again at Ménage who stared at him viciously.
Ménage rolled her eyes upward, shifted her weight from one side to the other, and as she was about to let loose again, Jeff turned to her.
âGo ahead and go back upstairs,â Jeff said in a low tone.
âBut this motherfucker doesnâtââ
âMénage, let me handle this.â It was only then that he noticed that Ménageâs shirt was totally see-through. She wasnât wearing abra, and with the parking lot being fairly lit, he could see her dark swollen nipples and their costume jewelry. He made a gesture with his eyes, but she was so riled up, he doubted she had caught it. He then stepped directly in front of her and faced Tony.
Ménage let out an exaggerated sigh and headed back to the apartment.
âThat mamacita of yours has a potty mouth!â Tony retorted, as he continued to reel her car in.
Jeff placed his hand in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He had three $100 bills, a $50 bill and a few singles. He pulled out the fifty and held it out to Tony. âPlease. Just give us a couple of days to resolve this. We will have it all straightened out by then. You have my word.â Jeff had been in the car and sales industry way too long to know that business could always be handled under the table.
Tony eyed the money blowing in Jeffâs right hand. Without a second thought, he reached over, accepted it, and shoved it into his jeans pocket. âShe has until Monday to handle her business. If not, Iâm coming back.â
Jeff nodded in agreement. âUnderstood.â
Jeff walked off as Tony proceeded to lower Ménageâs vehicle from the flat bed. He went back upstairs and when he arrived at the top, he saw Ménageâs flamboyant gay neighbor, Mario aka Tiffany, inside of her apartment consoling her. Jeff went inside and both Ménage and Tiffany turned to him.
âAll right, Ms. Thang, Iâll give you a call tomorrow, honey,â Tiffany said, giving Ménage a hug. âAnd donât lose an ounce of beauty sleep behind this. Everythingâs going to work out just fine.â
Tiffany smiled as he switched past Jeff as if he were modeling on a runway. His long black hair weave had blonde highlights and his MAC makeup was flawless, as usual. Tiffanyâs lean, well-tonedphysique was enhanced by breast augmentation and butt implants that filled out his dark denim Baby Phat romper. He rocked a pair of toe-peeking, red-bottom heels that were so high, even Jeff was impressed. Ménage had shared with him once that Tiffany referred to himself as the Mexican Nicki Minaj. He idolized the celebrity rap star so much that his dress and style was even inspired by her. Tiffany also shared Nickiâs Zodiac sign, which happened to be Sagittarius. He had the word tattooed on the lower part of his back with an arrow that pointed downward.
âSee yâall good peeps tomorrow,â Tiffany called out before closing the door behind him to return to his apartment.
Jeff looked at Ménage who was standing with tears filling her eyes.
âDid he tow my car?â she asked, practically in a whisper.
Jeff shook his head no.
âThank God!â she sighed in relief. âWhat did you say to him?â
âI held him off until Monday.â
âMonday,â Ménage repeated softly. She placed a hand over her forehead. Jeff could see every muscle in her face start to tense. Her pupils seemed to shrink as she dropped her gaze. Her mouth was slightly agape, yet her breathing quickened.
âTalk to me. You didnât make your car payment, did you?â Jeff asked her anyway, although he had already presumed that she hadnât.
Ménage looked around her living room and then settled her eyes back on Jeffâs. She answered him with a delayed shake of the head. She pressed her lips tightly together and her bottom lip trembled. With hooded eyes, âThis is so damn