Charmed By A Steel City Hustler
Chapter 20 — On the Path to Greatness

Lola:

"Lola your portfolio is impressive. I can't believe you have been out of the business for two years. Do you have young children?"

Vonda, the owner of In Style Salon, asked as she was flipping through the binder. I politely told her no. What the hell kind of question is that to ask someone? Kids were not at the top of my to-do list right now.

I looked around the shop, and it was nice. This shop was top three in the area and future competition. My father always said that a worker bee will always make the next person more money. Eventually, everyone needed to step out and become a queen.

Vonda gave me the tour and introduced me to all the employees that were on staff today. I knew right away that Erica was going to be a problem. She was ghetto as hell and ran her mouth too damn much. She reminded me of my old clients. In the hour that I was there, I damn near heard her entire life story, and I was less than fifteen feet away. She was bumping her gums to a client about her latest man. All I could do was shake my head at the fuckery and thank God that I was married.

The booth that I was getting was in the middle of Erica and Vonda. That was not optimal, but I could not be choosy. I finished the paperwork and shook her hand. This was the first step in reinventing myself. I grabbed my things and stepped out the door.

I had been stashing money in a secret account that my husband didn't know about. Bash was not pulling a fast one on me at all. He had been saying and doing all the right things the past few weeks, but I knew better. Our sex life was different like he was just fucking to make me happy. His sex faces were no longer emotional just determination. He was eating and sucking all over my body, but there was no intimacy.

I sent a text to my sister to see if she wanted to have lunch with me. We had been speaking but still not back to where we used to be. Lois was on some new path of self-discovery that didn't include anyone else. Lois replied that she was leaving out the office now and to meet her at Bob's BBQ Shack.

I googled the place, and it was about a ten-minute walk from where I was. I was uncomfortable leaving my vehicle parked at the shop. Just my luck some clients get to fighting, and my shit gets fucked up. I pulled off and did a quick scan for an open meter and found one across the street from the restaurant.

Lois was getting out of a company service car as I was walking across the street. My sister really did have life made in the shade. I called out to her waving my hand, and she turned around and returned the gesture.

We embraced briefly once within arm's reach and then went inside. This restaurant was packed with people of every damn race. I had never eaten here before, and I was obviously missing out. We were seated soon as Lois gave her name to the hostess.

This was a nice spot, and it was clean as hell. Many of the employees were black and professional in appearance. I loved my race, but we fell short in the work department on so many levels. A waitress came over to greet us. "Hello, ladies how are we doing on this gorgeous afternoon."

"Great."

"Just fine and you."

We responded and placed a drink order and appetizer. I could barely hold in my excitement, so I just spewed the news out to Lois. She clasped her hands at her chest and shrieked out a bit. I know the other patrons were looking at us crazy as hell.

"Lola that is such great news to hear! I am so proud of you sis. I never doubted that you would replace your path. That is really great."

"Yes, it is although I am not sure if it will be enough to save my marriage."

Lois began to choke on an onion ring after that came out of my mouth. I have no idea why she was so surprised after our last conversation. I wanted Bash, but not if he was going to continue to be withdrawn and secretive. Lois' breathing had returned to normal and asked why. I filled her in on the past few weeks of my marriage, the mind-blowing sex, great vacation and even my secret bank account.

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Lois was very shocked at that reveal. We were sisters and did not hold anything from each other. Our entrees had arrived by the time I finished my story. The ribs, backed beans, macaroni, and corn bread smelled amazing on my plate. I said a two-word prayer then dug in.

"Sis I am not going to judge you at all for securing your future. The way these men are set up now you don't have a choice. I thought for sure the two of you were back on the right path. I have been looking over applications for law school and settled on my top three to apply."

I had a mouth fool of food but gave a hearty grin. I was sure that Lois would fall back into routine with Adonis. I was wrong dead wrong about that. Going to school for law was always her passion. We continued to talk about the future while

we ate.

Lois offered to throw me a celebration party on my new job with her over enthused ass. I thought it was a bit too much it's not like this was my first gig or anything. I had no problem with it because she threw the best events. I asked her to come back to the house with me so that we could discuss the details in depth.

Lois and I had very different tastes in fashion, decorating and food. She would go for upscale elegance with a touch of cultural food. Hell no! I needed a mixture of ghetto and laid back because stunting for the next person was not in my wheel house.

"I do have some paperwork to file before the end of business today. I will come over soon as I am done how about that?"

I nodded my head due to cornbread being stuffed in my cheeks. I looked like a squirrel storing away nuts. How the hell had I never eaten at this damn place before? I placed an order for take-out as we were paying for the check. Bash was a sucker for good barbeque and a side of sweet tea. We got up from our table and went to the counter to await my order, and a familiar face walked through the door. "Caesar, hey how are you doing?"

Bash's business partner had stepped through the door with some hood rat on his arm. He was straight street and fine to boot. We had met a few times at the bar when I would stop in.

Bash did not like bringing me around any of his associates for my own protection he would say. I always attributed it to him not wanting them to try and fuck. The way he looked at my sister and me had me thinking something else entirely.

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"Lola hey what's up and Lois, right? I knew you looked familiar the other day. How are you doing?"

How the hell did Lois know Caesar? He was from the side of town she dared not step foot on.

"I am just fine. Thank you. How about yourself?"

Lois said eyeing the woman on his arm. The chick seemed to be irritated we were taking up his time and attention. This hoe was clearly stupid as she didn't check the enormous rocks on our fingers. Caesar was fine but damn sure not my type. He was the right hand not the head of the organization. I could not lower myself to date the help. My food bag was placed on the counter, and we said our goodbyes and left out. Soon as we stepped outside, I asked Lois how she knew him. "He is a friend of Nise. I met him at her condo the other night. Given what we just saw he is friendly with everyone."

I held my tongue on the response that I wanted to give. Caesar got around I heard a few stories about him. If he was hoeing around on that ghetto stuck up bitch Nise. Then that was the laugh of the day for me.

I hated her for so long, and it had not faded. Nise was not too street smart if she was messing around with a community dick fool like Cease. I got into my car and started it up banging that new Kevin Gates. Today was a damn good day and would only get better.