One good reason, p.7
One Good Reason, page 7
“Right here is fine.”
While her hands worked to get my pants unfastened, I kicked off my shoes. As soon as I dropped Talitha off back at the youth center, I was requesting Mia’s presence. It had been a week since the last time I’d seen her, and I was wound up and in dire need of a fix.
Unlike the other nights I had invited her over. tonight was strictly about business. There would be no laying up or anything. My only objective was to provide her with a few rounds of pleasure before sending her on her way. Since I had to completely rearrange my schedule, I was meeting up with Hendrix so the two of us could go see Preme.
Having rid me of my clothes, Mia wrapped her hands around my hard dick and stroked a few times before sliding it in her mouth. When she pulled back and spit on the tip, I leaned over and grabbed her hair to steady myself as I pumped in and out of her mouth.
“Relax your throat,” I groaned. Following my command, she tipped her head back and curled her tongue underside my dick every time it was pushed to the back of her throat. “Shit, Mia.”
Her mouth was so wet and warm, I knew I wouldn’t last if we stayed locked in this position. Plopping myself from her mouth, I reached under her arms and pulled her up from the floor. “Couch… on your knees,” I demanded and smacked her on the ass. Reaching for the box of condoms I had tossed on the couch, I pulled one out and slid it on. With my hand between her legs, I swirled my finger around in her wetness before lining myself at her opening. Mia tipped over further, putting a deep arch in her back.
“Fuck me, Law,” she begged. Working my way past her slickness, I pushed into her until I was fully seated. Pulling back slightly, I pushed forward in a rough, jagged, thrust, causing her to whimper. Tossing my head back, I rolled my neck and gave her exactly what she was begging for. On the couch of my condo, I stroked Mia’s insides like I would never see the light of day again. After bringing her to three orgasms, I finally let go and nutted in the condom.
Once we finished of course she wanted to go again but I had completed my mission and there was no need for an overnight stay. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t want overnight company. As a matter of fact, I was going to stay at my house. Somewhere I hadn’t been since I made sure everything Dahlia fucked up had been replaced.
“You’re mighty fucking chipper this morning,” I frowned at Hendrix when he bopped his ass in the back of the truck.
“I thought you got some pussy last night,” Drix retorted. “You would think yo’ ass would be happy.”
“I am happy. I’m tired for one. How’s the misses?”
“She good. I’m driving down to Orlando tonight.”
Who would’ve known that when I sent Drix ass off to Winter Crest to handle business, his ass would come back with a girl. I was dumbfounded when he called to let me know what had taken place between the two of them. The fact that he reached out to me about it proved he had feelings for her. Drix reminded me so much of Supreme which is why I had taken him under my wing all those years back.
One look at him and I could tell he was a troubled kid who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. The man had a lot of insecurities. Before he could ever learn how to be a man, he lost his mama. When she passed, he lost his way. Just like I schooled Preme, I made sure to do the same with Hendrix and now I could sit back comfortably knowing that he took everything I said to heart.
Him putting his insecurities to the side and going after his girl let me know my words held weight.
“When you gon’ bring her up so I can finally meet her?”
“When you gon’ settle down?” he countered.
“I keep telling you Drix, you ain’t gotta worry ‘bout me. I’m good.”
“You not. We know Dah leaving affected you more than you let on.”
“I’m getting over it. All in all, I’ll be good.”
“Yeah… if you say so. What’s up with Sincere though? Something went down? That’s why we headed up the road to meet up with him?”
“I got a few changes I wanna make. I need the two of you to be on one accord cause it affects both of y’all.”
“You know I’m down with whatever.”
With me having to focus my attention more on the school, I needed Preme and Drix to work hand in hand. Preme handled his area and his soldiers in the Heights while Drix handled his in Atlanta. I played the middleman, a job that I ain’t think I was gon’ be able to do for a lil’ minute. I needed the two of them to connect and figure out how to keep this shit running in my absence. Basically, I was ‘bout to be stepping all the way back. After I got the meeting with the two of them out the way, I was going to dinner with Adele so I could let her know that going forward she would have to hit one of them up with any changes that’s made on her end.
Drix and I spent the whole drive upstate catching up. I let him know about the school and the nigga was happy for me. I didn’t doubt it because Hendrix was like me, all for giving back to the community.
