Chapter 20: Lance POV

**“Sex without love is merely healthy exercise.”, -Robert A. Heinlein**

I made it to Aunt Jackie in record time. Route 80 does not have traffic at this time of day. When I arrived, I parked in the back of the house. The hot air hit my face when I walked out of the car, making my hair curl a little. When I got to my room, I saw Aunt Jackie left something for me to wear tonight. It is a red corset with black lace overlay and black stockings. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

“I hope you like what I laid out for you tonight", Aunt Jackie said from behind me.

“Aunt Jackie, you are enjoying this too much", I said, shaking my head at her.

“I am just so proud of you for following in your mom and footsteps”, said Aunt Jackie, smiling from ear to ear.

“No, he is just a client. Once I have enough money to build my apartment building and start my property management building. I will end our arrangement”, I said, rolling my eyes at her as I took off my work clothes.

Honestly, sweetheart, there is someone who wants to buy my business. I don't want to sell it. It has been in our family before America gained its independence. pee 1776 hell this place is older than America itself. Over 251 years old”, she said with a smile of pride on her face.

“If you're ready to retire, do it. sell, retire, and travel the world", I said as I filled the bathtub.

“It's not just the business Karma. It is the history, OK? This house, this business, has been in our family for centuries. Karma, do you know how hard it was for a black woman to own her own brothel? During the time, black people were slaves legally. The struggle the women before us had to go through to keep this place. I can't sell it, Karma. I need you to take over when the time comes," she said, pleading with me.

“I will think about it okay”, I said to her. I mean I can take over but not participate in activities. I don't want this life for myself. And she needs to understand that.

I get into the tub and soak a little the red wine vinegar in the bathtub smells so good. After my bath, I got out and put the same lotion on that Jackie gave me the night of the party. I put my corset on and waited for L to arrive. It does feel good to have the man wanting me after all these years. After about 10 minutes. Aunt Jackie walked in with L behind her.

“Good evening, Kay", L said from the doorway, looking at me with pleasure in his eyes.

“Good evening L. Would you like some refreshments? I asked as I walked to the bar in the room.

“That would be great”, he said, taking off his suit jacket and sitting on the chair next to the bed.

As I make his drink, I can feel his eyes on my ass. I handed him his old-fashioned, and then he smiled at me. He pulled me onto his lap and I said as he rubbed my thigh and took a sip of the drink," I just mean. Damn, he is sexy. I am tempted to look at him without his mask on. He is staring at me. Not taking his eyes off mine.

“This place is nice. Can you tell me about its history? He asked, rubbing my breast.

“Sure, well, this house and business is older than the Declaration of Independence. One of Mistress Jackies, ancestors was a slave worker in a brothel in Paterson. She did not work as a working girl. She just changes sheets and cleans up after the guests. I saw a picture of her when she was beautiful. She had long black hair, chestnut skin with Hazel eyes.", I said as I told him the story, I have heard it millions and times throughout my life.

“What was her name? He asked.

“Della, she was a daughter of a slave and a slave master. But not the typical harvest story. Her parents actually loved each other. Her father built this house for her mother. Weird, right? I said.

“Yeah, but I have a feeling this story is going to be good", he said with interest.

“The story goes, Captain Dale Laji bought Hazel, Della’s mom in Charlotte, NC. Then brought her here to New Jersey where he freed her. She worked for him as a maid with pay and his protection. Everyone thought she was a slave even though she was, not even though she wasn't a slave, she was a woman of color”, I said.

“Did she not know she was free?”, L asked.

“No, the Captain did not tell her to protect her. He knew that if she found out she was free, she would try to go back to find her family in Charlotte, NC. However, he knew once she was back in North Carolina, she could be forced into slavery again, even as a free woman said”, I said, looking at him.

“Really wow", he said in shock.

“Yes, a free person, especially a free woman, is always put back into slavery. If they were found walking around they could be snatched up and no one ever questioned them. Captain Dell taught Hazel to read, write, and how to do math. At some point, their relationship turned into a sexual one. Hazel became pregnant, then Captain Dale built this house for her and their child and future children. He figured they could live a life together without the outside world interfering in their love. But he was wrong. I said.

I go on to tell him that Hazel died after giving birth to Della Laji. Leaving Captain Dell with an infant to take care of. Sometime after, the country started its road to independence. Captain Dale was made Sergeant Major. By General George Washington. By marrying one of George Washington's distant cousins, Georgina, who hated Della. Georgina knew that Della was the child of her husband and a woman she thought was a slave, whom he loved and still did. She also knew Dale never loved her. She was just a way for him to move up in the ranks.

“So evil stepmother, huh? L said.

“Yep, she hated Della because she wasn't treated like how children of slave masters were usually treated. She was treated like a traditional colonial lady, which Georgina did not like at all. Della was being raised by her father before the war of independence”, I said, retailing the story the way my mother did with me.

“If she was treated so well, how did she end up in a brothel? L asked, interested in the history lesson I was giving him.

“Well, the only person who knew she was free. It was Dell and, unfortunately, he died in the war for independence. His lawyer, who had his last well testament, fought in the war with him under Captain Dell. It couldn't leave the war to expedite the will”, I said. Looking at L, he is very interested in the story.

“Georgina sold Delta to the Hamilton club. She was enslaved and forced to work to clean”, I said, rubbing my fingers through his hair.

“I heard of that place. It's part of a Community College now, isn't it? He asked. Yes, but back then it was a social club or brothel. Last week, called for powerful men like Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Paine any who. As she got older, you know older in age and more mature physically. The Madam there liked her and noticed the attention she got from the men when she walked into the room. The Madam knew some men during those times favored colored women but was not showing it to the world. I sat as he lifted me and placed me on the chair he was just sitting on to make himself a drink.

”I must say, Kay, I am interested in this story. This should be written down in a book “, he said with a smile.

“Oh, it gets better than Madame offering Della a job as a working girl. Instead, she asks to get taught the business. Then Madam agreed, as long as they took one a month. You know the party when we met. That party happened in remembrance of Della having her first client. Back then, that party was a masquerade as well”, I said, smiling.