The Deviant

by Tiana Laveen

  “What?! You said you wouldn’t have it until next week.”

  “The automall, you know, the one I stopped in a few weeks ago, called me like four hours ago and said, ‘Hey, a red Tahoe is on the lot. We just got it.’ I’ve been looking everywhere for one in this specific shade. I wanted it second hand but not old, and not too many miles on it. It also had to be in great condition and no major accidents on record. That was a tall order, but boom. There it was. I went right down and got it. It was like a dream come true.”

  “That sounds nice! Congratulations!” Mom smiled big, as if it were her car, too.

  Suri was glad she and King were hitting it off. She stood back a step or two, allowing them time and space to converse. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think these two had known each other for years. Soon, they were interrupted and escorted to a table for brunch. After being seated and placing their beverage orders, Suri sighed in appreciation.

  “So, Suri told me you’re a manager at a high-end men’s clothing shop and an artist, too.”

  “Yes, I am. I’m also working on a venture with a fashion designer and thinking about enrolling back into Pratt Art Institute. It’ll only help me in the long run with possible future career opportunities because even though I think I’m qualified as is, that degree can open more doors.”

  Mom flopped back in her seat, aghast, causing Suri and King to chuckle.

  “You’re a hustler, you know that?” She pointed at him. “That’s good, I applaud you. Goals are important.”

  “I have to be. It’s funny, I used to be kinda lazy when I was a kid, but my father wasn’t havin’ it.” King chuckled. “He’s a pull yourself up by your bootstraps kind of guy, and I pretty much followed in his footsteps as far as making sure I kept a roof over my head, food on the table, earning my keep, things like that. My stepfather encouraged education, and to keep moving, growing, taking care of myself, honing my talents, my desire to learn, things like that… and my mother encouraged creativity and compassion for others. So, between the three of them, it really helped me stay focused and understand that part of being a man is being able to support myself, as well as any girlfriend or future wife I may have.”

  Suri’s chest almost burst when King turned his gaze towards her while speaking the last sentence.

  “Well, you talk a good game.” Mom smiled as she took a sip from her glass of water. “Seeing is believing.”

  “I agree with that wholeheartedly. I really care about Suri… I love her. I’m a man of my word. I think she knows that by now.” He winked at her. She couldn’t help but smile. “She’s smart. Beautiful. Encouraging… taught me a lot already, too. She’s good for me.”

  Mom looked so thrilled, cheekbones rivaled freshly plucked apples. She hooked Suri’s gaze for a moment.

  “King, she is definitely all that you described and more. If she’s happy, I’m happy, and from what she’s told me about you, and how you present yourself, you’ve made a good first impression. I’m glad I’ve gotten a chance to meet you.”

  “Likewise. Suri has told me so much about you, explained how close you two are, and because she and I have gotten so serious, we both thought it was time to meet each other’s families.”

  “Yes, she told me she’ll be meeting your parents soon. Oh, and before I forget, order whatever you want. Brunch is on me.”

  “Mom! That is so sweet!”

  “No, no, no.” King waved his hands about frantically. “This is my treat! I invited you out.”

  “I know you did, but I want to pay. It’s my pleasure. Now, tell me about this art show of yours coming up. Suri said it’s a really big deal.”

  King began to discuss how long he’d been working on some of the eclectic pieces, while Suri half listened.

  For the first time in a long time, I have met a man who makes me feel like a piece of me is gone when he goes away.

  For the first time in a long time, I feel like I found that missing puzzle. King is a complicated man, but now he’s open to listening, and I love that. He’s more trusting, seeing the good in people until they prove otherwise. He accepts me for who I am, and that’s a tall order. It’s rare. This man has never tried to change me or make me do or be someone I’m not. In fact, he celebrates me…

  He says, ‘I am the party. I’m the balloons, the drinks and the fun. He just wants to come.’ Being in love with him is a little scary. He’s so serious, he’s chill, he’s full of passion. But the thought of being without him, now that I know him, is even scarier. I am hopelessly in love…

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Boss Up

  “I’m sure he’s received the email now. I will give him a call.” Ricky sat in his home office, his spectacles on, while listening to George Benson and Earl Klugh’s ‘Dreamin'’. Cigar smoke filled the room as he sat back in his chair, shaking his head. “I’ll call you back.”

