“Well, JJ is a doctor?—”
“Doctor!” Stacy exclaimed, causing everyone to stop and stare. “That man got moneyyy!”
“Stacy, please!” I hissed, throwing a balled-up napkin at her. “You’re embarrassing me.”
“Girl, you should be embarrassed at the fact that you’re out here stressing about that mall cop when a whole ass doctor is trying to get your attention.” Rolling her eyes, she gestured for Scotlyn to keep going. “Does he live here?”
“Yes, but he’s not from the city. He’s a medical examiner, and he’s very brash.” The door chimed, and a few more people came in, prompting her to stand. “I’ve only interacted with him when he comes into the café, but it’s always been pleasant. He’s never treated me with anything other than respect. Give him a chance.”
Leaving us alone, Stacy and I continued to eat our breakfast in silence. I wouldn’t admit it aloud, but I was intrigued by him. JJ gave off dark vibes mixed with a lot of rudeness, and I would have never guessed that he worked in the medical field.
“Listen, friend… I don’t mean to overstep, and I never want to minimize your personal relationship with TJ, but come on, boo. That man hasn’t called you indays.” I looked up and met her sympathetic eyes. “You’re my best friend, my sister. I don’t want to sit by and watch you settle for a man that’s not putting forth the effort to be with you.” Glancing at her watch, she sighed. “Come on. We need to go if we’re going to be on time meeting your brother. The way I’m feeling today, I’ll bust his head wide open with the very wood he’s using if he starts up.”
Nodding, I grabbed our trash and discarded everything before heading toward the door. Waving goodbye to Scotlyn, I led the way to my truck to take us across town. Once in the truck and buckled, we rode in silence the entire way.
“I appreciate you more than you ever know, Stacy.” I turned to face her as we pulled up to the shopping center. There weren’t many workers parked in the lot, but I assumed they were all on lunch. “Don’t think I’m over here being TJ’s dumb little fiancée. I may not speak on it, but trust me, if I ever find out he’s not being faithful, it’s over for us. I will never settle for a man, no matter what my parents want for me.”
Giving me a small smile, she nodded before we gathered our things and headed toward one of the shopping center’s entrances. The sun was beaming today, and because I didn’t like sweating, I knew I wouldn’t be out and about for much longer. Looking around the empty lot and down at my watch, I saw it was a little after ten. It wasn’t as late as I thought for a lunch break, so I was now confused about where everyone could be.
“Hector, where is everybody?” I asked as I stepped inside the building. Hector was Rowan’s head supervisor, and it was just him with two other men inside, painting the lobby. “Where is Rowan?”
Staring at me with worried eyes, Hector said nothing with a look I knew all too well. Frustrated, I pulled my phone from my clutch and hurriedly dialed his number. Tapping my foot impatiently, I listened as Rowan’s phone rang, and when he didn’t answer, I grew more pissed. Redialing him a third time, I turned abruptly when I heard heavy footsteps behind me. The frown I wore deepened the closer he walked toward us. His clothes were dirty, his eyes were glossy, and there was a god-awful stench exuding him.
Not only is he high, but he’s drunk.
“Well, if it isn’t the perfect Blossom Reid.” He burped as he staggered my way. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I came over to check and make sure you guys were okay and didn’t need anything since I’ve been trying to get in touch with you since last week.” I crossed my arms and glared at him. "Tell me you don’t think you’re about to come in here and work.”
Waving me off, he ignored me as he walked past all of us and made his way over toward their workbench. Kicking his shoes off, he had the nerve to stretch out across the wooden bench and throw an arm over his eyes, attempting to take a nap.
“Unless you’re going to suit up and help us, you can leave.” He yawned as his words slurred. “I don’t need you in here distracting my men, acting like a whore.”
“Excuse me!” I shouted, stomping toward him. “I have never acted that way around your men or any man, for that matter?—”
“Could be why yours has been laid up with the next bitch.” He cackled as if he told the joke of the century. “Serves you right. Maybe it’ll knock you off that high horse you’re on.”
Staring and watching him fall into a slumber, I thought about what he’d said. I’ve always been told that a drunk man speaks sober thoughts, and I couldn’t help but wonder if there was some truth to what he’d said. TJ and Rowan hung out a lot, so if anyone knew he was cheating, it would be him. Looking around, all eyes were on me. Dragging my attention from the crew, I began to look around the entire building. Paint, plastic, and construction materials were everywhere. In the middle of the lobby sat a pile of trash that had been there for days. The more I stared, the more pissed I became. Dropping my bag and folders to my feet, I stomped the short distance to the bench and pushed Rowan with all of my might.
“Get the fuck up and get the fuck out!” I screamed while gritting my teeth. “I am sick and tired of you disrespecting me. I paid you three weeks ago to do a job for me, and it’s not closerto being completed than it was when you started.” I stood over him and watched as he looked around in confusion after he had hit the ground. “Grab your crew, pack your shit, and get the fuck out!”
As my chest heaved, he glared at me as I looked at him with pure disgust. He did the best he could to keep eye contact, but the liquor and drugs were battling against each other. Finally, he stood the best he could, swaying uncontrollably.
“You want me to leave? Fine!” he shouted as he turned to face his crew. “Pack our shit boys and let’s go. She thinks she knows everything… Let her build the place her damn self. She will need us before we need her.”
“As long as my money is long, a need is the least of my worries.” I chuckled humorlessly as I grabbed my things from the floor. Going through my contact list, I shot off a quick text. “My security team is on the way to ensure you leave in a timely manner. In case you’re confused, you’re fired, Rowan.”
Nodding at Stacy, she and I left the building. Rowan was having a fit behind me, calling me every name he could think of. I was used to them by now, but our business relationship was done. The way he had me feeling today, the personal was well on its way to being done too.
As we headed out of the building, I decided to call TJ. I wasn’t surprised when I got his voicemail. Not only was I on the cusp of losing a brother, but I was close to losing my man too. I was done being disrespected, and if they wanted to keep referring to me as a bitch, then I was going to give them a reason to.
“Darling, do you think that maybe you were too hard on your brother? I know he may not be the best person, but he’s your family. He’s just going through a hard time right now.”
Leaning back into the massage chair, I tried my best to tune my mother out. I thought today was going to be one of relaxation, but she made me realize I should have left her at home.
“Mom, I get that he’s family, but Rowan is a grown man. I’m not going to let him talk to me crazy when I’m the one who’s paying him to work.” I sank deeper into my seat as the tech began to massage my feet. Sundays were always my self-care days, and after the week I’d had, I really needed this. “You’re going awfully hard for a man that disrespects you at every turn.”
When I fired my brother from doing the construction on my latest renovation project, he repeatedly called my phone, leaving me messages and texts, calling me all types of bitches and hoes. The way my brother treated me broke my heart. I had never disrespected him or made him feel like I was better than him. I didn’t understand where his hatred for me came from, but he needed to go to a therapist and figure it out. It wasn’t just me that he hated either. His hatred and disrespect extended to my mother too. He told her repeatedly over the years that she wasn’t his real mother and that he didn’t give a fuck about her. My parents wanted to blame it on the drugs, but I called bullshit.
