Power Read online

  Chapter 9

  Moment Of Clarity

  Alex couldn’t take his eyes off his iPhone. He continued to read Tierney’s text message over and over again.

  I think it is best we don’t communicate anymore. We’re not right for each other and I would appreciate it if you don’t contact me since we can’t ever talk to each other like two adults. Hopefully one day we can be friends, but right now I don’t see it. You have become more of a distraction than a boyfriend.

  Alex didn’t know how to respond. He was surprised that Tierney had the nerve to completely cut him off via text. He was pacing the floor, wondering how they had reached this point. He had known the relationship was finished a long time ago but he thought they were better than this. Alex knew he hadn’t been the best boyfriend in terms of giving Tierney the commitment she craved, but he had treated her good financially and now he felt like she was being ungrateful. He felt a deep anger brewing. The audacity of this bitch cutting me off by sending me some fucked up text. I was the best thing that ever happened to her and this is how she ends things, Alex thought as he shook his head. He stopped pacing, sat down on the barstool and dialed Tierney’s number. There was no answer. He called again. She didn’t pick up, so he sent her a text:

  Look, I know you said you wanted to cut off communication, but after all we have been through together at least we can talk this out. Breakup over text…who the fuck does that to somebody they cared about?

  Seconds later Tierney texted him back:

  Alex, what is there to talk about? I want something that you don’t want. I want to get married. You made it clear that you didn’t want to get married, at least not to me.

  Alex dialed her number again. “What do you want?” Tierney asked when she answered.

  “I want to talk?”

  “About what?”

  “About us.”

  “We talked about us the other day. There is no us.”

  “Who is he?”

  “Alex, there is nothing to talk about.”

  “Who is he?”

  “I’m so sick of you asking me that same damn question.”

  “Let’s meet face to face.”

  “We were face to face the other day, and by the way Alex, don’t come over here anymore.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we aren’t together.”

  Alex stood and walked over to the vast window in his condo that looked out over the city of Atlanta. He knew Tierney’s new man was out there somewhere. He also knew that her new man was holding her down because she hadn’t asked him for nada in the last few months. As much as Alex hated to admit it, that pissed him the fuck off. He hated that Tierney no longer needed him for shit.

  “So all the time we spent together don’t mean shit to you I guess.” She was silent. “You never loved me?”

  “I’ve always loved you. Always will.”

  “What part of love is this?”

  “Alex, I loved you.”

  “Loved? As in past tense?” Those words stung. Although he never planned to marry Tierney, he didn’t want her totally out of his life. She represented a sense of comfort for him.

  “I was in love with you and I loved you. That will never change.”

  “But there is somebody else isn’t there?”

  There was a long pause, “Yes,” she finally admitted.

  “Who is he?”

  “Alex, I gotta go.” Tierney ended the call and Alex called her right back but got no answer. He walked back into the kitchen and re-read the text message. Alex felt powerless to Tierney and to the new man. He didn’t like this feeling. The thing was, he wasn’t sure if the hurt stemmed from his ego being bruised or if it was because he loved Tierney.

  The sound of the security desk calling shook Alex out of his dismal thoughts. There had to be somebody downstairs and he hoped it was Tierney, but he knew that was simply wishful thinking. “Hello?”

  “Hey Alex, Reggie is here to see you,” Joe the security guard said.

  “Send him up.” Alex tried to pull himself together the best he could before Reggie came up, but he didn’t do a very good job.

  “What’s up, Nigga? You look sad, like you lost your best friend,” were the first words out of Reggie’s mouth when Alex opened the door.

  “I’m good.” Alex lied, inviting Reggie in, wanting to deflect from his solemn mood. “So what’s up?”

  “Just letting you know Deion is fucking up and fucking up bad.”

  “What that nigga do now?”

  “He’s dealing with some Mexicans off Old National. He bought some coke from them a couple of days ago?”

  “What Mexicans?”

  “Some people that 2Glocks introduced him to.”

  “He just met them?”

  “Yeah.”

  “This nigga here…I can’t believe this dude,” Alex said, rubbing his chin.

  “I know.”

  “I’ll call him.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “He’ll know that I told you.”

  “I don’t give a damn if he knows or not. I can’t be part of somebody else’s drug conspiracy.”

  “I don’t see how him dealing with somebody else can hurt you.”

  Alex stood and walked over to the refrigerator for a small bottle of lime PowerAde. Reggie’s eyes were on the bottle, so Alex tossed him one. “If you really thought that, you wouldn’t have felt the need to tell me what the fuck he was doing. We don’t know nothing about those Mexicans; this ain’t good.”

  “You right, but I really don’t want Deion to know that I told you about this.”

  “I get that, but this is bigger than your need to stay anonymous, Reggie. I sell drugs, but I’m not a drug dealer.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means my life is greater than this. I’m playing this game to win. Not to lose. This is just a means to an end.”

