Writer Wednesday featuring Teresa D. Patterson

Good day guys and welcome to another edition of "Writer Wednesday." Today I'll be featuring a good friend of mine who is not only extremely talented but has also been consistently supportive of my movement. Through many of the tough stretches that I go through as a full-time author, she's been there for me to give her advice and encouragement. As a full-time author herself, she understands what i go through and how difficult it can be for me sometimes. I can always count on her to share information and opportunities. Basically, what I'm saying is that she's awesome. I hope you read about her and then show her some love. 

Teresa D. Patterson

Author, blogger, entrepreneur and proofreader

http://www.teresadpatterson.com/

AUTHOR BIO

Teresa D. Patterson is known for writing books in the urban fiction genre that are filled with steamy sex scenes and tons of drama. She also writes erotica, romance, and young adult fiction.

The writer inside Patterson emerged when she was in the fifth grade. Her spelling teacher would have the students choose a title and construct a story that they'd have to read in front of the class. Patterson's stories captivated the class, and they would excitedly anticipate what she would come up with the following week.

Even though Patterson had poetry and short stories published over the years, she didn't become a published fiction author until 2005. Consequently, she learned not to deal with vanity presses and unknown publishers. In 2009, she felt it was time to take her writing career in her own hands and formed Edit Again Publications to self-publish her works.

Patterson has written twenty-three novels. Some of her popular titles are, Project Queen, The Real Hood Wives of St. Pete., They Call Me Mr. G-Spot, and Ex-boyfriend. A Bitter Pill to Swallow, was co-authored with thriller, suspense, and crime novelist, Keith Gaston. Patterson's latest release is All of Me Loves All of You.

Patterson lives in Florida, which is the setting for most of her novels. She has three children.

UNPRETTY SECRETS – SAMPLE

Stacia nodded at Vanessa and went back to braiding her client’s hair. She would be there all night and that was fine with her. She couldn’t stand her living situation at the moment. She just needed to have patience. With only eight hundred dollars in her checking account, she couldn’t really afford to move from her mother’s house just yet. She would try to give it another two months and save every cent she made, but it was getting harder and harder to put up with her mother’s rage.

This morning had been a prime example. She’d left the twins alone long enough to go take a shower and when she’d returned, her mother was giving her the look.

“Stacia, I was kind enough to let you bring your ass back here and to bring your little bastards with you. But I’m not going to tolerate them fucking up my shit,” she snapped, holding out a tube of red lipstick. “That little trifling bitch wrote on my damn wall with this lipstick. What are you going to do about it?”

“I’ll clean it up, Mama. I’m sorry.” Stacia began to tremble inside with fear. Once Grace got crunk up, there would be no stopping her. “I’m sorry,” she apologized again.

“Yes, that you are,” Grace spat, her eyes slanting. “You’re a sorry piece of shit.” Her right hand came up and she proceeded to repeatedly slap Stacia in her face until she was satisfied she’d gotten her point across. “Don’t let it happen again. Keep your little monsters in line,” she hissed. “I shouldn’t have to look after them. They’re yours, not mine.”

“Okay, Mama. I will,” Stacia sobbed, holding her stinging jaw. “I’m sorry.”

“Get out of my sight before I go upside your head again,” Grace growled.

Stacia rushed into the bedroom that she shared with her children. She hurriedly wiped away the tears so they wouldn’t see them. However, they could pick up on the feeling that something was wrong. Both of them went over to their mother and gave her a hug.

“Is grandma mad again?” Titianna asked.

“She’s always mad,” Terry said. “Mama, why do Grandma hate us? What did we do?”

When Stacia stared down into her children’s sad faces, she couldn’t stop the tears from trickling down her cheeks. She didn’t know why Grace Watkins hated her children, but she did know why her mother hated her.

____________________

If you’d like to read Unpretty Secrets, it can be purchased from the following:

Barnes & Noble: http://goo.gl/axy5fd

Google Play Books: https://goo.gl/p4qWTv

Kobo: https://goo.gl/TqdtQq

Smashwords: https://goo.gl/nW1O7A

Paperback copies are available on my website http://www.teresadpatterson.com/

Enjoy reading romantic comedies? Check out my new novel, All of Me Loves All of You. You will never think of pole dancing the same!