“You ain’t say you was bringing this black ass nigga with you,” Preme joked as he trampled into the warehouse, donned in all black like his ass had just come from a mission.
“I know yo’ pale ass ain’t talking shit,” Drix shot back.
On the outside looking in, you would think the two of them were brothers, that’s just how much they joked and played around with each other.
“Y’all gon’ sit down and let me say what I need to say?”
“Don’t look like we got a choice,” Preme drawled.
“Aight, so it’s like this. I gotta step back from the business.”
“Step back why?”
“The woman I hired to replace Dahlia presented me with an idea that was too good to turn down. I’m getting ready to open up a technical college. The shit gon’ take so much of my time, I can’t run between the two of y’all for a while.”
“How we gon’ get our shit then?” Preme asked.
“Adele is still responsible for getting it over here. Instead of me setting up the transport, the two of you gotta figure out a way to move it. I’mma pass all of my contacts over to y’all and let y’all go for it.”
“Basically, you adding more to our plate.”
“Taking it off me. Somebody gotta do it and natural selection would be Drix since he in Atlanta but he got a girl now. It’s gone be times where he won’t be available.”
“I guess that’s where I come in at.”
“Yeah. Jet got that trucking company so I’m thinking we can have it set up where on paper it looks like he’s a medical supplier. When the shipment comes in, he can come down, the two of you separate it, and let Jet or his drivers distribute it.”
Anybody who worked for Sincere or Hendrix had to have a business. Whatever that business may be was no concern of mine. But since Jet was one of Preme’s guys and had a trucking company, it made sense that Preme use it to his advantage.
The way things worked now, once a month Adele had a shipment sent over on a private plane. Drix and his right hand would separate it and one of his guys would run it upstate. I oversaw that entire process to make sure we flew under the radar. With me stepping back, we had to switch things up a bit. I needed to know the two of them could handle shit without me. If I saw shit going south, I didn’t mind stepping back in, but I was determined to give this school my undivided attention.
Part of me doing so was because I promised Talitha I would be all in with this process. When she mentioned taking care of her grandmother, I decided I didn’t want to put too many expectations on her. Clearing my to-do list was more for her sake than anything.
“That could work,” Preme acknowledged. “Jet been looking for ways to expand his business. I need to sit down with him to see how we could finesse it but I’on see it being no issue.”
“You sure Adele gon’ go for it?”
“She ain’t got a choice. Besides she ain’t the one getting her hands dirty. Her pops name is the one of the flight manifest.”
“Ain’t the man dead?” Drix quizzed.
“Dead man can’t talk.” I shrugged.
“Aye that was smart as fuck.”
“I know.”
When Adele pops died, she left everything in his name. She didn’t want anything tying her to the fields of cocaine that he had back in Colombia. For all the world knew, the man was still alive and handling business.
“How long we gon’ be moving like this?”
“I can’t say for sure. At least until I get everything off the ground.”
“Shit…” Drix scratched at the back of his head. “I’m with it as long as Preme is.”
“Nigga you know I’m game. I’on mind getting my hands dirty.” He laughed.
“Then it’s set. First shipment is coming the top of next month. Adele gon’ hit one of y’all with the info. All that’s left to do is handle y’all business.”
“Bet.” Both of them agreed.
“Y’all got anything y’all need to run by me?”
“That uh last situation we talked ‘bout. I had Trap handle the shit. It was some lil’ cats out of South Carolina.”
“Anything that can trace back to us?”
“Not at all. Trap thorough with his shit. The nigga might be young but he ‘bout business.”
“Aight Sincere. I’mma trust ya’ word.”
“It’s all I got.”
“This might be my last run up here for a while. If you need me, hit me up.”
“You gon’ stop by and see her before you leave?”
“Not today Sincere. Not today.”
“Can’t blame me for trying.” He shrugged. “She been asking ‘bout you.”
“You can’t force it on him Supreme. You gotta let him come around on his own,” Hendrix spoke up on my behalf.
He was privy to the relationship with my mother. Having lost his at an early age, he tried several times to explain how I needed to let my mother make things right. At least before it was too late. Just like I didn’t give much thought to shit Sincere said, I didn’t give Drix’s no thought either. I made peace with the situation a long time ago. Her and Sincere needed to catch up.
“I get that… I’m just saying. She got some shit she needs to get off her chest.”
