Large and in Charge

by La Jill Hunt

  “I guess I can see what I can do. I’ll let you know in a couple of days. I’m just excited things are working out so well for Devyn and Pivot.”

  “Thanks to you,” Asha commented. “I don’t understand why you can’t just—”

  “No, I’m not ready. And please don’t tell me she knows about any of this. The call to Walton, the VIPs at the launch . . . You can’t tell her anything about it, Asha.”

  “Scorpio, she doesn’t know, but she should. At some point, she has to find out.” Asha shook her head. Keeping the help that Scorpio had been giving Pivot was killing her. To Asha, it was a blessing, but she knew if Devyn found out from anyone else other than Scorpio, there would be hell to pay. Asha and Scorpio had been going back and forth over the dilemma.

  “She will, in time. Just not yet. I don’t want her to think I’m helping her out of guilt for what I did. That’s not what this is at all. I believe in her and what she’s doing. Devyn is smart and talented. She probably didn’t even need my help, but I love her and want to do what I can to support her,” Scorpio said.

  “I get that, and I know she will too. We all want her to succeed: me, you, Chase, Uncle Julian. That’s all any of us ever wanted. It’s what her mother wanted.” Asha continued, “You need to tell her.”

  “Maybe you’re right. How long will you guys be in town?”

  “We leave the day after tomorrow. We’re gonna do a little shopping and sightseeing tomorrow, then head out the following morning,” Asha replied.

  “I can’t believe you all drove a damn RV. I would’ve bought the plane tickets, Asha. Jeez.”

  “That wasn’t necessary. Besides, it was a fun drive.”

  “Well, I’m actually back in town. Just got here today. I’m heading over to the new mansion my hubby purchased. Then I’m hitting the club tonight. Why don’t we plan to meet for lunch tomorrow? That way, she and I can finally have the talk.”

  “Lunch tomorrow. Just let me know when and where.” Asha was relieved that the longstanding beef would finally be squashed. They could then address the tea that was just spilled. Everyone knew that Scorpio was leaving her longtime husband, R&B superstar King Douglas. Their divorce proceedings had been pending for months, and from what Asha saw, Scorpio had been living the single life for a while. “Hubby? I thought you filed for divorce? Wait, does King even know you’re coming?”

  “Nope, I don’t have to tell him when I’m coming home. Besides, I wanna see what’s so special about this crib he built somewhere called ‘The Manor of Harrington Oaks.’ Honestly, I’m just nosy. Besides, filing doesn’t mean we’re divorced. We are still married.”

  “You are. Well, I need to get back inside,” Asha told her.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, Ash. Congrats, again,” Scorpio said and hung up.

  “Sorry about that.” Asha apologized when she returned to the office and took her seat.

  “No problem at all.” Glenda smiled. “Mrs. Phillips here was just raving about Pivot and the importance it’s played in Journi’s and Dionne’s progress. She isn’t the only one who had great things to say. Pivot comes highly recommended, and I must say, we’re impressed. You probably don’t know this, but we’ve had our eye on your company since it launched.”

  “Really?” Asha nodded and crossed her legs.

  “Yes, and I don’t know if your schedule will permit, but we’d love to sit down with you and Miss Douglass to discuss a contract with Pivot to work with a few of our newer models.” Glenda smiled.

  “I’m sure Miss Douglass and I can accommodate a meeting before we leave. Thank you so much.” Asha remained calm, suppressing the excited scream that she wanted to release.

  This is it. We did it. Securing a contract with an elite agency was something they hadn’t even considered, and now, it was happening. This is just the beginning for us. Scorpio truly looked out. This is bigger than we ever imagined, and our lives will never be the same. I can’t wait to tell Devyn and Chase.

  Devyn

  Of all the hotels she’d ever stayed in, and there had been quite a few, the Westin was Devyn’s favorite. She loved the upscale comfort of the accommodations and the friendly service. One thing she truly adored was the way it smelled. No matter which location she stepped into, she was welcomed with the familiar, refreshing signature White Tea fragrance. It was easily one of her favorite scents and instantly relaxed her. But now, as she sat in the hotel lobby, despite the familiar aroma, the last thing she felt was serenity.

  “Dev, baby, you need to chill.” Nigel looked up from the cooking show he was enjoying on his phone. The closer he got to the launch of Culture Cuisine Meal Kits, the more obsessed he seemed to become with celebrity chefs.

  “I’m fine,” Devyn lied.

  He placed his hand firmly on her knee. “Then you need to tell that to your leg that’s been shaking for the past twenty minutes. Everything is going to be all right. You said this is just one invitation of many for them: Either it will be yes or no. The only thing that matters is that they do their very best.”

