by Jade Jones
Roxie suddenly burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Magyc asked confused.
“You? In charge? Boy, your young ass. What do you know about running a business?”
Magyc licked his lips and clasped his hands together in front of him. “First, off, you gon’ get enough of addressin’ me as boy. Ain’t no adolescent this way. I’ma grown ass man,” he stated. “Second, we the same age. You were young when you had ya shawty. I’m sure you ain’t know the first thing about parenting when it happened. But you learned and mastered it. Same applies with me. Come on now, Ms. Lady. Don’t insult my capabilities ‘cuz of my age. You’d be surprised what a young nigga can do.”
“And what’s that?” Roxie teased. “Do pray tell.”
“If you act right, you’ll find out over time,” he told her.
Roxie’s panties were wet underneath the table. She loved how he respectively put her in her place.
Meanwhile, across the room, a pair of eyes stared intently at their section. “Hey, girl. I could be tripping, but ain’t that Magyc over there keeping time with some bitch?”
Upon hearing his name, Briana Andrews craned her neck. She was an attractive girl with wide doe eyes, smooth mocha skin, and jet-black shoulder length hair she wore in a bob.
“No. You’re not tripping,” she said through tight lips. “But he is.” She and her girl, Tara was just about to pay their tab and leave when she noticed him smiling and chatting with some broad.
“Where he find that hoe at? She don’t look worthy,” Tara said.
Magyc didn’t even notice them gawking at him from across the restaurant. He was too enamored by Roxie’s beauty and spunky attitude.
“Don’t you worry about me runnin’ the business,” he smiled. “Jude had faith in ya boy. You should too. I got this,” he smiled.
“That ain’t the only fucking thing you got,” a third voice spoke up.
Roxie and Magyc simultaneously looked up at the pretty brown-skinned female standing at their table. Tara stood next to her with her arms folded underneath her breasts. Neither woman looked happy.
Magyc was surprised to see Briana standing there in the flesh. It was pure coincidence them being at the same place at the exact same time.
When Magyc didn’t respond fast enough, Briana continued. “So I take it you ain’t tell this bitch you had a girl?”
11
“Sweetie, the only bitch at this table is the one that’s chirping—”
“Magyc, you better train these hoes to not open they mothafucking mouths!” Briana threatened.
“Aye, chill with all dat shit. What’chu even doin’ here, Bri?” he asked.
“Nigga, I could ask yo’ ass the same thing!”
“We’re doing absolutely nothing,” Roxie said, standing to her feet. “I don’t fight over men, honey. I’m a lady. It’s clear you don’t know the first thing about that.”
Briana surprised everyone when she snatched Roxie up from behind by her hair. “You fucking bitch! I told ya ass!”
Magyc quickly hopped out his seat to help. What started out as an innocent and peaceful brunch, soon turned into an all out catfight.
***
It was a quarter after three when Cameron found herself wandering aimlessly through Beachwood Mall. She honestly was just window-shopping since she didn’t have the funds to splurge. Still, it felt good to get out of the house and get some fresh air. She lived near Brookpark, but she loved being on the eastside. It was where she was born and raised.
As Cameron traipsed through the mall with her son she thought back to how she, Pocahontas, and X-Rated used to all hang out there. A smile formed when she recalled the fight Wallace and Tank had gotten into over her. Good times.
“Oh, my God! Hypnotic, is that you?”
Cameron did a full 360 when she heard someone address her by her old stage name. Juicy ran up to her excitedly before embracing her. They were once cool during their Shakedown days. She looked a lot different than Cameron remembered with half her head shaved. The hoop earring in her nose was also new, but she was still thicker than a snicker.
Three stars were tattooed on the side of her temple and she resembled actress, La La Anthony. She was a beautiful girl, but hood at heart. Cameron pretended that she didn’t see the faint bruise near Juicy’s chin.
“I thought I was fucking tripping or seeing shit. What the hell are you doing here?” Juicy asked. “Last I heard, you had moved down south with ya man.”
