“Ms. Andrews,” I began, slowly placing my phone on her desk, unlocked so she could see my background, a picture of Sophie and me.
I wasn’t big on shit like that, and until Sophie changed it, my background had been whatever came on the phone when I activated it. But right now, the picture of us she’d insisted on changing it to came in handy.
I watched her eyes move toward my phone before she looked at me again when I continued. “I’m an intelligent man, so I won’t embarrass you again by breaking down how that bullshit ass apology you just gave me ain’t worth the time you spent delivering it. Instead, I will ask you to give me paperwork. I’mhere because I want to purchase the property you showed me. I’m willing to have a check on your desk first thing in the morning, which will guarantee you a two-hundred-thousand-dollar commission. More than enough for you to buy clothes that fit. You can put those numbers in my hands or I will find another realtor who can.”
An hour later, I was leaving the bank with a cashier's check to be delivered to Melinda by ten the next morning. Since I was done with business for the day, I decided to swing by and see what Los was up to. Sophie was out shopping with Maddie and I needed to holla at Los about my run in with Orin to get his take on it. I didn’t know why, but what she said fucked with me a little.
“Ay, Los, where you at?” I yelled as soon as I entered his apartment. I had already hit him up to let him know I was on my way, so he expected me.
When he didn’t answer, I headed straight for the bedroom he had converted into an office. If he wasn’t chilling in his living room, he was in there.
“What it do, Troop?” Los offered a nod as soon as he looked up and saw me.
“Shit, I can’t call it. You ain’t hear me calling your damn name?”
“Hell no. You know you can’t hear shit back here. I need to put a camera in here. I’ve been meaning to do get one, especially with Maddie around. She might sneak up on me and hear things she doesn’t need to hear.”
“I thought you were chilling right now.”
“Nah, not like that. Just business shit. Last thing I need is for her to walk up on me while I’m handling something.”
Nodding, I agreed and glanced at his desk. “What you up to anyway?”
“Moving money around to keep the feds off my ass,” he said, then smirked.
“I’m telling you, let that shit go and you don’t have to worry about all that.
“I’m a Black man in America sitting on millions. Even if I walk and go legit, I’m always gonna have to worry when it comes to things like that.”
I chuckled and sat on the sofa, lifting the remote to turn the sound up.
“You right, but at least then you can tell them to kiss your ass after they search your shit and don’t find anything to question you about.”
“Fuck you mean? I’ll tell them now and say it with a straight face.”
“And that right there is why you need to walk. It's just a matter of time before you piss off the wrong people. Neither of us has any fucks to give when it comes to shit like that, but I don’t move kilos like you, so I can say it with confidence and keep it moving.”
“Damn, Troop. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you forgot where you came from, muthafucker.” Los lifted the glass on his desk and finished whatever was in it. I shot him a look that said don’t fucking try me, which made him laugh.
“What’s good, though? You make the deal?”
“Hell yeah. Check will be on her desk at ten a.m.”
“Pussy free or she convince you to tap that ass before you signed.”
“Yo, don’t fucking play.”
“Ay, I’m just asking. Ol’ girl was working overtime for you, Troop.”
“And she ’bout got her ass cussed the fuck out today too.”
“Two point five, muthafucker. I told you it was coming.”
“What the fuck ever, but speaking of that, I need to run something by you.”
Los leaned back and folded his arms behind his head. “What’s up, you got problems?”
“Nah, not really, or at least I don’t think I do, but tell me what you think.”
