Chapter 13
DJ Aux was on stage playing a song by Cardi B. As Cardi rapped about broke men not deserving any, the ladies in the building were feeling the vibe.
After a week of planning and promoting on all fronts, Paisley’s Ladies’ Night was here, and it was a smooth success. The ratio of women to men was easily sixty to forty, and I wasn’t complaining.
Every woman in Atlanta had come out tonight, from reality TV faces, up-and-coming singers and rappers, models, influencers, and more, and they all were wearing their best.
Two of BLVCKJVCK’s own, Jonelle and Erin, were wearing clothing from Shéc. Paisley herself was wearing a skintight taupe dress with a corset top. I had to hand it to her and Nas, they sold some pretty impressive gear. I knew their clientele was about to increase after this.
Not to mention, Paisley’s popularity.
Cardi’s song finished and Paisley was at the mic on the stage.
It may have been her first time hosting, but she was killing it.
She and DJ Aux had gotten together and curated a stellar female-studded playlist from what I’d heard so far.
To my surprise, there were a few records about loving a man mixed in, taking some heat off fellas’ necks.
“Y’all havin’ a good night, ladies?” Paisley asked the crowd.
Women all around me screamed and shouted to show their love for tonight’s theme.
We should’ve done this sooner.
“I really like that record,” Paisley said. “Women need to be reminded who the prize really is. I’m here to tell you, it ain’t these men.”
“I know that’s right!” some women agreed, causing me to shake my head.
I was in the Diamond Suite, watching from the balcony and soaking it all in.
Pops had come out to gift Paisley with the best champagne we carried and take pictures with her, and then he was quickly out the door to chill with my mother.
Pops created a chain of nightclubs and married a homebody who didn’t like that atmosphere.
It was odd, but it worked for them. Her not being out at the club made him want to be home instead.
“We, as women, deserve the moon and back, and sometimes we forget that, getting trapped by an ain’t shit man.
” Paisley paused, allowing the crowd of women applauding her to get their claps in before continuing.
“We gotta vet better, ladies. The first red flag is a man ‘fighting with his demons,’ or the type that aren’t ‘emotionally available.’ One—and hear me good because a lot of you need to hear this shit, you are not a certified therapist. No man should be dating his therapist no way, so don’t get caught up trying to heal him.
“Two, it is not a woman’s job to nurture and take care of a man who can’t express himself verbally. Or finish raising one because his parents fucked up. If he can’t cry in front of you, sympathize, or relate, uh-uh, he gotta go. There’s nothing worse than a child in a grown man’s body.”
“Amen!” some women down below shouted.
“I feel like men only take you seriously when you place value on who you are. Call me Ashanti, because I’m not always going to be there when you call and need me.
Until I can trust you, I’m expensive. But don’t just make it about the money, because some men use that to control you and be abusive.
‘Oh I bought you a Dior bag, so I can go out and do me.’ Uh-uh. ”
I clapped along with the crowd, admiring Paisley more and more.
“Ladies, don’t do more for a man than he can do for himself.
They want us to cook, clean, fold their laundry, and fuck like porn stars, but when you catch a goddamn common cold, they won’t even get you a cup of chicken noodle soup!
” Paisley exclaimed, eliciting a round of women booing in response.
“None of that! I need a mutual exchange from my man, or really more, because I give a lot when you’re worth it.
You treat me immaculately and I can be your peace and I can make you skip. ”
This revived the men in the room to hoot and holler as Paisley did a sexy little dance move to emphasize her point.
Paisley pointed at the crowd, smirking. “Y’all men better agree. If you got a lady on your arm tonight you better be treatin’ her like the queen she is. Period.”
Men in the Club Suite held their women close and swore they were doing just that.
Up in the Diamond Suite, Cesar was kicking back with Leslie. I’d given him the night off, so that they could come and experience Ladies’ Night. He’d done his job in promoting up a storm alongside Paisley.
“We gotta speak up more, ladies. We gotta stand up for ourselves, emotionally and physically, that’s all I’m sayin’,” Paisley said as she began pacing the stage.
“If he ain’t doin’ right, let that negro know!
If you doin’ a hundred and he only doin’ seventy-two, let him know! If he ain’t puttin’ it down…?”
“Let him know!”
“Is coddling his ego worth your inner peace?” Paisley pondered.
Every female voice in the building screamed in unison, “Hell no!”
“All right then. And one more thing before we play this next record. Don’t settle.
