One good reason, p.8
One Good Reason, page 8
Slipping my AirPods into my ear, I focused my attention on the screen, ready to get today’s lesson over with. Law did the same and leaned back in his chair with his arms folded across his chest. From his laxed position, I knew I would be the only one giving the speaker my undivided attention. That was fine by me; as long as one of us knew what the hell was going on, I was satisfied.
“Shit. This does require a lot of money.”
Tossing my arms in the air, I bleated, “I tried to tell you that. You over there all ‘I got money.’ And I’m trying to let you know this shit is expensive.”
Law and I had successfully sat through eight long hours of the seminar. A few times I noticed that he had indeed nodded off, prompting me to tap him awake. Now that we were done, we were still seated at the table going over the ideas I had come up with.
“So, eight programs are what you’re wanting to start out with?”
“I mean, yeah. I feel like eight gives us enough variety for them to choose from right now.”
“Dental hygiene, LPN, computer support specialist, paralegal studies, automotive technology, health information management coding, transit electric power and equipment, early childhood care… I don’t even know what know what the fuck half of these are.”
“They’re trades,” I laughed. “Upon completion of these specific ones, students will get their associate degree. I tried to pick the more diverse ones in each industry.”
“Diverse my ass,” Law groused.
“During my research, I stumbled across an old tech school that lost its accreditation and had to shut down. The city owns it and I’m almost certain it can be bought. That right there will help with the cost.”
“I hear ya’. I’m still looking at the numbers.”
“Excuse my language but I told yo’ ass that we can just partner with the schools around town. It was you and Poppa that came up with this grand ass idea to open up a school.”
“You don’t even sound right talking like that,” Law laughed. “And to be honest, the shit sounded good when we came up with the idea. My ass didn’t know it was going to be this pricey. And I’m not saying I can’t afford it because I can.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“We need investors,” he finally surmised.
“How painful was that?” I teased. “Admit it. I was right and you and your alpha male tail was wrong.”
“Yeah aight.” He waved me off.
“No, admit it.”
“I’m not admitting shit.” He huffed and stared down at the papers.
Snatching them out of his hand, I held them behind my back. “Admit it, Lawton. Just say Tali, I was wrong. We do need investors.”
“You plan on giving those back?”
Tilting my head, I brought my hand from behind my back and held them out for him. When he went to reach for them, I snatched them back and laughed. “Not until you admit it.” Folding my arms across my chest, I waited for him to humble himself.
Swiping at finger across his nose he mumbled, “Women.”
“Are always right,” I sassed. “Here.” I handed the papers over. “You don’t have to admit it, I already know the truth.”
“I don’t give a shit what you know,” he grumbled and pulled out his phone. Without taking his eyes off the screen he asked, “You got any plans this weekend?”
“Gema will be back tomorrow.”
“Gema?”
“My granny,” I tittered. “She’s back home visiting. They’re bringing her back tomorrow.”
“She has a nurse right.”
“Correct.”
“See if you can secure her for the weekend. Preferably from Friday night until at least Monday morning. I’ll pay whatever she charges.”
“For what?”
“You said we need investors. So, I’m going to get us some. You will be the selling point.”
“I don’t know about that Law,” I fidgeted in my seat.
“Don’t know about what?” he asked and gave me an incredulous look. “Getting someone to stay with her for a few nights or going out of town?”
“Going out… Both,” I breathed.
“I promise to be a gracious host. I’ll have my assistant book the rooms and Baker will drive us to and from the airstrip. As soon as we’ve secured enough money to bring your vision to life, I’ll have you back home.”
Gnawing on my bottom lip, I tried to talk myself of the ledge. I had never gone out of town with a man. Granted this was a business trip but with my very handsome, very single boss. The warning Rossi issued was at the tip of my mind and it was already a task trying to stay focused around him.
“It’s not that.”
“If it’s your man, tell him he ain’t got nothing to worry about,” he beseeched.
“No man,” I articulated painfully.
“So, what is it then?”
“It’s nothing. Let me get with Mrs. Jessie and I’ll let you know.”
“That’s fine by me.”
“Who are these investors that you have in mind?”
“A few friends of mine.”
“And how sure are you that they’ll say yes?”
“Oh, I’m not sure,” Law chortled. “However, they’re men and what man you know can turn down a beautiful woman?”
My cheeks flushed with heat. This man is not flirting with me. I refuse to believe it. “Lawton Harvey!” I shrieked. “Are you trying to pimp me out?”
“Not one bit. I’m joking with you. You should’ve saw your face.” He shook his head and laughed. “Being serious though. In my line of work, when you need something done you reach out to a friend. They come through and on the back end when they need something from you, in return you come through.”
“So, it’s kind of like bartering.”
“That’s exactly what it is. I have a few friends that owe me a few favors. It’s time to cash in on those favors.”
“Well in that case, I hope said friends come through because I don’t have any friends. I don’t know anyone willing to give up that type of money.”
