This is actually a meeting that was long overdue. Since the break with the old man, the Kings and I only have one client and one club. While we are talking about a very profitable client and club, the three of us didn't go into this whole arrangement together wanting to create some sort of "boutique" agency serving one elite client.
We want to wreck shit.
We want to dominate.
We want a real business with multiple clients and acquisitions.
We just didn't want Joseph's business or rather I didn't. I knew that if we were ever going to make a name for ourselves, independently of Joseph's reputation, then this was necessary. A clean break.
None of us anticipated at the time (well maybe Cam did) that Joseph would make it very difficult for us to get new clients. Every time I let my guard down and forget for a moment what a dick the old man can be, he always takes great pleasure in reminding me. So this meeting is about us needing to regroup, get focused, and figuring out exactly how we're going to turn this whole thing around.
The old man challenged me the day we met to convince people to hire us as if there was not a chance in hell it could happen. So that's exactly why my mission is: to get a shitload of clients without one bit of assistance from him.
"So is the dynamic duo coming here too?" Jade asks.
"They should be here in a few."
"I'm surprised your friend agreed to a meet anywhere outside of Philly."
She had a point. Camden rarely ever leaves the city. He barely steps outside of the ten-block radius around his house or The Lotus. He likes to keep put, and his brother Cutter likes to roam free. That's why they work so well together.
"You mean your man." I joke with her (but not really).
Jade glares at me.
"Just because your friend likes to watch my ass from time to time doesn't make him my man."
"He definitely does watch your ass," I laugh.
"Of course he does. I have a fantastic ass. An hour a day on the elliptical makes it that way, and most men like to watch it."
I laugh exaggeratedly.
"What? Are you trying to say it isn't fantastic?" she asks incredulously.
"What ass?" I ask rhetorically while laughing heartily.
Jade smacks my shoulder.
"Oh right, you like them juicy."
"Hell, yeah," I agree. Elizabeth has the perfect pear shaped ass that jiggles when I'm banging her from behind. No other ass compares.
I can see the Kings pulling into the parking lot adjacent to the park entrance. After a quick scan of the area, they spot us, and start to walk over. Camden looks cautiously around the area. He hates unfamiliar surroundings.
I notice that Jade immediately bows her head and whips out her cell phone to start texting furiously. Her thumbs moving so fast, it's obvious that she isn't texting anyone at all. She's bullshitting. Pretending to be busy for appearance sake. And there could only be one person that she's doing all of this pretending for, because it certainly isn't me.
"The King is here!" Cutter gives his usual ridiculously vain announcement of himself whenever he greets me.
It sort of sounds like when Will Smith chants, "The champ is here," in that movie Ali. I laughed at it once when he first started doing it, and now he won't stop. Everyone has to be sick of it at this point, but because his antics attract the attention of many a club rat, I don't think he'll ever stop now.
"There are two Kings," I remind him. "When are you ever going to acknowledge that fact in that grand entrance of yours?"
"Only one of us is worth announcing," Cutter chuckles looking at his brother.
Another thing I notice is that Camden doesn't quietly stare Jade down, like he usually does when she's around. Instead he averts his eyes away from her, gives me a head nod hello, and then sits on the bench. Jade doesn't say a word to him either. Their silence speaks volumes. Something definitely went down between the two of them, and while I have no interest in the details, it just better not get in the way of work. Or our friendship.
"So you asked us to meet you out here in fucking Whoville. What's up?" Camden asks.
"Oh that's funny," I say. "Jade called it West Bubblefuck. Aren't you two both creative with words."
Jade is staring daggers at me. This is going to be fun fucking with the two of them.
"I'll get straight to the point. It would be stupid for us to depend only on the income of Mendez and the club. While we are in a contract with Mendez, he only needs us if he's playing. If he's valuable. If he's still being talked about on Sports Center. Because if he gets hurt or suffers some sort of career altering injury, then he won't need us anymore. We need to be prepared for that day. It's inevitable. He's a pitcher. That arm won't last forever."
"I thought we have his endorsement income? What does it matter if he gets hurt or retires?" Cutter asks.
"We do have it, but only for eighteen months. The money is good now, but what happens when that contract is over?"
"Eighteen months?" Camden questions.
"It was Joseph's deal."
"Of course," he says annoyed. "He never mentioned that it was only for eighteen months."
"It's still a lot of money," Cutter adds.
"And we did a lot of work to keep his steroid using ass squeaky clean."
"He only used them to heal up. Not bulk up." I think Mendez is one of Cutter's favorite players. He makes excuses for him all the time.
"Joseph brought Mendez to the table," I remind everyone. "You know how shit works, Cam. What is your fucking problem other than the obvious?"
"The obvious?"
I look over at Jade, who is again on her phone pretending that this conversation is none of her business, then back at him and grin.
"Fuck you." He throws his middle finger up.
I grin but continue on with our conversation. "I'm just saying we can't depend on that income forever."
"We've got the club," Cutter adds. "And it's doing damn good. The bar made a killing last night."
