She Fell For A Boss: An Urban Love Tale (4 page)

“You know my name, but you don't know me.” Again, she tried to step around Miego and this time, he let her. She started walking away, even though she didn't want to, but Miego's voice from behind her made her smile.

“I’ll find you, don't worry. This is not my usual shit, but for you, I’ll put the time in. I can tell you’re worth the chase. See you soon, baby girl.”

Yami kept walking, smiling the entire time. She didn't look back or acknowledge what he said, but she hoped he meant it.

After she made it down the block to her destination, she pushed through the broken metal door, not bothering to press the buzzer to her sister’s apartment because it was broken. One she reached the elevator, she adjusted her daughter on her hip and waited for it to reach the first floor. She smiled to herself as thoughts of Miego flowed through her mind. There was something about him that had her intrigued. It wasn't often that a guy had her attention the way that Miego did, especially after being burned by Black. He had put her through, and was still putting her through, so much that she had basically written off men and relationships altogether. At this point, her daughter was her first priority, and next in line was graduating.

Once she reached her sister’s door, she knocked and waited. Her eyes roamed the dirty hallway that smelled like a mixture of piss and trash. She hated coming there and knew that she wanted more than this for herself.

Her sister was blessed enough to be living on her own, but unfortunately, she wasn't quite established enough to move out of the hood. Mostly because she spent the majority of her money at the mall instead of saving it so that she could eventually move somewhere better.

“Hey, mama.” Yaz stepped toward her sister and pulled her niece into her arms, kissing her all over the face before she allowed her sister to enter her apartment.

Like Yami, she was short, barely hitting five feet, but a few inches taller than her sister, who was only 4’11”.”

“Where you coming from?” Yaz asked after the two were inside with the door locked.

“Mommy’s house.” Yami kicked off her Nikes and plopped down on her sister’s sofa, pulling her legs up and tucking them beneath her.

She watched as her daughter got comfortable on her sister’s lap. Rayah could easily be mistaken for Yaz’s daughter, and often was, due to their shared caramel complexion, oval faces, and jet black hair. Rayah looked like her father. There was no denying that, which was hard for Yami because as much as she loved Black, she hated him equally. The only thing good that had come from their union was their daughter.

“Black just left here looking for you.” Yaz glanced at her sister before focusing on her niece again.

“What did he say?”

“Not much, said he’d be back later, but that you needed to call him.”

Yami shrugged before picking up the remote. Her focus was on the television, but she could feel her sister’s eyes on her.

“Call him, Yami. You know how he is, and the last thing you need is for him to be flipping out.”

Yami rolled her eyes at her sister but didn't say anything. She knew that Yaz was right, but she didn't want to talk about it. Black had made a point of making Yami’s life complicated, to say the least. He was well known in their neighborhood, and pretty much ran things. Nobody fucked with him, which meant that not body messed with her. That wasn't necessarily a good thing for Yami because Black liked to put his hands on her, and since everybody was afraid of him, they all turned their backs when he did it.

The part that Yami hated the most was that Black really wasn’t all that tough with anyone except her. His reputation is what kept people in line with him. His money was long, and he had handled some people, but the rumors by far outweighed reality. The fact that he paid 5-0 for protection and favors was really what made him so untouchable. People around their neighborhood were afraid to try him, so no one ever questioned what he would or wouldn't do. The streets were funny like that sometimes, all it took was a reputation to make you somebody.

“Yami, I know you hear me.”

“I hear you, damn, Yaz. I just don’t feel like dealing with him right now.”

“And you know it don't work like that, not with Black.”

“I’ll call him. He doesn’t want anything anyway. Just wants to know where I am and who I’m with.”

“Don't get mad at me. I told you not to fuck with Black, but your grown ass didn't listen. Now you got Rayah, so you don't have no choice but to deal with his crazy ass.”

“I’m not mad, I'm just saying I’ll call him when I feel like it. Damn, why you tripping, Yaz?”

“I’m tripping because he doesn't have any damn boundaries and you know it. I’m not in the mood for him to come up in here trying to put his hands on you because you all in your feelings about making a damn phone call.”

Yaz hated the situation that her sister was in, but she knew there wasn't anything that Yami could do about it short of moving as far away from Atlanta as she could. She couldn’t go to the cops because they really didn’t give a fuck, and Black had so many on his payroll that she didn't know who to trust anyway. Nobody fucked with Black.

“I met somebody today.” Yami didn't bother looking at her sister because she already knew what her reaction would be.

