16. Savvy
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SAVVY
I was uncertain about when I would see Jai again, but my thoughts drifted to the possibility of her discovering my true identity along with how I had stumbled upon such a sensitive piece of information about her life, more so, her having a nigga. If that happened, I could only imagine the distance she’d put between us, possibly severing any chance of a relationship or, hell, even friendship we might have had. So, for the time being, I made the decision to keep that information to myself—a strategic choice that I hoped would benefit me in the long run without jeopardizing the fragile connection I was trying to establish with her.
My goal was to get closer to Jai before revealing the truth. I predicted if things between us escalated, she might struggle to choose between her nigga and me—a challenge that would be intensified if the bond we built was strong enough―although I didn't look at her nigga as a competitor. In all honesty, the only real advantage he had over me was her love for him, something I was determined to interfere with. Aside from the nigga being broke, I couldn’t help but wonder if he had already begun to fail in other ways in their relationship, unknowingly paving the way for me.
“There’s the man of the hour!” I exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically when Ethan stepped through the doorway of his office.
“Sav-Savvy, what… what are you doing here? And who… who let you in?” he stammered, his eyes wide as he paused on the threshold, clearly taken aback by my unexpected presence.
I chuckled softly and stood up from the chair I had been sitting in.
“What am I doing here?” I retorted. “Well, I think we both know the answer to that,” I said, giving him a knowing smile. “As for how I got in, I used a key—my key!” I gestured casually to the key hanging from my keychain.
“How… how long have you had a key to my office?”
“That’s irrelevant, and I hate when niggas ask questions, trying to stall and shit! Now, where is my money, Ethan?” I stood with my arms crossed tightly over my chest, trying to conceal my growing anger.
“Savvy, I’ve come into a bit of a problem!”
I stepped closer and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him slightly toward me.
“And what the fuck that gotta do with me and my money? Need I remind you, it’s my Pop’s money and a couple of his colleagues who are responsible for this place still being up and running the way it is! Now, we’ve allowed you ample time to repay us, and with all the customers this bank has, I know you have our money somewhere! Now, where is it?”
“I… I don’t have all of it, but I will by the end of the month!”
I chuckled and released his collar. I then went over to the desk, opened the desk drawer, and pulled out the knife I had stashed there.
“The end of the month? Oh, those are your terms, right?” I pointed the knife at his chest and twirled it around counterclockwise. Sweat began to appear on Ethan’s forehead out of fear. “You know, Ethan, having a perfect and functioning heart but still owing me money is crazy.” I picked up his hands. “Having two hands to hold money and still not handing over mine is crazier!” With a quickness, I pulled him over to the desk.
“No, no, no, no!” Ethan pleaded right before I chopped off all the fingers on his left hand.
“Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!” he screamed, then started crying at the top of his lungs.
His office was the only one on that floor, so I didn’t worry about anyone hearing him wailing like a baby―not that I really gave a fuck if anyone did hear him.
“Muthafucka, you got two weeks to get our money, and two weeks is all I’m going to spare you! If I have to come back here for this same conversation, losing your fingers will be the least of your worries. Do we have an understanding?”
“Yes! Yes!” he replied in agony.
“Glad to see that we’re on the same page!”
I wiped the blood from the knife onto his shirt and then prepared for my departure. As I was leaving, I noticed he was still whimpering in pain.
“Oh, I left you some aftercare supplies and pain meds inside your desk. You might want to get to work on stitching yourself up so you don’t bleed out. Don’t ever say I didn’t do shit for you! Meeting adjourned, muthafucka!”
Ethan scurried behind the desk to grab the items. I shook my head.
With nothing left to be said, I exited the office with an accomplished smirk.
I never understood why muthafuckas chose to fuck with me when they knew what I was capable of. I just hoped that Ethan took heed to my words because if I showed up there in two weeks and he didn’t have my money, not only was I taking his bank, but I was also going to take that nigga’s life.
When I stepped out of the building, the crisp air hit my face, but it was the sight of Jai that truly caught my attention. She was sitting alone on a bench, her posture slumped, and her focus fixed on the ground. For a moment, I hesitated, making sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. Once I confirmed it was really her, I rushed over.
“Jai, what’s going on?! Are you good?”
When I approached Jai, I noticed that her eyes were red-rimmed, and I could see the remnants of tears on her cheeks, suggesting she had been crying.
“Uh, yeah! I’m good!” My sudden presence must've startled her. She quickly wiped her eyes and attempted to regain her composure.
This girl can't lie for shit , I thought.
I chuckled. “Jai, another thing I want you to learn about me is I can tell when a person is lying to me, and I hate liars. So, let’s try this again. What’s wrong? And why are you sitting out here? I thought you’d be gone by now.”
“That muthafucka!” was all she said.
“What muthafucka?!” I asked, looking around, ready to murk a nigga. I instantly thought that maybe somebody had stolen her purse or something, but it was beside her.
I took a seat next to her. “Look, talk to me. Who are you talking about? What’s going on? I want to help you, but I need to know what’s going on.”
She took a deep breath and then told me everything.
“That nigga really had you thinking the whole time that the car was in your name?”
