Ethan Whitmore
Amonth ago, I would’ve laughed if someone told me I’d be leaving the streets behind just to be suited up and sitting behind a damn desk.
Although it has been boring as hell, I’d actually learned pretty quickly how to walk in the shoes of a corporate CEO.
I can’t say I adjusted to being around certain individuals.
Julie and Preston were straight, they’d been supportive and helpful.
On the other hand, when it came to Trenton, I didn’t like anything about that muthafucka.
I could tell how bad he wanted my place.
A muthafucka like that, you have to watch, and feed with a long handled spoon.
Needless to say, I didn’t trust him or his drunk ass mommy.
Gwen may walk around draped in designer clothes, with her head held high, but that old bitch stayed with a drink in her hand.
On top of that, I knew a base head when I saw one.
She may drink more than she snorts, but I could sense she had a habit.
Hell, her husband probably knew that too, which was why he didn’t leave the company to her.
He probably knew she’d run that shit to the ground just like their son.
I sat behind my desk with Charles standing over my shoulder.
We were going through different files on my laptop.
Quarterly reports, investment portfolios, and a bunch of other shit.
I had spent years laundering money through legitimate businesses.
The streets taught me more about money than any school ever could.
The only difference now was every penny I came into was one hundred percent legal.
My phone buzzed, cutting Charles off mid sentence.
It was Big Momma. I asked him to give me a minute, and we’d resume once my conversation was over.
“What’s up, Momma?” I answered.
“You working?”
“Like a slave.” I said, and we both laughed.
“Boy hush, I need you to stop by when you get the chance.”
“Alright, I was about to step out anyway. I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.” I checked the time.
“Okay, I’ll see you when you get here.”
Once the call ended, I grabbed my belongings and headed out.
I told Charles I needed a break. I had two meetings coming up, and all the files we went through already had my head hurting.
As I made my way to the elevator, I made sure to walk past Ava’s office to see if she was inside.
She wasn’t. I had seen her earlier in passing but didn’t get the chance to exchange words.
However, the sweet scent of her perfume was enough to satisfy me for the day.
The moment I hopped in my ride, I turned the music up, and sparked my second blunt of the day.
I cruised all the way to Big Momma’s vibing to J.
Cole. Once I stepped on the porch, the smell of fried chicken and collard greens sifted past my nose.
“Momma!” I called, walking in. “It’s smelling good in here.”
“I’m just making a little something. Go ahead and sit at the table.” She pointed.
It only took a few minutes before she placed a plate down in front of me with a glass of sweet tea. Not a second was wasted before I dug in.
“You talk to Duke?” I asked, wiping my mouth.
“Yeah, earlier. He was supposed to be stopping by. When do you plan to talk to Duke.” She eyed me.
I sat my fork down, took a sip of my tea, then focused on her.
“Soon.”
“Soon should’ve been a month ago.”
“I know,” I nodded. “I’m just not sure if we’re really going to see eye to eye on my decision.”
“That doesn't mean avoid the conversation, EJ. You might as well go ahead and get it over with as soon as possible. I’m sure Duke will understand. Hell, he better understand, it’ll help me worry less about the both of you.
I don’t speak on how you make your money.
I can’t make yall do the right thing, and walk the right path.
That’s something you have to be willing to do yourself.
I raised y'all to walk hand and hand. To always look after each other. Duke looks up to you, the same way you look up to him. I’m sure you two will come up with something.
God didn’t bless you with that inheritance for nothing.
I look at it as a blessing in disguise.”
I allowed her words to marinate, and realized she was right. Apparently, I was overthinking. Deep down, I knew bruh would ride with me regardless.
“Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were little?”
I chuckled, trying to think back that far but came up with nothing.
“Nah,” I shook my head.
“You wanted to be an architect.”
“What?” I laughed.
“Yeah,” she smiled. “You used to build little cities outta cereal boxes. Kat would sit with you and y'all would play pretend with your action figures.”
“That’s crazy,” I rubbed my face. “I don’t remember that.”
“I do.” She reached over to squeeze my hand. “I’m proud of the man you’ve become, EJ. But what you’re doing and how you make your money isn’t what your momma wanted. Just because you became a product of your environment doesn’t mean that’s what and where God intended you to be or stay.”
