“Yes, sir. I’m off, Dad. Tia is waiting for me with major attitude.” I see her near the curb, tapping the face of her watch.
“Lord help that child if she has to wait more than five seconds. Bossy since the day she was born.” I chuckle as his boisterous laugh carries through the line. But he’s right. “Drinks on me later. Call me, and I’ll be there.”
“Yes, sir.” I disconnect the call taking a step, I glance back once more, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ryann. I didn’t expect to get a yes from her. That woman is six foot something of all body. But her smile changed everything. It feels cliche as fuck, but it took my breath away, slow and deadly.
Ain’t that some shit.
I spotted her the moment I entered the hall. I scheduled myself for a few hours to complete my outgoing paperwork then found myself working the luncheon. But thanks to an employee calling in, I met Ryann.
I stop outside my Range Rover. Tia leans against the door waiting for me to climb inside. I drop my head back and smile over at her.
“What took you so long? I thought you changed your mind.”
“About quitting? No, it is done, and I’m all in.”
“It’s about time. You should’ve done it years ago.” She pulls away from the curb. “Thanks for letting me borrow your ride. My car is still in the shop. They have to replace the entire windshield.” She shakes her head in disgust.
“That’ll set you back a couple of grand.”
“Tell me about it.”
We hit the highway heading to the old East Austin, now Central Austin thanks to gentrification. A few years ago, we bought a block of abandoned buildings. Now, we’re worth millions in real estate alone.
She pulls up behind the office building, cutting the engine. “I’m proud of you Baby Bro.”
“Why?” I rub at my tired eyes still overwhelmed by it all. I’ve planned and planned, and now here I am.
“Fishing for compliments?” She wraps her arms around the stirring wheel.
“Stop stalling.” I pull on her waist-length braids.
My big sister’s held down Brand X Entertainment while I maintained my full-time managerial position at Torsion. We had a payroll to maintain. Working as a manager kept the cashflow fluid. So, I didn’t want to cut the cord too soon. But I promised to turn in my letter of resignation once we signed our fifth act, and we did last month.
An acoustic-soul singer named Cash. He’s part hippie, Jon B, and Justin Timberlake. It’s a hell of a mix. And before the ink dried on his contract, things went bananas starting a bidding war.
“I guess…” She glances over at me, and I feel her emotions. She’s my twin, my identical twin. I’d do anything for her, and she’d do the same to me. “I appreciate you, is all.”
“No tears allowed.” I sit up and pull her close, and I kiss her forehead. She’s had a rough couple of years.
“Come on because I have to pick up Tyson.” She pushes a braid behind her ear.
“Go grab him and bring him back.”
“You sure?” She stops glancing down at her watch.
“Yeah, they can wait. Plus, I’ll change and get my notes together.”
She climbs back inside. “Don’t start without me.”
“I won’t.” I walk up to the building as she pulls out of the parking lot. “Don’t forget to feed my nephew.”
“Bye, X! I’ll be back.”
I laugh to the front doors. I open the glass doors nodding my greeting to the receptionist and the security guard. We’re all about business, but family comes first.
An aerial view of the block would show the building in a “X” shape. This building sits in the intersection. It’s the heart of Brand X Entertainment. The first floor holds offices, the mailroom, two conference rooms, security, and the receptionist bay. The second floor contains the executive offices, a large conference room, Tyson’s playroom, and my studio apartment.
I stop by my office to check my emails. Then I send a quick message to the staff about the meeting time change. I await all the appropriate responses before heading to my apartment.
I unlock the door and step inside. I turn on the light closing the door behind me. Tia, my parents, and I share this floor, but sometimes the staff uses the conference room on this floor because it’s larger and has a fantastic view of Austin.
I shower and change into my street gear. Then drop to the couch. Today is a milestone. I look at my wall of remembrance and head over. I grab an index card from the side table and scribble the date and line item…Resigned from Torsion. I add it to the others.
