Money Is King: The Complete Series

by Nicety

  “You know what, I just remembered that we had rescheduled that outing with CJ for the next day so if you wanna come by tomorrow and pick him up that’s no problem.” I replied in my sweetest voice.

  “Oh now he’s free.”

  “Yeah. My bad, I must’ve forgotten that we rescheduled.”

  The phone went silent for a minute like he was trying to figure me out. After all these years of dealing with each other, I forgot this nigga had studied me like a book and could damn near tell when I was feeding him bullshit. Damn near. My lips remained pressed tightly together. I wasn’t going to speak first and give him the benefit of the doubt of catching me up in my lies. Not this time.

  “Aight, Mink. I’ll be over there to get him. I’m gonna call an hour before so you can get him ready. He’s gonna stay the weekend.”

  “Okay Cesar. That’s fine.”

  The phone went silent again. I knew he was trying to figure out what brought on my sudden change in attitude but playing it cool was the best thing I could do in this situation. He said goodbye and hung up the phone seemingly baffled about what I was up to. I needed to handle my business face to face with him and if he brought that bitch to my mom’s house, I would dog walk that bitch before I allowed my son to go with them. They weren’t about to act like the perfect fucking family with the kid that I bore from my pussy.

  I stuffed my cell down in my jeans pocket feeling accomplished. Cesar underestimated the abilities of my mouthpiece and thus couldn’t readily identify my bullshit when he heard it. I couldn’t wait to see his sexy face tomorrow so I could work my magic on him. Once he took me back, I had planned to make his life a living hell at least for a few months for the shit he put me through. Nobody treats me like that. Nobody.

  The rattling of a trunk beating sounds mad loud from down the street startled the shit out of me. I looked down the street to get a glimpse of what baller this was rolling through the quiet Beverly neighborhood like that. That kind of thing wasn’t heard often in the near suburban like area so I had to check this stunner out just in case he was someone that I needed to befriend for recreational or financial purposes. The drop top GT350 was bright red with a racecar strip running through the middle of the hood. It was fire hot as the sun slapped the paint job making it glisten in all the right places. Long flowing weave blew in the wind from the passenger seat with a light skinned girl attached to it looking dead in my direction as the car slowly drove by. In the driver’s seat was a broad shoulder dark skinned…it was Cash!

  I had been calling and texting this fool and he couldn’t even respond back. Now I see why. He’s been laid up with some unknown bitch all this time. His sinister looking smile as he locked eyes with me and slowed down the car did nothing but piss me off. His hand lightly punched the horn as he passed speeding off to the corner. UGH! This nigga played me? I shook my head angrily as I stomped up the stairs and into the house.

  Chapter 6- Cesar

  We spent all day on Michigan Avenue downtown. Whatever she asked for she received. I saw no reason to deny her the pleasures she desired. Marc Jacobs, Armani, Chanel, Louboutin and anything else she wanted was hers like it was nothing and money was no object. That’s the type of shit Mink wanted but she wasn’t appreciative enough. Every time I handed the cashier a wad of cash to pay for her purchases, Lasha gently grabbed my hand interlocking her fingers with mine and coupled it with a sweet kiss on the cheek. That was more than the reassurance that I needed that she was more so here for me and not what I could do for her. Deep inside I knew she would be my rider forever. A nigga would be a fool to let something like that slip through his fingertips.

  There was one more Michigan Avenue stop that we had to make before we made our way back to the crib to get dressed for tonight. It was a store that I had hoped she would truly feel right at home in. I wanted her to walk in the store like she knew she belonged there and like there was no other place she would rather be than right there with me. I pulled up along side the store so as not to alert her just yet to where we were. After holding the door open for her and paying the meter, I grabbed her hand in mind kissing the back of it like I owned it.

  “Can you do something for me?” I asked softly.

  “Anything baby.” She replied just as soft.

  “Close your eyes.” I whispered leaning in close to her ear giving it a little nibble.

  “Cesar, what is this about?” She asked huffing as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Yeah…” She hesitated.