“Yeah, well… I got tired of the south,” Cameron said. She didn’t want to admit she’d gotten tired of her husband.
“And who is this little handsome guy? I didn’t know you had a son.”
Cameron beamed. “Yeah, I did.” She looked down at the shy toddler. “This is Justin. Say hi to mommy’s friend.”
Instead of greeting Juicy, he smiled and hid behind Cameron’s legs.
“Aww, he is so damn cute. He looks like your twin.”
“Thanks.”
“So you back permanently or…”
“Yeah. I am.”
“What side of town you on?”
“Westside.”
“Ugh. Why you move over there? Ain’t shit over there.”
“You’re wrong. Cheap rent is over there,” Cameron told her. “Anyway, I drove past the Shakedown the other day. I couldn’t believe they actually closed the place down. We used to clean up in there.”
Juicy’s eyes grew big. “Girl! Let me tell you! Some shit had popped off between two niggas, and before anybody knew it shots were fired. That shit was so nuts. It was all over First 48.”
Cameron’s mouth fell open in shock. “Swear?”
“They had no choice but to close shop. But to keep it real, it wasn’t shaking all like that anyway after you left. Business had started dwindling after this new joint opened up down by the Flats last year. They damn near put every strip club out of business. Hell, Larry Flynt’s ain’t even fucking with that joint.”
Cameron’s interest was now piqued. “You up there?”
“Bitch, five days a week like that mothafucka going out of style. I make so much money there it’s crazy.”
“It sounds like I need to come through,” Cameron said. “I could use the extra cash.”
Juicy gave Cam a skeptical look. “You can… but… shit ain’t the same, Hypnotic. If you trying to get back on that pole, let me be the first to tell you the game done changed.”
“How so?” Cameron asked curiously.
“Well, for starters. A lot of the old niggas with money in jail,” she explained. “And nowadays strippers is building their clientele through networking on social media. So if you ain’t gotta Instagram page, I suggest you get to making one. Get ya follow game up, ‘cuz niggas is picking status over stature.”
“Damn. I never been into that whole social media hype.”
“Well, you better get with it if you talking about coming out of retirement. ‘Cuz the niggas that come to where I work don’t give a fuck how cute you might think you are. They want the bitch that all the niggas want. And all the niggas want whoever’s the prominent on social media.”
“That shit sounds so childish,” Cam laughed shaking her head.
“It may be… but this money mature as fuck.” Juicy pointed to Cameron’s empty hands. “And I don’t see ya ass toting no shopping bags. What’s stopping you?”
Cameron stalled with a response.
“Mmhmm. That’s what I thought,” Juicy said. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat at the food court. I can help you set up a page and shout you out. After today, niggas gon’ know Hypnotic is back and better than ever.”
12
After Briana and Tara had scared off Roxie, Magyc had no other choice but to console his jealous and enraged companion. Tara trailed close behind as she listened to the two argue.
“Average ass bitch! Nigga, I swear you be trying me with these mediocre ass hoes!”
Pedestrians stopped
and stared at the couple as they left the restaurant. Valet wasted no time bringing Magyc’s Roadster to the front.
“Man, shut that vain shit up and get in the mufuckin’ car, Bri.”
“But I rode with Ta—”
“Get in the car!” he demanded. Briana had his blood pressure high because of her bullshit. He hated to draw unnecessary attention to himself, but she seemed to thrive off of it.
Briana stopped at his passenger door and turned towards Tara. “I’ll call you later, a'ight.” After bidding her girl farewell, she climbed inside Magyc’s ride and secured her seatbelt. Deep down inside, she was glad to be leaving with him. That was all she really wanted in the end anyway.
“Man, yo’ ass can’t be carryin’ on and shit like we married,” he said, pulling off. “I fuck with you, Bri. You know I do, but neither one of us are obligated.”
Briana sucked her teeth and blew a raspberry after his statement. “So you just been fucking me for two whole years with no strings attached?” the 20-year old asked. “Nigga, you sound stupid.”