People thought I was crazy for keeping that job for seven years, especially after we hit a million in revenue. But my entire family, my folks and my sister, are on my payroll. One mishap, or bad business deal, and it wouldn’t just affect me but them too. I can’t have that on my conscious, not after asking them to join me on this adventure.
My mother handles the finances. My father manages the personnel. My sister is my right-hand woman and handles the day-to-day business operations. I’m all about the talent, artist management, and establishing our brand presence.
“Who is it?” I smile, turning to the door. The signature knock rings through the room. Then a little extra lingers on the end.
“Me!” He yells with a squeak in his voice.
“Me who?”
“Me, Uncle X. Tyson.”
I open the door, and he dives towards me. I rough him up then pull him into my arms. He holds on tight to his Happy Meal with one arm around my neck.
“Mmmmm…. smells like nuggets. Good cause I’m hungry.”
“I got barbecue sauce too.” His face looks exactly like mine. I sit on the couch, and he wiggles until he’s comfortable on my leg. He opens the box and examines each item. “A toy. Some fries.” He pops one in my mouth. “Some nuggets.”
“How many nuggets do you have?”
He passes me the box, and I sit it on the couch beside us. He opens it, careful not to drop any. Then he starts counting. “Ten.”
“That sounds like a big kid’s meal to me.”
“That’s because it is.” Tia walks in and sits across from us. “That boy is turning into the human eating machine.”
“Like Uncle X?” His beaming toothless grin is contagious.
“Yes, just like your Uncle X. Now hurry and eat. Grams is coming to pick you up.”
I kiss the top of his head, and he lowers to the floor, placing his box and drink on the coffee table. I spend a lot of time between these walls, especially with balancing several hats. CEO, manager, producer, son, brother, uncle. It’s my spot in the city since my house is in the country.
Tyson opens the container wide pulling out the nuggets with two hands. He opens the carton wide, then reaches back for his fries. I glance over at Tia. Hair did, nails did. She’s a fighter and an exceptional mother, raising an extraordinary son.
I’m always baffled at how she manages him and us without breaking her stride. Tia leans forward to help him, I stop her with a hand. Our connection means no words are needed. She nods, sitting back in the seat.
Tyson meticulously lays out his meal before kneeling in front of the table to eat. And when he’s pleased with the arrangement his hands clap together. “Amen.”
“Amen.” We say in agreement.
“You need a minute to get ready?” I ask Tia, pulling her gaze from Tyson, our little man is growing up.
“Yeah, I need to grab my notes and review a few numbers for the listening party Friday.”
“Go get ready. I got him.”
She nods, standing to leave. That’s your child, she mouths before heading out to her office.
I laugh. I guess it's the same DNA thing because he’s exactly like me. Tyson dips a nugget and passes it to me. I take a bite and make a show of rubbing my belly. He giggles, dancing a little then he turns back to his meal.
“How was school?” I sit on the floor beside him.
“Good.”
“Ar
e you hanging with me this weekend?” Tia’s taking college classes on the weekends. I alternate babysitting with our folks.
He shakes his head while drinking from the tiny cup. “Mommy said no, my daddy is coming.”
Heat laced with anger lines my heart, and I drop my chin to hide my face. I glance at my hands in my lap, combing my mind. I don’t recall Tia mentioning. I take a deep breath because I can’t let him hear the hate I have for his father in my voice. “He is. When?”
Tyson stops bouncing the nugget in the sauce, it's like my eyes looking back at me. “In one, two, three, four, five, six sleeps.” He drops the nugget counting across his fingers. I force a smile. “Are you mad because of me, Uncle X?”
“Never.” I gather him to me. “Never ever would I be mad at you. You’re my Little Man. Right?”
He nods. This “at me” stuff started a few months ago. Are you sad because of me? Are you mad because of me? Are you crying because of me?
His father bouncing in and out of his life makes him believe it’s all his fault. I could kill the man. And I’d gladly plead guilty and serve my time. Because no kid should feel the burden of his parent’s failures.
