Rhyme.

I sat in my office at A Player's Paradise irritated on the phone at what I was hearing. I rubbed my forehead saying, "And you just let her check herself out?!" angrily.

"Technically we can't hold her. Not unless it's like a court order."

"You can when I'm paying a got damn arm and a leg for your facility!" I said slamming the phone down back onto the hook. I rubbed my head over saying, "Fuck!" I had no idea where she could be now if she's not at the rehab facility I put her up in and was paying on monthly.

And to think this woman's not even my mother and she's causing me all of this trouble. Tyree's mother was a certified junkie and has been for years. She was still doing drugs when she was pregnant with his ass. He was born premature and was having withdrawals all because of her. The state took him away from her and as soon as I turned 18 I went and got him from staying with some family members.

I couldn't even fault her for being a cracked out whore because it's partly our father's fault. Our Dad was Tyree's mothers pimp. The first rule I learned from my daddy is never fuck your property. He made that mistake a couple of times. Out of my dad's ten kids I was the oldest. Not a single one of us had the same mother.

I learned everything I know from my father good and bad. I started pimping at the age of 16. My dad got arrested and he put me in charge of his girls. Next thing you know I had a full fledge business. I didn't run it like these other pimps. I wasn't slapping bitches around sending them to fuck guys in motels for a few dollars. I made a business plan. I learned never do anything small scale. Go big or go home. If I do something I'm going to be the best at it.

I closed my eyes laying my head in hands. My mind immediately went back to that day. "Get him right! My little man just turned 10. That's practically a man!" I heard my father's voice say muffled as he held a cigarette between his lips trying to light it.

"Rhyme!" I shot my eyes open looking up to see Sarita in the doorway. "There's a girl here for a job interview."

"Send her in," I said as Sarita nodded her head leaving my office. I sighed trying to get myself together when a girl walked in. I looked her up and down licking my lips.

Of course I see beautiful women everyday, but this was something different. I forgot I even had an interview today. I only have openings for positions rarely. "Hello, I'm Karina," she said extending her hand. "Rhyme. Have a seat," I replied shaking it. She sat down across from me then handed me a packet. "What's this?" I asked grabbing it looking at it funny. "Resume," I paused looking up at her as a stupid grin plastered my face. "A resume? Do you know what this place is? This isn't a typical office job, if that's what you're thinking."

She chuckled a bit saying, "I know. I just want to ensure I get the job. I know this place rarely has openings." She smiled crossing her legs.

She reminded me of Lolita in a way. Lo was very much so about her business no matter what it is. That's why she's my business partner now. I wouldn't say I'm in love with her. Shit, I don't even think it's possible for me to fall in love. We just work really well together and the sex is good. She was one of the only girls who worked for me that actually brought something to the table. For that I made sure she would be taken care of and that meant giving her the "wife" title. Even though it didn't mean anything to us.

"Have you ever done sex work before?" I said looking over her resume. "I was a stripper, if that counts and I did a couple of porn scenes." "That counts. Are you aware that you'll have to give a full sexual history background? That includes testing for sexually transmitted diseases. You'll also be drug tested along with a background check." "Sheesh, you would think I was applying to work for the government," she said chuckling. "That's completely fine." "Good. If you don't mind taking your clothes off," I said still looking down at the papers.

When I didn't hear a response I looked up at her. "I don't just hire anybody. Your body has to be up to par. I can't tell that with clothes on. Not with all the waist trainers, shapers and spanx you women have available. You could be like a can of biscuits. Nicely contained, but spill out once opened," I explained. She laughed a little standing up. "Only because you're cute." Women think they can come in here look pretty and flirt and they'll be hired like that. I don't think so. This is my business we're talking about.

She stared me dead in the eyes reaching her arms behind her back to undo her dress. She peeled it off of her body leaving her standing there naked due to her not wearing a bra or underwear. I stroked my chin tapping my pen writing down notes. "Turn around, please." She did as told as I wrote more notes down. Face wise, she would attract men who would want something more exotic. Body wise, men who want something a little more curvy.

