Large and in Charge

by La Jill Hunt

  “Ash, you’re here.” Devyn ran over and hugged her. Clearly, she had the same idea as Asha because she also had on leggings and sneakers. Instead of a T-shirt, she wore a hoodie, and her hair was pulled on top of her head.

  “I am. I see y’all already got started.” Asha pointed to the setup.

  “We got here a little earlier and did a bit of work. But you know we have plenty more to do. I’m thinking since we have so much space and the use of the other rooms, we can rotate people out. You can talk about PR and media in one room, and I can do the whole runway and pageant stuff in another room. Chase is gonna do mini photo shoots in the corner back there.” Devyn put her arm around her neck. “I mean if you think all that’ll work, of course. It’s nice, though, huh?”

  “Yeah, it is, but when you said Culture, I thought you meant using one of the rooms, not the entire building, Devyn. How did you even manage this?” Asha wondered.

  “I made a call to a friend. They were happy to help out.” Devyn shrugged.

  “Hey, Devyn, where do you want the goodie table set up?” a deep voice asked. Asha looked up and recognized Nadia, who walked into the entrance hall along with a man so huge, he towered over her.

  “Nadia, nice to see you again.” Asha smiled, now understanding how Culture had become available. Of course, it all makes sense. Obviously, Devyn had called Ben, and he made it happen for us. Thank God.

  “You too.” Nadia hugged her.

  “What do you think, Asha?” Devyn asked.

  “Huh?” Asha blinked.

  “The goodie table. Where do you want it?” Nadia repeated.

  Even though she had no idea what goodies they were talking about, she looked around the room for a moment, then finally said, “How about we put it on the opposite side of the room over there, but line it up with the Registration Table? Oh, but we only have one Pivot tablecloth, though.”

  “No worries. I have a plain white one we can use, and I’ll add some flowers and crystals I have in the back to glam it up. I’ll get it,” Nadia told her, then said to the big guy. “You heard the woman, Nigel. Put the table over there.”

  “Hold up, now. Ain’t gonna be too much more of this ordering me around,” he warned.

  “Over there,” Devyn laughed as she pointed to where the table needed to go.

  “Whatever. Bossing me around like I ain’t the owner,” Nigel grumbled as he followed the instructions he’d been given.

  “Why the extra table?” Asha turned her attention to Devyn.

  “Oh, we have some sweet takeaways for our guests,” Devyn told her.

  “I thought we were only doing light hors d’oeuvres and water. You didn’t say anything about buying or serving anything else.” Asha recalled Devyn’s debate because she was afraid serving food would be associated with her noticeable weight gain. They tried telling her how ridiculous she sounded but agreed to a happy medium. Her friend’s sudden delight over desserts was surprising.

  “I didn’t buy them. Someone donated them. Wait ’til you see them. You’re gonna love them,” Devyn told her, her eyes still on Nigel, who was setting up the table. When he finished, she grinned and told him, “Perfect. Thank you. Now, come and meet my bestie.”

  “You must be the infamous Asha.” He smiled and held out his hand out. “I’m Nigel.”

  He was so tall that Asha had to lift her head slightly to look at him. She figured that he had to weigh at least 350 pounds. Asha wondered if he was the security guard. Even though he was big, there was something kind in his eyes and smile.

  “Nice to meet you,” Asha nodded.

  “Nigel is Nadia’s brother. He’s also my lifesaver and not the sweet kind either,” Devyn said with a mischievous grin Asha couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve thought Devyn was flirting. Her friend never went for big guys, though. Tall was one thing, but Devyn liked them slim or naturally athletic and cute. Nigel wasn’t any of those. His arms, shoulders, and chest were massive. He was nice looking, but cute wasn’t a word she could imagine anyone using to describe him. Clearly, Devyn was just being amiable because of the manual labor he was providing. That had to be it.

  “I’m actually sweeter than the candy.” Nigel tapped Devyn’s shoulder playfully.

