Revenge Looks Good In Gucci

Trouble Came Knocking

Xavier mumbled in his sleep, his body twitching.

 "No… she’s mine. You can’t… this is my house…”

His arms flailed suddenly, knocking into the edge of the couch. And then he tumbled off the couch and hit the floor face-first with a groan.

 “Damn,” he muttered, blinking against the light.

He wasn’t in his room. Or Lisa’s. Or anywhere familiar.

“What the...?”

Amber appeared in the doorway with a wooden spoon in one hand and a smirk on her face. “Falling off the couch now? What were you dreaming about?

He sat up, rubbing his temple. “Where am I?”

 “My house, genius,” she said, laughing as she walked in. “You cried yourself to sleep on my couch last night, remember?”

It came back to him in pieces, the previous days. Lisa’s betrayal, losing Emerald and the house, getting fired, Chris turning him away.

His smile faded.

Amber noticed. “Hey. I meant what I said, you can stay here for as long as you want.”

He nodded slowly, still trying to swallow everything.

 “I made you breakfast,” she added. “Toast, eggs… nothing fancy. She turned to leave but stopped to look at him again. “There are clean towels in the bathroom, be careful not to use my shampoo as shower gel. I know you men are clueless about such things”. 

Xavier cracked a small smile. “Thanks.”

  “And don’t just sit here sulking all day, okay? Take a walk. Breathe. Life’s ugly but it still goes on.”

She grabbed her bag. “I have to go, before old Mike gets on my case. We are yet to find a replacement for you and you know how busy City Roast can be.

  “I do.” Xavier managed to answer with the stinging reminder that he is jobless. 

She shot him a playful glare and left.

Xavier sat there for a moment, staring around the small apartment. Quiet, too quiet.

He showered. Ate. Put on his cleanest shirt, then stepped out into the sunlight.

It felt… good.

He walked two blocks, mind mostly blank, when he heard it.

 “That’s him! That’s the guy!”

He turned, there were three teenage boys standing in front of a bodega, their phones out and whispering.

One of them zoomed in.

“Brooo, that’s him from TikTok. The guy that got rejected and dumped at the same time.”

Xavier froze.

Another boy waved, grinning like he’d seen a celebrity. “Yo! You really proposed to a woman that wasn’t your baby mama?”

The third boy laughed. “He’s a walking L!”

He didn’t respond. Just kept walking.

But they followed.

  “Hey! At least give us a smile, you’re a celebrity now, man!”

Xavier turned and in a split second, lunged at the boy holding the phone and snatched it from his hand.

 “Yo! What’s wrong with you, man?!” the boy yelled, stumbling back in shock.

Xavier gripped the phone tight, his jaw clenched. “You think this is funny? Recording people without their consent?

The second boy, chewing gum lazily, stepped forward with a smug grin. “Relax, old man. It’s called content. Everyone’s doing it, we are in 2024.”

 “You’re going to delete every damn thing you recorded,” Xavier growled, voice low but burning. “Right now.”

  “Or what?” the first boy challenged. “You gonna beat us up in broad daylight? Try it. I dare you.”

Xavier took a step closer. “You crossed a line. You had no right to record me.”

  “Give me back my phone!” the boy snapped, reaching for it again.

Xavier held it out of reach. “Not until you delete the videos. All of them.”

The argument grew louder, drawing attention from passersby. But none of them noticed the patrol car that had pulled up a few feet away. A uniformed officer stepped out, eyes sharp, one hand resting near his taser.

  “What’s going on here?” the cop asked, voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

Before Xavier could open his mouth, the first boy ran toward the cop, panic suddenly painted on his face like a masterpiece.

 “Officer! Thank God you’re here! This man attacked us, he stole my phone and said he’d beat us if we said anything!”

Xavier froze. “What?! That’s a damn lie!”

The second boy nodded, sniffling on cue. “He cornered us, asked us to hand over everything or he’d make us disappear. I was so scared!”

The cop’s expression hardened instantly. “Sir, hands where I can see them. Now!”

Xavier took a step back, raising his voice. “No! I didn’t steal anything, these three have been harassing me. They recorded me without my permission and started mocking me in public!”

 “Sir, drop the phone and place your hands behind your back,” the officer ordered, stepping closer, his voice suddenly cold and firm. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

 “Please, you’ve got to listen to me!” Xavier pleaded. “I didn’t do anything wrong!”

But the boys were already playing their parts, crying, looking scared, pointing fingers. And the crowd nearby started murmuring, some pulling out their phones to film the scene.

 “Officer, he’s dangerous,” the first boy said, his voice shaking dramatically. “He said he has people around. A gang.”

  “That’s a lie!” Xavier shouted. “You’re not listening—check the damn video on his phone!”

The officer didn’t flinch. “We’ve had multiple complaints of harassment in this area. Men approaching pedestrians, acting aggressively. You fit the description.”

Xavier’s mouth dropped open. “You’re seriously profiling me right now?”

  “You can explain at the station,” the officer snapped, grabbing Xavier by the arm and twisting it behind his back.

  “No, no, no... this isn’t happening,” Xavier muttered, panic finally setting in. “You’re making a mistake!”

The cuffs clicked shut around his wrists.

The first boy stepped forward smugly, holding out his hand. “Can I get my phone back, though? I need it for my school work, sir.”

Xavier turned to him with fire in his eyes. “You’re going to regret this.”

 “Oh, I doubt that,” the boy smirked. “This video’s gonna blow up. Thanks for the free content, loser.”

The officer shoved Xavier toward the patrol car, ignoring his protests. He didn’t even see the bystanders whispering.

He only stepped out for a walk like Amber advised. Just a walk. Now, he was in handcuffs, being shoved into a patrol car.

His heart pounded. His vision blurred.

How did a simple stroll turn into a nightmare?

And then…

He heard someone call his name.