Talk of the Town

by Tanya Ridley

  I was the girl to go to if you wanted your hair done right, and had the best stylists in Atlanta working for me. My clientele ranged from around the way girls, to celebrities who wanted their hair done correctly. Soon, my name was ringing out all over the city, and I loved every minute of it.

  Because I was the new kid on the block, all the other salons quickly became my competition and everybody seemed to hate on me. I guess it was because I took customers from every one of my rivals, and didn’t mind doing it. That was more money for me. I knew a lot of people wanted me out of business, and quickly started crazy rumors. Some said I was into drugs, some said I was fucking a drug dealer to pay the mortgage, while others said I was selling pussy in the back next to the shampoo. Whatever illegal activity that was going on in Atlanta everyone said I was involved. But I didn’t give a fuck what people had to say, even though some of what they were saying was indeed the truth.

  Scottie was my silent partner and laundered his dirty money through the shop. The advantage to that was I never fell behind on any of my bills because he always made sure everything was paid. With eight stylists and two nail techs, I was pulling in over ten grand a month, and because Scottie took care of all the expenses, all the cash went directly into my pocket. Not to mention, the money I made off my own endless list of clients. I’d landed on a legit gold mine, and would’ve traded the dangerous game of robbing men for my dream any day.

  However, behind closed doors, I was moving at least ten kilos a month for Scottie. Like he requested, I put a crew together that consisted of my older cousin, Marquez to work for me. Growing up I didn’t see much of Marquez because he was always in and out of jail and probably had a rap sheet longer than I-95. Since my brother wasn’t around to help me, I knew Marquez was the next best thing. He was always a nickel and dime hustler out in Charlotte pushing a little weight here and there, but once he accepted my job offer, moved to Georgia and started working with me, he instantly stepped up his game. Soon, Marquez brought in a couple of trust worthy soldiers from Charlotte that had his back at all times and mine. My cousin was all I needed to put the city on lock and hold shit down for my man. Marquez was my muscle, and his soldiers killed like murder was just a game for them. All I had to do was supply Marquez with the coke that I received from Scottie, and he took care of the rest. He was the hustler locking down the streets, while I maintained the salon. I was making a fortune by getting money from both ends.

  The only thing that I asked of Marquez in return was to stay out the shop because he couldn’t control himself around the ladies, and I didn’t want my clients to think I had gangstas running around all the time. I wanted a shop with class, not a ghetto hang out.

  Marquez would always try to push up on my employees, especially my best stylist, Michelle and my receptionist, Carol. I loved Michelle because she did her work with perfection and always had her booth rent on time. She also wasn’t a gossip queen like all the other stylists or Carol, who we called mouth of the south. She seemed to know everybody’s business and was a major flirt in the shop.

  I knew Marquez was fucking some of my stylist, and I warned him and my girls to leave each other alone, but Marquez loved pussy, and I heard through Carol that my cousin was holding it down in the bedroom. But more importantly, the main reason why I didn’t want Marquez coming around the shop was because he and his crew had gained a lot of attention lately and already had a beef with some dudes from Kimberly Court Projects.

  It was known all over town that Mya was the ring leader of the crew and that she’d muscled and murdered her way to the top with a fierce thug named, Ace watching her back. Mya and her crew were getting serious drug money in the city, so between my cousins’ crew and Mya’s the murder rate had doubled over the past several months.

  I hadn’t seen Mya since that day she confronted me about Scottie, and honestly didn’t want to. We made sure to keep our distance, but I knew sooner of later we would eventually bumps heads. We were both involved in the same game. However, unlike her, I kept a discreet profile, and to some I was just an average hair stylist. But to those who really knew, I was a rising kingpin with the help of my man. I knew if Mya ever found out, things would get really ugly. I heard that she’d stepped it up a notch by murdering one of her ex-lovers to get to the top, so trying to come after me would be a piece of cake. In my eyes, Mya was out of control and it was only a matter of time before her date expired.

