CHAPTER NINE

DARK GREEN

April

....

"Um not that hungry so I'll just have the kids meal chicken stripes please. I would like ranch with it too." I say to the young waitress who was currently taking care of our orders. My hand was resting on the table soon I felt Nicole place her hand over mine. She flipped my hand and interlock our fingers together. I didn't bother moving my hand because it felt nice having her hold my hand. I had notice that Nicole has been holding my hand lately, I didn't mind though. There was this feeling that I got with Nicole, it was like no other feeling I had gotten before. She makes me feel safe whenever she's by my side. I didn't want that feeling to go away.

"Okay I got a Chicken Salad combo with a side of broccoli and cheese soap and for the young lady I got a kids meal chicken strips with ranch. Is that correct?" Both Nicole and I nodded our head. "Okay it will be out shortly."

"Young lady." I mocked when the waitress left.

"I know." She said with a small smile.

"Do I look young?" I asked.

"Sorta of. Maybe it's the powderpuff hoodie." She said gesturing to my charming apperal.

I shrugged, "It's cold as fuck, I swear my non existent tits are gonna freeze and fall off."

She took a sip of her ice tea and looked down at my chest, "No there's something there."

I rolled my eyes playfully, "Yeah it's the hoodie."

"No even without your hoodie there's something there." Her eyes scanned me up and down, "Do you even realize how gorgeous you are?"

"Um am I supposed too?" I didn't want to sound so annoying but I've only been called pretty or something like a few times in my life. It was strange for me personally to be called something like that.

"Of course." She paused for a second, "I think you should realize how attractive you are. You're stunning April. Not just on the out side you're gorgeous but on the inside too."

I didn't know what to say to that. It was unusual for someone to complement me on my looks. It made my cheeks heat up and stomach feel funny.

"Um thank you Nicole...you're super gorgeous too. Like wowie you probably have everyone's attention. You definitely have mine most of the time, I mean like I am your assistant and I'm supposed to you know assistant you in ways. Not in ways that are sexual cause I don't want to lose my job. I mean unless your into that but I doubt it. Okay I really don't know what I'm saying, I mean I wouldn't do that. I would smash though but no homo. But you're very pretty and I'm speechless half of the time. You're hair is super pretty and sometimes I want to run my fingers through it and see if it's as soft as it seems. That's really weird. I mean I'm not a weird person, okay maybe a little bit but that's like whatever....I'm gonna stop talking now." I say realizing how dumb I am. Good fucking job April.

Nicole had her arms wrapped around her stomach as she was full on laughing. I guess me being a idiot was delightful for her. I frowned as I realized how stupid I look. Oh well I guess. Fuck me in the ass.

"Have I told you how adorable you are?" She said calming down a bit.

"No."

"Well you are."

"Whatever I'm dumb."

"Far from it love." She tells me with a smile. Suddenly her phone rang unexpectedly. Nicole pulled phone from the back pocket of her jeans and looked at the caller ID. She mumbled something under her breath and pressed a button and placed the phone back in her pocket.

Just as she was going to say something again, the phone rang again. Nicole did the same thing as last time and placed her phone on the table. Then once again her phone rang again. She groaned and pick up the phone answering it.

"Stop calling me, I'll talk to you later." She said sternly and ended the call. During this time I was wiping on my drinking watching this all unfold. "Sorry about that, just you know some business stuff."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "You've been lots of calls lately. Like if you don't answer it then they call you over and over again."

She sighs, "Oh so you noticed." I nodded my head towards her statement.

"I mean it's kinda hard not too."

She runs a hand through her long hair and looks at me. She stares blankly at me like she was trying to think of something. "I denied a offer around the time you started working for me. They really want me to take this offer and they have been calling nonstop."

"That's rude. If you said no to their offer then they should respect that and leave you alone." I suddenly felt angry for this company to be constantly bothering Nicole.

"I used to be great friends with the owner but unfortunately that friendship had died. I guess she just doesn't take a hint." She said with a small dry laugh.

"Whose this person?" I asked letting curiosity get the best of me.

Nicole opens her mouth to say something but shuts it quickly. I gave her a questioning look, what is she hiding?

She sighs and taps her fingers against the table in a anxious way. "Her name is M-" she was then soon interrupted by our lovely waitress.