“Why don’t you have friends?”
“Are we getting personal now, Mr. Harvey?”
“You put it out there. I’m just reeling it in.”
Dropping my chin to my chest, I opened and closed my eyes a few times before dragging my face back up. “I haven’t had the easiest life. My responsibilities took precedent over any friendship I’d ever had.”
“Your responsibility as in taking care of your grandmother.”
“Precisely. In the beginning it was school and home. Now it’s work and home. It’s been that way for years. Kind of hard to make and maintain friends when I’m busy making sure my grandmother is cared for.”
“You do know life waits for no one,” Law deduced.
“So I’ve been told…”
“I admire you for stepping up and caring for your Gema. But who’s taking care of you?”
“No one.” I shrugged. “I do the best that I can with the hand I’ve been given. I’m too busy caring for her to even consider someone doing the same for me.”
“That’s no way to live.”
“Been told that too.”
“How old are you?”
“You mean to tell me that you hired me and don’t know my age.”
“Age wasn’t a factor. Your ability to do the job was.”
In light of changing the subject, I folded my hands behind my head. “My abilities got me the job. Let’s hope my ideas keep me employed.”
“You’re deflecting. I have no reason to terminate your employment, Ms. Howard.”
Something about the way he said my last name had me staring at him through the slits of my eyes. He was goading me, and I wouldn’t fall for it. Me telling him about Gema was as personal as I was willing to get. Me not having friends or any other entity about my private life wasn’t up for discussion.
“I promise I’m not deflecting. I know where that conversation could lead and it’s not one I’m willing to have. Don’t take it personal, Law. I don’t have it with anyone. I made a choice a long time ago and I fully plan on seeing it through.”
“That’s amicable and I respect it,” he backtracked. “I guess we’ve handled enough business for the day. We can call it quits and reconvene in the morning.”
“Same time,” I commented.
“Same time. I’ll have breakfast delivered for us. Don’t forget to see if you can get your Gema’s nurse to stay with her overnight. A friend of mine is hosting a gala and this would be the perfect weekend to secure some funds.”
“I will let you know my definitive answer by the morning,” I assured him.
Law and I packed our things, and after the building was shut down and locked up for the evening, he walked me to my car. Once I was settled, I pulled away from the building. Since Gema would be back tomorrow, I would ask Mrs. Jessie about spending the weekend with her. I really hope Law’s planned worked. If not, all of this would have been for nothing.
CHAPTER 7
Lawton
“Dating app?” I asked again for clarification as I moved around my house tossing clothes into my suitcase for my impending travel. Since I couldn’t go into either office today because of this seminar, all of my meetings would be done via phone in between my breaks. My assistant had moved things around as much as she could.
“Yes. Much like Raya, my objective is to cater to celebrity clients,” the young woman expounded.
“With Raya existing already, what would set your app apart from theirs?”
“I’m a member of Raya and have been for a while. While their goal is exclusivity, I’ve found out that you can give a specific code to someone wanting to join. That opens it up for the public basically.
With the app I’m looking to develop there will be no invitation codes. Every celebrity that signs up for the app would go through a specific vetting process along with a lengthy background check. I don’t care if you’re the top athlete in the world, if your background, values, and morals don’t align… you will not be granted access. I’m striving for complete anonymity.”
Pausing my packing, I took a seat on the bed. “I guess my question is how you plan on keeping the “groupies” from joining?”
“My celebrity clients will have to provide financials for one. While it will primarily serve as a dating site, I will also offer matchmaking.”
“Ahhh.” I nodded like she could see me. “I get what you’re saying now. Am I to assume that you have backers for this?”
“I do. I’ve secured enough and they want to remain silent.”
“In that case, forward everything over to my assistant, Chari. I will be out of town on business until Monday. Either Chari or I will reach out so we can set up an in-person meeting.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Harvey.”
“No thanks needed. As long as your business model aligns, we might have something on our hands. Be expecting to hear from my office mid next week.”
“Will do. You have a wonderful day.”
“You as well.” Ending the call, I tossed my phone on the bed and focused my attention back on the suitcase. I was a day ahead of schedule but seeing as though I had another seminar to sit through today, I figured I would go ahead and get my packing out of the way.
I would find out whether or not Talitha would be able to accompany me this weekend when we met up. I hoped like hell she would. I had enjoyed chatting with her yesterday after we’d finished for the day.
The ringing of my phone had me groaning. When I picked it up and peeped who the caller was, I smiled.
“You’re up early.”
“Aren’t I always.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
“Not on my phone you aren’t. Good Morning Adele. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”
“Are you available for dinner tomorrow? I’ll be in the city and wanted to sit down with you so we could further discuss what we talked about the other night.”
“I was under the assumption that we had come to a clear understanding.”
“We did. However, I have a few more concerning questions.”
“I see. Well, no I won’t be available tomorrow night. I’m going to a gala in New York.”
