5. Falcon
A Celebration Later . . .
The deal with Queen Luxury Property Management was the quickest deal that I’d ever signed.
It was a great addition to my client portfolio.
They tried to connect with my company before, but at the time, they only had a few properties.
At the time, I wasn’t interested, and the timing wasn’t right.
It was safe to say that now I was very interested and the time was perfect.
Like I told Seth, Cory, and Shannon, the addition of their properties would provide opportunities for advancement and new hires within my company. My executive team was excited about that. My sister, Dove, loved the addition of the client from a marketing standpoint.
After the contract was signed, she presented her own marketing proposal that highlighted them as a client that supported the St. Claire Workforce Initiative Program.
Their connection to our program was a representation of their understanding that there was a gap within our employment industry.
They loved the marketing proposal that my sister sent so much that they came up with a rental deal for the employees of my company.
If they signed a one-year lease, they received a month free, an eighteen-month lease, they received two months free, or a two-year lease, they received three months free.
“Aye! Aye! Get it, Lula!” Dove egged Lula Ann on as she danced in our section.
We collectively decided that we would take the celebration back to Club Obsession.
This time we made it a celebration for the whole company.
If you wanted to attend with us and be included in the section, an RSVP was required, and they were allowed a plus one.
The entire celebration was paid for by St. Claire Property Solutions down to the club entry, food, and drinks.
The club had different section sizes from extra-large or their version of a Boss Suite to just tables.
The extra-large section wasn’t enclosed with a bedroom and all that jazz like the official Boss Suites at Club Lit, but it was nice as fuck as well as on a different floor from the main club.
Their extra-large sections could accommodate up to fifty people.
The large sections accommodated up to twenty-five people.
They had a cozy section that could fit about fifteen people.
Last, they had their lovers’ section, which accommodated two couples or four people.
That was the section that Kee, Lula, Rome, and I were in the last time that we came here.
Based on the RSVPs, Dove felt it best that we purchased two extra-large suites.
I didn’t think that would be enough until she told me that she capped the number of RSVPs.
The extra-large suites included a liquor allowance of a thousand dollars or five bottles and a food allowance of three hundred dollars.
You could order the food there or send in an order for a buffet table.
We chose to do the latter and the five bottles.
Section had its own bar, so when the bottles ran out, you didn’t have to go far for a drink on your own dime.
Our sections were full, but I wouldn’t say that they were packed.
It was a Saturday, so the club itself was packed.
This club was number two in the city behind Club Lit.
It was crazy how long these establishments had been open.
Club Lit was literally older than me. I guessed when you were owned by Khiaere Washington and Trell Smith, as well as their children, there was no reason to not be successful.
I invested with Washington-Smith Brokerage Firm when I made my first one hundred thousand dollars.
“Your sister is about to get Lula hemmed up in a damn corner if she doesn’t stop popping her ass like she’s single.” Rome plopped down in the seat next to me. His eyes were glued on his woman. “These niggas looking at her like they got a damn chance. She’s just out here giving false hope.”
I shook my head. “Shit, her two amigos there with her. Last I checked, only one of them were single.”
Kee had her ass out there, too, showing it. Lula and Dove had some drinks in them, but Kee was as sober as a nun. I loved that she didn’t need alcohol to be fun. I think over the years she learned how to, when she decided to stop drinking because of her condition.
Lula and Kee walked over to where we sat after the DJ changed the song.
I buried my face in Kee’s neck after she sat on my lap, to take in the aroma of her fragrance.
She wore dusting powders under her fragrances, and it was like the powder enhanced the smell of them.
The first time that I saw her put the powder on, I looked at her sideways.
Not because she did something wrong, but because it was something that I didn’t think younger women did anymore.
The first time that I ever saw dusting powder was when I was a kid at my grandma’s house.
The last time I saw it before Kee was at my mother’s house when I was much younger.
She giggled then shifted in my lap. Our lips met after I moved my face from one of its favorite places. Her pussy was another place my face loved to be. “Are you having fun?”