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Uninterrupted

I don't often speak about my personal life on here. I don't like to...and I don't feel the need to. I write books but, I don't like turning my life into a reality show to be consumed by anyone scrolling through my timeline. I HAVE to say this though. I thank the Most High for the gift he gave me to express myself with words on paper. I write these to share with you but many of the things I write are for ME. When I zone out, and write my thoughts on paper...I'm able to do that uninterrupted. I don't have simple thoughts, so it takes me a while to fully express how I I feel, or what I think. those of you who enjoy my books have come to love the complexity of the maze that I take you through to express something as simple and common as love. Unfortunately for me, I've never really met anyone who fully understands who I am as a person. (The ones who have come close...I love the most) I look at the way that the movie that is my life has played out. I've met so many talkers who need desperately to unload how they feel, felt or are feeling. I listen. Maybe that's why they gravitate to me. Sadly, I've never met many nurturing listeners, and that's where things go awry. I get frustrated when people make incorrect assumptions about my motives, actions, or feelings. It's more painful than I can find words to describe. I've let go of situations after I realize that this would not change. So, you see...there's a peacefulness to me writing my thoughts down on paper....where I can speak freely and whoever looks at the words are forced to listen. I'm not a perfect person but, I've never done anything in my life out of spite. There have been times when I could have hurt people, deeply....and chose not to. Sometimes I wonder what it's all for when people will demonize you anyway. Then, I remember the gifts that the Most High has given me. My life is not perfect but, it's better than it was. Every day it gets better than it has been. I've always said that "I define me!" I'm just a man trying to do the best that I can. Not everyone will understand me. Not everyone will understand that. Some people are blind because they can only see the world through the prism that they hold up against their own eye, as their own emotions and feelings swirl around inside of it and strip away their empathy, hiding their faults and what they've brought on themselves. People often ask me about relationships and what's personally going on in my life. The great love of my life is a girl from the Bronx that I don't even speak to anymore, 75% because of my own fears and foolishness. There was another from Corona Queens but, I chose someone else over her at a time when I wasn't supposed to. There is another that is so far away that what we had always felt like a fairytale. (See? I'm as imperfect as they come.) I loved them because in their eyes, I could see that they not only listened....but they "Heard me." Many of the things I write in my books, the deep sentiment about love...are tributes to them. On these pages I can write...express how I feel...uninterrupted.

Writer Wednesday Featuring Kai Storm

Good afternoon folks. I apologize for neglecting the blog for a few weeks. As most of you know, I've been tied up finishing two different novels before I LITERALLY end up getting tied up by one of my readers and forced to finish. I have some samples from those books and some steamy short stories that I'll be sharing here real soon. Now that I've explained my brief absence, let's get things rolling with another installment of "WRITER WEDNESDAY." This week, I'd like to introduce you to Kai Storm. After reading her bio and the sample from her novel, please show her some love. Thanks in advance guys.

Author Kai Storm

Author Kai Storm is a new face in the Urban Literary world, has brought us shining jewels called Alani’s Bigger Hustle & Alani’s Hustle Gets Bigger. Kai was born in Panama in 1972 and came to New York in 1981 with her mother. She discovered her writing gift as a junior at Boys & Girls High School when an English teacher gave her an assignment to develop a story from just one paragraph and since then, her pen was hot. Thru the years, Kai continued to write any and everything not only to keep her gift alive but also for therapeutic reasons, either way her pen and paper kept her sane. In December 2007, Kai was working at a hospital as a temp and even though the assignment was over the first week of December the hospital kept her on for two more weeks just so that she would have money for Christmas presents but there was nothing for her to do during those two weeks so she decided to pen the first three chapters of Alani’s Bigger Hustle. Only after she submitted the first three chapters did she decide to write the rest of the book “just to see what I would do with it”, and when she pushed this out, it was nothing but fire!

“This story literally lived inside of me since I was 12 years old, it grew up with me and I knew one day it would be out in the world for all to see, it just had too!”

Kai was first signed to a publishing house in August 2008 and because she was so excited about the whole venture she never fully researched the company and the works they produced and because Kai had her own personal life issues, she never fully pushed for the book to be released. Once things in her life calmed down and she was ready to be published, in October 2010 she discovered the company was not all ready to put out her book and thru Author to Author connections that she made on Facebook, she found a publishing company that was not only ready, they couldn’t wait to sign her on. This company was Twenty First Street Urban Editing & Publishing, LLC and they along with Kai, brought Alani’s Bigger Hustle to life.

When meeting Kai for the first time, you can see the excitement that she has about her book, the confidence and the great work ethic she exudes is intense and the best part of all is that it’s genuine to the core. Kai always has promotional information about her book, upcoming book signings and events and anything she is currently working on, and if you are an up and coming author seeking advice, Kai will go above and beyond to provide all the information you need because “If we supported each other more we could rule the world!”