  “Okay, I’ll wait to hear from you.”

  Ricky disconnected the call and placed his cigar in the astray. Steepling his fingers, he swiveled slowly back and forth in the navy-blue leather chair. He heard his laptop ding, signaling he’d received another email.

  He clicked on the message and read it:

  From: Baker, T.

  To: Garcia, R.

  Mr. Garcia,

  Per the current information that you and Mr. Lincoln Davis provided, and following our discussion this morning, we are prepared to provide a counter-offer for the new shirt designs you presented. We tested the market, as you know, and all apparel sold out within three days. We ran additional testing with long-sleeved shirts, and that apparel, with the first and second design implemented, sold out in two days. You stated you have secured a vendor for the shirts at a lower cost. One in Venezuela; the other, for the sweatshirts and sweatpants, in Ohio. Profit margins will shift significantly once these new expenditures are executed. Thank you for your hard work. Additionally, I was told that Nieman Marcus is ready to provide POs. Please provide the information we requested, as well as a timeline as for when new orders can be fulfilled. We’ve attached our proposal in an Excel file and require an electronic signature. Do not hesitate to call should you have any additional questions.

  Kind Regards,

  Taylor Baker,

  CEO of Emporium Fashion

  Fashion Ave #201, New York, NY 10018

  (212) 555-8941

  Ricky scanned the attached files, though he already knew the details of the offer. Seeing it in writing, however, made his heart beat so much faster. This deal had been well negotiated; it had taken days to reach an agreement. On a deep breath, he picked up his cellphone and made the next call.

  “Lincoln, it’s me. How are you?”

  “Ricky, I take it you saw the email, too? I was just getting ready to call you.”

  He could hear the enthusiasm in Lincoln’s tone.

  “Yeah, so I think we should definitely proceed. The shirts did far better than either of us anticipated. We’re set to make in excess of $400,000 over the next twelve months, and that’s betting on the low end of this.”

  “Have you contacted King about this? This changes everything.”

  Ricky sat quietly on the other end, trying to work through his thoughts.

  “No, I haven’t yet, but I will talk to him today.”

  “Ricky, if we have to split this three ways, as previously agreed upon, we’re going to lose out. Chrysalis provided the designs, but he did none of the negotiations. He didn’t pay for the materials the way I had to, out of my own funds. You paid for the attorney fees and all of that, so I don’t think our original deal with him was fair to us. We got a bit ahead of ourselves.”

  “None of us knew his designs would be this well-received.”

  “But the clothing came from me. I designed the actual garments. It’s just his designs on them. It was not his win alone.”

  “I understand that, but—”

  “The deal needs to be renegotiated.”

  Ricky brought his ciga
r to his lips and exhaled rings of dense smoke.

  “I can’t do that to him, Lincoln.”

  “You of all people should understand this, Ricky. Look, he should be happy his designs will be even in these stores. He gets the credit for that! That’s an achievement within itself. You pay him well, right?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “But nothing. This is the problem with you, Ricky.”

  “What do you think my fuckin’ problem is, Lincoln? Please school me on this.” Anger rose inside him.

  “You’re protective of him. I get it. He’s increased your sales in Alpha. You have more repeat customers than ever and that little discount idea he came up with helped as well. So now you feel indebted to him. Loyal.”

  “I don’t feel indebted to anyone. However, loyalty is a quality that many more should have.”

  “The bottom line is that you’re so picky about who you work with, and then, when you do find someone you like, you set yourself on fire to keep them warm. Look, I like the guy, too, okay? He’s talented and organized, laid back, blah blah blah, but at the end of the fucking day, he’s just another artist. We’re putting him on the map, helping him, no matter how you slice it. He has to earn his stripes just like the rest of us.”

