Chapter 12 #5
“Imanio, you have good people around you—trained, loyal, and scared enough not to mess up. The business will survive without you hovering over it for a few days. Trust me. That’s what you hired them for.
You think I ran everything myself back in the day?
Nah. I took breaks. I disappeared sometimes.
It kept me sharp and gave me perspective. You need that too.”
Pops dropped his voice a notch, like he meant the next part the most.
“Otherwise, all this... the money, the power, the name... it starts owning you instead of the other way around.”
Then, after a long pause, “Take some time away from work, son. You don’t have to go on a luxury vacation, although I would prefer that option.
But at least take a week off to just breathe—for once.
No contracts, no press calls, no pretending to be unshaken when everything's on fire. Just one week where nobody’s demanding more of you, and where peace isn’t something you have to buy or bargain for.
Just silence. Just… you. You’d be surprised what your mind might whisper to you when everything else gets quiet . ”
I let the words hang in the air. Something about the way he said it made me feel like he was talking about more than just plane tickets and resorts.
“Yeah… maybe,” I replied, noncommittal.
“So, what’s new in your world?” he asked.
I traced lazy patterns on the desk, debating if Naji was a topic I was ready to open up.
“I finally hired another publicist,” I mentioned instead.
“Oh?” He sounded genuinely impressed. “I must say, that’s the best news I’ve heard all week. You finally got tired of your mother being your mouthpiece, huh?”
“She still gon’ be that, but hell yeah.”
“Well, smart move. I’m proud of you, son… although your mother may not be happiest that you’re demoting her. You haven’t told her already, have you?”
“No. The girl was officially hired today.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll be back in a few days. When I do, I want to hear all about this new publicist.” He sighed with contentment. “I also need to talk to you about something else when I return.”
“Everything good?”
“Everything is great actually, but we’ll talk when I return.”
That immediately raised another flag. My father wasn’t the type to postpone conversations unless it was something big… something delicate.
“Aight. I got something to tell you too, so I guess we both got stories.”
“Nothing pertaining to the business, though, right?”
“Nah. The business is solid,” I answered without hesitation.
“Okay.”
We hung up shortly after, but I sat there for a few extra minutes, staring at the blank wall ahead of me.
What really stuck with me was what he said.
Life is short.
And for the first time, I started wondering what it would look like… to have a real one with Naji.
A real marriage. Hell, maybe even a real future.
But Naji didn’t know me… not fully. And if she ever found out everything I’d done—every stain I carried—I doubted she’d even want to stay. Still…for the time being, she was my wife, and I hadn’t broken my word… yet.
Right when I was about to get up to take a piss, Cruella Giselle was calling me.
I stared at the screen like it hated me. I contemplated hard if I wanted to answer her call, but maybe it was something important.
“Giselle,” I answered with a sigh, already annoyed.
“Imanio!” she exclaimed with that signature bougie tone like she was balancing a glass of wine and judgment. “There’s a media brunch for Modern Tycoon next Friday! They want to do a spread on Kors Luxe—cover story and all. I told them we’d consider it.”
I rubbed my temple and sat back down. “ Then you lied. We’re not doing it… at least I’m not.”
“Excuse me?” she snapped. “ Imanio, it’s national exposure! A seat at the table with Black Enterprise and Forbes executives! And you’re turning it down?!”
“Yes.”
“Why?!”
“Because I don’t need a damn brunch to prove I’m doing the work. Besides, you know how I feel about cameras and being around a lot of fake and money-hungry muthafuckas.”
You included , I wanted to add.
“And I sure as hell ain’t playing celebrity COO for a puff piece.”
She let out a sharp sigh. “ This is exactly why people think you’re antisocial! Do you realize how many development firms would kill for that kind of spotlight?!”
“Let ‘em kill for it. I’ve had my share of headlines. I’ve done the interviews, sat on panels, and shook hands.
I made the press rounds back when it mattered—when I was building something.
Now? I don’t need a photo op with Forbes to validate my position.
I’ve earned my respect in silence, and I’m good with that.
So yeah, pass this one to somebody who needs the buzz. I’m straight.”
“You’re being difficult!”
“And why is that a surprise to you? But not really. I’m being private; something you forgot how to be a long time ago.”
“You know what, Imanio?—”
Click.
I hung up mid-name, then dropped the phone back onto the desk.
“Every time I talk to that woman my blood pressure does jumping jacks,” I muttered.
The look on her face when I say, “I hired someone better”—yeah, that moment might just heal every headache she’s ever given me.