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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Los Angeles, California
Another day driving through the streets in the blazing heat of the summer. A clear blue sky with a few clouds in the distance was enough to tell anyone that rain wasn't coming to wash away these miserable afternoon hours. Few pedestrians walked the streets while it seemed everyone was making an attempt to escape the heat for this day. David sighed in relief with the air conditioner of his gold van turned up to the maximum setting as it had been for the past two weeks. For the past few days, he had been having some issues with the cooling unit all together, but not enough to call in to work and make a complaint about the van itself. He had enough experience in his lifetime of working on automobiles going back to when he did his own maintenance work to the taxi cars. It was easier than writing up reports and sending them in to the upper management. On the other hand, it beat taking the blame for something wrong with the vehicle.
With the years of the Silver Screen company moving on, the company had begun to spend part of their budget at replacing the older vans with a fleet of newer models. This had come as a result of having vans with better security and safety features, but it wasn't a necessity for many of the first generation vans were still in good condition to be active on the street every day of the week. Despite this, there was another incentive for why David was reluctant to give up his van for a newer model. Such reasons were only known to him and the special passengers who he had made memories with. Never did he forget who was sitting in the back of his van, for all of their names were recorded in diary entries to reminisce over the good times. It didn't matter for the hundreds of wealthy fares who sat in the back seats, David remembered who the stars were.
Sometimes he found his secrets to be amusing in the back of his mind. To know that a passenger he had picked up would be sitting precisely in the same seats that a special woman had taken her clothes off in the day before was funny sense of truth. Such thoughts remained at the back of his head after walking out the front doors of a local auto-parts store. His flip flops clacked over the concrete pavement with the sun temporarily blinding him on this sweaty day. A plain white T-shirt and a pair of denim shorts made for his outfit of the day. David carried a can of Pepsi lifted in his right hand, taking a sip as he walked. His other hand held a small bag containing a can of freon and a pack of air fresheners that he had just purchased from the store. Opening the driver's door, he slung the bag across the front passenger seat, placed the can of Pepsi into the drink holder and sat down behind the steering wheel of his gold van. Before David could even shut the door, the walkie-talkie radio near the GPS system was going off with the dispatcher calling for him. David let out a sigh and grabbed it while pulling his seat belt.
"Hey Richard, this is David. Are you looking for me or someone else?"
"Did I hear someone say something? Is that you David, FINALLY answering back? I've been trying to get a hold of your old ass for the past fifteen minutes, where the fuck are you!?"
Rolling his eyes, David wanted to scream back into the walkie-talkie with the utter lack of respect shown to him. Due to layoffs back at the company, there had been a new roster of dispatchers during the week days. Richard had been cited as 'a hard ass' by other drivers who had to deal with his strict tone while giving out directions for passengers.
"I had to make a quick stop to take a piss."
It was a lie, but David didn't care. Richard wasn't worth telling the truth to for why he had made this quick stop.
"That shouldn't take longer than ten minutes, but whatever. Look, we've got a woman waiting on a ride. Are you still in Beverly Hills?"
"Yeah, that's where I'm at."
"Alright, then drive over to the Blue Cafe and pick her up! She's already had to wait long enough, get a fucking move on!"
The walkie-talkie clicked off and then David felt the urge to slam it back in place near the GPS screen of the console. 'Such a prick...' David muttered under his breath. He had not dealt with such a rude dispatcher since his days of driving taxi cars across East L.A. in his younger days. Turning the key in the ignition, David fired up the engine of his gold van to get the air conditioner running. He didn't have a choice but to try and make this ride work for his fare that was waiting. With A cool breeze flowing from the front vents, he thought to himself that maybe the air conditioning unit would hold itself for the remainder of the day. It was a risk he was forced to take for the time being, as he shifted gears and pulled out from the parking lot of the auto-part store. As he drove into the streets, David lifted the Pepsi can back to his lips once more to have a quick sip.
Fortunately for him, the designated stop at Blue Cafe was close by, only requiring a few turns of streets to find South Beverly Drive. It was a good ten minutes away from where David had previously been parked. Beverly Hills had been his hot spot for the past week with chauffeuring passengers, but today he had not had a single fare yet. For the time being, he had considered it a lucky break with the persisting problems regarding the van's air conditioner. Traffic thankfully wasn't bumper to bumper filled with vehicles over a busy street. That was rare after 1 PM had moved on the clock but David couldn't complain. Off to the right side of the street, he could see in the distance the cafe and a woman standing on the sidewalk wearing a short black skirt and matching jacket. She almost jumped, waving her hand wildly. David knew for sure that she had to be his passenger waiting. David quickly pressed the button on the door side console to roll down the right side passenger window. He waved at her upon pulling up.
"There you are, finally! I was beginning to worry."
With a full smile showing perfect pearly white teeth, her voice called out in a strong English accent. David smiled back, motioning with his right hand pointing to the back seats.
"Hi, I'm so sorry you've been out here waiting all this time. I know it's hot as hell today, go ahead and get in!"
Within a few seconds, the sound of the right side back door sliding was heard. David glanced up into the rear view mirror to see his passenger getting in. The woman was dressed in what appeared to be a business suit, giving him the impression that she probably had a six figure office job. Her legs appeared to have stockings on, feet pushed in a pair of matching black high heels. Her hair was long, brunette with a few blonde locks in the front. A gorgeous face without much makeup and what appeared to a buxom chest contained within her black suit. She had a purse strapped over her right shoulder. After sliding the door shut, she sat down on the right side seat near the window and crossed her legs.
"Let me apologize again. I'm sorry you've had to wait out there. Given how you're dressed, I imagine you're sweating."
"Oh no, it's not a big deal. I kept going back inside and looking out the window. I guess it was my lucky minute that you showed up when I stepped back outside one last time."
David laughed again.
"Well, I'm truly sorry for that. This is the worst time of the year to be caught waiting outside. So where am I taking you?"
She sat up, fixing her hair beyond her shoulder while speaking.
"Back to my hotel, it's in West Hollywood. You know the Starlight Hotel?"
"Yeah, I know where that's at. I forgot to tell you, the initial fee for this ride is going to be five hundred dollars."
"Would you mind if I paid the full fee by the time we get there?"
David stopped for a moment to think. The expression on her face visible from the rear view mirror was one of concern but with a reassuring smile. Maybe he had a soft spot for a lovely face, but it didn't matter at the moment. He replied back after thinking it through.
"Alright, that's fine. I don't think I asked you for your name, did-"
"You didn't!"
Her voice cut him off before letting out a slight chuckle. David couldn't help but laugh along with her.
"Well you can call me David, what about you, beautiful?"
"My name is Kelly, or you can call me by Miss. Brook if you prefer."
The tone of her voice in that sweet accent was enough to make David blush. Buxom English women had been one of his ultimate weaknesses since the day he met a special one who sat in the back of his cab. Adjusting his hands on the steering wheel, he concentrated his eyes on navigating the streets as he was now eager to strike up a conversation with her.
"I've got to say Kelly, you're brave today to dress like that on a hot summer day. These last few days out here have been so hot. You couldn't pay me to go out wearing all black today."
Once again, she could be heard briefly chuckling the from the back seat. With her legs crossed and right leg propped up, Kelly leaned back while replying to him.
