“Mr. Landry,” she said, smiling. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Denise,” Amai said, nodding. “I need your best salesperson. And I need you to fire her.” He nodded toward Destiny.
Denise’s smile faltered. “I’m sorry?”
“Fire her,” Amai repeated. “Right now.”
Denise looked at Destiny. Then at me. Then back at Amai.
“Mr. Landry, I?—”
“She disrespected someone I care about,” Amai said, his voice flat. “That’s unacceptable. So, either you fire her right now, or I take my business elsewhere. Your choice.”
Denise didn’t hesitate.
She turned to Destiny. “You’re terminated. Effective immediately. Security will escort you out.”
Destiny’s face hardened. “What? You can’t?—”
“I just did.” Denise gestured to a security guard standing near the entrance. “Please escort Ms. Encino off the premises.”
Destiny started screaming.
“This is bullshit! You can’t fire me for no reason! I’m gonna sue! I’m gonna?—”
The security guard grabbed her arm and started pulling her toward the exit.
Destiny twisted around, her eyes wild, her voice shrill. “You think you special now, Truth? You think you better than me cause you got some nigga with money? You still the same broke bitch you always been!”
Amai stepped forward.
His voice was quiet. Lethal.
“You ain’t gonna do shit,” he said.
Destiny’s mouth snapped shut.
The security guard dragged her out.
The store went silent.
Then Denise turned to me, her professional smile back in place. “I’ll get you our best associate. Please, take your time. Anything you want is yours.”
She walked away.
I stood there, my hand still in Amai’s, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.
“What the fuck just happened?” I whispered.
Amai looked down at me. “I told you. You getting your lick back.”
I stared at him.
Then I started laughing.
I couldn’t help it.
The sound bubbled up from somewhere deep in my chest—part shock, part relief, part pure, unfiltered joy.
