by Nikki Turner
The day after Tallya displayed her nasty temperament and greedy nature, Mercy received a phone call from an agent named Davey Donk in LA, who promised to negotiate huge deals on her behalf. He wasn't the first one to call her, but up till now her loyalty had been to Bermuda Triangle. Now that Tallya had made it clear that Mercy wasn't nothing more than a 1099 for her company, Mercy had to start looking out for herself. Mercy asked the agent to let her think about it. As soon as she hung up with him, her phone rang.
“Hey, girl,” she heard Tallya say as if they were not just sisters, but best friends, too. Mercy couldn't believe her ears.
“What?” Mercy said as she rolled her eyes.
“Look, you know I love you, right? But this company just got me stressed. There's all the orders that are coming in that I can't fill because I'm waiting to be paid by these distributors. When I do do a print run, the orders are gone before the DVDs even get here. Since my company is doing so well, Benjamin been acting funny. I think he thought that my company wasn't going to be hitting on jackshit, that it was just a little hobby for me. He took me for a joke.”
“So what that got to do with me, Tallya?” Mercy was quick to say.
“I mean, you understand how it goes, and I know I hurt your feelings and I'm sorry.” Tallya tried to sound sincere, but Mercy knew what was up so she just listened. “I'm so sorry that I take you for granted. It's like you are always there for me. You believe in my company like it's your own.”
Mercy knew all these things, but she knew that she couldn't do this anymore; she had to look out for her own best interests because Tallya was only looking out for numero uno. It was funny how Tallya never said one thing about sending Mercy another check or any money at all for that matter.
The only way Mercy was able to make ends meet while she waited for her checks was by buying DVDs from the distributor and selling them out of the trunk of her car.
Tallya changed the subject. “Are you writing?”
“Yup,” Mercy said nonchalantly.
“You know, you need to let me see your script so we can come up with a plan to get it into motion,” Tallya said.
Mercy took in Tallya's words, paused for a minute, and then said, “Look, Tallya, I ain't ever been no fake chick. I try to keep it real. At one time I looked at you as my long-lost sister. We've both been there before. Now understand that I am a hustler in every aspect of the word. So, when you came to me and was like ‘Let's Thelma and Louise this shit,’ I thought about what Biggie said about keeping friends and family and business completely separated. However, I am never a hater and I love you. I would rather for you to do my DVD than somebody I don't know to make money off of it.” Tallya listened as Mercy continued. “I played fair with you from the gate, and you shitted on me time and time again with my money, which is cool. I'm not mad at you, because I understand who you really are. You're a selfish bitch, and you'll never be a team player.”
“What?” Tallya said in surprise.
“I don't understand how you want a company, but it's all about you. It should be about the team, because you can only be as good as your team.”
“Listen, Mercy, you are probably right. But understand I ain't never had nobody to play fair with me, so if I do stuff you have to pull my coat for me,” Tallya said, whining. “ 'Cause if you remember, I didn't have a daddy who loved me the way he loved you.”
“That was a long time ago, Tallya. So, look, this is how it's going to go down. I am a writer, and I need to be focused on writing.”
“You're right, you are a writer and we want you to focus.”
“My point exactly,” Mercy said. “I can't be preoccupied, focusing on money, and since the only thing we seem to fight about is money, I'm going to get an agent to handle the money-aspect part of our relationship.”
“Oh, that's some real snake shit,” Tallya immediately huffed. “What the fuck do you need an agent for? You know an agent will take you away from me to a much larger company.”
“Look, I'm not interested in going to another company,” Mercy assured her. “I'm only interested in making sure you pay me. I have no intentions of going to another company just because they are bigger.”
