Chapter 7
SEVEN
KENEDI
Today was a huge day for the company, especially for me.
I had been invited to sit on a panel with the top businesswomen in Dallas, and it was truly an honor.
I couldn’t pretend to hold in my excitement at the fact that they even thought to consider me, let alone that they had decided I would be one of the women that they chose to participate.
The panel was all about how to build powerful connections through networking and leveraging our skills and talents to open doors for our careers.
The entire ride to the event, I couldn’t help but pat myself on the back.
I had worked hard as hell to get myself back into the position that I was in.
Honestly, I didn’t think that I would ever be here again, but God had the final say as always.
So many people had written me off, and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t gotten to a place where I started to believe them and everything they said about me.
But thanks to Sincere seeing something in me and giving me a chance to prove myself, my life had done a complete turnaround, and I had to thank him for that.
“I’ll be out here waiting for you,” Dani said, opening the door for me.
I had tried to convince Sincere that I could drive myself to the event, but he wasn’t trying to hear it.
He believed a lot in image and said that it would look better for the company and me if I showed up with his driver.
As I stepped out and looked at the other women arriving at the event with their drivers, I had to admit he was right.
Not saying that I couldn’t have still looked like and owned the bad bitch that I was in my own car, but having a driver was definitely a flex, too.
“Thank you, Dani.”
As I walked into the event, I made my way over to the registration table.
Unfortunately, the first person I saw was Logan.
The idea of her being at this event never crossed my mind.
But now that she was in my old spot, I could see why she was invited.
Although I would argue that she hadn’t networked and worked hard for her spot.
Her ass schemed to take another woman down for her own gain.
Sure, Ray’s cheating wasn’t her fault, but she was definitely the puppet master who made sure I found out about it at the worst time possible.
And for that, she would never get my respect.
I couldn’t fuck with a woman who found joy and profited from intentionally causing another woman to hurt.
There were so many easier ways to make your way to the top, and she could’ve and should’ve explored one of those options instead.
“I guess they’re just letting anyone in here these days,” she mumbled under her breath as I stepped forward to get my badge.
Instead of giving her ass a reaction, I grabbed my badge and made my way over to the room they told me to wait in until it was time for my panel.
Once inside, I was greeted by some of the most powerful women in the city.
So, instead of entertaining Logan’s bitter ass, I decided to go rub shoulders and build a few new connections.
Sitting around and being petty with her ass would do nothing for my career, so I wasn’t about to waste my damn time.
After about an hour of working the room and completing my panel, I landed in the same space again as Logan.
My plan to avoid her had worked so far, but apparently, the little bit of luck I had ran out.
Somehow, we were both seated next to each other at the luncheon, and if it hadn’t been considered rude, I would’ve turned down the food and left.
I truly didn’t have the patience to deal with her or her bullshit.
“So, how are things going with you working for my man?” Logan asked, smiling as she spoke. However, her tone was anything but friendly. I could hear the jealousy and venom as each word left her lips.
“Well, if he’s your man, wouldn’t you already know how things are going? I would assume that y’all talked about work and other things, right? You know, like a normal couple would do,” I said, smirking.
I truly didn’t know the inner workings of her relationship with Sincere, and nor did I care.
He wasn’t my man or anything remotely close to it, so what they had going on had nothing to do with me.
If she saw me as a threat, that was something that she was going to have to work out on her own.
I couldn’t help her with her insecurities.
That wasn’t my job, and I wasn’t going to even attempt to ease her doubts.
She could think whatever the fuck she wanted to about the made-up scenarios she had about me wanting her man in her head.
“Oh, we do. I just wanted to see how things were going from your perspective. You know, I can admit I didn’t think that you’d last as long as you have. But that’s my man for you, always giving to the less fortunate.”
Kissing my teeth in an attempt to calm myself down, I smiled and replied, “Well, I’m thankful that your man gave me a chance.
I think working with him has been wonderful.
Getting to spend so much time with him has allowed me to learn a lot of different things, which I know will definitely help me in the future. ”
“I bet,” she said, rolling her eyes and excusing herself from the table.
Feeling as though I’d won whatever battle we were in, I went back to eating my food and attempting to join other conversations going on around me.
Overall, the event was a success. Even though Logan tried her best to piss me off, she didn’t succeed, and I had definitely made a few new connections that I knew would come in handy in the future.
When I stepped outside as Dani promised, he was standing there waiting for me.
I had no idea how he always knew when and where to be, but I was thankful.
My feet were killing me, and I was ready to go home.
I had already decided that after a day of talking to people all day, I wasn’t going to the office.
There were no immediate fires that I needed to put out, so one day away wouldn’t hurt anything.
As soon as I stepped into the car, my personal phone began vibrating. Picking it up, I saw the group chat going off, and I couldn’t wait to see what the fuck was going on. Zaveah and Raelynn should’ve both been at work, so I had no idea why in the hell they were texting so much.
ZAVEAH:
I swear I’m going to kill this motherfucker, y’all.
So y’all know I told that nigga we couldn’t be exclusive because neither one of us were to be trusted, right?
Howeverrrrr, we said that we would be real and let each other know if and when we were fucking other people.
Because I might not care about you spending time with another bitch, but you’re not going to be fucking me raw and another bitch at the same time. Nope!
RAELYNN:
So, I’m guessing he’s been fucking another bitch, raw, huh?
ZAVEAH:
Exactly! My thing is, why didn’t you just keep it real? Now, the doctor is talking about I got BV. I told her ass I’m about to go catch a charge right quick, but to send some stupid ass gel I have to shoot in my pussy for a week to the pharmacy.
RAELYNN:
I think you should just move on, Zaveah. It could’ve been much worse. Clearly, his ass ain’t to be trusted.
ZAVEAH:
Oh, I’m going to move on. Right after I connect a fucking bat with his head. I’m about to pull a Kenedi, only this time, I won’t fucking miss.
RAELYNN:
Zaveah, you’re a fucking news anchor! How are you going to get a domestic violence charge? That will ruin your career, sis!
ZAVEAH:
It’s only a charge if you get caught, my love. So, what’s up, y’all riding or what? I know exactly where his ass is.
As I got caught up on what was going on, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Zaveah was a certified crashout, and I knew that if she said she was about to take a bat to that niggas head, she meant exactly that.
As her friend, I felt obligated to tag along and do my best to calm her down.
I knew her bat was getting swung regardless, but maybe it didn’t have to be at his head, and we could all get away without the cops being called. Hell, the ambulance, too.
ME:
I’m pulling up on you now.
“Hey, Dani. Change of plans. I’m going to actually meet up with my girls before I head home. I’ll text you the address you can take me to.”
Nodding his head, he plugged the address into his maps app and pulled off. As we pulled up, I saw both Zaveah and Raelynn standing outside. I could see that Raelynn was attempting to calm Zaveah down, and she wasn’t trying to hear shit that she was saying. Hopefully, I could get through to her.
“Thank you for the ride,” I said, hopping out as she opened the door for me.
“No problem. Are you good, or do you need me to wait around for you?”
“No, I’m good. One of them will take me home.”
Walking over to them, I shook my head, seeing the bat in Zaveah’s hand. She was on ten, and I knew exactly how she felt. I didn’t understand why these niggas couldn’t just keep shit real instead of playing these fucking games like shit was going to be sweet.
“So, what’s the plan now, Zaveah?” I asked, leaning on the car next to her.
“I decided that I’m just going to go over there and talk to him.
But you’re going to have to change first. Just in case shit goes left, we need to be able to move quickly, and you can’t do that with that outfit on.
I have something you can put on,” she said, leading the way up to her house so that I could switch into something easier to get away in.