Boss Bitch (Bitch Series) (11 page)

“Do you think it’ll ever get better?”

“That depends on how long you plan on being with Lorenzo.” When Genesis said that the elevator doors had just opened but I didn’t move to get on and neither did he. We both seemed to be waiting. I think he was waiting to hear my response and I was waiting for him to clarify his statement.

“What are you trying to say, Genesis?”

“Is this thing with Lorenzo serious? Because if it isn’t, the two of you are causing a lot of unnecessary problems and maybe you should both consider ending it before it gets worse.”

“I’ll keep your advice in mind.” This time when the elevator doors opened we got on and we both remained mute the entire ride down. I wondered if Genesis caught the sarcasm in my voice or did it go right over his head. I had a great deal of respect for Genesis but sometimes his attitude reminded me of my favorite soap opera character Victor Newman. Genesis seemed to be diplomatic but his arrogance and need to throw around his authority always had a way of showing its ugly face. But because of his intelligence, charm and undeniable good looks he got away with it. My relationship with Lorenzo did create a sticky situation but at the end of the day it was none of his business whether we stayed together for three months or thirty years. Of course in the mind of the great Genesis his opinion was the only one that mattered. Unfortunately for him,

I didn’t see it that way. I always walked to my own beat and that wasn’t about to change to pacify Genesis Taylor.

WITHIN A FEW SHORTS WEEKS my new gig was paying off in dividends. I was a natural for this

shit. Peaches and I both had our role and we played them well. She was the one that would deal with the brothers and arrange product and the quantity and I was the one that would hit up the blocks and check on the dudes that worked the streets for us to make sure they were on their job. Peaches had no interest in dealing with them but I loved it. In the beginning when I pulled up on them in an all black SUV with jet dark tint and rolled down the back window they were shocked as shit that a bitch was in the ride. At first a couple of them tried me but when they saw I kept an enforcer with me at all times they realized this wasn’t a game. Plus I kept them supplied up so soon they all adored me, they was waiting and looked forward to seeing the all black SUV stroll down their block. Watching and maintaining the streets freed up time for Peaches to build new relationships and keep the ones she already had intact. It became clear that just like any other business, who you know and who know you back is essential to building a lucrative drug empire.

“Clavon, this was our last stop, let’s head back to my place. We can hit Newark tomorrow,” I informed my driver, letting him know I was ready to get out of Camden. Right when I was about to lean back and get comfortable for the lengthy ride to Teaneck I saw that Peaches was calling. “Hey, what’s going on?’

“I’m stuck in Philly. I need you to take the meeting with the brothers.”

“When is it?

“Like an hour.”

“Why you just calling me now?”

“I lost track of time and didn’t realize until the last minute I wasn’t going to make it back in time.”

“Yo, I been on the road all day. I’m not in the mood nor am I prepared for this meeting.”

“Aaliyah, all you have to do is go and listen. Come on, that’s why we are partners so we can come through for each other. You have to go, this is too important.”

“A’ight. I’m on my way now.”

“Cool. The business I’m handling here is going to take longer than I thought so I’ll be home tomorrow.”

“See you then.” When I hung up with Peaches

I wanted to call her all sorts of names but one thing I learned from my grandfather was that you never let people that work for you see any sort of division within your team. A lot of times if your workers sense discord they may try to step in and divide. So instead I cursed Peaches out in my head. “Clavon, change of plans, we’re going to meet the brothers.”

From the short time partnering up with Peaches I understood exactly why she wanted a partner. Honestly it wasn’t a want it was a necessity for her. Peaches was successful at what she did because she was a people person. She knew how to kiss ass to the right people and enjoyed doing so but the chick was flighty as fuck. It seemed every other day she needed me to step in and handle something for her that she forgot to follow up on. But she fell off extra bad this time because one thing she never missed was her meeting with the brothers. They were our most important connect and for her to turn over this meeting to me at the last minute meant she was really slipping. I had never even attended a business meeting with them before. As a matter of fact the first and only time I had been in their presence was at the party at their house. There was no need because Peaches dealt with them and I spent the majority of my time on the road. Luckily, I always paid attention to every word Peaches said in regards to their dealings even when she thought I wasn’t listening. If I hadn’t I would’ve been ill prepared for our meeting.

When we arrived at their estate Clavon pulled into a secret garage entrance. He knew that was the norm when business meetings were taking place, that way if anybody was watching they couldn’t see who was coming in or out. When I got to the door a security guard greeted me and I didn’t know what to expect. I assumed he was going to lead me inside the house but instead he took me down some stairs that led to a room underground. The room was like a massive studio apartment. The place consisted of nothing but stainless steel, marble and granite. There was even a full sized kitchen. In the middle of the room was a gigantic marble table and several chairs.

“They’ll be down in a minute,” the security guard informed me. “You can have a seat and of course help yourself to anything you like,” he said nodding towards the food and beverages on the kitchen counter. I decided to just pour myself a glass of water and be done with it. While I waited for the brothers to show their faces I thought about Nico and Genesis. I wondered if they had a room like this. If they did I had never seen it but I guess that was the point, to make sure it was a kept secret.

“Where’s Peaches?” I heard somebody say, snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked in the direction the voice came from and saw Emory and Dale coming closer. I wasn’t sure which one of them asked the question but I guess it didn’t matter because I’m sure both wanted to know.

“She got caught up with an important business meeting in Philly and wasn’t able to make it back in time.”

“What could be more important than us?”

“Nothing is more important. You all are by far our top priority. Unexpected time restraints caused a problem but that’s why she has a partner for when these sort of dilemmas present themselves.”

“Are you prepared for this meeting?” Dale, the younger brother asked, although there was only a couple of years difference in their ages.