  Chapter 17

  Diamond

  Thursday evening in my shop was always crowded with ladies getting their hair done for a night out on the town, or a fabulous weekend. My girls and I were all busy with clients and worked effortlessly to a Lyfe Jennings CD. I turned up the CD player when my favorite song, ‘Must Be Nice’ started playing. I let the words, Lyfe’s voice, and his style serenade me as I took out the last roller in my client’s hair.

  “You know what must be nice, is to get a man with a job, no kids and some good dick,” Carol uttered out, stirring the shop with laughter.

  “I agree. I’m tired of all these damn wanna be ballers,” another stylist added.

  I smiled. Too bad none of you ladies has a man like mine, I thought.

  “Well, I have all that and then some waitin’ for me at home right now,” Alaina said, pouring some conditioner on a client’s head.

  “Well if that’s the case then why your trifling ass keeps having different niggahs pick you up from work all the time? It must be nice not gettin’ caught,” Carol replied, putting Alaina on the spot.

  “Please girl, I’m just havin’ some fun, and beside, my man ain’t put a ring on this finger yet, so I’m just doing me. Let’s just say I’m spreadin’ my love around until the right one comes along,” Alaina said.

  “Well, you’ve been doin’ a lot of spreadin’ lately and it ain’t been your damn love either,” Carol replied.

  The entire shop roared with laughter, but Alaina didn’t look too pleased with Carol’s smart comment. She sucked her teeth, and rolled her eyes. “Well at least I got a man at home waitin’ for me, you still just a hoe waitin’ around for one!”

  “Oh, no she didn’t,” I heard a girl utter out.

  “Carol, just go back up front. We don’t need this today,” Michelle said.

  “Please, look who’s talkin’. This is comin’ from a hoe who fucked two brothers in their van right after work last week. I peeped you out there gettin’ that two for one special, Alaina,” Carol responded with her hands on her hips.

  “Oh shit,” someone shouted out.

  “See Carol, you need to mind your fuckin’ business, before you end up gettin’ fucked up in here!” Alaina shouted, washing the client’s hair even harder.

  “I’m sorry, did I hit a nerve, boo? Don’t you know I see and know everything that goes on around here? I’m like a mutha-fuckin’ surveillance camera,” Carol bragged.

  “Well did you see my man fuckin’ that bitch?” one of the customers said, who was under the dryer.

  I laughed to myself and shook my head. Everybody was putting their two cents in.

  “Well since you see so much Carol, why don’t you see your ass over to the damn phone. Aren’t you supposed to be the receptionist? I hear AT&T callin’, bitch,” Alaina responded.

  The shop erupted with laughter again.

  “Alaina, shut your nappy ass head up. You sweat your two dollar weave out every night under a different niggah, and then try to get one of your broke ass dudes to replace it. Well here you go,” Carol said, handing Alaina two dollar bills.

  Everybody in the shop loved it when Carol and Alaina had their daily Jerry Springer moments. They had a love hate relationship, so everybody knew by the end of the day both of them would be giving each other high fives.

  “You know what’s fucked up, is that you always in a bitch’s business,” Alaina countered.

  “Oooh, somebody’s gettin’ called out,” another stylist yelled.

  “Fuck you, shampoo girl. Just shut up and bust those
suds,” Carol joked, then stuck her tongue out.

  Alaina gave her the middle finger, trying not to laugh at Carol’s funny comment. She turned off the water and grabbed a towel to dry off the client’s hair. Carol was a riot and always had to have the last word.

  “Okay ladies, playtime is over, let’s focus on getting our customers out of here so they can enjoy the rest of their evening,” I finally intervened.

  “Whatever you say, boss lady,” Carol joked and walked back to the front of the salon.

  I smiled. I loved my girls because even though they talked shit, they were all a good group of women. I enjoyed coming to work with them everyday.

  “Diamond, girl I give it to you, you doin’ your thing up in here,” Alaina said, walking up to my station. She’d finished with one client and was waiting around for the next person who needed to be washed.

