Chapter 11
My phone was ringing and a look at the caller ID had me sweating bullets.
Shit.
Pops was to the right of me, caging me in the booth we were sitting in. The phone call could not happen now. In front of him.
Tee Money was calling. I’d really been on one when I’d given him my number. I still owed him an answer to his offer. It was easy to say no when Tee’s glaring call wasn’t in my face.
“Going to answer that?” Pops leaned over my shoulder, peering at me and not stealing a glance at my phone. He trusted and respected me.
I almost felt sick.
Clearing my throat, I tucked my phone away and sat up straight. “Nah, it can wait.”
Pops snorted and hung his head as he shook it. “You and your collection.”
There he went again, assuming I was nothing more than lust and hormones like some horny teen.
“A business contact, Pops. Trust, I’m cooling it on women for the time being,” I assured him.
“Oh really?”
Outside of Nastasia, I needed a break anyway. Waking up to having Asshole scrawled on my wall made the decision simple. “Yep. Sadé’s the only girl for me.”
Copeland’s was steady for eleven a.m. The tantalizing smell of fried chicken, grilled steak, and the scent of seafood hung in the air, illustrating what Copeland’s had to offer.
Around me the place was busy with life. Waiters going here and there from table to table, and men and women being seated or leaving.
Copeland’s was so busy I almost missed her, but then, you couldn’t miss Paisley if you tried.
She walked into the room and a series of male gazes wafted in her direction instantly.
In her black leather pencil skirt, red silk top that was tucked in, and leopard print high heels, she stood out.
Red lips brought attention to her mouth and the sunglasses covering her eyes made me willing to bet she was eyeing all the prospects in the room staring at her. Her smirk all but confirmed it.
“That’s her,” I let Pops know as I nodded off in her direction.
Pops turned and caught sight of Paisley and the impressed way he sat back almost made me chuckle. “Of course, it is.”
“Her package isn’t why I like her.”
“Oh?”
I tapped my temple. Paisley’s sass and wit were what I admired most about the popular DJ.
At once, Pops and I stood together to greet Paisley to the table as she made it over. An act that caused her to perk a perfectly threaded eyebrow as she removed her sunglasses.
“Aw, you’re so sweet,” she let out as she lowered herself to her side of the booth we’d been seated at.
“Chivalry is a dying commodity,” I said as Pops and I sat back down. “I gotta apologize, I forgot their brunch buffet is only on Sundays.”
Paisley shrugged. “I’ll live.” She eyed my father, her features softening as her face brightened. “Hello, Mr. Marcuson. I’m Paisley Parker.”
“Otherwise known as Paisley P.” Pops reached across the table and shook her hand. “So Eazy tells me.”
“Eazy,” Paisley repeated as she snuck me a look.
“Childhood nickname,” I said.
“You can be as grown as you want, but you’ll always be my boy,” Pops said as he grabbed his menu.
“All sorted?” our hostess, whose nametag read Leila, swooped by to inquire.
Even though Paisley had just joined us, she set her menu aside and flashed a friendly smile Leila’s way. “I’ll take a ribeye, medium-rare—I love it juicy, but add caramelized onions. Light ranch on my salad, and for my side, the beer-battered French fries.”
Pops looked to me as I faced him. “Damn.”
Paisley wasn’t fazed by our shock. “Business brings out my hunger.”
I could really like getting to know Paisley.
Snapping to, I faced Leila and handed over my menu. “I’ll take what she’s having.”
Pops shook his head. “I’ll take the Decatur catfish with cornbread dressing.”
Leila stood back and penciled in our orders. Her pink tongue creeped out of the corner of her mouth as she jotted everything down. “And to drink? What can we start y’all off with?”
“Sweet tea,” Pops echoed.
“Water,” I said.
“A glass of Chardonnay,” Paisley decided.
“You like wine?” I found myself asking after Leila stepped away to gather our drinks.
Paisley nodded. “Love it.”
Maybe she and Nastasia weren’t entirely alike. It wasn’t surprising. Paisley’s image was harder, tougher, and something told me you had to coax it out of Nastasia to get anger or wrath.
“So…” Pops drew out, looking from Paisley to me. “How did this come about?”
“We met through my best friend,” Paisley answered, not missing a beat.
“She was invited to the club and I tagged along. I will say, I always heard good things about BLVCKJVCK, but it’s really beautiful in person, Mr. Marcuson.
The design, the color scheme, the atmosphere—it’s what Atlanta’s been needing. ”
My lips twitched to smile, but I bit it back as best as I could.
Pops nodded along. “You should praise Ezekiel for that. My original club layout wasn’t as flashy.”