“Watch ya fuckin’ mouth,” Magyc warned her. “And I been fuckin’ you for two years with no titles. There’s a big difference. I care about you, Bri. But you done bucked at three of my home girls. You can’t be spazzin’ out every time you see me with another woman.”
“Oh, but you can trip whenever I decide to entertain a new nigga? You’s a fucking hypocrite, Magyc.”
“That’s different.”
“Nigga, that ain’t fucking different! You and Mikey jumped Ron at Privè. Don’t try that double standard bullshit with me.”
Magyc thought back to how he and his brother whupped on her lil’ boyfriend in the club. Though he was the jealous type, the motherfucker had been throwing shade all that night. They were from the same hood and never really fucked with each other. Magyc was certain Briana knew that shit when she got with Ron. She would do anything to get a rise out of him.
“I’m a man. I’m territorial,” he said in his defense. “That don’t mean you can jump on females. That shit you did today wasn’t cool. Roxie is good peoples. She’s my boss’ family.”
“I don’t give a fuck if she was Michelle Obama! Any bitch I see you with, I’m snatching up! Flat out!”
Magyc shook his head. Briana was so young, childish, and out of control — but he couldn’t get enough of her ass. He should’ve broken things off with her the minute he peeped she was crazy, but the pussy was too good to abandon. “You somethin’ else, yo’.”
Briana smiled flirtatiously. “But you love me though, right?”
When Magyc didn’t answer fast enough, she unbuckled her seatbelt, reached over and unbuttoned his jeans. Pulling out ten inches of thick, hard dick, Briana slowly lowered her head in his lap.
She wasn’t too worried about Roxie. At the end of the day, she’d never be able to handle a nigga like Magyc. He was forever hers, and there wasn’t a bitch out there that could change that.
***
Juicy lived in a cozy two-bedroom apartment on Coventry Rd. in Cleveland Heights. It was a total step up from the cruddy neighborhood Cam resided. If and when she got her finances together, she could move in a safer, wealthier area.
Justin was preoccupied with SpongeBob while Cam and Roxie took ratchet pictures in her bathroom.
“Ugh. Loosen up, Cam. You act like you never did a photo-shoot before.”
“I haven’t.”
Juicy sucked her teeth. “Bitch, you been living in Atlanta two years and you never did no photo-shoots? That’s like being at Montego Bay and not going swimming. See, girl, I’ma have to get you all the way together. It’s good visibility and promo to do a couple of those too.”
“So I’m marketing myself, pretty much?”
Juicy shrugged. “Essentially,” she said. “Or branding — whichever you wanna call it. Look, artists and entrepreneurs do the same thing. It’s no big deal. Now relax ya shoulders and tilt ya head up a little.”
Cameron tried her best to look more comfortable. She was topless with one arm covering her breasts and seduction in her eyes.
“Cool. That last one came out really good,” Juicy said after snapping a few photos on her iPhone 5. “Now let me get a shot of that backside. Yo’ ass done got thick after Justin.”
Suddenly, Cam heard the front door to Juicy’s apartment open. Naturally, she was concerned because her son was in the living room alone.
“Who is that?” Cameron asked.
“It’s cool. That’s my boyfriend. He moved in with me a few months ago after getting out. You know how that shit goes.”
Shortly after, they heard her bedroom door close.
“Are you going to work tonight?”
“I plan on it,” Juicy said. “You should pull up.”
“Maybe I will… just to check out the place and everything,” she added.
“Okay. Put your clothes back on, naked bitch. I’m finna edit and upload these pics.”
Cameron slid back into her strapless bra and crop top. She watched as Juicy refined her skin to make it appear flawless. It was amazing what a cellphone app could do. After a few minor alterations, Juicy posted the photos to Cam’s new page. She then tagged her in a shout out resulting in thousands of horny followers instantly — male and female alike.
“This shit’s so crazy,” Cam laughed in amusement.
“Bitch, you need to quit bullshitting and bring yo’ dancing gear tonight just in case,” Juicy told her. “It’s Friday. I guarantee you gon’ have some niggas checkin’ for you.”
