Chapter 10
“JUST KNOW YOU DESERVE THIS.”
S unlight poured through the tall windows of the conference room, bouncing off the glossy oak table.
Najee’s eyes were locked on a small, detailed carving of the wood while adjusting the sleeves of his suit jacket.
To the wandering eye, the movement would’ve indicated that he was nervous, but that was far from the case.
He was simply waiting. Listening, while his heart beat a bit quicker because of what was taking place. But he was still calm.
Signing and sealing the contracted partnership with Peace Haven was a full-circle moment.
He worked hard to get to where he was today, and nothing had been handed to him.
Nor had he randomly gotten lucky. This was his purpose and passion.
Seamlessly, they aligned and made room for one of the greatest opportunities.
Ashley and Luke sat across from him. Beside them were two members of the board of commissioners, both of whom had nodded in approval during his presentation last week. Today was just a formality, but even still, Najee's palms itched. Not out of fear, but anticipation.
“You good?” Ron leaned over and whispered.
Najee nodded. It was only right that his uncle sat beside him to witness this next journey.
Ron had been there from the start, when Echelon Express was just an idea he called him up about years ago.
The business wasn’t some overnight success.
He’d watched Najee make something out of nothing even when the odds were stacked against him.
It’d been some rough months while Najee was locked up, but Ron never threw in the towel. His nephew had taught him to keep pushing no matter what. After passing the papers around for everyone to sign, Luke slid them across the table toward Najee.
“Everything’s in place. We just need your signature at the bottom of the last page,” Luke said. Beside him, Ashley smiled.
A cameraman was present to capture the moment, and for that, Najee was grateful.
He planned to frame one of the images and hang it in his office and give a copy to Joyce because he knew his auntie would want one.
Najee glanced down at the final document with his name boldly typed out.
The blank line was just waiting for his autograph.
Picking up the pen, he clicked it once and signed with two firm strokes.
“There it is,” Luke said, clapping once. “It’s official.”
“I’m so happy,” Ashley added, smiling warmly. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Drayton. Congratulations.”
The board members stood to shake his hand, and Najee did the same, trying to keep his grin cool, but it fought its way out.
“Thank you all for trusting me and my team. You’re giving Echelon a real chance to make an impact,” Najee said, with a steady tone filled with emotion.
“It was never about just being a reliable car service for me. I wanted to try and bridge the gap between where people are and where they’re headed, but in comfort. ”
One of the commissioners, a bald older man with thoughtful eyes, nodded slowly. “That’s exactly why we agreed to this partnership. It’s more than business to you, young man. It’s about community. And we see how passionate you are about it.”
“Absolutely, sir. Thank you.”
Najee looked over at Ron, who was smiling proudly.
“I told you, nephew,” Ron said, pulling him into a solid hug that almost broke Najee down. “It’s only going to get better from here.”
“I appreciate you for everything. I know you’re probably tired of me saying it, but I mean it.”
Ron waved him off like it was nothing, but his eyes said everything. He was honored to witness a moment his niece would’ve loved to be present for.
Ashley motioned toward the small table near the back where a light spread of finger foods, cider, mocktails, and fruit platters had been set up. “Let’s take a few pictures and celebrate a little.”
As they all gathered around, Najee poured himself a glass of sparkling cider and nodded politely at a few people. He noticed how everyone looked at ease. Peace Haven wasn't just a name; it was a feeling. And now, his company would be a part of that. The feeling was one he couldn’t put into words.
“You know…” Ashley said, letting her eyes roam the room. “…we’ve had a lot of vendors over the years. But rarely do we come across someone who leads with both business acumen and a good heart.”
“That’s a fact,” Luke added. “Everyone in this room is here because we have the same mission, and that’s what matters the most.”
Najee nodded, letting the weight of their words hit him. This wasn’t just about money. It was about leaving a legacy, finding healing in the safest space, and representation.
“Here’s to the start of a great partnership, pouring into our community, and saving the lives of women and children throughout our city,” Ashley said, holding her glass up.