“Yep!” She nodded.
On the inside, I was happy as fuck. That nigga just didn’t know that every little stupid ass mistake he made was getting me one step closer to making Jai mine.
“So, have you called a ride? I mean, I don’t mind taking you wherever you may need to go, but if you’ve called a ride, I’ll sit here with you. Actually, even if you’ve called a ride, cancel that shit. I don’t trust the Uber drivers and shit.”
“Neither do I, but even if I wanted to call someone, I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“There’s something else I forgot to tell you. The nigga obviously forgot to pay our phone bill this month. Apparently, my phone is off, so I haven’t been able to call anyone. Can you call it just to verify?”
Damn, this nigga can’t afford a phone bill? I wondered.
“Yeah, I got you, gorgeous.”
I retrieved my phone from my pocket and, with a mix of hope and anxiety, dialed her number. As the call connected, I heard the all-too-familiar voice of the operator, delivering the disappointing news that her number had been disconnected. I switched the phone to speaker mode so she could hear the message clearly.
“Yeah, that muthafucka is off,” I said, placing my phone back in my pocket.
“This shit is so fuckin’ embarrassing!” Jai grumbled.
I gently touched Jai’s shoulder. “Look, Jai, although this shit is fucked up, there’s a no judgment zone over here. Just know that I got you. I don’t mind taking you wherever you need to go.”
“I’m sure you don’t, but I also know that you’re a busy man, and I don’t want to interrupt your schedule by including me.”
“Well, it was already interrupted a little . I didn’t expect to see you, remember?”
“Right.” She smiled.
“Oh, shit, I got a smile out of her.”
“Whatever.” She playfully grinned, then stood. “You can take me home, but only if you have the time.”
“Even if I really didn’t have the time, I’d make it happen for you,” I assured her, my eyes locked onto hers with sincerity.
“Thank you, Savvy,” she replied.
“You’re welcome, gorgeous. Let’s get out of here.” I gestured for her to follow me toward my whip.
“Ouuuuuu! Well, this is nice,” Jai exclaimed in admiration as she took in the sight of my gleaming, chromed-out 2024 Bugatti Chiron. “It’s definitely not the same car I saw you in at Starbucks,” she noted, clearly impressed.
“So, I take it you like this one better?” I asked.
“It’s not a car I would buy for myself, but yes, I like it,” she said, nodding in approval. “This is one of those fast cars, right?”
With a smooth motion, I opened the passenger door, inviting her inside.
“Yeah. Get in. Let’s take it for a ride.”
“Well, don’t mind if I do.”
As Jai slid into the car, I couldn’t help but look at her ass.
Damn, if… nah, whenever I got a hold of that muthafucka, I’ma have a time with her ass… literally, I thought.
“Yeah, I definitely would never get a car like this,” Jai playfully complained as she cramped her body inside, bringing me out of my freaky thoughts.
I chuckled lightly, then closed the passenger door and joined her.
“You ready?” I asked her once I settled in.
“Ready as can be,” she replied, hugging her purse tightly against her body as if she were uncomfortable.
I smirked before cranking up the engine and taking off. With it being lunchtime and travel being heavy, I couldn’t show off the speed of the car to Jai how I wanted to.
As I drove, there was something I wanted to ask Jai.
“Jai, can I ask you something?”
Without missing a beat, she smiled and playfully replied, “You can ask me anything, Savvy,” mimicking my tone from earlier when she had posed a similar question.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her playful imitation.
“Alright then. So, what does your nigga do for a living?”
At the mention of him, I noticed a change in her demeanor. It was a brief shift that made me wonder if my question had crossed a line. For a moment, I thought she might remain tight-lipped and avoid answering.
Finally, she spoke. “He does what every other nigga who thinks he’s a thug does!” she said emphatically, rolling her eyes as if the topic was tiresome.
“So, he’s a drug dealer?” I asked, wanting to clarify what she meant by her previous statement.
Although I already knew the answer, I just wanted to hear her response.
“Yeah, but lately, I don’t know what the fuck he’s been selling. It must be candy to little kids because it sure isn’t the heavy shit that used to bring him in thousands of dollars.”
I knew a lot about Jai’s boyfriend… a whole lot, but it wasn’t the right time to expose that information.
“Hmph,” was all I said.
Jai shifted slightly in her seat to face me. “So, who’s the special girl in your life?” she randomly asked.
I chuckled. “Special girl? I never said I had a girl.”
“No, you didn’t, but in so many words, you let it be known that there was someone you had your eye on.”
I briefly took my eyes off the road to answer her. “Maybe I’m looking at her right now.”
Jai gave me a small smile and eased back into her normal position.
“You know, I find it hard to believe that a man like you is single.”
“A man like me, huh? I’m curious to know how you would describe a man like me from your perspective,” I replied, leaning back in my seat and raising an eyebrow with a playful grin.
She hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully.
“Well, it’s pretty obvious that you have money. You carry yourself with a certain confidence, and you definitely have a charm about you that draws people in. Plus, based on our conversations, it’s clear that you’re quite intelligent.”
I chuckled softly, a mixture of amusement and pride swelling within me.
