When Ivan reached her in the middle of the room, Lucina turned to walk toward the exit, expecting him to follow her. And as soon as he followed her as she expected him to, he met eyes with Ida and felt a lightning bolt of guilt and shame strike his heart.

Shit! he cursed himself in a panic. I wonder what Ida’s thinking right now. I look like a fucking dog following his master out of the rain.

To make it all seem harmless, Ivan pointed to Ida and stated, “I’ll be right back in. All right?”

Ida made him feel better by nodding to him. “Yeah, okay,” she told him. Whatever, she thought. I know you like that damn girl. Cut your hair down for that bitch and everything. Didn’t even ask me about it. But that’s okay. You won’t be fucking with me tonight. So you best hope she wants to give you some of that South American pussy, because you won’t be touching me. Ever again!

And as Ivan walked out of the lounge behind his seductive partner, the whispers started up in the room again:

“What the hell was that about?”

“You think he’s fucking her?”

“So they’re supposed to be just partners, hunh? Yeah, right.”

“Man, she looked like she was mad as hell at him.”

“I thought he was with the light-skinned sister.”

“That’s a lucky motherfucker right there, homes. Let me tell you.”

Ivan walked outside of the lounge behind Lucina and was disturbed by her. She’d made him look weak in front of Ida at his own event. Then she had the audacity to walk away from him as he continued to follow her like a sidekick.

When she finally stopped and turned to face him a little ways up the street, Ivan asked her in irritation, “What’s going on?” She was acting as if they were a couple who had had a fight.

She stared at him and said, “I just came to check up on you.”

Ivan stared back at her. He frowned and asked her, “And that’s how you do it? You looked like you were having a tantrum in there. What I do to you?” he asked her. “You wanted me to fail? I thought we’re supposed to make money together.”

Lucina continued to stare at him without words.

Finally, she told him, “I don’t want you to fail, Ivan. I’m just concerned about my girls tonight.”

“Bullshit, man. You’re actually jealous that I pulled this shit off without you.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is,” he argued. “You were mad when your girls even agreed to do it with me. What do you think, you’re Mommie Dearest and they gotta listen to everything you say? They’re trying to get money, have a good time, and live out here, Lucina. That’s all.”