Chapter 26
Navy Achebe
Sitting behind my desk, I watched Mekhi in the corner of my office, staring out the window.
He hadn't said much since his fight, but that was typical of Mekhi.
He knew better than to let his anger get the best of him, so whenever it happened, he shut down.
I wanted all the boys here to figure out their own ways to handle their struggles, but silence wasn't one I accepted.
Most of the time, those who went quiet weren't really processing.
They were bottling it up. Every emotion a boy swallows builds into a man who can't feel, or who clings to the first person who made him believe it was safe to feel again.
Honor was the perfect example of who I didn't want Mekhi to become.
He held everything inside, never really processing his emotions or the burden of his own instability.
All he knew was death was his freedom. But when I stopped him, something changed inside him.
I became Honor's safe haven, his belief, his faith, and, dare I say it, his religion.
I loved being that for him, but the burden it carried was suffocating at times.
Yesterday was one of those times. I held on to a pain so deep just to keep him safe that it started eating away at me.
I didn't want that for whoever Mekhi chose to love, and I didn't want Mekhi thinking love meant breathing for the person you're with.
"Talk to me, Mekhi," I softly urged.
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and he looked at me. "Ain't nothing to say, Ms. Navy. I did what I had to do."
"I'm sure you can find something more to say," I urged.
"Nah, I can't 'cause none of it matters."
"Why doesn't it matter?"
"No one gives a fuck. My bad for the language, but that's how I'm feeling forreal. I've been here for as long as I can remember. I've seen kids come and go, but you know what I haven't seen? A muthafucka give a fuck about me enough to take me outta this bitch."
His tone was so raw I couldn't even bring myself to call him out on the foul language.
"I care, Mekhi."
"Nah, you don't. You care more than anyone here, yeah… but eventually you leave, and your care fades until you return for your next shift," he scoffed.
My eyes doubled in size.
"Is that what you think? That I only come here to collect a check?"
"Tell me something different." He shrugged, sounding nothing like the sweet boy who gets up earlier than everyone else to make sure I get in safely on my early shifts.
"I don't just clock in, Mekhi. The whole reason I bought this place and worked my ass off to get my degree is so I can help boys like you find the light in themselves that the world tries to snuff out.
I'm here because I care. I care about everyone in this building, including you.
I thought I was doing all I could to show that… but maybe I'm not doing enough."
"I'm just venting, Ms. Navy." He shrugged, letting out a laugh that held no humor. "Ant was mad I didn't want to hit a lick with him, so he started gassing shit, telling everyone I'm not with that shi… stuff because I think you're going to adopt me."
The hurt in his words cut deeper than the words themselves.
"Mekhi, is that—"
Three sharp knocks rapped against my door.
"Come in," I called, quickly wiping the tears from my eyes.
"Your three o'clock is here," Tamera informed me, sticking her head into my office.
"Okay. Give me five minutes, then send Mr. Bryant back," I instructed before turning back to Mekhi. "Mekhi I—"
"I'm good, Ms. Navy, forreal." He stood. "I'll check in later. I'ma go practice on the piano for a few."
"Okay." I smiled, hoping he couldn't see the tears trembling at the brink of my lashes.
I waited until Mekhi left my office, then grabbed my phone to text Wolfe.
Me
I need a favor.
Wolfe
Wassup?
Me
Can you drop by today? Mekhi got into it with another boy, and he needs something I can't give.
Wolfe
I got him, but I need to talk to you, too.
Me
Cool, I'm free in an hour.
Before I could set my phone down, harder knocks graced my door, pulling my attention.
"Tamera said it was cool for me to come back here," the man declared, stepping into my office before I could respond.
He was tall. That much was evident from how the doorframe barely cleared his shoulders.
My eyes flickered over him once, quick and professional.
He was light-skinned, smooth, even-toned, with a broad chest, a skinny yet solid build, and a relaxed but alert posture, like he'd be ready to move at a moment's notice.
I cleared my throat, gesturing toward the chair across from my desk.
"Have a seat, Mr. Bryant."
He acknowledged me with a single nod as he came further inside. A quiet confidence followed him. Unannounced yet undeniable. He possessed the kind of presence that made you straighten without realizing why.
"Okay, Mr. Bryant, I—"
"Solace."
He didn't smile. His face wasn't menacing, either, just controlled and undeniably handsome.
"I'm sorry," I said, blinking through my confusion.
"You called me Mr. Bryant."
"Yes, because that's the name on your application."
"I'm sure it is," he smoothly replied. "Now I'm giving you the privilege of calling me Solace."
"Privilege?" My brows dipped.
"I believe my presence is a gift," he said evenly. "And not everyone is fortunate enough to encounter me, let alone learn my name."
"Uh… okay." I paused, reassessing him. "This is supposed to be an interview for the basketball coach position. While you have the height, I don't believe basketball is the reason you're here."
"It's not."
"Then why are you here?"
"Property."
"Oh, I'm not selling," I replied matter-of-factly.
"I wasn't asking if you were."
His gaze stayed on me, silently measuring my worth.
"My eyes are on the supermarket that isn't too far from here. My company acquired it in a… let's just say acquisition."
The supermarket was indeed close. A few of the boys stole from there and messed with gift cards, trying to be scammers.
As for their actual groceries, I'd made it clear to my staff not to shop there.
The owners didn't care about that place.
The shelves were always half-stocked, and what was on them was usually past its expiration date.
To put it plainly, the supermarket was neglect wrapped in fluorescent lights.
"That still doesn't explain why you're here."
"Right." He chuckled, flashing just enough white and the gold lining his bottom teeth to make it intentional. "I saw this place and decided to come in. Your assistant wouldn't let me past her desk without an appointment. While she was busy on her phone, I caught a glimpse of your three o'clock."
I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms.
"Just so we're clear. I don't appreciate you slipping past my staff. The same way you'd respect the owner's mind, I need you to respect my assistant's as well."
A flicker of interest crossed his face.
"Noted," he stated. "For what it's worth, I admire what you said about respect. Most wouldn't want the respect of an assistant to reflect the respect of the boss."
"Good thing I'm not most and I don't need your admiration," I replied. "You said you wanted to see what the area needs. Well, currently it needs a lot, but you can start by respecting the people already doing the work."
Solace shifted. "Have lunch with me."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Lunch," he repeated. "So, we can talk about the neighborhood and what the boys here might want to see in their community. What would actually help instead of another overpriced store pretending it's a resource."
"I'm taken," I quickly pointed out.
His brow lifted. "I wasn't asking you on a date. I would like to have a conversation from one professional to another."
I straightened in my chair, annoyed with myself more than him.
"Well, I'm still not interested. If you want insight, you can schedule a meeting like everyone else."
For the first time, he fully smiled. "Fair."
Three voices sounded at once outside my door.
"Girl—"
"Why is your door closed?"
Before I could respond, the door swung open with Honey, River, and Chosyn filling the doorway. Solace glanced toward them, then back at me, giving a single nod.
"I'll be in touch, Navy."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving my office feeling smaller than it had a moment ago.