“What I tell you ’bout that? Keep this shit up. Boo, I’m only tellin’ you this to help you. If you allow someone to do everything for you, then that same person has the power to take everything from you. You can’t doubt yourself before you even get started.”
I nodded since that was all I had. I was in my feelings ’cause everything she said was true. Being under pressure would always bring an unsure cloud around me and wouldn’t leave until I threw the towel in. That had my name on it, so if I wanted more, I had to go out and get more.
“Give me some tongue so I can finish cookin’.”
My lips connected with hers, and that soreness was slowly but surely fading away. Her lips were parted with what she asked for, and I was losing myself in my wife all over again. When she gripped the side of my waist and squeezed, I softly moaned into her mouth. She pulled away, winking, and went back to finish cookin’. My wife knew the type of fire I had stored for her.
I hopped down, repeating the chant,you got this, in my head. My wife believed in me, and I knew Hunz would too. That left me, myself, and I.
&
Two weeks had come and gone from the morning my wife encouraged me. I was meeting with a few designers that could potentially help me with Ties & Tips. I was brand new in thebusiness world, so I asked Belle Air to tag along. Belle Air was more experienced and knew what to look for when choosing the right people.
She had her own nail shop called Slim Nails. My wife and I had an appointment set for every other Wednesday. Our nails would still be intact, as if she’d just done them, but the way I switched up, my nails had to have a different color every two weeks.
“Nei, do you have a visual on how you want your place to look?” We were standing inside the building my wife had purchased. So much could go into the business, and if done right, I knew it could be successful.
“I do, but I’m not sure if I’ll stick with it. I doubt myself a lot, Belle. I’m tryna change my mindset. This needs to be perfect.”
“Nothing in life is perfect, Nei. Whatever you decide on gon’ bring people who’ll fuck with your establishment ’cause you brought something new. Then there are those who will envy and try to destroy you. Where there’s a positive, there’s a negative. That tough skin gon’ have to be worn at all times once you start, friend,” Belle advised.
Lately, everyone around me had been so supportive. Scary Journei was leaving after that day. It was an opportunity for me to be something other than a spoiled, needy wife. Alexis made sure we were straight in all areas, but I could match her hustle.
“You’re right, Belle. I got this.”
The door opened, and in walked two pretty ass, black women. One was mocha toned and on the chubby side, which was giving me life, while the other was peanut-butter toned and slim. Both wore their hair in a protective style of box braids.
I knew a Fashion Nova fit when I saw one, and both sported a pants set. The duo was begging for me to bring my ratchet side out and yell “yaaaasssss, sis!”
“Hi, I’m Nina, and this is my sister, Emilia. We’re the Belvedere twins. We have a one o’clock with Journei Evans,” the mocha-toned one, who I knew as Nina, introduced them.
I walked over with a smile on my face and extended hand. “I’m Journei. Thank you for coming.” I shook each one of their hands.
“No problem. First things first, I’ll run down how we operate. Our deposit is half of the flat rate up front. Second, get a budget and stick to it. I promise we can work with whatever number you throw out. You can call us at any time. A new business is stressful, but we’re here to relieve that. Our job is to bring what you sketch out to life.” Emilia dished out a mouthful.
“This process can take as long as you want it. We can grind and have it done within three to six months, or we can be mellow and have it done within six months to a year. The decision is yours. Once hired, we’ll provide you with an iPad. There will be a floor plan, as well as a three-dimensional layout. None of the pieces you choose will have a price tag. Tags scare people. Choose what you want, and we’ll work it out with your budget,” Nina added on.
“Well, damn. Y’all did not come to play. Do you have a few things I can look at before I make a decision?” I asked. They were about their business, and I would soon be on that same train.
“Yes, ma’am.” Nina pulled out a folder from her briefcase. Belle Air reached for the folder. I let her examine the documents as the twins and I continued to talk.
“You picked a nice area to start a business. This building is huge and holds so much potential. What were you trying to do?” Emilia questioned.
“Don’t laugh, but I want a book lounge. Like Barnes & Noble had a baby with the local hookah bar.” I told them not to laugh and ended up doin’ it myself. It sounded crazy, but I knew what I wanted.
“Lay it out for me,” Emilia said.
“OK. Well, I want the lounge part in the back area and closed off. A double entrance will have to be built. First entrance needs to be soundproofed using glass. A small area that’ll hold tips, flavors, and small tablets that hold everything we sell. Through that tablet, they can place orders, whether it’s food or something we sell up front. Food orders would go straight to the kitchen and everything else to one of the registers. What goes on back there cannot disturb what goes on in the front. Am I losing you?”
“Nah. I’m liking this so far. Keep going,” Nina said.
I continued to voice how I saw my business. I knew what I wanted was over the top and probably corny to some people, but it was mine, not theirs. What made it even better was Alexis bought the building across from a well-known bookstore.
“Jesus Christ. You got a vision, honey. And now I understand why you made that analogy. It’s a lot, but I can see this blowing up. You got something different on your hands,” Emilia expressed.
“Thanks,” I replied, smiling.
Gills