"Everything real on you?" I asked looking back up at her taking a real good look at her ass. "100% natural. You like what you see?" She had a voice like a sex hotline commercial. It was turning me on and that meant something. It took a lot to do that. I've seen too much and done too much early on. It was hard to find a woman who could match my level...Except Lolita.

I looked down at my lap seeing I wasn't the only one liking what I saw. I scooted up closer to my desk opening my mouth to say something when the door opened. "Oh Gosh!" Sarita said covering her eyes immediately. Karina just continued to stand there with no shame even putting a hand her hip. "Girl, I'm offended. I know I'm a little thick but it's in all the right places. Is my body that bad?" I chuckled as Sarita slowly uncovered her eyes. "I'm sorry I offended you. I just wasn't expecting that. Sorry to barge in, but um Rhyme, can I go? I have to get to class and-" I shook my head saying, "Go, Rita."

She gave me a head nod closing the door behind her. It makes me laugh how innocent, nervous and awkward she is. It's kind of a shame too because she's drop dead gorgeous and could've made me a lot of money. She tried to work one day in here, but ran out of the room at the sight of a dick. She lied to me and her sister about being a virgin. I made her go to school and start modeling for income. She works at the front desk when modeling jobs are slow. Lolita says she is the way she is pertaining to sex and her overall awkwardness because she was raped. I try to be sympathetic to that by not forcing her into being a sex worker.

"As long as you pass the tests you're hired." I said handing her her resume back. She smiled saying, "Thank you so much!" "No problem. Put your clothes back on then I'll show you to the testing room." She pulled her tight dress up saying, "Can you help me with the back?" I looked down to make sure my hard on was gone then stood up. I walked over to her towering over her as she looked up at me.

She turned around making sure her ass brushed up against me. I hooked the chain part that held up her dress. "Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity as well. I'm really going to enjoy working for you, Rhyme." She leaned up placing her soft lips on the corner of my jawline. Although what Lola and I wasn't a traditional marriage we still carried ourselves like it was. Lola had rules and I had rules.

When she pulled away I said, "Follow me," leaving my office. I took her down the hall to a room where all tests are ran. I shut the door shaking my head. I've got my hands full with that one. Well I won't as long as I keep my hands to myself. She's my employee, I have to remember that.

I made my way down the hall going to Lolita's office. I lightly knocked before entering. She looked up from her desk smiling then saying, "Hey baby." I said it back leaning across the desk to kiss her. When we pulled apart I said, "You trying to give me an office quickie?" She chuckled saying, "I would, but I'm waiting for Royalty to be finished in hair and makeup for her first session." I sat down across from her saying, "About that..." "What?" Lo said looking over at me from her computer.

"I was thinking we should just send her back home. I just hired this new chick-" She cut me off saying, "Hired? I didn't interview anybody. You're supposed to give the first interview and I give the second. I always have final say." I huffed in irritation saying, "Don't fucking cut me off! You know I hate that shit. Well, I hired her. I want to move her into the house as the 4th girl."

I waited for Lo to say something. I watched as her eyebrow raised into an arch. "You fucking her?" I already knew that was coming. "No." "You must be because you don't hire chicks without my approval and you damn sure don't wanna move in somebody you 'don't know'," she said putting it in air quotes. "We're not kicking out Royalty and that's that." "She's a liability, Lola!" I said raising my voice.

All I could think about is the reason my dad got arrested and why he died in jail. He was hiring underage girls. He got charged with sex trafficking, kidnapping, and the list goes on. He might've kidnapped them, I don't know. I just knew I needed to be smarter than him if I was going to do this.