  “Okay, enough small talk. Let’s get to work.” Devyn pulled her along. Asha was now excited about the day ahead. She went into the event-coordinator mode, arranging chairs, tables, décor, and giving instructions between answering calls and emails. When they completed the setup and everything was in order, Asha was beyond pleased. They were ahead of schedule, something she never even thought was possible. Even the surprise gift she had for Devyn arrived at the perfect time.

  “This place is amazing,” Qianna, affectionately known as “YaYa,” yelled when she walked in, along with her assistant, Camille.

  “YaYa!” Asha rushed over and grabbed her. “Thank you so much for doing this. My God, it’s good to see you. You look amazing.”

  Yaya, their friend and celebrity makeup artist, was the owner of “After Effex,” one of the city’s hottest beauty bars. The last time they’d seen her was when she’d done Devyn’s makeup for the wedding. Since then, like many of Devyn’s other friends in the industry, they’d lost touch. But when Asha reached out to her and asked if she’d bring her talents to the launch party, Yaya didn’t hesitate to say yes. Asha couldn’t wait for Devyn to see her.

  “Thanks, Ash. You’re still fly, rockin’ with the locs.” YaYa playfully grabbed Asha’s hair. “Where’s Dev?”

  “In the back with Chase getting her students glammed up. Everyone is excited. She’s gonna freak out when she sees you,” Asha told her.

  “At first, I thought I was at the wrong place when I saw the protestors outside,” YaYa said.

  “Me too,” Camille nodded.

  “Protestors?” Nadia, who’d been helping Asha put the final touches on the carpet that they decided would be used as a runway in the middle of the venue’s main area, jumped up and asked.

  “What? As in marching and chanting? Are they down the street?” Asha knew there was a Women’s Clinic in the nearby shopping center but thought they’d be closed on Saturdays. “Pro-Lifers, probably.”

  “No, here. There are some chicks right out front of this building with signs, yelling at people as they drive by,” YaYa explained.

  “I’ll take care of this, Asha. You go ahead and take them back so that y’all can get ready,” Nadia told them and headed toward the front entrance.

  “Come on.” Asha tried to remain calm, but the thought of someone holding some kind of demonstration outside was disturbing. She quickly led YaYa and Camille to the back room where Devyn, Chase, Journi, and Dionne were getting dressed.

  “Don’t you need to be back here changing?” Devyn asked when Asha walked in. “We’re almost ready, and you haven’t even started.”

  “You’re not ready yet. You can’t be. I just got here.” YaYa declared, pushing past Asha and jumping into the room.

  “Oh my God, Yaya!” Devyn’s eyes widened, she screamed, and the two women began dancing in a circle. Seconds later, Chase joined them, along with Camille, and soon, Journi and Dionne. After enjoying the reunion for a few moments, Asha slipped out the door and rushed to see what was going on outside.

  This had to be the actions of Marcia Thompkins. It was as if the woman were on a warpath and wasn’t going to stop. Hell no, she must not realize who she’s messing with. I got something for her pale, white ass. She will not destroy our event. She’s gone too far.

  “I’m telling you, leave now before I call the police and have you removed.” As soon as she opened the door, she heard Nadia’s yelling.

  Asha looked at the bottom of the entrance steps, expecting to see Mrs. Thompkins and her cronies. But she came to a halt before taking another step. She was too shocked to move. Instead, she just stared. It wasn’t who she thought. Nadia was yelling at someone much worse—Ingrid.
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  “Call them! I don’t give a damn. We have every right to be out here letting everyone know exactly who is up in this place,” Ingrid yelled and held up a flimsy poster board. Asha tried to read the sloppily written words, but couldn’t make out what they said.

  “Don’t be stupid. She’s crazy, and so are y’all for going along with this stupid shit.” Nadia addressed the two women standing on each side of Ingrid holding their own posters.

  “No, you’re crazy, and so is anyone else who steps foot in that building, especially women. We are gonna tell every person who comes here today that an abusive man runs Culture. You know it, I know it, and now everyone else will too,” Ingrid screamed. “Culture is for vultures. Beware of Bear.”

  Ingrid’s companions began chanting along with her, waving their signs, looking more like sex workers than protestors in their booty shorts and fitted white T-shirts with “No Bears Allowed” printed across the front.

