by Deja King
"That's noble of you, Precious. But I don't give a damn about how devastated Quentin would be if something happened to Maya. She kidnapped my daughter, she almost killed you and she manipulated me. Since Quentin loves his daughter so much, the best thing he can do for Maya is make sure she never sees the outside of that prison she's caged up in."
"Are you ready for the party?" T-Roc asked Genesis as he was going over some of the final details that the event planner sent over.
"Yeah, I'm ready for it to be over with so you can stop talking about it. You're fuckin' obsessed with this party."
"No I'm obsessed with perfection and I don't want any mishaps. After Wednesday everybody will know about my perfume and Nichelle."
"I can't believe I haven't met her yet. She's done two photo shoots and been in this office a few times but I always seem to miss her."
"Maybe if you weren't out on the streets playing Nino Brown and coming to work more often you would stop missing her."
"Funny but you have to admit I've been doing a lot better the past week."
"True, but how long is that going to last," T-Roc remarked sarcastically.
"Just like you run a multi-million dollar operation, so do I. I had to make sure some shit was in order before I focused a hundred percent on my business here. But we good now and I plan on devoting even more of my time to making sure shit is running smoothly over here. But I will tell you that from my observations I think you might be wrong about having a traitor on the inside."
"Really?"
"Yep, I think the problem is more so incompetence than betrayal. I noticed that some of the senior executives I've dealt with tend to let a lot of shit slip through the cracks because they're not being meticulous. They too busy taking bullshit lunches and being Hollywood that real shit ain't getting done."
"That's very interesting to hear," T-Roc said dropping the papers down on his desk that he was looking over and nodding his head.
"I'm telling you that's what's going down over here. See, my shit is handled in the streets and I don't have no choice but to check, double check and triple check my shit or else I can easily end up in jail, my paper fucked up or worse-dead. I don't have time to be Hollywood. I got the cops and these scheming ass street niggas to deal with. Your staff got these cushion ass jobs and they're more concerned about what they'll be charging next on the company credit card then closing the next big deal. You feel me?"
"Motherfuckin' right! But all that shit about to change. After I wrap this party up and it's the huge success I know it will be, I'm going in for the kill and cleaning house."
"That will serve you best."
"No doubt and of course I'ma need you to be here when I begin the process."
"I told you, I'm down for the cause. I have to make a quick trip to Memphis and I'm all yours."
"Memphis, what the fuck are you going there for and when? I know you not about to miss this party `cause you gotta go to Memphis?"
"Hell no! I'm leaving Saturday night and I'm only staying for a couple days. I'll be back in time for the party on Wednesday."
"Cool. Go get all your shit worked out because when you get back I'ma need your full attention."
"And you will have it."
"So this is how it's gon' be for now on? No talking just dead silence between us," Tierra wanted to know as she stood in the kitchen, holding Elijah, warming up some baby formula for his afternoon feeding.
Renny continued reading his Bloomberg Business Week ignoring Tierra's question, which only made her try harder to get his attention.
"Here, feed the baby," she demanded, sitting down in what she knew Renny considered his private space. Tierra sat the baby bottle on top of some commerce magazines and newspapers that were piled up next to him. She continued to hold the baby since Renny hadn't looked up yet to acknowledge they were in his presence. It wasn't until Elijah started crying hysterically due to hunger that Renny finally spoke up.
"Aren't you gonna feed him?"
"No, you are."
"Tierra, I don't have time for your chicken-head games.
"Oh, so now I'm a chicken-head."
"No, you've always been a chicken-head."
"Well, this chicken-head is your baby mama so get over it."
"You're really trying my patience. . .now feed my son," he said handing the bottle to Tierra.
"You mean our son. I can't stop thinking about how Nichelle said you told her I was dead. Was that your intention, Renny, to kill me?" Tierra dangled her leg and fed Elijah, waiting to hear Renny's response.
"If I wanted you dead then you would be."
"Not necessarily because then who would feed your son," she mocked. "I'm thinking you were going to try and work shit out with Nichelle and then ease this baby situation on her once you had her wrapped around your finger again. Of course you would've never told her I was the mother and with me dead she would never find out. But me being the type of bitch I am, I fucked all that up for you."
"Tierra, since you have this all figured out, why are you running off at the mouth to me right now?"
"Because I ain't got nobody else to talk to and if I'ma be stuck in this crib wit' you, then the least you can do is keep me company."
"I'll be more than happy to take you back to my other place."
"I'm sure you would but Elijah wants to be around his dad and we get lonely being in that crib."
"I don't know what to tell you because I'm not your entertainment. I would prefer if you went back to the other place but if you're going to stay here, fine but don't bother me.
"I can't believe I let myself get in this fucked up situation. I always used to wonder what it would be like to have a baby by a rich nigga. I envisioned myself driving through my old hood, flossing in a fly ass whip, toting a fifteen-hundred dollar baby bag. I would be iced out and me and my kid would be dressed in nothing but top-notch designer shit. Instead, I'm sitting here in some boxer shorts, a dirty t-shirt, burping my son with a scarf tied around my head-this some straight bullshit!"
