by Saundra
“I know. I been busy at the hair store making sure its running the way it should. One of my orders was messed up a week ago and I had to wreak havoc in the city. But it’s all good now. I was callin’ to see if you could come through?”
“You got food up there? Cause I ain’t ate since this morning.” Sometimes I would be so busy I would skip eating until bedtime, and by then I was too tired to care.
“No, but I can order up some takeout. How bout wings?”
“I’m wit’ it. Hook that up.” My stomach was growling just thinking about it. Most mornings I only had Starbucks before school. I hated going to school with a full stomach; it made me fidgety and unable to think, and I did not need that. Hanging up with Keisha, I headed straight for the hair store.
“I see you’re fully stocked.” I gazed around at all the hair Keisha showcased throughout the store. From the looks of it, she had it set up really nice. For a minute, I thought it might look like one of those ninety-nine cent, knock-off hair supply stores that catered to the hood. But she had it looking really professional. Crystal-like glass cases showcased the hair, and some was displayed on a few full-size mannequins. “And I’m loving the setup.”
“Aye, you already know I’m gone do it right. Shit gotta be right wit’ my name attached. Bitches in the streets ain’t gone be out here laughing at me.” She looked around as if she was admiring her own store. “And business is on point. I knew this hair was gone be a gold mine. The bitches be cleaning me out. That’s why I had to go straight loco when my order got messed up. I’ll be damned if I miss a dime.”
“What happened with that?” I could understand her frustration.
“These motherfuckers crazy. Talkin’ bout they got my order mixed up with an order in Colorado. As if I cared about their reasons. Just fix my shit and fast.” She sucked her teeth. I could tell she was reliving the conversation all over again.
“Colorado?” I was shocked. “It’s black girls in Colorado?” I laughed.
“Bitch, that’s exactly what I said. I told them if they didn’t get my damn hair here by the next day I was gone shut that motherfucker down.”
“Aye, didn’t Buffy hook you up with them?”
“Hell yeah, she did. So you know I cussed her ass too. They all had me fucked up.” She smacked her gum.
We both couldn’t stop laughing when the delivery guy came in with the order of wings and cold, two-liter cherry Coke.
“Damn, now you was thinkin’ on your toes when you got the cherry Coke.” I couldn’t wait to have a cup.
“Bitch, I know what you like. Don’t be alarmed.”
“Good, let me wash my hands so I can smash. My stomach bout to snap out on me if I don’t put something in it. Where’s the bathroom?”
“Down there.” She pointed toward the hallway off to the left of the room.
Soon as I returned, I dug in. Keisha had grabbed some paper plates and glasses from her break room and brought them to the front. We sat behind the counter.
“You ain’t got no food up in here but you got dishes?” I asked as I put a few wings on my plate and poured ranch on top of them.
“Sure do. You know I’m lazy, so I’m always bringing in takeout or ordering in.” She popped the top on the cherry Coke and filled both our glasses. My mouth watered as I watched the cold liquid fill my glass. I was a fool for pop. “So what’s up over at the dry cleaners?” Keisha bit off a wing. “Damn, that was good,” she added before I answered. I was busy chewing myself.
“You ain’t lying,” I agreed. “But business is really good. The advertising and new equipment are all paying off.”
“Mane, I just wish your pops was here to see it.”
“I know.” Bringing up my dad made me emotional.
I was thankful when she asked another question that didn’t involve memory lane. “How your workers workin’ out? They be showing up and shit?”
“No doubt. They are doing their thing. You know Katrina about her business; she make sure everything straight. And Regina been working hard too.”
“That’s what’s up. I been thinkin’ bout bringin’ in two people to help out around here. Buffy, she be helping, but you know she keep her ass down at that strip club all day and night. You damn near got to drag that bitch up outta there. That’s all she know. But I can’t be spendin’ all my time up in here. I got shit to do.” She twisted the corners of her mouth up in a dramatic motion.
“I feel you. Why don’t you set up some interviews? I’ll help you pick out some people,” I offered. I was good at feeling people out.