"Liability or not she's not going anywhere. You wanted to put her to work so you're getting what you wanted. We have protocol around here. A girl has to be working for 3 months here before you can move her in. On top of that, there's no more room in the house. Either tell Bang to come get the rest of his shit in his room or you let Tyree move into the pool house like he wanted."

"Tyree's not moving into that pool house. I can't have my eyes on him if he's back there," I said shaking my head. "What is it with you? Everybody isn't your child. Tyree is 19. Quit treating him like a little kid." I looked at Lola sighing. She's one to talk. She babies her grown ass sisters more than anything. "He's my responsibility. Has been since he was 9 years old. He doesn't have anybody but me. You know what? Never mind. Since you want this little girl to stay so bad she's your responsibility."

I got up leaving her office despite her calling after me.

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Royalty sat twiddling with her thumbs in the vanity room when the door opened. Through the mirror you could see Lolita step in the room. She smiled in the hopes of easing Royalty's nerves, but nothing could do that. "You ready?" Lola asked putting her hand on Royalty's bare shoulders. She wore a crop tube top, tight skirt and strappy heels. "Not really," she said breathing out heavily. "It'll be okay," Lola assured her as she fixed Royalty's hair.

"We're going to start you off slow with a simple hour session. Once you're done you can go home. Let's go over the rules..." Lola said scooting up a seat next to Royalty. "Rule #1 never tell them your real name. You need to come up with a sort of alter ego. Do you have anything in mind?" Lola asked as Royalty shrugged. "Royalty isn't even my real name. It's already like my alter ego." Royalty made it up when she was a kid and just rolled with it.

Lola furrowed up her eyebrows saying, "Then what's your real name?" Royalty shrugged again saying, "It's Ethiopian. I never went by it. It's Zufan." Lola thought for a second then said, "Throne...that's what it means." Lola was slowly forgetting her native language after not being there in more than a decade. "Are you Ethiopian?" Royalty asked as Lola nodded her head.

Royalty figured she should've known that by Lola's distinct features. Lola leaned in saying, "I'm going to let you in on a secret...Lolita isn't my real name either." Lola whispered dramatically making Royalty chuckle. "It's Samrawit. Promise not to tell anybody. Our little secret?" Royalty nodded her head as they twisted pinkies. And in that moment Royalty was thankful for Lola. If it wasn't for her her nerves would be at an all time high.

"Before you go into the room look at the door to know what they want to do. They prepay so if they try to do something they didn't pay for tell them to go to the front desk and pay for it. If they argue or try to get rough with you exit the room. If you can't get out push the red button. There's one on the nightstand, under the bed and by the door. All rooms are under surveillance so don't worry. Come with me," Lola said getting up from her chair. Royalty did the same following her down the hall.

They reached a room with a red door. "I'll be back to get you myself," Lola said. Royalty nodded her head as Lola walked off. Royalty looked at the door seeing he wanted a number one, which is good conversation. When Royalty saw that she sighed a sigh of relief. She turned the knob going in to see a young, Caucasian male sitting on a heart shaped bed. Royalty took in the dimly lit room as she walked over to him.

Royalty had no idea what to do. Was she supposed to act sexy? She had no idea how to do that. She put a hand on her hip sauntering over to him until she tripped over her own feet in the high heels flying forward. The young man caught her in his arms chuckling as Royalty blew her straightened hair from in front of her face. "Are you okay?" He asked sitting Royalty up to sit her on his lap.

"Yeah, thanks for breaking my fall." Royalty pulled her skirt down still not knowing what to do. "I'm aware it's your first day. Just calm down. I won't bite. My name's Will." Royalty looked at the smile plastered on his face then down to his extended hand. She shook it telling him her name. Will could sense she was uncomfortable so he moved Royalty off of his lap onto the bed.

He stood up from the bed walking over to the little bar asking, "You want anything to drink?" "No, thank you," Royalty replied as he poured himself a glass of Hennessy. Royalty looked around the room awkwardly saying, "Sooo...what do you wanna talk about?" Royalty was extremely relaxed now even letting her energetic personality come through. Things could've been a lot worse. Will shrugged while his back was still faced to her. "Life," he finally said turning around.

