like he was ready to fight. He looked furious. She had seen him give Richard a piece of his mind, and it was not a pretty sight. When he grew angry, there was hell to pay. He was very protective of her, and she loved her father for that.
“Oh, Dad.” She sighed loudly, rolling her eyes. “The world’s craziest dad, and I don’t think you have to worry about Simon. He doesn’t want to deal with you.”
“He better not,” he said loudly and changed the subject. “I’d like to retire next year and travel the world. But I want to design a dress for you.”
“That’s great.” She was surprised but thrilled at the same time. He was always working in his studio. “A dress would be nice.”
“Good, come to the studio. George will measure you.” He was sipping his coffee.
George was her dad’s longtime couturier. Their designs were elegant and very expensive. Elizabeth could never afford the dresses her father designed.
“Nichole’s fashion is ranked pretty high. She is catching up to us, and it is our time to step down,” he stated, and she did not know how popular Nichole’s fashion was. She was out of the loop.
“You know that Nikki is no good. She is involved with too crazy people—people who like to party and do drugs. You stay here from now on,” he informed her as he looked at her seriously.
Her father never warned her about Nikki before. He never told her to stay away from Nikki. But if Nikki was on drugs, what kind of drugs? And what kind of people? Elizabeth was too busy to pay attention to Nikki’s life.
“What’s going on with Nikki, Dad?” She wanted to know. Was Nikki in trouble? Or was Nikki causing waves?
“I don’t like her lifestyle,” he informed her. “You on the other hand live a clean lifestyle.”
“Maybe Gabriel will change her lifestyle,” she said honestly. “Or Simon will not stand for it. He has a reputation to uphold.”
“He doesn’t want a reputation with me.” He pointed to himself. “I will tell him when I see him.”
“Okay, Dad, settle down.” She rolled her eyes. She was thirty-five; she could handle herself, or could she?
“Just don’t beat him up.” She had to laugh at him. He was all worked up over Simon.
“Hum.” He flipped his head and walked to her and kissed her on the forehead. “You are my only child. I love you.”
“I know.” She stood up, hugging him. “And I love you, Dad.”
“I need to run some errands. So make yourself at home.” He hugged her back and released her.
He dressed and left to do his errands. He walked into the elevator and saw Simon Lafayette in the car.
“Just the man I want to see,” Dominic said as he entered the elevator. He was frowning.
“Good morning, Mr. Ricc.” Simon looked at the large man. Elizabeth’s father towered over him, and the man was built like an oak tree.
“My daughter told me you kissed her. You hurt my daughter, you will have me to deal with,” Dominic stated loudly, staring Simon down. “You can date her, but if you want more, you give her a ring. I like you, Simon, so do not make me hate you. Like my Italian father would say, ‘Capeesh.’”
This man was angry at Simon. He did not want this rather large man to be angry at him.
“I understand, sir,” Simon said, holding his breath. If Elizabeth were to talk to her father, father and daughter were close. “I will send her flowers, sir.”
“Like I said, work on that ring, Simon. Because I like you,” Dominic said, smiling as the elevator stopped, and he stepped out.
“Yes, sir.” Simon smiled at the idea, and he was planning to