Sharp Curves Ahead

by Allison Hobbs

  Chapter 30

  Jayla’s plan to invest in real estate was virtually impossible as long as her mother continually changed her mind about loaning her the money. One day, Lorraine was enthusiastic and on board with the idea, and the next day, she’d have a change of heart. She engaged in weekly prayer meetings with her pastor, beseeching the Lord to help her reach a sound decision, but the weeks kept passing without Lorraine receiving any answers from above.

  Jayla blamed the pastor for the long delay. She believed he was filling Lorraine’s head with doubt because he wanted the money for the church…or to line his own pockets.

  It wasn’t until the beginning of summer that Jayla was finally able to extricate a sixty-thousand-dollar check from Lorraine’s tightly closed fist. Jayla and Derek had to commit to a wedding date and promise to give Lorraine at least three grandbabies before she handed over the money.

  Jayla and Derek were en route to Ridley Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb that was approximately twenty minutes away from Philadelphia. With Derek behind the wheel of Jayla’s old Subaru, the car coughed along as Jayla stared down at her phone, perusing the online listing of foreclosed properties.

  Their mini vacation in Miami was over and Jayla felt it was time for them to get busy building their empire. At the top of her wish list were new cars for both her and Derek. Something flashy and fast for Derek and something elegant for her. She’d worked so hard selling houses, but she never seemed to get ahead. It was well past time for her to get a major break in life.

  After finally getting revenge on the scum bag Niles, she felt vindicated and renewed, and that transformative feeling had miraculously removed the dark cloud that had hung over her for far too long.

  With a sixty-thousand-dollar cushion, she was confident that taking on the role of real estate investor as opposed to merely being an agent was a surefire way of taking her destiny into her own hands and achieving financial freedom.

  She looked up from her phone and glanced at Derek. “Before we get on the Blue Route, I want to shoot through West to check out a property.”

  “Where in West?”

  “Dearborn Street. It’s a little side street near Fifty-first and Arch.”

  Derek scowled. “Damn, babe. That sounds like the heart of the ’hood.”

  “You’re right, it’s a bad neighborhood, and judging by the picture on Google Maps, the entire block is a total disaster. Most of the houses are boarded up.”

  “Okay, I’m stumped. Why are we wasting time looking at property that no one would want to buy?”

  Jayla smiled deviously. “Let me explain something. The rate of gentrification has been crazy in in the Southwest neighborhoods that surround University of Pennsylvania and in North Philly near Temple University…also in the Point Breeze section of South Philly. I personally sold a house for big bucks in that neighborhood. After eavesdropping on a private conversation at work, I discovered that certain parts of West Philly, particularly east of Market Street, are slowly being revamped.”

  Derek arched his brow. “Let me guess…you want to get in on the ground floor.”

  “Exactly. I missed out on all the other emerging neighborhoods, but I won’t miss out this time.”

  “But isn’t that risky? No matter how well you fix up a house, who would want to buy it if it’s on a rundown block?”

  “High-risk, high-reward,” Jayla said knowledgeably. “But if it makes you feel better, I discovered that right around the corner from the rundown blocks is a cluster of really elegant Victorian houses that were restored. They’re occupied by high-income residents. The guys I eavesdropped on were talking about a developer who’s planning to buy all the cheap property in the area, including Dearborn Street. That’s why I want to have a look. Maybe we can beat the big guy at his own game.” Jayla gazed at Derek with excitement glinting in her eyes.

  He stared back at her impassively, his expression unreadable.

  “Say something. What do you think?” Jayla asked.

  Derek’s brows lowered. “I don’t like the plan.”

  “Why not?”

  “It puts us at the mercy of the developers. We won’t be able to make any money until they decide to get shit popping in the neighborhood. What happens after we finish renovating the crib? I’ll tell you what’ll happen,” he added without waiting for Jayla to respond. “We’ll be stuck with a house that we can’t sell until the rest of the block is fixed up. I don’t think it’s right to play with your mom’s money like that. We promised she’d get her investment back in a reasonable timeframe—not somewhere in the far-off future.”