"That's cool, but you know how it is in this town. Clubs in Philly aren't as long-lived as ones in New York or Los Angeles. People here party at one place then move on to the next hot place and when that happens, The Lotus will be dead and stinking in the water."
"So why don't we make sure that doesn't happen?" Cutter asks.
"I don't think that there's anything that we can do to make sure that never happens, brother. It's inevitable. But let me say that there is something else we can do, and that's to make sure we have other streams of income flowing in."
"So we're going back to our original plan," Camden says.
"Yep. I think we need to focus more on developing the client side of the business like we always intended. It's way easier for us to find a couple of more Mendezes than to invest part of our savings into several more clubs or restaurants. All the headaches with leases, licenses, hiring, and stealing. Crossing our fingers and hoping that they make money. Fixing client problems always makes us money, and we're good at it. Let's stick to what we know. Let's do what we do best."
"Well, duh. That sounds good in theory, but isn't the whole reason we're sitting here is because you all are twiddling your thumbs at the club every night. Obviously you can't get clients," Jade finally speaks up. I guess she was listening the whole time.
"Twiddling our thumbs," Cutter repeats back appalled by Jade's characterization of what we do all day.
"Excuse me," she mocks. "I meant playing with your dicks."
"You can play with this big dick right the fuck–"
"Never mind with that," Camden cuts his brother off, "what do you have in mind, Rome?"
"I'm not totally sure yet, but I have a couple of irons in the fire. Thinking outside the box. I just want to make sure that we all are on the same page. Are you two coming to Juliette's event?"
"I might have a run to make, and Cutter's got to hold down the club that night," Camden says.
I notice how Jade gives Camden the curious side eye
the minute he says something about making a run. I must admit that I'm curious too. Camden rarely withholds information from us, but whatever he has going on is none of my business.
"All right, let's meet again after the gala. I should have something in the works by then."
"Cool."
"Do we have to meet all the way here like we're planning a heist?" Cutter jokes. "At least in Oceans 11 they met in Vegas. This is the middle of no-fucking-whereville."
"That's what I'm saying," Jade chimes in, in agreement.
"Depends," I say annoyed with all three of them at this point. "If I feel like fucking meeting here, then that's where we'll meet."
"Touchy bastard," Camden mutters. "Let's go Cut."
As soon as the Kings are out of earshot, I start grilling Jade.
"What the fuck was that all about?"
"What?"
"I don't have the patience for your shit today, Jade. I'm already going through it with Elizabeth, and I'm not going to deal with your crap too. Something is very wrong between you and Cam, and I want to know what it is."
"And why would it be any of your business if there was something going on? What are we girlfriends?"
"Listen you little lima bean, I want to know because I don't want your shit interfering with my business."
"Your business is in the shithole already, Einstein."
"That's funny. I don't remember you complaining about not getting paid last month."
"Ooh, you're funny too. You always have to take it there don't you. Always throwing the fact that you pay me over my head."
"I'm not throwing anything anywhere. Just stating facts. But stop changing the subject. What happened?"
"Nothing important. Nothing worth mentioning."
Of course that meant that it was important as hell. I'm not an idiot. I speak woman.
"Well at least tell me if you're all right."
I'll kick Cam's ass if he's fucking with my little shrimp's head.
"I'm all right. The question is are you all right?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You're the one who said that there's trouble in paradise with your sun, moon and stars."
"Nothing I can't handle."
"Did you two break up?"
"Hell no. We just had a disagreement, and we need a little time to cool off."
"Her idea or yours to cool off?"
"It was mutual."
"Uh-huh."
I sense disapproval from that uh-huh.
"I thought you liked Elizabeth?"
"She's cool."
"You're way too overprotective of me, Jade."
"Says pot to kettle."
She's probably right about that.
"I need you to do a couple of things for me before Juliette's party," I say as I walk away from her and towards the Rover. "I'll text you."
"I'll be waiting with bated breath."
Jade is definitely one of my closest friends, and I love her teeny, tiny butt, but there's no doubt in my mind that whatever went down with her and Cam was one hundred percent her fault.
That mouth of hers is something special, and not in a good way.
16
Jade
"Thanks for stopping by."
I'm reluctantly standing at Elizabeth's front door. I don't want to be here for a variety of reasons, but I can't wait to see what little miss perfect is going to say.
"No problem. What's up?"
I'm being unusually short with Roman's beloved because number one, we're not besties by any stretch of the imagination, and two, as if I don't have enough shit to deal with than become her beck and call girl. I don't work for her. I work for Roman. And I don't think she totally understands the concept that they're not a package deal.
And then there's the other thing ...
"You want lunch? I make a mean Cesar salad. Or maybe a glass of vino?" she chirps.
I casually glance at my new Apple watch in an effort to drive home the point that I'm not here to hang.
"I don't drink before five, and I don't eat before one."
"Not in the mood for small talk then?"
"Well I really hope you didn't ask me here for small talk," I say as I look around her living room, noticing the various changes she's made to her place since I was here last.