I never said I would be hustling and ruling the streets until the day I died.
Every once in a while it would cross my mind to come up with a plan to go legit.
However, I was so accustomed to living the fast life.
That shit literally had me in a chokehold.
Big Momma was right though, my momma wouldn’t approve of the empire I’d built from the ground up.
Had she known the moves I was making as a teenager, I’m sure I would’ve been the one incapable of taking care of myself as an adult.
Katherine played no games. She brought me into this world, she damn sure would’ve tried to take me out.
I chopped it up with Big Momma for an hour.
I dreaded the thought of going back to the office just to shit in that conference room for three hours, listening to bullshit that didn’t hold my interest. Apparently, I had no other choice.
I made sure to let Charles know I was on the way back.
Tired as fuck, I wanted to kick my feet up and chill.
On my way back to my office, I made sure to slide past Ava’s to see if she was back.
Lucky for me, I noticed her standing at her desk.
“Hey, are you busy?”
I noticed the sound of my voice caused her to flinch.
“Um, no, I was just about to take my lunch.” She paused. “Do you need me to do something before I leave?”
“Nah, where you going for lunch?” My eyes stayed locked on hers.
“I brought my lunch from home. So, I was going to go sit in my car.”
I found that strange because she could’ve just sat in her office with the door closed.
“Do you mind if I join you?”
I watched her hesitate before she shrugged her shoulders with a small smile.
“Yeah, sure, that’s fine.”
She continued putting her belongings into her purse, then followed me out. Shoulder to shoulder, we headed to the elevator which took us down to the parking garage.
“Why do you want to sit in your car for lunch?”
I couldn’t help myself, I had to ask.
“Because it’s quiet, and I don’t have to worry about anyone passing by to bother me.” She shrugged.
“Damn, you talkin about me?” I pointed to myself.
“Oh, my god! No!” she burst out laughing. “I promise, I’m not talking about you.”
“Aye, just making sure.” I opened her car door, waiting for her to get in.
For a moment we sat quietly, our focus not on anything particular.
“How’s your day been so far?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“It’s been pretty good. Busy.” She giggled softly. “What about you? How’s your day?”
“Shit, busy but boring. All these meetings they have me sitting in, it’s draining.”
“I can only imagine,” she laughed. “You’ll get used to it. It may be boring but I’m sure it comes with a lot of perks other than money.”
“It does,” I agreed. “I’m not gonna lie though, the shit is a headache and a slight inconvenience when it comes to all the other shit I have going on in my life. I have other businesses that I run with partnerships. The toughest issue right now is breaking the news to them.”
“Breaking what news? That you’re now a CEO of a billion dollar company?”
“Nah, that I’m thinking about resigning from my position as a partner.”
“Oh, you don’t think they’ll be understanding, huh?” She glanced at me.
“Something like that. We’ve been rocking and making money together for years.”
“Well, if the bond is solid, there shouldn’t be any hard feelings about you wanting to elevate or lightening up your load. It’s tough trying to juggle multiple businesses. Hell, it’s tough trying to balance one, at least that’s how it was for me. So, I understand.”
“What type of business do you have?”
“I had a catering business. I let it go so I could focus on my daughter and my own personal issues that I had going on. It was a tough decision, but it is what it is.” She shrugged.
I watched silently as she bit into her sandwich.
“So you like to cook?”
“I love to cook.” She smiled. “It’s literally my love language.”
“Word?” I smirked, my eyes glancing over her.
“You should uh…you should get your business started back up then.”
“That would be nice but I literally don’t have the time or the finances. I mean, now that I’m working, once I save up enough money I’ll consider it.” She shrugged. “Do you want to try this?” She pointed to the other half of her sandwich resting in the container on her lap.
Before I could respond, she began breaking off a piece before holding it in my direction.
I grabbed her hand, and guided it to my mouth to take a bite.
Our eyes stayed connected the whole time as I witnessed her bashful gaze.
I held on to her hand as I chewed, and once I finished, I made sure to suck her fingertips to clean off the sauce I left behind.
“Oh wow,” she cleared her throat while slowly pulling her hand away.
“Damn, what kind of sandwich is that?” I asked, licking my lips.