Chapter Two

[chilly658]

2
Thursday April 16th 2009, Docklands area, East London

Over three years earlier...

It had just gone twenty minutes past four on a rainy afternoon in London's docklands area and inside number twenty seven Lourdes Avenue a single figure, a woman dressed in a red shiny skin tight leather cat suit and thigh length black patent leather boots with a six inch heel which tapped loudly, strolled through the tiled hallway of the house toward the kitchen, her incredibly tight outfit 'creaking' and 'squeaking' with each and every movement.

Her jet black hair was up in a ponytail high at the back of her head and her make up had been very heavily applied, accentuating her dark brown and almost hypnotic eyes, her heavily painted red lips slightly parted as she placed the long black leather riding crop onto the kitchen table and then sat down where she unfastened the long black mane at the back of her head to reveal her real, shoulder length black hair.   "A cup of tea would go down really nicely right now April."   She said as she shook her hear so that it now fell naturally.

The woman sitting at the kitchen table in skin tight red leather was thirty one year old Carmen Richardson, a high class prostitute who also owned the house at Lourdes avenue.

Carmen picked up a hand held mirror and begin to pull away the long black false eyelashes as she stared and at that moment the door at the opposite end of the spacious kitchen where Carmen had just entered swung open and a second woman, quite a bit younger than Carmen walked inside and went through the same procedure.

The young woman in the skin tight black rubber mini dress with knee length patent leather boots with shiny silver buckles running up the outsides, placed her long black leather riding crop onto the table and then removed her own long black ponytail and placed it next to the crop on the table before she too sat down and gave her dark hair a good shake.  "How did he do this time?"   Carmen enquired as she stared into the hand mirror, still removing her false long eye lashes. 

The twenty six year old Jade Harris picked up her own hand mirror and began to remove her false lashes too.  "Sixteen minutes precisely."  She told Carmen who giggled as she continued to concentrate on the job at hand.   "He pays five hundred and fifty pounds for an hour and never makes it to twenty minutes!"   Carmen said and giggled again and Jade nodded.  "He's getting quicker if anything."  She replied as she peeled a long black fake eyelash off in one single movement.

Carmen watched her friend now.  "How do you do that?"  She asked.  "Mine come away in four thousand pieces and you still manage to take them off in one."  She told Jade who laughed.   "Maybe you're just heavy handed Car."  She answered as she removed the second one in a single movement too.

Just then a third woman walked into the room, she was a little plump, wearing a thick white chunky woollen pullover and faded blue denim jeans and she walked straight over to the kitchen work surface and switched on the kettle.  "Who wants tea?"  She asked and both women sitting at the table replied affirmatively.

After a few minutes April Glover sat down at the table with the two prostitutes where they all enjoyed a cup of tea at the end of their working day and April turned to Jade.  "How long did winkie William last this time?"   She enquired.  "Sixteen minutes."  Answered Jade to another giggle from Carmen.

April pondered.  "Isn't that a new record?"  She asked and Jade nodded as she continued to stare into her hand mirror and remove her heavily applied make up.

April Glover was the same age as Carmen, thirty one, they had known each other since school and had remained best friends ever since.

She had long auburn curly hair which tumbled down over her shoulders, She was five feet six inches tall and generally wore her three quarter length black leather coat with everything.  "I paid the water, gas and electricity bills today."   She told Carmen who nodded as she removed the last obliterated piece or fake eyelash.  "Thanks sugar."  Carmen replied and continued with her make up removal as April now started to count the days takings.

Just then there was a knock at the front door and April dropped the huge wad of cash back down onto the table.  "Blast, I lost count."  She said and then looked to Jade and then Carmen.   "Shall I get that then?"  She asked and Carmen's deep red shiny lips grinned.  "That's the general idea, you are the maid after all."   She giggled as she reminded her best friend.  "You tag em and we bag em."  Jade added with a giggle of her own.

April stood up and walked out to the front door.  "I hope it's the Jehovah's again, she loves them."  Carmen said with a snigger in her tone and Jade laughed.  "You'll soon know by the thumping sound."  She replied as they both continued with the removal of make up while April's muffled voice could be heard out at the front door talking to a man.

When April eventually returned to the kitchen she sat back down at the table and started to count the vast amount of cash once again.  "Who was at the door?"  Jade asked her and April looked over at Jade and dropped the cash again as she had once again lost count.  "Do you think I might have five minutes to count out your wages young lady?"  She asked and Jade smirked as she wiped her face with a small cotton ball.

April began to count again.  "But who was at the door?"  Carmen asked this time, and once again April dropped the cash.  "Neither of you are going to get paid at this rate!"  April said as she looked directly at Carmen and then to Jade.  "It was another estate agent asking if we wanted to sell the house."  She told them both.  "Ok?"  She asked and received no reply so she picked up the cash once again and began counting.


Carmen looked over to Jade with a grin and gave her a sly wink of her eye.  "What did you tell them?"  She asked April who stopped counting and glared over at her.  "Can you count cash and talk about something else at the same time?"   She asked and Carmen grinned at her.  "I don't need to, I have you for that."  She said with a laugh and Jade couldn't help it, she laughed too.

