A Woman's Worth

by Jahquel J

  I reconsidered killing Moses and Quinton. I was on some real hater shit and I needed to stick with my brother instead of against him. I thought about what Moses said to me about having a son come in this world and I remembered when I had my oldest son. I didn’t want to take him away from that. As for Quinton, I still didn’t fuck with him but I figured if I kept my distance, I wouldn’t have to deal with him.

  The main reason decided to spare their life was Tone was messy as hell, and I didn’t want to end up in prison on his behalf. And how was I going to show them I could do it on my own if they were dead? I was going to let my haters be my motivators.

  I met a dude at a bar one night. Turns out he’s running big things in Little Haiti. I decided to link up with him and I was days away from receiving a shipment of some of the finest coke straight out of Mexico. I was going to have to work my way up and bag and supply my own shit. I didn’t have the money to have a team yet. I was fine with it though.

  Melissa called me a couple times and warned me about my house in New York being foreclosed on. I told her when I got settled, I would send for her. I was on the fence now after what Tiff and I did the other night. I didn’t know what she planned with Quint and if she was going to continue her relationship with him.

  One night of lust wasn’t going to change all the heart ache and pain I put her through over the years. If she wanted to move on I had to let her live her life. I messed up what we had and now I realized that. If shit didn’t work out with Tiffany, I wanted to make things work with Melissa and our unborn child. I wanted to be a better father to my sons and Madison. I needed to become a better man not only for my kids but for myself.

  I walked into the warehouse Tone owned, he was sitting at the pool table snorting a couple of lines. He had become a wreck the last couple weeks, he was so indecisive and reckless. He pulled a gun in broad day light in KFC because a man didn’t get his order correct. It was only a matter of time before he ended up dead or in prison and I wasn’t trying to be a part of that.

  “What’s going on Tone?” I asked sitting down across from him.

  “You want some? I got some more in the back. This shit is so damn potent I stay high for days,” he boasted, like it was something to be proud of.

  “Nah I’m good. I came by to let you know I won’t be going through with the plan we had in place. I don’t think you should either. Your life is too important for you to be involved over some ‘he took my girl’ high school shit.” I tried to spit what little wisdom I did have.

  “Nigga, please. It goes deeper. The nigga got my bitch pregnant. I got beef with all them motherfuckers! Your bitch, cuz she just lied while she knew Tyrisha was out being a hoe, and that bitch ass Quinton nigga calls himself pressing me.” He slurred.

  I noticed the empty bottle of gin sitting next to the table. His continuous drug use was making him irrational and acting on whatever impulse he felt at the moment.

  “You not touching Tiffany. I’m letting that known right now. I ain’t afraid to let my gun bust, don’t get it twisted because I’m backing out. I know when to hold them and when to fold them,” I warned him.

  I walked out the warehouse. I needed to talk to Moses and let him know what was going on. If something happened to Tyrisha or his unborn child because of me keeping mouth shut, I knew Moses wouldn’t only be gunning for Tone, but for me too.

  I pulled up to Moses new house and killed the engine of the rental I was driving. I stepped out the car dressed down in a Gucci tee, tan shorts and Gucci loafers. I was trying to change my wardrobe Moses so often complained of.

  I rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. Tyrisha opened the door pressing her lips together which made her look like a duck. She sucked her teeth a few times but never said anything.

  “Hello to you, too, Tyrisha. Is Moses home?” I asked trying not to lose my cool, she was sizing me up, but she was the reason Tone wanted her and Tiffany dead.

  She couldn’t keep her legs closed to one man.

  “Come in. He’s in the room on the left. Knock before entering,” she said stepping aside.

  I walked in the house and knocked on the door. Moses yelled to come in and I walked into the room.

  He was in his office looking over a couple papers and drinking a cup of that brown water.

  “What’s up Moe? Haven’t spoken to you in minute.” I said sitting down on the chair in front his desk.

