Large and in Charge

by La Jill Hunt

  “I’m Marcia Thompkins, director of Miss Teen Elite. It was brought to my attention that you are providing some kind of coaching services to these young ladies,” she stated.

  “That’s correct,” Devyn replied. “I am their pageant coach.”

  “Miss Douglass, do you even have any formal pageant experience?” The arrogant woman stepped toward Devyn. “Because prior to this weekend, I’ve never heard of you. And to be honest, what I did find after researching you was disturbing.”

  “Excuse me, Mrs.—” Asha went to speak again, but Devyn interrupted her.

  “No, I don’t have any formal pageant experience,” Devyn answered. “But neither do most of the male coaches in your arena, right? I do, however, have plenty of other modeling experience that I’m sure you discovered. I desire to help these young ladies achieve their dreams, unlike any of the other coaches.”

  “I hardly think that’s the cause for their concern,” Mrs. Thompkins huffed. “I have recommended several reputable area coaches for the young ladies’ choosing.”

  “Then to what are you alluding? Could it possibly be the horrible moment in my life that happened to be caught on video, and instead of it remaining private as other people would have it, it was put out for the world to view, judge, and ridicule?” Devyn turned to the Phillips. “I’m sure you all saw the video, and I’d bet that she was the one who showed it to you. Yes, it happened. No, I wasn’t on drugs, and I did not have a nervous breakdown. Was I wrong? Absolutely. Worst decision of my life—the relationship, more so than the wedding. Do I have what it takes to coach these beautiful Black queens on grace, dignity, and empower them to win a pageant and be successful in whatever they pursue? Yes, I do. Now, is there anything else you’re concerned about?”

  Silence filled the room. Everyone stared at Devyn, who looked from one person to the other. Asha was stunned. Never had she heard Devyn speak about what happened to her with such conviction. It was damn near endearing.

  “Uh, no. I think you’ve cleared everything up,” Mrs. Phillips grinned.

  “I agree,” Mr. Phillips nodded.

  “Good, now, I have a concern for you, Mrs. Thompkins,” Devyn said. “Since you denied Dionne the opportunity to participate in the pageant, why was it necessary for you to contact her parents? Journi is the contestant. Wait. You didn’t get the Black girls mixed up, did you?”

  “I, well, of course, not.” Mrs. Thompkin’s face reddened, and she looked around nervously.

  “Great, now, if you all would excuse us, we only have the room for another hour. There’s still lots of work to do,” Devyn announced with a clap of her hands.

  The Phillips hugged the girls, then shook Devyn’s hand before leaving. Mrs. Thompkins walked out without another word. Asha excused the girls for a water and bathroom break, and they rushed out as well. When the room cleared, Devyn let out a long sigh of relief. Asha and Chase went to her side.

  “Devyn, what the hell? That was awesome.” Chase threw her arms around Devyn’s neck.

  “Hell yeah, it was,” Asha told her. “You know I wanted to slap that blond witch so hard that them blue contacts woulda popped out of her eyes.”

  “She was about to go off. I had to stop her. Normally, Asha’s the cool, calm, collected one. You handled her ass, though,” Chase grinned. “You didn’t even need Asha to put on her white-girl voice. You used your own. Now, I wish we had that on video.”

  “No, no more videos, please,” Devyn moaned.

  “For a moment, I thought you were about to tell the girls you were done,” Asha pointed out.

  “I was.” Devyn looked at her. “That’s exactly what I was about to tell them.”

  “What stopped you?” Asha frowned.

  “A knock at the door and a wake-up call to finally stop letting people try to use my past as a weapon against me,” Devyn told them.

  “Damn right.” Chase gave her a high five.

  “About time,” Asha beamed with pride.

  Standing up to Mrs. Thompkins reminded her of how fiery she used to be. For the first time in years, she allowed a glimpse of D’Morgan to emerge . . . and it felt good.

  Chapter 18

  Asha

  “Well, I think that’s all we need for now,” Gail said as she took the papers that Asha and Ben had just signed and placed them in a folder.

  “That’s it?” Ben frowned.

  Asha nodded. “We still have a lot more to do, sir. Right now, all you have is a venue, date, and time.”