My arms wrapped around her tightly. “Yeah, I’m chillin’. Are you having fun?”
“Of course. I still can’t wait to get back to the house, though,” she said. When Kee wasn’t dealing with her insomnia, she wasn’t a night owl. It was after midnight, and we’d been here since a little before ten.
I kissed her chin. “We can leave whenever you’re ready to go.”
Before I could say anything else, someone stood in front of us. It was one of my employees. “What’s up, Lloyd?”
“What’s up, Falcon. You got a minute?” he asked.
Before I responded, I asked my baby if she was ready to go. With pouty lips, she told me that she was. My chuckle was automatic because she was such a spoiled baby. I loved that shit, though. “Yeah, we’re about to head out. We can talk while I wait for my car.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah, me and my girl were about to head out too. Let me get her, tell my boys bye, and I’ll meet y’all out there.” Lloyd walked off after I told him that was cool.
Rome, Lula, and Dove decided to leave with us.
I anticipated that because we were very much a we came together, we leave together kind of group.
I made sure to close all my tabs and let the sections’ host know that I was leaving.
Everyone could stay in the section until the club closed, but they wouldn’t run up a bill on me.
There was a line at the valet, so there was more than enough time to chat. Lloyd came out with his girl, who seemed to have a little attitude. It didn’t look like she was ready to leave.
“Lloyd, this is my woman, Mazikeen. Baby, this is Lloyd,” I introduced. Every now and then, I showcased the manners that my mother taught me.
He gave a small smile. “What’s up? This is my girl, Kassy.”
“It’s nice to meet you two. Kassy, you want to step over here so the men can talk?” Kee asked nicely.
Kassy glared at her for a second before she linked her arm with Lloyd’s arm. Her head shook. “I rather not. I’m fine right here with my man.”
Kee’s and my head bucked back at her unwarranted attitude. With an angled head, I focused on Lloyd. My eyes silently asked what was up with her. “Oh, okay, Miss. Lloyd, what’s up?”
He shifted on his feet. “Um, yeah, so I heard that a lot of promotions came down the pipeline because of the additions of the new properties. I noticed that I wasn’t on the list for a promotion. I wanted to ask why?”
I stared at him to see if he was serious or whether this was a joke. My baby mumbled oh, chile under her breath. There was no way that he thought this was a good idea.
Lloyd was one of my team leads. He started as a valet-trash attendant over four years ago and was promoted to a team lead a little over a year ago.
Lloyd’s promotion to team lead was out of necessity, not necessarily because he earnestly deserved it.
I told him as such, so the fact that he stood here like he deserved another promotion was beyond me.
I was an extremely honest boss and so was his supervisor, James.
There was conversation to demote him in recent months.
“Lloyd, this conversation is highly inappropriate to have here. We can have this conversation next week sometime. Call my assistant and get on the calendar. I will make sure that she gets you in next week,” I told him.
My arm wrapped around my baby’s waist so that we could walk away. Our car pulled up in the nick of time. Before we could turn to greet the valet, Kassy voiced her unsolicited opinion.
“Well, I think now is the perfect time for the conversation. My man has worked hard for you, and he deserves a raise and a promotion. It’s giving crab in a barrel.”
I took a deep breath because what the fuck was happening right now. This was supposed to be a celebration. I didn’t come here to have professional conversations. I was ready to go home and fuck my woman.
“Kassy, what is it that you do for a living?” Kee asked. “Are you an employee of St. Claire Property Solutions? I’m trying to understand why you are involved in this conversation.”
My head slowly turned to Kee. This would be the first time that I experienced her in conflict. Well, it was the first time that she would experience me as well.
Kassy sucked her teeth, unlinked her arm from Lloyd, then put her hands on her hip. She was a pretty girl that looked like your typical Instagram baddie. I bet my bottom dollar that she was a social media influencer or some shit like that.
“If you must know, I am a popular influencer that sells hair and makeup. You’re talking about me in the conversation, but I see you have entered the chat,” she quipped. Let me give someone my bottom dollar.