South Row (3 page)

“The moment I bought that diamond for Reese, I couldn’t wait to give it to her. Waiting those few days until she came home from that Computer Technology conference was torture. I almost hopped a flight to New York just to surprise her with it,” Wyatt voices.

“I just wanted to be sure.”
You still aren’t,
says that pesky, annoying voice.

“Then why buy the ring if you weren’t sure?” Johann asks.

The table falls silent. I feel like I’m on the witness stand, wanting to adjust my tie or shift in my chair, but refraining, fearing that I might look guilty.

I swallow past the guilty-assed lump in my throat, but as I am about to answer, baby bro saves the day.

“If he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t have given it to her, now would he? Besides, Collin isn’t the type of guy to jump dick first into something without being sure.”

“Including pussy,” the group adds in unison and we all burst out laughing.

After what seems like minutes, Luke breaks in, “Collin, dude, I’m sorry I’m second-guessing you, man. I just wanna make sure you’re making the right decision and that you’ll have no regrets in the future.”
And there it is.

“Yeah, I know, man.” We give each other a cursory nod. A nod that says,
I’ve got you, brother.

“In the case of the State versus Fletcher Colfax on the count of rape in the first degree, how do you find?” Judge Reinhart asks.

We’ve been engaged in this case for three long months and the jury has been in deliberation for a week and a half. Fletcher Colfax, supposed serial rapist, is my client; but let me defend him, he’s not a serial rapist. He’s simply a player who is kinky in bed. Not saying the women weren’t raped, just…not by my client.

Being kinky and being forced are two different things, and when I brought out that fact to each witness, giving a blow-by-blow of some of the sexual activities they were engaged in with my client, the flush that crept over their faces was indication that I was right and that, at the time, they all liked it. God, for the sake of women out there, I hope I was right.

It’s a huge case, high profile as it is, considering Fletcher is a multi-millionaire with unusual sexual proclivities.

“We find the defendant,” Juror number one pauses, for dramatic effect of course.

The courtroom is still, a nervous cough erupts, but the silence is suffocating. My heart is pounding and the look on Fletcher’s face is tight, but his lips are quivering with anxiety. A trickle of sweat pours down from his hairline down the side of his face and he shifts slightly from foot to foot as he awaits the verdict.

“Fletcher Orion Colfax,” the juror continues then pauses again, and I have the insane need to punch him in the face to get on with it.

“Not guilty on the basis of…” the juror’s words are cut off by exuberant cheers and angered remonstrations.

I heave a huge sigh of relief and Fletcher pulls me to him in an uncharacteristic and, frankly, unwanted embrace.

“I owe you forever, Collin,” he declares, pounding my back.

When he pulls back I just smile, not agreeing or disagreeing. He has already paid me and that’s enough. I seriously want nothing to do with his pompous ass anymore.

“It was nice working with you, Mr. Colfax. I hope to see you again under lighter, better circumstances,” I lie.

If there is any hope left in the world, I’ll never see him again; but with a man like Fletcher with all his money, status, and sexual preferences, legal woes are bound to follow him in the future. Let’s hope I can tell him no when that time comes, even if he is paying me a shitload of cash.

The judge says a few words that I scarce recall before adjourning. I just want to go out with the guys and take my mind off of it all. I should be ecstatic, but I just feel exhausted and disinterested in festivities.

My boss, Kaylee’s dad, Mr. Liam Stone, ambles over to me with a shit-eating grin on his face. I just made him even more money, so of course the rich son-of-a-bitch is smiling.

“My golden boy!” Mr. Stone exclaims, clutching me to him as he laughs exultantly, his deep voice reverberating deep inside my head.

The whole firm has taken to calling me “golden boy” because of my success rate and tendency to take even the bleakest of cases and turn it into a victory. I rake in the cash and so, I’m an asset in Stone’s eyes. Therefore, the right man for his daughter.

“Son, your performance in this trial has been astounding. Frankly, it rivals me,” he gushes. “Keep making me money, son, and you’ll make partner in no time.”

Liam has been saying that - making partner - to me ever since I got handed this case, even more so since his daughter and I got engaged a week ago.

“Thank you, sir. I aim to make you and this company proud.”

