Chapter 3 MAJA
MAJA
By nightfall, my energy was depleted. The Cooley and Bell family showed up to throw an elaborate welcome home party for me. I smiled, danced, and reacquainted myself with my family. From my baby brothers to my cousins, Humble, Peace, Kalm and Bragg, I celebrated with everyone.
The love that surrounded me tonight almost made me forget that these people were once strangers. I’d accomplished so many things that my mother never witnessed. Every day, I strived to do something that would’ve made her proud.
Thinking of making someone proud, I spotted Adir coming my way. He’d been watching me all evening. Between him and Cooley, I felt like I was walking on eggshells.
“You ready to make this home?” he asked while lowering his body into the chair next to me. The weather was perfect tonight, and although stars appeared in the sky, the party hadn’t wound down yet.
Smiling at Adir, I nodded. “Actually… Yes.”
“I’m proud of you, May,” he said. “Thank you for trusting me. And thank you for bringing joy to this family. Although you’re Cooley’s daughter, I look at you as one, too.”
I fought back a clog in my throat. As hard as my heart was, it was soft as hell for my family.
“I know,” I muttered. “Thank you, Adir. For everything.”
“Always, baby,” he replied before hugging me and leaving me to my thoughts.
I only had a few minutes to myself. Mama joined me, wearing a knowing smile. “I can see that you’re already overstimulated,” she said.
Chuckling, I said, “Actually… I feel okay. The adjustment of being back here won’t be so bad because I have all of you.”
Mama’s eyes softened. She reached over and gently pinched my chin. “My girl,” she mumbled. “All I ever want to do is protect you. So does Poppa. We’re going to do our best to continue to release the reigns we have on you. That goes for all of us.”
Grinning, I responded, “You’ve done well since I’ve been away.”
Her eyes balked. “Are you kidding me? Chile, I wore your Poppa out with worrying.”
We both laughed, but I knew she was serious.
“He’d never admit it, but he was worried, too. We love you,” she stated.
Taking her hand, I squeezed it. “And I love you and Poppa. If I had to do this all over again, I wouldn’t do it with anyone else.”
As much as I missed my mama, I had to feel like it was destiny for me to be in this family.
How else would I have been prepared for the life I encountered while away at college?
Without Poppa and Adir training me, I would’ve never become the killer that I was.
I had them to thank for making me one of the coldest and deadliest women to ever walk the earth.
***
“Dr. Storm, here’s your mail.”
Smiling at the young lady, my assistant, I said, “Maja, please.”
She smiled shyly. “Yes, ma’am.”
Again, I smiled. She couldn’t have been much younger than my twenty-six years. Referring to me as ma’am was pushing it, but I wouldn’t correct her. She placed the stack of mail on my desk, then quietly left my office.
Sighing, I leaned back in my chair and slowly worked the kinks out of my neck.
I was out of my element. I didn’t go anywhere without a hat on my head, and it seemed like everyone inside Dr. Bell & Associates stared at me when I entered the room wearing one of my baseball caps.
Still, no matter how tough the stares were, I refused to take my hat off.
In the middle of stretching, my door opened again. In walked Heir and Shyah. They took one look at the stack of papers on my desk and winced.
“We’re supposed to be going to lunch, sis,” Heir stated.
Chuckling, I placed my pen down and stood from my desk. “As if I didn’t have a million other things to do.”
They scoffed in unison.
“I do, too,” Shyah defended. She had one year left in her master’s degree program and had her sights set on a position with Bell Oil Enterprises.
“I work,” Heir added. “If I don’t get a break from looking at all those numbers, I’m going to go crazy,” she explained. “Who the hell told me to major in finances anyway?”
“You thought it would be easy,” I joked.
“And did,” she seconded.
Shyah and I cracked up.
“Trust me, the only reason I’m sitting behind that desk is because I need the distraction.” If I didn’t have anything productive to do, then I’d find myself itching to find something illegal to do.
“Well, don’t get so distracted that you spend more time here than with us,” Shyah said.
I had to agree with her. Now that I was home, the three of us could get back to being attached to each other’s hips just like we started ten years ago.
We left Dr. Bell & Associates and walked a couple of blocks to a new burger spot that opened a few weeks ago.
When we walked in, all eyes seemed to be on us.
In actuality, I was just a little paranoid.
Before entering the restaurant, I glanced over my shoulder to find two security guys taking a seat at one of the outside tables.
Shaking my head, I followed my girls into the restaurant.
We were seated quickly and given menus to look over. They were nicely packed, and if the smell of the grill was anything to go by, the burgers were likely good as hell.
“So, hear me out,” Heir stated as we flipped through our menus, “as extravagant as my thirtieth birthday was, I still feel like I’m missing something.”
“Like what?” I asked while zoning in on a juicy house burger. It came with everything I loved, including jalapenos.
“Sex,” she stated. Shyah’s eyes widened while I simply grinned. “I’m still a damn virgin, and honestly, this shit sucks.”
Shyah snickered, and her cheeks darkened.