  “And a theme,” Ben told her.

  “Oh, what is it?” Gail asked.

  “We don’t have one.” Asha shook her head at the thought of all the horrible ideas that Ben had suggested.

  “I was thinking maybe ‘Turn Up for the Ta-Tas,’” Ben said with a prideful smile. His eyes went from Gail, who was so tickled that she was cackling, to Asha, who hung her head. He gave a quick shrug and asked, “What?”

  “That’s actually kinda cute,” Gail told him.

  “No, it’s not,” Asha laughed. “I refuse to allow you to turn the amazing event you have entrusted me to plan into a ‘Boobs and Balloons’ party. No way, no how.”

  “Now that, I love. Boobs and Balloons. Big thing popping. Yes, sir. Do you know how many guys would show up for something like that?” Ben turned toward her.

  “Probably a lot, considering it sounds like a stripper convention rather than a fund-raiser for breast cancer,” Asha laughed.

  “Maybe you can consider it as an after-party idea,” Gail added. “You could raise even more money for the cause.”

  “This meeting is officially over,” Asha stood and announced. “Gail, as usual, it’s been great seeing you. Email a copy of the contracts over to me, and I’ll get them to Ben.”

  “No problem. Ben, it was a pleasure meeting you. I’ll check on those dates for the other convention you mentioned as well. I think this event is gonna be fun, no matter what theme you all decide,” Gail said as she walked them out of her office.

  “Turn Up for the Ta-Tas.” Ben shook Gail’s hand.

  “Hey, I’m all for it,” she told him.

  “And I told both of you, it’s not happening.” Asha playfully tugged at Ben’s sleeve and told him. “Let’s go.”

  Their meeting with Gail had been successful. Asha was able to negotiate a fantastic cost that fit Ben’s budget, and they had a little wiggle room to spare. Based on his reaction when he saw the amount on the contract they’d just signed, Asha knew he was pleased.

  “I have to admit, I’m officially excited, Ms. Bailey.” Ben grinned as they exited the building. The afternoon was warm and sunny, mimicking exactly how she felt.

  “That’s great, Mr. Maxwell. I told you not to worry and that everything would be fine. Now, you got the chance to see for yourself,” Asha said. “I can also assure you that the car show in November will be amazing as well. I got this. Thanks again for the referral. I’m meeting with Mr. Haven to sign the contract next week.”

  “Congratulations, and you’re right. You definitely know what you’re doing. I didn’t mention this, but it’s crazy. I reached out to the Convention Center before contacting you. They told me the entire month of October was booked. They didn’t have anything available until after the new year. I don’t know what you did, but I’m glad you did it.”

  “What can I say . . . I have magical powers,” she told him.

  “Indeed, you do,” he said. “You’re better than Frosted Lucky Charms.”

  Again, Asha hung her head and giggled. “I swear, Ben, you are . . .”

  “What?”

  Asha was tempted to say the word “corny,” but remembered that although she felt quite comfortable around him, he was still a client. She needed to remain professional. Instead, she said, “Unique.”

  “Is that a good or a bad thing?” he asked, stopping when they got to the edge of the parking lot.

  Asha turned toward him, then forced herself not to stare at his handsome face too l
ong. Lawd, this man is beyond fine, she thought before quickly glancing away and reminding herself that she was trying to set him up with her best friend.

  “It’s just an observation,” she finally answered, then proceeded into the parking lot.

  “Hey, Devyn was right. We have the exact same truck. That’s crazy,” Ben said when they got to her car.

  “This truck? It’s a Limited Edition. Are you sure?” Asha frowned.

  “Absolutely.” Ben took out his phone and showed her a photo of himself standing in front of a truck that was exactly like hers: color, make, model, even the rims.

  “Well, damn, and here I thought I was special, and you have the same one,” Asha smiled.

  “Aw, that means you’re as unique as I am, huh?” Ben smirked.

  “I guess so,” Asha agreed as she unlocked her door.

  “Hey, Asha, listen. If you’re not busy, how about we head over to Sage for happy hour.”

  As much as she wanted to take him up on his invitation, Asha had to decline. “Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement. I’ve been dying to go there too, though.”

