It was impressive how much businessTouch of Goldreceived on the top and under the table. It was understood why it needed to run smoothly with proper management. The manager that I replaced had a greed problem. He made side deals and skimmed from the top. That was crazy, considering as the manager, I had a $70,000 salary. That didn’t seem like a lot, but I also received 30 percent from all profits under the table. That was where the real money was.
Since I’d been here, I had already earned over $100,000 under the table. It was easy for me to wash my money since I came here with businesses already in Chicago. I was buying some property to rent out. Whether I decided to stay here or not, rental property was a move, no matter what.
“Aye, Scotty, that Hellcat you did yesterday was bad as fuck. That wrap was smooth as fuck. We never offered that servicebecause no one knew how. Do you think you can teach me?” Ace eagerly asked.
His drive to learn was refreshing. “I definitely can. I’m gonna send you the website and pick a wrap you like. We’ll wrap your truck.”
His eyes bucked before he closed his fist and covered his mouth with it. “Oh shit! Are you serious? Okay, I’ll look when you send me the link. Thank you, Scotty. I’m happy you’re here. Our other manager wasn’t the greatest.”
I wasn’t sure if Ace knew about the underground. I was sure he may have heard, but he was a clean cut youngin.
“I heard, but that’s in the past. I want all of y’all to maximize your skills. Once you learn how to wrap proficiently, you can take customers. The labor fee will go directly in your pocket which is twenty percent of the overall cost,” I let him know.
I knew once he got it down, business would boom with new customers who wanted custom wraps. I didn’t know that much about Ace, but he lived a cool life in a nice tiny home that he rented. I asked why he didn’t get a bigger place, and he said that he had bigger before, and he wanted to appreciate just enough. I respected that shit. He had a good head on his shoulders. He was clearly raised right by someone.
Since I moved here, Lashonda acted like she couldn’t manage life. I still paid all her bills, and one of my dudes from the shop dropped off an allowance once a week. She called me and claimed that she never received the payments. The cameras on her porch told me that she lied.
Every time Chap came to drop it off, he counted it out on the porch toward the camera. He then rang the doorbell and stepped back to force Lashonda to step out. It wasn’t until then that he handed it to her. There was no conversation. It was known in our city that my mother was with good bullshit. She also didn’trealize that I knew she moved that nigga in. I planned to give her six months before I started to charge his ass rent.
It was almost time to shut shit down. At this shop, I worked on vehicles way more than I did back home. Ironically, I missed it. “Scotty, Megan is back. I’ve never seen a chick be as desperate to get a nigga’s attention. That shit seems dangerous,” Grady said.
I huffed before I closed my eyes. Megan’s vehicle came in a few weeks ago because of a fender bender. She met me when she came to pick it up. From the moment she saw me, she led the conversation with her pussy. I wasn’t interested, and I told her that shit. She said just because I wasn’t interested didn’t mean that she couldn’t flirt. Claimed that she would eventually wear me down.
Last week, she came in because she had a dent. When I looked at it, it was clear that she was the culprit that put it there. I didn’t say shit, because if she wanted to spend her money for a failed attempt to get my attention, then so be it. “What the fuck she need today?”
“She wouldn’t even tell me. She probably knew that I would tell her to move around. Her ass is stupid as fuck. I hope all these southernish females aren’t like that. If they are, I’m going to have to get my chick from home and bring her down here.” Grady’s facial expression showed that he was clearly bothered.
I chortled. “Nah, they’re not. You just have to find the right one, just like at home. Let me see what she wants so I can get her out of here.”
I washed my hands before I headed to our lounge. When I walked in, my steps slowed at the sight of Blake. Based on how she was dressed, she came here directly from work. This was a surprise because I was usually the one that came to her job.
My head lifted in a nod toward her before I walked over to where Megan sat. She stood to show her barely-there outfit. Shewas dressed for the summer in late fall. Her fucking pussy would catch a cold if she wasn’t careful.Wait, what the fuck does that mean? I’ve been around these country niggas too damn long already.
My smile formed with my customer service warmness. “What’s up, Megan? What you got going on?”
Blake sat in her seat not too far from us with her ears on. Yeah, her nosy ass was tuned in.Yeah, she wants a nigga.
My attention circled back to Megan when she cleared her throat. “Um, I wanted to know if you could change the oil in my car. I keep smelling oil, so I think it needs to be changed.”
There was no way that she was serious right now. My time wasted was something that I couldn’t stand. “Megan, this is an auto body shop.”
Her forehead creases formed then deepened. Her hand went to her thin hip. “Okay, what does that mean? I know you know how to change oil.”
“What it means is that they don’t do fucking oil changes. If you want that shit, go to a damn shop that specializes in oil changes. You bitches is silly and desperate.” Blake’s voice was even with no amusement present.
The shock was real. Blake’s reaction was surprising because she came across as an overly cool female that allowed nothing to get to her. She was more in control than this. This was the first time that she stepped off her square.
Megan turned around to face Blake.Please don’t say shit!Yeah, that request was short lived. “I don’t think I was talking to you. It would serve you well to mind your fuckin’ business.”
When Blake stood up, my body moved to step between the ladies. I faced Blake because she was who mattered. My expression was stern.
“Aye, don’t do anything stupid in my shop. All air condition, no heat.” My voice held authority that she had better take heed to.
She knew exactly what the phrase meant. Nothing needed to happen that would draw the attention of police. She knew that just as much as I did.
Her eyes bore into mine. Anger rested in them, but I didn’t give a fuck. She had better pipe the fuck down.
Her eyes didn’t leave mine as she spoke to Megan. “Miss ma’am, I recommend that you take your vehicle to another facility, as I suggested prior. You don’t want this kind of smoke because fire is sure to come at a time that you least expect.”
