Billionaire’s Side Attraction

Javier Lorenzo

I sat in the cell with one other dude. I had no idea where Lula was, no one said anything to me. Turns out that bastard Carlos did call the police after all, and told them that the guy traveling with her kidnapped her. I have never hated a dude as much as I hate the guy right now.

The pale walls stared back at me, mocking me. I had only one word to describe the aura of this place: Hopeless.

When I was younger, I promised my mom that I would never return to a place like this. Was my past coming back to haunt me?

Being born on the dark side of life brought out the worst in me. My father never made it to my seventh birthday, it was always my mom and grandma. My younger siblings consisted of three boys and three girls, I was the oldest of them all. My mother went crazy raising us, but I wanted to ease her pain.

I was introduced to a life of crime, and by the age of fifteen, I had dropped out of school just so my little ones would get a proper education. I worked for my boss just so I could help my mom to put food on the table. I was fortunate enough to escape from death and from that life. I ended up in jail at age eighteen. When I got released after five years, my mother made me promise to never soil my hands again. I never told Rosa about this part of my past, and I am glad I did not. She would never let me hear the last of it, she would have taunted me about my past even though I don’t live that life anymore.

I may not be as famous as Lula’s ex-boyfriend, but I am doing well for myself. I am a producer and have brought many talented Latino artists to the limelight. I am doing pretty well for myself and irrespective of what Rosa said, I am not a failure. Now, I am accused of a crime I did not commit, fuck!

The sound of metal clanking against each other caught my attention and I looked up to see an officer unlocking the cell I was sitting in. He was a black man with a strong physique, mine was no match for his.

“Lorenzo”. He called© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Yes?”

“Get yo ass out of this cell.” He ordered and I obeyed without argument. I mean come on, who needs to be told twice?

I followed him to the inspector’s desk, where I met with a shock. The one person I never thought I’d see was sitting right there with a sorry-ass look on her face.

“Rosa?” Sitting beside her was Jenny and a man in a brown suit.

“Sí, mi amor”. She ran up to me and threw her arms around me. What the hell! I tried to peel her off of me but she whispered: “Act like we’re in love or else he won’t believe me.” I didn’t know what her plan was, but it seemed this could save me right now.

She finally pulled away and faced the inspector. “He has nothing to do with Lula, they were just traveling together. I can assure you that he is no kidnapper.”

The man in a brown suit continued. “My client has no business with that awful life of kidnapping, you have no reason to keep him here.” He hands the inspector some documents.

After going through the papers, the tired-looking inspector sighed. “Alright, Mr. Powers, But if we find any new incriminating evidence, we’re coming after him.”

“I assure you, you will find nothing.” Mr. Powers replied with confidence.

Just like that, I was a free man. I stepped out after my things had been returned. Mr. Powers shook my hand and bade us goodbye. Jenny and Rosa were ready to leave, but I looked around in search of my travel partner. “Where’s Lula?”

Rosa’s forehead creased in annoyance. “Isn’t she the one who got you into this mess in the first place?”

I looked at her incredulously. “You didn’t think that because you helped me, I’ll be all over you.”

She stared at me with hurt in her eyes. “You just want to make me beg, don’t you?” She groaned. “Argh! Fine, I’m sorry! Happy now?”

I just couldn’t believe this chick right here. What in the world is her problem? I can’t believe I once went crazy about this thing in front of me. “Listen to me Rosa, read my lips… I AM DONE”. I let out the words one by one.

Rosa pushed me but I didn’t move back, rather, the force sent her a few inches backward. “So, Lula is your new girlfriend?” I walked off, ignoring her.

I finally found Lula coming out of a female officer’s office. When she sighted me, her lips lifted into a smile. In the center of her cheeks lay a pair of dimples that flashed when she smiled or laughed.

She jumped on me as we embraced in excitement. I almost kissed her on the lips, I wanted to taste her lips, but I wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate in that situation, or how she would react to my kiss.

Lula’s eyes darted to someone behind me. “Oh, Rosa.” She pulled away from my embrace, this hurt my heart. “I heard you brought a lawyer, great quick thinking.”

Rosa shook her hand in return. “You don’t have to thank me, irrespective of how Javier treats me, I still care about him.” She smiled just as much but I could sense the ingenuity in her demeanor.

“Thanks, Rosa, but Lula and I need to continue our journey.” I took Lula’s hand in mine, and we walked to Lula’s car.

“Oh no no!” Lula exclaimed. She had two flat tires! “Why can’t I just get to Houston without some drama?!” She kicked the tire.

Rosa came to stand behind us. “Do you guys need a ride?”