Mesmerized By A Street King 4

by Belleza

  “Sounds like a plan!” she cheered. “Can I get pizza?” she begged clasping her small hands together.

  “Sure. Now go shower while I clean up.”

  Za’naa jumped off the chair with the quickness and stopped a few feet away and pivoted on her heels.

  “One thing, can we keep the thing about the boy between us. I don’t want my daddy to hurt him.”

  I giggled because I knew Zayne wasn't going to take it lightly that she was the apple of some missing tooth boy's eye, but it was life, and Za'naa was beautiful. Even at seven years, old crushes were inevitable.

  ZAYNE

  "I was expecting a home cooked meal," I murmured in Keira's ear after kissing her lips. Smelling the sweet vanilla scent and having her so close had me ready to undress and get a much-needed release, but I noticed Za'naa was balled up next to her snoring lightly.

  “Change of plans,” she mumbled peeling her eyes open. “What time is it?”

  I kissed her forehead and her round stomach before raising up off her. “After ten.”

  "Not bad for a weeknight," she said sarcastically knowing that I normally was home earlier.

  “Things got a little hectic. Is Naa cool?”

  I dragged my hoodie and shirt up my torso and over my head. Keira was as quiet as a mouse watching me undress. I faced her, and I saw she had a lustful look in her eyes that didn't help to ease my growing erection from when I was kissing on her.

  “Ke…”

  "For the most part she's fine, but we need to talk."

  “Before or after sex?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

  A sneaky smirk spread across her face, and she eased off the bed and sauntered over to me. I swear Keira was the most beautiful woman on this earth but carrying my son her beauty was magnified. "After, I miss you."

  Keira stood on her tiptoes and tilted her head upward so our lips can meet.

  “What’s up with Naa tho?”

  "Get her in her bed, and I'll get your shower ready."

  She stepped around me and went inside of the bathroom, and I scooped Za'naa up in my arms. She was sleeping hard and began to snore louder once I tucked her into bed. I placed a few kisses on her cheek and eased the door shut behind me.

  In a few short weeks, my family will pretty much be complete. Even though I had Za'naa raising her was different in comparison to raising my son. Qwinae wasn't around, and for the short time she was, we were more so roommates more than anything.

  Once I got in the bathroom, Keira was in the shower waiting for me although I was pretty sure she showered already. After a couple of rounds in the shower, we got cleaned and then dried off. Keira grabbed my lotion off the dresser, pumped some of it into her hands and began to massage it into my skin.

  “What did you have to talk to me about?”

  “Naa promised me not to tell you.”

  “So my daughter keeping secrets?”

  “Not necessarily because she told me,” Keira smiled, and I frowned at her ass because either way I wasn't moved by it.

  "What's going on Keira?"

  She sighed and continued to work her hands over my back and biceps.

  “I don’t like that school for Naa.”

  “You think their racist?”

  "It's obvious. Even Za'naa is starting to have little issues in class. She told me some of the kids don't want to play with her."

  “Fuck them, she ain’t there to play.”

  “You have a point, but I want my child to be comfortable while she learns. I think the teacher even gives her a hard time. I asked her a question, and the muhfucka was talking over her telling me she doesn't participate at recess."

  “Is that what Za’naa ain’t want to tell me?”

  She shook her head. “Zayne, promise me you won’t say anything.”

  "What is it?"

  "Zayneeeee!" she whined, but I wasn't promising a goddamn thing if it involved my daughter safety.

  “What is it?” I asked again.

  "A boy in her class likes her, but the other kids convinced him not to play with her, but that's beside the point," she spewed out. "I don't think Za'naa isn't feeling too good about the school and it's taking a toll on her physically. All she's been saying is that she's sleepy and tired and she sleeps more than me."

  I got quiet contemplating everything she threw my way. She must've thought I was more focused on the little boy liking Za'naa. Trust me, I ain't like that shit at all, but my main concern was my daughter's health and safety. At one point in time the school was cool, but now I've been noticing the changes as well.

  I was never the type to back down from anything, had it been me in a school like Za’naa’s I would’ve stayed but it was my job to protect my little girl. She was young and didn’t need to be exposed to the ugly part of the world.

  "Babe…" Keira's sweet voice broke me out of my thoughts. "You ok?"

  “For the most part,” I responded with Za’naa heavy on my mind. “I’m going up there tomorrow.”

  “Oh my goodness. Za'naa thinks you are gonna hurt the little boy."

  "Man, I ain't worried about the little fucker. He ain't around my daughter anymore, so I'm good."

  Keira sucked her teeth and narrowed her eyes at me.

  “It’s normal for a little boy to like a little girl.”

  "Well, not my little girl. That shit can wait till I'm dead," I replied lifting the remote and turning on the TV.

  No father wanted to think about their daughter with a man whether he was good or bad for her which is why I ain't take Keira's father concern to heart. I was a street nigga for sure, but I treated his crazy ass daughter like royalty. I believed he only gave in because he wanted to get on his daughter's good side. Believe me when I say about thirty years from now is when Za'naa might be able to have a little boyfriend he is gonna have to level up to me in every aspect.