  “Let me worry about my mom. I know how to handle her. Listen, if we’re smart, we’ll buy as many raggedy-ass houses in that area as we can get.”

  Derek yanked the steering wheel to the right, causing the tires to squeal as he pulled over to the curb without warning.

  Jayla gasped. “What the hell is your problem?”

  “You’re my problem! You sound crazy and I’m not feeding into your delusion. I put up with a lot from you, but you got me fucked up if you think I’m gonna go along with every half-baked scheme that enters your head. We need to stick to the plan and find something in the suburbs that we can easily fix up and flip real quick. All this other shit you talking sounds like a pipe dream, and I’m not with it,” he said firmly.

  It wasn’t like Derek to throw a fit, and being unfamiliar with his aggressive side, when he wasn’t role-playing, Jayla softened her tone. “I need you to look at the big picture, Derek. Please! We can do a whole lot of work and end up making only a small profit…or we can do the same amount of work and make a huge profit. Take a deep breath and calm down, okay? I just want to see the property. It can’t hurt to take a look at the house.”

  Derek gave a deep sigh before merging back into the flow of traffic.

  When they were close to the address on Dearborn Street, Jayla directed Derek to make a detour on Fiftieth Street. She pointed to a cluster of refurbished homes that sat like a lovely oasis amid the crumble and deterioration of the area.

  “Wow! This is surreal,” Derek said, gawking at the charming Victorian-style houses that were surrounded by beautiful cherry blossom trees in full bloom and paved with natural stone walkways that led to elegant front doors.

  “Do you see all this amazing opulence that’s sitting smack in the middle of a neighborhood that’s gone to the dogs?” Jayla said excitedly. “Do you think the buyers would have invested in these properties if they didn’t have inside information that the neighborhood would soon be revitalized?”

  “You have a point.”

  “Uh-huh, I sure do,” she responded boastfully. “Do you still think I’m crazy?”

  “Like a fox,” he said, breaking into a smile.

  “Are you ready to go around the corner and check out the property on Dearborn Street?”

  “Let’s do it.”

  They arrived on the deserted block that was comprised almost entirely of vacant, burned-out, dilapidated, and boarded-up houses.

  “This shit looks worse than I imagined,” Derek muttered as he parallel-parked between a portable Dumpster and a yellow-booted car.

  He remained in his seat with the corners of his mouth turned down in disapproval as he observed the surroundings. Jayla unsnapped her seatbelt and hopped out of the car without hesitation.

  Derek got out of the car and caught up to Jayla as she peered through a front window that was hazy with dirt and grime.

  “From what I can see, the place is falling apart,” Jayla said. “There’s an ancient-looking carpet with all kinds of stains that’ll have to be pulled up, but hopefully, we can restore the wood flooring underneath. A fresh paint job, crown molding, and new light fixtures will make the front room pop.” She squinted as she scrutinized the room. “I can see some old, moldy wallpaper that definitely has to be removed. If we’re lucky, thieves didn’t get inside and yank out the plumbing.”

  Derek took a quick peek through a seco
nd window. Wearing a screw-face, he took several steps back and folded his arms across his chest. “Do you seriously want to waste our time on this dump?”

  “Why’re you being so pessimistic? Come on, let’s go have a look around back.”

  “For what?”

  She could feel her patience waning, but she kept her voice even-toned. “We need to see as much as we can before we bid on the property. That’s the thing about buying foreclosures at auction. You can’t see what you’re getting until you’ve actually bought it.”

  “Buying something without inspecting it first is crazy, babe.”

  Jayla smiled awkwardly, but didn’t comment. She had no idea why Derek was being so difficult. She wondered how long it would take him to come around and see things from her perspective. Eager to get a look at the kitchen, she made her way to the back of the house by trekking through the breezeway that was overgrown with weeds and littered with trash.