“Anddddd,” I dragged out. “That right there is my cue. Drix if you riding with me back to the city, I suggest you bring yo’ ass.”
“Yo’ ass brought me up here, of course I’m riding back with you,” he fussed.
“Sincere, I’mma hit you up after I talk to Adele.”
“Yeah man.” He shrugged defeatedly. Preme could push and push until his arms got tired. Smoothing shit over with my mother wasn’t happening. And that was final.
CHAPTER 6
Talitha
Pulling my car into the empty parking lot, I threw it in park and scrolled through the contacts on the car screen.
“Gema,” I sang when the phone connected.
“Tali, why you calling me again?” she griped.
“I told you I was going to call when I got to my location.”
“Ummhmm. I thought you had a meeting with that fancy boss of yours.”
“Seminar, Gema.” I laughed. “We have a live seminar to attend today.”
“Same difference.”
“You packed and ready to go?”
“Well, Louise posed to be coming over to pack my stuff up for me. Litha round here talking ‘bout I need to stay another week.”
“What you tell her?”
“No.” She all but spat. “I done had enough of her and that man of hers.”
Gema called me last night and told me she was cutting her trip short by a few days. She claims she had saw and spent time with everybody and was ready to get back to her bed. I didn’t disagree. Outside of hanging with Rossi that one night, I had spent the last day and a half going over the information Mr. Pellegrin left me and Law. I offered to come pick her up but she told me they would bring her.
“Well, have them to bring you on back baby.”
“And I am. Bright and early in the morning,” she avowed.
“More than likely, I won’t be there when you get home but I’ll make sure Mrs. Jessie is there.”
“That’s fine by me. As long as I get to sleep in my bed tomorrow night.”
“You will, Gema. I’mma let you go, though. I need to get in this building and get logged in on the computer.”
“Go ahead with ya’ business. Call me later,” she sang before hanging up the phone.
On the drive over, Law had called me and told me he would be waiting on me to get there so after grabbing my bookbag off the back seat, I grabbed the tray of coffee and got out.
“I see you made it okay,” Law called over his shoulder when I walked into the space.
“Yeah. Surprisingly the traffic to get over here wasn’t bad either.”
This particular office was in the Sandy Springs area. When I pulled the address up on the GPS, I just knew it was going to take me a while to make it.
“It’s pretty calm around this time. Going back might be an issue though.”
“Let’s pray it’s not.”
Placing my bags down on the table, I held the tray out to him. From where I was standing, I was able to get a full look at him and he looked nice. This was the first time I had witnessed him out of his business clothes. The grey Nike tech suit clung to his body like a second skin. For an old man, Law was extremely handsome. I had noticed that the first time I saw him.
“What’s this?” he asked, looking down at the tray.
“I brought you some coffee. If you don’t drink it, that’s fine. I’ll just have two.” I was so busy eyeballing him that I hadn’t realized he was waiting on me to say something.
“What is it?”
“Caramel macchiato. I got you the same thing I get.”
Taking the cup out of the holder he took a sip out of it. “Thank you.”
“Welcome.”
“You brought a laptop, or do I need to set you up on one of mine?”
“I got my own. If you would share the Wi-Fi password, I think I can do the rest.”
“No password.” Doing a double take, Law stopped what he was doing and gazed at me.
“What?” I queried. The awkward stare down was making me nervous.
“You look–” he paused mid-sentence. Scratching at the back of his neck he mumbled, “Absolutely breathtaking.”
If blue tights, a white under shirt, and a long wool grey cardigan was breathtaking, then I guess I looked like a plain jane in my business clothes. This was an all-day thing, and we weren’t in the office, so I saw no need to throw on anything special. Hell, I had even slicked my hair back in a low bun and tossed on a grey Chanel cap to match the sneakers I wore. Finding my voice, I finally retorted, “I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or be offended.”
“Why would you be offended?”
“You’re my boss,” I explained.
“I’m also a man,” he shared. “Take it for what it was… A compliment.”
Feeling naked under his glare, I cleared my throat and whispered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I guess that means I should tell you that you look nice as well.”
“You don’t have to, but it’s well appreciated.” He smirked.
Was he? Nawl… He couldn’t possibly be. Or could he? The way his eyes never left mine, I couldn’t tell if he was flirting or not. I would hope like hell he wasn’t though.
“Class starts in fifteen minutes. I’ve ordered lunch that’ll be delivered at noon. Is that okay with you?”
