Chapter 20 Bentley
BENTLEY
Weeks had passed since I left small ass Sage Springs, and my woman.
The only thing that was on my mind was the fact that she accepted me without realizing it.
Everything I told her was the truth. What I wanted in a woman, Heidi could provide.
She was the only one I saw myself with. I liked how she was a woman and mother. Why the hell would I pass up on that?
“Knock, knock.” Mula’s voice pulled me out the clouds. Turning around to face her, she smiled and asked, “You had a meeting with Phoenix today? Why you ain’t tell me?”
“It was last minute. He here?” I inquired.
Nodding, she replied with, “Yeah, downstairs. He wasn’t on the books, so I didn’t let him up. I’ll go get him. Y’all care for anything to drink?”
“Nah, we good. We’ll sip on that D’ussé over there. ’Preciate you LaLa.”
“No problem.” With that, she sauntered out the door.
Standing, I walked over to the mini bar in the corner and proceeded to fix me and him a drink. It was mid-day, and this building was gon’ be jammed pack in a matter of hours. Club Sin had enough hype behind it to where the folk came out and supported damn near every day of the week.
Flushing money through the club, the hospital, malls, and anything else you could think of, I had more than enough income to do whatever the hell I wanted when I wanted.
Moving Qwan’s event from his previous location to Sin wasn’t for him, but Heidi.
I needed baby to feel safe at all times and what better way to keep her comfortable than in one of my establishments.
I was already invited to his lil’ shindig, but it felt good coming from Heidi as her plus one.
Our routine hadn’t stopped over the past few weeks either.
That fine ass woman was on my line every night not missing a beat.
She was nervous as hell at dinner, and probably thought I was moving too fast. However, I slowed down my initial plans just so she could gain comfortability and control of her emotions.
I wanted her to always feel like this was an option even though it never really was.
Just as I took a seat on the sofa, Qwan entered my office.
I was back on my feet greeting the homie.
He’d performed at Sin plenty of times, so he knew the layout and how we moved.
His name rang bells in Florida for years but now the rest of the world was learning what we already knew. I was proud of him.
Dapping up, he greeted me with, “What it do brudda?”
“Shit, you know I’m coolin’. How you feeling?” I asked stretching his drink out in his direction.
He took it and threw that hoe back without hesitation. He copped a seat across from me wearing a goofy ass smile. He was happier than I expected.
“I been on cloud nine all day. You think she gon’ say yes? I need her to say yes bro. She the one. I can’t let nothing ‘bout her go,” he claimed.
Shaking my head, I sipped on my drink. I knew what he meant all too well. Heidi caused that same effect on me. She was gon’ be Mrs. Atkins and she had a few more months to get on board before I took matters into my own hands.
“I feel it. Does she know what’s the real deal with this fake ass album release party?” I questioned.
“Nah, I been fooling her and everybody around her, even Heidi don’t know what’s going on.
If I would’ve told her, she would’ve told Niyani fa sho.
This proposal is news for everybody except you.
She been rocking with me, showing support, and keeping a nigga head on straight.
This ring ain’t meant for nobody but her,’ he expressed.
Offering a small clap, I congratulated him on becoming a man.
He knew who he wanted to share that lifestyle with, and he was going after her.
That shit hit different when the woman you chose wasn’t a bird or money hungry hoe.
Genuine love and support was hard to come by. He found his. I was happy for him.
“I commend you for doing what it takes to keep that intact. Finding the needle out a hoestack took skill, and I’d be damned if you ain’t find it.
You gon’ thrive in yo’ career as long as you keep God first, yo’ wife second, and everything else after.
You got what it takes to go all the way. Don’t drop the ball,” I replied.
“I’m smarter than that. I can leave the ring here. She nosy as fuck, I’m clumsy as hell, and I ain’t trying to lose it.”
“Yeah, go put it in my desk drawer. You got special guests and shit coming through tonight? If so, you need to stop and handle all that with Mula. She gon’ need a head count and all that. Go see her and get right,” I ordered.
“Fa sho. ’Preciate it brudda. You got something sliding through?” he asked sporting a smirk.
“Why you all in my business? Find you something safe to do lil’ nigga,” I answered.
“Keep it a buck. You dating now?”
“Dating is for lil’ ass boys. My woman and yours are best friends. How the hell you ain’t know that?” I threw back. Heidi and Niyani talked all the time. It was something I learned over time, but I noted how she felt ‘bout shawty.
