Chapter 11
Sade
“I came for business… he made it something else.”
Ipulled up to the address Vaughn sent me.
I looked at the building sign that read “Crown Heights.” My memory started coming to me then.
Vaughn was no stranger who invaded my friend circle.
We had grown up in Compton together, but had different paths.
I thought he was doing a good thing for the city by opening low-income housing for families.
Usually, men in our neighborhoods never cared about where they came from.
Vaughn did. I’d give him points for that.
I parked, stepped out, and looked around. The three buildings looked like they belonged on the Santa Monica strip by the beach.
I grabbed my laptop bag and iPad before stepping out of the car.
As I walked up the pathway, Vaughn walked out, dressed in somewhat business-casual attire.
Regular dark jeans, a collared shirt, expensive-looking dress shoes, and sunglasses.
He was real clean cut. No jewelry, and a hard hat on.
He smiled a generous smile, holding an extra hard hat.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Bennett. You’re on time, most aren’t,” he said, holding out his hand. I shook it.
“My team and I are always on time,” I said with confidence, because we were.
“That’s a good trait.” He handed me the extra hard hat. “Put that on, though. Don’t want nothing dropping on that big head.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Ain’t got no big head, but let’s get to work.”
He smirked. “Yes, ma’am.”
I put the hat on, and we went inside.
He started showing me around as soon as we stepped inside, and I had to admit the place was beautiful. Workers moved fast out of our way as he walked me through a few units. He talked and told me what he needed, and I wrote everything down in my iPad.
I must’ve been too quiet because he stopped and turned to me.
“You know I’m not trying to hire you to take orders. I’m hiring you to make decisions,” he told me.
“I understand. I’m not taking it in before I put my two cents in,” I told him truthfully. “I’d love to hear your input so far, though.”
Before I could respond, a Mexican man came up, paint on his clothes and hands, looking slightly frantic.
“May I help you?” Vaughn asked him, his eyebrow raised.
“I’m sorry to disturb you again, but the electrical wires in unit 278 keep stalling, and I know you want that unit done right away for your cousin.”
Vaughn glared at him. “Fix it. No more questions. No more interruptions.”
“Yes, sir.” The man walked off quickly.
“Now what were you saying?” He gave me his full attention.
“I was saying a lot of the lighting is off. The colors are dull, and I don’t think carpet is good for families with children.”
“I’ll get it done. We can rip up the carpet and order new lighting,” he said, like it was an easy task.
“Okay, let’s look at a couple more units, and then I’ll be ready to talk business.”
He nodded. We went down the elevator, and he took me to a smaller unit, a single apartment. His phone started ringing.
“Give me a moment,” he said, sounding a bit aggravated.
“Take your time. I’m going to look around. I love building up small spaces.”
He nodded and walked off. As I walked around, I could hear him on the phone, loud, arrogant. Not speaking in the tone he used with me.
“Well, handle it, nigga. I pay you not to call me. I’ll be at the spot tonight,” I heard him say.
I walked into the walk-in closet. It was a decent size for a single apartment. I stopped and looked at the framed photo on the closet wall. It was of a little Black boy and girl. They looked like siblings. I studied the photo, and the boy had to be Vaughn.
“That’s how our kids gon’ look,” I heard Vaughn say from behind me, and he was all in my space. So close I could smell his cologne. Then suddenly, I felt his hand around my waist. I jumped and turned around quickly. His hands fell from my waist.
“What are you doing?” I asked, eyebrow raised.
He threw his hands up in defense, smirking like he ain’t just tried to come on to me.
“My bad. I don’t want no smoke.”
“I’m sure you don’t. Let’s go over the contract. I hope you have it typed up,” I told him, brushing past him and out of the closet.
He walked out behind me, and I knew he was watching my ass giggle, so I stopped beside him.
“Lead the way,” I told him.
We walked to the property office and sat at the desk. He pulled out his MacBook, and I did the same.
“You said 500K a building. I can agree to that. That’s for you and to pay your team.
All materials and furniture will be covered by my budget.
Everything else is in the contract. I’ll email what I’ve drafted because I don’t do lawyers for this part.
I don’t expect you to sign it today. Look it over, then get at me. ”
“I hope I’m not signing my life away.”
He smirked. “Read it and find out.”
I gave him my email, and he sent the PDF over.
My phone vibrated in my hand almost instantly with the email. I opened it from my laptop and skimmed the first page, not reading too deep, just enough to see how detailed he was.