13
Jag sat on the edge of his mattress with his cellphone pressed against his ear, and a frustrated expression on his handsome face. Much to his dismay, Cam’s number was still disconnected. He’d tried to hit her up a dozen times, and each time the call failed. Although they weren’t as close as they once were, it wasn’t like her to just up and cut ties with him.
Maybe Jude caught wind of us communicating still, Jag convinced himself. That was the only excuse he could make for Cameron’s odd behavior.
He missed the sound of her voice and her raspy laugh. She was the only thing in his life that made him feel normal.
Hanging up the phone, Jag tossed it on the bed and ran a hand through his coal, black hair. Light stubble lined his square jawline, adding a rugged sexiness to his appearance.
Jag didn’t know what was up with Cameron, but he hoped like hell everything was okay. It would’ve been nice to make sure they were still good, but it was obvious Cam needed her space. When she was ready, she would reach out to him on her own accord.
All of a sudden, there was a knock on Jag’s hotel room door. Normally, he would’ve reached for his piece on the nightstand, however he already knew who the guest was.
Slowly standing to his feet, Jag approached the door and opened it. He stepped to the side and allowed his beautiful visitor entrance. She was a busty honey-colored vixen whom he’d met at Onyx in Philadelphia.
Jag was there strictly for work purposes. He stopped in the establishment on his last day in town for drinks and a little unadulterated entertainment. Jag was a man with dignity, but he also didn’t mind paying for company — especially since he hated sleeping alone.
Doing things that way was so much easier too, because no real feelings were ever invested. The women got what they wanted, and so did he. It was a win-win situation; a mutual understanding.
An invisible wall surrounded Jag’s cold heart… and the only person who had access to it was Cameron Patterson…
***
Cameron arrived at Sin City Gentlemen’s Club at approximately 10:15. Although it was early, there was already a nice crowd beginning to form. The club’s exterior was eye-catching with bright neon lights for letters. There were Audis, Benzes, Ferraris, Maybachs, and Porsches parked in the lot, each one shiny as though they’d been freshly waxed.
Juicy was right. There was definitely some money to be made at Sin City. Cam couldn’t wait to stake her claim o
n some of that cash. She may’ve been a little rusty, but it wouldn’t take more than a shot to get her back in the swing of things.
After parking her truck, Cam climbed out with her rollaway suitcase and entered the building. The club looked even bigger than it did from the outside. Loud trap music had the place live.
The club was packed with niggas standing wall to wall. A few of them didn’t seem too interested in what was happening around them. They were just happy to say they were there.
Cam made a mental note to avoid motherfuckers like that. They were also usually the ones who loved to talk a bitch’s ear off.
Cameron spoke with the owner briefly before she was instructed to go and change. Evidently, he liked what he saw because he didn’t even request an audition. Cam was grateful too because she hated going through the run around. All she wanted to do was toss on her dancing bikini and get to the money.
On the way to the dressing room, Cameron looked up at the stage. There were a few fellas making it drizzle on the brown-skinned dancer climbing the pole. Cam did an automatic double take when she noticed Pure Seduction.
Well, I’ll be damned.
Cameron wasn’t the only one who’d returned to Cleveland. Last she heard about Pure Seduction she had run off to Miami with some pimp. Cam studied her longtime rival from a distance. For all the drama and bullshit they’d gone through, she prayed Pure left her alone and let her be. The last thing she wanted was problems in her new place of employment.
Cameron headed down a long, narrow hallway, which led to the spacious dressing room. As soon as Cam walked in she saw a plethora of naked asses and titties. Women of every shade were present, determined to make a quick come up for the night.
Cameron was no different as she moseyed inside. She found Juicy at the vanity ‘powdering her nose’. She was topless and clad in nothing but black bikini bottoms with rhinestones. Her face was beat compliments of the club’s house mom.
“Hey, bay,” Juicy greeted excitedly. She watched Cameron approach her through the vanity’s mirror.