  “I try,” I humbly replied.

  “You try…shit, you went from doing hair in your kitchen, graduatin’ from hair school, to openin’ up your own shop. That’s a hell of an accomplishment. Hell, that’s more than tryin’, where we’re from. You know that’s either a miracle from God, or you’re one hell of a hustler,” Alaina said.

  I looked at my friend and smiled because she was right, I’d worked very hard to get what I had. “I’m just a hard worker.”

  “Um-mm, right,” she muttered.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

  “Oh, nothin’ at all, Diamond.”

  For some reason I didn’t believe her. I knew how much these women ran their mouths. “What, have y’all been hearing shit about me?” I asked.

  “Well, I ain’t the one to gossip like that bitch, Carol, but word around town is that you in bed with some Cubans from Miami and they fronted you some cash for your shop. Also, that money is being laundered through here to clean drug money,” Alaina informed.

  “Alaina, you talk too damn much,” Carol interrupted as she walked past us.

  “I know you’re not talking, bitch. You’re the one who fuckin’ told me!”

  “Alaina, I swear, you worse than a fuckin’ snitch,” Carol responded.

  “Well, first of all, don’t believe everything you here, and get your facts straight first before you start telling people’s business,” I said, with a stern expression. “And that shit, goes for everybody up in here!”

  “I ain’t sayin’ anything personally about you, Diamond. But your cousin Marquez has been coming in here a lot lately, and everybody in town knows what that cutie is about,” Alaina replied.

  “All of y’all need to shut up and mind your damn business around here,” Michelle warned.

  “Nah, it’s cool, Michelle. But I want everybody to know that Marquez is my cousin, and he only comes here because we’re family, that’s it. My shop is legit so y’all ain’t got anything to worry about,” I lied. “Now just shut up and get back to work!” I yelled to everyone.

  Both Carol and Alaina sighed and then went back to doing their job. I was upset with both of them a bit, but didn’t show it. I knew people always had their speculations about me, but it was nothing but talk. I kept my business with Scottie very low-key and professional. Money was being made, and everybody was employed, so they should’ve been happy for that.

  After I finished styling my client’s hair, I was about to head into my office to get some time alone, when I heard Alaina ask the shop, “Yo, did y’all hear about those murders over by Decatur the other night?”

  “Nah, what happened?” Michelle asked.

  “Shit, it was all over the news,” Alaina continued. “They found four bodies butchered to death in an apartment. One dude was almost decapitated. They were tied, mouths duct-taped and mutilated.”

  “Damn, that’s fucked up,” Michelle uttered.

  “I bet you that shit got sumthin’ to do wit’ Mya. Yo, that crazy bitch is sick in the head. I heard she gunned down her own man in front of his crib. She ain’t mentally right,” Alaina replied.

  “I heard she got everybody scared of her,” another stylist added.

  “That’s because she got that crazy ass niggah by her side…what’s his fuckin’ name, clubs, spades or somethin’,” Alaina said.

  “Ace,” Carol corrected, as she walked toward the back of the shop. “I’ve been around him once, and he don’t talk much. He got this constant cold look about him and it creeps me out.”

  “Man, that Kimberly Court crew is wild as hell,” another stylist replied.

  “All of those assholes can stay the fuck away from me. They’re making this city so damn hard to live in,” Michelle responded.

  I remained out of the conversation, and just listened. None of the girls in the shop knew that I used to run with Mya and that we were best friends at one point. I wanted that part of my life to remain quiet. Ever since I came back from Miami, her reputation had become more intense so I never wanted to be associated with her again. It was best that Mya and I stayed away from each other.

  The girls continued to run their mouths about Mya and her crew, and gossiping about how much money she was getting and how many people they thought she’d killed. I was sick of hearing about that shit and turned to head into my office, when I heard Carol say, “Now who is this pulling up in the white Benz?”