  “If you’re not sure about that question then say so now. I can only show you if you trust me.” I said stepping back to check her demeanor.

  “No. No, I trust you. I trust you babe.” She immediately stated pulling my hand closer to her body.

  “Alright that’s what I wanna hear.” My lips touched hers. “Now close your eyes.”

  She did. Hand in hand, I walked her carefully around to the front entrance. The building looked like something out of an old 1920’s Western movie. It could’ve resembled an old jailhouse of some sort. The exterior color was a drab gray and the large block like structure leading from the top to the bottom of the outside doors only enhanced that thought. The tall revolving glassed door with a man kneeling holding a clock atop of it appeared to be the only thing that was updated until we entered.

  “No peeking.” I leaned in again to whisper to her.

  “I won’t.” She responded with a smile trying not to stumble on what she couldn’t see.

  We walked in headed right for the middle counter and were immediately greeted by the smiley face Caucasian customer service clerk standing behind it. The woman was about to give her spiel but I held up my hand to stop her before she said anything that could blow what I had going on. I placed Lasha’s hands on the counter and patted them giving her the signal not to move one inch.

  “Alright, babe. Open your eyes.” I whispered again standing behind her pressing my body firmly to hers.

  “Agh!” Lasha gasped deeply looking around at all of the beauty before her. “Cesar…Cesar what is all this?”

  “Welcome to Tiffany’s.” The clerk greeted her with a broad smile.

  “Tiffany’s? Cesar…”

  “Shh…I just want you to look around and if you happen to see something, anything, that interests you then let me know.” I responded.

  Lasha’s feet moved slowly around the store looking down into the well lit shiny clean glass counters in awe. I leaned back against the one closest to the clerk waiting for her to find one that was going to make her pussy wet, her knees buckle, and her heart flutter just as it did whenever I touched her. She looked back at me ever so often to see if I would budge or respond to her frequent gasps at the expensive jewels her eyes feasted on but I made sure never to move or make a sound. I would only cut my eyes over to the clerk every time she checked with me to let her know this was all about her.

  “Awe! This one is beautiful!” Lasha gasped pointing down at the glass case as the clerk rushed over to assist her.

  “Oh yes. That is one of our timeless pieces.” The clerk obliged removing it from the case and handing it to me as I made my way over to them.

  “Lasha, even though we haven’t been together very long, I feel like I’ve known you forever. You are the final piece to the jigsaw puzzle that is my life. I love you and I know my son is going to love you. Hell he used to love kicking it with you at work so I know he will. I neglected my one true happiness that was staring me in the face the entire time, and that was you.” I paused for reaction as I slowly lowered one knee to the ground. “Lasha Ari Santos, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Cesar—“

  “Before you answer, I just wanna let you know that I’m not those average simple minded niggas you messed with in the past. There’s not too many in my breed and I come with authenticity, baby. I promise to never do you wrong and never break your heart.” I sighed feeling like I was
pleading my case to her. “All a man has is his word and I always stand on mine.”

  “Cesar, I’m just so…so shocked! I didn’t think you meant you wanted to get married so soon.” She hesitated but I kept my eyes locked on hers while I prepared my heart for any rejection. “I would want nothing more than to be your wife, baby.”

  **Lasha

  I meant every word of it. As he slid the large stoned $9000 Tiffany Legacy pink sapphire ring onto my near bony finger, I swear it felt as heavy as a five-year-old child. It sparkled and gleamed at me letting me know that I had truly earned this spot, this position. It was as beautiful as my love for him was, but one thing kept plaguing me. How the hell would I tell my papa about this one? He would undoubtedly disown me for sure especially when he found out that I was thinking about aborting the mission. I hadn’t spoken to him in days because I was afraid of what he might say about my relationship with the enemy. If only Cesar hadn’t gotten back into the game, none of this would be so difficult to stomach. Every time I thought about it my heart dropped right down to my feet.

  “I love you, babe.” Cesar whispered softly in my ear, his voice deeper than the stiffs in the ground.

