“The queen is the most dangerous on the board. She’s power, speed, and reach. But she’s also the one piece that I like to take my time with. Would you like to know why, Staress?” I grilled her hard, her eyes widened before she submitted and looked the fuck away.
“Since you simmered the fuck down, I’ll give my answer on why.” I smirked, placing my eyes on Tone as I continued.
“Once you own the queen…the game stops belonging to anyone else. You understand that shit, Tone?” I asked him with a tight lip smile.
He cleared his throat then glared my way.
“Look man, I didn’t come in here for no lecture about chess.” His voice elevated.
I sighed and leaned back in my chair letting the queen piece on the board rest in its place for now. Tone disappointed me instantly.I hate to be interrupted…
“No, you came in here to drag your bullshit into my quietness. I think that’s worse Tone. You can’t get Staress to submit because your too stuck on a thirty-minute fuck, that I had with her long before you even thought about sniffing her panties. You broke Dre’s jaw five months ago because he asked her out on date. If I recall, you told Dre not to disrespect you by getting at ‘Your bitch’How about you own your bitch and stop letting your ego and thoughts get the best of you.” I spat.
“She’s not my bitch!” Tone yelled, his face turned red, I saw a challenge in his eyes.
I straightened my posture and eyed him for a couple of seconds before a smile stretched my face.
“Careful, careful…Tone. Remember, you asked me to keep Staress employed, after you bought her the house on the beach. You and I know your personal reasonings for that. If you no longer want her here, I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t mind leaving.” I clicked my teeth.
Josie’s feather’s ruffled, I watched them extend as she leaped off my desk. Before flying to me, she flew past Tone and Staress then circled around my desk into my lap elegantly. I stroked the top of her head as I watched Tone battle mentally to choose his next words wisely.
“Staress have you been to your house lately? I think a good vacation at your beach front home would do you some good. What do you think?” I asked her.
“I don’t mind, Grand. I love Tone and can’t help that I like to be under him twenty-four seven. One moment he acts like he’s in love with me…he buys me flowers, brings me gifts…then he shuts himself away from me, and—” She looked away with tear-filled eyes.
“It hurts, feels like I’m wasting time…I can’t erase the past.” She hugged herself.
That was a true statement. Sometimes the past was behind us, but it could never be forgotten. I remember when I first saved Staress, her ex abusive pimp had a hold over her. She was sold to him at the age of fifteen by her mother. Staress was strung out on drugs, walking the streets day and night. She did anything that she could for drugs, food, and shelter.
Staress was captured when she was about twenty-two years old. She was the first woman to not fight against being taken against her will. She cooperated and got through my two-month program with ease. When it was time for her to leave, she begged to stay. She claimed that there was nothing for her outside of my corporation. She was too scared to be on her own, claiming that she would probably turn back to drugs.
Unlike the others that I knew had fallen head over heels for me, I knew that Staress was sincere in what she said. I gave her multiple jobs, even had her assisting with the other women that needed saving. She worked alongside of me for a while, she learned my likes and dislikes quickly and went above and beyond to please me.
Tone worked the streets with Dre; he hardly came to Grand Corp at the time. When he did start to show up and help around here more, I discovered his strong attraction to Staress. It was at that moment that I felt the need to tell my brother what Staress and I had done. We fucked, and afterwards, I told her that I wouldn’t be the man to fulfil her every need.
Besides the owls, I yearned to feel something more than just sex with a woman. I tested it out with Staress and felt nothing but a good ass nut. I wanted to start my own legacy, wanted to have kids and give them what I didn’t have. I wanted my kids to be able to have the childhood that I once yearned for.
“Staress is not going anywhere.” Tone’s voice cut right through my thoughts.
“Oh. That’s not your choice, it’s Staress decision. You refuse to give her more; you burst into my office demanding that I tell her that you and her are not partners when it comes to work… What do you suggest, Tone?” I asked, as my mind went back to Mira.
I want her to fall in love with me… I’ll give her seven days to fall in love…but how?I asked myself.
“I want her here, I just don’t know if she’s really for me…or you.” He looked me in the eyes.
“I understand…but you must understand that it’s all a self-thing with you. You trust me with your life?—”
“I don’t trust her.” Tone pointed accusingly towards Staress who dropped her shoulders in defeat.
I remained quiet as I sat back and analyzed this entire delay from my chess game.
Perhaps we can all use a heart to heart with one another since I haven’t had enough time lately to let them all express themselves…I thought as a smirk cracked through my face. I stroked the top of Josie’s head then clicked my teeth three times. Josie flew off my lap and landed right back at the edge of my desk. Her body was turned to me, but her head was already in position to study all parties inside of my space. That’s what I loved the most about Josie, she communicated with her eyes and listened intently. She only became violent when she felt the same shift that I felt.
“Sit down, the both of you. It seems like we all need to talk to one another. Things have been about business lately. I will page Angie, have her bring us a couple of drinks, so we can discuss some stuff.” I nodded my head.
“The only time you want to talk, Kenric. Is when the money is short or you have someone on your radar.” Tone chuckled.
He picked up his feet after Staress hurriedly sat down in front of my desk. Tone took a seat next to her; I looked at both of themand smiled. I didn’t conversate on a day-to-day basis, I talked to my owls more than anyone here. Most of the time when Tone or anyone else said anything to me, I’d offer one or two words to show that I heard them.
