Chapter 9
NINE
Since Alex will be in Vegas for FNF, she wants to meet before she leaves.
Unfortunately, Mireya isn’t joining us. Her first trimester is kicking her ass and her morning sickness extends to the afternoon and night.
Today has been extra rough, so under Quintus’s orders, she’s sitting this meetup out and staying home to nurse her sour stomach with ginger tea Shuga made.
When Mireya said she wasn’t going to make it, the location moved from the bar in Diablo’s Steakhouse to Alex’s favorite private spot in which she has a minority ownership, Elegance their dates having knowledge of them is sexy and sellable,” Giselle says.
“Oh, I would love that. When I come for my investment talk, I can add that,” Alex says excitedly. Two of her favorite topics are money and cigars, and twice a year, she talks to Giselle’s escorts about investing and managing their money.
“We can do a real class. With your cigar expertise and my academic and curriculum skills, we can create a two to three week course in Canvas or Blackboard,” I add and Giselle shakes her head.
“You two, I swear. I don’t need all that. Just a quick conversation about cigars.”
“I like Kyrah’s idea better. A course is perfect. You can even add it to your new hire orientation process,” Alex says.
“My orientation process is just fine. You two do the damn most,” Giselle says as she playfully rolls her eyes.
“Says the queen of doing the most,” I say and we all laugh.
Our cigar sommelier for the evening returns with our cigars and smoking accessories properly laid out on a black and marble tray. After placing it on the table, she turns to Alex.
“Anything else, Miss Stansfield?” she asks.
“No, not right now, Natalie. Thank you,” Alex replies with a smile. The minute Natalie walks off, Alex reaches to her side and pulls two envelopes out of her clutch. “Before we smoke, let’s get to the reason for this evening.”
“I thought you just wanted to see us before you left for your trip,” I say.
“Well, you know I always want to see my girls, but tonight I have what I think is good ass news. I was hoping we all could be here, but I’ll get with Reya tomorrow before I leave.
” After placing the envelopes on the table, she continues.
“Remember that small IT startup I had you all invest in about two years ago, Tech Resolve?”
“Honestly, no,” Giselle says, verbalizing my exact thoughts, and Alex smirks.
“I can’t with y’all,” Alex says with a grin. “Do you ever listen when I talk?”
“I listen but I don’t remember every detail. Investments are all you. I defer to your knowledge and expertise. I read my quarterly statements though,” I admit. “They always put a smile on my face. Financial security is everything.”
“Trust me, we all agree on that shit,” Giselle adds. “So what’s going on with the startup?”
“It’s doing very, very well. It’s more mature, stable, and generating more cash than it can use for growth, so we all got cash dividends.
Check these out,” she says as she hands me and Giselle envelopes.
There’s a huge smile on her face as we open them.
When I spot the amount listed, my smile matches hers.
“My five thousand dollar investment earned me this in two years?” I question, elated about the five figures on the cashier’s check.
“Yes,” Alex confirms. “Now you just have to decide what you want to do with it.”
Without a second thought, Giselle grabs her pen from her handbag, endorses her check, and hands it back to Alex. “Reinvest mine.”
“Got it. You can think yours over and let me know, Kyrah,” Alex says.
Since I also already have my mind made up, I simply say, “I’m going to put half in my savings and transfer the other half back to you to invest. You have something specific in mind?”
“More shares in Tech Resolve and in gold,” Alex says assuredly.
“You know I trust you. Sounds good to me,” I say, then nod. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Now, let’s celebrate with these.” After prepping the three cigars, she passes two of them to me and Giselle.
“A toast first though,” Giselle says. “This was an unexpected but welcomed surprise. Lift those glasses. To our financial guru, cash dividends, and true friends.”
“To all of that,” Alex adds before we tap our glasses. After taking a sip, Alex smirks then glances at me. “Are we toasting to anything else?”
“Like what?” I ask curiously.