“Look at who I found.” Tia enters the room.
Tyson grabs my cheeks and kisses the top of my head. I guess he got that from me too. Our eyes hold, “Remember what I told you?”
“You love me more than life.” Tyson recites.
“Don’t forget it.” I squeeze him tight. This means it will be a long weekend.
“Yes, sir.” His face scrunches up, and I brace myself. “How much is that Uncle X?”
I chuckle, and my love for him overwhelms me. I can’t imagine what having my own children will feel like because this guy has my whole heart.
“Now imagine this.” I reach for his last chicken nugget, holding it up. “Think about how many of these it would take to fill this entire building.” His eyes buck wide scanning the room as if his little imagination is about to explode. “I love you more than that Tyson.”
His arms wrap around my neck. “That’s a lot of chicken Uncle X.”
“It is.” I stand up laughing and place Tyson on his feet. “Grab your stuff. Oh, and there’s a bag in that drawer.”
His eyebrows shoot up. He runs across the room to “the drawer” where I keep gifts stashed for him. He yanks it open and jumps up and down.
Tia rounds the couch trying to read my thoughts, as my mother stands behind her. I hope the creep comes like he promised, but just in case I’ll have to love extra hard on my Little Man.
“Open it when you get to Grams. Then call me. Okay?”
“Yeeeessss sir.” He’s bouncing back and forth, side to side.
“X.” Tia places a hand on her hip.
“That’s what uncles are for. Right, Little Man?”
“Yeah!” His little fist pumps in the air.
“Bring it in so you can leave. We have work to do. I gotta be able to afford all those Happy Meals.”
He sprints across the room, and I catch him. I hold him close. “Behave for Grams and Pop Pop.”
“Yes, sir.”
I watch until he leaves. Tia faces me. “What happened?”
“When is Jermaine supposed to pick up Tyson?”
“X, he has rights,” her voice tremors.
“Every time Brand X hits the papers that fool pops up.” It’s like he has alerts on us. “I’ve said it once, and I’m saying it again. The moment he drags Tyson into his bullshit, his ass is mine.” I turn and head to my office. I need to do something with this energy or I’ll liable to hurt someone.
“X—”
“I said what I said. I don’t play when it comes to mine or my bread. Point. Blank. Period.”
Chapter 3
“I think I picked the wrong dress.” I yank the scoop of my neckline, but the material only snaps lower. I groan.
“I forgot you had them.” Charlee sips her Coke.
I glance over, confused. “Had what?”
“Titties.”
The guys howl, and I throw a fry across the table. “I don’t need your jokes tonight Charlee. This is my first date in years.” I glance down, and all I can see is cleavage. Why did I pick this dress?
Xavier.
He made me do it. It’s the most truthful and straightforward answer to my half-naked state. In four days, I’ve learned, he’s a patient man. I assumed he’d call nonstop, but he didn’t. But his presence was felt.
Second, I learned the man has impeccable taste in flowers. It started Tuesday morning with the daily deliveries. Every bouquet larger than the last until my office resembled a funeral home. Flowers covered nearly every available surface. I regifted them to the guys because I couldn’t concentrate. Every inhale made me think of Xavier.
Now my stomach is tied in a massive knot.
“Between us, I think we have this dating thing down.” Harper perks up.
“Speak for yourself. Things with Max are rocky as hell.” Parker says. She reunited with her first love, and apparently, it’s not going well.
“Let’s get to the bottom of this. You obviously like the guy.” Hunter sits forward. I’m still surprise we manage to squeeze ten women in a booth. But we do.
“Did you see the length of that dress?” Charlee jokes.
Harper shakes her head but laughs too. “Tell us about him.”
“I’d rather not. I don’t have time for anything serious. It’s one night. Hopefully, a long night, if you get my drift. Then I’m back to business.”
“Explain this, please. Why are you going then?” Hunter asks.
“Honestly?” I turn towards her.
“No heifa lie to us.” Charlee barks.