  Asha finally regained control of her motor skills and marched over to them. “Ladies, she asked you all nicely to leave.”

  “Fuck you, Asha.” Ingrid stopped yelling and looked Asha up and down. “You’re the biggest vulture of them all. How the fuck you’re gonna hold your whack-ass party here, of all places? You’re fake as hell, and I can’t wait to tell my father.”

  “I don’t know what you’re even talking about. There’s nothing to tell him. You can’t speak about a party you’re not invited to, nor are attending. Now, get the hell away from here.” Asha stepped toward her.

  “Beware of Bear! Beware of Bear!” Ingrid began screaming again and moved past Asha. Nadia went to grab her, but Asha pulled her back.

  “Nadia, don’t. Just stop,” Asha pleaded.

  “She’s got an ass whooping coming, and today, she’s about to collect.” Nadia was breathing so hard that Asha could see the rise and fall of her chest.

  “What the hell are y’all doing?” Ben’s voice seemed to come from nowhere. Within seconds, he’d walked past Asha and Nadia and was in front of Ingrid and her friends.

  “Minding our fucking business,” Ingrid snapped. “Now, move out of the way, Ben. This ain’t got shit to do with you.”

  “Really, Ingrid? Haven’t you had enough of tryin’a be the center of attention?” Ben was clearly annoyed at her.

  “Fuck you, Ben.” One of Ingrid’s fellow protestors stepped forward.

  “You tried that a few years back. I turned you down then, and I still don’t want it,” Ben said with a repulsed look, then turned around toward Asha. “You ladies go ahead inside. I’ll handle this bullshit.”

  “You want me to get—” Nadia volunteered.

  “No. Don’t get anybody,” Ben said forcefully. “I got this. Ingrid may be crazy, but she ain’t stupid. She don’t want this smoke. Go.”

  The way he said it let Asha know it was best that they leave now, rather than later. She and Nadia quickly returned to the building. They had less than an hour before the start time, and she was nervous. Guests would be arriving at any moment. Everything they’d worked hard for was happening. This was something they shouldn’t have to deal with. Maybe I should call Sully and have him come get his tacky-ass daughter.

  “I hate that bitch, I swear.” Nadia looked like she wanted to cry. “I’m so sorry, Asha. She’s been a pain in our ass for a while, but I never thought she would pull a stunt like this. I’m glad Ben showed up when he did. He’ll make sure she’s gone in a few.”

  “It’s not your fault, Nadia. I already know she’s a hot-ass mess. But what the hell does her ex, Bear, have to do with Culture? I’m so confused.” Asha shook her head in disgust.

  “Bear is my brother Nigel’s nickname,” Nadia said. “Unfortunately, he’s Ingrid’s ex-boyfriend.”

  Chapter 23

  Devyn

  If Devyn needed a sign from God or some sort of divine confirmation that Pivot was part of his plan for her life, then the overwhelming success of the Premiere and Preview Launch was definitely it. Every moment of the event was absolutely perfect. The guests were blown away with everything: the venue, the décor, the mini seminars given by Asha and her, the runway and pageant demos by the girls, and the mock photo shoots by Chase. Even the light menu and the custom confectionery delights were a big hit with everyone. In addition to the RSVP guests, they also had a few VIP attendees that Devyn had no idea would be there. YaYa wasn’t the only surprise Asha had. Several other beauty influencers and bloggers were there to enjoy and support Devyn’s latest endeavor. Devyn faced her fears and gave interviews to the media and press members that promised to spread the news of their positive experience and Pivot’s services. To her relief, no one mentioned the extra pounds she now carried, Tremell, or his sex tape. She posed for pictures and smiled brightly. After a little coaxing from Asha, Devyn treated their guests to a walking demo of her own, hitting her signature strut. The day exceeded her expectations.

  “Well, you did it,” Chase announced and flopped into one of the chairs behind the registration table that had been manned all afternoon by Nadia and Mrs. Phillips, both of whom stepped up to help without even being asked.

  “We did it,” Devyn corrected her. “Right, Asha?”

  “Definitely. I can’t believe it. I mean, I knew it was gonna be phenomenal, but I can’t lie. I didn’t expect the magic that happened here today.” Asha was ecstatic. “Holy crap.”