  “I love you more.” I whispered. It was true.

  I did love him more, more than words could say. But our love would surely be tested very soon. He clenched my waist in his arms so tight I thought I would spontaneously combust right there. His kisses filled my neck as my heartbeat sped up anxious at the thought of being his wife. For a split second it didn’t matter what my papa would think. It didn’t matter what he might even do to me if he caught me. All that mattered was my love for Cesar and raising his son as my own. My doubts about us rushing into this thing flew square out the window. If he trusted in this union then I needed to return that trust tenfold. How often would I find a man to love me mind, body, and soul? Not often at all and I felt I’d be a fool to let it slip through my fingertips so easily.

  “How should you be paying for this, sir?” The clerk firmly chimed in breaking our loving silence.

  “Cash. Straight cash.” Cesar replied like the boss that he was.

  “Excellent. I’ll just write you up and take care of this.” She responded.

  My smile was so bright it could be seen from space. I wrapped my arms around him one last time copping another feel of his brawny shoulders. As I stared out of the big glass window at the pedestrians speeding walking by, I couldn’t help but daydream of what our wedding night would be like. Cesar would truly end up becoming my first in more ways than one. My soul fluttered inside of me wondering if I was ready for something so deep, so real. I had remained a virgin all of this time in order to keep my head level for the type of business that I was in. No real man could understand such a thing. That is, until I found him.

  I looked down at my phone as it vibrated in my hand crazily, noticing that I had thought this man up, my papa. My eyes shifted up to Cesar’s searching his eyes for any sign of annoyance about the call. His smile was uncanny but when he reached up to playfully pinch my cheek I knew the phone didn’t bother him at all. He read my eyes knowing that I was looking to him for an answer.

  “Gon’ and take your call baby. I’ll finish up here.” He spoke freely.

  “Are you sure babe? Cause I could just ignore this—“

  “Naw, naw. It’s cool. Gon’ and handle your business.” He reassured me.

  My feet could not walk away fast enough headed towards the front revolving door and out onto the busy noisy intersection. By the time I had reached the pavement the phone had stopped ringing. The nerves inside of me would not allow me to make the return phone call but I stared down at the missed call log like it was a life or death situation. I secretly began talking to my papa in my mind trying to channel energy through to him hoping to prepare him for what I had to say. But before I was even finished the number, his number had popped back up on my Samsung Galaxy’s caller ID once more. I could just hear his Spanish curse words through the phone even before I picked it up.

  “Hola, papa.” I said sweetly.

  “Don’t hola me, hija. Where have you been, eh? I’ve been calling. Why are you not answering your phone, eh?” He spoke sternly.

  “Calm down papa. I’m okay. You don’t sound too good. Are you taking your breathing medicine still?”

  “You don’t worry about me, eh? Did you complete the mission yet? It’s been months, months! How long, eh?” The anger grew in his voice.

  “Papa, Papa I have something to tell you. I—“

  “I don’t care what it is going on, Lassia. Your mother is dead. Now I'm hearing word of your brother being killed a week ago. It is up to you to take action. You said I could count on you. You begged for this and said there would be no mistakes."

  "I know what I said Papa. I'm going to keep my word." The aggression in my voice seeped through the phone leaving him silent for a few seconds, something he rarely did.

  "If you do not keep your word, you will disappoint me." He said as he hung up the phone in my face.

  My cellphone became this evil, vile specimen in my hand as I turned my nose up at it wanting to hurl it across the street or directly into open traffic. Cesar wrapped his strong hands around my waist from behind damn near scaring the shit out of me. My heart pumped harder than a gas pump as I carefully slipped the phone back down into my pocket turning to plant my lips on his.

  "You ready to go babe?" He asked placing his hand in mine.

  "You know it."

  Chapter 7- Mink

  "Com' on Flava. You takin' forever in the bathroom and I need to get in there. This shit is just like high school all over again." I snapped rolling my eyes towards CJ sitting on the bed in the next room.