He tilted his head wearing a confused expression. This wasn’t nothing new. I was truly confused on how he ain’t know that shit. “Say swear.”
“Nigga what?” I laughed. “Ni, as Heidi calls her, calls my woman every night on that iPad and they just cackle all night until you get home from the studio. I know their whole routine nigga. Man can them girls’ gossip,” I said shaking my head.
“Damn, brudda-brudda fa real, ain’t it. How the hell ain’t I know that fa real? Niyani ain’t said a word. That’s crazy.”
“It is what it is. Why you think I hit you to change venues? Heidi don’t do random ass places or people. I can watch her wherever we go, but I got better eyes here, ya’ feel me?”
“I feel it. Well shit, I’ll holla at you tonight then. Oh, I was supposed to pick Heidi up from MIA in an hour. You want to handle that?”
“Yeah. Good looking out.” Nodding, we dapped up and he was out the door. “Fly in without telling a nigga is rude as fuck,” I voiced with a grin.
Heidi made a nigga blood pressure rise, and she knew it.
I guess she just planned on touching my city and not saying a word until tonight.
I told her ahead of time how greedy I was.
I could only help but wonder why she ain’t take heed.
I walked over to my desk, grabbed up my keys and cell, and hit the door. The audacity of her pretty ass.
I was on the main roads shortly after with one destination in mind. Club Sin to MIA was around thirty-five minutes on a normal day. It was hella traffic going on simply because there was a game today between the Dolphins and Falcons. There was outsiders by the boat load.
By the time I got to MIA, I had ‘bout ten minutes left to spare.
I hit Royce in the meantime to figure out where my lady was.
If anybody had her location, it was his ass.
He was adamant on building that family bond, so his ass been on my line every day like some hoe.
He was aggravating as hell, but I welcomed it.
He answered after the second ring on bullshit as usual. “Lil’ cuz, what it do?”
“Not shit. Where Heidi?”
“Nigga, I don’t fuckin’ know. I ain’t got no leash ‘round her neck,” he snapped. However, seconds later he realized what I was asking. “Oh, you called to see where she at for real. Riddle me this. Why the hell you ain’t got the lo?”
“’Cause I ain’t you. I’m not bogarting my way into her life. I heard all ‘bout how poor Klarity ain’t have a say at all. You know Heidi needs to be the one in control of that. She’ll give it to me when she ready.”
He went silent and hit me with a screenshot seconds later. “She just touched down in yo’ stomping grounds. Aye, watch her Bentley. I’d hate to tear yo’ shit up behind her,” he warned me.
“Imagine that. I got her nigga. I’m already at the airport, I just needed to see if that location updated. ’Preciate it.”
“Hold up cuz. You serious ‘bout her? Like, you ain’t on no bullshit?” he inquired.
“Bullshit is something I don’t do. I’m trying to change her way of thinking regarding men, love, life, the whole nine.
She got something that belong to me. I ain’t stopping until she hand it over.
Shit, even then, the chase won’t stop. Heidi special and I’m gon’ cherish the hell out that woman,” I confessed.
“Cool. That was all I needed to know. She walking from terminal A. I’ll holla at y’all later.”
Hanging up, I eyed the doors waiting for her. My guess, she had ‘bout another ten minutes before she was out the door. Stepping out the whip, I popped the trunk and moved my suitcases of bread to the side. It was money that should’ve been deposited in the floor safes at the crib days ago.
“Sir, you can’t park there. Sir.” Turning around, I looked the worker up and down with a scowled expression.
I knew where the fuck I could and couldn’t park.
If he thought I was moving without having my woman in my shit, he had another thing coming.
“Oh, I’m sorry Bentley. I ain’t know that was you. ”
“You know me?” I questioned.
“Nah, just of you. Have a good day big bro.” He was out my face hootin’ and hollerin’ at the next driver that was taking forever.
I was back rearranging shit when I was tapped on my arm. Irritancy coursed through me at a rapid pace. Closing my eyes, I released a deep sigh. I wasn’t trying to get disrespectful, but niggas wasn’t trying to let me be either.
“Look, I’m trying not to put a hot one in yo’ bitch ass. Don’t fuckin’ touch me again. I said I ain’t moving ’til I got my lady. Don’t piss me off.” My shirt was lightly tugged causing me to turn around on ten. “Didn’t I say don’t fu…”