"When you made the decision to have the baby, I didn't promise you a damn thing. All I told you was that you and the baby would be taken care of. I'm doing my part. All that extra shit is some hoodrat street dreams that have nothing to do with me."
"I bet if Nichelle had your baby this would be a different conversation."
"Of course because the conversation wouldn't be with you. Nichelle is my girl, you're a very bad mistake. But Elijah is here now and I love him."
"Nichelle is not your girl, and now that she knows the truth she will never be your girl again. You need to get over that and focus on the family you have now, which is me and Elijah. I'm more your speed anyway. I'm a ride or die chick. You know that first hand since it was me you had doing a lot of your dirty work."
"Let me make this clear to you so you don't have any delusions about what this is. We share a child and once I get this Arnez situation resolved I will put you up comfortably and you can go on about your life which doesn't include me. I will see my son but I won't be seeing you. And in regards to Nichelle, you schemed behind my back to get her over here so she could find out about our little situation-mission accomplished. But I'll deal with Nichelle in my own way which I won't be discussing with you. Now you can excuse yourself because I want some alone time with my son."
Tierra handed Elijah over to Renny and left them alone. From a distance she watched their interaction and the reality of Renny only wanting a relationship with their son was clear. But it was a hard pill for Tierra to swallow. No, she wasn't in love with Renny, truth be told she didn't even like him but she was infatuated with the idea of having him as her man. He was fine as fuck, paper long, had street power and could lay it down in the bedroom although Tierra had only experienced that less than a hand full of times. Those were the sort of qualities that drew Tierra to Renny and made her fantasize about being his wifey or at least his glorified baby mama. Unfortunately for Tierra, Renny wasn't having any of it. But Tie
rra would not be deterred. She was determined to find a way to get in Renny's good graces and make him realize she was the sort of woman he needed on his team permanently.
"Why are we going to Memphis again?" Genesis asked Nico as their Delta flight was about to take off.
"Yo, this like the third time you've asked me this same question."
"I keep forgetting what your answer was."
"That's what happens when you start getting up there in age.
"No, that's what happens when you work to fuckin' much. Between running shit on the streets and trying to maintain in the corporate world, that shit is exhausting on the brain."
"Ha, ha ha, that's funny."
"I'm glad you find it humorous, but seriously, why Memphis?"
"Like I told you before, Roscoe said that's where Delondo wants to meet. And since we need him for our Philly venture, we're taking our asses to Memphis."
"And who is Roscoe?"
"Damn, you ain't been listening to shit I've been saying. I'm surprised you showed up to this fuckin' flight."
"You picked me up, so I can't take credit for that."
"That's right. Roscoe is Delondo's right hand man. You know what you are to T-Roc."
"I told you about the jokes."
"The thing is I'm not joking. You know you gon' have to decide where your priorities are because you not gonna be able to juggle both the streets and working for T-Roc."
"I know. But it's like Jay-Z say, the game is a light bulb with eleventy-million volts and I'm just a moth, addicted to the floss. Eventually I'ma have to get out, no doubt about it.
"So you choosing the corporate world over the streets?"
"No, I'm choosing life over death or jail."
"Man, it don't have to be that way. We can do both. We gotta corporation ourselves. We keep running this shit like a machine ain't nobody gon' be able to fuck with us."
"I wanna believe you right. But this game cost me my best friend and my wife, so you gotta understand my apprehension. This gig with T-Roc will give me an opportunity to sleep a little better at night."
"Maybe, but will you be fulfilled? You ain't got to answer right now, just think about it. And even if you want to continue to do the T-Roc thing, CoCo can step up and take more responsibility. You know she'll be down for it."
"True, she's mos def a trooper."
"How's that working out anyway, you know mixing business with pleasure?"
"Much better than I thought it would. I'm actually considering getting serious with her."
"You mean, like making her yo' main girl?"
"Yep," Genesis said nodding his head. "Nobody can ever replace Talisa, but I think CoCo is the closest I'ma get."
"Damn, nigga, is you gon' wife her?" Nico sat up straight and leaned his head forward making sure he understood what Genesis was saying correctly.
"If I do decide we're going to be together I'ma do it right. I rather Amir see me married to a woman I'm living with then just shacking up. My son deserves to grow up and see that, you know like how it was supposed to be with me and his mother."
"Yeah, I feel you on that. Real talk, part of me be hoping Supreme will fuck up so bad that Precious leave his ass and we can get married and raise Aaliyah together as a family. That's fucked up right?"
"It's fucked up but I understand completely. You and Precious have a lot of history and out of that you all created a beautiful daughter. But she has a lot of history with Supreme too. You know you my man and I want you to be happy but it really does seem like the two of them are in love."
"I know, you're right. I have to accept that I'm her past and Supreme is her future."
When Genesis and Nico arrived downtown the first thing they did was check-in to their rooms at the Westin Hotel.
"Yo, what the fuck is going on down here," Nico wanted to know as the lobby was full of people.
"It looks like there's some sort of party going on. Why else would a bunch of black people be dressed up and circulating a hotel lobby on a Saturday night."
