“You better not ‘cause I ain’t running with no pussy ass niggas. I’m already eyeing you sideways, don’t fuck around and get comfortable next to yo’ dead ass uncle.”
Hulk’s eyes shifted and nothing but coldness exuded through them. I had him where I wanted him. I wasn’t shit to play with and he knew it. Twenty-One would be a three man instead of four. He walked over to the table and focused on what Ace shed light on.
“What’s up with these diamonds nigga?” he inquired. He was playing it cool, but I knew he wanted my head. I was definitely going to keep an eye on him.
“We going back to the Springs. Y’all dumbasses went after Royce and his drugs knowing that ain’t us. We hitting his mall again fa sho, but it won’t be for no damn shipment, and it’s not the same mall. We hitting the one across town. It’s a jewelry store called XXIV Carats. I got word the owner just put some exclusive pieces out. It’s time to make a move, boys,” I stated.
“I’m with it,” TJ said with a grin.
“You know I’m in it,” Ace chimed.
I looked to Hulk, and he nodded. “Bet.” I started to run the play down step by step. This was the one and them petty ass thirty bands wasn’t touching this payout. The buyer was ready with his billfold open.
CH. 5
CHEYONNE
Another day another damn dollar. I strutted into my establishment wearing a cream pants suit and six-inch pumps to match. My hair was flowing down my back with Chinese bangs to cover my big ass forehead in the front. Out of the many compliments I received as a model, I had an all-time favorite. I never really gravitated toward Barbie’s, but Bratz dolls were my girls. People would call me one simply from my chubby cheeks, big lips, and big eyes. I thought it was the cutest thing. I even had one custom made in my image.
“Good morning, Ms. Afor,” the receptionist greeted me.
“Good morning, Halona. How are things this morning?” I spoke back.
Halona had been around since I opened this agency. She was the face people saw first. As a Caucasian woman, she was exceptionally beautiful and housed a lot of features that could land her as a model as well. I even offered to help her enter it and she declined it. Apparently working for me was enough to satisfy her.
“They’re good. Your nine o’clock is here by the way. I gave the files to Deena.”
“Thank you. Send them up once Deena calls down. Is there anything I need to take care of while I’m down here?” I inquired. Once I was upstairs and in my office, I didn’t leave if it wasn’t necessary.
“Nope. We’re good for now. Oh, did you want anything for breakfast? I’m getting ready to put an order in from Jo Americano,” Halona asked grabbing her notepad.
“Sure. I’ll have an egg white, spinach, and feta wrap with a mango, dragon fruit lemonade refresher. I’ll send down the company card with Deena. Get the entire staff whatever they want,” I rattled off.
“Will do. Thank you, boss lady!” Her smile extended from one side of her face to the other.
“No problem. I’ll see you later and call if needed.”
She gave a subtle nod as I walked off toward the elevators. LOL Modeling Agency was a three-story building that consisted of eight studios in total, and a hell of a rooftop scenery. We were located on the west side of the city. Thankfully we were in an area that didn’t consist of much traffic, so the clients didn’t mind traveling this far out.
Pressing the button on the wall, the doors to my left opened. I stepped on and pressed the third floor. There were only four offices and two conference rooms on this floor. It held me, Toneshia’s office since she was coo, Winston who was head of A&R, then Vernon who was H&R. We each had an assistant who worked on the same floor as well in their cubicle. Second floor held the studios while the first floor was for the agents, interns, and everything else. It was a pretty oiled machine.
The doors opened on my designated floor allowing me to step off and into a space that spelled of nothing but sweet caramel. That was Deena’s doing. She knew I had to smell something soothing but sweet at the same time to operate properly. It was like a fetish of having something I couldn’t while I was booked.
Strutting across the open floor, I made my way to Deena’s space. She held up the files as she spoke on the phone. She’d been my assistant since I started, and she did her job well. I grabbed them from her and kept it pushing. She would come see me as soon as she wrapped up that call. She always did.
Entering my office, I dropped my purse off in my wardrobe closet and picked up my slippers. I wouldn’t trade my pumps out until after my appointment was over. Taking a seat at my desk, I began to look over the files. There were two in total.
Opening the first one, I immediately fell under a spell. This little girl was so darn adorable it didn’t make any sense. She was under a year old, but she looked like a living baby doll. She would get picked up in no time, I was sure of it. The second was of a little boy who was just flat out handsome. He looked to be around three or four years old. From the way his parents dressed him, you could tell he had swag. Noticing that they were siblings, the wheels in my head immediately started to turn.
“Knock, knock, boss lady,” Deena spoke softly coming through the door.
“Who are these adorable children, Deena?” I questioned without looking up. I’d seen cute kids but these two made you fall in love instantly.
“Those beautiful babies belong to the Atkins family. Their names are Essence and Cordell. They’re your nine o’clock. Halona informed me that they’re here and waiting. Should I go get them?”
“Yes, and see if they need anything beforehand,” I replied.
“Yes ma’am.” She walked away with a small smile on her face.