"Okay one Chicken Salad combo with a broccoli and cheese soap and one kids meal chicken stripes." Our waitress says as she puts our plates down. I slightly glared at her as she made heart eyes at Nicole. "Okay enjoy."

"Thank you," I leaned over and read her name tag, "Lexie." I said with slight venom in my voice.

———

Nicole kindly held the glass door of some clothing store that was named Feel the Glow. She was renting a club for a night for the company as a little work party. She insisted that I'll go. I denied because parties aren't my thing but she promised if I went then she'll buy me whatever comic I wanted.

The store looked very pretty and polished. There was a lot of fancy stuff but yet it looked very hip and retro looking. It wasn't imitating at all.

"And look what we got here." This woman who had a deep skin tone with gorgeous long brown hair that had neon green tips. She had a bright smile that made you want to smile.

Nicole quickly pulled her into a hug, "Trinity it's wonderful to see you again."

"Girl you always know it's great to see you." She pulls away from the hug but still has her arms wrapped around Nicole. I slightly felt jealous but I didn't want too. This Trinity was so beautiful that made me want to slam that door in my face.

"What brings you here?" She asks Nicole. Nicole walked out of her arms and gestured to me.

"I'm actually helping this lovely with finding a dress so I brought her here to the finest place in New York."

Trinity rolls her eyes, "You're such a charmer." She then turns all her attention to me.

"Hi there beautiful, I'm Trin." She says pulling me into a hug. Fuck this woman is beautiful and kind, now I can't find no reason to dislike her.

"Hi." I said. Oh my god she smell good too.

"Oh and you say I'm the charmer." Nicole says.

"Shut it, I'm trying to complement her. Anyways I swing both ways." She says pulling away from me and winking causing me to blush.

"Well welcome to Feel the Glow! Here we are here to make everyone woman feel gorgeous in their own skin. Now what type of dress are you looking for?" She asks me.

I placed my hands in my back feeling quite nervous, "Um to be completely honest with you, I don't know. I trust whatever you think will look good on me, it's just a dress."

She nods her head understanding, "Alright dear, follow me." She goes to a rack of pretty dresses, "Small right?" I nodded my head.

Before I knew it I had arm full of different dresses that was hurting my arm. Trinity directed both Nicole and I to this large dressing room that could fit us both. She wasn't trying on anything, she just insisted to come with me. I didn't mind that.

"Okay turn around." I demanded.

"But it's just us girls." She said.

I just stared at her not bothering to back down. She rolled her eyes and turned around. The first dress was a very pretty dress but not on me. It was a long dark purple dress with these sliver gems on the neckline. The problem with it though was that it made me look even shorter than I was.

"Okay it's pretty but it just doesn't fit my height well." I said.

Nicole nodded her head, "No yeah I agree with you. Next dress!"

"Turn around señora." I said as I picked up the next dress.

It was a pretty yellow dress that went up to my knee. It was nice just looked more as a sun dress than a party dress. Nicole said I looked adorable in it which made me blush more.

"Well this is nice but I need more chest to fill in." I said gesturing to the pretty dark red dress which needed more chest.

Nicole got up and ran her fingers around the neckline. Her cold fingers brushed against my chest sending goosebumps all over my body. "You still look beautiful." She whispers.

"Okay! I'm gonna try on the next dress." I said quickly before this gets awkward.

I pulled up a beautiful dark green dress. I pulled up the dress up my body and I could already tell it was a perfect fit. The only problem was that it had a button in the back that I couldn't get.

"Nicole?" She looked up from her lap and our eyes met through the big mirror in front of me. "Could you do this button? I can't reach." She got up and walked up to me.

She grabbed my hair and slowly brought all of it to one side. Her fingers brushed up against my neck and trailed to the button behind my neck. She did the button without looking at it, our eyes were locked on each other. She then started straightening out the dress by its ends. Each touch felt like electricity shooting up through my veins. She ran a finger down the middle of my back. Her fingers danced with the band of my black bra that was peeking through the opening of the cut out.

"I think you should really get this dress. It makes you look more stunning than you already are." She said with her lips on my ear whispering to me. It made me want to fall into her and let her absorb me. Her eyes were still locked on mine through the mirror.

"You're just so intoxicating to look at, especially with this dress on.But I think you can't wear a bra with this dress on." Her fingers played with the clasp of my bra. My mind was screaming for her to unclasp and take it off of me. I wanted to let her climb into my body and become one with me.

