The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale (20 page)

             
“Let me find out Mommy got a boyfriend,” Talia teased.

             
“Chiiiild boo,” Cee rolled her eyes. “That ain’t even happening.

             
The girls laughed then Tanine said, “Mom you do plan to date again? I’m not talking about in the near future or even the next six months.”

             
“Tanine,” Cee sighed. “I don't know. That’s not something that even crosses my mind.”

             
“I know that Dad wouldn’t want you to be lonely or alone for the rest of your life.”

             
“Note taken,” Cee winked. “I’m more concerned with your little brother and sister for the next five years then some affairs of the heart.”

             
“Speaking of P.J and Shelby,” Talia chimed in. “We’ve decided to move home and transfer to Davidson this coming fall to help with them.”

             
“No you will not,” Cee placed her phone flat on the table. “I can handle them and when I need help I can call on your grandmothers.”

             
“We know that Mommy,” Taleah responded, “but they’re our brother and sister. I believe that they will much rather have us around.”

             
“Listen girls, you have helped in ways beyond what I could’ve hoped for and I’m so grateful. I know that you were grieving too.”

             
“Yes,” Tanine interrupted, “but being here with you and them has helped with our grieving process.”

             
“I understand that, I just cannot allow you girls to leave the school that you love. Besides in a few weeks you’ll be on summer break and by the time the fall semester starts I will have a system in place.”

             
“Dang Mom,” Talia spouted. “We thought that you’d be happy.

             
“I know right,” Taleah frowned.

             
“Sorry Mommy,” Tanine added. “You’re going to be mad because it’s a done deal. We’ve already been accepted at Davidson and signed the transfer papers.”

             
“What?” Cee squawked. Before the girls could respond, Cee’s phone went off. She read the text, stood up, and said, “I’m going outside for a minute. We’ll finish this when I come back.”

             
Exiting the restaurant Cee spotted a white 2013 Lexus GS sitting on twenty-two inch chrome wheels, black tinted limousine windows and Jeezy blasting not far from the valet stand.
This nigga might as well have drug dealer stamped on his plates
, Cee thought walking toward the car. Sitting behind the wheel Stacey watched Cee lasciviously as she made her way down the concrete steps. He couldn’t take his eyes off her thighs that were tightly wrapped in a pair of gray J-Brand wax jeans.

             
“This bitch is sexy as shit,” he said aloud checking Cee out from her exquisitely cut her hair to her five inch heels. “Looking real good this evening,” he greeted Cee as she slid into the passenger seat.”

             
“Um thanks,” Cee replied with a half-smile immediately blinded by all the sparkling diamonds from his grill to his wrist.

             
“You know that you don't have to pay for this,” he waved a clear baggie of cocaine in front of her face. “If you hang out with me,” his eyes coated in carnality.

Rolling her eyes Cee replied, “
Try being more respectful of my husband that passed not too long ago. I do not whore myself out for coke.”

             
She hated having to deal with Stacey, his flirting disgusted her but he had the best nose candy in the city. Therefore, dealing with his crudeness for five minutes was well worth it. Stacey didn’t miss the shade, he dismissed it. He’d seen plenty of arrogant rich bitches talk fly to him while their paper was stacked. Then after their money dried up he’d have them snorting lines off his dick.

             
Cee counted out nine crisp one-hundred dollar bills and five tens. “Here,” she handed him the money, “nine-fifty.”

             
“You got two hundred more?” he asked.

             
“For what? You said 950 for ten grams.”

             
“When you called I was out already. I had this half ounce made up for somebody else. Folks didn’t meet me when they said they would so I bounced on ’em. I don't have a scale with me to take out the extra four grams. Look just give me 150 and you can have it.”

             
“Aight,” she pulled out eight twenties. “Here’s 160 I don't have any change.”

             
A black Denali pulled ahead of Stacey’s car. The valet attendant ran out, opened the door, and the driver stepped out. When Cee recognized him she snatched the cocaine, shoved it in her bra.

             
“I’m out.” She hopped out the car.

             
Stacey tapped his horn and rolled down his window, “Yo Jason! What up my nigga?” he threw his hands up.

             
Jason looked at the driver with his eye squinted and realized that it was Stacey. Out the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Cee.
What the fuck is this?
he thought.               “What up Stacey?” He spoke approaching the driver’s window, he extended his hand and dapped Stacey up. He looked over the roof of the car.

              “What’s going on with you Cee?” Jason asked, peeping the situation.

             
“Oh no-no-nothing,” she stammered. “I’m having dinner with the trips. I stepped out here to speak with Stacey for a sec.”

             
Stacey had major respect for Jason and didn’t want to rub him the wrong way.               “Jason, I didn’t know she was ya peoples, but it ain’t even like that though. This was strictly bout business.”

             
“You good playboy, she’s not my lady or anything like that. Our families are good friends.” He glanced over at Cee who was walking away

             
“Stacey, I’m going to catch you later and take some of ya money at the poker table.”

             
“I don't know about taking my money,” Stacey chuckled. “I’m on the way to spot off of Tyvola right now to play a little bit.”

             
“Aight, I might check it out later on,” Jason said crossing the front of the car. Jogging lightly he caught up to Cee and hugged her.

              “How are you doing?”

             
Nervously she replied, “I’m doing well.”

             
“You sure?”

             
“Everything is day to day.”

             
“I feel ya... but what were you doing with ole’ boy.”

             
“He was squaring up the bill for his girl’s hair.”

             
“I’m not trying to be up in your business, but you know that I know better than that right.”

             
“What do you mean?”

             
There was no getting over on Jason. From years in the streets and a coke head baby mother, he knew a user when he saw one. “I wanna talk to you. Got time for a drink?”

              Cee looked at her watch, hesitantly she replied, “I guess I have a little time. Let me let the girls know.” Cee went over to her daughters. “I’m going to have a drink with Jason,” she nodded her head in his direction. The tripps waved happily at him.

             
“Were you texting Uncle Jason?” Taleah grinned.

             
“No I was not!”

            
 

“Sure Mom,” Tanine giggled.

             
“Anyway when the waitress brings the check send it over to the bar.”

             
Cee joined Jason at the bar as he was placing a takeout order. Once he finished she asked, “So what’s up?”

             
“Like I said, I’m not trying to get in ya business, but I know you was copping powder from that lil nigga.”

             
“Yeah, but it’s not what you think. I’m not an addict. I don't use like that, only a bump here and there to keep me sane.”

             
“Before you even go there,” he cut her off, “I can tell that you’re using more than a lil bit.”

             
“You got me, but I’m not strung out or nothing.”

             
“Not yet.”

             
“I know how to stop when I want to. Pete and I used to get right from time to time and I never got hooked.”

              “Yeah but you was using on your own terms for fun. Now, you need it to numb the pain and each time you’re going to need a lil more.”

             
“I know what you went through with your daughter’s mother and her addiction, but I’m not her.”

             
“True, but the two of you are more alike than you know. Like you she had a successful career and like you she used coke to numb something painful.” he paused while the bartender served their beverages. “I’m going to pretend that I know the pain of having a spouse killed. I do know that you don't have to go this route.”

             
A single tear slid down her right cheek. “Right now I don't know another route. All I know is, my husband was snatched from me like this,” she snapped her finger, “and a lil coke helps eases the stress and the pain.”