Page 17 of Finessed By A Hood White Boy

“Soon.”

“Soon should’ve been a month ago.”

“I know,” I nodded. “I’m just not sure if we’re really going to see eye to eye on my decision.”

“That doesn't mean avoid the conversation, EJ. You might as well go ahead and get it over with as soon as possible. I’m sure Duke will understand. Hell, he better understand, it’ll help me worry less about the both of you. I don’t speak on how you make your money. I can’t make yall do the right thing, and walk the right path. That’s something you have to be willing to do yourself. I raised y'all to walk hand and hand. To always look after each other. Duke looks up to you, the same way you look up to him. I’m sure you two will come up with something. God didn’t bless you with that inheritance for nothing. I look at it as a blessing in disguise.”

I allowed her words to marinate, and realized she was right. Apparently, I was overthinking. Deep down, I knew bruh would ride with me regardless.

“Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were little?”

I chuckled, trying to think back that far but came up with nothing.

“Nah,” I shook my head.

“You wanted to be an architect.”

“What?” I laughed.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “You used to build little cities outta cereal boxes. Kat would sit with you and y'all would play pretend with your action figures.”

“That’s crazy,” I rubbed my face. “I don’t remember that.”

“I do.” She reached over to squeeze my hand. “I’m proud of the man you’ve become, EJ. But what you’re doing and how you make your money isn’t what your momma wanted. Just because you became a product of your environment doesn’t mean that’s what and where God intended you to be or stay.”

I never said I would be hustling and ruling the streets until the day I died. Every once in a while it would cross my mind to come up with a plan to go legit. However, I was so accustomed to living the fast life. That shit literally had me in a chokehold. Big Momma was right though, my momma wouldn’t approve of the empire I’d built from the ground up. Had she known the moves I was making as a teenager, I’m sure I would’ve been the one incapable of taking care of myself as an adult. Katherine played no games. She brought me into this world, she damn sure would’ve tried to take me out.

I chopped it up with Big Momma for an hour. I dreaded the thought of going back to the office just to shit in that conference room for three hours, listening to bullshit that didn’t hold my interest. Apparently, I had no other choice. I made sure to let Charles know I was on the way back. Tired as fuck, I wanted to kick my feet up and chill. On my way back to my office, I made sure to slide past Ava’s to see if she was back. Lucky for me, I noticed her standing at her desk.

“Hey, are you busy?”

I noticed the sound of my voice caused her to flinch.

“Um, no, I was just about to take my lunch.” She paused. “Do you need me to do something before I leave?”

“Nah, where you going for lunch?” My eyes stayed locked on hers.

“I brought my lunch from home. So, I was going to go sit in my car.”

I found that strange because she could’ve just sat in her office with the door closed.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

I watched her hesitate before she shrugged her shoulders with a small smile.

“Yeah, sure, that’s fine.”

She continued putting her belongings into her purse, then followed me out. Shoulder to shoulder, we headed to the elevator which took us down to the parking garage.

“Why do you want to sit in your car for lunch?”

I couldn’t help myself, I had to ask.

“Because it’s quiet, and I don’t have to worry about anyone passing by to bother me.” She shrugged.

“Damn, you talkin about me?” I pointed to myself.

“Oh, my god! No!” she burst out laughing. “I promise, I’m not talking about you.”