  ***

  “I thought KeKe was taking me to school.”

  "She was, but I want to take you." I turned around and glanced at Za'naa who was staring hard at me. "You don't want ya, daddy, to take you to school?"

  “I didn’t say that. I thought KeKe was taking me, that’s all.”

  Za’naa picked up her last piece of waffle on her plate and stuffed it into her mouth. She got off the chair and walked her plate over to the sink and then went to her glittery bookbag and slipped it onto her back.

  “I’m ready.”

  During the car ride, I decided to ask Za'naa about her school day yesterday. Under normal circumstances, I would've been home, and we would've had this conversation, but things were moving too quickly in the street, and sometimes I had to be the one to make sure everything was running smoothly.

  Za'naa pretty much told me everything Keira said and even mentioned the little boy. I was relieved when she told me because if she had kept that from me, I would've been worried. I wouldn't want my children to feel like they can only come to me for certain issues. It was going to be my baby girl and me until the end so either way all the things men ain't want to hear about such ass menstrual cycles, sanitary napkins, and bras I had to be mentally prepared for that.

  Once we arrived at her school, I parked in the parking lot, and we both walked hand in hand to the building. Za'naa was telling me about what they learned yesterday, but I was half listening in an attempt to observe our surroundings.

  We went through the metal detectors, and I retrieved her bag from the conveyor belt. I use to think the amount of security in the school was over the top but with the number of school shootings happening across the nation it was a good idea.

  “You don’t have to walk me to my class. I’m a big girl now,” Za’naa explained looking up at me.

  My heart stopped for a few seconds hearing her say those words. I was ready to argue her down, but she had a point. We were already in the school and literally down the hall from her class.

  Lord knows I didn’t expect my seven-year-old to be considering herself a big girl.

&
nbsp; I crouched down to her level, so we were looking into each other's eyes.

  "You make sure you don't let nobody bully you, ok? You're not obligated to play with anyone, and I hope you don't feel like you need a bunch of friends. You're amazing and if those kids are too dumb to realize that it's their loss."

  Za’naa giggled nodding her head. I cupped her cheeks in my hand and kissed her forehead. “If someone hits you…”

  "I'll tear their behind up!" she finished off, and now I was the one laughing. It only had to be Asahd's ass telling my daughter shit like that. Yes, I wanted Za'naa to hit them back, but I ain't want her to beat their ass.

  “Stop listening to your uncle.”

  “Well, KeKe agrees too.”

  I shook my head and stood up. “A’ight go on to ya class. I will pick you up later.”

  Za'naa rushed off, stopped a few feet and looked back at me. "I love you, dad!"

  “I love you too, Naa.”

  She cheesed and then continued to her class, and I was planted in the same spot with a swollen chest watching her until she entered the classroom and closed the door behind her.

  Many men wished for a son for their first child, but Za'naa made me the man that I was today. Even though I thought I loved her mother, I never experienced true love until the first day I held her, and of course, Keira stuck me with her arrow as well.

  Breaking out of my daze, I began to head in the direction of her classroom remembering everything Keira explained to me. Her teacher didn't come off as a problem but if there was an issue I needed to address I was damn sure going to. I stood outside of the door watching the man interact with the kids, and everything seems to be copacetic. Za'naa looked happy and eager to start their lesson. The corner of my lips inches upward the longer I stared at her.

  “Do you need help with anything?”

  "Nah, I'm good," I answered looking over and noticing it was the rent a cop that took his job entirely too seriously.

  “School started two minutes ago.”

  “Oh.”

  “Right now you can’t be in the building without a pass. Do you have a pass?”

  “You saw me enter the building with my child earlier. Don’t go asking me shit you know the answer to.”

  “Just doing my job.”

  I chuckled lightly. “Trust me, I know.”

  I focused back on the classroom with my arms now across my chest.

  "Is there anything I can help you with."

  "If there were I would've asked. You stepped to me so what's ya fucking issue. I'm here making sure my kid is straight."

  “What kid?”

  I laughed again, only because he was irritating me and I had to keep my anger at bay.

  "You take a wild guess," I nodded my head towards the class where at the moment Za'naa was the only ebony princess. Last year it was a good mix, but again, Keira was right about the changes.

  “Sir, I will have to ask you to leave.”

  I locked eyes with the security guard who had the heart of a giant to still be in the same spot badgering me about shit I wasn’t going to do.

  “Mr. Moseley,” we both turned towards the voice that called out to me. A man dressed in a tailored suit approached us and extended his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so many things about you.”

  "I wonder from who and why? Who are you?" I glanced down at the man's hand and back at him, and he lifted both his hands in the air once he realized I wasn't open to the pleasantries and greetings.

  "I'm Mr. Thomas, the Founder of the school. I can assure you I've heard nothing but good things about you. Your daughter is Za'naa Moseley. She's a bright little girl, as the Founder of the school, it's my job to know each student and their parent."

  I eyed him from the shiny ass shoes he had on his feet to his runway fit suit. This man was all about money.

