• 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 •

• 43 •

eneaj

As soon as me and Val were settled at the apartment, I got to work on making sure Yenvy wasn't apart of the business concerning my Dallas lounge.

I was typing away on my computer when Milli and Val came from the back.

"We just finna go around the corner and check sumin out, ight," Val told me, coming to give me a kiss on my head.

I pulled her back towards me by the hand of her boxers, "Goin' to check on what?"

"See this the trippin' Yenvy was talkin' bout."

Milli's jaw dropped and I looked up at Val like the fool she was.

"I'm playin'. You can't take a joke," she lightly punched my shoulder. "We checkin' out a lead concern in' the Illiora thing."

"Babe, after the day we just had you wanna do that?" I sighed. I gestured to my computer, "This is frustratin' enough. I don't wanna be worryin' about you out there."

"Ima be fine," she assured me, holding both of my hands. "We just checkin' out sumin small. We gotta stay on top of this before evidence starts to get more confusing. While this issue is still fresh."

"Okay," I reluctantly agreed. I gave Milli a look, "Keep my girlfriend safe."

"Ion think that'll be a problem, ma'am," Milli smirked. "She can hold her own."

"Sure can," Val agreed, going to the fridge and popping out a soda. "Pass me a Sprite too," I told her, focusing back on my computer. "See, it used to be you bossin' motherfucker's around, now the times have changed," Milli laughed, "Pass me a soda too."

Val came all the way over to me and opened my can, giving Milli a smirk. "Go get your own."

"Mannn," Milli whined.

I sipped my soda, smacking my lips loudly, "This is real good, Milli."

"Fuck that soda," she pouted, getting her own can.

"Y'all headin' out?" Jadyn asked, coming from the back. "Me and Peytyn playin' 2k."

"Yeah. Checkin' on something," Val stated.

My eyes were already tired, and I squeezed them a little, sighing and drinking my Sprite.

"I got some more info on..."

I felt the gaze of Jadyn and Val on me before Jadyn continued her sentence. I looked back at my computer, pretending that I wasn't listening. I mean, everybody grew up with adults speaking grown folk shit and them doing that little stare between each other when they was saying shit they didn't want to say out loud in front of the kid. If Jadyn and Val didn't think I noticed that little pause, they some wack ass assassins.

"...so I'll go over that with you when you come back. Just a small hunch," Jadyn finished.

"Ight," came from Val.

"C'mon," Milli said excitedly, "What if we get to drop by Zamal's again?"

"We not staplin' nobody's balls again, Mill," I heard Val say as the front door closed.

The fuck?

I sighed, really focusing on my work again. I needed to get this done. I was gonna cut ties with Yenvy personally and financially.

"You doin' okay, Eneaj?"

I jumped a little, not realizing that Jadyn was still standing there.

"Hm?" I looked at her, pushing my reading glasses up a little.

"I asked if you were doing okay?" she dat down on the edge of the couch, not at all close to me.

"Yeah. I haven't really had time to even...think about everything. I'm just tryna handle stuff. Always tryna handle stuff," I said tiredly.

"Make sure you make time to process things, okay?"

My heart warmed a little at her kindness.

"Thank you, Jadyn." I bit my lip, "You too."

She stopped getting up, "What do you mean?"

"Whatever that's straining between you and Val. Fix that. You guys have real love for each other. You got to, or you wouldn't fuss the way that you do."

Jadyn nodded, seeming to really take that in mind.

"I will."

I had barely gotten a moment for myself from working out the venue details, before it was time for me to head to my club.

Anxiety was crippling my heart as I showered. I'd have to go back in that building. I'd have to face that.

"You okay in there, Eneaj?" Two knocks on the door from Peytyn.

"I'm almost done," I called out.

I know that wasn't what she had asked but...I couldn't really answer that right now. I got out the shower, dried myself off, and threw on a designer sweatshirt that matched the blue of my braces.

I wrapped my braids hair into a ponytail, putting on some chapstick, and leaving the bathroom.

"All yours," I nodded at Pey.

"We all ridin' down to the club, I assume?" I asked Jadyn, seeing her on the couch channel surfing.

"Yeah. Might as well," she shrugged.

Something seemed to be weighing at her, but Val popped up, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Hey," I smiled, finding comfort in the action.

"I want you to fire Jacinth."

"What?" I turned around in her arms.

"I want you to fire Jacinth," she repeated.

"I heard you," I said slowly, confused, "But why? This is mad random, Valerie."

"No questions," she shook her head, "Just fire her."

"Val, I get that you're my girlfriend, but as soon as a certain time hits, you're my employee," I checked my watch, "And that time's right now. And even if it wasn't that time, I'm not gonna fire somebody for no reason, just because you say so."

"She's not who she seems to be, Eneaj," Jadyn said from the couch, her voice stripped of all emotion.

"Okay. Then where's the evidence? Y'all was just laughin' with her less than 24 hrs ago," I stated.

"Some new things came along," Val said, "Just trust us on this, okay?"

"No. Where's the evidence? Fifth saved me last night and she's a sweetheart and she needs the money. I'm not gonna take a job away from her because of," I waved my hand around, "whatever y'all got against her all of a sudden."

Val sighed, tapping Jadyn's shoulder. "Back?"

Jadyn got up, following Val to the back.

I watched them go, frowning, and going to the fridge to make me something before I went to work.