Chapter 12
Breeze
Four years later…
“Aye, what’s up, pops?” I questioned, after answering my phone.
“Everythang, lil’ nigga,” he responded. “You know that Array got me up early, running ‘round this muthafucka.”
“Yeah?” I lightly chuckled, as I absently wandered through my expansive 6000 square foot home. Voice echoing, bouncing off the walls. “What’s new?”
“Right. But you know what they say. Happy wife, happy life.”
Yep. Pops had married Array three years ago, and they were overly locked in. My ole man was in deep, but I dug it, because Array was definitely a catch.
“Yeah, I hear you.”
“Right. You coming through this evening, right?”
Frowning, I scratched my head in confusion, not recalling a conversation about me coming over. “I’m saying…what’s the occasion?”
“Oh, I aint tell you? Since Summer nem done officially moved back to the city, Array is throwing a barbecue. Basically to celebrate. She’s been wanting to do this for weeks now, but you know how busy Summer is.”
“Oh, yeah?” I licked my lips. “Nah, Ion remember you mentioning that.”
“Well, yeah. You know Array is hyped, because her baby is finally back in Houston to stay. So, she’s doing the most.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah. And uh…you need to bring uh…ole Ora with you.”
I laughed. “What made you say that? Especially, when it usually feels like she aint invited.”
“Because, lil’ nigga. Ion know if you’ve matured enough. We aint gone forget about that situation, a couple of years back.”
“Mannn,” I drawled. “That was like three years ago. You still on that?”
“Hell, yeah. Array still talks about you slamming that boy on the damn piano I’d just bought her.”
“I mean, shit, I bought her another one. Tell her to look at the bright side.”
“Man, aint nobody playing with you,” my pops persisted. “I want this to be a peaceful gathering. So, bring Ora. And hopefully, you’ll think twice about your actions with her around.”
I sighed. “Yeah, alright, pops. We gone pull up.”
“Okay, bet. I’ll see y’all this evening.”
“Yeah,” I responded, before ending the call. “Lake Houston is the spot today, huh?” I grumbled, as I made my way upstairs. “Pops really called to tell me to chill out.” I smirked.
Funnily, he considered me one of the most mature twenty-three-year-olds around. Outside of a few questionable moments, I was a man about my business.
Technically, I probably should’ve still been playing ball, but an injury had me riding the bench…and I honestly had no plans to return to the court.
Just as the agents and sports reporters had predicted, I was of the one and done variety. So, after just one year of college, I was a first-round pick in the NBA draft. Signed a 24-million-dollar, four-year contract with Miami.
No lie, going into the NBA had been more exciting than I’d anticipated, but that rush didn’t last for long.
The constant traveling, fake people, and groupie women got old quickly.
So, after my first year in the league, I locked in.
Focused on bringing my planner to fruition, before heavily investing into my own ideas.
It was risky, but in three years, I’d managed to quadruple my net worth. And with that type of financial security that didn’t require me answering to a soul, I was ready for the next phase of my life. Away from the league.
Now, I wanted to focus on personal endeavors, as I’d been neglecting my social life for years.
Of course, Ora had been around. Had watched me entertain several other girls, and had patiently waited for me to circle back. And I had. On occasion.
“Did you look at her page? No, the bitch got me blocked.”
Pausing in the hallway, I listened as Ora was on a phone call in the master suite. Always eager to learn how a muthafucka moved, when they thought that I wasn’t looking, I decided to eavesdrop.
“You see her fake, funky, fat ass? Bitch always have on that fake suburban girl accent, but we know the real.
I'ma get a chance to expose her ass. Talking about she been with that nigga since high school.
How, though? Especially when you and your friends was jumping on a whole other nigga, ‘bout them hurt feelings. That nigga been choosing me.”
“What the fuck?” I mumbled, as I listened to her talk her shit.
“Yeah. That’s what I said. Ion know who would watch that boring ass shit.”
Realizing that I couldn’t get the full scope of the conversation with hearing just one side, I stepped into the room.
“The fuck is you doing?”
Cutting her eyes at me, as she stood in the middle of the room, holding the vacuum that she’d yet to turn on, Ora sighed into the phone. “Charlie, girl, let me call you back.”