  “Now, we get to clean up,” Devyn moaned, looking at the aftermath of their success. Asha had always said that the setup was hard work, but the cleanup was the real work. They began putting Culture back the way they found it, thankfully, with the help of everyone, minus Nigel, who had to run an errand. While Nadia and the girls put the chairs away in the rooms, Chase took down the backdrops, other signs, and her photography equipment and began loading them into Devyn’s car.

  “I can’t believe YaYa came. You kept that one real hidden.” Devyn nudged Asha as she folded up the tablecloth.

  “I knew you were gonna be excited, and she beat the hell out of your face,” Asha responded. “And mine.”

  “Yes, she did.” Devyn picked up the end of the carpet and began rolling it up. “I can’t wait to see how the pictures turned out, not just ours, but everyone else’s. I even saw Chase taking a few of Nadia. I love her so much.”

  “She is really cool,” Asha said. “And so is her brother, Bear.”

  Devyn stopped rolling and stood, taking a deep breath before turning to face Asha. “Yeah, they’re both good people.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you say something?” Asha hissed.

  “I didn’t think it was a big deal. There was so much going on that I didn’t have a free moment to tell you. We’ve been going nonstop all day. What was I supposed to do? Stop you in the middle of the party and say, ‘Oh, Ash, Nigel is Ingrid’s ex-boyfriend, Bear, but don’t trip.’”

  “Well, that might’ve been better than being pretty much blindsided by Ingrid and her thottish-ass friends who decided to post up outside earlier and hold a damn protest.” Asha tossed up her hands.

  “Wait. What?” Devyn looked at her as if she were crazy.

  “Yeah, they showed up with signs, shirts, and everything.” Asha continued telling about what took place while a clueless Devyn was being glammed up by YaYa. “There’s no telling what would’ve happened if Ben hadn’t shown up.”

  Devyn recalled seeing and speaking to Ben, but she thought Asha had invited him as a part of her matchmaking efforts. “I thought Ben was here as your guest.”

  “No, I mean, he came to support both of us, but he really saved the event. Who knows what kind of damage Ingrid would’ve caused. Can you imagine if people would’ve rolled up and seen that, especially the bloggers? Devyn, that kind of stuff can’t happen. We can’t risk it,” Asha warned, pulling Devyn toward the hallway that led to the back of the building.

  “You act like Nigel knew Ingrid was gonna pull a stunt. I’m sure he was just as surprised to hear what happened as I am—if anyone h
as even told him yet,” Devyn sighed. Ben certainly hadn’t mentioned anything about the incident, and neither did Nadia or Nigel, which made her wonder if Asha was making a bigger deal out of whatever happened. “Do you think I don’t realize how much today meant? He knew that too. That’s why he allowed us to hold the event here. Nigel is also the one who donated all those Pivot goodies people were fighting over.”

  “I get that. And I’m grateful. But the fact remains, psycho or not, something bad went down between him and Ingrid. He seems cool, but hell, so did Ted Bundy.”

  Devyn flinched slightly at Asha’s words. She knew the only reason she felt that way was because she didn’t know Nigel yet. “Asha, you’re ridiculous. He’s not a damn serial killer.”

  “Who’s not a serial killer?” Chase walked up behind them.

  “Nigel, otherwise known as Bear.”

  Devyn shook her head at Asha’s sarcastic tone, which, in her opinion, was unwarranted. Nigel hadn’t been anything but pleasant and helpful to all of them. It was as if Asha were blatantly disregarding everything he’d done to help out and make the day go smooth.

  “Oh, not him. He is most definitely a sweetheart, and he’s funny,” Chase commented.

  “Thank you,” Devyn said with pride, glad that she wasn’t the only one who noticed Nigel’s sense of humor.

  “Using Culture as the new location for class is a good look too, for them and us. I told Nadia I’d create some graphics from a few of the images I shot today. They can use them on their social media pages. I’m also gonna do headshots of her and Nigel next week,” Chase said.

  “Hold up, what do you mean by a new location?” Asha folded her arms and looked at Devyn.