Kai is not only a writer but also a mom. In 1997 Kai was blessed with her first daughter named Africa who taught her the real meaning of life and responsibility and the lesson was so overwhelmingly beautiful that she had another daughter named Agodess in 2009. Her third daughter Anaya was a wonderful surprise in 2015. All in all, Kai is a woman that is thankful for all her blessings and plans to continue writing as long as she can. Her third novel is promising to be hot thriller; it’s called You Just Don’t Know, it’s written under genre erotica kink and the best part of all….Miss Kai Storm is gracing the cover of her third book! Kai has written contributing stories for a group collaboration book called Sistah’s With Ink Voices as well as another anthology called Lipstick 3 where Kai dropped another jewel called “Love Vibe”. Kai continues to do book signings and events around the country while she writes great reads. Checkout for her collaboration with Black Books Publishing on a anthology called 21^st Century Black Erotica in which she has a hot story called “I am Your Master” and if you haven’t heard the great news, the third leg of the Alani series called La Familia AND a love story called That One Voice are both available for your reading pleasure! SOON TO COME: a very dramatic based on a true story novel called Where’s My Daddy.

Recently because of her popularity online, Kai has been approached by all her fans to start blogging from her sites nattiekai.com and nattiekai.wix.com/kaistormbooks…as she pondered the opportunity she thought of a way to not only blog about herself but to also do features for authors, artists and small business owners. Since the launching of KAI’S AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT it’s been a great success with over 4,000 Facebook likes and an ever rising hit counter.

Kai has also been successful in getting copies of her novels purchased by libraries across the US. For her, knowing that her books exist means that her life will forever be remembered so to speak; her mark is left on the world for years to come!

HERE IS A SAMPLE FROM HER NOVEL, "THAT ONE VOICE":

After getting dressed this morning, as I rode the Metro North I knew exactly what I was getting ready to do and I was completely ready.  Even after signing the contract, giving me the biggest paycheck of my life; I was calm.  As I sat by this digital pedestal, in front of these headphones looking through the clear glass in front of me….I felt naked.  The microphones, ON light taunted me as three men sit across from me behind the glass in the other room.  They were waiting for me to give them the signal.  I just spoke with David and know I told him I was ready and would do everything to make him proud but at this moment; I was scared to death.  The job at hand was to read the snippet in front of me, and be sexual in front of strangers.  How the fuck was I supposed to get through this?  I’ve never done anything like this before but everything that lead me to this very moment seemed so good at the time.  In two days my life changed.  I went from having a stable job which I hated, having a tolerable place to live to being unemployed and on the verge of being homeless.  Not knowing my next move, I took a chance by answering what seemed to me a strange but interesting job ad in the newspaper which lead me to meet an awesomely sexy man over the phone and getting an incredible job offer….something I felt ready for at the time.

        “Jenniffer, do you think you’re about ready or do you need some more time?” Norris asks, as he leans into the microphone.

        His voice brings me back to reality.

        “Um…no, I’m fine.  I just need…would you happen to have a pair of dark sunglasses? If you don’t, that’s fine.  I believe I can…”

        “Of course,” Norris replies, as he cuts me off. 

        “In fact, Gloria has several; one in every color to match her outfits.  I will have her bring you a pair right away.”

        Before I knew it, in comes Gloria; Norris’ receptionist, with the perfect pair of sunglasses.  Dark, wide lenses which covers half of my face.  Looking at the nice pair of sunglasses, I notice the monogram on the side.  Seeing the Gucci emblem, I’m quite impressed.  As I slip on the sunglasses, an immediate level of confidence surges through me.  I look down at the snippet, and remember David’s words during our five minute ‘get ready’ call and my ‘courage’ juices are flowing stronger.

        “After you get off the phone with me, I want you to read the words out loud to yourself; while imagining yourself as naked as you were, in bed two hours ago.  Imagine yourself sitting in that chair, the leather caressing your back and ass, as you read those words.  Now, imagine me behind you massaging your shoulders with gentle but firm strokes.  As your nipples stand up and await my attention, imagine yourself wanting me to slowly reach down and touch your breasts….but I don’t…. Imagine your juices flowing, and your growing urgency for me to respond…but I won’t….not until you finish reading.  Imagine yourself wanting to feel the surge of an orgasm, but instead you hold it for me until the end.  Jenniffer my love, can you do that for me?”

        Closing my eyes, I allow the words to wash over me for a minute; then all of a sudden I feel a presence near me. Almost, as if I felt David himself entered the room.  Opening my eyes under the dark Gucci glasses, I push the SOUNDPROOF button to announce to my awaiting audience that I am ready to go.  Just like that, the feeling of strong, muscular hands massaging my shoulders urged me on, to read the words in front of me.
PURCHASE LINK

Kai Storm, Author of

Alani's Bigger Hustle 

Alani's Hustle Gets Bigger

Alani's Hustle: La Familia

You Just Don't Know

That One Voice!

http://www.nattiekai.com/

http://www.nattiekai.wix.com/kaistormbooks

http://www.21streeturbanediting.com/

Find me on Facebook/Kai.Storm2

Twitter/Alanistory

Instagram/Kaihustler

YouTube/Jennchocostar

Tumblr/Kaistormbooks

I Pay My Dues

Time and circumstances sometimes makes people drift apart. A lot of times it's for the best. Better to go separate ways being cool than staying close and turning into enemies eventually. All the same, I remember every single person that had a hand in helping me get closer to where I'm heading. We might not be as cool as we used to be but, I always remember what they did for me. I stand for that...and always will.