“It is.”
“Bet. I’m going to step out and make a call. You can go ahead and set your stuff up.”
Pulling my MacBook out of my bag, I powered it on and connected it to the Wi-Fi. I had combed over the papers in the manilla envelope with a fine-tooth comb, so I placed them on Law’s side of the table. With my notebook on a blank page, I sat my pen on top of it and went to my email so I could pull up the link. I planned on taking notes while sitting here listening to this seminar. I needed to gather all the information I could so I could fill out this application and pray that it got approved on the first try.
Law swaggered through the door right before it was time for the seminar to start. The minute he sat down, he picked up the envelope. Holding it up he asked, “This have anything good in it?”
“It has a lot of good shit in it. He gave us the applications of people who have been approved.”
“That’s why he said if it got out, he would deny it.”
“Yep. Let’s just say we have our work cut out for us. Not only do we have to find and secure a building, but it actually has to be set up. If we submit the application and it goes to the next step, the board will then come out and do a tour.”
“Damn. So, we gotta get a move on it.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “We kind of do. More importantly we have to figure out which programs we plan on offering. That’s the only way we will know how we need to set the facility up.”
“You got anything in mind?”
“I mean… I have a few programs I want us to offer. That’s not the issue. It’s a matter of funding Lawton.”
“Unlimited funds… Remember?” He shrugged like I knew his financial portfolio.
I mean, after learning what Law used this business space for, I was thoroughly impressed. I had crunched the numbers in my head and what I came up with was he had plenty of money. That’s why his ass was insistent on being able to pay for whatever. That still didn’t give me the right to automatically assume he was going to be funding everything.
“I’m talking about a lot of money,” I expressed, trying to get him to understand what I meant without necessarily coming out and saying it.
“How much?” he asked after realizing where I was going with this.
“A lot,” I exaggerated. “Meaning we need investors.”
“In other words, my money ain’t long enough,” he teased.
“I never said that.” I giggled. “I’m not trying to bankrupt you.”
The speaker for the course had finally dialed into the live. When Law realized it, he nodded and said we could talk about it later. Thank God for a reprieve cause talking about money was never fun to do, especially when it was somebody else’s.
While her hands worked to get my pants unfastened, I kicked off my shoes. As soon as I dropped Talitha off back at the youth center, I was requesting Mia’s presence. It had been a week since the last time I’d seen her, and I was wound up and in dire need of a fix.
Unlike the other nights I had invited her over. tonight was strictly about business. There would be no laying up or anything. My only objective was to provide her with a few rounds of pleasure before sending her on her way. Since I had to completely rearrange my schedule, I was meeting up with Hendrix so the two of us could go see Preme.
Having rid me of my clothes, Mia wrapped her hands around my hard dick and stroked a few times before sliding it in her mouth. When she pulled back and spit on the tip, I leaned over and grabbed her hair to steady myself as I pumped in and out of her mouth.
“Relax your throat,” I groaned. Following my command, she tipped her head back and curled her tongue underside my dick every time it was pushed to the back of her throat. “Shit, Mia.”
Her mouth was so wet and warm, I knew I wouldn’t last if we stayed locked in this position. Plopping myself from her mouth, I reached under her arms and pulled her up from the floor. “Couch… on your knees,” I demanded and smacked her on the ass. Reaching for the box of condoms I had tossed on the couch, I pulled one out and slid it on. With my hand between her legs, I swirled my finger around in her wetness before lining myself at her opening. Mia tipped over further, putting a deep arch in her back.
“Fuck me, Law,” she begged. Working my way past her slickness, I pushed into her until I was fully seated. Pulling back slightly, I pushed forward in a rough, jagged, thrust, causing her to whimper. Tossing my head back, I rolled my neck and gave her exactly what she was begging for. On the couch of my condo, I stroked Mia’s insides like I would never see the light of day again. After bringing her to three orgasms, I finally let go and nutted in the condom.
Once we finished of course she wanted to go again but I had completed my mission and there was no need for an overnight stay. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t want overnight company. As a matter of fact, I was going to stay at my house. Somewhere I hadn’t been since I made sure everything Dahlia fucked up had been replaced.
“You’re mighty fucking chipper this morning,” I frowned at Hendrix when he bopped his ass in the back of the truck.
