The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale

by Santiago, Danielle

  Therefore, no working with kids for pennies story could make him a non-threatening figure in her mind. Evan needed to see him with her own eyes. What she saw completely changed her disposition. Encountering Lloyd from a distance at the youth rec center that he ran, Evan found him to be a sullen, downtrodden, and paralyzed from the waist down, shell of his former self. After observing him for an hour or so she was certain that he was not the person after her.

  The next stop on her itinerary was Baltimore, MD to see Vontrez Mitchell, once a major player in Baltimore’s infamous heroin trade. With his elite hustling skills, strong leadership, and charismatic charm he was one of the best get money hustlers that the city had ever seen. The investigator had labeled him at best a minor threat, since Mitchell was now a pastor and gospel singer. Mitchell’s change of life didn’t deter Evan’s thoughts of him. She’d seen her fair share of criminals that used the cloth as a shield.

  After sitting in on Mitchell’s evening service at his mega church on the outskirts of Baltimore, Evan deemed him to be sincere in his new life. Now bordering on obesity Mitchell was still charismatic, but he now used his charms to spread the God’s word to his massive flock. Not only was he a serious pastor, he was also a renowned Stellar Award winning Gospel recording artist.

  The following day she landed in Hartford, CT to visit with a very credible threat, Reza Townson. His current residence, a federal half way house. He’d been released from prison three months earlier right around the time that the stalking had begun. Evan went to the construction site where he was working just as his shift ended. She followed him to a nearby small family diner.

  Sitting alone in a booth, Reza was reading the sport’s page of the local paper when Evan approached. Staring at him up close briefly she noticed that he looked as if he hadn’t aged a day and he was still very handsome, even with the Philly style Muslim beard that he was donning. “Do you mind if I sit?” she asked.

  Looking up from the paper, Reza eyeballed the exquisitely dressed, beautiful woman standing before him. There was a familiarity about her that he couldn’t immediately place. He could tell that she had money. She reeked of it in Karl Lagerfeld dress, Zanotti Pumps, flawless diamond accessories, YSL shades, and a Balenciaga bag; just a handful of the designers that he’d lace quite a few women in during his heyday. Never one to turn down the company of pretty woman, Reza told her, “I don’t mind if you sit at all.”

  “Thank you,” Evan replied sliding into the booth.

  “You’re welcome, but I have to ask why do you want to sit with me? Do we know each other?”

  “I thought that my face was one that’d you’d never forget.” She pushed her designer shades from over eyes to the top of her head.

  One glance of her eyes was all that it took and he knew exactly who she was. “Mika.”

  “That’s who you knew me as, but I’m quite sure you know that my name is Evan.”

  “No, I only know you as Mika. Why would I know any different?”

  Evan sat her bag on the seat next to her. “I’m not going to tap around the issue. We both know what I did to you.”

  “Hmph, how could I forget?”

  “Look I was a different person back then. I was young and easily manipulated by my older, street wise, and abusive boyfriend. I’m so–so sorry for robbing you.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “An expensive private investigator tracked you down for me.”

  “So...you paid good money just to apologize to me?”

  “No.”

  “I thought not,” he laid his paper to the side to make room for the plate and coffee that the waitress was placing before him.

  The waitress turned to Evan. “Would you like anything?”

  “No, I’m good...on second thought I’ll take a ginger ale.”

  “I’ll be right back,” the waitress replied walking away. Digging into his plate, Reza asked, “What actually brings you here?”

  “Someone has been stalking and I thought that someone could be you,” she sighed, “If it is you I want to know what I have to do, well I mean pay to make it stop.”

  Reza chuckled. “Listen sis, the same way that you’ve changed, so have I. I got out of prison three months ago and I’m still not really home. I’m in a half-way house and once I’m done there in a few weeks I still have five years of federal probation over my head. I’m keeping my nose clean just so I don’t go back.” He put his fork down and took a drink of his tea. “Most importantly while I was on the inside I found Islam.”

  Cocking her head to the side Evan twisted her lips to the side. “You know how many niggas I know come home claiming to have found religion in prison then be on some other shit after they’ve been home for a while?”

  “Hold up baby girl, I don’t owe you an explanation. You wronged me! I’m just trying to let you know that I’m at peace with my past. You didn’t even need to apologize to me. I’d already forgiven you a long time ago.”

  Stunned by his admission, Evan looked at him weirdly. “Yes I said that I’d already forgiven you,” he flashed his pretty teeth. “I’ve forgiven anyone that I felt wronged me or that I was holding grudges towards. You and your man robbing me was one of the crazy things that happened to me around the same time that eventually led to my downfall. Right before the feds picked me up my son took a bullet that was meant for me.”

  “Oh, God I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  “Don’t be, I’ve made peace with that too. It was part of my path just as prison was. That’s why I’m not bitter about any of my past, because I now have a peace that I would have never been able to attain in if I remained on the streets.” he picked his fork up, “with that said, sweetheart I have no interest in stalking you, attacking you, or disrupting your life in any way.”