  “What do I owe this visit and how do you know where I live?” he asked.

  He put down the papers he was looking over and sipped his Henny.

  “I’mma get to the chase. I was going to kill you and Quint, and in the worst way you guys were going to pay. I had an epiphany and I realized you weren’t the enemy, I was. I was running around here doing shit that I had no business doing and wasting money I didn’t have. About knowing where you live, Tyrisha has a big mouth and Tiff told me,” I bluntly said.

  I wasn’t scared we all had to go and if today was my day I was going to go with open arms.

  “I notice you’re dressed more spiffy. Looks good on you.” He complimented me, not addressing the fact I was going to off his top.

  “Tone is gonna kill you, Tyrisha, Quint and Tiffany. That nigga on that white shit hard. I’m warning you so you could keep Tyrisha near. I plan on doing the same with Tiffany.” Moses shook his head and continued to sip his drink.

  “I knew you would see shit my way. I’m not the enemy, kid. Tone will get handled and we will make sure of it. If I find out you’re part of this shit, I’m gonna kill you myself. Don’t worry, Madison will always be taken care of,” He threatened.

  “You got my word. Let me know what’s going on with the plan and he could get done with ASAP. I got business to handle you know where to find me.”

  “Yeah, in my condo nigga. Handle you. I’m hearing some good shit about you. Victor and I are proud. Keep it up and keep your hands clean,” he said, standing up and reaching for my hand.

  I gave him my hand, but he pulled me in for a hug. It felt good not to have beef. I had bigger fish to fry. As the old saying goes if you can’t beat them, join them.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Quinton

  “Why you acting so distant?” I asked Tiffany.

  We were out to dinner and she was acting all weird and distant. I didn’t know what her deal was but since she moved into her own place we rarely got together anymore. I invited her out to dinner so she could relax from work and being a mother and let her hair down a little. I ordered a whole bottle of wine and Ciroc, her favorite drink ,so we could get drunk and enjoy the night.

  “What are you talking about? I’m enjoying the food and this restaurant,” she said, looking me straight in my eyes. It was like she was going through something and she didn’t want to speak on it.

  “If you say so. How is Maddie? She starting to walk?” she smiled before she responded.

  “She’s walking all over. I had to have Reshawn come by and baby proof the house,” she slipped.

  I knew she didn’t mean to mention it the look on her face explained it all.

  “So Reshawn knows where you live?” I asked trying not sound jealous but I couldn’t hold what I was feeling.

  I was never the type to sugarcoat shit.

  “He changed. He’s trying to be a better father to Madison. It’s something different about him and I can’t change the fact that he is Maddie’s father. I don’t want to be one of those baby mothers who denies her child a relationship with her father because we are no longer together.” She started getting worked up so I calmed down a bit.

  Maybe I was overacting a little but I still needed to know something.

  “Have you slept with him?”

  “What kind of question is that?” She fidgeted in her seat a little bit and drank the rest of her wine.

  I already knew the answer.

  ***

  I pulled up in her driveway, I wanted to see if she would invite me in.

&nbs
p; “Come on inside, we can have some more wine and see where the night takes us.” She smiled being flirty.

  She was feeling good from the drinks we had dinner.

  I got out the car, pressed my alarm and walked into her house. She had decorated it really well and it was all coming together. Tiffany slipped her heels off and walked into the kitchen in search for wine glasses and wine.

  “I'm still getting use to everything and where it is.” she grinned.

  “Cool with me.”

  “Now why are you acting all distant and weird.” She mocked.

  I could show her better than I could tell her. I grabbed her face and kissed her so hard, then I picked her up while she giggled. I carried her up the stairs as she yelled the directions to her room. After fumbling with the knob for a bit, I got it open and put her on the bed.

  She had a dress on so it was easy access for me. I lifted it up and pulled her panties to the side. I wasn’t for all the foreplay. I knew she gave Reshawn some of my pussy and she needed to be punished. I wanted to punish her so well she would be calling for it. I dropped my pants and pulled my dick out. I was so turned on at the sight of her, I could just watch her and jerk off and still leave satisfied.

