Page 22

Cruz

“Heeeeeey, boss man?—”

“Don’t hey me. Fuck I told you ’bout taking personal calls on this phone? On my mama, I’ma start taking that shit out your check! Where the fuck Reg at?”

She silently pointed toward my closed office door, and I got even more annoyed.

I’d locked my shit before I left, and he didn’t have no business in there, especially when whatever he needed to do his job was readily available outside my office.

Tisha threw her hands up, already knowing I was about to go the fuck off.

I crossed the room quickly and twisted the knob just in case his ass was stupid enough to have left it unlocked, and it opened right up. Goofy .

“Yeah, baby, bring your sexy ass down here. I’m tryna see how you look spread out over my desk,” Reg laughed as I stood in the doorway appalled.

This nigga had his big, sweaty ass nestled in my $5,000 Herman Miller chair like he belonged in it.

My face balled up just thinking about him ruining the leather, but instead of running over and karate kicking his ass out my shit, I strolled in casually and took a seat on the other side of the desk.

I wanted to hear what all he was about to say, and since his back was to me, he still hadn’t realized I was even there while he continued running his mouth.

“I told you this my shop, girl. I ain’t got no boss!

I’m the boss up in this muthafucka!” I looked over my desk, wondering if his nasty ass had been using that same bullshit the whole week I’d been gone to fuck bitches in there.

I’d fuck around and have to get everything replaced just off GP.

It already smelled a little funky, but that could’ve just been my paranoia, knowing he’d been in my shit for days.

Oh, I was gone fuck him up then fire his dirty ass!

“Aye, Reg, I need—oh shit, Cruz! When you get back?” One of the crew members named Eric came in, exposing my presence, and Reggie slowly spun the chair around. He looked pale as fuck, seeing me there mugging his goofy ass.

“C-Cruz, man, I?—”

“Shut the fuck up, boss !” I cut him off.

“You been fuckin’ bitches in my office, Reg?

” I tilted my head at him, daring his bitch ass to lie, even though I was going to replace the shit anyway.

I just wanted to know just how much he’d disrespected me while I was away.

He shakily hung up the phone and shook his head, but I didn’t believe him.

A bitch had to be desperate or money hungry as fuck to give him any pussy.

The thought had my gaze shooting to the closet where my safe sat hidden.

I just knew he hadn’t been stupid enough to touch it, but judging from the look on his face, he may have tried.

“N-naw, Cruz, you know me, I just be talking shit. I only came in here today to-to clean it up for you.”

“Oh, so why the fuck it smell like badussie in this muthafucka? I don’t see shit to clean with either.

You think I’m fuckin’ stupid, nigga!” I jumped up from my seat and was surprised by how his big ass made it around to the other side before I could reach him.

He tried to run for the door and tripped over his own shoelaces, falling flat on his face in front of a stunned Eric.

I made it over to him as he struggled to get up and stomped him in the middle of his back, making him roll over.

“Please, Cruz, bro! I’m sorry!” His pleas fell on deaf ears as I pounded his face until blood covered my knuckles.

“Oh shit, boss?—”

“Take your ass down to the garage and tell whoever punched in today to come to the fuckin’ lobby right the fuck now!

Tisha bad-built ass better be down there too!

” I stood over Reggie’s unconscious body, pointing, and Eric took off.

As soon as he was out of sight, I kicked the fuck out of Reggie before going to check my safe.

Although it had obviously been tampered with, that nigga hadn’t been able to get inside.

It still housed the same few thousand I’d left in there before I left, but it was the principle of him even thinking he could play with me.

I closed it back up and stepped out just as he was beginning to wake up, groaning and shit.

I yanked him up by his shirt, and the stench coming off him had me ready to beat his ass again.

I was definitely gone have to replace everything.

“Don’t bring yo’ bitch ass back up here, nigga.

Matter fact, I bet not even see you when I’m out and about, or I’ma drop you right there.

I don’t give a fuck if I see you in the middle of the mall, nigga.

I’m gone blow yo’ ass down! Fuck outta here!

” I shoved him away and watched as he scrambled out, looking like the nigga from Good Times in his jumpsuit.

Face still frowned up, I headed inside my en suite to wash his blood and stank off my hands.

