Chapter 1: The Redhead For Me
Alexandre Milkovich Smirnov had it all well, almost all, he thought as he looked outside his window to see two people coming to the door. One of them had beautiful light brown, almost yellow skin and red hair. “God, it’s Dustin.” Alexandre moaned as he saw him knock on the door. He opened it, a beer in his hand and waited for the redhead to speak.
“Hey Alex, is Mindy home?”
“Get in here, Red. Tell your fucking friend to disappear or wait.”
Dustin looked away before back at him, “I can’t stay long. I have a date.”
Alexandre drank a bit from his beer before he threw his head back. “Minny beanie reds here.”
A far away sounding female voice, “Coming, Alex make him comfortable.”
“How in the hell do I do that?”
“Offer him a fucking drink, prick.”
“Want a drink? We got another beer in the fridge if you want?”
“No, I really have to get going.”
“So, your date uh? He knows you young? I mean looks to me like you out where dating grandpas. Whatever ain’t none of my business. Where are you going to be at? I mean, I don’t care, but figure you out to tell someone in case shit go sideways. Might as well be me.”
“Um some café called Belle Vigor some shit.”
“If you mean the one on fourteenth st. uptown, it’s called Belle Vie, it’s French.”
“What Lex? The fuck you talking about?”
Alexandre forced himself not to roll his eyes. “The café is French. Minny beanie get out here.”
Mindy came out wearing bloody gloves.
“You did good work? The pricks going to give me my money?”
“Yeah, he’ll pay.”
Dustin stared at the bloody gloves and said “um Mindy here I owed you the five. I just um came to drop it off.”
Mindy smiled, taking the five, “Want to catch a movie or something?”
“Can’t I have a date. Well see you, Lex, Mins.”
Lex looked up and said, “Yeah, come by later. Mindy misses you.”
“Sure.”
They waited until Dustin left before Alexandre said “A fucking date Mindy? You said he was fucking single.”
Mindy put her hand on her hip “He is he’s not going to stay single forever Lexy Wexy just ask him out.”
“No I can’t, he might have my business in the street.”
“So who cares?
“You do Mindy. You fucking do because once they find out I’m gay they stop fearing Mikhail. Once they stop fearing the brand maker, our money slows down a bit and our work gets harder, got it?”
“Yeah I got it Alex. Well there’s always this.” she said, handing him papers.
“What is this?”
“Rent to buy contract. Your lawyer delivered them, so you can look them over said you were interested in it.”
“Thanks, he’s still screwing and working for that fat fuck that owns the corner store?”
“Yeah and remember don’t tell that shit. I told you that as a secret.”
Alexandre grabbed a nice looking hat and jacket before he kissed his sister on the cheek. “Don’t worry I won’t say anything, but that’s good. I think I’ll swing by on my way home from the café.”
“God, don’t cause trouble not yet wait first Lexy Wexy.”
“Eric or Earl calls, tell em use my cell.” Then he got in his car and drove.
When he arrived at the café, he was dressed in a suit with a hat. Alexandre was unrecognizable to someone from the south side of Memphis, Tennessee.
A nicely dressed man greeted him at the door. “Mr. Milkovich here for the books, sir?”
“No, not today, just breakfast.”
“Your room, sir?”
“Yeah, I’m waiting for someone. A black guy with red hair. If he comes in say nothing, just sit him as close to where I can see him as possible.”
“Yes Mr. Milkovich. More coffee, sir?” the man said.
Alexandre waited an hour, and no Dustin. He sat for nearly two more hours without signs that Dustin was coming before he finally saw him.
Dustin was kissing a man with gray hair when he arrived and was surprised at how fast they were seated.
The man broke the kiss and kissed his neck before he said “Hmm can’t wait to try this place Dustin. My friend told me great things about Bellevue.”
“Its Belle Vie.” Dustin said.
“What baby?”
“It’s pronounced Belle Vie. My friend told me it’s French. ”
“Your friend or fuck buddy?”
“Me and Alex never had sex.”
“Whatever, don’t talk about him when you’re with me,” The gray-haired man said.
“No problem.”
“Put your hand on my cock.” the man said
Alexandre stood up and nearly hit the table when he saw Dustin looked as if he was doing it. “I want him thrown out of my restaurant. Tell him you saw what he did under the table. Ask the red head to stay. Tell him you’re sorry the man was forcing him to prostitute himself for a meal. Say the owner wants to apologize for something like this happening in his restaurant but don’t tell him who it is.”
The man smiled and said, “Right away, sir.”
Alexandre smiled, his hands behind his head, as Dustin’s date left.
Dustin got ready to leave too, but he was pushed back. The maître d’hôtel whispered in his ear he said something that could barely be heard, then he left.
“Sir, he said tell the owner he is thankful but what he saw was consensual and should mind his own business.”
Alexandre looked up and said, “Is that really how he said it?” ”
“No sir.”
“How?”
The maître d’hôtel fixed the items on Alexandre’s table, paused, and said, “Sir, it’s rude.”
“How?”
“Fucking sir. He said, mind your fucking business,”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime, sir.”
“He has a swearing mouth, doesn’t he?”
The maître d’hôtel poured Alexandre a cup of coffee as he said, “Yes, sir.”
Alexandre drank some before he said, “I can fix that.”
“You could do better, sir. I have seen it.”
“Don’t tell me I can do better. You’re not my father.”
Alexandre stood up and went back home. He changed out of his suit.
Mindy said, “Here’s your money.”
“Keep half of it.”
“Thanks, Lexy, where are you going?”
“To the store.”
Mindy grabbed him, “What are you going to do?”
Alexandre smiled before he gently pried her fingers off him. “Be a thug.”
“Alex, you just got out.”
Alex took off his suit jacket to reveal a white wife-beater. “He’s worth it, Minny beanie.”
Mindy stepped aside and sighed, “Fine, call your lawyer.”
“Will do,”
Alexandre went in the store and smiled no good dangerous bad boy smile, “Hi, Keith you fat fuck.”
“Alex, I have the right to shoot you.”
Alexandre pulled out his gun and smiled, “Do you? Well, I have the right to defend myself. Let’s say you cough up your money, your gun and I won’t shoot your dick off.”
Keith handed him the gun and the money without a fight.
Alexandre punched him in the face “Next time don’t fucking threaten me.” then he walked out.