Keith's Website

Crowned Royalty

Crowned Royalty

Love was her vibe and her mind was the temple where I got down on my knees to worship her thoughts. I used my mouth to pray and she felt the strength of my faith. She opened her thighs and let down the drawbridge to invite me to enter her castle. Once I came inside the deepest parts of her keep, the QUEEN who rejected other men’s proposals and rings crowned me KING. She drank from my cup and sealed our bond with love. 

Keith Kareem Williams' Website

Writer Wednesday featuring Carey Anderson

Good afternoon guys and welcome to another "Writer Wednesday." I do these blog features to introduce you guys to other authors and entrepreneurs that are doing their thing and deserve your love and support. This week, I'm very pleased to introduce you to an author friend from the west coast, Carey Anderson. Take a moment to read about her, check out the sample from her novel and show her some love...because I said so.  Enjoy.

Author Carey Anderson

Bio:

Carey Anderson was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. At a very young age she learned that she had a natural gift for storytelling. Carey would entertain her family and friends with stories about anything going on in her life or theirs. 

During a time when everyone begins to ask their selves "who am I" this question was answered for Carey. Her teacher, who brought out all things creative within her, read her story aloud to the class. "Mrs. Dyes assigned a homework assignment to write a story about where Butterflies got their colors. I turned in my tale of how Martin Luther Butterfly helped all the world, and most importantly butterflies, receive their much-needed colors to make the world a wonderful place. At first I was so embarrassed, because I thought everyone would laugh at me and make fun of my story. When I realized they were laughing with me at my colorful story I couldn't put my pen down. I’d write short stories, poetry, journal entries, etc." Carey started writing stories as an outlet for the things going on in her life. Once she was in high school she began receiving extra credit from her English teacher for writing stories during her free time after school and on the weekends. Her English teacher suggested that she look into writing children's books, which she still, may do one day. However, writer's block affected Carey for quite a few years. She would attempt to start stories, but she would never finish them. 

During a really turbulent time in Carey's life she began writing what is now known as The Wallace Family Affairs Volume One Tracy's Complications, on her iPhone just as a little doodle. "I was going through some pretty rough things. My only escape from that reality was to look at my situation and imagine it differently. That's why Volume One starts off like it does. I didn't know it was going to be a story when Tracy started telling her story. Through the encouragement of my oldest and dearest friends my escape took me to a whole world of it's own." Carey wanted to share her stories immediately with the world so she decided to go down the path of self-publishing. 

Quickly after finishing Volume I, Carey began Volume II the story of her life. "I put so many of my family members in that story it's ridiculous!" Carey comes from a large family of cousins, and siblings so having such a large family on Amber or Malcolm's side is not strange or unusual for her. "The Latour's and the Wallace's in a lot of ways are like both of my parent's families, with lots of sprinkles of imagination. Neither side is directly represented in one family, but they're all in there." Again using only her iPhone, Carey crafted this master piece losing lots of sleep because Amber or Malcolm would wake her up to tell her more about their story. 

Thus far Carey's stories have been relatable and entertaining. They have been received well by the public and she looks forward to continuing to entertain you. "I get excited whenever someone reads one of my stories. I wanna know what they think about the characters? Are they entertained? Would they like to continue? So on and so forth. Everyone knows when they tell me they're reading I ask them where they are, and what has happened so far. I love interacting with my readers and discussing my characters as if they're real people. One of my biggest debates is the visual reference to what my characters actually look like. I see my character one-way, and my Rough Riders will see them another sometimes. The other debate is, once you've finished Volume Two Part 1 & Part 2, are you #TeamMalcolm or are you #TeamDwayne? I love to see this debate play out amongst my readers. I try to stay as neutral as possible, because I have love and affection for the two of them." Make sure you drop Carey a line and let her know whether you're #TeamMalcolm or #TeamDwayne, she loves to hear her reader's answers to this question. If you haven't done so already, check out Carey's stories on Amazon. You can either search "Wallace Family Affairs" or simply click on one of the links on the right.