  Reggie admired how smart and shrewd Alex was. Though he didn’t know exactly what his comment meant, he liked the conviction he said it with.

  “I want a family one day. Not a baby mama, but a wife and a kid,” Alex said wholeheartedly. “And when that happens, I’m gonna be out of this shit for good.”

  “Okay, I understand.”

  “So then you understand why I must confront Deion now before this shit get out of hand?”

  “Yes, but if there is any way that you can leave my name out of it?”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t mention your name.”

  “But he’s gonna know that I told you.”

  “Listen, I got this,” Alex reassured Reggie as he walked him to the door and let him out. Alex then made his way over to the window that had a sweeping view of Midtown. He stared out as he tried to call Tierney once again, but there was no answer.

  * * *

  “Damn this She-crab soup is delicious,” Deion said, as he ate the last bite. He loved the soup at Nordstrom’s, which is one reason he’d decided to meet Passion at the Cafe inside the Department store.

  “Don’t lick the bowl,” Passion said, laughing.

  “I know what I wanna lick,” Deion remarked jokingly, while staring at Passion. She wore a low-cut fuchsia blouse with a white designer scarf that gave her the right hint of sophistication mixed with sex appeal. The slight trace of lip gloss only added to her allure. Deion remembered she was gorgeous but he didn’t think she was this damn gorgeous.

  “I thought you were going to be on your best behavior,” she smiled.

  “You right. But seriously, if you weren’t here, I might have licked the bowl. That’s how good this soup is.”

  “Don’t change things up because I’m here. Do what you normall
y do.”

  “Since we’re supposed to be doing shit normally, you barely ate anything, just nibbled on a salad.”

  “I’m trying to lose weight.”

  “And if you lose that ass, lose my number.”

  “Oh, all I am is an ass to you?”

  “Let’s not forget the thighs, tits, and lips.” Passion looked annoyed by the words coming out of Deion’s mouth. “Come on, girl, you know I’m just kiddin’ wit’ you.”

  “Whatever.”

  “So what the hell is your real name?”

  “It’s Passion.”

  “Quit playin’ wit’ me, you know damn well your mom didn’t name you Passion. Passion removed her wallet then presented her driver license: It read Passion Morgan.

  “Damn! Yo’ mother set you up to shake yo’ ass at the strip clubs.”

  “Well I wouldn’t call it a setup,” she giggled, “but when I had to drop out of Georgia State, I needed to make money some kind of way.”

  “I ain’t mad at you. We all gotta eat.”

  “And what is it that you do, D? And what the hell does the D stand for?”

  “DeMarcus,” he lied.

  “Why are you lying?”

  “I’m not lying.”

  “Let me see your license.”

  “Okay I’m lying.”

  “Why you lying?“

  “My name is Deion.”

  “Why did you lie in the first place?”

  “Well, it’s because I don’t know you yet. That’s all.”

  “Well you know my name. You’re too good to give a stripper your name I guess.”

  “No.”

  “So what is it that you do, Deion?”

  “I manage a couple of rappers and I have my own label.”

  “You and every other hustler in Atlanta.”

  “I don’t hustle.”

  “Hustle is not a bad word and it doesn’t have to be an illegal hustle. That’s where people get it wrong.”

  “That’s true.” He flagged the waitress and ordered another bowl of the She-crab soup. “So when are you going to be my girlfriend?” Deion asked, after his soup came.

  “How is that gonna benefit me?”

  “So you have to be benefiting in order to be my girlfriend?” Deion questioned.

  “Well, a girl needs help every now and then. I have a son to support. I told you that.”

  “I understand that.”

  “So what we gonna do about this?”

  “Basically you looking for an arrangement?”

  “I wouldn’t call it that, but I’m just saying, how is this gonna benefit me personally?”

  “Come to New York with me next weekend,” Deion said, dropping his spoon on the table.

  “Invite me.” She took a swig of her water.

  He stared at her face and realized her eyes were the color of emeralds. Why didn’t he notice that before? Maybe they were contacts, he thought. “I’m inviting you now,” he said, getting his thoughts back on topic. Before he could get her response his cellphone rang so he excused himself and stepped outside the cafe before answering.

  “Hey motherfucker! That money you gave me was counterfeit.”

  “Who is this?”

  “Paris.”

  “Who the fuck is Paris?”

  “Nigga, you wanna play dumb now! You know damn well who I am!”

  “From Onyx?”

  “Damn straight from Onyx, nigga. You gave me counterfeit money.”

  “Why don’t you quit lying,” he stated, wanting to get her the fuck off his phone.

  “I ain’t gotta lie about a crummy-ass two thousand dollars.”

  “Bitch, don’t call my phone no more. He hung up and stepped back inside the café. He flagged down the waitress, paid her, then grabbed Passion and left the restaurant.