“Why you always trying to make shit worse, Yami? I don't want you with Black any more than you want to be with him, but you know that fucking with anybody but him ends with somebody losing their life. Do you want that on you? Just focus on school and Rayah so that you can move the fuck away from here. Get lost somewhere where Black can't find you. You know his ass ain't never leaving the hood. Ain't no man worth the drama that you’ll have to deal with from Black.

“I’m not with Black. The only thing we have is Rayah.”

Yaz stood up, placed her niece on the floor and laughed. “You might not be with him, but he’s damn sure with you. The second you call yourself fucking with someone else, you know exactly what's going to happen. Have you seen Dorian lately? Hell no you haven't. Since the day after Black saw him with your ass, he disappeared. Ain't nobody seen him since. One guess as to why.”

Yami closed her eyes momentarily and shook her head. Word was that Dorian had moved away after a run in with Black about dealing with her. Yami never knew for sure because he just kind of disappeared and never really contacted her to let her know why. She did run into his cousin a few months after he disappeared and all she said was that he was good and Yami didn't need to worry about him. She didn't know what Black had done to him, but it was obviously enough to keep Dorian away from her.

She knew her sister was right, but she was tired of Black running her life. She regretted the day she ever dealt with him, but she was stuck. Their daughter made him feel like he owned her, and as long as she stayed around here, he did. Guys were afraid to even look her way, let alone deal with her. She was just simply stuck, and she knew it.

“Look, Yami, I know it's a messed up situation, but you have one year left and you’re done with school. Just focus on that so you can leave and do your own thing. Trust me, sis, it's not worth it.”

“You’re right.”

Yami leaned back on the sofa, eyes still closed and let out a long sigh. Her daughter ran over to her, jumped into her lap and wrapped her thin arms around her neck.

“Mommy, is Daddy coming?”

Yami looked into her daughter’s huge round eyes and kissed her on the cheek before answering.

“Not sure, baby girl. How about you just hang out with me and Auntie Yaz for now?”

“But can I see Daddy later?”

Rayah’s little face turned into a pout, making her look like Black’s twin. Rayah loved her father because she only knew one side of him, the side that was loving and caring and always had a smile for her. That was the Black that Yami had fallen in love with, but it was only a small part of who he was. The cruel, abusive, and possessive monster that emerged when he felt threatened or couldn’t get his way was the Black that only Yami and his enemies in the streets knew.

He never let his daughter see that side of him. That, Yami was grateful for, but she just wished that he loved her enough to protect her from that side of him too. Unfortunately, that was just wishful thinking, which was why Yami planned to graduate and get as far away from Black as she could. She hated to keep his daughter from him, but it would be the only chance she had at a normal life, and that was a risk she was willing to take.

M
iego sat in the stale smelling office building looking around while he had the attention of almost everyone in the room. Men watched him because they were intimidated by his dominating presence while the women were secretly hoping to get his attention. He was dressed casually in a pair of navy sweats that had a natural sag to them, a grey Nike T-shirt that presented the slogan Hustle for Kicks, and a pair of brand new classic Air Max. His jewelry was simple, a special edition G-Shock watch and a platinum link chain which was tucked under his t-shirt so that it wasn't visible.

Even dressed in the simplest things, Miego's appearance screamed for attention. It was hard to keep one’s eyes off him, as was the case right now.

Miego was impatient, and the whole song and dance of seeing a PO annoyed him. It was a complete waste of his time. He had enough money in his pocket right now to pay the total of what his weekly visits were going to cost him, but he knew it didn't work that way. It wasn't about the money. It was about the inconvenience of having him waste an hour out of his day once a week to have someone remind him that his freedom depended on their opinion of him. It pissed him off, but he could only blame himself.

“Ms. Lewis can see you now.”

Miego looked up into the face of a thirty-something woman who stared at him like he was a prize or something. If he hadn't been so annoyed, he would have laughed because she made no attempt to hide the lust in her eyes. Miego was used to it, though. Even as a child, he’d had the attention of females twice his age, so he had grown accustomed to handling it.

At thirteen years old he was six feet with a lean muscular frame. His mocha colored face housed a pair of slanted dark brown eyes, thanks to his father’s mixed race, and a strong, square jaw line. Now, that mocha colored skin was covered with tattoos, his lean teenaged body had transformed into the physique of the man he’d grown into while his face displayed the maturity to complete his look.

Miego kept his eyes on the woman who patiently waited for him to stand. Once he did, her eyes traced his body, starting with his face, lingering around his chest and arms, but quickly moving to his waist as he adjusted his sweat pants enough to make sure they hung low around his waist, but not enough to expose his charcoal grey boxer briefs. Because of his arrogance, he grabbed himself to make an unnecessary adjustment while his face moved into a smirk. He winked at his lust filled admirer, who quickly diverted her eyes, embarrassed that she had been caught checking him out.