“Charlee Raine, you got one more shot.” She’s a firecracker, but I’m about to throttle her.
“What?! I tired off y’all sitting around complaining and sipping on wine while I’m drinking this flat-ass soda thanks to having a small human latched to my breast twenty-four seven. So, I’m sorry, I have sore nipples, not sympathy or patience.”
“Here-here.” Harper and Taylor tap their glasses of sweet tea with her flat Coke. Both of them are nursing too.
“Fine! I’m tired of batteries.”
Glances pass around the table, and the guys burst into laughter again. The ten of us fill the bar with our gasps for air, and it loosens the tension in my shoulders.
“Shyte…that’s all you had to say. You’re trying to get your back cracked.” Charlee slaps a high five with Jordan.
“Why, Lord?” I glance up at the ceiling. “No, I want to have fun, and hopefully it will lead to a little release.”
“Well, my advice is to focus on the fun, not the release.” Payton nudges me with her shoulder.
“But if it turns into more, you have to tell us about this mystery man and send our gratitude for the flowers," Harper adds, I see the stars in her eyes, and I don’t want that—the commitment, the requirement of being held accountable to someone other than myself. Honestly, I want to have a good time and the D.
Men can’t handle my schedule, my drive. I’d rather be alone.
“That’s enough, man talk. Tell us more about how it feels to be a partner at Colin, Baker & Garrett.” Alex shifts the conversation. I relax a little and tell my guys about the week because it wasn’t what I expected. I’m a partner, but the pressure of being the first seems overwhelming.
“I can’t believe you’re the first female African American partner. You’d think we’d be done with first like that, by now.” Payton sips her wine, and I agree.
“We’re not, and I thought…I don’t know. That I’d feel relieved and not so pressed. But now my billable hours increase, my rates are higher, and I need to bring in more clients.”
“Damn. That sounds like a new form of slavery.”
“Nah sis, it’s the good old boys club. We gain access, but the playing field is still skewed.”
Jordan sits back with a somber look on her face. “Tha
t’s why I love working on a contract basis. I’d rather work twice as hard then fight to fit in.”
I understand. Jordan is the “wild child” of our bunch with her piercings and tattoos. She adds her unique style—a mashup between quirky and weird—and she’s a tech badass. Payton and I are the only ones still tied to corporate America. The rest of the guys either have their own businesses or work with their husbands. But we all carry our weight when it comes to Platinum Prestige.
I drain my glass and check the time. “Any parting advice?”
“Be careful.” Harper squeezes me in a side hug.
“Text us when you make it home," Hunter says.
“Give the guy a chance," Taylor adds.
“Don’t put your drink down.” Chase issues a warning glance, and Jordan nods in agreement.
“Yes, ma’am.” Chase manages artists and drugging at those events is more common than I realized.
“Call me if you need a ride. I’m heading back to the office.” Parker chimes in.
“Forget all of these rules and have fun for a change.” Alex winks.
Charlee sits forward, looking straight in my eyes. “And if all else fails, tell him you roll with some real ones. We’ll find him and turn his ass into fish food if he hurts you.”
I shake my head, refusing to deal with her. But I love her and them.
We met in high school and living life with them is the best. I stand up and shake off my nervous energy. “Give me a hug before I chicken out.”
The guys stand. We squeeze into a group hug. I have a few minutes before Xavier arrives and for an odd reason, I don’t want the guys to see him. Not when it’s not serious because I believe Charlee when she says she’d cut him.
I step back. “How do I look?” I turn in a circle and look over my shoulder. I bought this dress just for tonight. It’s short and fitted. I paired it with heels since Xavier is tall. I decide to follow Alex’s advice. I’m having fun tonight.
“Let me see you shake it," Charlee calls out.
I wiggle, and they laugh. I wave off strutting my stuff to the tune of their loud catcalls and whistles. I have the best friends in the world.
Absolute Love: A Second Chance Romance (Blazin' Love Book 6) Page 2