I took a moment to study her, as she stood there in a navy-blue laced bra and thong set. Which was a bit odd of a choice to clean up, but hey. That thick physique was amazing, because her body enhancements looked natural. Her legs matched the ass, and she hadn’t overdone it with the breasts.
So, physically, Ora was the shit…but that did nothing to erase the obvious insecurities.
Admittedly, the way that she was always worried about the next woman was my fault. I’d taken her through several changes, and maybe she would always question if she was enough for a man like me. And despite me giving words of affirmation, my actions had told a different story for quite some time.
Not that I’d ever lied to Ora. Because that wasn’t our thing. Either I was gonna give her the ugly truth or not say a word. Either way, she could never say that she’d been lied to. Still, that didn’t change how my actions made her feel.
“What’s up, baby?” She chipperly questioned. “What’s on the agenda for the day? You going outside?”
“Shit,” I yawned. “My pops just called, saying that he wants us to come through. Heavy emphasis on the us.”
“Oh, really?” Her eyes danced with excitement. “And that’s today?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, damn. This was the last thing I expected you to say.” She suspiciously hooded her eyes. “Who all gone be there?”
I shrugged. “My people. You know. My pops, Array…and Summer.”
“Summer, huh?” She pursed her lips. “In that case, you know I'm coming. With my best shit on too. Show her flamboyant dressing ass a thing or two.”
Shaking my head, I smirked, while heading to the master bath. “Hey, do what you do, lil’ mama.”
Summer
“Ewe,” I groaned, as I wiped my mouth.
Climbing off my knees, I prayed that this would be my last time throwing up.
After making my way to the sink, I thoroughly rinsed out my mouth, before brushing my teeth.
Right after, I went into my usual morning routine of flossing, skin care, and hair.
Lastly, I got dressed for the day, opting to rock a Versace leggings and one-strap sports bra combo, along with the jacket.
Having a strict no shoe policy in the house, I grabbed my sneakers, while leaving my room in a pair of fluffy house shoes.
My very first stop was the first floor of the four-story home. As usual, Tarin and Renny were going hard, putting together book packages that would be shipped out later that day.
“Yessss,” I cheered and clapped my hands. “I love how you bitches are hard at work. I didn’t even have to crack the whip today.”
Smiling, Tarin shook her head, while giving me the finger. Meanwhile, Renny was busy tapping away on an iPad, and merely waved me off.
Seeing that they were hard at work, I decided to leave them alone. Otherwise, I’d get to playing too much, and would have them off task.
I know that some people were staunchly against hiring friends and family, but that wasn’t my ministry. Although selective about the people on my team, I preferred employing my people over anybody else.
Tarin and Renny had been two of my full-time employees for about two years now, and I loved how they handled my physical books, and shipping, even when I wasn’t always physically present to oversee things.
They had both dropped out of college, and had come to me for part-time jobs.
At the time, I was still in California while they were in Houston, and I started them off with small shipments of my paperbacks.
It took them a few weeks to get the swing of things, and then they ran full speed ahead, often coming with new, innovative ways to move my books.
Ultimately, they’d singlehandedly tripled my paperback profit, telling me that they were assets to my small independent publishing company.
On the flipside, I was able to give them a laid-back job that paid well. So, we were all winning.
Of course, now, they weren’t my only employees, as I was now a hybrid author, being both independent and traditionally published. This meant that I had books in stores all over the country, and my online store was constantly selling out.
“Why the fuck am I out of breath?” I huffed, as I climbed the stairs to the second level of the house, where the primary living space was located.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I realized that Harlem and his assistant, Jinny, were already there, talking.
“Yes, the company is about to send over merch for promo,” Jinny reported.
“But there’s literally no room in this house, Harlem.
I honestly think that Summer needs to move her operations to a warehouse or commercial store front.
Because with limited space, we have to prioritize, and your brand is what pays the bills. ”
Hearing that, the back of my neck grew hot, as I stomped across the floor, making my presence known.
“Oh, not you speaking out of turn,” I scoffed, because ole Jinny had me fucked up. She’d been working with Harlem for a just a full month, and apparently didn’t know what she’d just stepped into.
Jinny was black, in her mid-thirties, medium built, and very average looking.
The type to get lost in a crowd. She came highly recommended, but apparently, she hadn’t taken the time to do any homework on me, which wasn’t surprising.
Something told me that she was extremely male centered and struggled to see value in women, including herself.