“Oh hell naw!” As soon as I opened the door, the smell of shit smacked me in the face, and I damn near threw up.

That nigga had shitted and didn’t even flush!

I stumbled out, feeling like I needed to take a whole damn shower after that shit.

I was ready to fire everybody in that bitch, but it wasn’t nobody’s fault but mine for leaving his ass in charge.

They had to listen to that nigga, but that didn’t mean none of them couldn’t have called and told me what the fuck he’d been around there doing, so they were going to hear my mouth.

By the time I came out from washing my hands in the employee bathroom, they’d all made it to the lobby and were scattered around the room. I instantly searched for Tisha’s ass, and when I spotted her hiding in the corner, I pointed her out. “You can go.”

“W-why do I have to go?” she stuttered as the people around her moved out of the way so she could come through.

“’Cause you fired, muthafucka. Bye,” I said dryly, turning my attention back to everyone else.

“Fired? Is this ’cause of Reggie? Because it ain’t my fault he broke in your office—” I cut her off with a look, and she swallowed whatever was left of her sentence.

It seemed like everybody was showing their asses just because I’d gone out of town.

From Raya’s crazy ass on down to Tisha, muthafuckas were telling me with their actions that I’d been being too nice, and now that shit was over.

“Your phone work though, right? And I know your ass got the internet ’cause you stay posting on TikTok, but you couldn’t call, message, send a nigga a smoke signal when that muthafucka did that shit?

” I quizzed, and when her monkey ass stayed quiet, I gave a nod.

“Right, get the fuck outta here.” The warning look I gave let her know to get the fuck on, and she grumbled under her breath as she stomped across the room to get her stuff.

I didn’t even wait for her to leave before I addressed the other six people in the room, who all just happened to be technicians.

“As for the rest of you muthafuckas, y’all on the hook for this shit too.

All y’all got my number, and instead of saying something, y’all let that nigga run around here like he was really the boss.

Now I gotta come outta pocket to refurnish and sanitize my whole office damn office, and I’ma tell y’all right now, that shit ain’t gone be cheap, so since y’all let him do it, y’all comin’ outta pocket too.

” Groans filled the room, but I didn’t give a fuck. “Get the fuck back to work!”

They all began filing back out to the garage with Eric bringing up the rear. He let everyone else get a few paces ahead before stopping at my side. “Boss, do you know when?—”

“Nigga, get the fuck out my face!” I barked, sending his ass on his way.

As soon as I was alone, I realized I should’ve had Tisha finish out the rest of the day before firing her.

On cue, the phone started ringing. “Fuck!” I was gone have to stay around this bitch longer than I’d intended, which meant I wasn’t going to be able to see my baby until much later. Fuck it, business comes first.

By 6 p.m., I was sending everybody home and locking up the shop.

It was only a half hour early, and I was surprised I’d made it that long, considering I hadn’t seen my shorty in two days.

I pulled up to her crib and was pleased to see her car in the driveway.

I hadn’t been keeping track of her lately, so I didn’t know her schedule like that, so I was winging it.

Grabbing up the roses I’d gotten her off the passenger seat, I confidently walked up to her door and hit the bell.

I grinned, hearing the twins inside rumbling around and Keyani yelling at them as she came closer to the door.

“Kani, I swear if you do another damn flip, I’m gone put you in a…headlock.” Her voice trailed off when she opened the door and saw me standing there.

“What’s up, bae?” Flashing what I knew was an irresistible grin, I held up the flowers, but she didn’t return the gesture. In fact, she screwed up her face and went to slam the door closed.

“Cruuuuuuuuuz!” The twins came out of nowhere dressed in long john-style pajamas and pushed past their mama to give me hugs. I was already happier than I thought I’d be to even see them, but I was also glad they’d gotten me in so I didn’t have to pick the lock later.

“What’s up? Y’all must’ve missed a nigga.” I laughed as they shouted yes while Keyani rolled her eyes.

“Get back in here, y’all.” She looked pissed but didn’t object when they pulled me inside with them, and I handed over her flowers.

Her petty ass accepted them with two fingers like she’d catch the cooties or some shit.

I let her make it though. She disappeared around the corner as the kids dragged me to the living room, where they had toys scattered all over the floor.

They showed me what each one did, going into meticulous detail, and my soft ass sat there and listened patiently.