Chapter 4
The day was dragging on. Caden had gone to his first pharmacy location to check in and see how things had been going.
He sat in on a staff meeting, filled a few prescriptions, and checked inventory to make sure they would have everything they needed.
Since he was considering collaborating with a few physical therapists and private practice doctors, his afternoon was full of back-to-back meetings.
It was the part of his job that he didn’t like, but more connections meant more opportunities to help people and make more money, so Caden would do what he had to do.
When he opened his first pharmacy, he loved spending his days filling prescriptions, interacting with patients, and doing basic health screenings.
Now, business was running so smoothly he didn’t have to do anything at all.
He trusted his staff at all his pharmacies and held them all to a high standard of excellence, which was why the pharmacies were always so busy and profitable.
Caden’s phone vibrated in his pocket as he headed out to his Lexus. He didn’t bother taking it out to see who it was until he was inside. At the sight of the missed call from Lorenzo, Caden called him back.
“You busy?” Lorenzo checked as soon as the call connected.
“Nah. I’m getting ready to head to the coffee shop for a few meetings. Wassup?”
Lorenzo sighed into the phone. “I know you don’t personally handle loans of any kind, but Dedrick wanted me to make you aware of something.”
“What is it?”
“One of the runners he uses to make deliveries is asking for more product or an advance on her payout. She gave him a sob story about how she’s late on her rent, and she’s trying to come up on some extra cash.
Problem is, she doesn’t have the best track record.
In fact, she let a nigga run off with her product one night, tryna get some dick.
That was the excuse she gave, at least. Only reason we spared her life was because we knew who it was and found him. ”
“What did he say when y’all found him?”
“That she owed him and gave him the product as payment.”
“Why is she still even on the team? Her ass should be dead just off the possibility of her giving away my shit,” Caden reminded.
“Because when she’s on it, she’s on it. She’s well-known and has reach.
She fucks with a lot of corner boys and old heads who go to her for their pills.
She’s just lazy at times and inconsistent as fuck.
Right now, she’s in the red. Tina isn’t just a runner; she’s a mini supplier herself.
She can finesse them niggas into giving her two or three times the asking price, and she always gives you some of her extra profit as thanks because she knows she be fucking up. ”
“If she’s valuable enough for the advance, Dedrick can approve it. Money, not product. I don’t want her sitting on my shit, not being able to move it.”
“Interest?”
“Fifteen percent. Whatever she gets, she has to pay back within thirty days.”
“Is there a cap on the limit?” Lorenzo checked.
“Tell him she can get up to whatever she brings in after her drops. And if he trusts her enough, he can double it. If she’s behind on her rent, owing me is only going to put her in more debt.
If she takes double, that should help her out a bit more, but make sure she understands what will happen if she doesn’t have my money in one month. ”
“Gotcha.”
After disconnecting the call, Caden headed out of the parking lot.
Tina. The name sounded vaguely familiar.
Caden wouldn’t suggest he knew everyone who worked under him.
That was Lorenzo’s job. Every once in a while, someone either did something really good or really bad to be put on Caden’s radar.
He hoped Tina’s name was familiar because she’d done something good.
If not, there was no guarantee she’d pay his money back, and Caden would hate to have to make an example out of her.