“Rayna Brimm speaking. How may I assist you?”
“Ms. Brimm.” Azmir’s silky-smooth voice never failed to stir up lasciviousness currents deep down inside of me. It didn’t matter that my period had begun. My body still responded. “I just received your message. You sounded angry. I hope you’d hear me out when I say that I’m not trying to play sugar daddy, neither is this part of the chase. It’s simply seeing a need that we both had and figuring out a way that we can address them while helping each other.”
I was confused. “We both had…I mean have a need?”
“Yes, your car conked out on you and I had a car that was never used other than being driven off the lot. I ordered it back in 2011 when I thought I wanted it for casual usage and against Ray’s advice, I bought it and hated it. He never said I told you so but I know that’s what he means. It was just sitting at the Marina in the garage wasting away. I’ve never remembered to sell it but when your issue arose yesterday, Ray brought up the S-Class.”
There was a pause. I rubbed my eyes in frustration. “Azmir, I drove a ’98 Chevy Cavalier! How do I go from that to a 2012 S-Class and feel dignified?”
“I know what you drove. It was a damn box on wheels.” We laughed together at that—I laughed, Azmir chuckled. It was hideous. “You’re doing me a favor, Brimm.”
“But how do I justify an S-Class? I mean, what do you graduate to from a damn S-Class?”
“It’s justified through a solid friendship.” The word friendship, as far as it was from anything significant, warmed me, but I had to resist it.
“That’s the thing, Azmir, we’re just friends. It looks off.”
“I don’t give a damn what people think about what I do with and for you. It’s between the two of us. Take the car, Brimm. It’s been paid for. Just drive it.”
That conjured another dilemma. “Azmir, it just hit me, I can’t afford the insurance on that car!”
“We can keep the policy as is, in my name, or I can cover it in yours if that makes you feel comfortable. I don’t mind assuming the risk. Hold on…” I heard someone speaking in the background. “I’ll be right in,” he curtly responded to whoever interrupted him as if it irked him. “Ms. Brimm, I have to go. Take the car, please. Don’t think, just act. I’ll be back in town this weekend, why don’t we make time for lunch next week. If you still have reservations we can discuss them then.”
I let out a deep breath in concession. He had to go and so did I.
“Thanks, Azmir. I really appreciate this.”
“Indeed.” And he was off again. He left a glimmer of hope when he suggested lunch. I’d have to wait until next week to see him—that I didn’t like.
I checked the time and saw that I had a few more minutes before the end of the current session happening in my absence. I called Michelle filling her in on the car endowment.
“Bitch! You better rewind back to what the hell you put on him in Phoenix!” Michelle shouted in my ear.
“Shelly, you’re exposing your African American hood ancestry now…” I tried calming her before she interjected.
“Hell, no! You’re holding back on something…” There was a pause as she was interrupted by her thoughts. “You sucked that big black cock, didn’t you? I mean, you had to—to be asked to stay the night and then given a damn Benz the next day!”
I hadn’t talked to Michelle about the happenings of my Phoenix trip so she didn’t know that Azmir had planned for me to stay the night when he invited the morning before. Still, I had to go so I got off informing her that she didn’t have to pick me up but that I’d be right over after dance class with some things for Erin and would fill her in then.
I hung up from her and tried to continue my day and unsuccessfully play down my excitement about the car. It was such a relief to know that I had reliable transportation and a bonus that it was luxury.
Chapter 11