Ray Tacoma.
I thought as I looked down at his card, painting beside me, in an Uber. I insanely decided to go to the address after getting home to my crappy apartment: with a leaky sink, flickering lights, and a dead air conditioner. As I sat on my donated, but surprisingly still standing, sofa I couldn't take my eyes off it. I mean, if you got offered $20,000 after you left home, thought you were a man, and came upon this dump, might I add still with future college fees lingering over your head, you'd give it a thought too. I'd be half lying if it partially wasn't because of Ray...
Something in the way he said I was a great artist...something about that smile.
I shook my head, blushing. Why was I thinking about a guy in that way? Was I jealous of him? Yea...it had to be that.
Of course, it was that.
"Here we are," the Uber driver said, "1-12-20 Akasaka."
I felt my eyes bulge as I got out of the Uber and looked upon a gleaming silver-skyscraper with a gold "Tacoma" sign sitting above the door. Sure, I've seen large buildings, Tokyo was full of them, but I was never invited to come to a posh place with Lamborghini's and Ferrari's parked outside and bus boys aiding customers. Everyone was dressed so fashionable, and me...well I wore Air Jordan's with adidas pants and a t-shirt. Ya know, the average I don't give a fuck I'm graduating dress-code. However, I felt a bit out of place with all of the "street rat" stares.
"Hello, can I help you?" One of the bus boys asked.
"Ya," I said clenching my painting, "I'm here to see Ray Tacoma."
"Oh, yes! He did mention someone might come by...sure! Please go ahead to the elevator, take that up to the 25th floor. I'll make sure he knows you're on your way."
"Cool."
I did as he said and walked past, as he held the heavy gold door open for me. I looked around at the black tile floor and main counter with gold embroidery and large gold chandeliers with beautiful European artwork that surrounded the elegant space. A gorgeous female at the front desk nodded at me, as if I was somebody, and I just looked like I didn't know what the hell I was doing. However, I didn't want to gaze around too long and continued straight to the elevator.
Once I was inside, I exhaled: drooping down the cool wall behind me. This was a lot. Like a LOT already. I don't even know who these people are and I'm already traveling across a huge city just to see some random guy who showed up at my exhibition?! What the hell was I doing?!
I couldn't even think long because I heard the elevator chime, "25th floor."
My heart began to pound again, just the sudden nerves of the moment creeping into my soul seemed as if the elevator opened faster than I wanted it to. However, when it did, I combed my hand through my hair, sighing again, and held my painting as I walked out into a red-carpet hallway. I looked around, seeing more retro artwork: contrasting to the Victorian artwork downstairs but nonetheless striking. The more I walked, I realized there was one door at the end of the hallways and some other rooms on the side. However, I felt pulled to the door at the end because of the Cobra that was etched into it. It just made sense...Viper eyes and a snake fetish.
The closer I got to the door, the more voices I heard. I wasn't sure what was going on, but it would've been even more awkward to just sit and wait outside. Beside the Cobra's mouth was a doorbell and I inhaled, hitting the button: hearing the chime ring throughout and silencing the voices.
Once the door opened, I saw Ray standing in the middle of it. He was wearing a red dress shirt with a black vest that brightened his eyes. It was hard to take my eyes off him, even when he smiled.
"Niko! I'm glad to see that you've made it! Just in time to catch the boss before he leaves too!"
"Boss?" I said, as if I had completely forgotten our conversation the day prior.
"Huh...so that's him." I heard a voice from behind Ray.
"Yes, it is! You won't be disappointed." Ray said, moving from in front of me.
The man who sat before me was behind a large mahogany desk that was embroidered with the same Cobra that was on the door. His hair was jet black and slicked, his eyes were the same orangish-yellow as Ray's, and he looked to be in his forties...and built like a beast. His muscles were bulging through his shirt.
"Well?" He said.
I was a little taken aback and glanced at Ray who kindly smiled in the man's direction. Right...this is the boss. The guy who is going to pay be $20,000 in cash. Even though I don't know who these guys are, I am a starving artist and I need to put on a good show.
I gathered myself, unraveling the portrait as I held it up proudly. "This is my piece, The Wandering Soul."
The boss' eyes lit up once he saw my painting, just as Ray's had. He got out of his chair and walked over to me, towering over my small frame.
"May I?" He asked.
I gave it to him without responding, as I looked at him hold the piece up to the light. We sat in silence, and I couldn't help but look over at Ray. He had a rather large smirk on his face.
"Give the kid the money. You were right, Ray," he said, neatly placing the picture down on his desk, "this is a masterpiece."
"Well, bro, I'm never wrong in these things." Ray shrugged, taking out an envelope from the inside of his suit jacket and handing it over to me.
I took it and stared at my name on the envelope. Brother? So, the boss was his brother?
"It also makes me wonder," the boss said, almost as if he wanted to devour me, "if there are other great things he's capable of doing."
I eyed him, even more confused. What the hell was he talking about?
"How old are you?" He asked, which seemed pretty personal.
Two could play this game.
"I literally just made a deal with you, and you haven't even told me your name. I don't know what you guys do, but here you are asking me how old I am?" I snapped back but it legitimately was suspicious as fuck.
Ray chuckled at my outburst, "Kids got more spunk than I thought."
The boss leaned on the desk, glancing at his brother. "You didn't tell him, did you?"
"No." Ray eyed him as I looked confused between the two.
That boss folded his arms, leaning on the desk, "Yahiko Takoma and I'm the head of the Takoma Venom Gang."