“I can definitely do that.” He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a ring of keys. “You’re two floors up.” We left his office and took the elevator up to the thirtieth floor. “You’ll have to share an assistant, but Patricia is more than capable of handling it. She’s been here for about eight years now.” I nodded and silently listened to him as he pointed out where everything was. It was a Thursday and busy from the looks of it. I caught a few wary eyes on me but nothing to be worried about. Just people curious about the new guy on the team.
We stopped in front of an office that had double glass doors. I could see right inside. I whistled, and Julius unlocked the door then stepped back, allowing me to enter first. I stood in the middle of the empty office and shook my head. It was massive, with a panoramic view that took my breath away. This is what I’d worked for. What I worked my ass off in college for.
“This is wild. I didn’t think my office would look like this.”
“You’re a valuable asset to the company,” he said. “They’re bringing in your desk and putting your name on the door this weekend.” I nodded and turned to face him.
“I appreciate you bringing me up here.” He waved me off and laughed.
“It was my pleasure.” He held his hand out with a key in his palm. “That is yours, Mr. Fields. Once again, welcome to Henley Global.”
“Glad to be here.”
On my way home, I got a call from my uncle asking to meet, so instead of driving back across town, I went straight to him. My Uncle York was sitting on his steps when I pulled up to the home he’d lived in all my life in South Philly.
“Wassup, nephew,” he greeted, the second I was out.
“Wassup, Unc.” I took up a spot next to him and looked around the neighborhood that used to be my stomping grounds during more summers than I can count. “This place still looks the same.”
“The hood never changes. The people might but never the hood.” I nodded. “Your mother is happy you’re home.”
“I’m happy to be home,” I said. “I missed this place. I missed y’all.” He glanced my way, and I saw something in his eyes that I didn’t like. “I’m not about to like the conversation you want to have, am I?” He shook his head. “Lay it on me.” I stared in the direction of the kids playing football in the narrow street.
“Your pops reached out.” I laughed.
“To who? Because I know it wasn’t you.” York would’ve asked to meet up so he could shoot him or something, but my Uncle Umar was the calmer of the two. No matter how angry he got, you would never see it on his face. Most people thought he was the easier one to approach until he had them on their ass without so much as a change in his facial expression.
“Umar,” he said, confirming my suspicions. “Said he wanted to talk to you and asked for your number.”
“I’m good.” There was no need for me to have a conversation with him. He had eighteen years to ask for a conversation. Eighteen years to step up and be a father. He had time, but his time was up when I became an adult and went out into the world. Truthfully, I stopped being interested in a relationship with my father around the time I turned ten. I’ll never forget finding my mother crying and then learning why… that shit broke my heart. I vowed from that day forward to be a better man than he ever was.
“Momma, why are you crying?” I asked, dropping my bookbag on the floor and going to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, baby,” she said, wiping her tears away. “How was school?”
“No!” I yelled, pulling away from her. “Tell me why you’re always crying when I’m not around. I hear you at night too. Tell me.” She didn’t speak for a while, so I voiced what I thought. “It’s because of dad, isn’t it? Ezra said he won’t step up just like his daddy. That he’s a bitch made ass nigga.”
“Roman!”
“What, mama? He is, isn’t he? Ezra’s daddy is just like him.” She smacked the back of my head and stared me directly in my eyes.
“Watch your mouth.”
“Sorry, ma.” I dropped my head, and she lifted it back up.
“I’m upset because I want your father to step up, yes.”
“I don’t need him,” I said, confidently. “I have Uncle York and Umar. I have you. I don’t need anybody that don’t want me.” She shook her head and gripped my shoulders.
“Ezra is rubbing off on you.” I shrugged, and she sighed. “I love you, Roman. Don’t you ever forget that.”
And I never forgot, nor will I ever.
“Is that your final answer?” York asked. I turned to find his light brown eyes on me. “Because if it is, then this will be the last time you hear of it.” I nodded without hesitation.
“That’s my final answer.”
“Now that we got that out the way tell me about your new position.”
“Same shit, different company.”
“The money better though, right?” I smiled. York taught me to know my worth in every situation. If I was leaving one job for another, it better be for more money. As long as I had put in the work necessary at my previous employer, then I had paid my dues. Now it was time that they pay me. And that lesson stuck with me.
“The money is way better,” I confirmed.
“Good,” he said. “I’m proud of you, kid.” Those words alone were enough for me not to need that conversation with my father. Someone was proud of me. The people who mattered most were proud of me, and that was all validation I’ll ever need.
Two hours later, I was home in my apartment, going through boxes wishing that I was doing anything but this. My phone vibrated on the table, and I glanced at it before picking it up to read the text that came through.
Ezra : You still coming out Saturday, right?
Me : That’s the plan. What’s the occasion?
Ezra : If I tell you then you won’t want to come, so I’ll see you Saturday.
Attached to the text was an address. This nigga.
I chuckled, sent off my response, and set my phone down. Knowing my cousin, he was up to some shit, but I guess I’ll have to find out on Saturday.
Me : See you then.
3
W hy had I agreed to this date again?
Every time this man opened his mouth to ask me a question I’d already answered, I cringe.
“So, you five sisters, huh?” I nodded and sipped on my lemonade. Having a drink with alcohol in it didn’t seem appealing at first, but I’m regretting my choice to have a sober night. Eric continued to talk about a project he was working on, and I tuned him out. He was a handsome guy. Skin was as dark as the night sky and blemish-free. His eyes matched, and I can’t lie that caught my attention. Then, he opened his mouth and spoke. His deep tenor had me sold on him, so when he asked for my number, I agreed. When he asked to take me out on a date, I agreed to that too. But now that we’re here, I realize that he’s all looks and nothing else. There was no connection whatsoever, and I was bored out of my mind.
“Excuse me,” I said, standing abruptly. He moved to stand, but I stopped him. “No, you don’t have to get up. I just need to use the bathroom, and then I’ll be back.” I picked up my purse and moved quickly toward the other side of the restaurant where the restrooms were located. Inside, I pulled my phone from my purse and called Lily.