“Of course,” I somewhat lied, but they didn’t need to know that. In the back of my mind I was hoping that the brothers had set up whatever business Peaches was taking care of in Philly so they would understand her absence but to my dismay it wasn’t.

“Then let’s get started,” Emory said, sitting down first. “As you know if all goes according to plan we’ll be taking over a large section of Queens.” I nodded my head yes although that was something Peaches had yet to mention to me.

“Peaches was supposed to discuss with us at this meeting how she planned on moving a new team into that area and who it would consist of.” I sat there with a poker face for a second figuring out what the fuck I was about to say. All the listening in the world hadn’t prepared me for this question because I hadn’t heard nothing about any of it.

“We have a crew in Newark that isn’t being utilized to the fullest capacity simply because they have too many members for the amount of business they are getting in that area. The traffic has slowed down by over fifty percent, due to no fault of their own. It’s an election year and the area is being heavily patrolled. We have more than enough guys acting as watch out. We can move the extra bodies over to Queens and it won’t affect the business in any of our other areas. I would suggest we start moving a couple men at a time that way it won’t create any suspicion. By the time other organizations become aware of what’s going on the takeover will already be in effect.”

I waited for the brothers to respond but they both stared at me without saying a word. Then they glanced at each other as if reading each other’s thoughts. I swallowed hard hoping my nervousness wasn’t showing. I wanted to squirm in my seat but knew this was a sink or swim situation. The more nervous I got the more pissed I got at Peaches. I felt she had thrown me into the water with sharks without any sort of protection. Choosing to remain calm, I slowly lifted my glass of water and took a sip.

“I guess you weren’t lying when you said you were prepared,” Emory finally stated.

“That idea works and it works very well,” Dale added.

“I know it will,” I said confidently, not letting on I was relieved that they were onboard with my idea. When I came up with the suggestion I didn’t exactly pull it out of my ass so I wasn’t completely surprised they cosigned on it but the brothers were hard to read so it could’ve gone either way. What did work in my favor was that I was meticulous at what I did and took my position seriously. Most people would’ve checked those blocks once a week or every other week but I monitored them on a daily basis or every other day. For that reason I knew every face on each team and where we had the flexibility to move them around.

“I believe we’ll be ready to start transferring a couple men over at a time in the next couple weeks. So I need for you to start thinking about which men you think should go.”

“I think we should start off with our two best men. Reason being is because we’re entering new territory and we need our most skilled players. Most of the team members have been working the Newark area for at least two years so they know what to do and how the operation is ran. Our captain will know which lieutenant he wants to bring with him and who is the most proficient to take over their positions.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Dale smiled. “You need to start attending these meetings more often. I had no idea you were so astute.” I felt myself about to blush by what Dale said. To have the brothers respect my business savvy was the stamp of approval I needed to boost my confidence.

“That would be nice but the streets need me. I wouldn’t be able to come up with these ideas if I didn’t keep my eyes and ears to the streets.”

“That’s understandable but at the same time a great mind has to be utilized to its full capability. You have all the traits necessary to become a boss in this business and I want to guide you through it.”

Emory and I both stared at Dale. I was stunned by what he said and from the expression on Emory’s face he seemed to be too. “I think we’ve covered all the basis that we need to tonight,” Emory stood up abruptly and said.

“There are a couple other things we haven’t addressed yet,” Dale interjected as if confused by his brother’s statement.

“They can wait.” Hostility in Emory’s voice was evident but instead of backing down Dale continued to push.

“We don’t need to wait. Aaliyah is here and we should complete our meeting as planned.” The brothers eyed each other like they were preparing for battle.

“I think Emory’s right, we can continue this at another time.” I was trying to put a halt to what had quickly turned into a hostile atmosphere and I didn’t know why.

“That’s fine but, Aaliyah I’ll be calling you tomorrow. There are some things I want to discuss with you. Will you be available to meet with me say tomorrow around seven pm?”

“Of course, I work for you,” I smiled and Dale smiled back. Are we flirting with each other? I think we are and I like it I thought to myself.

“Then tomorrow it is.”

“Thank you both for your time and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Hold up, I’ll have security show you out.”

“Thanks but I remember the way out. Both of you have a good night.” When I left out I stood by the door so I could hear what they were saying after they thought I was gone.

“What the hell was that about?”

“Excuse me?”

“Stop the bullshit, Dale. You were coming on to her.”

“No I wasn’t.”

“I know you. And you’ve taken a personal interest in her.”

“What if I have? She’s part of the family.”We don’t mix business and pleasure. Aaliyah works for us, she’s off limits.”

“When did that rule become in affect, unless you’re trying to apply it because you’ve taken your own interest in her. The same way you know me, I know you too. The only difference between us Emory is that when I see something I want I have no problem admitting it and doing whatever necessary to get it. You on the other hand have a tendency to over think certain things. Most of the time it works in your favor but sometimes it doesn’t.”

Before I could hear Emory’s response I heard someone coming and I couldn’t get caught snooping so I jetted. But my mind was racing at what I had heard. I found Emory and Dale attractive; to think both could be interested in me was a powerful feeling. But I wasn’t going to get ahead of myself. They were educated professional drug dealers on the highest level. They were masters at the game of manipulation and no matter which way I preceded I had to always keep that in mind.

When clavon pulled into the driveway of the townhouse I was anxious to get inside, take a hot shower and go to bed. I had been up since six in the morning and I had another early day tomorrow. My enforcer Tony, walked me to the door as he always did, I was so tired I was tempted to tell him to carry me.

“I’ll see you guys here tomorrow about eight,” I told Tony when we were halfway to the door. But without warning the next thing I knew he had pulled out two guns and was pointing them at a tall figure that had popped out of nowhere. Right when Tony was about to pull the trigger the figure stepped out of the shadow and into the light. “Don’t shoot,” I called out. “I know him.”