  I climbed on the bed and mounted her. I rubbed my dick on her clit for a few moments, as she whined her hips. When I rammed my wood into her leaking love box, she gasped which made me keep going. Finally, she got the hang of it and started moving her hips to match my rhythm.

  “Quinton, I love you baby,” she screamed while I continued to dick her down. She lifted her head up and tried to kiss me but I moved my face and it landed on my cheek. She looked at me strangely but I continued to finish dishing out my pipe. She contracted her pussy muscles which made me go nuts. Her pussy was so tight and wet. I finally pulled out and came on her stomach.

  “What was that about?” Tiffany asked me, covering her body with the blanket.

  “What you mean?” I asked while putting my jeans and shoes back on.

  “This was our first time and I felt like I just had a drunk one night stand. A bad one, might I add. Are you leaving?”

  “Stop being dramatic, Tiff. Yeah, I’m out. I got work in the morning.”

  “Since when you leave because you got work in the morning? You usually stay and go to work from here.” She pouted.

  I could tell she wanted me to stay but I needed her to know I wasn’t the one to play games with her. It was either me or Reshawn, she couldn’t have her cake and eat it too.

  I leaned on the bed and gave her a quick kiss and peeked in Madison’s room on my way out. I knew she would be calling my ass soon as I got in the car. As always I was right. I pressed the hands free button my steering wheel and her voice came out the speakers.

  “I don’t know what kind of games you’re playing.” She said throwing on her ratchet voice.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You just fuck me and leave. I tried to kiss you and you move your face. Is it something bothering you?”

  “Nah, I’m good. Call me tomorrow.” I replied, ending the call before I said what I really wanted to say.

  If she felt Reshawn was worthy to not only come back into Madison’s life but hers, I was going to let her do her and see the outcome. I wasn’t one for breaking happy homes and if she felt the grass was greener on the other side I was going to let her find out.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Tiffany

  “Tyrisha, I swear I felt like I was a side bitch. He didn’t cuddle or nothing. I called him and asked him what was going on and he claim nothing was wrong and hung up,” I said.

  We were in the office this morning. I was checking emails while Tyrisha was eating, as usual.

  “Have you told him about the Reshawn situation?”

  “He asked me last night, I told him ‘no’ but maybe he sensed I was lying. I don’t know what is going on in his mind. I don’t want to lose Quint but Reshawn and I are having fun hanging together.” I sighed thinking about how I came to Miami to get away from drama and it followed me right to Miami—first class.

  “I'm not the one to give you advice about this, you see where I’m at. I got to go, babydoll, today I find out my induction date.” Tyrisha walked around the desk, kissed me on the cheek and said her goodbyes.

  Moses wanted her either out the house or with fully committed to him, especially after the conversation he had with Reshawn. Quint, Moses and Reshawn said they were handling the situation but I couldn’t see how that would go any way but bad.

  I stayed at the office for two hours. It was slow and I didn’t have any clients. I grabbed my Chanel clutch and was preparing to leave when I saw Reshawn walk off the elevator and towards the receptionist desk with a bouquet of flowers. I would be lying if I didn’t feel butterflies.

  I walked to the receptionist desk while Reshawn was engrossed in a flirty conversation with Lilly, the receptionist. He would forever be a flirt.

  “Hey, Rah, what are you doing here?” I smiled.

  I couldn’t believe I was actually excited to see him. Who would have thought?

  “I brought you these, something to brighten your day a little more than it already is,” he smiled, exposing his pearly whites.

  “Thank you, I can’t remember the last time I received flowers. I was just on my way out.”

  “Can I take you to lunch?”

  “Sure, let me put these in the office and I’ll meet you downstairs. We can take my car.” I said, walking away to the office.

  Like I had done for many years before, I made sure to put an extra pep in my step because I knew he was watching.