  Trailing behind her, Derek cursed under his breath as he stepped over broken glass, beer cans, and a soiled Pamper.

  The tiny backyard, a forest of foot-high grass, thorny bushes, and thick brambles was practically impenetrable. Fearing snakes and God knew what else, Derek and Jayla treaded carefully.

  When they reached the backdoor, they discovered it was hanging off its hinges.

  Frowning, Derek observed the rotting wood on the broken door. He moved closer to Jayla and placed a protective hand at the small of her back. “This is a fucked-up situation, babe. Any mofo from off the street could come back here and walk right on in.”

  “I know,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Knowing that the door is broken, I’m really scared about stolen pipes, especially if they were copper.”

  “Fuck the pipes; we need to get out of here,” Derek said. “There’s no telling how many squatters are up in this bitch.”

  As if struck by a wonderful idea, Jayla’s eyes suddenly brightened. “Since we’re here and the door’s not locked, it would be a shame not to go inside and check out the premises,” she said, selecting her words with care.

  Derek scoffed. “You expect me to go in there?” He shook his head adamantly. “That’s out of the question. I’m not entering those fucked-up premises…not without a hazmat suit.”

  “Derek.” She spoke his name warmly as she brushed her fingers against his hand cajolingly. “I don’t know why you’re acting so squeamish. You used to rehab houses for a living, so you should be used to houses like this.”

  “The houses my mom’s church fixed up were salvageable residences. They weren’t condemned property like this piece of shit. We worked on houses that needed reasonable repairs and cosmetic updates, but this place is beyond repair. You don’t need to go inside to realize this place would be better off being torn down and rebuilt from scratch.”

  Jayla didn’t say a word. She folded her arms and stared at him.

  “What?”

  “You’re not very observant. Didn’t you notice that portable Dumpster…the one you parked behind?”

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  “That presence of that Dumpster means that somebody has already bought one of the godforsaken cribs on this street and they’ve started clearing it out. If that’s not proof that something is happening in this neighborhood, then I don’t know what is.”

  Derek gazed at Jayla thoughtfully.

  Jayla’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm. “This house is going for only fourteen thousand. If we set our budget at twenty thousand for repairs, we’ll make out like fat rats. The key is to picture what the property could become instead of focusing on the shape that it’s currently in.”

  “I can’t envision anything except the shit show that’s right before my eyes.”

  How would you feel if we drove down this block six months or a year from now and it resembled that classy Victorian-style enclave that’s right around the corner? Also, how would you feel if you discovered that the raggedy-ass property you’re turning up your nose at was selling for three or four hundred thousand?”

  “I’d feel sick to my stomach,” he admitted.

  “That’s what I’m saying. So, let’s not talk ourselves out of an opportunity to rake in piles of money. It’s time to step out on faith, babe,” she said pleadingly.

  “All right. Fuck it. Let’s do this.” Derek carefully pulled the decayed door away from the rusted hinges and propped it against the house before he and Jayla crept inside.

  The kitchen smelled bad, like a mixture of rotting food and cat urine. There was greasy, peeling wallpaper, dated appliances that were filthy, and overflowing bags of trash were scattered about the downstairs.

  Derek twisted his lips in disgust and Jayla covered her nose.

  “What do you want to investigate first, the basement or upstairs?” Jayla asked in a voice that came out muffled from behind the hand that covered her nose and mouth.

  “There’re probably rats, bats, flying cockroaches, and a family of vagrants down in the basement. I’m not ready for all that, so let’s check out the upstairs first.”

  They climbed the creaking stairs with Derek leading the way and Jayla holding on to the back of his hoodie. He reached the landing and stopped in his tracks.

  “Goddamn!” he uttered in a voice filled with absolute shock.

  “Oh, no. What is it?” Jayla asked, dreading his response. Unwilling to face the carnage, she buried her face in Derek’s back and pictured ceiling-less rooms that opened to the elements and were a haven for all sorts of flying creatures. “Oh, God, don’t tell me the roof caved in. I can’t take it. I’m going back downstairs.”

