Money Shots

EXACTLY ONE YEAR TO THE DAY LATER-

I walked into the office of Attorney Franklin Trevor Carmaichel...known to the world as "Hoagie" the dean of Philadelphia's Black Attorneys...

I had been working for him as his Private Investigator for a year now..he paid me handsomely and I was able to buy myself a car and my own apartment and leave Nelson and his mother's house...

I walked into the office with a folder full of photos...His office manager, Josie Boyd smiled as I came in and passed me a cold bottle of water...

"Here Mister Donnie Ray.."she said smiling...

''Thanks Josie...Is the bossman here yet?" I asked..

"No..He's running late."she said.

This was so cock eyed...Me and Josie working for "Hoagie" , a man I'd only actually met two times...In the world I came from...A man I barely knew there, but a man I worked for here in this alternative world or wherever I was...

I had more fun working for Olivia and Bev....I hadn't seen either of them in a year...Funny how fast a year went by in this Alternative world...It seemed like just yesterday we were sitting together in Josies talking and eating her birthday cake..

Beverly had gone back to Washington D.C...She was Working for Immigration and was a top litagator,I heard, doing big things...making a pile of dough...

Olivia was still working at that law firm...Working for bosses who would never make her partner..

"Hoagie"or Mister Carmaichel walked in the office..He wasn't alone today....

"My man ,Donnie Ray....I took your advice...I hired this guy...he just left the Public Defender's Office...

It was Nelson...

''How you doin Nelson?" I said smiling..

"Great Mr. Alexander...Thank you so much for forwarding my resume and putting in a good word for me.."said Nelson...

"Nobody deserved it more than you.."I said smiling..

''You have something for me Mr. Alexander?"asked Hoagie..

"Sure do...Check it out..Money Shots...''I said.

He looked at the photos..and his eyes got as large as saucers...

"Oh My God!!!!...How did you get these photos?" he asked..

This is either the longest or worst dream I've ever had in my life or I'm caught in an alternative reality...I don't know how or remember how I got these photos....

"I'm that good."I said.

"I'll say..That husband of Mrs. Barnes is one nasty dog....25 different women...My god...Does the man ever do any work?  Other than in the bedroom??  Oh hell, she's got a good case here.." he mused..laughing..."Whooooooo..how did he get her in THAT position? My goddd!!" he continued to laugh..

"I'm looking forward to seeing Mrs. Barnes...Today is her birthday."I said.

''So it is...Wow you remembered that huh? You sweet on Livy?  I'm not surprised...A lot of guys are..She keeps guys at an arms length....She's been seperated for a year now from asshole ,but she hasn't even dated..I suggest you give her a little time."said Hoagie..

"You know her pretty good huh?" I asked.

"Her and her niece...They were my students when I taught law..Both very bright, very good students...Two of the best public defenders this city ever had..I told her not to marry Elwood Barnes..Wish she had of listened.." he said.

"How is she holding up?" I asked.

''You like her don't you Donnie Ray?" said Josie..

I didn't answer...But I did smile at Josie...

''Well here she and Bev come right now loverboy!..."said Hoagie.

II-

Olivia and Beverly walked into the conference room together...They looked good ,both of them.

My eyes lit up....

''Olivia!!! Beverly....How have you two been?  Happy Birthday!" I said.

Olivia looked at me and smiled the sweetest smile..

''You remembered...Mr. Alexander right?" she said...

''Yes....I see you remembered..."I said.

Nelson was standing in the background.....He smiled and spoke to Beverly....

"Hi Bev...Long time no see." he said.

''Nelson...What are you doing here?" she asked...

"I work here now..." he said.

''Ohhhh, you left the public defenders office eh? Good for you."she said smiling...

"I hear you're doing big things in D.C." he said smiling...

"I'm not in D.C. anymore...I'm back here in Philly...I work for the Fed here in Philly..." she said.

''Oh Nice...Where are you staying?" he asked..

''I've been staying with Auntay...but we are both getting ready to move out of that house soon."she said.

''Well uh...you think maybe , maybe we..you and I could uh go out?  I-I-I won't leave my wallet at home this time...I swear.."he said.

"Aww Nelson...I just got engaged...To Larry North, the guy that works with the Innocence Project.. If you had asked me just a month ago...I might have taken you up on that." she said.

"Oh congratulations are in order I suppose.." said Nelson.....

I felt so bad for Nelson...Everything felt a bit off right now...A bit wrong...Beverly couldn't stand Larry North,How could she be engaged to him?

III-

"This is preposterous.....You mean to tell me I've lost the house, the car ,everything...You can't do this to me..I'm not working right now.."screamed Elwood Barnes as he slammed his fist on the conference room table and glared at Olivia..

Hoagie glared at Elwood Barnes...

"Don't look at him...Look at me..Look at me..I'm the player...You have cheated on my client continuously causing her so much stress that she lost two of your babies..."he said.

''Lies..All Lies...You've got no proof." he said.

Hoagie produced medical records and psychological reports....but his coup de grace was the money shots...The photos I supplied of him having sex with more than 25 young ladies...Including the boss of his former law firm's wife and the daughter of one of the partners...

"You've been very active Mr. Barnes...Very active...I'm almost jealous of you." laughed Hoagie...

Elwood Barnes mouth dropped...He put his head down...he took his glasses off..

Olivia and Elwood's Divorce was finalized....Olivia got to keep the house ,which she said she was going to sell, Both cars and a sizable payment from Elwood which in effect bankrupted him....