“Like the smile that’s been on your damn face since you walked in here.” She places her glass on the table then lights her cigar with a beautiful gold lighter.
My sis doesn’t play about her cigars.
“It’s Shiro, isn’t it?” Alex asks.
“Yes.” I don’t hesitate to reply because he is most definitely responsible for my smile.
My man loves me, all of me, even my broken parts. The other night, after our first date when he massaged my feet while I downloaded my shit about my mom, he didn’t run. He stayed and I knew without any doubt how he feels about me and how I absolutely love him.
“I swear you and Reya are going to have me stalking one of the other brothers,” Alex teases with a laugh. While all of the Bako brothers are handsome, Alex isn’t interested in either Tre or Deuce. These past two years, they have become family.
“Okay!” Giselle joins in. “My problem is the one I would even consider is married. Y’all know how I love a man with a little silver in his beard. Ace with those locs and that little patch of silver in his beard is too damn sexy, but that’s all Sade, and I don’t interfere with marriages.”
“You and those damn silver beards,” Alex comments.
“My weakness. Give me at least seven figures, a silver beard, and swag from a mile away and I might waive my fees,” Giselle jokes and we all laugh.
“Your crazy ass,” I say while shaking my head.
“Love and all that is all you, and I must admit, it looks good as hell on you, Kyrah. Hell, you deserve it. Every second, every minute, accept it all. That man loves you down,” Giselle says and her sincerity warms my insides.
This is real sisterhood.
My girls have been with me through my lowest and their love and support is genuine. I never have to question their loyalty and intentions. They have my back and I have theirs.
“And I love him too,” I boast.
“You do know you’re never living down calling him to my house after you got drunk as hell off those Slice H2O cans. You actually told him you didn’t know where your car was,” Giselle says with a grin.
“And it was parked in her driveway. Yeah, you are truly not living that down at all,” Alex cosigns and I smile, because hell, I still can’t believe I did that. “But he definitely earned bonus points for coming.”
“Bonus coochie too,” I mutter but they both hear me and smile.
“As he should have,” Giselle says before reaching for Alex’s lighter.
After lighting her cigar, she passes it to me. One puff in and this Conviction cigar shoots to the top of my list. It’s smooth as hell and the relaxing effect I typically get from a cigar creeps over me almost instantly.
“Now, this is my new favorite,” I admit.
“Do I ever steer you wrong?” Alex gushes.
“Never,” I reply before pulling on my cigar again. “When are you coming back again?”
“Next Thursday. I extended two days,” Alex says.
“Thursday? You never stay more than three or four days there. Why a week?”
“I’m celebrating too. You think I only invested your money in Tech Resolve?” Alex smirks. “Momma gotta get the bag too.”
“I know that’s right. I’m thinking of going next month for a few days,” Giselle admits. “I need to relax and research.”
“So you are finally going to open your own?” I question.
“Yes. I have the location and name; I just need to figure out the legalities and membership options.”
“Oh my God! Can I know the name?”
“Erogenous,” she gushes.
“I love that.”
“I know, right?” Alex adds.
“I think it’s perfect. We need that here. There’s Seventh Heaven in Crescent Keys but Erogenous will be different. I want to explore more of the Dom and sub culture. Maybe even teach people.”
“Sign me up. I want to explore my dominant side,” I say.
“All women have it in us. Trust me,” Giselle says, then winks.
“Yes, the hell we do. But my lifestyle isn’t for everyone.
I’m a CEO twenty-three, six. In Vegas, I’m everything but and love it.
Unlike you and Reya, I don’t always need a name with the man.
Hell, I don’t even need a face sometimes,” she says, then laughs.
“A nice dick, motion, and a perfect tongue do the trick every time.”
“Every-damn-time,” Giselle adds.
I’m intrigued as hell about Giselle’s new place but intrigue is about the furthest I’ll take it. I haven’t reached their level of grown.
“I want to be like y’all when I grow up,” I tease and we all laugh.