Page 37 of The Filth Kings

Chrome and concrete was everywhere that I turned on all levels of ‘Meet Me’ operations. I moved through the lobby with authority. I could hear the quiet hum and pulse of over a thousand AI servers, my babies. It took me years to study and create a legacy that will run for generations far and wide. I designed them to mimic the very essence of human emotion, even though my own heart and emotions were untouchable and distant to anyone trying to get close enough.

The elevator door slid open with a low hiss, Monster and I stepped in and I stared at my reflection. As the elevator ascended, I looked over at Monster and noticed that he wasn’t dressed in all black like he normally wore. His clothes were always weathered looking but black. Today he rocked navy blue Levi boot cut jeans with a crisp white shirt. My brows went up when I saw a thick Cuban gold chain tucked under his Polo white shirt.

“Monster?” I asked just as the doors opened.

“You have a new wardrobe?”

“I do, my…Natavi, she’s going out tonight. I’m meeting her friend.” He kept his words short.

“Meet her friend? You? Why is that?” I asked confused.

“You like her?” I fired off another question.

I had been around Monster for years; he took the women that I sent to him but never had this type of reaction. I sent him Natavi because I knew that she was Angel’s only close friend. I wanted the women apart because I only needed a good month to have my fun with her then dispose of her. I didn’t need him getting close to her, because when it was all said and done and Angel was gone, I was going to end Natavi and everyone else attached to Angel, including her father. I didn’t give a damn what Impurity stated.

“She’s beautiful,” Monster said as he clenched his teeth, I caught on to the irritation and smirked over at him.

“There are millions of beautiful women out in the world, Monster. Natavi is a casualty in all of this, watch your emotions.” I warned him.

“I have none, she’s just beautiful and different. That’s all.”

“She’s Angel best friend. Angel is on borrowed time and yet you’re going to meet her and—” I paused as I realized something else.

Angel was out with Natavi right now, so who the fuck was in my office?

“We will talk more about this later on.” I stated with my jaw clenched tight.

I turned and noticed my team of employees staring at me and Monster. Some of them looked petrified while others had their eyes glued to their computer screens. I offered them a curt nod and passed by them without another word. Monster and I turned several corners including the massive space that I held meetings in.

At the end of the hallway stood two burly guards as I looked up above them and read the words above my office door.

“Meet Me” The perfect algorithm, the perfect love match.”

People in today’s society were desperate to not only find love but have all of their life interests practically handed to them. The people of America were lazy, they depended on technology to meet all of their needs. It made me into a self-made millionaire with the help of Impurity’s money getting me started.

One of the guards dressed in all black opened up my office door. I stepped in with Monster right behind me. He took a step-in front of me but I stopped him from taking action.

“It’s just a woman, I’m fine,” I told him.

He looked over at me and nodded his head. Monster easily faded into the background as I took deliberate steps toward the woman that had her back facing me like a mannequin. Her head was tilted slightly downwards, strands of silver-streaked hair mixed with blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders.

“All of this, belongs to me.” She stuck her hand out, then cracked her knuckle with the top of her thumb.

Frozen mid-stride, I looked at her back stunned. That voice, I knew it anywhere, even if it had been over a decade since I last laid eyes on her. For a moment, I traveled back in time. A time when she turned her back on me, never showing any type of concern for me, her son.

“None of this belongs to you,” I gritted as I felt my temper rise up inside of me.

She probably felt like this was Impurity’s creation when it wasn’t. I put blood, sweat, and sleepless nights into ‘Meet Me’.

“Ohhhh, but it is, and it will be mine. Very soon, Detavio.”

She sounded sweet, her voice was melodic, I could hear the hate that lingered in each word that she spoke. My fists clenched as my chest heaved with years of anger that tried to claw up out of me. I struggled for decades to get over this woman, when she was nothing more but a ghost to my memories.

“Why now, Jalissa?” I barked.

“Why the fuck would you show your face, NOW!” My eyes snapped to Monster. He stepped from the shadows of the room.

I locked eyes with him and shook my head ‘no’. Something passed over his dark eyes, but my focus wasn’t on trying to figure out what his pained expression was trying to tell me. She didn’t have the decency to even face me. The weight of her presence after so long was like a weight that felt unbearable to carry.

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