He wasn’t playing about his business.
I closed the file and looked back up at him. He was already watching me.
“You always move this fast with business?” I asked.
“When I know what I want.”
I nodded slowly and stood up, sliding my iPad and laptop back into my bag. “I’ll go over it tonight.”
“Do that.”
I started toward the door but paused before opening it. Something about him didn’t sit right with me. Not in a bad way… I just knew this nigga wasn’t normal.
“You don’t ask for much input for somebody hiring a designer,” I said without turning around.
“I asked for yours. That’s all I need.”
I glanced back at him over my shoulder. “You didn’t ask. You decided.”
A small smirk pulled at his mouth. “Same difference.”
I shook my head lightly and pushed the door open. “We’ll see.”
As I walked out, I could feel his eyes still on me, heavy, steady, like he wasn’t done with me just yet.
And for some reason…
I didn’t feel done with him either.
$$$$$
I left the property and pulled up on Laila at our office.
I grabbed my bag and walked in, already dialing my lawyer.
He picked up on the second ring, and I let him know I needed him to come by.
He was only a few minutes away, which worked in my favor because I wasn’t about to sit on that contract all day, wondering what I missed.
Laila looked up from her desk as I walked in.
“You went already?” she asked, standing up.
“I went,” I said, setting my bag down and pulling my laptop out.
“And?”
“I’m waiting on my lawyer before I say anything,” I told her, unlocking my phone and pulling up the email Vaughn sent.
She walked around her desk and leaned against mine, trying to read my face.
“You smiling, but you trying not to,” she said.
“I’m not smiling,” I replied, even though I knew exactly what she was talking about.
“You are. You only do that when something goes your way.”
I didn’t respond. I just handed her the laptop so she could scroll through the contract while we waited.
A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” I called out.
My lawyer walked in, briefcase in hand, already in work mode.
“What we looking at?” he asked.
Laila handed him the laptop.
“Real estate development contract. I need you to go through it completely,” I told him.
He nodded and sat down, pulling his glasses out and taking his time reading through everything. The room went quiet outside of Laila shifting around, and me watching his face for any sign that something was off.
He didn’t react much while reading, which I was used to, but it still had me paying attention.
“You said this is a new client?” he asked without looking up.
“Yes.”
He continued reading, scrolling slowly, going back over certain sections more than once.
Laila walked behind him, trying to read over his shoulder. “If it’s bad, just say that,” she said.
He ignored her and kept reading.
A few more minutes passed before he finally set the laptop down and leaned back in the chair.
“It’s solid,” he said.
I crossed my arms. “No loopholes?”
“None that would hurt you. Everything is clear, detailed, and in your favor.”
Laila clapped her hands. “I knew it.”
I looked at him. “What about the money?”
He picked the iPad back up and pointed to a section. “He actually added more than what you asked for, an extra 200k. There’s additional coverage for unexpected costs, and your team is fully protected under his budget.”
I took the laptop from him and looked at it again myself.
“He didn’t have to do that,” I said more to myself than to them.
“No, he didn’t,” my lawyer replied. “Which means he either respects your work, or he wants you locked in without hesitation long term.”
Laila smirked. “Both.”
I ignored her and kept scrolling.
“What about the timeline?” I asked.
“A year and a half deadline,” he said. “It’s tight, but it’s realistic with the resources he’s providing. You won’t be stretched thin unless you mismanage your time.”
“I won’t,” I said quickly.
“I didn’t think you would,” he replied. “I’d tell you to go for it.”
Laila walked over and grabbed my arm. “You better take that deal.”
I pulled my arm back gently and looked down at the contract one more time. Everything was clean. No confusion, no hidden language, no backdoor terms waiting to catch me later.
It was exactly what I would’ve written myself.
I closed the laptop and set it on the desk.
“I’m taking it,” I said confidently.
Laila let out a loud scream and started clapping again. “We up.”
My lawyer stood up, grabbing his briefcase. “Send it back signed when you’re ready. This is a good move.”
“Thank you for coming at short notice.”
He nodded and left, closing the door behind him.
Laila looked at me, still smiling. “So… you’re about to be working with Vaughn St. Clair every day.”
“It’s business,” I said, keeping my tone even.
She raised her eyebrow. “That’s what you think. So, we’re still not telling the girls?”
“Nope. Like I said… It’s business. Now let’s go have a late lunch. It’s on me.”