Page 33

ONE MONTH LATER…

Though I wasn’t sure how the women I’d become close with would help, they had. All of them had posted heavily about my products, including Yolani, to the point where I’d completely sold out and was now taking preorders.

Yolani’s social media video was probably the reason a very popular cosmetics company Pêche Cosmetics had reached out to me, wanting to distribute my products for me. I thought the shit was a scam until I was able to confirm I was speaking to the CEO of the company, and we had a Zoom call. Life had moved fast and changed a lot for me.

I went from being a side chick with a lost career and a tainted name to now being married, having my own makeup line, or soon-to-be since it was just glosses now, and to people no longer paying me any mind because they were too into the whole Zosia-AJ murder-suicide debacle.

Several documentaries were already on the horizon, which I only knew because the networks had reached out to me to come on and talk. I, of course, declined. I wanted nothing to do with their situation if I could help the shit.

Entering the suite where I was to have my meeting with Pêche CEO Erma Lane, I froze in my tracks seeing Aurora behind the receptionist desk. No, no way! This was a fucking joke. I knew this bitch wasn’t that damn psycho. And to think I believed she had bowed out after I read her thirsty ass for filth the day she brought the police by.

“What is going on?” I walked up, preparing to jump over this desk and wear her ass out.

The only thing stopping me was the surprised look on her face when she peered up from the laptop she was on.

“You tell me,” she replied.

“Is this a joke?” I frowned, preparing to whup her ass, and I would surely be kneeing her in the vagina at some point.

“For starters, I didn’t even know you were the client Mrs. Lane had a meeting with, and secondly, I’m just the receptionist. I don’t have that type of pull.” Aurora sighed.

“Oh, okay. Good.” I relaxed my fist that had balled on its own seemingly.

But before I could turn away, Aurora said, “Kabrina, even though I didn’t like what you said to me the last time we saw one another, after it simmered for a bit, I realized you were speaking the truth. Going out sad over a man who didn’t even want my ass and didn’t respect me enough to only be with me was foolish.

“I did need to collect more of my things that afternoon, but I was using it as an excuse. It’s hard for us women to accept and admit that we aren’t the one for these fuckboys and can’t make them change, but it’s true. I just wasn’t the girl that made Unique want to be monogamous.”

“Glad I could help you. And just because you couldn’t change one man doesn’t mean you’re not a good woman, Aurora. Everybody is meant to be with someone. I didn’t set out to change Unique; he decided on his own that he wanted to be with me.”

She nodded, so I went to sit down until Erma Lane came to retrieve me.

Her conference room was stunning, decorated with flowers, antiques, and posters of ads for different releases and drops.

I’d used plenty of Pêche products in the past, and only a handful weren’t up to standard. For the most part, though, everything was legit.

“I’m so glad you could meet with us today, Kabrina.” Erma smiled as her assistant did the same but stayed silent.

“Me as well. I was surprised that you reached out, but then again, I know Yolani posting my product had a lot to do with it.”

“Well, that got it the attention, but the product itself is what made us reach out to you. You have stellar reviews in only a short time, and we really want to get behind you. We need more black entrepreneurs in the beauty industry since we are extremely underrepresented,” she explained.

“I agree. I want to be sure my formula remains the same though. I don’t want to get with a big distributor and have my glosses be watery or less pigmented,” I stated.

I remembered in the article I read on Camarih Terranova and how she said it was important to let the distributors know and have in the contract that you wouldn’t allow them to water down your products just to make more but spend less.

“Of course not. We want you as is.” Erma simpered, opening a folder to show me a contract. “We will pay all of the upfront fees to get everything in production and on the shelves. In return, we will take thirty-five percent of the profits, and you will receive the rest.”

Sliding the paper close to me, I scanned through it, knowing I wasn’t planning to sign anything right here and right now. Unique had already secured me a contract lawyer, and she was just waiting for me to get out of this meeting and to look it over.

“That sounds good to me. And I will have full authority over the design and packaging, correct? I want whatever design is created to look similar to my brand.”

“Absolutely. It’s all in the current contract, but anything you want added or removed, let us know and we can amend it.”

I nodded, remaining relaxed, even though I wanted to jump up and down.

“Can I ask why you’re so eager?” I had to keep it real. She was too agreeable, and I was starting to feel like there was a catch.

Erma laughed before sitting back in her seat and saying, “Money, of course. That’s it and that’s all. We know your product is going to fly off the shelves, and our whole point in choosing to work with you is to make money. If I can make myself wealthy and you extremely rich, what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing at all.” I chuckled, appreciating her for keeping it real.

The meeting lasted about half an hour longer with me letting Erma and her mute ass assistant know that once my lawyer read it over, they would be hearing from me with either a signed contract or requests for an amendment.

As I walked out, bypassing Aurora who looked like she didn’t know whether she wanted to speak to me or spit on me, I felt a sense of calmness but also sadness.

I would miss being a makeup artist, but I’d always wanted to eventually have my own makeup company.

