The Angel Trumpet

6.

The four of us make our way to the office building where Jorge is stationed, the guys had on suitable clothing as for me I had a power suit that my mom would have adored. Security pats us down before we enter finding nothing escorting us to Jorge themselves. They let us into the room with Jorge in his swivel chair writing out slips. He looks ups realizing it's me standing paying his respects, "It's so nice to see you again, please have a seat." He motions to the white cushions in the center of the room. "Would you like anything to drink? Whiskey? Tequila? Water?" I shake my head putting on a smile. "We're fine thank you." He smiles closing his binder folding his hands on top.

I wait to hear what he had to say wanting to know if this proposition was going to work.

"So I talked it over with a few people I know in some higher up places and they agree."

I feel a but coming.

"But they want the product in hand before signing the papers."

There it is.

"And have them dip their hands in for free? No way."

Jorge reached inside his desk drawer getting an envelope that looked like it was filled with cash.

"This is a down payment now and when they test your product the rest is yours."

"And the publicity? You said if I was to do this I would have to do an interview."

Jorge nods, "Yes because you're the first person to give homeless people pretty homes. Even though you're doing this illegally the legal part is you giving these houses to people in need which we agreed on."

I nod. "Just as long as you keep the customers coming my way you won't have a problem earning money your way."

I stand having Jorge stand shaking my hand and the guys as my witnesses.

We leave getting more comfortable in our jeans, t-shirt and sneakers heading to a burger place near the office building.

My fingers drum on the steering wheel waiting for the light to turn green as the guys celebrate in the back seat and Pito beside me holding his lit cigarette out the window. The car was filled with excitement, joy and then silence when my phone rang. Their eyes focus on me once I answer it holding their breaths thinking it's Fernando on the other line but it's just Conor.

"Jorge just called to let me know you'll be working with us and help house people who live on the streets. I absolutely admire you, honestly you're like an angel."

I fake chuckle, "Yeah just want to make a difference in the world you know?" I say with real genuineness.

"Come over to my place tonight. I'm inviting a few friends over and making dinner. You should stop by and celebrate."

I decline saying i'll have to rain check that I was celebrating the good news with my family.

He says he'll text me later on and to have fun and with that I hang up and Tobias shakes me happily, "You have a boyfriend!!" Leo laughs pushing Tobias to the side. "He's more like a play toy than anything." Pito side eyes me not liking my involvement with Conor flicking his cigarette out closing the window. "You need to remember the advice you gave me." His tone is strict and cold.

"I know what I'm doing Pito."

Pito shrugs leaning back into the seat looking straight out ahead while saying, "He's probably bragging to all his rich friends on how he got the new girl in Cali to even pick up his phone call at the first ring with a douche type smile." I stopped the car abruptly having him hit his head on the dashboard hating that he would even say that and imagery to match it.

"If you're implying I would ever risk what my family built, what I had to do to take over at the age of twelve, for some guy I'm just using to help us expand, you're judgment is being clouded by whatever emotions you have locked away in that mind of yours."

I reverse the car going back into the road glancing over at a now muted Pito not wanting to piss me off more.

We get food taking it back to the house eating at the dining room table starting to talk about when I start working with Conor making Pito leave wanting to go out and smoke.

"What's his deal?" Tobias asks watching Pito's reaction.

Leo shrugs giving me the rest of his fries throwing away the scraps of his burger.

"I just think because Aleya is actually getting things rolling he can't handle it."

My phone goes off in my pocket cutting off Leo. I look at the screen with Conor's number displayed on it. He sent me text wanting me to see him. A few seconds after that he sends me a pin to where.

"I'm going to go out for a bit." I ruffle Leo's hair and fist bump Tobias.

As I get into my car Pito blows out smoke to the side watching me putting his cigarette out.

Our eyes met at the same time before I  reverse out the driveway.

His eyes were giving away something I wouldn't understand until later on down the line.