Page 34 of More to Love

When he touched me, I submitted to him. When he spoke to me, I became a damn puppet. I couldn’t explain the power he had over me, but I knew I was going to stick it out to see if my heart was playing games with me.

Chapter Nine

AVIANA

I was annoyed that I had to actually go out here and start this fuckin’ business that I lied to Hendrix about. It was a lie that rolled off my tongue and now I had to uphold it. Him finding out about what I’ve been doing and how I’ve been moving in these streets would literally have me back in them quicker than I could blink.

Because he was a prideful man, he wasn’t going to like that I’d been playing on his top for over a year. He was going to strip me of everything, even down to the car I drove and leave me with nothing. Woods was a damn good fuck, but he couldn’t provide what Hendrix could and that was that.

I sought out someone who already had a vision with a shoe line and collaborated hoping to speed the process. The terms were me putting up the bread and they came with the game plan for everything else. I found a chick named Portia and took advantage.

“The company to make the prototypes is here. Where do you want them?” my COO walked in asking.

Being a businesswoman wasn’t in my life plans. I was a kept type of bitch that wanted to sit around and spend my man’s money. I hated that I pressed him about cheating the way I did because now I was in a situation that was whooping my ass. If it wasn’t for Portia, I would still be lost on what went into this kind of thing.

“I guess in the conference room so we can speak with them together. Give me a minute and I’ll join y’all.”

She nodded and exited my office.

“Girl, I can’t believe you’re doing this. This is a mess,” she said cackling as if something was funny.

“I can’t believe it either but it’s the only way Hendrix will stay off my ass. Plus, I lied about waiting to have a prototype done and now I really have to get some shit made so he won’t come questioning me again. This shit is stupid as fuck.”

“Stop lying all the fuckin’ time then. Why don’t you just tell him you out here doing you because he wanted to go do him? I mean, it seems only right since he revealed he cheated.”

“See that’s your problem. You’re so used to dealing with ain’t shit niggas that if you had a nigga like Hendrix, you would fumble the bag. Out of the four years we been together that nigga ain’t never stepped out of line. I wish I would leave him for this one mistake. The commas in his bank account said he can cheat again, and I still wouldn’t be upset.”

“I don’t care how much a nigga make, he gon’ do right by me or I’m gone.”

“Bitch please. Kenny messed around on you how many times and you’re still there? Oh okay. Let’s just shut the fuck up talking about mine.”

I wasn’t mad with Jamilla for voicing her opinion. I knew the kind of man I had at home, and I would be a fool to leave him. That nigga had my bank account laced and I walked around in the flyest gear and pushed one of the flyest whips. Hendrix could do whatever he pleased, to be honest. Hell, I was doing me anyway.

“Whatever. I’m at the shop and Daria is calling for me. I’ll holla at you later.”

I hung up without saying bye and carried on about my day. My relationship with JaJa always seemed to be a competitive one. When I got with Hendrix, it all started, and she couldn’t tell me anything different.

While I was with my baby daddy, she thought we were equals and had no issue with me asking to borrow things and vice versa. However, once Hendrix came into my life, I was upgraded damn near overnight and she hated that Kenny couldn’t dish out money the way my nigga could. I never missed her shady ass comments, but I also knew it would satisfy her greatly if Hendrix and I broke up. I was smart enough to know she was a frenemy, so I kept her close.

Gathering my notepad, their file, and a pen, I headed to the conference room to see if they were a viable candidate to join the team. Walking in, I took the vacant seat beside Portia and listened to the conversation before chiming in. They were discussing the time frame of the physical product and outlines.

“You’re saying in a month’s time, we’ll have a prototype for each shoe we have outlined?” They nodded and I thought that was fantastic until Portia carried it a little further. “Explain that to me when I have a connect at Nike that couldn’t even get it done within that time frame.”

“Well, since we are a smaller company and have more time on our hands, we’ll dedicate that to your products. You’re paying to skip the line so we’re going to handle you as a priority. We want the best for you and just because we aren’t a worldwide company that doesn’t mean we aren’t of quality. You can trust us with your vision.”

She sat in silence mulling over his response, and I didn’t know what to think. Spades was the only thing I brought to the table besides the funds and thankfully Portia agreed to the name. Other than that, I didn’t know what to ask or think about what was just discussed.

“Uhm, so are shoes the only thing you make?” I questioned.

“Yes. I’m Vincent by the way and this is my partner, Frank.” He stood and extended his hand. We shook and took our seats once more. “We’re shoemakers and cobblers. We’re who people come and see before they pitch their ideas off to people like Nike. We brought our portfolio with us.”

“Nice to meet you both. I’m Aviana.”

They handed over a folder to each of us and waited for us to assess them. I was thoroughly impressed. Thye made any shoe you could think of and that was the kind of person I needed. Since we were trying to become a well-known house name for shoes, we needed to go in business with someone that could handle it.

As I scrolled, I couldn’t contain my smile. Their work was good, and I loved the diversity they carried. Sneakers weren’t our only form, so it made me happy that they knew how to do more than that. I was completely sold but the ball really lay in Portia’s court.

“Give us a minute to discuss this privately,” she said as she stood and headed for the door. I followed behind eager to hear what she had to say.