“Cool, I might do that. I’ll let you know so you can clear that busy schedule you keep.”
“For real. But how have you really been since the miscarriage? I know you said you was good the last time I asked, but I want to be sure that you straight.” Keisha was my friend, the only friend I had when my father passed. I wanted to be there for her in her time of need.
“It was a little strange at first. Getting used to the idea of having this whole new person in your life. So it’s like I had to get over all that once I lost the baby and I admit it was hard at first. But honestly, I’m feeling better now . . .” She paused, so I knew something was up. “But Quincy . . . he is struggling with it still.”
“Does he talk about it?” I asked.
“Nah, you know him. He plays as if he’s cooler than a fan. And to keep me in the dark about it, or at least that’s what he thinks he’s doing. He works a lot, but he can’t hide it from me. I see it in his walk, the way he talks, his whole demeanor . . .” For a minute I thought she might cry, but she kept her cool. “But we good though.” She gave me a weak smile that confirmed what I already knew. She was indeed not good. “But, girl, let me tell you about Buffy.”
“What now?” I laughed. I knew whatever she was about to spill was gone be full of unnecessary drama, completely animated, and probably X-rated.
“Somebody done shot up her momma house bout her trifling-ass brother, you know the one they call Buster. Remember I introduced you to him when we were out having chicken and waffles a while back.”
“Yeah, I remember.” My mind drifted back to the day she introduced me to Buffy’s brother. He was what I probably would have imagined Buffy’s brother to be, a hood street thug with no manners. He was walking around looking like he had just been initiated into a gang, holding his pants up with his bare hand because he didn’t have a belt, with an old, stinky-looking toothpick hanging from the corner of his lips.
“You know, his ass swear he a gangbanger. Well, them niggas he got beef with done shot up they momma house tryin’ to lobby his ass. Girl, she done went bananas and threw Buffy and his ass out.”
“Wait, why she throw Buffy out? She have something to do wit’ it?” I was confused, but this was Buffy’s family I was thinking about. I was sure this was somehow normal.
“Naw, she ain’t have nothing to do wit’ it, but she say fuck both of their asses. She told them to hit the bricks.” Keisha chuckled. “Say she sick of both their troublemaking asses.”
“That’s messed up, but thank God no one got shot.”
“I know, right. But that wasn’t good enough for they momma. So now Buffy stayin’ at my house.” She playfully rolled her eyes.
“Oh, word.” If I knew any better, Buffy being at Keisha’s was not good. All they ever did was disagree. Soon they would be at each other’s throats. Literally.
Keisha looked at me and started laughing. “But that bitch can’t stay long or I will kill her ass. Or she gone kill me. You already know.” It was just like I thought, soon was already near.
“I was thinkin’ that.” I chuckled. “But you can’t put her out on the streets.”
Keisha looked around and sucked her teeth. “I guess you right though. I can’t have my bitch homeless. Sleeping in missions or shelters for battered women. Hell, she ain’t even been battered yet.” Keisha giggled. “Aye, but I called you over to talk business. For real.” She had to figh
t to keep from laughing at her own humor.
“Hey, you feeding me, which means I can’t complain. So what’s good?” I would have licked the hot sauce from the wings off my hands, it was so good. But I had wet wipes, so there was no excuse.
“Earlier, I was tellin’ you bout how good business was going. And you know how these bitches buying up all this hair. That got me to thinkin’, ’cause you know I’m all about them coins. I was thinkin’ I could keep sellin’ this hair. I already got the clientele there. Then on the back end we can get this money by opening up a hair salon.” I was confused about the word we. Did she mean me?
“Okay . . .” I stalled. “But what’s the we stuff?”
“We as in us, me and you. I was thinkin’ we both runnin’ successful businesses already. How bout we put our coins together and open a hair salon? It’s the perfect hustle for us, guaranteed moneymaker. I got the hair on deck; they can get the hair and have one of our potential beauticians slay, all in one whop.”