  When I turned around and looked out the large glass window in the front of the shop, I let out a huge sigh. I had dreaded this day since I came back from Miami. Damn, I’m not in the mood for this.

  “Oh shit, speak of the devil,” Carol said.

  Mya stepped out of a white CLK with the words, PAID on the license plate and strutted toward the shop in her normal sleazy attire. I was surprised to see that she’d cut her long hair into a cute stylish bob that hugged her chin.

  She entered the shop with a frown on her face along with a huge guy with dreadlocks by her side. Everyone’s face suddenly became flushed with panic, not knowing what was about to go down or why she was here. Five minutes earlier, the shop was filled with drama and laughter, now everybody was quiet as a mouse. The only thing that could be heard was the humming of the hair dryers. Someone had even turned the music down.

  Mya glared at me and clenched her jaw. “Damn Diamond, you’ve been back in town for months now, and I can’t get any love from you,” she said, looking around. “I see you doin’ your thing, finally set up your own salon and shit. It looks good.”

  “Same to you,” I returned halfheartedly.

  Mya then turned to look at everybody in the shop. “Y’all bitches gotta problem wit’ me since you keep staring in my fuckin’ face?!” she barked.

  Everyone’s eyes quickly diverted from her, and back to what they were doing. She spread intimidation so quickly, that you thought it was a plague.

  “As a matter of fact, I need some privacy wit’ my girl. All ya’ll get the fuck outta here and wait outside so me and my friend can talk in private,” she demanded.

  I gave her an evil look. Maybe everybody was afraid of her, but I wasn’t. “Mya, don’t talk to my employees and customers like that. We can talk in my office,” I replied.

  “Nah, I need something done to my hair, and I want you to do it while we talk,” she ordered.

  “That’s okay, Diamond, we all could use a quick break anyway,” Michelle said, leaving the shop. I knew Michelle hated drama, so it wasn’t a surprise to see her leave first.

  Soon everyone else followed along with her, customers and all. When everyone was out the shop, Mya took a seat in one of the chairs and looked at herself in the mirror. I walked up to her, frustrated about her presence in the shop and how she’d forced everyone out just to talk to me. But I kept my cool. She didn’t intimidate me like she did everyone else around her. I knew Mya more than anyone, and deep inside her bark was bigger than her bite. I guess she kept forgetting that we came from the same background.

  “So what do you need done to your hair?” I asked.

  “Just a trim, nothin’ spectacular,” she said, leaning back
in the chair.

  “Is he gonna stand there and look at us the entire time?” I asked, pointing to her bodyguard. “I thought you wanted to talk in private.”

  “And?”

  “So why is he still in here?” I asked with a smart tone.

  She turned and looked at the dude, who hadn’t said a word. “Its okay, Ace, I’m good.”

  Ace nodded and headed outside with everyone else.

  “Does he ever talk? Or does he have to get your permission first?”

  “He’s about business and makin’ sure no harm comes to me. His Glock does all the talkin’ for him,” she informed.

  I sighed and picked up a pair of shears and began trimming her edges.

  “So, when were you gonna let me know that you came back to town. I mean, I had to hear through the grapevine about you and your success. I thought that after our little dispute, you had moved down to Miami and shacked up wit’ that cracker.”

  “Scottie,” I corrected her.

  “I know his fuckin’ name,” Mya spat back. “Did you forget that I was the one who told you about him in the first fuckin’ place?” She looked in the mirror and stared at me.

  I should cut all her shit off, I thought. “Look, can you get to the point?”

  “So, Diamond I see you doing good for yourself wit’ this shop. Got marble floors and fuckin’ flat screen TV’s everywhere. Did that cracker give you the money to open this place?”

  “If you must know, I took out a loan,” I replied.

  Mya let out a huge laugh. “Yeah, right. Who the fuck do you think is gonna believe that stupid shit? If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were back in the game and movin’ weight in this city,” she said, in a nonchalant tone.

  I stopped cutting and looked at her. “What do you want, Mya?” I snapped.