Chapter 2
“What are the numbers looking like for this quarter, Mad Dog?” I asked my sister, Madisyn, as she sat across from me at the conference table.
Madisyn hiked her glasses further up her nose as she shuffled through the papers lying in front of her.
“We’re in the seven-million margin for the first quarter.
Before this month is out, we’ll most likely be in the eight-million margin.
Walmart, Walgreens, and Lulu’s Pharmacy put in their orders yesterday.
I’m sure the other companies will be following up as well. ”
I nodded my head as I looked at my father, Ryan.
He had been quiet for most of the meeting, which was unlike him.
He loved to insert his two cents when it wasn’t needed, but today he seemed off.
I dismissed the thought as I looked over at my brother Mike, the COO of C then, the company began to thrive again by recreating the product my grandfather and great-uncle started.
Papi took care of the street business, while my brothers, my sister, and I took over the corporate world.
That was until Pops started to slack off, so my brothers took over the street shit.
“What’s up with everybody today? It’s like watching the same episode of The Cosby Show . Papi, you good over there?” I asked him.
He cleared his throat and sat up in his chair. “Maddie, baby, could you give me and your brothers a minute?”
“Uh… sure, Papi. Is everything okay, though?”
“Everything’s great, baby.”
“Okay. I’ll be in my office if you all need me.” She stood, gathered her things, and then left the conference room.
Mo looked over at our pops. “What’s wrong, Papi? You’ve been quiet all week, and every time we ask what’s up, you say shit is good. What’s up?”
We all looked to him as he intertwined his fingers over the marble table. “It’s because I’ve been thinking about how to transition from the business—both of them.”
“What?” Mike asked.
“You heard me. I’m getting older and need to choose one of you as my successor. Well... I actually already chose.”
We all looked at him, waiting for him to name-drop.
I prayed to God it wasn’t me. I had way too much shit on my plate as is.
Not only was I the top distributor and administrator at C&C Pharmaceutical, but I was also the CEO of our realty company, Crawford Realty.
We bought homes for dirt cheap from other privately owned real estate companies, fixed them up, and then sold them or turned them into trap houses.
Not only was it because my plate was full, my pops knew I wasn’t the friendliest sometimes.
I was mild-tempered, especially when people didn’t know how to conduct good business.
I wouldn’t say I was the smartest man in the world, but I was smarter than most, and having to deal with incompetent people really made me want to blow a gasket sometimes.
It’s why I stayed in the office going over paperwork, in the lab watching over the product for distribution, or at home relaxing until I had to do this shit all over again.
I wasn’t a sane person seventy-two percent of the time, but my ability to keep things in order was why I oversaw most of the day-to-day operations.
“Well, it’s only right that it goes to the eldest child,” Mo said, taking a sip of his water.
I frowned. “The fuck it is! You niggas are more than capable of being chosen as his successor.”
Fuck he mean?
“Yeah, but you’re already running the distro here. You may as well oversee the street distro too,” Mike chimed in.
“And what are y’all doing besides deliveries and collecting money? Y’all want to do all the easy shit while I have to do all the hard shit?” I asked.
Mo scoffed. “What hard shit? All you do is sit up in ya office all day or watch niggas in the lab.”
“Are you serious? I’m in my office reading over documents and signing off on paperwork—putting out fires, and making sure deals get made.
It’s me who always makes sure our employees ain’t stealing the product or slacking off, and you want to downplay my position like I got it easy?
Please, by all means, take my position, and I’ll take yours, my nigga.
Since you think this shit is fucking easy. ”
“And you think making sure the count is right on both ends is easy?” Mo countered.
“All right, enough!” Papi’s voice elevated. “All of your positions play a vital part in making this company run smoothly. One man’s job is no greater than the other, so cut out all the back and forth. Moses, you will take my place as CEO.”
“Papi…”
“That’s final, Mo. Your brothers will help you with whatever you need whenever you need it, but as of today, you will oversee both the street distribution and the allocation of this company.
Madisyn will continue as the accountant and CFO.
She already knows what to do and has been asking for a bigger position.
Also, we need to have a meeting with the realty team and officially make Oliver the CEO of CR. ”
“Papi…” Madisyn walked inside the conference room, looking flustered. “Oliver’s mom just called. He’s dead. The police just found his body this morning.”
“What?” Papi frowned. “I just spoke with him the other day. How the hell did that happen?”
“She said he had a heart attack…”
“Damn it.” Papi sat back in his chair and rubbed his temples.
I didn’t know what my father was thinking, but something in the milk wasn’t clean to me.
Oliver was only twenty-six years old, and the nigga was a square.
He didn’t do hard drugs or drink, so his early departure wasn’t normal.
However, I didn’t put anything past anybody.
His ass could have been a low-key drug addict.
“Thank you, baby girl,” Papi finally said.
She nodded. “Do you want me to set up a meeting with the team to get someone else in his place?”
“Will you? Try to get one as early as tomorrow morning. Let Alyssa deliver the message and tell them that it’s mandatory.”
“Okay.” She walked back out of the office as I looked out of the window.
“What you thinking, big bro?” Mike asked me. It was common for them to ask my thoughts because I had always been a thinker.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. O has been around for a minute. We knew him well enough to know he was a health nut. Sounds like foul play.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Mo replied.
“But why? He wasn’t a threat to the company,” Papi stated.
“Who knows? He may have had some extra shit going on outside of slanging houses,” Mo said, taking the thoughts out of my head.
“Shit, well… I guess we can figure out who’s next on the list tomorrow.
” Papi stood from his seat, and we all followed suit.
Once we made it out of the conference room, he stopped us.
“When I chose you boys to stand beside me as my partners, I expected you all to show up and out. With your uncle retired, I didn’t see anyone else taking his place besides you guys.
I know it’s tough, but you are all built for it, and I know you all will do me proud.
“Your mother is requiring more of my time, and I’m getting older. It’s time I step back and enjoy the rest of my years, not overworking and giving my wife my time and the vacations she deserves.”
“We understand, Papi. We got you. And I’ll make sure I rise to the occasion,” Moses assured him.
Papi smiled and kissed us all on our foreheads before he left the building.
I honestly wanted him to cut out the street side of our businesses.
It wasn’t necessary anymore since we were making so much money on the legit side.
However, my father loved money and wanted it from all directions.
I wanted no parts in the street shit. We had all we needed between C&C and the realty company.