  “We’ll have to check it out soon. How is Devyn, by the way? I reached out a couple of times, but she hasn’t responded,” Ben commented.

  “She’s actually good. Um, the past couple of days have been kind of busy because Pivot has kind of taken off. She’s been working hard on that,” Asha explained. Although it sounded like she was making an excuse for her friend’s unavailability, she wasn’t. Devyn had done a complete turnaround when it came to her attitude toward their latest venture. Not only did she have Chase do a mini shoot of her and uploaded the gorgeous pictures to the website and Instagram page, but she’d also filmed a mini, two-minute video introducing herself: Devyn Douglass, Professional Modeling and Pageant Coach. All of this had been done without Asha’s knowledge. Although she was elated, she felt a little left out.

  “I’m glad things are going well for her.” Ben nodded.

  “I’m sure she’ll reach out soon,” Asha reassuringly told him. “I promise, once you get to know her, you won’t be disappointed. Don’t give up too quickly. Dev sometimes needs to be nudged.”

  “Noted,” Ben said. “I’ll also keep trying to come up with an event concept you’ll like.”

  “Please, don’t,” Asha laughed as she climbed into her truck. They said their goodbyes, and Asha watched him walk away in the rearview mirror. He got into a shiny pickup truck with his company logo on the side, parked a few spaces down, and waved as he drove past. Asha took out her phone and dialed Devyn’s number. She was going to have to do a little nudging of her own.

  * * *

  “Devyn Douglass!” Asha yelled as she walked into Devyn’s house a little while later.

  “Why the hell are you coming in here yelling like the damn police?” Chase walked out of the kitchen, eating a bowl of cereal.

  Although it had only been four days since they’d seen each other, something was noticeably different about Chase. Asha mentally counted the colorful tattoos and multiple ear piercings, but nothing looked new. Her head was still half-shaved; the shoulder-length hair that remained was now braided and pulled into a bun. And it was no longer purple but a deep auburn.

  “The hair,” Asha murmured.

  “What about it?” Chase asked. “You like it?”

  “It’s red, not purple. And when did you get braids?”

  “Last night. I was bored. You should let me color your locs. They would be fabulous. Give you a little flair,” Chase suggested, walking over to the sofa and curling her legs under her after sitting.

  “I’m good,” Asha told her, then turned toward the steps and yelled, “Devyn, why didn’t you answer your damn phone?”

  “Stop yelling. She ain’t even here,” Chase said between slurps of milk.

  Asha frowned, both from the agitation of the sound and from what Chase said. “What do you mean? I checked her location before I drove over here.”

  “She must’ve left her phone. Dev is definitely not in this house. She came home, changed clothes, and dipped out.”

  “Where did she go? You didn’t tell her about that blog story suggesting that she’s the woman in Tremell’s stupid sex tape, did you?” Asha remembered the dumb post that they’d read the day before that they’d kept from Devyn.

  “Of course, I didn’t. I don’t know where she went. She didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. I think if she left her phone, she won’t be gone long. She’s probably with her life coach. She never takes her phone when she has a session with Iyanla, Dr. Phil, or whoever is fixing her life these days.” Chase shrugged, then turned the bowl up into her mouth like a sippy cup.

  “Why wouldn’t you ask where she was going, Chastity? What if something happens to her or she gets sick? How will we know where she is? And who the hell is this life coach? I swear, I told you to come here to help out, and you’re just chilling.” Asha gave a frustrated sigh. Devyn was God knows where with God knows who, and instead of worrying, Chase was munching on Honey Nut Cheerios like a toddler.

  “First of all, I have been helping a lot. Who do you think has been managing the social media accounts, updating the website, and fielding emails this week? I took those bomb-ass pictures of Dev, shot the video, and I’m scouting locations for the shoot with the girls. Lastly, Devyn is a grown-ass woman. What I look like asking her where she’s going? You know better than that, Asha.” Chase set the empty bowl on the floor and looked Asha up and down. “I’m not Devyn’s babysitter, and she don’t need one. As far as the mysterious life coach, I don’t care about that either. This week, she’s been the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time, so whoever it is, kudos to them. Why are you tripping?”

