Chapter 4
M
a, why do we have to come to this? Papa said he was going to take us Christmas shopping today,” Brooklyn huffed as she got out of the car. “And Daddy is supposed to pick us up.”
“Because y’all need to learn about giving and not just receiving, baby. Come on,” Ellie said as she let Tessa out of the backseat. The event didn’t start for another hour, and there was already a line of people around the block. She made her way to the door.
“I’m Ellie, Cassidy’s sister. My girls and I are here to volunteer,” she said to the woman at the check-in desk. They let her in without a fuss, and she entered the lounge.
“Wow,” she said. She was impressed. This wasn’t just a cigar lounge; it was a luxury spot with a full kitchen, bar, and televisions throughout. There was a stage for a live band and all. Christmas décor was being set up throughout. She spotted Cassidy, and she made her way over to him.
“I want you to meet my partner, Loyal Brier; this is my sister, Elliot Campbell,” Cassidy introduced.
“Nice to meet you,” Ellie said, smiling. “These are my daughters, Brooklyn and Tess. Where y’all need us? All the girls are coming to help out as well.”
“My nieces can come with me,” Cassidy said.
“We’ve got activity stations set up all throughout the back parking lot to keep the families occupied.
United Way is here, Big Brothers Big Sisters, a few local businesses, all types of vendors.
You can kind of just hang out, get in where you fit in.
Go have a drink at the bar, grab some food.
You and your girls start a tab and just chill. ”
“Get in where I fit in?” she repeated as she watched Cassidy whisk her kids away. “Okayyy,” she sighed. “So does that mean my help ain’t wanted?”
A hint of amusement played on Loyal’s face, and Ellie focused on him for the first time.
He was mysterious. He was casual enough in denim, a hoodie, and a pea coat.
Only a keen eye would notice that the casual wear was really designer, and he was wearing over ten thousand dollars in clothing.
The watch wasn’t bust down, so it wasn’t flashy, but she clocked another $60,000 just on his wrist. She appreciated that he wasn’t dripped in chains, but the Cartier shades were another few thousand— easily. He was fine, and he was paid.
“I think we got enough help here, honestly. He told me you’re in town for the holidays. I think he just wants you to enjoy yourself while you’re here,” Loyal said. “Let the workers work.”
“Well, what are you going to do?” she asked.
“I’ma secure my investment,” he stated. “North side of Flint, huge crowd. We got to make sure it stays peaceful out here. It’s Christmas; everybody wanna make it home.”
She frowned, looking at him curiously. “So, how exactly are you involved with my brother? What do you do?”
“She’s suspicious,” he noted.
“She’s protective,” Ellie corrected. “Cass just got home, so if you’re some street nigga who thinks he’s about to clean drug money through my brother’s legit business, it’s not happening. He can’t afford to slip up, and nobody’s sending him back to jail.”
“That’s not what this is, but as loud as you are, you’re going to have people thinking otherwise,” Loyal said.
“Have a drink with me.” It wasn’t a question.
It was a command. He pulled out one of the bar stools behind her, and she reluctantly sat as he took his place next to her.
He didn’t face the bar. He half faced her, and half faced the door.
“What can I get you, boss?” the bartender asked.
“Boss?” Ellie asked, looking at him skeptically. “Investor equates to boss, now? I think I’d like to see the agreement between you and Cass.”
“And you’re the little sister?” Loyal asked.
“The little sister who has an MBA in business. I’m well versed in contract law,” she informed.
Ellie hadn’t used that degree in over ten years.
When Cairo had convinced her to become a full-time, stay-at-home mom, he had promised to take care of her.
She was out of practice and out of work all because she had believed in love.
His salary had been more than enough to provide them with an opulent life.
When he left, she was so far behind her colleagues that jumping back into the workforce felt foolish.
She would be starting over, working her way up from the bottom with college graduates who were almost half her age.
Still, she wasn’t so rusty that she couldn’t make sure Cassidy wasn’t being screwed.
“I can see that,” Loyal said. “I’d be happy to send it over to your office after the holiday, but for now, I just want to have a drink and celebrate the way Cassidy is pouring back into the city with this event.
The way people remember his name will change with events like this. This is a good day. Care to join me?”
“Sure,” she said skeptically.
“Sure,” he repeated, chuckling. “A sure is better than a no. You like to give a nigga a hard time, I see.”
“I live for it,” she said, smiling.