  “I enjoyed myself,” Passion said when they got outside.

  “Then I know you’ll have a good time if you come to New York with me,” Deion said, giving her a hug.

  “Maybe, but what about my bag?”

  “We’ll get you one in New York.”

  “I’m going to hold you to it.”

  “You good.” He handed her five hundred dollars. “This is for your son,” he said.

  “You’re making a believer out of me.” Passion folded the money and smiled.

  “Keep fuckin’ wit’ me and won’t nobody be able to shake yo’ faith. You’ll believe in me so much that whatever I say will go.”

  “I think you a little too confident in yourself but you funny as fuck!”

  “And sexy as fuck. Why don’t you admit it?”

  “Maybe just a little bit,” Passion winked, and walked off.

  Chapter 10

  Switch Up

  There was a gray Maserati parked in the driveway of a luxurious home in Gwinnett County. Danny Sullivan had asked Alex to meet him there at 4:45 p.m., but he got there five minutes early. Alex noticed Danny driving up in his pickup truck. He jumped out of his car to greet him. “I thought you would have bought a new car by now,” Alex mocked, as the two men shook hands.

  “The pickup truck is getting me around just fine. I don’t need nothing fancy,” he said, nodding his head in the direction of the Maserati. “Hell, I’d have to buy a new wardrobe if I bought a car like that.”

  Alex looked Danny over—same outfit as last time; jeans, boots, and that country-ass cowboy hat. “You really could use a new wardrobe,” Alex suggested, after doing a final inspection on his attire.

  “What I got on is fine. Some people spend money on the wrong things,” Danny said, brushing Alex’s suggestion off.

  “So whose car is it? I’ve seen those custom rims before.”

  “The architect you saw a few weeks ago at the other property.”

  Alex had to think back for a second. “Oh yeah, the one with the personalized tags on the red Porsche. I remember meeting him. He said he could design me and Tierney a custom home. Seemed like a nice guy. I still have his card.”

  “Yeah Milton is a nice man and he’s done very well for himself.”

  “So why did you wanna meet?”

  “Well, I wanted to show you this home.”

  “Why?” Alex inquired.

  “Because this is another investment opportunity.”

  “I’ve given you as much as I’m going to give you right now,” Alex said adamantly. Danny laughed and lit a cigarette. “I didn’t know you smoked.”

  “I don’t smoke much. But I’m trying to phase ‘em all the way out of my life. Hell, if I don’t, they’re gonna phase me out of life.”

  “That’s for damn sure.” Alex took a step back and fanned the smoke away. Danny dropped the cigarette and stomped it out.

  “What I was trying to say was that this is more of a short-term goal.”

  “Give me the details.”

  “This house is going to sell for a million dollars, but I happen to know they are about to build a highway in the area and this house will probably be worth 1.5 mil in a year or so.”

  “A year ain’t short-term to me.”

  “Alex, buy the house, and I swear to you, you’ll be able to sell three months after you close for 1.3 million dollars. You’ll walk away with three hundred thousand dollars.”

  “I don’t have another million dollars to give you.”

  “You can finance. Give me a hundred thousand. I’ll get you financed for the rest. Once you sell, you’ll walk away with a very nice profit.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Trust me.”

  “So all I need to give you is a hundred thousand?”

  “Yes, and I’ll get you a loan.”
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  The architect stepped out of the house and waved at Danny before jumping into the Maserati. He was a black man that appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties. When he got to the edge of the driveway, he stopped and rolled down the window. “The door is open if you still want to take a look inside.”

  “Hey, I think I will,” Alex replied.

  “Great. By the way, how’s everything going with you? I remember meeting you awhile back.”

  “Everything’s good. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve done with this place.”

  “Let me know what you think,” the architect said, before speeding off.

  “So he designed this house. So far I’m impressed,” Alex stated coolly,

  “Make that the entire subdivision,” Danny stated.

  The home resembled a mini castle. What the architect was able to accomplish with his talent made Alex feel proud to be a black man. “Damn, he’s good.”

  “The best in Atlanta. He flies all over the world designing homes for the rich and famous. Just got back from Ireland after designing a chateau for a couple over there.”

  “That’s why he’s able to drive a Maserati?”

  “Exactly!”

  “I’m surprised he remembered me.”

  “You and your girlfriend must’ve left an impression.”

  “Tierney,” Alex said under his breath, as a feeling of sadness overcame him for a brief moment.

  “Who?”

  “Tierney, my ex-girlfriend.”

  “Sorry to hear the two of you broke up.”

  “I’m better off without her.”

  “Are you really better off without her or are you just telling yourself that?”

  “Trust me, I’m better off without her.”

  “You ready to see what you’re investing in?”

  “Let’s do it.” When Alex stepped inside the mansion, he instantly knew he would be calling this place home.

  * * *