“How about can't a motherfucker on God's green Earth make sure I pay you,” Tallya retaliated with a slight chuckle. “I pays a motherfucker when the fuck I—that's right, when I—get ready. And just for the record, and just so that you know—hoes come and go in this pimp game. So you may be the first to leave, but you won't be the last. What you need to understand is I, Tallya, AKA Bermuda Triangle Productions—that's me, me Natallya— that's right, I own yo' shit. I can do whatever I want to do because your DVD is mine. Understand? As a matter fact, since you want to bring in another motherfucker to try to be a mediator, shit rolls downhill from here, boo. Because I ain't paying you shit!” Tallya screamed at the top of her lungs. “Have your attorney contact mine,” she yelled as she slammed the phone down.
Mercy stood there with her mouth open, holding the phone.
“No, this bitch just didn't …,” she said, shaking her head.
Although Mercy wanted to break down and cry, she could only laugh. She thought about all of the checks she had written that were bouncing from one end of Richmond to the next. She wondered how she was going to pay the bills this month, next month, and the month after that and she wanted to cry, but instead she laughed. She wasn't about to give Tallya the satisfaction of bringing her to tears.
Mercy had overcome adversity since she was seven years old. Just for a minute there she'd finally thought God was shining a little light on her. Now suddenly Tallya had cut off the electricity, leaving her in darkness. It didn't seem fair, but maybe God had no choice but to show her Tallya's hand, so that she would quit eating from it. Now she wondered where in the hell her next meal was going to come from. But one thing for sure two things for certain, God always provided.
CHAPTER 23
Where da Money?
“Maillllll calllll!!!” The loudmouthed guard called out. “Fargo!”
He called Cleezy's name a few times. Paula made sure he had plenty of mail. Cleezy put his magazines to the side to read another time. He looked at all of his cards that Paula had sent him and then opened the lastest letter from her.
Hey Boo,
First, I love you. Next, I miss you more than I could ever express to you in a letter, in any words, which I am sure that deep down in your heart you already know these things.
Ms. Lolly told me that I missed your call the other day. I'm sorry, baby. I got off work late because I had two walk-ins. I took those because you know I hate using your money for things other than what you need me to do for you. So, they delayed me in two hours getting off. That's why I wasn't home when you called the house. And when you called my cell phone, I had left it in the car when I was pumping gas. Ever since that man's car caught on fire, I don't be talking on nobody's phone when I am pumping gas.
Anyway, I went to pay your storage bill, which was two hundred thirty nine dollars. I got your momma her birthday present, the dining room set, like you asked me to. I went ahead and got the two extra chairs because if I got the eight chairs instead of the six, we got twenty percent off, which made it lower than we anticipated. With the delivery charges and taxes, it totaled up to be $4,262. I paid the phone bill, which was $254, so I have $107,000 dollars of your money left. However, Cook'em-up called and said that you said to give him a G, but I had not spoken to you, so I wasn't giving him any money out of yours. So, I only gave him what I could afford to spare of my own money. I know he's your boy and all, but at the same time, I don't give nobody nothing of yours unless you approve it. Anyway, he told me to let you know to stay up and that everything is real in the field as far as he's concerned, and said that you knew what he meant. Other than that, by the time you get this we would have talked, but always know that I love you and I am praying that everything works out for us in court.
Loving you Forever and Ever,
/> Until Death Do Us Part,
Paula
He smiled at Paulas letter, and for the first time the thought crossed his mind that he could possibly make Paula his wifey, his Bonnie, maybe even his Whitney.
The next day Cleezy went to court and Jus did not show up to take the stand.
Cleezy turned to look at Paula, who was sitting in the second row of the courtroom. As she gazed in his eyes, he knew that his heart was safe with her.
“Your Honor,” the prosecutor stood up and said, “I would like to request a continuance from the court.”
“Your Honor,” Cleezy's attorney jumped in, “it's clear that the prosecution does not have his witness, and he is not only trying to string my client along, but the whole judicial system as well.”
“Counsel, you need to proceed now with your case.”
The commonwealth attorney took a deep breath and sighed. “Your Honor, I'm asking for a continuance because our witness, Shawn Justice, seems to be no longer available.”
“What do you mean ‘no longer available’?” the irritated judge asked.
“Your Honor, may we have a sidebar?”