Paisley blinked, coming to me. “Oh, wow. Nice job.”
I gave a humble shrug. “Just trying to help.”
Paisley chuckled and returned to my father. “The idea your son presented me with for a Ladies’ Night sounds like fun. This is kinda the first time anyone’s wanted me to host a club event. I’m honored.”
“Ezekiel says your show is his favorite,” Pops responded.
“I’m certain this’ll be big for you since this is your first time hosting.
We will supply security, unlimited number of drinks, VIP passes to five close friends, and our promotor will get on it about a flyer to post on our socials. Your name will be in gold lights.”
Leila came back, quickly depositing our drinks around the table accurately before heading off to check on another table of hers.
Paisley gathered her glass of wine and ran her finger along the rim. “You make it sound presidential. How could I say no?”
Her joke made us laugh and loosen up.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t,” Pops said. He was charming her easily, not even needing my input.
“On my end, my team members are excited for me at the station. They’re willing to promote me on their shifts as well.” Paisley splayed a hand to her chest. “I’m honestly so flattered by all the support, and the fact that you guys want me for this.”
Her humility was endearing. “And the price, seven thousand, is what we can all agree on? At least a three-hour appearance, a female-curated playlist, and be fun and entertaining?”
Paisley bobbed her head. “Sounds perfect.”
Pops raised his glass of sweet tea in the air to commemorate the partnership. “Here’s to a successful night.”
“Hear! Hear,” I spoke up as I clinked glasses with them both. “This is going to be a smash. I promise.”
Pops took a sip of his tea before sweeping his gaze from Paisley to me once more. His skepticism and curiosity couldn’t be missed.
Thankfully, Paisley cleared her throat and fended for herself.
“Now, I will admit your son is very handsome, Mr. Marcuson, but I’m about my brand and my money. This is and will only be a business venture. Absolutely no lines will be crossed on either side,” Paisley declared adamantly.
A phone began ringing and Pops was quick to dig his cell out of his pocket and glance at the screen.
“That’s the missus. Gotta take this.” He stood up from his seat to excuse himself.
Not without glancing from Paisley to me once again.
“Give her eight thousand. I like her.” He tossed Paisley a wink before going and answering my mother’s call.
Huh.
“I’ve given him a similar speech and he doesn’t up my pay,” I mused as I sat back in the booth.
Paisley leaned across the table some. “I have a feeling you’ve given that speech more than once and are usually full of shit.”
I stared her down. “I don’t mix business and pleasure. I love money more than sex.”
Paisley swiped up her Chardonnay. “Hear! Hear! I like good sex, but I really love a fat check.”
We clinked glasses once more, just in the nick of time as a woman walked past our table. She was alone, and the coy smile she gave me as she breezed by almost had me leaning over to watch her find her table. Almost.
“So,” Paisley said, gaining my attention. “Which one of us is inviting Nas?”
At once I faced her. “Excuse me?”
“I mean, you’re giving me five free passes. I wouldn’t want to waste one.”
“You can invite her,” I said.
Paisley angled her head. “Oh?”
“Inviting her to an event when you’re surely going to be on your best ‘Men Ain’t Shit,’ act, nah, I’ll pass on that one.”
I hadn’t spoken to Nastasia since Wednesday.
Hadn’t seen her at the gym either. Not knowing which way we were taking things was throwing me for a loop.
I wanted to be friendly, casual, but then, I didn’t want to lead her on thinking that was my intention.
But at the same time, she was nice to talk to.
“We should get this Ladies’ Night out of the way. The sooner I’m out of the bubble of y’all’s web, the better,” Paisley said.
She probably thought this was a hot mess. It was interesting to know Cesar wasn’t the only one calling bullshit on our arrangement.
In all honesty, the idea was silly. This in-between thing we were trying wouldn’t last long. We were adults. I knew what I wanted when I saw it, typically. It was only a matter of time before Nastasia was ready to just give in to her gut and seal the deal, or listen to her instinct and run.
Until then, at least things weren’t sticky or complicated. I could handle unconventional.
“Got an idea,” I said, getting back to what mattered. Business. “The night of the event, wear something from Shéc.”
“Why?” Paisley asked.
“Cross-promo. We can tell all the ladies in the building where you got your clothes. Maybe we’ll have a couple of bottle girls sporting something cute too.”
Paisley took a sip of her wine. “I like the way you think.”
To solidify this lucrative deal, I raised my glass for one more toast. “To Franklin.”
“To Grant,” Paisley agreed as she clinked her glass against mine.
To the start of what felt like a solid friendship.