Make sure you sign my Guestbook, and subscribe to my page.

http://www.facebook.com/careythewriteranderson

http://www.amazon.com/author/careyanderson

http://www.twitter.com/careythewriter

1st Chapter - No Regrets

Chapter 1

                                                                                                                   
"The usual?" I asked him.
He gave me a funny look. "Usual?"
"Yes, it varies depending on your mood but normally you order the pineapple peach smoothie. Sometimes you'll order a strawberry banana smoothie, but that's normally when you're kind of sentimental. I haven't put my finger on what triggers your chocolate peanut butter mood yet."
He didn't smile; he stared at me for a minute like he was taking everything I said in. He looked at the menu, and then he rolled his eyes and looked at me. "I'll take the chocolate peanut butter smoothie." There was no smile or friendliness in his tone. He watched me for a minute then he paid for his smoothie. 
Everybody else is scared of him; Shelly always breaks out in a sweat when she sees him coming. She says he's really scary. He's not so scary to me; actually, I think he's sexy as all get out. He's not like these goofy boys who run around here like kids. He always looks like he's thinking about something. "Someone will call your name when your order is ready." I said
He stood over to the side to let the next person order, but his eyes stayed stuck to me. I blushed cause I didn't know what to do. I wanted to get his attention, but now that I have it what am I supposed to do? 
Shelly volunteered to take the rest of the orders so that I could make the smoothies. I knew she was trying to avoid making his smoothie cause she was that scared of him. So I decided to upgrade his smoothie to the largest size since I was making it. I turned around and I handed him his smoothie with a straw. "Here you go Derrick." I said with a smile. 
"Thank you Chantel." He said then he walked away. 
I was speechless; I didn't know he knew my name. I didn't have a nametag on and I never wore one here. How did he know my name? I looked at Shelly who was now wide eyed and scared. She said something had to be wrong with him. I didn't think so, but now I definitely wanted to know how he knew my name. 
At the end of my shift, Shelly, Cadence, and I wiped all the machines down and closed up our station within the food court of the mall. Like clockwork, my brother Cyrus was there to pick me up. He worked in the shoe store on the other side of the mall. We both had two jobs here. I worked at the Smoothie Stand and Travel and Beyond, a luggage and travel store. Cyrus worked at the shoe store and the movie theater. Like a good big brother, he always watches over me and makes sure I'm taken care of. Most times, it's like we're all we have. Our mother works and works, when she isn't working she's resting. When she isn't resting she's working. Our father is there, but he's so selfish and self-centered we'd be better off without him. I don't know why our mother keeps him around; I guess she loves him even though loving him has gotten her nowhere. Cyrus and I do our best to ignore them and stay out of their way. We practically raise ourselves. Our mother doesn't have time and our father could careless. 
Cadence gives all of us a ride home. Even though Cadence is older than Cyrus by a good four years, her obvious crush on him was ridiculous at times. I didn't say anything though, cause if I needed a favor her open relationship with my brother worked to my advantage. Cyrus liked Cadence enough, but he wasn't really feeling her. He just went a long with it because he's a horny teenager. 
"How does he know your name?" Shelly asked
"I have no idea. Maybe he was checking me out." I said with a smile. 
"Oh come on. A guy like that checking you out? Get real."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Cyrus asked upset for me. 
"Don't get mad Cyrus. You gotta see this guy. Tall, dark, scary, and handsome. He's way out of all of our leagues." Shelly said matter of factly. 
"Speak for yourself! My sister can have anyone she wants!" Cyrus barked. I thanked him with my eyes. 
"Whatever! If you guys wanna live in a fantasy world, where guys like that want girls like us go ahead. But I live in the real world." Shelly said
"Shelly you could never be on my sister's level! Stop trying to tear her down to be as pathetic as you!" He was mad. 
"Ok guys! Let’s drop this." Cadence said trying to be the peacekeeper. 
"Tell her to stop putting my sister down. Just because nobody would want her gives her no right to talk about my sister like that." 
"Shelly you are out of line." She said
"Whatever Cadence you're only siding with Cyrus cause you're hoping to get lucky tonight. But you guys know I'm telling the truth." Shelly said
"No one said he was interested in me. He could've been checking me out because I knew his name. I was just saying I don't know how he knew my name is all."
"You don't have to apologize to her cause some guy was checking you out. Forget her!"
"Cyrus..." Cadence whined.
Cyrus rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying!"
"Well tell me how you really feel." Shelly said insulted. "Just because Cadence swings from your nuts doesn't mean you're all that Cyrus!"
"I do not!" Cadence gasped.
"You're just jealous! If I wanted to smash you right now, I could. You've been wanting me since you were in grade school." The car fell silent. Shelly had nothing to say to that not even a denial. Cyrus laughed but we all remained silent. Shelly got out of the car without uttering a word. 
Cadence grabbed Cyrus' hand as she drove us home. When we got to our apartment, I got out of the car and I went inside. Cadence was in heat; so there was no telling when Cyrus was gonna come inside. 
When I came in the door, my mother was in the kitchen heating up leftovers. "Where's your brother?"
"Outside talking to Cadence." I said as I sat on the couch to finish my homework. 
"Your father said you didn't sweep the floor last night when you did the dishes." I didn't respond I kept my eyes on my homework. Cyrus and I did everything in there. All he did was knit-pick over everything we did. He was no help or example of how to do anything other than use somebody. "Make sure you sweep the floor." She said as she walked to her room. 
Two hours later Cyrus came inside as I put my things away. He didn't look at me; he went straight to the kitchen. "If you don't like her why do you have sex with her?" I asked. 
Cyrus shrugged, "just cause." Then he looked in the fridge. "What happened to the shrimp and pasta? There's only a little bit left."
"Ask your mother and father, I saw her in the kitchen when I came home." I said
"I had my mouth ready for that. I can't wait until we're out of here, no longer slaving for them." He said. I put my finger up to shush him. The last thing we needed was for them to hear us. 

