Chapter 14 #2
Amused by her reaction, Nyelle laughed. “Well I didn’t know until now, but I assumed you were because Vega told me you left with him.
I almost called and cursed you out for not telling me yourself when you were texting me last night, but I’ma let you make it.
I see East put that ass to sleep and has you rushing me off the phone.
Bye, boo. Call me when you wake up and tell East I said what’s up. ”
“I hate you.”
“Who’s that squeaky ass voice on your phone, shawty?” East’s voice was just as lazy and groggy sounding behind Joi. He was trying his best not to be bothered by the call and hoped it would end soon, but Joi kept talking.
“Heyyyyy, Eaaaaasst.” Nyelle yelled through the phone so loudly that he heard her like it was to his ear and not Joi’s.
He chuckled and moved Joi closer, kissing the back of her neck before shutting his eyes and rattling off, “Hang up, shawty. I’m not trying to listen to anyone singing my name unless it’s you while I’m hitting that spot just right.” He mumbled but it was apparently loud enough for Nyelle to hear.
“Oh shit, I see you, Joi. Call me later.” Joi ended the call and pushed her phone under the pillow while East tightened his hold around her waist with the arm draped across her body.
“Tell your girl you have business hours. I’m not trying to listen to y’all giggling and shit at all hours of the night. Her voice is mad annoying.”
Joi rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth, ending with a slight smile.
“Then maybe I should be in my own bed and not yours.”
East smirked, kissing the back of her neck. “Nah, you good where you at.”
“How do I look?”
Joi lifted her eyes from the iPad she was forced to watch since Nick was sitting in her lap.
“You look very agreeable and inviting.” Joi grinned after putting emphasis on specific words.
“Well let me change then because this is not that type of party.” Nyelle looked down at her outfit and frowned. She was in a black, spaghetti-strap bodysuit with a low V cut in front and an even lower one in the back, paired with bleached, high-waisted jeans that hugged her thick frame.
“Don’t change, you look good. Doesn’t she, Nick?”
He nodded without looking at his mother when he spoke. “Mommy, you look pretty.”
Nyelle shook her head, knowing her son didn’t care one way or another as long as he wasn’t interrupted from watching whatever video his eyes were glued to.
“Thanks, baby. Can you take that in your room so I can talk to Auntie Joi before I leave?”
“Mmhmm,” Nick rattled off, pausing his video before sliding away from Joi and scooting off his mother's bed. When he was gone, Nyelle said what was on her mind.
“I don’t want to have sex with him.”
“Then don’t.”
“I’m not, but I keep thinking about it.”
“Because you want to, hoe, so why did you just say you don’t want to?”
“Because I don’t.”
Joi laughed and lifted her phone to read a text from East.
Can I see you?
I’m babysitting, remember?
“If you’re thinking about it, you want to. What’s the big deal?”
“I’m thinking about it because he gave me some bomb ass head and I’ve felt what he’s holding, so the sex will be all that.
I don’t want to because if it is all that, I’m going to be right back where I was with Reese.
Men are never what they say they are. I’m afraid of finding out who Vega really is because I’m sure I’ve only met his representative. ”
“Stop stressing. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Vega seems legit. I know for sure he’s not tripping off women. There were a lot of them there last night and he didn’t seem pressed.”
“That’s because you were there. He wasn’t about to show his ass while you were around to report back to me.”
“I’m sure that had something to do with it but before he even knew I was there, he was curving hoes, so just see how it goes. Try not to get too invested—”
“Too late. I really like him. I don’t even know why because I barely know him, but I do.”
“Because of that bomb ass head, sis. That’s why.” Nyelle cut her eyes at Joi while a smile stretched across her face.
“That’s part of it, but what we really need to be discussing is your hoe ass. So, we’re already doing overnight stays?”
Joi laughed and fell back against Nyelle’s bed, covering her face with her hands before she lifted her phone to read the texts East had just sent.
I’m cool with that. Nick is my little dude. We can all hang out.
I don’t think that’s a good idea. Maybe when Ny gets home if it’s not too late.
She waited and nothing.
“Joi, focus. He had you all night, can I get five minutes?” Nyelle cut her eyes at Joi who placed her phone on her chest to focus on her girl.
“It wasn’t planned. We were chilling and I stayed.”
“No he put that ass to sleep and you stayed. I know what's up.”
“Mind your business and worry about your own situation.”