“Which way, ma?”

“Um, this… just… follow me.” She fumbled over her words as she tried to get herself together.

Miego chuckled to himself as they moved through a door, down a hallway, and stopped at an office where she held her hand up.

“’Preciate it.” Miego offered a teasing smile that again had her fumbling with her words.

“Um, yeah, no problem.” After checking him out one last time, she smiled and left.

Miego stood in the doorway watching Karlin as she pecked away on her computer with the phone receiver pressed between her cheek and shoulder. She looked up at him and smiled before pointing to the door, which he closed. Then, she motioned to the chair at the end of her desk. He could tell that it wasn't the original spot for it because it was awkwardly placed in her tiny office. The proximity of the chair to hers let him know just what he was in for.

“Thanks, Dave. My appointment is here, so I’ll call you back,” Karlin said before offering Miego a lustful grin. Once she no longer had the phone in her hand, she leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest.

“You just can't do right, can you?”

“Depends on your definition of right.” A smirk spread across Miego’s face as he checked Karlin out.

It had been a minute since he’d seen her, but she hadn't changed much. The grey pants and white blouse she wore didn't do her shapely figure much justice, but he knew her body in an intimate way, so her assets were visible to him. Karlin had a pretty Hershey complexion, shoulder length hair that belonged to her, and a body that was well worth the time she invested in it. She worked out all the time because she wasn't a small girl. Not exactly overweight, but thick in a nice way. She stayed in the gym because of her insecurities about it, which maintained her firm and toned stomach and tight ass.

“Staying out of here is what I consider doing right.”

“This shit ain't my fault. I can't help a nigga snitched on me.”

“But if they didn't have anything to snitch about, then you wouldn't be here,” Karlin said and then smiled.

“Don't trip, you know how that shit goes. We grew up in the same environment. I’m just trying to eat.”

She smiled and eyed his body. “I feel you, but you might want to be more careful next time.”

“Man, fuck a next time. You won’t see my ass up in here ever again. Trust that.”

“Good, because I pulled a lot of strings to get your case. Don't make me regret it.”

Miego chuckled. “How the fuck you gon’ regret being around me. You and I both know that shit ain't gon’ happen.”

“Don't do that.” She rolled her eyes.

Again, Miego laughed. “Do what, Karlin?”

“This is business. I’m not messing with your no good ass like that anymore. You’ll fuck around and have me up in here with monthly visits of my own for having to check that hoe you call your girl.”

“Who you talking about, Karlin? Last time I checked, I didn't have no damn girl.”

She really rolled her eyes this time. “Yeah? Well, Kia didn't get the memo, so you might want to check her on that.”

Karlin sat forward, moving her chair closer to Miego before she lifted his file from the side of her desk. She placed it in front of her then opened it. Miego leaned back with one elbow propped on the arm of the chair while his other hand moved across his head, stopping just enough to let his fingers massage his waves while his eyes moved across Karlin’s body.

“So, here’s the deal. Show up, pay your fees, and other than that, I’ll make sure you’re in good standing.”

“That's it?” Miego looked Karlin right in her eyes and she immediately looked away. She focused on his file again, which she knew every detail of because she had been through it a thousand times.

“That’s it.”

“You gone let me burn one every now and then?”

She looked at Miego and rolled her eyes. “Just don’t overdo it, but I’ll take care of your drug test.”

“Damn, I knew you’d look out. I appreciate that, ma. I’m just happy as fuck you got that shit moved from once a week to once a month. That damn fat ass dude I had before was on some bullshit, smelling like spoiled milk and ass. What is it gon’ cost me?”

Karlin’s eyes went right to his waist before she actually looked at him. “We’ll figure something out,” she said and then bit her bottom lip.

Miego could see right through that, so he released another laugh. “I bet we will.”

While he waited for Karlin to fill out some paperwork for him to sign, his phone went off with a text from his sister. He called her back instead of texting.

“What's up?”

“Where are you?”

“Downtown, parole office. What you need?”

“It's raining like hell.”

“The fuck that gotta do with me?” Miego said with a grin, already knowing what his sister wanted.

“You need to come get me from school,” she snapped.

“Why your ass can't catch the bus?” Miego was just messing with his sister. He had already planned to check with her and see if she needed a ride.

