The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale (16 page)

             
Five years earlier the brothers decided that while the money was flowing good they’d quadruple the scheduled monthly payment in effort to pay Dorenda’s mortgage off early. The twenty year home loan had been paid off in a little under ten years.              

             
“I can’t believe you boys did this for me,” Dorenda got up and embraced Zay tightly, “Thank you son.”

             
“You’re welcome Ma..”

              She hugged Jason. “Thank you baby.”

             
“I live to see you smile Mama,” Jason said as a tear fell from his eye.

             
Taking her seat she kept shaking her head unable to believe that she was the sole owner of her home free and clear of the bank. Staring at the deed Dorenda gleamed. “This is so amazing and with my two oldest boys coming home I feel so blessed.”

             
Jason reached across the table and squeezed her hand, “You deserve every blessing you get Mama and then some.”

             
“Well speaking of your brothers coming home,” Dorenda looked into Jason’s eyes and then into Zay’s.

             
“What’s up Ma?” Zay questioned, knowing full well the direction that she was taking the conversation.

             
“One thing you two know about me is I’m not dumb and I don’t claim to be a saint. I know what you do has afforded this family a wonderful life yet it has also taken eighteen years of your brothers’ lives. You two have successful businesses that continue to do well, but you can’t keep one foot in the door at your companies and the other in the streets.” Pausing for a second, she inhaled, exhaled and continued, “I don't want your brothers coming home and one or both of you going to prison or even worse me having to bury you.”

At two
different times over the eighteen year period three of Dorenda’s sons were incarcerated at the same time. Fifteen years earlier Zay did a year and a half stint in state prison and when he got out Jason went in for a two year bid. Dorenda just wanted all four of her sons home at the same time.

             
Zay looked his mother square in the face, “Ma, I’m pretty much done and by the time Tony and Rico get home I’ll be completely done.”

             
“I’m so happy to hear that,” Dorenda exclaimed, then to look at her youngest son,               “And what about you?”

             
“I can’t give you an exact retirement date Ma, but I’m working on one.”

             
“Well, while you’re working on it think of those two little girls,” she pointed at Keeba and Mariah playing in the yard.

             
“I do think of them, they’re the reason I put my life on the line.”

             
“When your brothers went away their children were toddlers and now they will be coming home to adults. Do want to go through the same thing?”

             
Not wanting such a happy brunch to be marred by the escalating conversation, Zay interjected, “Don’t worry about him Ma, I’ll work on him. Now let’s enjoy all this good food you cooked.”

Agreeing, Dore
nda reluctantly moved onto another topic while thinking
, we will finish this conversation, maybe not today, tomorrow, or next week, but we will finish.

***

              The evening’s event at the Luxe Penthouse was yet another membership building drive. It wasn’t as over the top as the grand opening, but it was still luxurious and upscale. Even in Evan’s absence her staff did a magnificent job on the food service end with an array of fabulous choices. Bev had the bar, the waitresses, and gambling areas moving like a well-oiled machine. The only thing left for Joey to do was charm the non-members into buying a membership.

             
Joey worked the room in an orange backless wide legged YSL halter jumpsuit and a pair of green snakeskin Lorezi Platform pumps. Many of the night’s guest loved her and she had them eating out of her palms. It was a packed house and memberships were selling quite well. Dawhar was there along with some of his friends from the league. Joey was elated when she approached their poker table and Dawhar told her,               “My people love the spot.” Smiling widely, he could feel every bit of the liquor coursing through his system.

     
“I’m glad to hear that,” she gave them a winning smile while shaking their hands as Dawhar introduced each of them.

             
“They love it so much,” Dawhar slurred. “They all want to join.”

             
“How excellent!” she clasped her hands together and bowed over in excitement.               “What are y’all drinking?” She waved over the head member service hostess and a waitress.

             
“Patron,” Dawhar replied trying to divert his eyes away from her body.

             
Joey’s pretty face, tanned skin, and dangerous curves increased his attraction for her every time that he saw her. He’d wanted her since first laying eyes on her two years earlier. His wife was a non-factor in decisions regarding where he stuck his dick. He definitely didn’t care about Joey’s husband although he should’ve.

             
“Whatcha need boss lady?” the sinfully curved thick waitress asked.

             
“Bring these gentlemen a bottle of Patron and Ace. Charge it to my account.

             
As the waitress left to fill the order, the head membership hostess, Isadora, approached the poker table. An absolute chocolate beauty, Isadora rocked an expertly cut chin length blue black bob. She was perfection in a peach and lavender Hervé Leger bodycon dress. The six inch Fendi sling backs elongated her well-toned long legs. Drool was nearly dripping from the men’s mouths as they ogled over her.

             
Joey smiled at the men’s reaction to Isadora whose official job title was assistant manager of Luxe night life. Hailing from Atlanta she’d help to run some of Atlanta’s most exclusive night spots. She was second in line to Bev, but Joey pulled her from behind the scenes thinking
it will be hard for a man to say no to a woman as beautiful as Isadora.

             
“All of these gentlemen would like to get a membership,” Joey told Isadora. “Can you take care of them for me?”

             
“Of course,” Isadora flashed a million watt smile with her iPad in her hand as she went around the table explaining the member levels, gathering info, and swiping their credit cards through the magnetic reader affixed to the top of the tablet. Once done Isadora returned to Joey, who was chatting with Dawhar about much of nothing.

             
“Okay, Joey I sold one gold, two platinum, and one black elite membership. I’ve taken their payment, but we are completely out of membership cards on the floor.”

             
“That is not a problem I'll grab some from my office.”

             
“I’ll go with you,” Dawhar offered, jumping at the opportunity to be alone with her.

             
“That’s okay. Itwill only take a moment.
”



            
 
“I wanna go, plus you never gave me the full tour.” he insisted.

              “If you insist,” Joey shrugged. She had no qualms about letting someone who’d brought in more than sixty thousand dollars in membership take a stroll to her office.

             
Dawhar was a jovial drunk, joking and laughing while they were on the elevator ride down to the headquarters floor. Joey slid her access key down the slot next to the doorknob, opened the door, and flipped the lights switch up.

             
“This shit is fresh,” Dawhar marveled at the luxuriously decorated and furnished modern space. “This don't even look like an office.”

             
“Thank you,” Joey said taking a seat behind her desk. “This will only take a sec.” She unlocked the middle drawer on the right desk panel and took out a long cardboard box. She counted out fifteen cards for each level of membership. Only a limited amount of the unregistered coveted cards were allowed on the floor at one time. The rest were under lock and key at all times. Joey dropped the box back into the drawer and locked it.

             
“I’m ready,” she swiveled her chair to the right to stand, but was startled by Dawhar’s mid-section that was only inches from her nose. In utter shock she blurted,               “Dawhar what in the hell are you doing?”