It's been a while. I've seen Elizabeth here and there at the club, or we've talked briefly over the phone, but I haven't been back at her house at all. Roman hasn't had us over here for a meeting in a long time.
"Why do I get the feeling that I've done something to make you angry," she astutely comments.
"What makes you think that? You're cool, and Rome seems to like you a whole hell of a lot, so that makes us good." I lie through my teeth.
"I guess I thought since you were his best friend, and he and I are seeing each other, that maybe the two of us would hang out a little or something. When I first moved in here you came over a couple of times, and then all of sudden you backed off."
"We talked the other day," I say bored with this conversation already.
"That was like three weeks ago, Jade, and that was about Roman's teeth."
"I'm not the kind of girl that chitchats on the phone about her problems or celebrity gossip with other women."
"I'm not that kind of girl either," she replies defensively.
"This is no disrespect to you, Elizabeth, but I've got a shitload of things to do today. So if you could just get to the point of why you asked me to swing by that would be awesome."
"All right," she snaps. "You say you have a lot of things to do today. Are any of them work related?"
Where is she going with this?
"Yes, why?"
"Well I think Roman is losing his ever loving mind, and I think it's because he's bored to death. I'm not sure what you're doing, but he's not working or working enough. It's off-season in baseball, and Mendez has been keeping his nose clean. So that's over. And I don't know what the three of them could possibly be doing at The Lotus every week. They have a manager that takes care of all the day-to-day stuff. So it's obvious to me that he needs a new client. Maybe a few new clients. They probably all are going a little crazy."
My phone dings notifying me of a new message.
King Kong: We need to talk.
The last thing I need is to have that conversation with Camden King. I'd be fine if we never spoke on it again.
"Why are you telling me all of this?" I ask Elizabeth. "You should talk to your boyfriend if he's getting on your nerves. And if you have a question about his business, then ask him about it or meet with the King brothers. I have nothing to do with whether or not they take on new clients."
"I know who I can ask, Jade, but I'm asking you. Do you agree with me or not on this?"
I ignore the fact that she's irritated, and walk over to her small fiddle leaf fig plant and rub on one of the smooth leaves. I'm familiar with this type of houseplant, because my nana owned three of them. It was one of her favorites.
"Sure I agree, but there isn't much I can do about it. The old man was the pro at finding new clients. The boys were better at fixing their problems."
I don't bother telling her that the three of them have already met about this very topic. If she doesn't know, then things are still strained between her and Roman. It's his business to tell. Not mine. So I'll just play dumb.
"So they need someone to scout out new clients. That's what you're saying?"
"Yeah, I guess that's what I'm saying." I walk over to another one of her houseplants. "Your plants are really healthy."
"Thanks, it's the fertilizer."
I cruise around her living room. Never sitting down. Never really looking Elizabeth in the eyes since I've set foot in her house. I'm too angry with what she's done. I didn't want to have this conversation with her yet. I wanted to wait. I needed more information. More time. I'm doing a horrible job of holding my cards close to my vest.
"Jade," she says my name to get my attention.
&nbs
p; "Yeah," I turn my head in her direction.
"What is your problem with me? Did Roman say something to you about the two of us?"
I raise an eyebrow at her last comment and then take a seat on her couch. Of course I know something is up with her and Roman. He tells me most things. They had some sort of falling out, although he seems pretty confident that it's nothing. I'm just not sure that he's seeing things clearly when it comes to this cousin of his. It's like she has a golden chalice in between her legs.
"Has Roman ever told you how we met?" I ask her.
"He's mentioned some of the story."
"Well to make a long story short, my ex was beating my ass and spending my hard earned money on drugs for a long time. I was young, dumb, and a walking after-school special until Roman got me out of there."
She nods as if she has any idea what it means to be abused. To be scared. To desperately need someone to give a fuck about you when you don't care about yourself. Of course she doesn't get it. She comes from the cushiest, white-washed life ever, and she's still getting shit handed to her on a silver platter thanks to Roman. This apartment she doesn't pay for is case in point.
"It wasn't easy to admit to him what was going on. He was the only true friend I had, and I never wanted him to think less of me, but eventually I knew I had to trust someone. I made the best decision of my life when I finally admitted to him what was going on. I trusted the right person with my secrets."
Her eyes just dropped to the floor. She knows exactly what I'm getting at, but I'm sure she's going to continue playing the dumb, doe-eyed, suburban thing of hers to the hilt. She does it so well.
"So what does that have to do with you and I, Jade?"
Yep, she's going to play it this way.
"You need to learn who to trust."
"I trust Roman. I trust the Kings. I trust all of you–"
"No you don't." I immediately cut her off. "So if you want me to keep it really one hundred percent real with you, I'm keeping my distance from you until you get it right or until you're gone."
Her eyes widen.
"I wish you would just spit out whatever you're skirting around right now, because you're kind of pissing me off, Jade. Do you like Roman or something? Did you two used to date?"
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