Right before he got locked up, he was in the process of getting her a car. As things stood now, he needed to give it a minute before he started making big purchases. He was going to make sure Yanna got a car in the next week or so since she was in her junior year at Georgia State and doing her thing. He was proud of his sister and wanted to make things as easy as possible for her, starting with a car.

“I just told your dumb ass it’s raining. Student union, hurry,” Yanna said and then hung up.

Miego laughed at how bold his sister was; she just didn’t give a fuck about anything. He was cool with that. She looked out, so he didn't mind.

“We done here?” He looked up at Karlin, and of course, she had her eyes on him, looking like she wanted to slap the shit out of him.

“You in a hurry?” Karlin snapped.

Here we go with this shit
. Miego knew good and damn well that Karlin had heard the conversation he just had with his sister because they were damn near on top of each other in that little ass office of hers. He also knew she probably thought it was another female from the way her whole mood had changed.

“Nah, I just got shit to do.” Miego was purposely vague about what he had to do, just to see how Karlin was going to react. He needed to feel her out to see what he was dealing with. Unfortunately, she was his best option because the fat ass dude he was supposed to be seeing was going to complicate his life, and he didn't have the patience to deal with him.

“So another bitch is more important than you staying out of jail?”

“You calling my sister a bitch, Karlin?”

Her expression softened as she looked at him and realized that she had fucked up.

“No, I didn't—”

“Look, let's get some shit straight. I appreciate this situation, but I'm still me, Karlin, so don't be fucking threatening me. If you feel like you have some rights to my personal life because you offered to help me out, then we can kill this right now. I don't answer to anybody but my damn self.”

“Hmmp, you sure ’bout that?”

Miego gave Karlin a look that let her know just how sure he was before he stood and narrowed his eyes at her.

“I'm out.”

“I’ll call you,” Karlin said, and she had every intention of doing just that. He knew, and so did she.

Miego left her sitting there in her feelings. He wasn't one hundred percent sure that he could contain her, but he knew Karlin wanted him. That was enough for him to walk out of there with confidence that his situation was under control, at least for now.

Pulling up in front of the student union at Georgia State, Miego looked around at all the women moving about campus. He smiled to himself, knowing that he had caught most of their attention while he sat waiting for his sister. His lifestyle was evident at first glance, and that drew them in.

Good girls loved dope boys and thugs. As cliché as it sounds, it was true. Just like dope boys and thugs claimed they wanted riders, but when it was all said and done, the good girls are what really turned them on. Having someone who had your back in the streets was all good, but no man wanted a woman who was just as hard and thugged out as he was. It didn't mean he wanted someone who couldn't hang and didn’t understand his lifestyle, but he also didn't want a woman who thought she was a damn dude.

There was a fine line between the two, and that was the problem Miego had with Kia. She acted like she was the man in the relationship, and although she had been there for him and had his back over the years, she had taken the role as his rider too far. She couldn't quite understand when to fall back and let Miego take the lead, and that annoyed him.

Since Yanna didn't seem in any hurry to make her way to him, he shot her a quick text to make sure she knew he was there. The rain had slacked up some and turned into a steady drizzle. Just enough to be annoying, but not enough to make a real difference.

Miego’s phone vibrated with a text notification from his sister saying that she was on her way out, so he turned up the radio, let his head fall back, and waited. A few minutes later, he happened to look up and noticed his sister standing just outside the student union door. A smile quickly spread across his face when he realized she was talking to Yami. It had been two weeks since their conversation outside his mother’s building, and he had every intention of tracking her down, but he had been so focused on trying to get his affairs in order, that he hadn’t had time to. Now here she was, and with the added bonus that his sister knew her.

He watched as they laughed about something, admiring how beautiful her smile was. She had a natural beauty about her, nothing over the top. In fact, he guessed that most guys probably overlooked her because she wasn't your typical bad ass, by society’s standards. She was short as hell, small frame, small breasts, and no real curves. She wasn't bony, but she wasn't thick either.

“Yo, you know her like that?” Miego asked the second his sister yanked open his door to get in.

She dropped her book bag on the floor and pulled her purse off her arm before she retrieved her phone from her pocket and unlocked her screen.

“Who, Yami?”

“Yeah, you cool with her?”

“We’re alright, why? I know you not trying to kick it to Yami. You know who she fucks with, right?” Yanna looked at her brother like he was crazy. She knew her brother wasn't to be messed with, and he was reckless as hell, but she also knew Black was just as bad. The two of them were pretty much the same, well as far as she knew. With Black, she had only heard rumors, but with her brother she’d had a front row seat to his insanity on more than one occasion.