  Asha realized that she might have seemed overzealous with her questioning. It wasn’t her intention. Devyn being somewhere without her phone and unable to be located bothered her. But Chase was right. Devyn seemed happier, but she’d also been distant. Although they still talked and texted daily, there was a lot that hadn’t been shared. This was the first time she’d heard anything about a photo shoot with the girls.

  “I’m not asking you to babysit her, Chase. That’s not what I meant at all. I’m glad Devyn is handling all this better than we expected. I appreciate you. Hell, at this point, you’re just as much a part of Pivot as Dev and I. We should probably discuss your being a full partner. It’s just that I don’t want her to be somewhere and fall out. What if she needs us?” Asha explained.

  “She’s fine, Asha. Chill out. You want some cereal? Wait, how about some wine?” Chase smiled.

  “Nah, I’m good. I need to get out of here. I’m meeting Sully for dinner.”

  “Oh, damn, I was about to offer some weed to help mellow you out, but you don’t need it. I’m sure y’all talking about Sully’s Social Security check while y’all enjoy the Senior Special at Denny’s will be relaxing enough for you,” Chase teased. “Did you need Devyn to give you one of her special tea brews to keep you awake? She told me how you always fall asleep with him.”

  “Shut the hell up, Chase. Ain’t nobody going to no damn Denny’s, and you know it. I came to talk to Devyn about Ben. We had a meeting today, and he mentioned her. She needs to hop on that, or he’s gonna be snatched up by someone else,” Asha told her, hoping that Chase would see the importance of Devyn not letting this opportunity pass her by and give their friend a push as well.

  “I don’t know, Ash. I think she don’t wanna hop on him. She ain’t feeling him.”

  “Why not? He’s perfect for her. Lord, I know Dev’s all into building the Pivot brand right now, but she’s gonna have to make time for this to happen. She’s just gonna have to balance,” Asha said matter-of-factly.

  “I don’t think that’s gonna happen, but whatever. If he’s such a great catch, then why—” Chase stopped midsentence.

  “Why what?”

  “Nothin’. Never mind. I’ll tell Dev you stopped by.” Chase picked up the bowl and walked toward the
kitchen. “Set the alarm before you leave.”

  As she left Devyn’s house, Asha’s mind was all over the place. She tried to put her thoughts about what was going on with Devyn out of her head and hoped that dinner with Sully would give her something else to think about. She was too distracted, and he noticed.

  * * *

  “Do you think you can make it?” he asked.

  “Huh, make what?” Asha blinked, realizing that she had no idea what he was talking about.

  “The Jazz Brunch next month. I just said I wanted to get us tickets, but I don’t know how your schedule looks.” He frowned.

  “I’m sorry, Sully. I didn’t hear you.” She apologized, feeling guilty because she knew he’d gone out of his way to make their evening special. When they arrived at her favorite steakhouse, flowers were waiting for her at the table and a bottle of wine. He was still on a mission to make up for the argument the week before. She had been looking forward to enjoying their night out, but her focus was elsewhere.

  “More like you weren’t listening. Jesus, woman, your body’s here with me, but your mind is on the other side of town,” he smirked.

  “Huh?” Asha shrugged. “The other side of town? What do you mean?”

  “Never mind. It’s a song by The O’Jays, sweetie. What’s going on?” He reached across the table and grabbed her hand.

  Asha sighed, thinking that maybe talking to Sully would give her another perspective on how to handle getting Devyn to be more open to dating Ben. “Well, remember my client, Ben Maxwell? He owns the transportation company and sent the limo to pick us up that night?”

  “I’d rather forget about that night.” The smile faded from Sully’s face.

  “This isn’t about that night. It’s about Ben and Devyn,” Asha stressed.

  “Okay, what about them?”

  “Well, Ben likes her, but Devyn isn’t even giving him a chance. She’s been talking about meeting a nice guy, and now that she has one in front of her face, she’s acting like he’s invisible. Guys like Ben Maxwell don’t come around every day,” Asha told him.

  Ben released her hand and used his fork to pick up a piece of the fried calamari in the middle of the table. After chewing it, he said, “Maybe she’s not interested.”