“So, is that all you see when you look at me? Just a charming, intelligent nigga with a good amount of money?”
Jai looked down briefly, then bit her lip as she added, “I mean… you’re handsome too.” As Jai said that, her focus drifted toward the window as if she were searching for something outside to distract herself from her own compliment.
I couldn’t help but smirk at her shy demeanor.
After a moment of silence, I could see Jai gathering her thoughts again.
“But… I’m just assuming you’ve had at least one girlfriend in the past,” she continued, her expression revealing both interest and concern.
“I wouldn’t say girlfriends, but I’ve had a few females who I entertained and enjoyed their company more than others.”
“Company or pussy?”
“Shid, pussy, if I’m being honest.”
Jai smirked. “Mm-hmm. So, tell me about one of the last women you entertained.”
“Well, this one wasn’t the last one, but I was talking to this chick earlier this year. She was a money-hungry ass female. Now, I didn’t know that when I met her because I damn sure wouldn’t have tried to pursue anything with her ass. I would’ve still given her some dick, though.”
“Just like a typical man. But how did you find out she was out for your money?”
“Shid, about a week after we started talking, she was asking for some. Like, damn, at least let me offer the shit to you!”
Jai chuckled. “Well, did you give her anything?”
“Hell nah! She seemed to be doing just fine before I met her!”
Jai laughed again. “You do know that a lot can happen in a week, right? What if she really needed it?”
“If she did, she had a hard way of showing that shit! Her ass wasn’t begging or shit; she was simply asking with her hand out.”
“Oh, yeah, she was definitely ready to take you for all your money!”
“Shid, not this nigga! Don’t get me wrong; she was fine as hell. She just wasn’t for me. It’s straight, though. Some things don’t work out, so better things can fall into place.”
I glanced over at her. Jai caught my eye and offered a smile. We rode in silence for about a minute before she spoke up again.
“Um, Savvy, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you know where I live.”
“What you mean?”
“Well, not once have you asked me where I stay, and based on the route we’re going, you don’t need to.”
Fuck! I cursed silently, realizing I had almost slipped up.
“Nah, I was just riding you around. I figured you’d give me directions once you were ready,” I explained, trying to sound casual.
Jai folded her arms under her breasts. “To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’m ready to go home. If I were to see my boyfriend right now, who knows what would take place? I’d probably need you to come and bail me out of jail or get me a lawyer.”
“And I would,” I told her without hesitation.
We were at a stop light, so we happened to lock eyes with each other. The world around us seemed to fade away for a moment. Just then, my phone began to ring, its shrill tone slicing through the silence. The sharp blast of a horn from a car behind me jolted me back to reality.
“I gotta take this. This is my mama.”
Jai nodded.
“Yes, ma’am, Ma?”
“Savvy, where are you?! It’s almost one o’clock, and everyone is waiting for you!”
I looked at the time on my dashboard. “Fuck! I lost track of time! I’m on my way, Ma!”
“Is everything okay?” Jai asked after I ended the call.
“Yeah. But you remember when I told you that my brother was being discharged today?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, we all scheduled to meet up there at one o’clock, and it seems I’m running behind,” I said, glancing at the time and feeling the urgency of the situation.
“How will he be transferred?” she inquired.
“By ambulance,” I responded, trying to remain calm amid my rising anxiety.
“Is he on a ventilator?” she further questioned.
“Yeah,” I confirmed, knowing how serious that sounded.
“Oh, wow! Would you like me to go with you?” Jai offered. “I just don’t want you to be too late because you had to drop me off,” she added, trying to clarify.
“Do you want to come? That’s the more important question,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“I really don’t mind at all… honestly. I’m technically a doctor, so I’m sure my skills could be useful in some way,” she replied, ready to lend a hand.
“Yeah, you’re damn sure right about that because I don’t know shit about hooking up all that shit he’s on. But there will be a nurse there too… his nurse, the one who will also be at the house with him. Maybe y’all can work together getting him set up at my crib and everything. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind your help.”
Jai nodded.
“But do you want to get your phone back on? At least to let your nigga know you’re good. ’Cause I don’t know how long this shit will take. You can use my card to get it back on.”
“Thank you, Savvy, but no. My phone being off is his fault. Besides, we’re on the same contract, so if mine is off, so is his. So, no, I’m in no rush to get home and damn sure not to talk to or see him. I don’t mind spending the rest of the day with you,” she said, catching me off guard.
“Spending the day with me could turn into you spending the rest of your life with me. So, again, I ask, are you sure?”
“Yes, Savvy. Let’s get to your brother.”
“Aight. Say less.”
I did a U-turn in the middle of the road and headed toward the hospital.
The prospect of Jai waking up to the reality of her situation and realizing she might not love her nigga as much as she once did fueled my determination to pursue her. I knew I had to tread carefully, though, but I was convinced that if I played my cards right, I could make her fall in love with me and forget about what’s his name. I had a feeling he wasn’t fuckin’ her right either, or at least not as good as I could. I just hoped Jai knew what she was getting herself into. Even if we just became friends, she needed to know I wasn’t trying to stay in the friend zone for too long.