HENDRIX MERCER
Chapter Two
“Did the payment clear?” I was asked to host at club Vixen tonight and I made it perfectly clear that I wasn’t showing until that check was deposited. I didn’t play about my time or bread.
“It went through this morning. You’re good to go.”
“Good. What time do I have to be there and have you let Dex know the plans for tonight?”
“Yes, I did. He confirmed that he’d be joining you. As far as the club appearance, you have to be there by nine no later than nine-thirty sir.”
“Thank you, Nora. Am I free to go or is there more on the schedule for today?”
“You’re free to go. I will call you if anything comes up. Have a good day sir.”
Nora was my assistant of eight years. She was there whenever I needed her, and she had yet to let me walk into a room that wasn’t for me. Although she as always by my side, she also gave me space. I appreciated her in many ways.
She walked out of my office, and I followed suit after gathering my things. I had an ice cream date with my favorite girl, and I had yet to disappoint her in the four years we’d been in each other’s life. I looked forward to our dates probably more than she did.
I hit the stairs for a quick exercise instead of taking the elevator down. My building consisted of three floors with two holding nothing but creative space. Most ads, music videos, and photo shoots were held here. I took pride in what I did.
I was a Black man that took shooting videos for the homies in the hood to a whole new level.
I got my first real acknowledgment when I was around twenty years old and my first big job when I was twenty-one.
After that, my career took off, and I haven’t looked back since.
It was the prayers of my grandfather that helped me along the way.
I exited the side door and headed for the automobile that sat in the assigned space for the CEO of Mercer Visions.
I came a long way from borrowing some nigga’s baby mama’s car all day to having one of my own and one that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars at that.
I had it like that now and I flaunted it from time to time.
“Mr. Mercer.”
I looked in the direction where my name was being called and saw it was one of my best employees. “What’s up Jamie? You good out here?”
“I am. I see you rushing out of here, you must have a date?”
“You know my baby can be a brat if I don’t stick to my promises. I owe her this,” I responded.
“Trust me. I know how that goes. I’ll see you later.”
“No doubt.”
We ended the conversation there with me throwing my belongings into the passenger seat and then getting comfortable in the driver’s.
I checked my watch to see if I had enough time to scoop her up instead of going home and going from there.
Seeing that I had thirty minutes on the clock, I smiled. She was going to enjoy this surprise.
I headed to my destination cruising through the city with the top back allowing the sun to beam down on me.
It was a pretty day in Reedsburg and the women weren’t letting it go to waste.
They were showing thighs and I couldn’t help but enjoy the view, especially the ones that were thicker than cold grits. I just loved women and their softness.
Anthony Hamilton was playing as I viewed my city with a smile. I lived all around these parts and knew how it operated. Once I made it, I made sure my people had a legit job as well.
Dex was my right-hand man, and he was the first to elevate with me.
I went back and got the crew, but that nigga never left my side.
I wouldn’t be where I was today if it wasn’t for him.
He kept a nigga out of depression and uplifted me when I felt defeated.
Some thought we had some different shit going on, but that nigga was just my better half.
It’s weird to say but that nigga was my soulmate. He got me in ways others didn’t and knew what I could and couldn’t handle. He was the only family I had left besides my grandfather, so I kept him close.
Pulling into the parking lot, I wore the biggest smile on my face when my eyes locked in on her.
She was standing on the curb waiting for me.
I waited patiently as the other cars moved at a fast pace.
I was anxious to get my baby girl. The door opened and I was greeted with the most lovable greeting.
“Daddy! I missed you so much!” Her tiny arms were thrown around my neck and a small kiss was placed on my cheek.
“I missed you, too, Princess. How was school today?” I asked pulling off after she fastened her seatbelt.
“Great. I helped make fruit cups and pass them out. Ms. Grinds said I was her favorite student.”
“Oh yeah? I can see why. You love to help others, Princess.”
“I wasn’t going to give Cavion any because he pulled on my hair yesterday. I told him he better not let me pass out snacks ’cause he wasn’t getting any but Ms. Grinds said I had to.”
