Page 116 of After Midnight
I held out my hand to stop Ronnie's tirade and went to Madam's number pressing the green icon and placing the call on speakerphone.
Madam's voice hit the line. "Gianna—good morning," she answered calmy.
I forced my tone to stay leveled. "Madam, hi. Sorry to bother you this early but there seems to be something wrong with the system. Me and Ronnie are both blocked off for the month." I cleared my throat. "That has to be a mistake."
"No mistake," she said simply. "I actually was just about to call you both. I need you and Ronnie to come down to the house as soon as possible."
Ronnie and I shared a look.
"Are we fired, Madam?" Ronnie blurted out. "Just tell us now."
Madam paused. "No. You're not fired. Your status with Siren House is however suspended pending results."
"What kind of results?" I asked carefully.
"…STD."
"What?" Ronnie and I countered in unison.
"Hold on, 'cause what you trying to say?" Ronnie snapped. "Me and Gianna are clean. Our shit always comes back A-1."
"This isn't a conversation I want to have over the phone, ladies," Madam responded evenly. "Please, if you would like to secure your position, come to the house. Be prepared for testing."
Ronnie stormed out in frustration, cussing up a storm.
Taking a deep breath, I swallowed down my own irritation. "We'll be there," I said.
"Thank you, Gianna," Madam replied.
I hung up the phone and exhaled slowly, my body heating up with anger.
Ronnie stalked back in. "It's that bitch Monroe, I know it!" She planted her hands on her hips.
"Probably." I shook my head, nostrils flaring.
"I'm telling you right now, GG, I'ma end up snapping that ho's neck," she stated contemptuously between clenched teeth.
"Look—" I took a deep breath. "let's just get dressed and go down there. Once our results come back negative, we'll be back on the schedule." I gripped her forearms. "Relax."
Pressing her lips together, she nodded firmly. "Okay, sis. Let's get this shit over with."
I moved around my room quickly, pulling on some leggings and a T-shirt, my mind racing as I brushed my teeth and then placed a trucker hat over my head. By the time we were done, our energy had shifted from anger to purpose. Mostly.
I drove but the drive there was quiet. When we arrived and went inside, a few girls were scattered around, talking in low voices, eyes flicking toward us the second we walked in.
Yeah. Something was definitely up.
Ronnie didn’t hesitate; she stormed ahead. We made it to the back where Madam’s office was, and before Ronnie could barge in, I reached out and grabbed her arm. “Wait,” I said quietly.
She looked at me, breathing hard. “For what?”
“Going in there hot isn’t going to help us,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “We need answers, not a scene.”
She stared at me for a second longer, then exhaled sharply and nodded once. “Fine.”
I released her and knocked.
“Come in,” Madam’s voice called from inside.