*******

I was sitting behind the cash register working on my homework when I heard the bell chime that I had a customer. I put my book down and I stood up to greet my customer. My knees got weak when I saw him. "Hi" I said sounding completely surprised. 
"Hi" he said not smiling or anything. 
"How can I help you?" I asked not knowing what else to say. 
His eyes were scanning the store. "I need something for my father."
"Ok, does he travel a lot? Did you have luggage in mind or something more personal?"
"I was thinking something more personal."
"Is it for a special occasion?" I asked
"No, just because."
"What does he like?" I asked
"He's a lot like me; he likes nice stuff but nothing flashy." He said
I loved the sound of his voice. It was deep, but not startling deep. "How about a wallet, a flask, a money clip, or a brief case?"
"That sounds good, show me all of them." He said
"Is there a price range you want to stay within?" I asked as I led him to the left side of the store. 
"No" he said.
Then Mona walked in the store. She was the owner's daughter and my supervision during my shifts. Normally she stayed on the phone or visited with her friends when they stopped by. Any customers that came in the store I was expected to assist them. She was walking towards the back, but slowed down when she saw Derrick. I was hoping she would keep moving, but I could tell she was curious about him. She walked to the counter and sat on my stool. She leaned on the counter watching us. Her top was loose so all you saw were breast when you looked at her. I showed Derrick our wallets; he picked a genuine leather one that was soft to the touch. He picked a flask and money clip that he wanted engraved with his father's initials. He said he would think about the briefcase some more. I got excited cause that meant he could possibly come back even after he picks up his personalized items. "I'll ring you up." I said motioning for him to follow me to the register. 
When we got to the register, Mona sat up. "I'll ring him up. Go unpack those packages we got in today." She ordered. 
I knew she wanted the opportunity to flirt with him, but also she wanted to take credit for my sale like she did with all my high-ticket purchases. "Can I ring him up, then do the unpacking?" I asked wanting to stand up for myself on this one. 
Mona's face turned evil. "You heard what I said!" She said through clinched teeth. 
I started to walk to the back, I was thinking of how good it was gonna feel keying her car and or busting out one of her taillights like I've done before. "Hold on." Derrick said in my direction. I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "Don't you get commission?" I shook my head yes. 
"Kind of but not exactly. She hasn't been making her sales goals, so she's on her way to being fired anyways. It's not a big deal. I can give you a discount for the inconvenience."
She was so busy talking and removing tags that she didn't see his eyes turn evil. "How much of a discount?"
"I can take thirty percent off." She said still not paying attention. 
"Naw! I'm good!" He started walking towards the exit. 
"Wait! Why?" Then she looked at me. "Did she offer you a bigger discount?"
He walked back to the counter; she finally noticed his evil eyes. "No, I was willing to pay full price. I liked the way she conducted business. You on the other hand are not trust worthy. I wouldn't spend anything in this store, and from now on, you can kiss your regular customers goodbye. Nobody's coming in here any more."
"What? Why? Just because I told her to go unpack some boxes?" She looked like she wanted to cry. 
"I don't like the way you conduct business, you aren't to be trusted."
Then she sighed, "oh whatever little boy! You can't threaten me! A year from now my business will still be alive and thriving. You on the other hand will be outside begging for quarters." She said dismissing him. 
"Chantel!" His voice boomed when he called my name. 
Mona and I both jumped. "Yes?" I said nervously. 
"Get your stuff; you don't work here no more. This place is going out of business. I got a job for you."
"Ooh! Scary! Too bad that job will only be in his lap. Go on if you're stupid." She said dismissing the whole thing. 
I wasn't sure if what Derrick said was true or not, but I didn't have to take her treating me like this. I figured I'd find a job somewhere else in this big ole mall. I started grabbing my stuff. Mona huffed and said I was completely dumb for following him. I'm not gonna lie, I did feel a little stupid. But if I stayed after this, she would only treat me worse. When I had my things, I stopped behind Derrick waiting for him to lead the way. Then Derrick rattled off a phone number. "Robert K right? I'll call him and let him know why his business is failing." Then he started walking. 
"How do you know my father's number?" She yelled.
"Only a fool underestimates a stranger!" He said then he walked out the store, with me on his heels. He slowed down so that I could walk next to him once we were in the mall. "Stuff like that happens all the time doesn't it?"
I shrugged, "yeah but it’s no big deal. I would've gotten her back later."
"How so?" He pointed his eyes at me. 
"I didn't have an exact plan yet. But I would've figured something out." I said
"Let's go tell your brother where you'll be working on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays."
"You know my brother? How do you know my schedule?" I asked
"I know a lot of things. Come on..." He said leading the way to the theater. Cyrus was emptying the trash at the entrance when we walked up. "Hey D-Rick what's going on?" Cyrus said not realizing I was with him. 