“Oh damn so that’s how we’re doing it?”
“If you’re trying to play me then yeah.” Joi nodded, offering Nyelle a smug grin, causing her to suck her teeth.
“You know I’m just tripping. So y’all a thing or whatever?”
Joi ran through the conversation she had with East, considering the agreement they made. She said friends, he said to call it whatever she wanted as long as he could have her. Exclusively.
“Yes and no.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means he gave me some big speech about me being different and how he wanted time to figure that out, but he also doesn’t want me dealing with anyone else.”
“Oh hell no. That’s a fuck boy move. Don’t let that man have you out here in the world looking crazy while you’re thinking y’all are kicking it and he’s out there with every other hoe on the low.”
Joi cringed at the thought. She believed East but she believed Reg too and he damn sure wasn’t faithful. “I’m not, that’s why I told him we were just friends. I can be with whoever I want and he can—”
“Girl, miss me with that.”
“What?”
Nyelle gave Joi a hard stare. “So if we’re out and you see him doing face time with the next hoe all up on him, you’re gonna just be like it’s cool. We’re just friends?” Nyelle waited with a smug grin, but immediately noticed Joi’s expression got tight. “Exactly, that’s my point.”
“Don’t act like you know me.” Joi laughed and rolled her eyes.
“I do know you but even more than that I know what good dick does. This is your brain, this is your brain on good dick. Any questions?”
Joi lifted her head, and the second her eyes met with Nyelle’s, they both burst out laughing.
“I swear your ass doesn’t have one bit of sense.”
“Say I’m lying though?” Nyelle challenged.
“There’s no lie, sis.”
Joi lifted her phone to read the text from East.
Damn shawty, just shut me down then. Aight cool, hit me when she gets home. I don’t care what time. I wanna see you.
I’ll think about it.
Joi knew she would but she liked the idea of making him sweat a little. Until he proved her wrong, she was going to take their agreement at face value.
“Mr. Orr, where do you want us to start?” Vega looked around the club then lifted his hand, circling two fingers in the air.
“You can start in here. Give me the best estimate but keep in mind the two-week turn.”
Micah looked toward the door as three men and two women entered his club with cameras and clipboards. The group immediately started walking around, taking pictures and jotting down notes.
“What’s this?” His face tightened as Vega approached with an unbothered expression, stopping about a foot away with a suit right behind him.
“This is our business meeting. You requested it, remember?” Vega pointed to the table behind Micah, signaling for him to sit.
Right after, he glanced at his watch. He had a little over an hour to handle this before he was to head home to shower and change so he would be on schedule for picking up Nyelle at their appointed time.
“Aight, I can get with that, but who are these people?” Micah glanced behind Vega at the suit first before he located the three men and women moving around the room.
“They’re my team. They need to see the place to get an accurate quote for the renovations I have planned. Prince is my lawyer. He’s here to assist with the paperwork.”
“Hold the fuck up. I’m not sure what’s going on but I didn’t say a damn thing about renovations.” Micah glared at Vega defensively, not sure what the deal was.
Vega simply looked over his shoulder at his business attorney Eric Prince, who then lifted the manila folder that was in his hand into view while addressing Micah at the same time.
“I have everything right here. Have a seat and I’ll go over the paperwork with you so you can sign.”
“Sign? What the hell do you mean sign? We haven’t agreed on anything. No terms, not even an amount.” Micah's eyes darted between Vega and Prince.
“I decided. I’ll have a cash payout for you as soon as we have your signature on those papers,” Vega stated coolly but with all the confidence of a man on a mission before he stepped around Micah and pulled one of the metal chairs away from the table and filled it with his long body.
When he was comfortable, he looked up at Micah and pointed to the chair across from him. “Sit.”
“Nah, tell me what’s going on. Sounds like you think I’m about to sell my place.”
Vega grinned and massaged his chin with one hand, drumming his fingers on the table with the other.
“I don’t think a gotdamn thing. I know you’re about to sell me this place. Now sit your ass down so we can get started.”
Micah was confused and pissed but he sat. More out of the reasoning that he didn’t want any smoke with Vega, but he damn sure wasn’t about to sign over his club.
“I only asked you to partner with me. My place is not for sale?”
Prince opened the folder and lifted a stack of papers, sliding them across the table.
“Mr. Orr is offering you a great deal. It’s way more than the place is worth, but with the changes, I’m sure he’ll recoup the cost. If you look at page one—”