The judge nodded his head. The attorneys approached the bench and began to speak in hushed voices. Cleezy was able to hear a little. He heard the prosecutor say something about somebody being murdered in North Carolina and “genitals in his mouth.”
The judge nodded. As the prosecutor turned his back to the judge to walk back over to his table, Cleezy glanced behind him and saw Columbo sitting there looking smug. He obviously hadn't heard what Cleezy had heard. Columbo whispered to one of his fellow officers. They sat there and carried on a conversation, happy as a lark that they finally had Cleezy where they wanted him. “There is no talking in my courtroom, Officers. If you want to have a conversation, you take it outside my courtroom,” the judge said to Columbo and his companions.
“And, Counsel”—the judge redirected his attention to the prosecuting attorney—“this case should have been dismissed as soon as you found out your witness was dead.”
Cleezy saw Columbo's mouth drop open and his eyes harden. “You have people here sitting in this courtroom on this beautiful afternoon as you pray for a genie to make your witness reappear. I don't beleive in genies, and this court has better things to do.”
The judge then turned to look at Cleezy “Mr. Fargo, I am dismissing all charges against you, and you are free to go.”
Of course Cleezy had to go back to jail and get processed out, but once he was finally released, Paula was waiting in her car for him just as soon as he walked out of the prison doors.
He smiled and got into the car. “Damn, baby, you love this nigga, don't you?” he said, leaning in and giving her a kiss.
“You know I do,” she said as she embraced him.
“You must do. How long you been waitin' on me?”
“Umm, since court.”
He looked at his watch. “It's six o'clock, and court was over at two.”
“I know. I just didn't want you to come out here and have to wait for me.”
“It didn't take but a few minutes for them to slap the cuffs on me and drag me in that mothafucka, but it took hours for them to let me go.”
“I know, baby, but at least you're out,” Paula said, looking into Cleezy's eyes as his eyes swept her body.
“So you gon' give me some of that?” he said as he began rubbing her thighs.
“You know it, but we need to get a room, because I am not going to feel right fucking in your momma's house.”
“Then drive to the Marriott,” Cleezy said with a wink as Paula smiled, pumped the gas pedal, and then sped off.
Cleezy could barely keep his composure until they got to the hotel. He rubbed and kissed on Paula the entire drive, telling her how he couldn't wait to be inside of her. Once they got to the hotel, the door to their room barely closed behind them before Cleezy spun Paula around and began tonguing her as he lifted the little Ralph Lauren tennis dress she was wearing over her head.
“Baby, don't you want to slow down?” Paula asked him in a sensuous tone. “You might miss a spot.”
“Trust, I'm gon' hit every spot.”
Cleezy picked up Paula, and she wrapped her legs tight around his waist. He carried her over to the king-sized bed and laid her down. She watched as he took off his shirt and undid his pants. Once he was butt naked, he just stood there for a minute, allowing Paula to recollect what she had been forced to live without. Paula quivered at the sight of her well-hung buck. Cleezy removed her panties, then lay on top of her.
Paula lay there looking at the ceiling, feeling a little awkward. A minute ago her man was rushing her out of her clothes, and now he was just lying there on top of her.
“Something wrong?” she asked.
Cleezy shook his head. “Couldn't be more right. I just want to lay here and feel you for a minute. I mean really feel you.”
And that's what he did. His body was so warm on hers. He could keep her warm in an igloo. She put her arms around Cleezy and closed her eyes. It felt good just holding him, too.
Cleezy lifted his head and looked down at Paula. She opened her eyes and smiled. In sync they reached to kiss one another, not with their tongues either—just a soft kiss on the lips. Slowly Cleezy started to grind himself against Paula. Just his dick touching her gave her chills, creating a creamy wetness that was icing his dick with every stroke against her. Paula began grinding herself hard against Cleezy, and after only a few brushes of her throbbing clit against him, she came.
“Oh, Cleezy,” she said, almost embarrassed. But before the embarrassment set in, Cleezy was inside of her, stroking her vigorously and passionately like it was the last pussy he'd ever get.