“The idea ain’t bad,” I admitted. “But I didn’t know you did hair. I know I don’t.” I chuckled with certainty.
“Bitch, now you know I can’t do no hair. When it comes to hair, I’m only good at getting mine done. I was gone find us a few badass hairstylists right here in LA. Shit, that won’t be hard; everybody round here swear they slay.”
I had to agree with her on that. Also there were some bad do-it-in-the-kitchen type hairstylists all around us. Everybody had a page on Facebook claiming they could slay. Finding some stylists would be easy.
“Precious, I want this bad. I’m trying to be an experienced business owner. Have different types of businesses. Become an entrepreneur.” She was hopeful.
“That’s what’s up. I really like the idea.”
“So what’s up then? Think about it—you with your schooling in business, mane, we could open up all kinds of shit. Be successful as shit out here. Soon we’ll have so much cash we’ll be taking trips just to get away. Hell, we could gateway to Miami. Cause networking a motherfucker these days.”
The more she talked, the more I liked her idea. Everything made perfect sense. A person would be stupid not to add up on the coins that we could possibly make. But I wasn’t sure I was ready to say yes just yet. As good as it sounded, I was already booked with school and the dry cleaners. “Keisha, this sounds like something I need to jump on, but with all I have going on, it’s something I’m gone need to think about.”
“Aye, I get it. And that’s cool, just let me know.”
I was glad that she understood. I had to be realistic and weigh everything out. I had chosen business initially ’cause I wanted to help my dad be successful. And since I had started the courses, I was learning a lot and I had to say I loved it. But running a business was no joke, a lot was involved, and if you put your all into it, there was nothing that could stand in your way to riches. But the one thing I had learned and trusted in was that you had to be a smart business owner to succeed. Anyone could get a loan or put up their own money to start a business; they could have a passion for it like my father did. But to stay on top and to be successful, you had to be smart. And I planned on doing just that with my degree.
Chapter 20
“Aheww.” DaVon hurled into the toilet for the twentieth time since he had woke up. I stood in the bathroom doorway reading the directions on the Pepto-Bismol I had run to the drugstore to pick up. I felt so bad for him.
“Come on, babe. You have to take this now. And drink some of the Gatorade so you don’t get dehydrated. Because if you do, you won’t have a choice but to go to the hospital.”
“No, ummm, I told you no hospital. They’ll be tryin’ to keep me. I got too much shit to do for that.” He loosened the death grip he had on the toilet and tried to glare at me.
“DaVon, you can’t worry about that. Here.” I handed him a Pepto tablet.
He frowned. “How long before it works? I have to get going.” He held on to his stomach. I was sure he had a stomach virus.
“Babe, you can’t go anywhere like this. You throwin’ up and you have diarrhea. You can’t conduct business like that.” I eyed him with confusion.
“Precious, I can’t miss this meeting. These niggas have to know what’s up. So this shit need to start working ASAP.”
“Well, unless you get a miracle, this ain’t gone help you in two hours. It just won’t. Now come on, get in this bed.” I reached down and helped him up. “Hold on to me,” I suggested.
“Nah, I may crush your little weight. I got it.” He took some steps that seemed like a struggle and fell into the bed. “Ahhh, this feels so much better.” He breathed a heavy sigh.
“And that’s where you can stay, in that bed. I’ll fix up a trash can for you to throw up in.” I went into the bathroom, grabbed the wastebasket, and filled it with a powder that Maria had given me to kill the throw-up smell. I set it by the bed.
DaVon tried to sit up, leaning onto his right elbow. “Listen, I have to go. This should not take long.” He attempted to lift his body but fell back.
“Babe, you can’t even drive. Let’s be serious here.” I braced myself, ready to suggest what I had in mind. “I’m going to take your meeting. I’ll go.”
His response did not surprise me.
“Wait, what?” He squinted at me in disbelief.
“You heard me right. And you know I can do it. Give me the layout of what you thinkin’. Call up Clip and let him know I’ll be heading the meeting. You know he’ll have my back. Trust me, I got this.”