Everyone mimicked her and toasted. After taking a few pictures and talking to a few of the members, Ashley pulled him aside. “Hey. The drivers assigned to start in the next few weeks are trained in trauma-sensitive transportation, correct?”
Najee nodded. “Yes, the core crew is. I’m hiring a counselor for ongoing workshops, too. We wanna make sure every driver remains alert and aware when the woman enters the vehicle.”
Her eyes softened. “You really thought of everything.”
“I had to. Their safety matters the most, but so does their mental health.”
Each driver was trained not only in logistics but also in empathy.
Some women had trauma so deep, the slamming of a car door would trigger them.
So, Najee wanted to make sure his drivers were prepared.
They needed to know when to be quiet, when to offer a kind word, and when to just let music or silence fill the space.
Najee even set it up to ensure that the same driver would return for follow-up rides when possible or requested. It was all about building trust through consistency. As uncomfortable as their situation may have been, their ride didn’t have to be.
Ashley smiled and patted his arm. “Absolutely. I can’t wait to see what the women think. Before you leave, grab your gala tickets from Brya at the front desk. There should be four inside an envelope with your name on it.”
“Will do. Thank you,” Najee said.
“Of course.”
Ashley walked off, and Najee walked back toward his uncle, who was eating a mini deli sandwich and was tearing it up.
“You over here acting like you ain’t ate,” Najee joked, chuckling.
“I haven’t. These little things are good. You should try one.”
That didn’t sound like a bad idea. Although he had plans to take the family out and celebrate, he needed something to hold him over.
Glancing around the room, the weight of the moment finally sank in.
He’d done it, and it felt damn good. Glancing upward, he smiled and said to himself, This is for you, Mama. Rest peacefully, my baby .
T he only person Najee wanted to share his good news with besides his family and a few friends was Orielle.
They talked this morning before her first private yoga session, and she wished him good luck, even though she claimed he didn’t need it.
Then, she had the nerve to say she’d give him some celebratory head once she saw a picture of his signature on the contract.
Najee couldn’t snap a picture and send it to her fast enough. Ashley and Luke liked having a paper trail on file, so they gave him a copy and uploaded it as a PDF to their shared, secure folder. Just in case anything came up, they wanted to make sure everyone was covered.
It’d been a good forty minutes since Najee had texted Orielle.
She was a hardworking woman, and he loved that about her.
A woman with too much time on her hands for a man was a red flag in his eyes.
It was usually a sign that she didn’t have her own goals, hobbies, or boundaries, and was liable to lose herself trying to keep up with a man.
He wasn’t tripping about Orielle’s silence.
If anything, it reassured him. A woman with no hustle in her wasn’t the one for him, and he’d crossed paths with a few in his life.
They’d drop everything the second he called or texted, eager to be where he was and talk to him.
Women had tried molding their entire lives around him, only to cry when he told them he needed space.
Najee learned the hard way earlier in his dating years that not every form of affection was healthy.
Some folks showed love in the most suffocating ways.
It had taken maturity to admit that he didn’t want someone who revolved around him.
He wanted someone who evolved with him, but for themselves first.
When it came to Orielle, she did exactly that.
Najee realized this before and was reminded when he hopped on Instagram.
The call he made to her had gone straight to voicemail, so he figured she was on live.
While she slept, was in the studio, having a day to herself, or when she didn’t want anyone to interrupt her video, she would turn the feature on.
Najee smirked when he spotted her profile picture at the top of his feed with the word ‘Live’ at the bottom of the circle.
He wasn’t ashamed to admit that he watched her stories.
He wanted her to see his name among the viewers in her notifications because he had liked a post. And if she didn’t see it, she’d see his name in her direct messages because he’d replied to one.
Orielle ignored men who did that, but not Najee. She loved that he was still crushing on her and let it be known. Furthermore, it proved that he actually liked her. So many men acted like they liked a woman just enough to get something out of them, and it was sad.