They shook hands, "nothing much. We just wanted to let you know that your sister just quit over there at the travel store, she's gonna work for my father at the Mitigated Staffing Services remote office here in the mall." He said matter of factly. 
"O....k.... I guess I'll see you there in a little bit." Cyrus said to me. 
I had serious butterflies in my stomach as I waved bye to Cyrus and walked away with Derrick. "How do you know my brother?" I asked
"I know a lot of people for a lot of different reasons." He said. I guess that was supposed to be an answer. I decided to accept it for now. He held the glass door open for me when we got to the office space. An older Grandma looking lady was sitting at the receptionist desk. "Ms. Laverne this is Chantel. She's gonna assist you on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays." Derrick said
"Hello baby, how you doing?" She said getting up to give me a hug. 
She seemed like she was a sweet lady. "Hello" I said
"You can sit at this desk." Derrick pulled out the chair. I sat down. "You can put your stuff in the drawers; this will be your desk."
"Thank you." I said feeling somewhat funny about being here. 
"Ms. Laverne can you give her a little orientation and show her what you need her to do. I gotta call Malcolm and tell him she's here."
Then a bigger and blacker man walked in the door, his face was even more serious than Derrick's as if that could be possible. His eyes were stuck on me. "Malcolm we just said your name." Ms. Laverne said
"Did you now?" He said, his voice was a lot deeper than Derrick's.
"Malcolm this is Chantel." Derrick said plainly. 
Malcolm finally looked at someone else. "So what's the story?"
"I went in, she's here." Derrick said
Malcolm looked at me, his face was serious. "So I guess this means you have a plan." Malcolm said walking to the back. Derrick walked with him. 
I exhaled, Ms. Laverne laughed at me. "Oh honey you can relax. If you're here that means you're good people."
"It does? How would they know.”? I asked
"Trust! They do their homework. Come on let me show you around." She said
Ms. Laverne showed me around the office. There was a bathroom, offices, a conference room, a small kitchen, and a room she called the mailroom. There was a ton of mail slots on the wall. She said some staff members drop by to pick up their mail. She told me to continue to dress like I was now. Slacks and a blouse. She said on Saturdays I could wear jeans. After talking to me for a while she smiled at me and said I was gonna fit in nicely around there. I smiled because I had no idea what she meant. I felt like I just joined a secret society without knowing I was signing up. 
"How did you end up working for Derrick?" Cyrus asked as we made our way to the bus stop. 
"It all happened so fast, I can't really tell you." I said scratching my head. 
"Be careful, I don't know if I like you working there." Cyrus said thinking about it. "D-Rick is cool and all, but I hear things about him and his family. You remember Pearla?" I nodded, "that's his cousin."
"She's crazy!" I said wide-eyed. 
"I know! But as crazy as she is, she doesn’t jump bad with him, but then again remember Tim on my baseball team? That's his cousin too."
Boy, do I remember Tim. I had the biggest crush on him when my brother was playing. Tim was Asian and black and SO FINE! Tim was always respectable, well mannered, and focused on the game. He never knew I existed. His sister Tina was stuck on herself though. A little boy crazy, but you know how gorgeous girls are... It is truly a small world. I wondered how they all interacted. Was Derrick crazy like Pearla, or disciplined like Tim? And why did he notice me when he could've brought anyone in this office? As I was lost in my thoughts, I realized my mind had wandered off and Cyrus was now blank staring at me. I guess he said something when I stopped listening. I smiled a guilty smile at him. I was getting ready to say something when a beautiful old school car pulled up next to us. Both of us looked into the car. "Get in," Derrick said.
Cyrus looked at me like I did something wrong. I shrugged and then walked to the car, it was cold and dark. I knew he didn't want to be out here no more than I did. I got in the backseat. "Thanks man!" Cyrus said. 
"No problem." Derrick said glancing at me. "Why don't you have a car?" That question was for Cyrus. 
"Can't afford one right now. The bus works fine, sometimes we get rides."
Derrick nodded his head. "I hear you. You going to school after graduation?" Derrick was heading towards our apartment even though neither one of us were directing him. 
"Naw! I gotta get a job. I gotta move out as soon as I can. Saving as much money as I can right now. I might loop back around and take some classes later though." Derrick nodded his head like he understood. "You going to school?"
Derrick exhaled, "yeah. I'm going." He said like it was no big deal. 
"Must be nice." Cyrus said
Derrick glanced at Cyrus, "do you wanna go?"
"Yeah! I'd be a fool not to want to go. But school wasn't in my parent's plan for me. I gotta make my own way." Cyrus said sounding defeated like he normally did when it came to our parents. 
"What about her? She always got her nose in a book, she going?" Derrick asked Cyrus like I couldn't speak for myself. 
"We're hoping for a scholarship." Cyrus said 
Derrick pulled in front of our building. "It's no problem to bring you guys home when you don't have a ride." Derrick said
"Alright man, thanks." Cyrus said
When Derrick drove away, we asked each other at the same time how he knew where we lived. Cyrus said he probably got it off my W-4 when I filled it out. I guess he's right. 
Cyrus asked me if Derrick flirted with me, and I told him no. Derrick didn't even really look at me except that time when I told him about his smoothie order. 