“I see, I see.” He finally turned to the bartender. “I’ll take Henny on the rocks, and the lady will have…”
“Lychee martini, please, with a sugar rim,” she finished for him.
“Sugar rim,” he said, finessing the hair on his sharply lined chin.
Everything about him was precise. From his line-up to his manicured nails, he was well-groomed.
Not so much where she thought he was sassy, but just enough to recognize he was polished.
A clean-ass man with some home training but sharp edges.
“I bet you eat all flats when you order wings too.”
She laughed because it was incredibly accurate.
“I do love a good five-piece, fried hard, all flats, with bleu cheese and buffalo on the side,” she said.
“Sounds about right,” he snickered. “Can’t trust a broad who eat bleu cheese, though.”
“What?” she laughed. “What kind of logic is that?”
“That’s some stank-ass cheese,” Loyal shot back, laughing. The bartender delivered their libations, and she sipped hers.
“I see that husband of yours got his hands full?” he commented, looking at the shiny rock on her finger.
Her smile dwindled. “Hmm,” she answered, shrugging. “That’s a very complicated story.”
“If you were my wife, I’d need you to make the story short and sweet. I’m married, the end, type shit. Got to make it plain for niggas,” he shot back.
“If I were your wife, I think you would have made it plain for niggas without me having to say a word,” she countered. “That’s the type of man you are, right? Or am I sizing you up wrong?”
He smirked and almost blushed, and she felt a sense of accomplishment.
“Cassidy’s sister,” he said, almost in disbelief as he rubbed a hand to the back of his neck. “Cassidy’s married fucking sister.”
“Hey, baby, there you are! I’ve been looking for you.”
The sweet voice that interrupted the moment was like a needle scratching a record the wrong way.
The woman was gorgeous. Tall and dark, with legs that seemed to go on for miles as they disappeared under the short dress she wore.
She had to be freezing in that thing, but apparently, it was worth the attention she garnered.
She was reminiscent of some 80s supermodel.
Naomi or Iman. Ellie’s eyes went to the ring on the girl’s finger.
“Wow,” Ellie nodded as if she was reaching an understanding.
She was shocked, but then again, she wasn’t.
Niggas would be niggas on every day of every week.
“Seems like I was the one asking the wrong questions.” She stood, grabbed her drink, and then sashayed out of the way.
“Here, sis, you can have my seat. It was nice to meet you, Loyal.”
She went to walk away, but he grabbed her elbow, standing from his seat as he pulled her back. He took her phone from her hand and held it out for her. This was a bold move in front of someone who was obviously his girl.
“Open it,” he instructed. She was curious as to how far he was going to take this, so she did as he said. He typed his number into the phone.
“So we can review that contract,” he stated.
She scoffed. “Are you really this guy?” she huffed.
“Don’t start sizing me up wrong all of a sudden, Elliot,” he stated. He held out her phone and accepted it before walking away. She wanted to glance back so badly but she didn’t . She didn’t even know where she was headed; she just wanted to get away from him.
Ellie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Shy, Sloan, and Courtney enter the building.
“Court!” she screamed happily. “I thought you weren’t coming!” Her friend was beautiful. She wore no makeup at all, but she was beaming. She nodded to the stroller.
“I didn’t want to miss it. Sloan said it was kid-friendly, so I packed Christian up, and here we are,” Courtney said.
“You look so good!” Ellie complimented.
“Girl, bye, don’t lie. This size 14 ain’t it,” Courtney replied insecurely as she pulled on her shirt.
“No, sis. I promise. I’m not blowing smoke. Motherhood suits you. Hair long, nails long, skin dewy, you look amazing,” Ellie insisted. “How’s James?”
“Girl, let’s not even go there. I just want to enjoy my time out the house and catch up with my girls,” Courtney stated.
“Enough said,” Ellie stated. “Y’all go ahead and find a booth. Cassidy already told me we don’t have to work. So, grab a seat. I’ma head to the little girls’ room and be right back. Order me another lychee because I got to tell y’all about this lying-ass nigga I just met,” Ellie said.
“I’m going to walk around for a bit. Go live and show everyone what’s going on, bring some attention to the cause, and try to get some more people down here. Where Cass? Does he have a Cash App set up for this event? I can get some online donors, too,” Shy stated.
“I’ll go find him. I kind of owe him an apology,” Sloan stated.
Ellie paused. “Apology for what?”