April looked at Jade and then at Carmen.  "You two think you're funny, don't you?"  She asked and the both nodded, both grinning and so April placed one twenty pound note in front of Carmen and one twenty pound note in front of Jade.  "Don't spend it all at once!"  She told them both.

At some point later, April did inform them both that the man was from Stevens and Simpson properties and she had informed him that other estate agents had already enquired about the house which was definitely not for sale.

He had told April that his company were very keen to buy up the land in the area and most houses had already been bought around the area, something that April was more than aware of.

The three women had this conversation in the past and all agreed that they liked working here and that Carmen shouldn't sell it and as it was a joint decision in her eyes, no more was ever said about it apart from when April confronted potential buyers at the front door.  "Please read the letter that we sent you last week Ms Richardson."  He told April before he left, she hadn't told him that she wasn't in fact Carmen Richardson.

Eventually Jade was given her five hundred pounds wages in cash for the day and left the house to go home to her own flat in Pimlico while Carmen went home to her flat near Euston railway station and April went home to Potters bar, none of them lived at the house in the docklands, it was a building strictly for working purposes only.

Just under a week later, after work and before they all went to their own homes they decided to stop off at the local Cafe which was just around the corner from Lourdes avenue because Carmen had something that she wanted to say to them both.  "I found the letter from Stevens and Simpson properties and  they're a huge outfit."  Carmen told them both.  "And here's what has me thinking."  She continued to explain.  "The letter we received from them is a hand written one from the CEO himself."  Carmen added.

Jade looked to April.  "The big guy at the top."  She told her and April nodded.  "Thanks."  She replied, blissfully ignorant.  "I've been invited to his personal office in Kensington on Tuesday next week."  Carmen added. 

Jade shrugged her shoulders.  "Go and see him, what have you got to lose?"  She asked and April agreed with Jade.  "The worst that can happen is that you fall head over heels in love with Mr big shot."   She giggled.

They all agreed that on Tuesday Carmen ought to go to Kensington just to see what they were willing to offer her for the house.

It was just after ten in the morning on Tuesday the twenty eighth of April of 2009, April was sitting in the kitchen reading the daily newspaper while Jade Harris was upstairs with a new client, Carmen had gone to Kensington to meet with Mr big shot, as April referred to him.

The kitchen door opened and Jade walked in wearing a straight bright red shoulder length wig, long bright pink eye lashes, a see through pink baby doll nightie with a shocking pink bran and panties set underneath complete with pink stockings and suspenders, even the slippers on her feet with bright pink with a pink fluffy ball on top of the toes and she was holding a bright pink feather duster.

April looked up at Jade.  "Wow!"  She commented and Jade ignored her.  "You look, what's the word I'm searching for?"  April asked as Jade sat down at the table and sipped on the tea which April had already made for her.  "I look like tinkie bloody winkie!"  She replied and April sniggered.

Jade frowned as she looked at April.  "He's supposed to be wearing this!"  She told April who's mouth opened but she didn't know what to say at first but eventually found the question.  "So why are you?"  She asked and Jade waved her hand.  "Long story."

A couple of minutes later, Carmen walked in through the front door and sat down at the kitchen table but said nothing at first.  "How did it goe with Mr big shot?"  April enquired as she sipped at her tea again.

Carmen nodded.  "I couldn't remember the way back here."  She told April who checked her forehead.  "Did you bump your head?"  She asked but Carmen shook her head and then looked to Jade.  "Who the hell dressed you this morning?"  She asked and Jade slumped onto the table.

Carmen was looking very professional in a dark pin striped suit jacket with a matching tight knee length pencil skirt with seamed stockings and black patent leather court shoes with a small heel, her black hair had been cut into a straight shoulder length bob.

Now Carmen looked at Jade again.  "You look like miss piggy."  She told the younger woman as she returned her attention to April.  "We sat down in his huge office, drank posh coffee, and he came straight out with it and offered me four point six million pounds."  She told April and then smiled at Jade who sat upright again.  "How much?"  She asked and so Carmen repeated the amount.  "They need this house in particular to make way for a through road."  She told them both.

Jade stared at Carmen.  "Y...You said yes, right?"  She asked Carmen who slowly nodded her head.  "Actually I got him up to four point nine mill."  She told Jade.

April had been sitting there the entire time staring at Carmen with her mouth open and Carmen pointed a finger at her.  "She died, look."  She said and watched April, waiting for her to blink, which she eventually did.

April closed her mouth.  "You said yes, right?"  April asked, exactly the same question as Jade had asked earlier and Carmen nodded.  "Twice now."  She confirmed, a sarcastic response which went way beyond April.

Carmen now looked to Jade again.  "Are you supposed to be Barbie or something?"  She asked and Jade shook her head.   "He's supposed to have worn this."   She told Carmen who nodded and then looked back.  "Then why..."  And Jade waved her hand again.  "Long story!"