It was evident to Paula that Cleezy must have been jackin' off while locked up, because he should have been the one to cum quickly. Instead she was the one who couldn't prevent the sudden climax. But it would only be a few deep strokes before Cleezy would release his juices into Paula.
“You feel so good,” Cleezy said, still up inside of Paula. Before he could even start to soften up, Cleezy quickly rolled over and pulled Paula on top of him, using his hand to keep himself inside of her. “Ride it,” he ordered her.
Paula began to move up and down on Cleezy, the sound of her wetness driving him crazy. “Faster.” She sped up. “Faster.” In no time at all Paula looked like she was riding a mechanical bull. Cleezy was in control, pumping faster and faster with each stroke, forcing Paula to keep up. Up and down she went, her titties flopping. Cleezy lifted his head and looked down to see the cream settling in Paula's jungle. He then grabbed hold of Paula and stood up. He leaned her against the wall and just started pumping as deep as he could.
He began to moan and groan as both he and Paula came at the same time. Cleezy was right when he'd told Paula that he was going to hit every spot. That is exactly what he did.
Just as the two were coming down off of their high, Paula's cell phone began ringing. Caught up in the moment, she didn't dare have Cleezy move so that she could answer her phone. It then began ringing again.
“Just answer it,” Cleezy demanded as he pulled himself out of her and unpinned her from the wall. Paula quickly got the phone.
“Hello,” she said. She paused and waited on a response, but there was none. She sucked her teeth and threw the phone down on the bed after she turned it off.
“Who was that?” Cleezy asked as he lay down on the bed, still trying to catch his breath.
“I don't know. They didn't say anything, and they blocked the number.” Paula picked up her panties and her dress. “I'm going to go take a shower real quick.”
As Paula got into the shower, Cleezy called Cook'em-up and told him to meet him in the lobby of the hotel in fifteen minutes. Cleezy wanted him to bring him up to speed on everything that was going on.
In fifteen minutes, Cook'em-up was there waiting in the lobby when Cleezy got off the elevator. “Good looking, man,” Cleezy sa
id as he greeted Cook'em-up with a brotherly hug.
“Oh, anything for you, pad'na',” he replied.
“So what did that nigga have to say when you went to see him?”
“At first he kept denying it all, said he hadn't ratted on you. Then he finally broke down and told me that he couldn't do the time. He caught a case and was faced with thirty years. It was either you or him.”
“When did he catch a case?” Cleezy said curiously.
“He ain't tell nobody. He kept it hush.”
“But me and dat nigga go way back to fat shoelaces in sneakers.”
“Niggas don't give a fuck, and especially when it's some bitches involved.”
“Bitches?” Cleezy asked. “What you mean bitches?”
“I ain't want to say nothing to you, my nigga. When I went to see that nigga he was harpin on some shit about you stole Paula from him.”
“I stole Paula?” Cleezy had a baffled look on his face.
“Yup, that nigga said you knew Paula was always his ‘girl’ back in the day, some 'bout you always wanted to fuck her.”
“What dat got to do with anything? All dem years, why he ain't never get at her?”
“Let him tell it, he did,” Cook'em-up said, then switched the subject. “All I could think about is it was either going to be him or us, and it wasn't going to be us, so I rocked that nigga”— Cook'em-up smiled—“straight to sleep.”
When he extended his hand to give Cleezy a brotherly shake and hug, Cleezy said, “Well, my man, thanks for putting him to sleep for me. I couldn't have handled the shit any better.”
“So, what's up with your peoples? They gon' hit you up or what?”
“They gon' throw me something. I'm going to have to dump and reup again as quick as I can. They going away for two months to Colombia. I know the motherfucker they gon' put me wit' ain't goin' to look out for me as decent as my man do. So I'm just trying to stack as much work as I can. So in the next two days, when that shit arrives, I'm buying as much as I can and getting fronted as much as I can. Nigga, I'm using stash money and everything.”