“Aye, that’s no doubt.” DaVon gripped his stomach again and I knew pain was brewing.
“So make the call.” I needed him to know I meant business and I had his back. Penelope had made that clear to me. Her man and his business was also her main focus.
DaVon laid out his plans, and I took mental notes and bounced. Nothing was to be written that would leave a paper trail. When I arrived, Clip was outside waiting. Quincy was standing beside him.
Clip spoke first. “What’s up, Precious?”
“Yeah, what’s good?” Quincy followed up.
“Hey, is everyone already here?” I was only interested in getting down to business. I was nervous and anxious to get it over with. Inside, everyone was sitting around the table talking in somewhat muffled voices. Clip opened the door and I stepped inside first. Clearly I had everyone’s attention, as their eyes went straight to me. A few of the faces looked familiar. I had been to a few spots with DaVon in the past. But the one face I was very familiar with was Mob’s. He was the only one I had ever actually been introduced to. And he had been out to the house a few times.
He seemed a bit surprised to see me but said, “Hey, Precious.”
“Mob,” was my response. This meeting was business and I refused to digress from that. All the other guys seemed to look past me and I knew they were searching for DaVon.
Clip and Quincy both looked at me. Clip whispered, “You want me to introduce you?”
I wanted to scream yes, but I had to make it clear that I was there in DaVon’s place, which meant I was in control and didn’t need an intermediary. “Nah. You two can have a seat,” I instructed.
A seat was empty at the head of the table. With all eyes on me, I put one foot in front of the other and made my way to the chair. I sat down and looked at them. I had a sudden urge to clear my throat and rub my both my sweaty hands on my pants. But I chilled. Clip nodded in my direction and I took the cue.
“Some of you may know my name is Precious. And you know who I am. And for those of you who don’t know who I am, I’m sure you will make it your business to figure it out. DaVon won’t be here today. So we’ll get started. A lot is coming up in the next few weeks and months to come. We takin’ new territory and we need one hundred percent clientele in those areas.
“New territory?” An unknown voice boomed across the room. I laid eyes on a light-skinned tall dude with a flat-top.
“Nigga what the fuck.” Clip stood u
p. “Respect this shit. When she speakin’ you shut the fuck up. When yo’ ass can talk she’ll summon you.” Dude eyed Clip, then Mob and Quincy eyed him.
He apologized. “Aye, you right. I’m trippin’. My bad, Precious. I’m sorry.”
I started to roll my eyes, but that would not have been a boss move and it would appear childish.
I looked at Clip and moved on. “As I said, we will conquer new territory and add some new leaders to each block. With the anticipation of the new clientele, we have a big shipment coming in. We gone flood this city. You will be expected to carry more kilos and deliver on the sales. Daily drops may shift a bit, but that information will be discussed later.”
“Case.” I referred to one of the leads. Case had been running a block successfully for two years, according to DaVon. And he had seen a bigger future for him, so I announced, “You will be leading two of the new blocks.”
“Cool.” Case nodded. “What about my old one?”
“That one will be reassigned.” Case nodded again with acceptance. “Rodney.” I addressed him next. Rodney was a peon, but he had mad clientele and made major plays, and was not to be fucked with. DaVon was certain he could handle running a new block and maintaining order. “You will be running one of the new blocks. You are being promoted to lead.”
“No doubt.” The tone in Rodney’s voice told me he was proud.
“Mob, you will be leading a new block and maintaining two old ones. And you still have your other duties with pickups.”
“That’s what’s up. I’m here for the takeover.” Mob was happy.
“As for the rest of you, DaVon will be meeting with you next week to set up territory and changes. Keep in mind, taking over new territory, things can get crazy. But the plan is to step into these new blocks with as little bloodshed as possible. Gettin’ the bag is the goal.” With that I stood up and made my exit. Clip and Quincy followed.
“My dude good?” Clip asked as we walked outside.
“He will be.”
“Yo, tell that nigga to get well soon. We got shit to handle,” Quincy said.