  “The man is thirty-five years old. He’s earned his stripes. He’s been drawing and winning fuckin’ art awards since he was fuckin’ five! He’s a prodigy. You don’t shit on prodigies! I told you that as soon as I got his resume, I was stunned. I knew exactly who he was and saw the potential right away because that’s how my mind works. I see money in people. Not potential. TRUE BLUE OUTPUT AND DIVIDENDS. Not only has he increased profit in Alpha, but he helped another friend of mine who cut him a quick check for painting a mural on the front of his store to bring in more customers. The fucker is good, okay? We pay for excellence.”

  “With all due respect, Ricky, I don’t give a shit what he did for Alpha and your friend. I care about what is going on with my shit, right now.”

  Ricky placed his cigar back in the ashtray, closed his eyes and ran his hand along his forehead.

  “Lincoln, we had an agreement, all right? I’m not a fan of last minute renegotiations that require subtraction, versus addition. Reneging on that isn’t really what I had in mind. Yeah, it’s a lot of money, and I know that King didn’t put any financial collateral in this, but he is still the creator.”

  “Ricky, I could’ve used another artist’s designs and got a deal, too.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  There was a long pause.

  “I’m running on fumes. I’ve had probably five hours of sleep because of all the work we’ve been putting into this.”

  “We’re all tired. This was a big undertaking. Your sleep patterns have nothing to do with this.” Lincoln’s tone was frustrated. He was one of his closest friends. They’d done other ventures together, all of them profitable, but nothing like this. He wasn’t exactly surprised at Lincoln’s change of heart, but he damn sure was disappointed.

  “We need to renegotiate with King, and you know it. This isn’t one of your little charitable works, or the same shit he was doing at that shop he was working at that closed down. This is big time.”

  “I brought you two together in good faith. Without his designs, the deal would not have been made and I’m not backing down from that.”

  “Look, Ricky. I’m not sayin’ don’t give him his just due. We most certainly should, but he wasn’t at those board meetings, and even if he were, he probably wouldn’t have been able to understand half of what was said.”

  “That’s not really fair. You don’t know that.”

  “This has nothing to do with me questioning his intelligence, but we’re businessmen. He’s an artist who, I might add, might be going to jail for domestic violence. This is bullshit that you would even question me at this point. We should’ve just paid him for the designs and cut our ties. How in the hell are we going to get our investments back if this falls through, huh? King will have that money that we could have pushed back into this. The buffer we need. You know this is my dream, and I’m not going to let anyone fuck it up! All I wanted was a design. We are the muscle behind this, Ricky! You and me.”

  Lincoln went on, his voice getting louder with each word he spat. Ricky hated to admit it, but the man had made some valid points. He’d sunk a lot of his own money into this venture once it proved it might be lucrative, to the point where he’d slowed some inventory down for Alpha. He and Lincoln were also burning the midnight oil to make this thing go. King had sent over three designs. Two of them were used and they kicked ass in the test market. King had something special, but was it worth that amount of money? He didn’t have to cough up a dime, but he would be benefiting from it all…

  “Fine. I’ll talk to King about this, all right? I’m sure we can come to some sort of agreement.”

  “Good. Let him know that I appreciate him, and it’s nothin’ personal. I just need this to be fair.” He and Lincoln talked a while longer, then he disconnected the call. Ricky sat deep in thought, then dialed King’s number. It went to voicemail.

  “King, it’s Ricky. We need to meet up and talk. Call me when time permits.”

  “So, what do you think about this place?”

  Suri’s heels clicked along the wooden floor of the Park Slopes apartment in Brooklyn. Her winter white swing coat looked amazing over a black turtle neck and snow white pants and a gold-buckled black belt.

  “The street is pretty, the apartment is amazing… spacious bedroom, updated kitchen. There’s a lot of natural light.” She walked towards one of the living room windows, lifted it and looked out. A burst of cold air rushed in, blowing her curls about. “This is so nice, King.”