She looked at me one last time before placing a soft kiss on my shoulder. Then she kissed my skin again but further up my shoulder. Then she planted one on my neck, then began sucking on the skin there. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of having her lips on mine. Her hands snakes it's way on my waist before turning me to face her. Nicole held me close to her with her arms wrapped around me. I let my hands fall between us. My fingers played with the hem of her shirt that I was just itching to take off. She dipped her head down and began to kiss and suck on my neck. When she started nipping on my shoulder I felt like I was in heaven. Her hands fell from my waist to the to of my ass. Her fingers traced circles around my lower back, teasing me gently and slowly.

Then there was a knock on the dress room door that caused us to pull apart from each other. Trinity soon popped her head in, "Hey y'all just came to check on you. Oh April you look beautiful in that dress!" She exclaimed.

She could probably see how flustered I was but I tried to talk normal. "Um yeah I think about getting this one." I pulled the small tag that was hanging into the dress to see how much it was. I was honestly stunned with how much it cost. There was no way I had the money for this dress.

"Never mind because I just don't have the money for this."

"Don't worry about it, I'll pay for it." Nicole said.

I shook my head, "No way, I'm not letting you buy this for me."

Nicole placed her finger under my chin and made me look at her. This made me remember when we first met. "Listen I am buying this dress for you whether you like it or not. Now get undress and meet me out there. Yes?" She says to me sternly.

"Yes ma'am." I said finally giving into her. She smiles at me and follows Trinity out.

I take off the dress from my body. I was quite disappointed that she didn't kiss me, but what if she did kiss me. What would of happened after? Would she have regretted it? Said it was a mistake? Or loved it? I guess I'll never know.

I put on my clothes and had the dark green dress in my arms. My eyes wondered around the wall that had many frames with models in them. Then my eyes settled on one picture that was black and white. At first I thought it was Nicole in the picture but the girl that was walking down the runway had more softer features than Nicole. That must be Brianna. Then I looked in the background and there was Nicole. She was smiling and was clapping her hands in the front row. Standing next to her was a tall woman with a flashing dress. Her hair was in gorgeous big waves and there was a sinister looking smile on her face that gave me a bad feelings. This woman though looked oddly familiar. It was one I have seen her before. I knew I have but I just don't know where. Why did she sit unwell with me?

I shook off that thought and walked away to where Nicole was waiting for me.

———
unknown

The sun had just went down beautifully and the dark mischievous night fell on New York. Stores were already closing their shops and Feel the Glow inc were one of them.

The sun shield away the darkness from within but what happened when it went away to a restless slumber? Edginess of the dark came out to play.

The streets held many stories, some of pure and some of evil. The wicked were out and running the streets was a woman who could kill with the looks of her.

Trinity Fatu had just flipped the small sign that said closed on it. Her employees had all left but she wanted to stay and clean up a bit. Her phone rang and she answered it. A smile enchanted her face as a familiar voice hit her ears like a sweet harmony.

"Yes Jon I'm still here...yes, yes I'll be careful...No yeah I promise....okay darling, see you at home." She ended the call and placed it on the counter. She had her back facing the door of the shop as she fixed some of the gift cards and sample perfume bottles.

Trinity heard the door open and without turning around she said, "Sorry we're closed, you can come back tomorrow." The sound of familiar stilettos hit the white hardwood floors. Trinity's conscious told her something but she didn't want to believe it. She wasn't here, she had no business being here, she couldn't be here.

"And I thought I was a long time loyal customer who was allowed access to this wonderful store whenever I wanted." She had say. Trinity's conscious was right. Panic shot through her veins like heroine.

Trinity slowly turned around to find the woman she thought she would never see again. The lady smiled a sinister smile at Trinity. "Hello Trinity, no time no see. It's been far too long."

"What are you doing here M-" she had said her name but was cut off by a loud truck passing through. The lady smirked excited that she saw the normally smiling woman nervous.

She walked towards Trinity who was by the counter. She walked slowly towards her like a lion who was hunting it's prey. Her long hair was in a ponytail with her bouncy curls following her.

Trinity back away and went behind the counter. Her purse was behind her and inside she had a knife that she had just in case. Trinity had quite the background before she got her life on track, but that background left her with many enemies. If she could just get to that knife, she would be safe.

