“What the fuck you mean my money is gone and both them niggas dead? I’m ’bout to be back on the first thing smoking, and my shit better be where the fuck I left it, or it’s finna be a lot of black dress wearing ass bitches in that city, nigga!” Rowdy said on the phone. “I don’t give a fuck who shift it was! Find my shit,or find yo’ momma that dress! I’ll see you soon.” Rowdy ended the call.
I pretended to be asleep because I was scared of what I had just heard. This sweet and kind man was just threatening to have people’s mommas crying. I didn’t know this side of him at all. I wanted to be away from the street shit so bad, but it just seemed to follow me. I honestly thought this was a businessman who had his shit together, but now I was confused.
“Bae, wake up and pack your bags. We have to go,” he said as he tapped my arm.
I pretended to groggily wake up. “What’s going on, baby? I thought we had two more days,” I said as I sat up.
“I have an emergency that I have to tend to, but I promise to make it up soon. Hurry up, we gotta go, though,” he said in a panic.
I jumped up from the bed and ran to the bathroom to brush my teeth and grab my things. I started packing like a wild woman because I did not wanna get on this man’s bad side. In less than an hour, we were at the airport waiting for our flight home. We sat in silence for the whole five-hour flight. I occasionally grabbed his hand, so he would know I was there for him. I could tell his mind was somewhere else, and as much as I wanted to ask him what was going on, I knew it was best if I didn’t know.
Once we made it back to Dallas, he called his car service for me and waited until they arrived.
“Baby, I promise I’m gonna make this up to you. Don’t be mad at me, alright?” he said.
“I can’t be mad at you. I still had the best time ever. I’ve never been so happy,” I said as I got on my toes and kissed his lips.
“I’m here to make your life brighter, beautiful. It’s just some shit I gotta take care of. Once it’s handled, I’m coming straight to you. I love you, Harmoni!” Rowdy said.
My mouth instantly dropped. He had never told me he loved me. I got a tingly feeling inside, and I knew this was who I was supposed to be with.
“I love you too, Rowdy. So much! Be careful, and I’ll be waiting for you,” I said before hugging him and getting into the car.
Whatever he had going on, I was gonna ride for him. He deserved a real one in his corner, and I was gonna be just that. I didn’t approve of the street shit, but I was gon’ accept whatever came with him. I laughed to myself at how I kept ending up with hood ass drug dealers. If I was supposed to be a nigga’s ride or die, just say that.
I went home, took a shower, and then headed to my shop. Sitting in the house, waiting for a phone call like some weak bitch, wasn’t me. I needed to stay busy. Once I made it to the shop, I saw that business was booming as always.
“No, ma’am! Aren’t you supposed to be on vacation? Why are you here?” Carmen greeted me with unopened arms as I walked into the shop.
“Hey, boo. I missed you too.” I laughed.
I gave her the rundown on what was going on as I accepted a walk-in client who had been waiting patiently. I never took walk-ins, so whoever got one from me was considered lucky. After I did a traditional sew-in on her with wand curls, she thanked me several times before paying and tipping me. Throughout the day, I accepted all the walk-ins because I didn’t have any appointments booked. I made just as much as I would have with my regulars.
“They love you, Harmoni. Nobody wanted to sit in our chairs today,” the new girl, Taylor, said.
Carmen hired Taylor while I was out on leave to get my life on track. She was a bomb ass stylist, and I felt that if she stayed on her grind, she could be one of the best. It was somethingabout Taylor, though, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Sometimes I would look up and catch her staring at me or side-eyeing me, but when she saw me looking, she would just smile it off. I knew I could be intimidating, but damn. I just hoped she stayed on the right track and in her lane because the last hoe who crossed me was probably still somewhere with knots and a headache.
“You’ve still been busy yourself. Today just was a one time thing because I never accept walk-ins. I just needed to keep my mind busy, honestly,” I told her.
“Is everything alright, Boss Lady?” she asked.
I don’t know why, but the way that she asked me that was as if she wanted the tea to go back and repeat it.
“Yes, ma’am. All is well. Thank you for asking,” I said as I faked being appreciative.
I hated for anybody to be all up in my business.
“Do you have any social media, Taylor? I want to put you on our platforms and tag you, so you can get even more clients. I can also feature your work and drop your booking link. That will definitely bring them in,” I offered.
“Omgee, that is so thoughtful of you. No, I don’t have any social media, but I will make some so we can do that,” she lied.
I had seen this girl with her phone in her hand all day, and I knew for a fact she had platforms. Why would she lie? I made a mental note to watch her. A liar couldn’t be trusted.
For the remainder of the day, I worked and talked with my girls in the shop. They caught me up on the latest drama, and we laughed about how Jakari had run out of there the last time he showed up. Taylor started asking questions like how long we had been broken up, and she also said she wished she had come into work earlier on the day he stormed out, so she could have seen his face. That was the day I had officially broken his heart. Thankfully, he got the picture and moved around.
Carmen told me that she was gonna take the deposits for the past two days to the bank, but I told her I would take it once I locked up. Taylor and I were the last ones left in the shop. She told me that she had some family issues and would need to take a little time off. I let her know that it was no problem, so she packed her things off her station, and I went into my office to count my money. I had made three thousand today, and I had an additional four thousand that needed to be deposited into the bank.
As we left the shop and I locked up the place, Taylor looked around like she was waiting for someone.