I was seeing that the whole situation with AJ and Zosia was somewhat a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to do something I’d been afraid to do sooner than I’d planned. I also knew that I wouldn’t have made it this far without the support of my husband and even his side of the family.

As I pulled out into the street, thinking about Unique and how I couldn’t wait to get back home to see him, my phone rang.

Looking at the screen, I saw it was my aunt Bell, so I answered. I knew she wasn’t asking for money because Unique had taken over that department. And no matter how much I tried to interfere with how much he gave or did for her, he ignored me.

Now, I didn’t even know what he gave her or did for her, so I couldn’t complain like I wanted. And it wasn’t that I didn’t want my aunt Bell to get help—I did because of all she had done for me—I just didn’t want my husband thinking he was being used.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hi, baby. Are you busy?” she asked.

“Not at the moment. Just left a meeting.”

“Oh, okay. A meeting for what?” She sounded anxious, like she had something to tell me but didn’t want to be rude by not asking about said meeting.

“I’ll tell you next time I see you. Is everything cool?” I frowned, entering the freeway.

“Well, Deacon, Sharon’s son, is having a little problem, and I was thinking Unique could talk to him.”

“Talk to him about what?”

“I don’t know, Kabrina. But they share a father, and since Deacon is struggling with his father’s… transgressions, I was thinking maybe Unique could help his brother out.”

“Brother is a stretch, Aunt Bell.”

“How? He’s his brother.”

“You know what I mean.” I shook my head.

“I do. But can you just ask him? The boy looks like his life is over, and I think talking to someone like Unique who knows exactly what he’s going through but turned out just fine will help.”

I hated that she was making sense.

“Where is Deacon?”

“Still here at my house. He refused to go home like his siblings and Sharon.”

“Okay, I will see.” I hung up and then called Unique.

“Are we gon’ be rich or what, love?” He picked up, making me giggle.

“We?”

“Yeah. You know how California law works, right? I was with you when you got this fucking deal so I’m entitled to half that shit,” he said, and I was inclined to believe him since he had a lawyer for a brother, even though this wasn’t his brother’s expertise.

“Hmm, well I may divorce your ass and then sign the contract.”

“Good luck trying that shit.”

“Whatever.” I smirked. “Can you do me a favor?”

“No, KK.”

“I thought you liked doing stuff for me?”

“I do, love. I like doing stuff for you though. Anytime you ask me for a favor, it’s never for you. It got something to do with that nigga Devante, and I’m straight—no pun intended.”

“Boy.” I laughed at his last line, even though he was quiet. “Please. It’s his son, and he’s having a hard time with what has come out about his father,” I divulged.

Unique was still quiet, and usually, that meant he was about to grant my wish.

“So what am I supposed to do about that shit, love?” He exhaled out of exasperation, and I started to feel bad asking him to do such a thing.

How was he supposed to make someone feel better about something he still hadn’t gotten over?

“I know, but he’s young, and maybe if he sees how you and your brothers turned out, he will see the light.”

Unique got quiet again before he said, “When? Where?”

“Right now, and my aunt Bell’s. It’s just him, not his parents, so don’t worry. I’ll be there too.”

After another moment of silence, he sighed and said, “Aight.”

“Thank you, baby. This is very selfless of you,” I spoke truthfully, changing my route to meet him at my aunt’s.

“I’m literally only doing this shit because you asked me to, KK. I don’t even do shit like this for my brothers. And I avoid Banks so I won’t have to tell her no.”

Snickering, I said, “Well I appreciate you for this, and I got something special for you when you finish.”

“I want it right outside the house as soon as I’m done too, love. No bullshit.”

“I was talking about cooking for you,” I half lied. I did plan to cook him a meal, but I was definitely talking about sex.

“I don’t want no meal. A nigga ate already. I’m trying to eat you, so I want some pussy.”

I gasped just as the line went dead, him not giving me a chance to respond.

I got to my aunt’s home about twenty minutes later and saw Unique’s car was there already. When he saw me park alongside the sidewalk, he exited his vehicle.

We met at the end of the driveway, and I slipped my hand into his, saying, “Thank you again,” as we kissed a few times, me basking in his scent.

My aunt was opening the front door before we could even get to it, waving us inside and smiling brightly at Unique, which I assumed was for his participation.

“How you doing, Aunt Bell?” He hugged her before I did the same.

“I’m okay, handsome.” She shut the door behind me. “He’s in the guest room. He’s angry and refuses to go home unless his father moves out.”

Unique started back there, tugging me with him by the hand and knocked on the door with his free one once we got to the guest room.

“I’m not hungry, Auntie Bell,” Deacon called out.

“It ain’t ya aunt. Put ya dick up if you in here on some other shit,” Unique announced before turning the knob and entering as I smacked his arm for his statement.

Deacon’s eyes widened upon seeing Unique.

“Oh, my bad,” Deacon said as I sat beside him and Unique sat in the chair across and off to the left.

“You good. Aunt Bell saying you don’t wanna go home.” Unique got right to it.

“And I won’t be unless that man leaves the house. I hate him.” Deacon’s young face balled up.