“Yeah, you’ll make a fine partner and make my daughter very happy,” Stone asserts.

I suppress the urge to roll my eyes. Liam is somewhat like his daughter – vain. It is all about their image; what and who will make them happy, not about how they can make someone happy.

Kaylee and I haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye this past week. Not that she’d noticed or even cared. Everything she does annoys the hell out of me. It’s like ever since I put that ring on her finger, I’ve been seeing her for who she is: a spoiled, narcissistic, rich kid. I should’ve bought her a cheaper diamond, just to test if she’d accept it. Now I’m left wondering if she is with me for me, or how being with me will look to the public – her friends, family, strangers…anybody worth knowing about us.

“Take the rest of the day off. You earned it, son,” Liam advises.

Secretly, I am tired of hearing the man call me son. To think, I’ll be related to this man someday, being grandfather to my kids and giving them money…only if they make him look good. Not a good thought at all. I need a fucking drink.

Liam strides away, slapping Judge Reinhart’s back as he talks animatedly with him and walk to his chambers.

“You sly motherfucker,” Luke congratulates. “That was epic. You did damn good, bud.”

“Dude, you know I’ve got the Midas touch,” I brag, grabbing up my briefcase and cell phone.

“Liam gave you the rest of the day off,” he observes, eyeing me closely. “Lemme guess, you’re going back to the office aren’t you?”

The thought of home irks me to no end right now. So, no.

“Yeah, I’ve gotta get some preliminary research done for this new case Liam assigned me,” I inform him. “It’s not as high profile, but still lucrative.”

“Ah, the Bender case,” Luke muses.

Nikolas Bender is the Human Resource Manager at the major business corporation, Globe Inc. He’s been accused of sexual harassment and the employee is pulling out all the stops to get him convicted. With the right information, though, I think I can get her to back off or, if he’s guilty, settle. In sexual harassment suits, everyone has a part to play…or so I tell myself, as well as try to convince the
plaintiff and the jury. Yes, I’m evil. Sue me.

“I know you’ll hit this one out of the park as always,” Luke bids.

“Speaking of hitting things,” he transitions.

Luke plops down in the chair I had vacated earlier and throws his feet up on the table, not caring where we are. Luckily, everyone has filed out and the courtroom is empty.

“We’re hitting up that strip joint we’ve been dying to go to, tonight,” he tells me.

“Where, the Totem Pole?” I inquire.

“Yeah, there,” he confirms. “Connor got us in. We’re heading out around 10. Bring tens.”

“Tens?”

“Yup. Tips. This place is not only classy, but cashy. You don’t go there with empty pockets, you
leave
with your pockets empty,” he clarifies.

“The girls are that good?” I ask on a raised eyebrow.

“Better than good. They don’t even get naked unless the price is right. And trust me, bro, the price is
always
right. You won’t complain parting with a dime…or, so I’ve heard.”

He stands and stretches his arms above his head and releases a hefty yawn before saying, “You in?”

I think about going home and what I’ll have to go home to, but the idea doesn’t appeal to me. I realize I do need the time away from home.

“Hell yeah, buddy.”

“Awesome…” he trails off, yawning once more.

“Dude, what’s her name?” I tease.

“Dude, I don’t even remember, but all I know is…”
And all he really needs to know.
“…her ta-tas are a masterpiece,” Luke answers dreamily.

“Luke…
how
have you not had AIDS all these years?” I ask jokingly.

“Jimmies, man,” he replies. “The best damn creation for dudes like me. I don’t intend to make a guest appearance on The Maury Show. I am
never
the father.”

We laugh and head out of the courtroom, talking about his latest conquest. I stop him once we’re at the bottom of the courthouse steps.

“The day you fall in love is the day…”

“Don’t you fucking say it!” Luke exclaims and I laugh at his outburst. “Fuck you and fuck the guys for always wishing death upon me. You guys are sick.
Sick!
”

He makes it so easy to rib him. I’m shaking my head and picturing him with a pregnant wife and one bad ass kid throwing a tantrum on the floor and him giving his wife a loving look saying:
“I can’t wait for our next bundle of joy.”

I chuckle at the image. “Yeah, you wait.”