There was a long pause of silence in the kitchen now before suddenly all three women jumped up and began screaming while dancing around the kitchen which continued for a good ten minutes before April sat down completely out of breath.  "I need a smoke!"  She said as she lit up at the kitchen table.

Eventually Jade and Carmen calmed down and joined her ten minutes later and all began to talk about what the future could possibly hold with five million pounds. "Four point nine!"  Carmen pointed out to Jade.  "It'll be five by next week if we don't let you near a shop!"  Jade giggled.

Jade had been sitting in the kitchen for just over two hours when all three of them looked up to the ceiling at the 'thudding' sounds coming from upstairs. 

Jade placed her hand over her mouth.  "Oh **** I really ought to untie him!"  She said as she ran up the stairs.  "And there goes the pink peril!"  Carmen sniggered.

Carmen turned to April.  "Why is she dressed like that instead of him?"  She enquired and April waved her hand.  "Long story!"  She said and they both giggled.

Nobody had seen a single client in the house for over six weeks due to Carmen's windfall and that they had to clear the house of many items that might stir some interest when it no longer belonged to the Carmen.

One Thursday afternoon the three of them were sitting in the same Cafe where they had before because Carmen had something that she wanted to say and both Jade and April had already guessed the obvious.  "I guess it's obvious that I'm finished with the game."  She told them both, April nodded her head but Jade faked a look of shock.  "Really?"  She teased.

Carmen handed a cheque written out in April's name for ?100,000.  "That's for you."   She told her long term friend and then passed one over to Jade for the same amount and without even looking at it the younger woman slid it back across the table.  "It was your house Carmen, it's your money and I'm not in the habit of scrounging."  Jade told her which made Carmen smile.

She knew that this was going to be a difficult task, one of the things that she loved about Jade was her hard working morals to get whatever she wanted and not take from anybody.  "Jade it was our house."   She said as she passed it back across the table and then winked at Jade.  "You either take it or I just put the money into your account."  Carmen told her with a grin.

Jade looked at the cheque.  "A hundred grand you tight cow?"  She asked with a beaming grin on her own face now.

April was staring at her.  "You're a dopey cow, you just tried to give it back!"

This was Carmen Jade and April in their every day life, they always laughed with and at each other, nothing had changed because of Carmen's new found vast wealth.

It was Jade who Carmen turned to.  "I don't want you carrying on in the game without me."  She told her and Jade shook her head in agreement.  "I'd already decided that if you're quitting which you obviously were going to, so was I."   Jade assured her.  "I have some new ideas."  She added which raised Carmen's eyebrows.  "Go on."  She urged Jade.

Jade put her cup of tea down onto the table.  "I was thinking about a shop, selling clothes."  She revealed.  "It's been something I've always wanted to do and I have some good ideas for it."  She told Carmen who remembered, they had discussed this a few times in the past.

Now Jade looked to Carmen.  "Have you got any plans?"  She asked and Carmen nodded.  "And don't laugh until you hear all of it."   She told Jade before she revealed her own plans for the future.  "Property development."  Carmen told them both now.

Both Jade and April looked surprised.  "You know as much about property development as I do and I don't even know what it means."    April pointed out which brought a smile to Carmen's face as she reached into her brand new black leather hand bag and took out her little black book  which was full of council officials, magistrates, Solicitors and Barristers, two high court judges, a deputy chief of police, council officials and two property developers.  "You're right, but these know everything between them."  She told April.

April grinned now.  "You sneaky cow."  She told Carmen who now returned her attention to Jade.  "Will you come and work for me for a little while?"  She asked and Jade shrugged and laughed at the same time.  "Sure, but I know as much as she knows about property development."  She also reminded Carmen.  "And she doesn't even know what it means!"

Carmen nodded her head with a playful grin still evident.  "I need you, especially in the beginning of this project because you have certain qualities that I don't know anybody else has."  Carmen told her as Jade picked up her cup of tea and sipped it.  "Such as?"  She asked and Carmen's grin broadened.  "You could charm the knickers off a nun!"  Carmen told her and Jade almost spat out her tea as Carmen gave her another wink of her eye.

Carmen looked at Jade and then April.  "Don't you just love reinvention?"   She asked and April nodded.  ?I might if I knew what it was.?  She told Carmen with a confused look.

On Thursday July 9th 2009 C.R. Properties was established and began trading and in December of 2011 C.R. Properties had amassed as staggering ?157 Million, Carmen Richardson had become one of the wealthiest women in the country, not completely but definitely largely due to her little black book..

In the September of the same yes 2011, Carmen had bought out a chain of shops which she immediately closed down because it was in fact only the properties that she was interested in, Carmen had inside information as always of which run down areas were due to be targeted for regeneration thanks to the pages of her contact book.

One of those particular shops was ideal for somebody else and when Carmen showed Jade the empty shop on New Kent Road in north Lambeth which had a flat on top of it, Jade fell in love with it and began her own adventure Which she called 'Jasmine Fashion' and before long the name was at the front of her shop which she had redecorated inside herself and also the flat upstairs, Jade Harris had new found total independence.