“I thought you got some pussy last night,” Drix retorted. “You would think yo’ ass would be happy.”
“I am happy. I’m tired for one. How’s the misses?”
“She good. I’m driving down to Orlando tonight.”
Who would’ve known that when I sent Drix ass off to Winter Crest to handle business, his ass would come back with a girl. I was dumbfounded when he called to let me know what had taken place between the two of them. The fact that he reached out to me about it proved he had feelings for her. Drix reminded me so much of Supreme which is why I had taken him under my wing all those years back.
One look at him and I could tell he was a troubled kid who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. The man had a lot of insecurities. Before he could ever learn how to be a man, he lost his mama. When she passed, he lost his way. Just like I schooled Preme, I made sure to do the same with Hendrix and now I could sit back comfortably knowing that he took everything I said to heart.
Him putting his insecurities to the side and going after his girl let me know my words held weight.
“When you gon’ bring her up so I can finally meet her?”
“When you gon’ settle down?” he countered.
“I keep telling you Drix, you ain’t gotta worry ‘bout me. I’m good.”
“You not. We know Dah leaving affected you more than you let on.”
“I’m getting over it. All in all, I’ll be good.”
“Yeah… if you say so. What’s up with Sincere though? Something went down? That’s why we headed up the road to meet up with him?”
“I got a few changes I wanna make. I need the two of you to be on one accord cause it affects both of y’all.”
“You know I’m down with whatever.”
With me having to focus my attention more on the school, I needed Preme and Drix to work hand in hand. Preme handled his area and his soldiers in the Heights while Drix handled his in Atlanta. I played the middleman, a job that I ain’t think I was gon’ be able to do for a lil’ minute. I needed the two of them to connect and figure out how to keep this shit running in my absence. Basically, I was ‘bout to be stepping all the way back. After I got the meeting with the two of them out the way, I was going to dinner with Adele so I could let her know that going forward she would have to hit one of them up with any changes that’s made on her end.
Drix and I spent the whole drive upstate catching up. I let him know about the school and the nigga was happy for me. I didn’t doubt it because Hendrix was like me, all for giving back to the community.
“You ain’t say you was bringing this black ass nigga with you,” Preme joked as he trampled into the warehouse, donned in all black like his ass had just come from a mission.
“I know yo’ pale ass ain’t talking shit,” Drix shot back.
On the outside looking in, you would think the two of them were brothers, that’s just how much they joked and played around with each other.
“Y’all gon’ sit down and let me say what I need to say?”
“Don’t look like we got a choice,” Preme drawled.
“Aight, so it’s like this. I gotta step back from the business.”
“Step back why?”
“The woman I hired to replace Dahlia presented me with an idea that was too good to turn down. I’m getting ready to open up a technical college. The shit gon’ take so much of my time, I can’t run between the two of y’all for a while.”
“How we gon’ get our shit then?” Preme asked.
“Adele is still responsible for getting it over here. Instead of me setting up the transport, the two of you gotta figure out a way to move it. I’mma pass all of my contacts over to y’all and let y’all go for it.”
“Basically, you adding more to our plate.”
“Taking it off me. Somebody gotta do it and natural selection would be Drix since he in Atlanta but he got a girl now. It’s gone be times where he won’t be available.”
“I guess that’s where I come in at.”
“Yeah. Jet got that trucking company so I’m thinking we can have it set up where on paper it looks like he’s a medical supplier. When the shipment comes in, he can come down, the two of you separate it, and let Jet or his drivers distribute it.”
Anybody who worked for Sincere or Hendrix had to have a business. Whatever that business may be was no concern of mine. But since Jet was one of Preme’s guys and had a trucking company, it made sense that Preme use it to his advantage.
The way things worked now, once a month Adele had a shipment sent over on a private plane. Drix and his right hand would separate it and one of his guys would run it upstate. I oversaw that entire process to make sure we flew under the radar. With me stepping back, we had to switch things up a bit. I needed to know the two of them could handle shit without me. If I saw shit going south, I didn’t mind stepping back in, but I was determined to give this school my undivided attention.
Part of me doing so was because I promised Talitha I would be all in with this process. When she mentioned taking care of her grandmother, I decided I didn’t want to put too many expectations on her. Clearing my to-do list was more for her sake than anything.
“That could work,” Preme acknowledged. “Jet been looking for ways to expand his business. I need to sit down with him to see how we could finesse it but I’on see it being no issue.”