**********

It was surprisingly easy telling Kaylee I was going out with the guys…and to a strip club no less. I figured, why lie? Somehow I felt disappointed that it was so easy. I wished she would have put up some kind of fight, some resistance. A chipper, “Okay, honey”, pissed me off to no end. Did she even care that I was going someplace crawling with naked chicks? A place where those same naked chicks would be grinding all up on my shit and practically shoving their tits in my mouth?

As I drive in the taxi heading up California Street, I try to put the conversation behind me and focus on the night ahead. Excitement is thrumming through my veins as I near the strip club. It is a strange feeling, but I can’t help but anticipate my night. Tonight will be a good night.

I see the guys as they face the bouncer, a big, bald white guy wearing a black muscle shirt with tattoos all over his arms. Tattoos paint his neck and cover the crown of his head. No doubt, this guy has
don’t fuck with me
written all over him.

I pay the cabbie, exit his cab and step out into the cool night air, making my way over to my friends. When Connor spots me, his eyes flash with worry for a second but he covers it with a smile.

“Bro, I thought for sure you wouldn’t make it. I can’t believe Kaylee made you come,” he says. I guess that’s what the worried look was for.

“Connor, I don’t even want to talk about it,” I respond, giving him the customary bro hug.

“Is everything alright?” he asks concerned.

“I just want to get shit-faced drunk and let a bitch grind on my shit right now. No time for heart-to-hearts. Maybe tomorrow when I’m hung the fuck over,” I resign.

He gives me a once over then shrugs, accepting all I had to say for the time being.

“Well, the gang’s all here, Boris,” he says this to the bouncer.

I greet the other guys, Luke ribbing me about having a curfew and Johann telling me to make sure my phone stays off because he’s not going to have his night ruined by whiny bitches.
These guys.

Boris lets us through after each paying a forty dollar cover charge; a little steep for a strip club, but hey, judging by the long line, people have no problem with paying that much just to go into the club to spend even more on the strippers. I guess that speaks to the reputation of the club, which makes me that much more eager to enjoy my night.

As I pass through the darkened lobby, I am transported in a fetish or some kind of sexual wonderland. The first thing I notice is an actual totem pole in the dimly lit lobby. It is a totem carving of the sexiest parts of women – lips, breasts, legs, ass, even eyes. I’ve never seen something so clever.

As we step through the black silk curtains that separate the lobby from the club itself the lighting strikes me. It is a swirl of dark red and purple lights, creating a subtle but sexual haze in the room. Next I notice that the shiniest black marble floors with a totem engraved in each tile.
Damn. So that’s where the forty dollar cover charge goes? I’m walking on money.

I look around the room and I think I might have died and gone to Heaven. The place is swimming with beautiful, sexy, half-naked women. I look over at Luke who is practically jumping up and down with glee like a kid in a candy store. Wyatt looks almost uncomfortable, if not for his repeated swallowing and the glaze of lust in his eyes. Johann is stunned speechless and Connor? Well, Connor is the picture of cool, calm and collected, walking in there like he owns the place.

He swags – yes, swags, because I don’t know how else to describe that damn strut he has – over to the bar and a cute bartender with blonde dreads and a pierced nose smiles widely when she spots him. She leans forward and her breasts almost spill out of her too-tight white tee that is ripped down to the V of her breasts. I see Johann lick his lips at the sight and I chuckle to myself at his reaction.
Eh, she’s not
that
hot.

While my friends are transfixed on the blonde, I take my time looking around the place. The thumping, erotic beat of the music sets the scene further. There is a sexual high in the place and it is tugging at the lust in my body. I love this place already.

I spot the large stage ahead of us. Comfy looking sofas are placed around it where men are currently sitting and salivating at the dancers on stage. Money is being thrown at them, tucked in the waistband of panties, and being waved around to waitresses passing in their scantily clad attire.

There are three women on stage and in different stages of undress. One woman is in Daisy Dukes and topless, rubbing her tits in a man’s face. Another is in a thong – I think that’s a thong, because really it looks like a piece of thread – and a halter bra barely covering her Double D breasts, sliding down the pole. The other dancer is topless and a patron is using his teeth to pull down her white lace panties. They are all beautiful women with sex appeal to die for.
Damn, this place is so cool!
my inner teenager yells.