  ***

  Lunch with Reshawn was like a breath of fresh air. We talked about more stuff in that hour than we did the last couple of years. He opened up to me about things he was going through when we were together. I shed a couple tears being the softy I was.

  I was surprised to find out the house was foreclosed on and Melissa was actually his side bitch. It didn’t bother me, the past was the past. It wasn’t like we were getting married. I considered our random hook ups fun and nothing more than sex. I chose to ignore the butterflies I felt and the thoughts of us being a family together. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

  I was sitting in the nail salon getting my feet worked on. My feet were screaming for some attention. I had some time before I had to go to the mall and pull a couple outfits for a client, so I opted to stop and treat myself.

  I sent Quinton a quick text but never received a text back. I didn’t know what was wrong with him, but I know after we fucked last night I felt used and disrespected. I know my answer to the question with Reshawn probably confirmed his suspicions.

  My thoughts were interrupted by the vibrating in my bag. I fumbled with it for a few before putting it on speaker. It was new phone.

  “Hello, Tiffany Mitchell.”

  “Hi, Tiff, it’s Elvira. Can you please pull a couple pieces for my husband as well? I would really appreciate it.”

  “Sure, email me his sizes and I’ll pull some suits for him, also.”

  “Thank you so much! You’re a lifesaver,” she said before hanging up.

  I sat my head back, closed my eyes and blew some air out my nose. I was spread pretty thin these days. I barely spent time with Madison lately. She was walking and I was missing all her millstones.

  “I take it you’re a stylist?” I heard a deep profound voice ask me.

  My eyes were still closed but I opened them to see who exactly was minding my business.

  “It’s not really nice to eavesdrop.” I stated with a smirk on my face.

  “I wasn’t exactly eavesdropping. You had your phone on speaker.” He shot back.

  “Touché touché.” I smiled.

  I sat my head back again. He was so damn fine and smelled marvelous. I could eat him up. I could tell he was tall the way his legs curled up with his feet in the foot tub.

  His chestnut skin was flawless, not a blemish in
sight. His oval sleepy eyes were the perfect color of hazel. They drew me in to what could possibly be going in on his mind. His hair was low Caesar with a couple waves, nothing too crazy. He was dressed in a pair of shorts, a polo shirt and his Jordan 12s, which were sitting on the floor beside my Louboutins.

  “My name Marquise. Nice to meet you, Tiffany.” He said extending his perfectly manicured hand.

  I noticed his pinky nails were longer than his other nails.

  “Nice to meet you Marquise. You’re either a pimp or in the pharmaceutical business.” I said trying to be discreet, while looking at his pinky nails.

  “I could be,” he said brushing it off politely.

  “I’ve never seen straight a man who gets a pedicure. I’ve heard of them but I’ve never seen one.” I bluntly said.

  “How do you know I’m straight?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” I said putting my finger in my mouth because it was closer than my foot.

  “I'm fucking with you. I’m straight. I believe you should treat your feet like your teeth. I wouldn’t not go to the dentist so why wouldn’t I take care of my feet?” He smiled exposing one dimple on his right cheek.

  “It was nice meeting you Tiffany. Can I have your car? I might need your expertise one of these days,” he said putting his sneakers back on.

  “Here you go. Please call during the hours it says stated on the card. I like my sleep.” I smiled handing him the card.

  “I sure will. Take care, pretty.”

  An hour later I was at Dolphin Mall, in Saks, pulling outfits for Elvira and her husband. I pulled her an off-the-shoulder, black and gold, color-blocked dress. I paired it up with a triple-plat formed black and gold Versace pumps.

  For her husband I picked a smokey grey military-styled Versace suit jacket with the matching cropped pants. For his shoes I picked some Louboutins loafers with spikes.

  Once I was satisfied with my outfit choices I picked Maryann a pair of rhinestone booties that were on sale, to show my appreciation. Plus she was dating more than ever.