Author's Note: This story is completely fictional and did not happen. All characters and names are fictional and were made up. I do not make money from these stories. Please do not copy and plagiarize my work.
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Miami, Florida
Palm trees sat still outside with the blazing afternoon heat beginning to make itself unbearable to anyone who didn't have shade close by. A black Mercedes Benz had pulled up into the driveway to an old Coconut Grove home, sitting in a specific spot where an older metallic blue Cadillac used to be parked every morning. Instead, the Cadillac was sitting in a garage close by. Tony had went to the home of his brother Steven to give him something of a welfare check after not hearing from the man in almost a month. He expected Steven to at least call him after the grand re-opening of Disco Fever, but so far there had been nothing from his end. By Tuesday into the new week, Tony had become concerned enough to drop by. Expecting to be face to face with Steven, instead he met with his maid Betty.
"What do you mean he just up and left?"
"He just up and left back on Saturday, that's all."
The old woman answered Tony as they sat on the couch together. It was always a sad case for Tony to visit his brother's home. No matter how many years went by, the walls and interior always looked the same. It made him feel like stepping back into a time portal, going back to older days age had brought needed to change to everyone. Betty sat on the couch, legs crossed in her long blue dress as she smoked a cigarette. The old woman had been Steven's house maid for many years. Long enough to be considered family, though she was kept out of most drama and disputes that involved the Diaz name. Tony knew better than to ask her about any questions regarding family, as he was certain Steven did not involve her in anything regarding his son or ex-wife.
"Did he have any visitors the past month or so?"
"Oh, yes..."
Shortly after replying, she took a drag on her cigarette and blew out the smoke. Tony sat back on the couch, dressed in a button up beige shirt and white pants for the day. His eyes glanced around the living room as the television was on and muted to a channel with a daytime soap opera. Beneath the large flat screen TV was a shelf with various personal photos framed. As he sat there, Betty continued on speaking.
"There was a woman who stopped by at least once a week. Sometimes more than that, I guess depending on the weekend."
"A woman? Who?"
Again, the old woman took a puff of her cigarette before dipping it into the ash tray sitting on the coffee table in front of them. She turned to look at Tony and went on speaking.
"Short, black hair... she speaks Spanish better than most of the other women that have come and gone in this house. I haven't seen her since about last Monday. I wasn't sure why she kept dropping by, so I figured Steven had a new woman in his life."
Hearing that description, Tony dropped his lower lip in complete shock and had to immediately rise up from the couch. He stood there, processing his thoughts as there had to be no other woman to match that description besides Salma. His mind began racing as he tried to understand what had been going on all this time. He glanced back at Betty and spoke up.
"Did she tell you her name?"
Shaking her head, the old woman slid her fingers back around the cigarette from the ash tray. Tony took a deep breath, trying to hold off any emotional outbursts as his mind began to race. Turning back to look at Betty, he had another question for her.
"Did anyone else come by?"
"Yes... I can't remember his name. A black man, real tall and always wearing suits. He was here last week before Steven left."
It was clear to Tony that she was describing Sean, a man Steven had hired for security back at the club before the unfortunate circumstances involving Ramón and Carlos. Sean had worked security at Disco Fever for the entire month before Tony decided to close the club down. After that, he had not heard a word from the man, nor had Tony attempted to contact him. Betty glanced back at Tony and gave him a puzzled look, speaking up once more.
"Why are you searching for Steven? You never visit his home. This is the first time I've seen you in what feels like years."
Ignoring her words all together, Tony thought to himself for a moment. He had much to go over in his thoughts, knowing that Steven had left right after the club re-opened and Salma had been visiting him. Grabbing his jacket, Tony didn't waste anymore of his time in his brother's home. He marched to the front door and dashed out. Rushing to his car, Tony opened the driver's door and grabbed his phone as he sat down. Was Salma having an affair with Steven for the past month? That was a question that probably shouldn't have mattered to Tony after his romantic weekend with Jennifer Lopez, but it still shook him to his core deep down. He desperately attempted to reach Salma over the phone, knowing they had not spoken in so long, maybe Tony had a true answer for that now.
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