Never settle. One thing them commitment-phobes be trying is that ‘no titles’ bullshit.
Ain’t no way you gettin’ away with that around these parts.
You don’t get the full package of Paisley P without a title, and that’s the standard,” Paisley said.
She soon held up her ring finger on her left hand.
“Don’t call me wifey if I’m not your wife.
I’m not doin’ wifey shit without that in writing. I need a ring for that.”
Women agreed and Paisley stood back as DJ Aux put on what could only follow up that remark.
“Single Ladies” by Beyoncé blared throughout BLVCKJVCK and women got to dancing.
I came from the railing and found Cesar cuddled up with Leslie at a sectional in the corner.
This was my first time seeing Leslie since they’d linked back up and became official.
Not only was Cesar glowing, Leslie was radiant as well.
She kept it elegant, a dressy blouse and a short tan skirt, exposing a set of nicely toned brown legs.
“P is killin’ it,” Cesar said as he greeted me with a slap to my palm.
I leaned over and gave Leslie a hug and a kiss to her cheek before settling down across from Cease. “Energy got the club feelin’ good, too.”
I watched as Cesar tugged Leslie close into his side and gesture to her with his head. “So, you know Leslie.”
She grinned and leaned into him as if it were natural. “We met once before, I think.”
“Yeah, a minute ago,” I said. “It’s good to see you.”
“C talks about you a lot, and your dad, so this feels like an honor,” Leslie confessed.
Cesar didn’t come from the type of home and background that I did. Another reason he was so loyal to Pops. I loved him like a brother we were so close. He practically lived at my house when we were kids. To hear that he spoke about me and my father made my heart warm as I tipped my head his way.
“Nah, don’t be honored,” I said with an easy smile. “It’s a pleasure to see you though. Cease ain’t never looked this happy before.”
She cupped Cesar’s jaw and gazed over at him. “I feel the same way.”
That was all I needed to know the nail was in the coffin as far as a wingman went.
Leslie came back to me. “We gotta get together at my place sometime and just chill. Have some good food and drinks. You can bring your girl.”
“Don’t have one,” I responded. “But I am down for food and drinks.”
Leslie pouted for me. “That’s a shame.” She wagged her finger at me. “You better be listening to what Paisley is saying. She preaching some real shit tonight. When it’s time, I just hope you’re giving a woman what she’s worth.”
After watching Pops dote on my mother, I knew what to do and how I’d do it. It was just all about the right time and the right person.
Cesar’s words crept up on me and I couldn’t shake them. Until I felt my rhythm and blues, then I wasn’t in a rush to settle down.
Until then, I was gonna have my fun and play.
“Reciprocity and all that, huh?” I quipped.
Leslie merely shook her head. “Laugh now, but the love bug is gonna bite you one of these days.”
“He’d have to have a heart first,” one of our bottle girls, Cristal, teased as she walked by.
I clutched my chest, feigning offense. “Ouch!”
Cesar and Leslie were laughing at my expense. He squeezed her closer and she really was blooming with love for him. Even if she’d invited me out to her spot for food, I wasn’t about to stick around and be a third-wheel.
“I gotta talk business with Paisley,” I said as I stood to my feet. “It’s great seein’ you, Leslie. We definitely gotta link up for the food and drinks. Cease said you a good cook, even better than him.”
“For sure. I’ll get with C and set up a night. You can come alone or bring a friend, it’s whatever,” Leslie offered.
“Where Nas at?” Cesar asked me.
I glanced over my shoulder, down at the Club Suite, knowing she wasn’t down there.
“They shop been busy and she wasn’t in the mood,” I said.
We were supposed to get Pad Thai and finally feel things out, but life hit us like a motherfucker.
After our lunch at Dellucci’s, shit got busy.
Nastasia mentioned being in the local paper for Shéc and that bringing in a lot of new customers.
I had to get on it about Ladies’ Night since we all wanted it sooner than later before summer ended.
Outside of a few texts here and talking on the phone one night, I hadn’t seen Nas in over a week.
I wished she had come out tonight. It would’ve been nice to sneak up to the Spade Suite for a few.
Cesar let it go as he tossed me an apologetic frown. “Next time, then. Before I forget, Tip said he’d stop through this weekend.”
I pumped my fist. Yes. Any of Atlanta’s A-list stopping through would only bring out more bodies to be seen and heard. BLVCKJVCK was about to have another winning numbers weekend.
I pounded my fist against Cesar’s before shaking hands with Leslie and excusing myself from the room.