“You don’t hate that nigga. You just embarrassed.” Unique leaned forward, elbows pressed into his thighs covered by his gray joggers. He clasped his hands after running one over his fresh cut.

I watched the way his muscles bulged. He was so sexy.

“I do though. He ain’t no real man! He gay! And he a fucking liar! He can’t show me shit, so why the hell I need him around?” Deacon shouted angrily. I could almost feel the tremors in his frame as I sat beside him, making me rub his back gently.

“You sound like my oldest brother, Khari. I know it feel like you got nobody to look up to ’cause you the oldest. You looked up to him, but he turned out to be a fraud, so you mad. I get it.” Unique nodded, nibbling on his bottom lip briefly. “Even worse, everybody know that shit.” He chuckled humorlessly, and Deacon watched him, his handsome features relaxing out of the glare he was once wearing.

“Exactly.” Deacon nodded. “So what did Uncu—Khari do?”

His mistake made Unique smirk.

“You listen to secular music, huh?” He chuckled. “It’s cool. We did too when we wasn’t supposed to.” Unique stroked his beard for a beat then continued. “But Khari acted out, spun out of control, and changed from who he was for a bit. He was mad at the world and stopped giving a fuck about shit he used to. Our father being gay was only part of it. Our mother had to work a job that wasn’t the best, and that added to the ridicule, mainly for him because he was around grownups that saw her.

“You don’t have to deal with a lot of the shit we did. Y’all not broke, ya mama ain’t working a certain job, and it’s only three of y’all.” He chuckled half-heartedly. “It’s cool to be upset with that man because I can’t even say I’m not upset now, and it’s been eighteen years.”

“Wow,” I commented, not realizing how much time had passed.

“But your mother needs you, Deacon.”

“No she doesn’t, because if she did, she would leave him like I asked her to,” he replied.

“Yeah, but it’s not that easy.”

“Your mom did it, right?”

“She did.” Unique nodded. “That’s how I know it ain’t easy. I don’t think my mother realized how shit would deteriorate either. She knew, but she didn’t know, if that makes sense. What my mama did is rare, so don’t take it out on yours. Continue being a good dude and eventually a good man. Take care of ya mama. And long as ya pops show you respect, you do the same. Him being gay don’t take away from him being ya father.”

Deacon nodded hesitantly. “It’s embarrassing.”

“It is. But you in ya last year of high school, and you can move on to college and forget the shit soon.”

Deacon bobbed his head to agree again.

“I just don’t want people thinking I’m gay,” he said, making us laugh.

“Yeah, I can feel that, and long as you ain’t out here sucking dick or having sex with other men, they ain’t gon’ have no reason to.”

“Hell nah.” Deacon shook his head, looking Unique up and down like he was insane.

“Cool.” Unique stood. “So go home and look out for your mother, aight?”

“Aight.” Deacon slapped hands with Unique, smirking a little bit.

“Maybe you can come to Cemone’s and ball one day. You play?”

“Cemone Compton?” Deacon’s eyes widened.

“Yeah.” Unique laughed. “Our brother.”

“Our brother,” Deacon repeated, a smile lingering in his handsome face. “And Uncut and Shakur too.”

“Yep.” Unique smirked.

“The best one though is right here in the room,” I said.

“Yeah, I think you’re my favorite. I kind of like acting,” Deacon said. “Might need some help.”

“I got you.” Unique half smiled, shaking his head at the boy.

The guys exchanged numbers as I watched with a smile before Unique and I went to the backyard where my aunt had made us food. She rarely cooked full meals like this, so I knew she was only doing it for Unique’s presence.

As Deacon played with his dog that my aunt had complained about him bringing, Unique looked on before saying, “Can’t believe I’m here convincing somebody to give Devante’s ass a chance.” He shook his head, putting his bottle of soda to his sexy lips.

“I know, but that’s what I love about you.” I got up to slide into his lap, kissing his lips before peering down into his eyes.

“I don’t know why I’m bothered that, that nigga is trying to work it out and keep a relationship with his other kids.” He set his bottle down and shook his head at himself. One hand shielded his mouth as he stared off in deep thought while the other held onto my waist. “I ain’t jealous, but I don’t know. I’m blessed and thankful though that I had a man who actually wanted to be there—be there and raise me.”

“Devante’s only trying to work it out with them because their mother stayed,” I said. “If she left him, he would eventually cut ties with those kids as well. I haven’t known him long, but it is quite obvious that he’s out for self.” I leaned into him, turning a bit to look at Deacon and his dog. “I’m happy you got Prime too. No telling how you would’ve turned out.”

We laughed.

“I wouldn’t be turned out, that’s for muthafuckin’ sure.”

After chuckling, I asked, “Has he reached out?”

“Not much but a little. My mama gave up our numbers to his ass.” He shook his head. “He sends random texts or Bible verses but nothing crazy. I was thinking of cutting his ass off, blocking him, but I won’t, just so I can get to know his other kids.”

I nodded, inwardly shaking my head and seeing Devante would never truly change. He cosplayed as a man of God, but he truly wasn’t.