Who knew Memphis had it poppin' like this. I see a couple of bad shorty's that I might need to keep me company while we're here."
"Nico, this is a business trip... remember."
"So I can't have no fun?"
"Fun, will come in the form of closing this deal with Delondo."
"True. I just wasn't expecting to come to Memphis and see it jumpin' like this. It messed up my train of thought for a moment. But I'm good because you're right, this is a business trip and business always comes first, speaking of which, this Roscoe calling me now"
"What's good man?"
"Everything, you and your partner here?"
"Yep, we're checking in our hotel now"
"Where you staying?"
"The Westin."
"A'ight. I'll be there within the hour to pick y'all up. I'll call you when I'm outside."
"Cool, we'll see you soon."
"Here, this yours," Genesis said, handing Nico his room key.
"Thanks, what you `bout to get into?"
"Nothing, we `bout to handle our business, wasn't that Roscoe on the phone?"
"Yeah, but he ain't gon' be here for about another hour. You wanna have a drink, maybe check out the party?"
"No, I'm going to my room and I advise you to do the same.
"Why you so uptight, relax."
"Fuck that. I gotta stay focused when I'm in Memphis. You know that nigga Antwon got popped here. CoCo and I had to do that little stint behind his bullshit."
"I didn't know the nigga got popped in Memphis."
"Yeah, fucking around with this connect at FedEx. You have no idea how much product go through these parts. It's right here in the middle of every fuckin' thing. I bet you that's why Delondo here, he `bout to set up serious shop."
"Damn, and I always slept on Memphis. Shit they got hot bitches and you can make paper-this my type of town."
Precious was in the Gucci flagship boutique on 5th Avenue trying to find a showstopper for Wednesday's party when she noticed two women walking in her direction. At first, she didn't pay them any attention but as they got closer their faces looked mad familiar.
"Hey, Precious, I had no idea you were still in New York."
"Why would you. I mean it's not like we talk on a regular or at all for that matter." Normally CoCo would be ready to go in on a chick for being slick with the mouth like that, but she knew that was just Precious' style and not to take it personally.
"Good point, you remember Chantal," CoCo continued quickly moving on to the next topic.
"Vaguely."
"My daughter Justina has been begging to see Aaliyah again ever since her birthday party. We have to set up a play date for them."
"We don't live in New York. Our home is actually in LA."
"Oh, we have a mansion in Beverly Hills. So the kids can play together on the East or the West Coast."
"And who are you again?"
"Chantal, I'm T-Roc's wife." Chantal flashed her left hand showcasing the massive rock on her ring finger.
"How cute, I mean the ring that is. Not quite as big as mine, but still cute," Precious smiled, flashing her own, even more massive rock.
"Like I was saying, we really should set up a play date. Justina is so shy. She rarely ever likes anybody but she simply adores that Aaliyah and I like for my daughter to have what she wants."
Precious initially wanted to tell this life size Barbie doll with her blonde highlighted hair and perfectly applied makeup to get the fuck out her face but then she remembered the conversation she had with Supreme. He said he was a businessman and that T-Roc was somebody he fucked with. This was T-Roc's wife so she thought it was best to play the game.
"Let me get your number, I'm sure Aaliyah would love to play with Justina. It's like you said, our girls should have what they want." As Precious put Chantal's information in her phone she caught the frown on CoCo's face. Precious knew CoCo was probably surprised that she didn't give Chantal shad
e but it wasn't just about her anymore. She was a wife and mother and sometimes you had to make certain sacrifices for the sake of family, which included fucking with fake ass bitches.
"Wait until I tell Justina, she is going to be so thrilled."
"Are you ready to go, Chantal," CoCo asked ready to break the fuck out.
"Yes, see you at the party, Precious, and good luck finding something to wear because I simply couldn't find a thing to my liking," Chantal said before making her exit with CoCo.
Before Precious could start talking shit about Chantal in her head, she heard her cell ringing. "Hello."
"Hello, how are you?"
"I'm good, how are you?"
"Great, did I catch you at a bad time?"
"No, I was just trying to find something to wear for this party I'm going to."
"You talking about T-Roc's party?"
"Well damn, is everybody in the world going to this party?"
"Just about. From what I understand it's the hottest ticket going right now"
"Aren't you a little too old to be using words like hottest ticket going?"
"I'm your father not a dinosaur."
"So does that mean you'll be in attendance at this soiree?"
"Unless something comes up, yes I will be there. So I hope you'll save me a dance."
"A dance with my father, I think that's an excellent possibility."
"Then I will definitely be showing up. That's actually one of the reasons I called you. I wanted to thank you for showing up and seeing Maya."
"I told you I would."
"You did, but I wasn't sure. I haven't had a chance to speak with you and see how it went."
"Quentin, I'm sure you've already spoken to Maya and she let you know exactly how it went."
"Yes, I have spoken to Maya but she didn't say much except how much she appreciated me getting you to come see her."
"That trick got so much game with her," Precious said, rolling her eyes as she browsed through the overpriced garments in the Gucci boutique.
"Given your comment, I'm assuming things didn't go that well."