*******

Our plan is to move out as soon as Cyrus graduates from high school, he says he's not leaving me to fin for myself while our dysfunctional parents forever ruin me. So I take my usual sixty dollars off the top, and then Cyrus and I put the rest of our money in our savings account to save for a deposit when we move out. We've been working on this plan since we were in middle school. We have over five thousand saved combined. Our parents only do what they have to for us, it’s like they said lets have two kids, then afterwards they changed their minds. The basic necessities we have, a roof over our heads, and beds to sleep in. ANYTHING else we have to provide for ourselves. And since it is their house, anything we have that they may want they take. So if I cook the groceries I bought using their stove, electricity, or refrigerator it is their right to help their-selves to it. Even if they eat it up, it doesn't matter it’s their house. Even my clothes the little bit that I have. Since my mom and I are about the same size, she helps herself to what I have and if she ruins it or decides to keep it for herself, I can't say nothing it’s her house. They have to know we aren't staying here, and I really don't think they care all that much. As long as they don't get any bills behind us, they could careless. 
I love working at Mitigated. I quit my job at the Smoothie Stand once Ms. Laverne said I was doing such a good job and she recommended that Derrick tell his father to give me a raise. I was expecting something like a twenty cent an hour raise or something like that. But they gave me four dollars more an hour, which made my take home more than what I was taking home from both jobs and still only working the days I worked. Cyrus suggested that I quit the Smoothie Stand and stick with the one job so I could have more time to study, work on my projects, and rest. I wanted to argue that we could stack that much more money faster if I kept both jobs. But the idea of going to bed like a normal person was appealing to me. Sometimes I would be up until all hours of the morning finishing school work, only getting a catnap and then rushing to school and then work. So I decided to take Cyrus' advice and my energy level at school has tremendously increased.
Malcolm still hasn't warmed up to me yet although Ms. Laverne says he has. I can't tell, he says… "Chantel" when he walks in the door. He nods at me, and then he goes to his office. Sometimes I hear Ms. Laverne back there talking to him, going on and on about whatever, and laughing at her own jokes. The way she comes out of there you would swear he was back there laughing with her too. I don't get it, but it’s none of my business. It’s not like he comes in everyday or anything. Sometimes a couple of weeks go by and then boom, there he is. He goes in his office; sometimes he conducts meetings in the conference room. One time I suggested to Ms. Laverne that we order snacks for his meeting and have them set up before the meeting started. When he went in the conference room he called Ms. Laverne in there, they closed the door. I thought he was mad about the snacks. I was sitting there panicking thinking I overstepped my boundaries, but Ms. Laverne came out and said that Malcolm loved the snacks and he was very thankful for them. I was SO confused I thought he was mad. That night when Derrick came out of the meeting he told me I did a good job too. 
Cyrus keeps asking me if Derrick flirts with me or anything and I keep telling him no. Derrick talks to Ms. Laverne and I, but he doesn't flirt with me. Sometimes I catch him looking at me, but he doesn't do anything. Its more like he's thinking and happens to be looking in my direction, and then I look at him. I've seen his girlfriend, and of course she's beautiful! She seemed nice enough, who am I to judge? Derrick made sure he introduced her to me though. She kind of looked at him funny when he did it. It did seem like I was somewhat important, but I told myself to not put more on it than there actually was. Ms. Laverne smiles at me all the time whenever Derrick comes around. I ignore her hoping she's just assuming I like him and that she can't tell that I actually do like him. I try very hard to keep that to myself. I haven't even expressed that to Cyrus, although I think he knows too. As long as no one tries to confront me on it, it’s all-good.