  Devyn nodded without saying anything, hoping the pep talk she’d given Dionne and Journi before they left the hotel had been effective. When she’d received the same words of wisdom from her mother, they’d been inspiring and motivating. She now knew exactly how her mother felt: proud of the hard work and dedication that resulted in the opportunity, yet fearful of the possibility that it may result in disappointment. Like a parent, Devyn was well aware that rejection was a part of life and came in many forms, but she did not want them to experience it. Not yet, anyway.

  What is taking so long? They should’ve been back by now. How long has it been? Maybe them not being back yet is a good thing? I really should’ve just gone with them for this audition. Why hasn’t Asha at least called with an update? Devyn stared at her phone, making sure she had a signal and checking the time. She realized only an hour had passed since Asha, Mrs. Phillips, and the girls had piled into the SUV provided by The Walton Agency and headed to the meeting. It had been Devyn’s decision not to attend in an effort not to be a distraction from Dionne and Journi. This was their defining moment, not hers. She wanted them to shine. Now, she wished she had taken a risk and tagged along. The suspense was killing her. The fact that an agency of Walton’s caliber had reached out to them was huge—an opportunity of a lifetime within itself. Even if they weren’t offered a contract, at least they’d be on the radar.

  “You’re still sitting down here?” Chase walked over and asked.

  “I asked her if she wanted to go get something to eat, but she doesn’t.” Nigel shrugged without looking up from his phone this time.

  “I’m not hungry,” Devyn said.

  “But I am,” Nigel responded. “She’d rather sit here and shake with worry while my stomach beats me in my back.”

  “I’m gonna beat you in your back if you don’t hush.” Devyn gave him a warning look. “We can go get food when they get back.”

  “When they get back? Dev, you know that could take hours,” Chase told her. “Let’s just go grab something close. Where’s Ben?”

  When the agency contacted the girls for the “go-see,” Ben offered to drive everyone up in the RV he’d been dying to put on the road. The thought of being in the same vehicle with everyone was a bit disturbing at first, but Asha convinced Devyn that it was only a four-hour drive. It was cheaper than buying plane tickets for everyone, and it would be fun. Luckily, she’d been right.

  “He went to do something to the RV. I don’t know. He just said he’d be back in a little while,” Devyn answered.

  “I shoulda went with him. At least I coulda got some food,” Nigel mumbled.

  “Oh God, fine. Let’s go eat.” Devyn stood, knowing that if she didn’t agree that the two of them would continue to complain. “Wherever we go, I don’t wanna hear you talking about how much better the food would be if you cooked it.”

  Nigel grinned. “I won’t make any promises, but I’ll try.”

>   “I’ll order an Uber while y’all pick a place,” Chase told them.

  “Let me hit up Google and see what pops up,” Nigel said.

  “How about you go and ask the concierge for a recommendation?” Devyn suggested.

  “Good thinking. I’ll be right back.” He gave Devyn a quick kiss, then headed toward the front desk area.

  “I hope everything is going all right,” Devyn sighed, looking down at her phone again.

  “It is. If those girls aren’t anything else, they’re prepared. You worked them to death this past week, their portfolios are flawless, they look amazing, and Asha made sure they’re polished. They’re ready, Dev,” Chase assured her.

  “I still can’t believe this is happening. It’s crazy. Walton never reaches out to models, let alone inexperienced ones. These girls have never booked a show or been on a damn set. I’m kinda wondering if I’m dreaming, honestly,” Devyn told her.

  “It is kinda odd, but I ain’t questioning God’s favor, and neither should you. Let’s just take our blessings as we get ’em,” Chase laughed.

  “I know that’s right.” Devyn’s tension eased a little. “I’m all nervous, like they asked me to come in.”

  “Does that mean you’re interested in jumping back in the game, Devyn, dear? I mean, I’m sure Asha would have no problem mentioning that while she’s there. Lemme send her a quick text.” Chase reached for her phone.

  “Don’t you dare, Chase,” Devyn laughed and grabbed at her arm.

  “D?”

  Devyn froze when she heard the voice. She hadn’t heard it in years, but she instantly recognized it. The shocked look on Chase’s face also confirmed who it was before she even turned around to see. Her body rotated in slow motion, in contrast to the quick pace of her heartbeat.

  “Oh shit,” Chase whispered.

  “Devyn Morgan.” Tremell smiled at her.

  “Devyn Douglass,” she corrected him, still stunned by his presence. He looked the same, only a little older, a little flashier, if that was even possible. Instead of a bald fade, he had tiny starter locs that looked like blond pieces of macaroni in his head. There were so many platinum chains around his neck that Devyn could hardly make out the team name of the jersey he was wearing. His jeans were too fitted, and his jacket, which he didn’t need in the eighty-degree heat, was too big. She had no idea who his stylist was, but obviously, he needed a new one. The entourage he had with him didn’t look any better.

  “Oh, my bad, Devyn Douglass,” he repeated. “How you been? You looking good, D.”