  "Sounds like you know a lot about me. What I want to know is what's going on with the school? I don't care what changes y'all make, but once it begins to affect my daughter, that's when I have a problem."

  The guy looked at the security officer and told him he had it from here and then invited me to his office.

  “Nah, I’m good right here.”

  He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie as if the air around us wasn’t enough to fill his lungs.

  “Are you insinuating something bad is happening to her?”

  Luckily for this man, I had a little bit more patience and sense before I tore the whole school apart for some shit that should've ended years ago. Za'naa was here for an education nothing more or nothing less.

  "You're a smart man, and I'm not speaking in code. I don't care about what y'all have going on, but when it comes down to her, all bets are off. Check ya teachers and the parents on how they're raising their kids or else I'll handle it."

  Mr. Thomas laughed, and now his face was red showing how uncomfortable he know was. “No need for threats Mr. Moseley. I will look into everything and fix whatever issues you have.”

  "It ain't a threat," I assured him giving him an icy glare and then walked off. I was sure this wasn't the last time I was going to see this dude and if I did again I might not be as civil.

  NATAVIA

  "Natavia, you have a call on line 2," my receptionist's voice sounded through the loudspeaker.

  I sighed rubbing my forehead because I was sure it was Jeremy’s school again. I was in the middle of an important phone call with a potential client. There was no way I was putting them on hold to reprimand my son.

  Life was better than what I ever expected it to be. I still can't believe how I literally stumbled across Johan and he turned out to be everything I wanted and needed. He loved me unconditionally and treated Jeremy as if he was his own. Once upon a time, I felt like I was drowning in bills but them days were long gone.

  The job offer Johan gave me was nice, but I wanted something I could call my own. My family was from the south, so I grew up on home-cooked meals that literally put meat on your bones. Everyone that ate food from me fell in love instantly, so I asked Johan to back my passion up in which he did with no hesitation.

  Now I was the owner and cook of Soulful kitchen. What started off as a takeout and catering company for people that wanted a tasty, satisfying meal as if it came out fresh from their grandmother's kitchen I would soon be the owner of Soulful restaurant that had a reception area that could hold up to fifty guests for small events.

  It felt good to be a business owner finally and to have financial freedom topped it all off. My credit score wasn't perfect, but I'd give it another year, and I'll be debt free with a pretty much clean slate.

  Johan had to have been the greatest thing that ever happened to me because he put me on to so many things I didn't know or was afraid to learn because I thought it was absolutely too much work. Since he owned multiple businesses, he was well aware of how to correct all my issues. It was one thing to have a man, that secured you and provided but he was my confidant and teacher. What he knew he made sure he passed it on to me so I can grow with him and not have to feel dependent on him.

  Jeremy was the only issue, and I couldn't understand for the life of me why he was acting out now all of a sudden. He had a few issues at his old school, but now that we lived under one roof with Johan and his kids they all attended the same public school that was in the neighborhood.

  Now that I had plenty of time and money to spare I was always with Jeremy and gave him whatever he wanted when he deserved it. I thought with the changes in our life he would iron out his minor issues. However, they now seemed as if they were growing.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting you, but do you mind holding for a second?” I asked my client putting them on mute once they gave me the green light. “Tiana, can you let the school know I will call back. I’ve been speaking with them all day.”

  “Sure thing boss lady.”

  I took the phone off mute and continued to speak to the client who wanted to place an order. I'v
e been on the phone most of the day taking orders. I thought during the holiday season people rather cook, but there were also many that rather unpack food and relax and because of them, I was making a ton of money.

  After hanging up, I flipped through the calendar that was nearly marked up for the month of December, and we were only a day into the month. Seeing how fast my business grew made me giddy inside of. It was one thing working at my old job, and we got a pat on the back for cutting labor and working our hands and the pads of our feet to the bone, but to watch something you started from the ground up, prosper was greater than them dry ass thank-yous and great job.

  I laughed out loud thinking about how I prided myself on being with a company for the past ten years and got absolutely nothing from it. Of course, I had a few promotions, but like Johan told me, working hard at someone else's goals were going to get me nowhere.

  I leaned back in my plush leather chair and glanced around my office I decorated myself with money I borrowed from the bank, it wasn't something I necessarily had to do because I had money saved and Johan was eager to pay for everything. The store he helped with of course but my office was my sanctuary, so I wanted to take over this project personally. It was a win-win because I created my sanctuary and is also building my credit paying back double the minimum payment way before the due date.

  My office was decorated simply with bright white walls, mahogany wooden furniture, plants and large bay windows that allowed the natural light inside. My favorite part was the essential oil diffuser I had that left a soothing lingering smell.

  Jasmine essential oil was a popular remedy that assisted in overcoming stress and anxiety. Currently, at the moment I needed to open up the bottle and huff the entire container because Jeremy was working my last nerves.

  As soon as I got comfortable and my mind somewhat leveled my phone, and I snatched it up off my desk thinking it was the school calling again.

  “Hello?”

  “Damn, baby, what I do to you?”

  The sound of Johan's voice was very soothing. I placed my elbows on my desk and cradled my head in my hands.