“You sure Adele gon’ go for it?”
“She ain’t got a choice. Besides she ain’t the one getting her hands dirty. Her pops name is the one of the flight manifest.”
“Ain’t the man dead?” Drix quizzed.
“Dead man can’t talk.” I shrugged.
“Aye that was smart as fuck.”
“I know.”
When Adele pops died, she left everything in his name. She didn’t want anything tying her to the fields of cocaine that he had back in Colombia. For all the world knew, the man was still alive and handling business.
“How long we gon’ be moving like this?”
“I can’t say for sure. At least until I get everything off the ground.”
“Shit…” Drix scratched at the back of his head. “I’m with it as long as Preme is.”
“Nigga you know I’m game. I’on mind getting my hands dirty.” He laughed.
“Then it’s set. First shipment is coming the top of next month. Adele gon’ hit one of y’all with the info. All that’s left to do is handle y’all business.”
“Bet.” Both of them agreed.
“Y’all got anything y’all need to run by me?”
“That uh last situation we talked ‘bout. I had Trap handle the shit. It was some lil’ cats out of South Carolina.”
“Anything that can trace back to us?”
“Not at all. Trap thorough with his shit. The nigga might be young but he ‘bout business.”
“Aight Sincere. I’mma trust ya’ word.”
“It’s all I got.”
“This might be my last run up here for a while. If you need me, hit me up.”
“You gon’ stop by and see her before you leave?”
“Not today Sincere. Not today.”
“Can’t blame me for trying.” He shrugged. “She been asking ‘bout you.”
“You can’t force it on him Supreme. You gotta let him come around on his own,” Hendrix spoke up on my behalf.
He was privy to the relationship with my mother. Having lost his at an early age, he tried several times to explain how I needed to let my mother make things right. At least before it was too late. Just like I didn’t give much thought to shit Sincere said, I didn’t give Drix’s no thought either. I made peace with the situation a long time ago. Her and Sincere needed to catch up.
“I get that… I’m just saying. She got some shit she needs to get off her chest.”
“Anddddd,” I dragged out. “That right there is my cue. Drix if you riding with me back to the city, I suggest you bring yo’ ass.”
“Yo’ ass brought me up here, of course I’m riding back with you,” he fussed.
“Sincere, I’mma hit you up after I talk to Adele.”
“Yeah man.” He shrugged defeatedly. Preme could push and push until his arms got tired. Smoothing shit over with my mother wasn’t happening. And that was final.
CHAPTER 6
Talitha
Pulling my car into the empty parking lot, I threw it in park and scrolled through the contacts on the car screen.
“Gema,” I sang when the phone connected.
“Tali, why you calling me again?” she griped.
“I told you I was going to call when I got to my location.”
“Ummhmm. I thought you had a meeting with that fancy boss of yours.”
“Seminar, Gema.” I laughed. “We have a live seminar to attend today.”
“Same difference.”
“You packed and ready to go?”
“Well, Louise posed to be coming over to pack my stuff up for me. Litha round here talking ‘bout I need to stay another week.”
“What you tell her?”
“No.” She all but spat. “I done had enough of her and that man of hers.”
Gema called me last night and told me she was cutting her trip short by a few days. She claims she had saw and spent time with everybody and was ready to get back to her bed. I didn’t disagree. Outside of hanging with Rossi that one night, I had spent the last day and a half going over the information Mr. Pellegrin left me and Law. I offered to come pick her up but she told me they would bring her.
“Well, have them to bring you on back baby.”
“And I am. Bright and early in the morning,” she avowed.
“More than likely, I won’t be there when you get home but I’ll make sure Mrs. Jessie is there.”
“That’s fine by me. As long as I get to sleep in my bed tomorrow night.”
“You will, Gema. I’mma let you go, though. I need to get in this building and get logged in on the computer.”
“Go ahead with ya’ business. Call me later,” she sang before hanging up the phone.
On the drive over, Law had called me and told me he would be waiting on me to get there so after grabbing my bookbag off the back seat, I grabbed the tray of coffee and got out.
“I see you made it okay,” Law called over his shoulder when I walked into the space.
“Yeah. Surprisingly the traffic to get over here wasn’t bad either.”
This particular office was in the Sandy Springs area. When I pulled the address up on the GPS, I just knew it was going to take me a while to make it.