  There was an authenticity and sincerity in his eyes and words that made her believe him. If not him then who, she silently questioned herself as she slid out the booth and stood up. “I’m happy that you’ve changed your life for the better and again I’m truly sorry for what I did to you.” Going in her bag she pulled out $20,000 in neatly stacked ones that were covered in smooth black wrapping paper. Placing it on the table she slid it over to him. “It’s not much or what I took from you, but I think that it will help you get situated. She wrote her cell number down on a napkin. “If you ever need anything, give me a call.”

  “I’ll take this,” he said accepting the napkin from her, “but I don’t want this,” he said, sliding the money to her.”

  Evan shot him a puzzled look.

  “I’m good on that,” he nodded towards the money. “I’ll keep this,” Reza held up the napkin. “If it’s okay I’d like to get to know the real you this time around. I was really digging you before you beat me. I think that you were digging me too that’s why you didn’t let that nigga kill me.”

  Chapter Six

  “Once again I would like to say thank you,” Joey said addressing The Luxe Group’s managerial staff and department supervisors from the head of a long glass rectangle table at the end of their bi-weekly conference meeting. “I really appreciate all of your hard work following the very unfortunate events that took place here the week before last.” Joey carefully chose her words, since Cee who was supposed to be on bereavement leave was sitting to her right. Joey had no clue that Cee would be in attendance when she prepared her notes for the meeting. Not wanting to be cruel or insensitive to her best friend, Joey refrained from mentioning that she was delighted that Luxe and The L Room hadn’t lost any bookings and were still scheduling future events.

  “Those of you working the Penthouse event I’ll see you tonight and if there are no more issues that need to be addressed this meeting is here by adjourned.”

  All of the employees came over to Cee greeting her with hugs, welcoming her back from her short two week break. After the room cleared out Joey asked Cee, “what in the hell are you doing here? I thought you were going to take at least a month off.”

>   “Joe if I don’t get out that house I’m going to lose it,” Cee twisted her face trying to stop the water, that was filling her eyes from escaping. “Everything reminds me of Petey. The only time I don't think of him so much is when I’m working.”

  On the verge of tears, Joey managed to crack a smile at Cee, “Well since you so hell bent on working can you tighten me up with a roller set and a blow out for tonight?” she raised her eyebrows hoping to lighten Cee’s mood.

  “Yeah girl,” Cee forced a weak smile. “Come on before my next client get here.”

  On the walk over to the spa the best friends chatted about small things, mostly pertaining to Luxe and Luxurious along with things that occurred in Cee’s absence. Joey led the conversation keeping it light in attempt to keep Cee’s mind off of Petey. Joey received a personal shampoo from Cee instead of one of Cee’s three assistants, a perk of beings Cee’s bestie and business partner. While rolling Joey’s hair Cee asked, “Where’s Evan? Why wasn’t she at the meeting?”

  “She had to go out of town to take care of a few things; I think she’ll be back tonight or first thing in the morning.”

  “Oh, where did she go?”

  “Ummm,” Joey stammered, “I think New York.”

  “What was up with you two at the repast? You were throwing a nice bit of shade at Ev.”

  “Girl you know how Evan can be,” Joey lied. “She was doing stuff to piss me off all week and by the time we got to the repast I’d had enough of her.” Joey was not about to unload all of Evan’s bullshit onto Cee.

  “Yeah if anyone knows how that Evan can be it’s me,” Cee said placing the clip in the last roller. She pulled off Joey’s plastic styling cape and replaced with a cloth one. “Go get under the dryer,” Cee spun the styling chair around and pointed her finger at Joey. “And don’t you come out until you are all the way dry. Suddenly Cee’s face twitched involuntarily. It was very noticeable.

  Joey jumped out the chair. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine that’s just a side effect from the nerve pills my doctor prescribed me. He said that it will pass, especially since he lowered my dosage.”

  “You scared me for a minute.” Joey picked up her purse and headed for the dryer room.

  Cee closed the door to her private styling suite and locked it. She pulled a small YSL compact mirror from her purse. She opened the compact and retrieved a small clear blue baggie filled with 2 grams of cocaine. Laying the open compact flat on her styling station she poured a tiny pile of powder onto the compacts mirror. Using a straight razor she raked and separated the powder in to three lines. Hovering over the mirror, she held her left nostril down with her left index finger, and with a tightly rolled one hundred dollar bill inserted in her right nostril, she vacuumed the three lines up swiftly. This self-prescribed medication was all that she needed in the days following Petey’s death. Her decision to self-medicate wasn’t intentional. While gathering Petey’s clothing for him to be buried in she’d come across a vial of cocaine in his sock drawer. When he was alive, they would dabble in coke a little every now and then to enhance their sex life— neither had an addiction or problems stemming from their infrequent use.

  Now that Petey was gone, Cee found that cocaine gave her the pick-me-up that she needed to get through the day. She told herself time and time again, I won’t get hooked. A foolish notion that she and so many before her had fallen victim to. Putting everything back in its place, Cee looked in the mirror, and checked her nose for any traces of residue. Satisfied with her appearance and feeling good she opened her door and invited her next client in.