I laughed at the story she was telling. She was a handful just like her mother but had more genuineness. This baby was too grown for her own good.
Akeera wasn’t biologically mine, but you couldn’t tell me she didn’t belong to me.
I’d been raising this little girl since she was ten months old.
All she knew was me and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Her features trickled down from her mother, so she was a gorgeous little girl.
However, she got her mannerisms and kindness from me, as well as holding a grudge.
“That’s not nice baby. You can’t mistreat folk.”
“I know Daddy, but he’s always mean to me.”
“I think he has a crush on you, Princess. Boys are always mean to the girls they like.”
I immediately checked her reflection in the mirror to see her face screwed up in a disgust expression. That made me belch a hearty laugh. She was absolutely grossed out by my words.
“That’s nasty Daddy.”
“Yes, it is baby. I’m glad you think that.”
The conversation went on for the next ten minutes with her telling me how she wanted to make treat bags for her class just because.
She was always finding ways to make me come up to the schoolhouse.
She wasn’t only the teacher’s favorite, but the kids enjoyed her as well.
She provided pizza and other goods often.
We pulled up to our spot Sweet Milk shortly after. Our dates were some of the bests I’d been on. She gave me ongoing conversation and I cherished the time we put in together. She was also the only female in my life that wanted to spend time with me.
When it came to Aviana, she slacked tremendously in being a lover and a mother.
When we first got together, she played her part and played it well.
I wouldn’t dare look at another woman but now I was to the point where I was questioning if being with another woman would be easier than faking the funk with her.
The only reason I hadn’t given her the walking papers I keep wanting to draft is because of this beautiful little girl attached to my hip. She deserved stability in so many ways. This was a life I gave her that I knew her mother couldn’t uphold. I didn’t want to change that for her.
I also felt like Aviana would eventually realize what she had and mature. I loved my woman but being her doormat would never pass in my book. I let certain things slide because I was focusing on my business right now but that didn’t mean I wasn’t taking notes.
“Daddy, can we get Mommy something too? I think she’ll like one.”
Akeera loved her mother to death and tried to get her attention often. Too often for my liking and that was one thing that was beginning to make me pull away from Avi. I didn’t like the way my baby was begging. That didn’t sit right with me not one bit.
“Sure, Princess. Let’s eat ours first and then we can grab one for Mommy.”
She nodded and we riddled off our order once it was our turn in line.
We took our time eating and putting in quality time.
I took advantage of things like this because Avi was unpredictable, so I had no choice but to be greedy.
Akeera could be snatched from me anytime her mother got ready, and I couldn’t say a word behind it.
Four years were going down the drain and I was trying my best to save it.
Aviana wasn’t making it any easier for me though.
She was definitely on borrowed time with me.
I was a wealthy man and didn’t need a woman for anything other than their love and genuineness.
As a man that gave her the world, I wasn’t getting any reciprocation in return.
I knew me and the line she was walking was getting thinner and thinner.
By the time we made it home, we were running up on five in the afternoon. In my eyes, dinner was supposed to be started, if not already done. However, that was never the case in this house. Meals quit getting made damn near a year ago.
I shook my head as we walked further into the house. She wasn’t even there to greet me after a long day at work. She was running up a bag with bread she didn’t put a dime to.
“Princess, go get ready for your bath while I order us some food. Do you want anything in particular?”
“Chinese!” she shouted as she walked up the stairs.
I went to the kitchen to fetch the Chinese menu out the drawer so I could go ahead and have what we wanted together before I dialed.
As I looked over the menu, I heard the front door open and close with the noise of bags bumping together.
I could put everything I had in my bank account on the fact that nothing she had in tow was for me or Akeera.
She rounded the corner, and she had bags from all of her favorite stores.
I didn’t hold my breath as she maneuvered past me as if she didn’t know whose house she walked into.
Not thinking about me and my daughter was cool but understand where the hell you were and who was making it possible for you to flex the way you were.
“Aviana, I advise you to realize where you at and get some act right.”