“It’s pretty calm around this time. Going back might be an issue though.”
“Let’s pray it’s not.”
Placing my bags down on the table, I held the tray out to him. From where I was standing, I was able to get a full look at him and he looked nice. This was the first time I had witnessed him out of his business clothes. The grey Nike tech suit clung to his body like a second skin. For an old man, Law was extremely handsome. I had noticed that the first time I saw him.
“What’s this?” he asked, looking down at the tray.
“I brought you some coffee. If you don’t drink it, that’s fine. I’ll just have two.” I was so busy eyeballing him that I hadn’t realized he was waiting on me to say something.
“What is it?”
“Caramel macchiato. I got you the same thing I get.”
Taking the cup out of the holder he took a sip out of it. “Thank you.”
“Welcome.”
“You brought a laptop, or do I need to set you up on one of mine?”
“I got my own. If you would share the Wi-Fi password, I think I can do the rest.”
“No password.” Doing a double take, Law stopped what he was doing and gazed at me.
“What?” I queried. The awkward stare down was making me nervous.
“You look–” he paused mid-sentence. Scratching at the back of his neck he mumbled, “Absolutely breathtaking.”
If blue tights, a white under shirt, and a long wool grey cardigan was breathtaking, then I guess I looked like a plain jane in my business clothes. This was an all-day thing, and we weren’t in the office, so I saw no need to throw on anything special. Hell, I had even slicked my hair back in a low bun and tossed on a grey Chanel cap to match the sneakers I wore. Finding my voice, I finally retorted, “I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or be offended.”
“Why would you be offended?”
“You’re my boss,” I explained.
“I’m also a man,” he shared. “Take it for what it was… A compliment.”
Feeling naked under his glare, I cleared my throat and whispered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I guess that means I should tell you that you look nice as well.”
“You don’t have to, but it’s well appreciated.” He smirked.
Was he? Nawl… He couldn’t possibly be. Or could he? The way his eyes never left mine, I couldn’t tell if he was flirting or not. I would hope like hell he wasn’t though.
“Class starts in fifteen minutes. I’ve ordered lunch that’ll be delivered at noon. Is that okay with you?”
“It is.”
“Bet. I’m going to step out and make a call. You can go ahead and set your stuff up.”
Pulling my MacBook out of my bag, I powered it on and connected it to the Wi-Fi. I had combed over the papers in the manilla envelope with a fine-tooth comb, so I placed them on Law’s side of the table. With my notebook on a blank page, I sat my pen on top of it and went to my email so I could pull up the link. I planned on taking notes while sitting here listening to this seminar. I needed to gather all the information I could so I could fill out this application and pray that it got approved on the first try.
Law swaggered through the door right before it was time for the seminar to start. The minute he sat down, he picked up the envelope. Holding it up he asked, “This have anything good in it?”
“It has a lot of good shit in it. He gave us the applications of people who have been approved.”
“That’s why he said if it got out, he would deny it.”
“Yep. Let’s just say we have our work cut out for us. Not only do we have to find and secure a building, but it actually has to be set up. If we submit the application and it goes to the next step, the board will then come out and do a tour.”
“Damn. So, we gotta get a move on it.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “We kind of do. More importantly we have to figure out which programs we plan on offering. That’s the only way we will know how we need to set the facility up.”
“You got anything in mind?”
“I mean… I have a few programs I want us to offer. That’s not the issue. It’s a matter of funding Lawton.”
“Unlimited funds… Remember?” He shrugged like I knew his financial portfolio.
I mean, after learning what Law used this business space for, I was thoroughly impressed. I had crunched the numbers in my head and what I came up with was he had plenty of money. That’s why his ass was insistent on being able to pay for whatever. That still didn’t give me the right to automatically assume he was going to be funding everything.
“I’m talking about a lot of money,” I expressed, trying to get him to understand what I meant without necessarily coming out and saying it.
“How much?” he asked after realizing where I was going with this.
“A lot,” I exaggerated. “Meaning we need investors.”
“In other words, my money ain’t long enough,” he teased.
“I never said that.” I giggled. “I’m not trying to bankrupt you.”
The speaker for the course had finally dialed into the live. When Law realized it, he nodded and said we could talk about it later. Thank God for a reprieve cause talking about money was never fun to do, especially when it was somebody else’s.