  ***

  Zay watched from an office window as ten commercial box trucks left an appliance warehouse across the street. Each truck carried various appliances such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, and dishwashers. The interior of the appliances were lined with kilos of heroine. Those trucks plus five that had left earlier in the day were all headed to multiple cities in different states to distribute the work. Once the last truck was out of sight, he let out a small sigh of relief. He hadn’t been this nervous or paranoid about a shipment since the first time he’d gotten a big shipment from Asaad five years earlier. The heightened sense of nervousness could be attributed to his anticipation of getting out of the heroine trade and his brothers coming home after eighteen years in prison in matter of weeks. Late for an important brunch, Zay rushed out the building and drove to his mother’s house.

  Jason and Zay pulled up to their mother’s Dilworth ranch style brick home at the same time.

  “What up bruh?” Jason dapped Zay and embraced him tightly in the middle of their mother’s immaculately manicured yard.

  “Not shit, just got back from making sure the trucks went off without any problems. Everything good with the spots around here?”

  “Oh yeah,” Jason assured nodding. “I was done stocking them before nine.”

  Zay rang the bell, although both brothers had keys to their mother’s home. Dorenda answered the door with a wide warm welcoming smile that could always be expected. She was a timeless beauty, with a slender build, smooth cappuccino skin, and caramel dyed hair. Dressed casually, but elegantly, she donned a cream V-neck knit three quarter length sweater, cream silk slacks, and a few pieces of subtle fine gold jewelry that her sons had gotten her over the years. As they entered she hugged both of them tightly and kissed their cheeks.

  “Where’s my girl?” Dorenda asked Zay shutting the door.

  “I don’t think Joey is going to make it Ma, she’s has one those membership drive things at the Penthouse tonight.”

  “She’s been so busy; the only time I get to see her is when she’s picking up the kids. I thought we’d get to catch up today.”

  “I know Ma, she wanted to come too.” he fibbed. Zay knew that his wife wasn’t there because she was still upset over the text message and she preferred not to be in his presence more than she had to be.

  “Daddy Daddy!” They heard children voices as six kids rushed the living room. It was Zay’s four kids along with Jason’s two daughters, Keeba who was twelve and Mariah who was ten. Joey and Zay’s kids were there for spring break, while Jason’s daughters were permanent residences. Dorenda had taken the girls in when their mother became strung out on Oxytocin amongst other prescription and designer pills.

  Relishing in their grandmother, Dorenda adored her grandbabies and during any holidays or school breaks she made sure that they were with her. “Okay boys, I have the table on the deck setup. The kids can go out and play, they’ve already eaten.”

  The kids raced out the back door and down onto the lush green grass over to the enormous swing, slide, and playhouse set. They had a private playground at grandma’s house.

  The brothers took a seat at the table on the high deck overlooking the backyard. Beaming with fatherly pride they smiled as they watched their kids, both feeling that their kids were their greatest accomplishments. Dorinda Dorenda came out carrying a large round tray of hot platters. Jason jumped up and grabbed the heavy tray.

  “Ma why didn’t you tell us to help you bring the food out?”

  “Boy please, I have lunches and dinners out here all the time when y’all are not around and bring this same tray out,” she replied. Well known as stubbornly independent, Dorenda preferred to do things for herself. Even though her sons paid all of her bills, she started her own custom cake business specializing in wedding cakes from home ten years earlier. What started as a little side business grew by leaps and bounds in a few short years forcing Dorenda to lease a store front and employ bakers.

  The constant mother, Dorenda prepared her sons’ plate, served them and then took her seat. Spreading a peach cloth napkin across her lap she asked, “So what was so important that I needed to whip up this brunch?”

  “We got something special for you,” Jason cheesed from ear to ear.

  “What did I tell you boys about buying me stuff? I have way more than I need already. If you wanna do something
for me, donate to charity or the church in my name or your children names. Teach them about giving.”

  “Calm down Ma,” Zay interrupted her respectfully with a light chuckle. He went into his back pocket and pulled out a medium sized white envelope wrapped in a magenta ribbon tied in a neat bow. He handed it to his mother.

  “What is this?”

  “Open it,” they replied simultaneously.

  Dorenda opened the envelope, took out the folded papers, and read them. Her mouth fell wide open; she covered it with her free hand. Big juicy tears rolled down her face as she read the deed to her home. She’d used the money from the sale of her first home for the deposit on her current home. Zay promised Dorenda when she put the money down on her Dilworth home that he would pay her mortgage every month. Therefor the monthly statement came directly to him.

  Five years earlier the brothers decided that while the money was flowing good they’d quadruple the scheduled monthly payment in effort to pay Dorenda’s mortgage off early. The twenty year home loan had been paid off in a little under ten years.

  “I can’t believe you boys did this for me,” Dorenda got up and embraced Zay tightly, “Thank you son.”

  “You’re welcome Ma..”

  She hugged Jason. “Thank you baby.”

  “I live to see you smile Mama,” Jason said as a tear fell from his eye.

  Taking her seat she kept shaking her head unable to believe that she was the sole owner of her home free and clear of the bank. Staring at the deed Dorenda gleamed. “This is so amazing and with my two oldest boys coming home I feel so blessed.”