"Okay, tell me about yourself Will." Royalty watched as he put his drink down coming back to sit on the bed. "Well I'm a pre-med student, but it's not what I want to do. I'm mostly doing it because my father wants me to. He's a doctor, so he expects me to do it too." He laid back on the bed getting more comfortable. "What do you want to do?" He sighed making a motor boat noise with his mouth. "I want to be a film director but that'll never happen." "Not with that attitude," Royalty encouraged.

Some could say Royalty was very naive and had a very unrealistic outlook on life, but that was because she was very sheltered. No matter who or what crushed Royalty's dreams she still held onto to them. She could see her name in lights now. She felt everybody should think like that. Society says you should aspire for the degrees, the career, husband, family and home everybody else wants. Why should you? Every bodies life isn't meant to be the same.

Royalty went on to listen to Will's problems just lending an ear and occasional input. Meanwhile Tyree was talking to his older brother, Rico. When Tyree heard his mother left the rehab facility he wasn't shocked. At this point he didn't care anymore. She's been trying to get clean since he was born and still has yet to do it 19 years later. If your son being taken away wasn't enough initiative to get clean, nothing would be.

Every other month his mother was on Rhyme's phone crying about how she was gonna do right this time. Out of love for his brother Rhyme would put her in rehab. The longest she ever stayed was 3 months then she was back on the streets in California. Tyree was over it. He didn't even look at her as his mother. Up until he was 9 he stayed under his aunt and uncle's care. It was hell. He wished everyday his mother would come and save him. Instead it was Rico.

Tyree appreciated his brother, but he saw a lot of things he shouldn't have. When Rico was just a pimp to a couple of girls he would sometimes have to drag his little brother along. Tyree has witnessed women getting beaten, drugged out whores, people fucking, and cops kicking down doors. Rhyme's way of making up for it was taking care of him. At 19 Tyree had no worries unlike Rhyme who was on his own at that age.

"We can go to California this weekend to look for her," Rhyme said grabbing Tyree's attention again. "Rico, quit wasting your money. She's never gonna get clean. Even I know that." Tyree pushed the chair back getting up exiting his brother's office. He walked through the house going out to the backyard walking to the pool house out back where Rhyme built him a studio. It was Tyree's escape place.

He unlocked the door flicking the light on sitting in front of the boards. He looked at the new beat machine he got for taking Royalty's virginity in disgust. Tyree didn't even want this shit anymore. It was brand new still in the box with a red bow on it. Rhyme went and bought it today then left it for Tyree to find. He looked at the sticky note attached to it scoffing...

On mama's that's the last time I'll ask you to do that. Don't lie tho...virgin pussy is the best aside from the baggage😂

Tyree snarled up his lip crumpling up the note throwing it into the trash can. Tyree knows Rhyme isn't a bad person. He was just terribly influenced. Out of their ten siblings Rhyme spent the most time around their father before his arrest and death. Their father trained Rhyme up to be the person he is now. A sex and money hungry person.

Tyree took the beat machine out of the box beginning to set it up so he could fiddle with it.

After Royalty got home from "work" she went up to her room taking a shower then changing clothes. She wandered around the house ending up outside by the pool. Really she was looking for Tyree. Aside from Lola she hasn't had any real conversations with anybody else. She tried to talk to Sarita, but she's so quiet and to herself. Saniye was always gone on trips with her rich boo of the week, so that was out. Royalty kicked her feet around the warm pool water from the Nevada heat while humming. She looked at the starry sky when she heard music.

She got out of the pool drying her feet off putting her Gucci slides that Lola bought her back on. She followed the music going to the building at the back of the yard. She turned the knob slowly going in. Royalty followed the music down the hall opening the door to see Tyree with his head down bobbing it to the beat.