  "I'm coming Mink, dang. Gotta make sure I smell righteous before I see this bitch tonight." Flava chuckled. "Gotta stay upstaging these hoes."

  "Ok but its already 8:30pm, and I ain't even jumped in the shower yet." I yelled banging my fist on the door. "Com' on!"

  My feet danced back and forth in front of the door pissed that she was taking forever. Whatever she did to herself didn't matter any fucking way. I had plans for Yolo's ass and after years of watching him with the wrong bitch I would be like a black widow on his ass. Once he hot a whiff of me he wouldn't even remember he was with her. Flava finally emerged from the damn bathroom wrapped in a big navy blue bath towel as steam flowed from the room.

  "You should've gotten dressed at your own damn house." I said shoving her out of the way.

  "I couldn't. He hadn't left yet and I didn't want him to know that I'm about to pop up on his ass." She replied revealing the left side of her naked wet body while readjusting the towel around herself as I struggled not to gag.

  "Ugh! Keep that shit to yourself. Don't nobody wanna see all that." I grimaced.

  "Awe bitch you wish your tits were as perky as mine." She laughed playfully opening her towel and shaking them in my face from left to right.

  "Yeah well, too bad I got pregnant and had a kid so they aren't." I smirked knowing that was yet another gut punch to her abdomen but I could care less. My smirk remained as I slowly closed the door on her solemn expression.

  An hour later I came out the bathroom feeling like a billion bucks even though I had only paid $200 for my dress. The way I felt right then I knew every bitch in the club would envy me and every nigga in the club would want to fuck me. I flicked my long dark straightened weave back behind me allowing it to rest right on the small of my back. If looks could kill, anyone who laid eyes on me would burst into flames. That’s how hot I felt I was as I clicked my red Louboutins down the stairs to reveal my outfit. A skintight black sequined strapless cutout mini by Milano adorned my figure tonight hugging every curve I had and pushing my girls up to my chin perfectly. The bold side cutouts stretched around to produce an exposed back, which I was sure would catch Yolo’s attention.

  “Girl where are you going dressed like that?” My momma asked as I sauntered into the living room, op
ening my clutch to check my hair and flawless dark makeup.

  “I’m just going to the club with Flav. Can you keep an eye on CJ for me for a few hours?”

  “A few hours? Looks like you plan on being out all night, if you ask me.” She sighed. “I guess I don’t have a choice but to keep an eye on my little man, now. Do I?”

  “Thanks.” I giggled pretending to ignore her unwanted sarcasm. “Where the hell is Flava anyway? She got out the bathroom way before me and she’s still taking forever.”

  “Not forever, trick. I just needed to make sure I looked impeccable.” Flava said tip toeing her way down the staircase.

  My eyes squinted trying not to allow my frustration to seem obvious as she made it to the ground floor and walked into the living room. If I didn’t know any better I would swear that this bitch was purposely trying to upstage me and no one else. I couldn’t wait to hear what my momma’s smart remark about her outfit was going to be. The deep scoop neckline barely covered her oversized tits and the strings going around her shoulders and tying around her back were so thin they almost didn't even hold those bitches up.

  She was wearing the very same $1000 Baccio golden cocktail length lace dress that I tried to get Cash to buy me one day but he refused to spend that much on one dress for me. It was perfect in every way and fit her body like a painted glove. She coupled it with matching Giuseppe strappy heels that made her stand so tall I could just knock her off her pedestal. But neither of those is what took her so long. She was upstairs curling big beautiful body curls in her expensive Brazilian weave.

  “So, how do I look?” She asked taking a spin before applying the crimson red lipstick lodged in her hand.

  "Oh baby. You look stunning!" My momma gasped.

  "Huh?" My nose turned up ten times over. "She looks stunning but I look like I'm going to walk the track? Hell we're wearing the same amount of clothes."

  "Okay you know what Mink, I never said that about you. I just think her dress is more elegant. She looks like a celebrity." The smile on my momma's face when she looked at Flava was immeasurable.