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“You’ve been charging Rah for twelve-ounce portion, Calvin, and delivering eight.”
“Maybe there was a misunderstanding,” he said.
“Nah, there wasn’t. I’m looking at the contract between y’all. And I need my thirty-eight thousand, four hundred and sixty dollars in product.”
“Mrs. King…”
“Two options, Calvin. Product or terminate the contract.”
“If we made it right, would you still do business with us?”
“I’m a woman of second chances. I just don’t believe in third ones.”
“We’ll make it right.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it,” I said, ending the call.
By eleven, I had payroll corrected and signed, denied three dumb ass expense reports, reviewed football season security, signed off on kitchen inventory, and negotiated two new alcohol contracts. The long days and nights always made sense to me, but this was my first full day, and I still had shit to do before the door opened at three.
Another knock at my door.
“Come in!” I yelled.
Shameek walked in carrying two paper bags.
“Grif told on you,” he said.
“I’ve been busy.”
He opened the bag and slid the grilled chicken wrap across my desk.
“You got to remember to take care of yourself when workin’,” he said, grabbing his burger out of the bag.
“I appreciate it.”
“So,” he said, taking a bite of his burger. “They say you’re scarier than Rah.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not trying to scare anyone. I just know how it is when a woman is running a business.”
“Well, they are scared of yo’ ass. Say you be comin’ wit’ receipts and shit.”
“I wasn’t around, but I knew a lot that was going on in this building. Every now and then I would mention something to him, and he would catch it and clean it up. I let Rah run his business how he wanted to. Now, it’s mine, and I’m not going for a lot of the shit that he let slide. Mostly with the vendors and payroll. The staff downstairs are great. But don’t tell them I said that.” I laughed.
“He’d be proud of you.”
“I don’t want to fully erase him from here.”
“This place will always have that nigga linger ‘round.”
Grif tapped on the door as I took another bite of my wrap.
“Atlanta alcohol vendor here.”
“I’ll be down in a minute,” I told him.
“Finish your food, Kyenna. You don’t hop as soon as someone comes.”
I got up and grabbed my blazer. “The sooner I can get them out of my face, the better.”