"Is that a way to talk to a old friend of yours Trin?" The woman has said fake gasping.

Trinity had the urge to roll her eyes but a sign of disrespect would only land her in a bad situation.
"Drop the act."

The woman's smile dropped. She then sighed and tapped her fingers on the counter. "Okay I just came because I have a important party to attend at the end of the week and I just can't find a proper necklaces." She said sincerely. Her eyes trailed to the rack behind Trinity that held different necklaces. "Those look pretty. Especially the one with the small spikes on it, could you get me it to look at?"

Trinity nodded her head. This was her chance. The rack was just behind her bag. As she tried to get the knife from her bag she had noticed that the sound of the woman's voice had died down. Before she could fully think, she was violently turned around and the woman had a strong grip on Trinity's neck and a knife was pressed up to Trinity's face.

"Now I'm gonna make this quick and simple. I know Nicole and that little bitch was here earlier and you can't lie to me because I had my people watching them. Now tell me why they were here."

"I don't know why they were here, they were just looking!" Trinity exclaimed. She was terrified, it was a possibility that she could not be able to walk out of this story that she loved and built from nothing.

The woman sighed, "See that was a lie Trinity. Huh I guess you were the same as you were back then when you were a filthy whore on the streets luring men into you but only to steal from them. Hm I guess I could always make your smile much more wider, what do you think?" She said before placing the tip of the knife at the corner of her lips.

"Okay okay please don't!" Trinity begged dearly. "They were here because Nicole is throwing a party for everyone at Birdiebee at some club and April needed a dress."

The lady smirked devilishly, "So April is that little slut's name...What's the name of the club Trinity?" She demanded as she pressed the tip harder to her lips causing Trinity to whine and squeal.

"R-Royal! It's at Royal! She's renting out Royal for a night! Please please let me go, please." Trinity said as hot tears poured down her cheeks. She was getting flashback to her past life and she wanted it all to stop.

"You see Trin that wasn't that hard. I just wanted to know, that's all. But you wanted to be difficult. I honestly don't know what my father saw in you really. You're nothing but a useless whore and that what you'll always be." She soon let go of Trinity and began walking away.

Trinity held onto the countertop with shaking hands and a little bit of blood coming from her lip. "H-he raped me, he r-raped me don't you understand that?"

"What?" The wicked woman had said turning around.

"I didn't sleep with your father willingly, he raped me. He raped me and then he tried to rape Nicole and that was your fault. Yet you didn't believe it and punished us for it." She paused and saw they way the woman was looking at her, it was full of pure anger. "I might always be nothing but a whore to you but you're nothing but a coward. You're a money attention bitch who traded your love for Nicole for money. You're sick and absolutely sick."

The woman chuckled evilly and walked slowly back to Trinity. Trinity noticed the two body guards of the woman who were standing outside of the door. She was gonna die, she thought.

The woman smiled tightly at Trinity before punching her hard in her jaw sending Trinity falling to the ground. The woman grabbed a handful of Trinity's hair and smashed her head onto the floor. Blood was pouring out of her nose and into the white floors. The seal the deal, the woman then gave a powerful kick to Trinity's gut.

"I'm sparing your life this time but next time I will have head on my wall, do you hear me?" The woman said sternly.

"Y-yes."

"Good."

With that the woman walked out of the store with her two body guards. She smirked wickedly at each one of them. The dark night was shining down upon them. The shadows of the night hunting for glory.

She laughed, "Boys, it looks like one of you will be going to Nicole Garcia's party at the Royal to deliver a special message to our little friend April."

The men looked at each other with a smirk appearing on their faces.

And with that, the darkling demons wonder the streets into child's play with a plan settling into the mind of the queen of the fire.

END OF
CHAPTER
NINE.

AUTHORS NOTE |
Holy shit guys, you all got have a little taste of this woman that has been so obsessed with Nicole. I'm very sorry if that last part was too intense for you. If you have forgotten what I said in the beginning, this book will be dealing with triggering topics. If rape is triggering to you then maybe this isn't the right book for you. Sorry about that again.
I honestly like this chapter and I don't know about you.

I found this amazing interview with AJ and I recommend that you check it out.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

It's honestly wonderful.

Anyways guys thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter !

—xoxo, sam