Advice

You pretty.. pretty as the devil baby.. your face takes up the room.. you don’t even know it… and you don’t understand it right now.. but.. You Will..

You let people think whatever they wanna think about  you. You know why? Cuz it aint none of your business anyhow. Now how you like det truth? Let people play you small. Men like to have pissing contests, it’s only so much piss, and they’ll end up pissing on themselves. Birrdy said with a deep chuckle.

Keep that mouth closed and Keep them ears open. Listen. Because people will tell on themselves every time. Read between the line young. Their intentions always seep out and if you watch close enough you’ll see it. I will never tell you anything wrong My Baby. This world can and will get hard on you.  You yellow, you pretty with good hair, the men will fall for you and over you every time type. BUT, you have to be smarter than them. Ah nigga will leave you with nothing. Pretty is what pretty does, so what your pretty gon do?

Lola remembered that conversation with her grandmother vividly. Word for word in her thick Chicago southern accent. Clear as day, while they sat in her quint kitchen. Lola was going thru a very awkward time in her life. She went from a chubby preteen adolescence to a curvy beauty that did not look like where she came from. The insults and the fat jokes ceased from her peers and the cat-calls from the grown ass men and fresh ass boys commenced. Lola had a special relationship with her granny. They were kindred spirits. Born under the same zodiac, same numerical day even born on the same day of the week. God gave Birrdy her last child. Not by birth but by spirt. Everything Birrdy knew in her sixty years of living, she poured into Lola. She pour her confidence, her grace, her wit, her love into Lola. “This is a mans world.” Birrdy preached. “But I rather be a woman in it.” As filed her already perfectly manicured nails. Birrdy understood the double standards of men and women, and thrived in it. There was nothing she couldn’t get out of man, from information to his wallet. Birddy knew the ways of the world and gave all her knowledge to Lola. Birrdy knew she was not going to be on earth long enough to subscribe to the “You’ll understand when you get older” school of thinking. She pour everything in her from the time Birrdy laid eyes. Her first grandchild, her “last child”.

“You walk into a room, Own that mafucka” Birrdy  whispered. “Never let anyone know what you know”

Lola thought back to that conversation time and time again. Snapping out of it. Lola rode in the back of the black suburban committed to her thoughts.

“How much longer until we arrive Otis?”

“Fifteen mins Lo.” Otis

Decked out in her vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra collection jewels paired with a hot pink silk suit. The bralette complimented her petite frame. Three diamond tennis anklets adored her ankles. She wore clear hot pink Jimmy Choo mules.  One thing Lola could always do was put some clothes together. In another life, she would have been some highly sought out fashion stylist, giving advice to all the top fashion houses. But not this lifetime, those type of opportunities rarely come around for girls that come from where Lola come from.

Lola was not anxious or nervous for this event. The Old Man Annual End of the Summer Party. She was not even excited. She was more focus than anything. It was her first time being invited, and not the “plus one”. She was on a mission. And that was Expansion. More product, at a cheaper price. Period. Lola was not interested in hearing anything other than yes!

Otis pulled up to the vast estate, greeted by personal valet and security. The valet opened the door and helped Lola out the truck. Prepared for a pat down Lola opened her arm out.

“You’re a special guest Lola, I am here to escort you the party area” explained the security guard.

“Well, escort me then.” Lola held her arm out to interlock with the guard.

Security led Lola to a golf cart, helped her get in and drove her through the estate. Taking it all in Lola thought to herself. I am a long way from the eastside.

The party was in full swing. Very black-tie, very elegant. The servers walked around with fresh seafood hors d’oeuvres, and champagne flutes. Ice sculptures, and custom floral arrangement decorated the vast party area. Lola saw a few familiar faces all industries she partakes in. From the party planner who is the GM of her restaurant, to a few real estate investors which Lola did deals with. 

After a few smiles, and pointless conversations Lola finally spotted The Old Man.

“You never called me after dinner. What is that about? Did you not enjoy yourself?” Faheed questioned.

“I definitely enjoyed our time, however we both know me and interrogations don’t mesh well Fa.”

Just as Lola was ending the interrogation with Faheed. The armed guard from earlier cut in-between the pair to whispher to Lola. “ The Old Man wants a word.”

“Well, lead the way.” Lola replied in the same fashion as she did earlier getting into the golf cart. With grace and poise.

The guard led Lola through the kitchen, and opened what appeared to be a pantry. However the pantry lead down two flight of stairs to an underground chic living space.

“Lola I invited you here because I wanted a word with you. I am very removed from the day-to-day interworking of my enterprise, however enough noise has been made about this beautiful bald blonde bombshell, I just had to see for myself. “The Model” The Old Man boosted.

“Thank you for the compliments. I hope there is no disappointments.” Lola smiled jokingly

“By the way, when you say “the noise” clue me into what the chatter has been?”

“I can not act like there was not an reluctance when you took over Sosa’s territory, but you eased their worries and now, they are singing your praises.” The Old Man explained

“They?” the old man piqued Lola interest.

“Ahhh, you know how these men are.” Dismissive undertone was felt by Lola. Red Flag. 

“No, no I don’t. I don’t deal with men and their egos and shortcomings. Which territory was disgruntled if you don’t mind me asking?” Lola pressed

“If you must push, it was the St. Louis area” The Old Man said as he light his expense cigar.

“Interesting, before or after Milly was put in the dirt?” Lola pushed further.

“Before.”

“Are you sparing the disobedient. The Disloyal?” Lola side-eyed

“Are you really questioning me? Lola?”  

“Questioning? Never! Inquiring about chatter that was chatted. Amongst men with whom I throw rocks at the penitentiary with and some for?” rhetorically Lola questioned.

“Your creative way of thinking intrigues me. The drop process you implicated and the cleaning of our funds. Everything so neat, and organized. I really appreciate the care you take. Thank you Lola.”

“Was this the word you wanted to have with me? Young Man? Privately?” Lola fluttered her delicately places lashes that complimented her doe eyes. Intuition kicked in. I wont have to ask. He’s already ready to give it me. And whatever I require.

This Little Thing of Ours ..