  Is this really happening? Is this dude really standing here talking to me like we’re cool? Nah, he can’t be.

  “We were just leaving.” Chase pulled Devyn toward her.

  “What’s good, Chase? You looking amazing, as usual.” Tremell looked her over.

  “A’ight, babe, the concierge says there’s a bomb burger joint not too . . .” Nigel stopped and looked just as shocked as Devyn was to see Tremell and his crew.

  Tremell looked Nigel up and down, then said, “’Sup?”

  “Yo,” Nigel responded, then turned to Devyn and Chase. “Y’all ready?”

  “We are,” Chase told him, then looked over at Tremell and said, “Nice jacket.”

  As soon as Devyn went to leave, Tremell touched her arm. “Dev, wait. Please.”

  Devyn quickly snatched away from him, and Nigel moved closer. Tremell’s large security guard did the same, and the two big men squared off.

  “Stand down, big guy. I ain’t the one,” Nigel cautioned.

  “What you wanna do?” Tremell’s bodyguard crossed his arms in front of him and stood with his legs slightly apart.

  “Chill out, fellas, this ain’t even like that,” Tremell spoke up. “I’m just tryin’a holla at Dev right quick, that’s all. Just for a moment, please. Ain’t nobody asking for trouble.”

  Devyn looked around and saw the small gathering of spectators standing nearby, some of whom were now recording what was happening. The last thing she wanted was to be the center of another media spectacle with Tremell.

  “It’s fine, Nigel.” Devyn touched his shoulder. “I got this.”

  “Dev, you sure?” Chase asked, just as ready to rumble as Tremell’s posse was.

  “Yeah,” Devyn nodded. She looked at Tremell and motioned toward the hotel bar, “We can talk over there. Alone.”

  Tremell instructed his crew to stand down, then followed Devyn toward the far corner. She leaned against the wall and folded her arms, waiting for him to talk.

  “You wanna sit down, grab a drink?” Tremell offered.

  “No. This isn’t two old friends catching up. I don’t even want to hold a conversation with you, Tremell, to be honest,” Devyn snapped at him.

  “Damn, Dev, it’s like that? I thought we were past all of what went down,” Tremell sighed.

  “Past all of it? Tremell, what the fuck is wrong with you? What the hell are we past? The fact that you humiliated me in front of our family and friends by leaving me at the altar? Or are we past the fact that you used that most painful moment to make a fucking video, with one of my closest friends, to promote your own career and assassinate mine in the process? Not to mention, you did all of this during a time when I was suffering from a debilitating illness and the death of my mother.” Devyn unleashed the years of pent-up emotions she’d been holding in. “I lost everything while your ass was on top of the world, and you think I’m just supposed to move past it? Fuck you, Tremell.”

  Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t. You. Dare. Cry. Devyn said the words repeatedly in her head, reminding herself that she promised the last time she cried over Tremell would be the final tears she would ever shed behind his ass.

  “I’m owed that, Dev, and I’m sorry for all of it. I should’ve been man enough to tell you I was having doubts about the wedding. But everything happened so fast. I didn’t know how to handle it. I should have apologized. Real talk, the only reason I made the stupid video was that I was mad about how you swung on me in the church, and Scorpio was pissed too. It was wrong of both of us,” Tremell admitted. His apology was too little, too late, but hearing him admit he was wrong was a little satisfying.

  Devyn shook her head. “You weren’t the only one who had doubts, Tremell. I did too.”

  “I didn’t know that, Dev. All I knew was how important the wedding was for you, your mom, and everyone. When I told Asha that we might need to wait, she was dead ass against it,” Tremell exhaled.

  “Wait, when the hell did you tell that to Asha?” Devyn asked, surprised by what he said. He’s lying. He has to be. Asha never mentioned Tremell having cold feet, before or after the wedding. “That doesn’t even make sense because Asha is the main person who didn’t want me to marry you.”

  “That’s what I know. But the day I picked up my tux from the designer, she was there, and I mentioned it. She pretty much told me I didn’t have a choice, and this wedding was going to happen, no matter what. Then she started rambling on about how life was too short, and she and I were going to have to be there for you. We needed to care for you and make sure you were good. I understood what she was saying, but, Devyn, I couldn’t.”

  “What do you mean, Tremell? You make it seem like Asha knew something was going to happen. No one even knew I was sick, not even me.” Devyn’s eyes bore into him, and she was now uncomfortably hot.

  “I’m not talking about your being sick, Devyn. I’m talking about your mother. Asha knew she was terminally ill; she knew she was dying.”

  She knew she was dying?

  Devyn couldn’t breathe. Her body betrayed her mind, which instructed her not to fall. Tremell’s voice became distant as she closed her eyes and collapsed into his arms as he caught her before she hit the floor.

  The Drama Continues in

  Private Property 2:

  Closing Costs

  coming soon . . .

  n Charge