"I'm ruined...I won't forget this Hoagie...You and I were in Law school together...I won't forget this..."he yelled as he stomped his foot and left the conference room...

Olivia smiled...

"Hoagie,I love you...I can't thank you enough..I'm so glad to be done with this..to be done with him.."she said.

Hoagie hugged Olivia...

"What do you plan to do now Livy?"sked Hoagie..

"I'm going to take my own advice...I'm going to follow my dreams...I'm going to start my own law firm...It's something I've always dreamed about doing.I'm going to sell that house and buy me a duplex/storefront for an office...I have enough clients from my firm that I can take them with me." she said.

"Good for you Livy and you know...If you need a good investigator...That man right over there is the one to hire..He got these photos and this information for me...He gave me the slam dunk I needed to get you everything...He's damn good."he said pointing at me..

I stood there smiling...

Olivia walked over to me...smiling...

"Mr. Alexander, you keep coming to my rescue...How can I ever repay you for your gallantry?" she said smiling...

"How bout you go out with me?" I asked..

"WOW!  I didn't see that coming...I was thinking maybe Awww shucks!!!My divorce was just finalized today and you want to go out on a date with me?" she asked..

"You've been alone for a long time Livy.....Can I call you Livy?"I asked.

''Yes...My friends do..." she said smiling..

"Can I be your friend?" I asked..

"I feel like you already are...I feel like you always have been." she said.

"I feel like I've waited a lifetime for you Olivia..Two lifetimes...It's your birthday...Let me take you someplace beautiful.." I said.

"Go ahead Auntay...Go out with him....He deserves it...He's earned it..."said Beverly smiling..

"Well that settles it...If my niece approves of you..You must be alright...Tonight?? 7:00?" she said.

"That'll work...I'll pick you up.."I said.

"You don't know where I live.." she said.

"Yes I do..."I said smiling..."I'm a detective."I said...

Beverly walked over to Nelson....

"Hey Nelson..Look...Larry is in L.A....He'll be here next week...I'll go out with you Friday....That's my birthday.."she said.

Nelson's whole demeanor changed...

"You won't regret it ,I swear...I know a great place..Dinner, Dancing..a little wine." he said.

"Just make sure you don't forget your wallet."she said smiling...

Josie looked on and smiled..

Beverly looked at her and smiled..

"I don't know why...I feel like I know you."she said.

"I know...I feel that way too." she said.

''Girls High?" asked Beverly..

''No...I was born here in Philly, but raised in Brooklyn..."she said.

"Maybe in another lifetime.." said Beverly....

"Yeah ,maybe" said Josie.

IV-

This might be an alternative world I was in...but I'll say one thing...The eateries I had learned to love in Philadelphia were still there and surprisingly enough in my price range...

Olivia was drop dead gorgeous when I saw her..

My eyes nearly popped out of my head...

''My My My...Mrs.Barnes...You are gorgeous."I said.

''Why thank you Mr. Alexander..You're pretty handsome yourself...." she said.

"Let's go inside...Our table is ready..." I said.  I held the door for her and pulled out her chair for her...

"Myyyy such a gentlemen....You are racking up the brownie points Mr. Alexander.."she joked..

I smiled sheepishly...

"Oh ..And I'm no longer Mrs. Barnes...I'm Ms. Olivia Bennett....I'm having my drivers license and social security cards changed back to my maiden name."she said.

We had a delicious meal and several glasses of wine afterwords...Our conversation was so natural ,so unpretentious...I couldn't believe it...Then again..I could..It was like we had known each other a lifetime..

"I can't believe I'm actually out with you."I said as I paid our bill. It felt good to finally have some decent money....Working for Hoagie.

"I can't either...Considering I thought you were crazy when I first met you...You telling me that we were married and that we worked together at a law firm and all ."she laughed..

''But Look...That's all about to happen...You're about to start a law firm and Beverly is back in the city and she's going to work for you and so is Hoagie's Office manager,Josie and hopefully so will I." I said.

Olivia smiled...

"You see my whole future don't you?  Beverly is getting ready to get married and she might be moving out to Los Angelas with Larry North...and I doubt if Hoagie will give either you or Josie up....He raves about how good an investigator you are." she said.

"Bev can't marry him...She belongs with Nelson.."I said.

''I don't know about Nelson..but she definitely doesn't belong with Larry North..I've talked to her and she sounds just like me before I made the biggest mistake of my life and married Elwood..Larry North is no Elwood...but he's all flash..not much substance."she said...

"Olivia...I need to be in your life.."I blurted out..

"You?  I don't even know you."she laughed..

''We could debate that...but no matter what world I think I'm in...I know that I'm better off with you in any world...I have to be with you...I'm only happy when I'm by your side..Watching your back,protecting you."I said as we walked outside into the warm balmy Philadelphia night....

"Wowzers !You campaigning for a job with me or to be my boyfriend?" she said.

''What would you say if I said both? But I mostly want to be your man...Above all else."I said.

"You don't waste time do you? You don't waste words...I kind of like that about you." she said... We stood there quiet for a minute as cars drove by.....

"I've been crazy about you since the first time I laid eyes on you Livy." I said.

She looked at me and smiled...She held my hand....

''Yeah..It shows.....You really seem to be fixated on me...Should I be afraid?" she said.

"No. You never need to be afraid around me.."I said.

Olivia held my hands and rubbed them...

''For some reason...I am never afraid when I'm with you...I've never felt safer."she said.

(TO BE CONTINUED)