  As she turned halfway around, Derek took a firm hold of her arm. “Where do you think you’re going? You forced me to come inside this godforsaken house, and now you’re gonna see this.”

  Jayla squeezed her eyes closed, unwilling to look at the disaster that awaited her. It was her fault that they’d wasted so much time in this falling-down house, and now she wanted to abandon the mission and check out another listing that was located two blocks over.

  She tried to dig her heels in, but Derek pulled her forward. “Don’t be skurred,” he joked. “Open your eyes, Jayla.”

  Her eyes slowly fluttered open. She gasped when she saw that the upstairs was completely renovated. The bathroom was a stunning masterpiece that included a glass-encased shower with floor-to-ceiling mosaic tiles and chrome faucets. There was marble flooring and the double vanities had marble countertops.

  The remaining two bedrooms were painted with new baseboards and light fixtures. There was a short, curved stairway that led to the attic, which had also been transformed into a cozy bedroom.

  “Someone put a lot of money into renovating the upstairs,” Jayla said in a whispery, awe-filled voice.

  “What do you think happened?” Derek asked.

  “Who knows? The previous owners could have lost the place after taking out a big loan. Or maybe somebody got sick or died before they got around to fixing up the downstairs. Their loss is our gain, and it’s a miracle that no one stripped this place down. Oh, my God, I’m so excited, my heart is pounding,” Jayla said, touching her chest. “This place is being auctioned for only fourteen thousand because no one knows about the upstairs. Do you realize how much time and money we’re going to save?”

  “When is the auction?” Derek inquired, his level of excitement matching Jayla’s.

  “Tomorrow at ten. We have to make sure no one is living in the basement, and then secure that back door to protect our property,” Jayla said, talking fast and excitedly. “Babe, this is a sign that the tide is finally changing, and it’s finally our turn to have a good life.”

  They stood in the hallway admiring the renovations and Derek put an arm around her. “You get extra points for your determination. I won’t ever doubt you again. Tell me what you need me to do and consider it done.”

  She had every right to be perturbed by the way Derek had doubted her intuition, but she wasn’t. His apology was
sweet. The way he bit on his lip when he was feeling contrite made her cunt clench, and she found herself growing very hot and wet.

  “You acted like an asshole, but I’ll forgive you if you make it up to me tonight in bed,” she said, twirling her hair. Then she gave him a sly smile that told him she had something decadently salacious and deliciously dirty in mind.

  And she knew that Derek would be more than willing to give into her desires.

  “I got you,” he assured her, his eyes darting down at his crotch that had instantly begun to swell at the promise of a long night of good fucking. “All I have to do is make a quick phone call to James.”

  James was the pastor’s son, who, behind closed doors, was much more freaky than holy.

  A shiver ran through Jayla as she envisioned three heated bodies entwined and thrashing together in her king-size bed.

  All she could think of was two sets of wandering hands, two laving tongues, her trembling body covered in warm kisses, and the thrusts of two hard dicks, filling her body, and fucking into her soul.

  Chapter 31

  For months Bailee had gone back and forth to Philadelphia to pitch her business plan. From a list of forty potential investors, she received a firm “yes” after meeting with the eighteenth name on her list.

  Although Hayden was impressed by the speed in which she’d secured funding, Bailee had expected it to happen sooner. Despite the ungraceful way she’d exited her job at the bank, she was still confident in her ability to wheel and deal in the world of finance.

  With the money hunt out of the way, she was able to focus on the creative end of the enterprise. She became obsessively passionate about HaydenWear Fierce and painstakingly infused each unique piece with her vision.

  At Hayden’s leased office space in Miami, she worked long hours. Alongside the designer Hayden had selected, she picked out flattering styles and supportive fabrics that would inspire workout confidence for the line’s target market.