Down on the main floor Paisley was taking the mic again as a Saweetie song went off.
“Enough of that tough stuff, let’s get real for a moment,” Paisley said. “I’m strong as shit, but sometimes I get lonely. Feel me? Sometimes I just wanna be held and loved on. And if you feel the same, this next one for you.”
Summer Walker’s “Girls Need Love” came on through the speakers, seizing all the ladies’ hearts in the room.
That one may get some fellas laid tonight.
As Paisley began rocking side to side, I went on stage and got close.
“Let’s talk right quick,” I said into her ear.
Paisley reeled back, but once she recognized me, she nodded and went and said something to DJ Aux before coming over to me. I took her hand and led her through the crowd, stopping every once in a while to allow one of her supporters to rightfully gas her up.
When the path was clear, I took her up to the office where it was nice and quiet and out of the way.
I took the chair behind the desk as Paisley hung back, amazed as she observed our wall of monitors surveying the entire club.
Vibration in my pocket caused me to pull my phone out. My mood took a dive once I caught Tee texting me.
Tee Money
Heard you were throwing a night for the ladies. Creative. Hit me up when you’re free. Let’s work!
I really had fucked up by getting into contact with him. Just the idea of helping him build something to potentially put my father out of business made me sick.
Shit.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket, needing to face that situation head on, but not at the moment.
“You tryna smoke up?” I offered Paisley as I unlocked the bottom drawer on the right and found some of Remy’s weed.
“Yes, please,” Paisley accepted.
I rolled us an L as I slid her a white envelope I’d taken from my back pocket. “A bonus.”
Paisley took the envelope and leafed through the bills, an eyebrow raising. “For…?”
“Making tonight a success,” I told her. “Shit is packed out there. Folks outside still waitin’ to get in to see you.”
I lit up and took a pull before holding it out for Paisley. “Remy got that for me.”
“Oh, I heard his weed the best.” Paisley took a quick drag before passing it back. I watched as her face pinched up as she blew out a stream of smoke. “Shit.”
“Uh-huh,” I agreed. “This that Dymond strain.”
Paisley cracked up. “Hell yeah.”
I leaned back in my seat to get comfortable and down to business as I sized her up. “So, you know we gotta do this again, right?”
“Word?” Paisley asked.
“You think I was just gon’ let you slide through the building, talk yo’ shit and I wasn’t gon’ rebuttal?” I shook my head at her naivety. “Next month, or September, Battle of the Sexes. We’ll do it up like a Verzuz battle. You can come through again and we’ll have a male co-host.”
“Who?”
I shrugged, trying and failing to come up with someone. “Could have Cease, but he in love now, so he’d probably go too easy. If push comes to shove, I’ll do it.”
“Think you can take me after tonight?” Paisley challenged as she leaned over and snatched the joint back.
All it would take was calling up a few rappers or singers I had connections with to make my end of the night lit. “I got a few tricks up my sleeves.”
“Silly, wabbit, tricks are for kids,” Paisley joked. She sat on the edge of the desk and passed back the joint. “I’m down, though.”
“Ten thousand,” I proposed.
Paisley paused. “I’m cool with eight.”
I shook my head. “But you’re worth ten. Never settle for change when you’re worth a whole bill.”
Paisley slowly grinned. “Thank you, Eazy.”
I was sure Pops would pause at the idea, but after he saw tonight’s numbers, I knew for a fact he’d agree in the end. We didn’t really do things like this, but it was a smash, so I knew a Battle of the Sexes Night would make bank.
Paisley suddenly got a pained look on her face. “I don’t want to like you for Nas.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s my girl and I’d hate to have to burn this club down if you fuck with her.”
I whistled as I held the joint out for her turn. “You’re a beautiful woman. I’d hate to have to see you in jail for arson.”
Paisley fixed me with a solid, cold look. “That’s if you make it out of the fire.”
Fair point.
“It’s undefined, but Nas the homie. It ain’t goin’ bad like that,” I swore. “Shit, I wish she was here tonight.”
“We been busy, and after tonight, it’ll probably get busier,” Paisley said limply. “But I mean it, if you not for real, just leave her alone. She a big girl, but I’m not above letting you know now.”
I really should’ve walked away just then and washed my hands of it, but then the image of Nastasia’s face scrunching up in pleasure when I’d had her hands behind her back at Dellucci’s came to mind, and the way she smiled at me all the way to her house after our picnic, and for some reason, I didn’t want to just leave it.