  “Yeah.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “And the rent isn’t that bad. I can swing it. I like that there’s plenty of closet space and I can turn the extra bedroom into a workspace. It’ll be a little tight, but I can make it work. Plus, I should be getting some nice cash flow from the designs. I worked real hard on those and that should pay off.”

  “I know.” She turned round. “I’m so proud of you.” Her smile made his heart skip. “So many nights lately I’d wake up and find you in your living room, working. And now you’ve enrolled at Pratt again. You’ve got my full support. I like what you’re doing, how you’re embracing the possibilities and trusting a little more.” His face warmed at her words. It was because of her that he’d changed. Surely, she had to be aware of that. “You’re going to be so busy.” She put on a fake little pouty face. It was rather cute.

  “But I’ll always make time for you. For us.” He approached her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He swallowed, cleared his throat and looked into her eyes. “The landlord said he was going to fix that medicine cabinet door in the bathroom, and then it’ll be ready to go.”

  “When are you moving out of your apartment? You need help? I can help you pack if you want.” He couldn’t love her any more than he did at that moment.

  “I’m straight, but I could use the company. Do you need help?”

  She looked at him curiously.

  “Help with what?”

  “Anything.” He shrugged.

  “I need to think about that. Maybe I do and don’t know it yet.” She winked at him. He kissed her forehead.

  “I love you so much, Suri.”

  “I love you too, baby.” They kissed again and held each other tight. He never wanted to let go.

  “All right, now that you’ve had the grand tour, do you mind heading back over to my apartment with me before we go out? I know you said you wanted to go eat but—”

  “No, that’s fine. We can eat later. You have something you need to do?” She grabbed her oversized canvas bag from the kitchen counter and slung it over her shoulder.

  “Well I just have to take care of something real quick. Plus, Ricky called and wants to meet with me so I figure I can give him a call back once I get there.” They made it
to his new car. He turned on the radio and Darrius Willrich’s, ‘Can’t Get Enough’ was playing. They held hands, stealing smiles and looks at one another as he drove from Brooklyn back to Harlem.

  Once they got to his apartment, he unlocked the door and they walked in. By now, she had a routine. Remove shoes and coat, grab something to drink. They’d grown comfortable with one another. Though she was full of surprises, this predictability also gave him comfort. Peace he hadn’t had in a long while.

  “I’ll be right back. Gonna head to the restroom, then call Ricky back.”

  He left, humming a tune he’d heard in Central Park earlier that week, then returned to the kitchen to grab something to drink. Suri was in the living room, flipping through some of the canvases he kept there. He started to stop her, not wishing for her to see the one he’d done of her just yet, but decided against it. He grabbed a bottle of iced tea and called Ricky.

  “Hey, what’s up? You wanted me to call you.” He leaned against the kitchen counter and took a hard swig from his bottle.

  “Yes. It’s in regard to some new developments regarding the contract you, me and Lincoln signed.”

  Immediately, a heavy feeling fell upon him.

  “What new developments?”

  “Lincoln and I have been working really hard, and uh, the proposal is that, since we have to pour more money into this thing, you take a smaller cut.”

  “A smaller cut? Are you taking a smaller cut?” His jaw tightened. He placed the cap back on the bottle and placed it on the counter.

  “No because Lincoln and I are pouring more money into it.”

  “And I poured my time and energy into it. Those are my designs. My property.”

  “The designs were just one component, King. It takes a lot more than that to make a thing like this go.”

  “It wasn’t going anywhere for years until I came onto the scene. You both said that yourselves. If Lincoln could make moves, he would’ve succeeded at this by now. His designs were trash! I saw his shit and tried to be gentle and kind with telling him. Even the material of his original shirts sucked, and instead of being an asshole about it, I gave him suggestions and put in the work. I’m not the expert here, you two are, so you think you can fuck me over.”