“Alone?”
“Are you being intrusive?”
“A little.” She giggled.
“If you must know it’s a business trip.”
“With a female companion?” she tossed out.
“In fact, Adele, it is.” I knew she was getting ready to pry.
“Someone you’re fucking.”
“Whoa. Such a potty mouth for a beautiful young lady,” I teased. “But to answer your question, no, I’m not fucking her. We’re doing business together and she’s in need of investors.”
“A business venture and you didn’t ask me for help.”
“Do I ever?” I probed.
“I guess not. Well darling, can’t blame an old lady for trying.”
“I should be back midday on Monday. We can sit down then.”
“That’s okay. I’ll reach out to Sincere since that’s who I’m supposed to be doing business with going forward.”
“Don’t say it like that.”
“Like what?” she snickered. “Like I’m losing my friend.”
“One thing about it Adele, you’ll never lose me as a friend.”
“Tuh,” she scoffed. “I lost you as a lover.” I knew she was pouting, and for what reason? She was the reason we ended, not me.
“At your insistence,” I rasped.
“Don’t take that tone with me, Harvey. You know I had reasons for ending things.”
“That’s neither here nor there. I was in the middle of doing something so if we’re done…”
“Understood Harvey. I’ll reach out Sunday to see if we’re still on for Monday.”
“You do that darling.”
“Goodbye Harvey.” Without giving me the opportunity to respond Adele ended the call.
And that right there my friend is the reason I couldn’t possibly see myself moving into something as serious as a marriage. Adele only wanted to be bothered with me when she felt like her place was being threatened. With Dahlia, she didn’t have a care in the world because she knew our relationship was stagnant and wouldn’t progress. Typical shit. Dangling the possibility of forever in my face only to snatch it back. When she started that pouting and shit, I paid her dust.
Once my things were packed, I pushed my suitcase over to the corner of my room and called down for Baker to bring the truck around.
“Pancakes, sausage, eggs scrambled well, and that God awful coffee drink you brought yesterday,” I noted as I placed the food container down on the table.
“How’d you know what I liked to eat?”
Taking the seat next to her, I turned on my computer and got ready so I could pull up the link for the seminar. “One call to your mouthy assistant and I can find out just about anything.”
“Remind me to reprimand him for spreading any of my business in the future,” she laughed.
Like yesterday, Talitha was dressed down. The weather in Atlanta was bipolar, cool in the mornings and hot as hell by noon. Instead of her hair being trapped under a ball cap, she had it tossed up in a curly ponytail. She wore a black long sleeved ribbed cotton one piece with a red and blank flannel tied around her waist. On her feet were a pair of black and white Nike sneakers. I wanted to compliment her look again but the last time I did it, she asked if she should be offended.
I didn’t know how to take that so of course I said no. Well, I said I was a man, a warm-blooded man who appreciated a good-looking woman. I swear outside of business I didn’t want, nor did I expect anything from her. Like I told Poppa, I had learned my fucking lesson. That didn’t mean I couldn’t and wouldn’t look. The girl was easy on the eyes.
“You ready for today?”
“The question is… are you ready? I wasn’t the one who kept falling asleep.”
“I told you I’ve been on the move. Besides that, I haven’t slept for more than a few hours a night.”
“Are you an insomniac?”
“I wouldn’t suppose. I slipped and allowed myself to get comfortable only for that comfortability to be snatched from under me.”
“Um. I can understand that. Anyway, Mrs. Jessie agreed to staying over at the house with Gema so I guess I can accompany you out of town.”
“Wonderful. Pack for extreme cold temperatures as we will be going to New York.”
Bucking her eyes, she shrieked, “New York?!”
“Yes ma’am. That’s where the gala is being held.”
“I don’t have winter clothes,” she groaned. “It never gets cold enough here for me to purchase any. Nor do I have anything to wear for a gala. Hell, I’ve never even been to New York.”
“Happy to be your first.”
“Huh?”
“The first person to take you to New York, Talitha. Also, it looks like you got some shopping to do.”
Talitha mugged me before opening her plasticware and dipping it into the plate of food. After forking a piece of pancake in her mouth, she pulled her MacBook out of her bag and turned it on.
“I really hope it doesn’t take eight hours today.”
“So do I. I still have a few things I need to do before we leave tomorrow.”
“And what time are we leaving?”
“I’ll be to get you around two.”
“Morning or afternoon?” she asked.
“Afternoon. The flight will take roughly around five hours. The gala isn’t until Saturday night so we can spend Friday resting up. I’ve gotta shop for a suit so that will take up most of my Saturday morning.”
“Will Baker be traveling with us?”
“No. But he did secure a car service to pick us up when we land. Why’d you ask?”
“I need something to occupy my time while you’re out shopping.”
“Or…” I drawled. “You’re welcomed to tag along.”
“Good to know. Didn’t want to just invite myself on your outing.”