“Wait.” Heir’s eyes zoned in on Shyah. “You fucked somebody?” she practically shrieked.
Shyah scoffed. “No! I don’t even have a man. I don’t have time for a man.”
“Let’s not forget you’re shy as hell, boo. Your voice is so soft I have to strain to hear you.”
Shyah giggled. “It’s not that bad.”
“So, the three of us are just ‘round here shunning dick?” Heir questioned.
Shyah burst out laughing. “Looks that way, and honestly, I feel bad for the two of you. I don’t live at Bell Estates. Antonias can be controlling and overprotective, but we all know who wears the crown for having overly controlling behavior.”
Heir and I grumbled. Adir meant well, but his leash was so fucking tight.
“Then add Cooley to the mix…” Shyah shrugged again.
Heir turned her gaze on me. “So, am I the only one desperate to get rid of my dickless life? Why haven’t you all these years, May? You’ve had more freedom than me.”
Sighing, I didn’t wish to voice what the hell I was doing when I was away from Bell Estates. Instead, I said, “I’ll hold on to my virginity forever if it means I never have to deal with a nigga.”
They gasped, and Shyah appeared dejected. “That’s harsh, May.”
This time, I shrugged. “I’m good on my virginity, love, or any of that shit.”
“Well, we agree somewhere,” Heir quipped. “I don’t want love or any of that shit either. As a matter of fact, I have the perfect person in mind to lose my virginity to.”
Shyah and I peered at her with our eyebrows raised. “Who?” we asked, simultaneously.
Heir smirked. “Kody McAroy.”
Silence met her declaration. Kody McAroy was not who Shyah and I expected Heir to mention.
“Excuse me?” I asked. Kody’s reputation rivaled any serial killer sitting on death row. His reputation rivals your secret life, ho. Clearing my throat, I added, “Are you serious?”
“I am. Girl, have you seen that man? He’s been showing up in my dreams, so I’m taking that as a sign.
Once I get this out my system, I can go back to not giving a fuck about these niggas.
Kody is mean as fuck, lacks any morals, and doesn’t have the ability to take any woman serious.
He’s the perfect candidate.” She slapped hands with me. Shyah looked at us like we were crazy.
“How the hell are you supposed to pull this off?” I questioned.
“With your help,” Heir shot back. “Poppa and Adir trust you the most. I say we go to Black Dream—”
I was already shaking my head. That place was full of people Adir didn’t fuck with.
“Yes,” Heir emphasized. “We go there, so that I can grab Kody’s attention. I can take it from there.”
Chuckling, Shyah said, “Now that’s about as crazy as you’ve ever been, Heir. Lose your virginity. But to Kody?”
“Exactly,” I murmured. “And, yes, they trust me. Doesn’t mean they’ll let us just waltz into a club full of the opps. Kody’s club no less.”
Heir sighed heavily. “Come on, Maja. You’re the queen of getting them to bow to your requests. Hell, they let you go to college without security. Surely, they’ll let you slide this one time. Plus, Majesty is performing this weekend. It’ll be the perfect time to have an excuse to go there.”
Shyah’s big eyes trained on me. Seeing that she agreed with Heir, I scoffed.
“What?” Shyah chuckled. “I’m with Heir when she’s right. Too bad I won’t be able to join you two. Summer classes have started, and I’m working on my presentation for Bell Oil Enterprises. I need that internship.”
“Mind you,” Heir started, “your family is literally the bosses at Bell Oil Enterprises. Mind you, the presentation isn’t due until late fall. Mind you…”
“Okay, okay!” Shyah burst out laughing. “Yes, I have connections, but I want to compete like everyone else.”
Heir waved her off. “So, it’s just me and you, Maja.”
The bright smile on Shyah’s face caused me to turn my nose up. “Alright, Heir. We’re both grown. We don’t need to ask Poppa or Adir to do anything.”
“Right,” Heir seconded.
“However… I respect them too much not to let them know our plans. I want you to get your man—”
“My one-night stand,” Heir corrected.
“—And I really need a good drink anyway. Plus, I like Majesty’s music,” I finished.
“Great!” Heir clapped in celebration. “So, when are you going to talk to them?”
“We are going to tell them tonight,” I told her.
Heir made a pouty face, then shook her head. “I can be a mean bitch with everyone except Poppa and Adir. It’s time for me to put my big girl panties on, especially if I plan to snag Kody.”
Heir saying Kody’s name again caused me to chuckle a little. She was going after a serial killer tycoon. The darkness inside me couldn’t help but to be happy for her.
A few nights later, Heir and I strutted inside Black Dream, commanding the attention of any and everyone near.
I almost ducked my head against the onslaught of attention.
Then I thought better of it. Confidently, I squared my shoulders and held onto Heir’s hand as we strut our way through the thick crowd.
The beat for Pretty Diamonds by Jeezy dropped, ushering me into a new world where I didn’t have to look over my shoulders every five minutes. I was here to have a good time, not stalk a mark. It was time I get used to it.