I slowly shook my head and closed my eyes, then began flowing with the first verse.
Shit in my past done came back to haunt me
It’s threatened the security I felt with you
You don’t have the slightest clue what’s up with me
Even though I’m a woman, I just wanna protect you
Your heart is pure, baby, a rare treasure
I wanted to be on that same level
But at the same time, I don’t wanna hurt you
I don’t want you to feel like you fucking with a devil
Come back and shake the fuck out of me until I see things your way
I hate the way I tried to piss away our future together
Forgive me and tell me you understand me, despite my bullshit
Tell me that we can make our love last forever
By the time I finished the last verse, Noah yelled, “Hell yeah! That was it! This gon’ be a single, shorty!”
I smiled, still marinating in the words that had fallen from my soul.
“Yeeeeeeaaaahhhh!”
When I heard RJ’s voice, I opened my eyes and laughed. He was looking like that ‘hype me up’ dude with the way he was swinging his arm. I definitely had to call Graham as soon as I got to my hotel room tonight. I still had more work to do before I left. This was my calling . . . my purpose. I had never been pushed to create from the depths of my soul like this. I would cherish this session for as long as I lived.
Glancing around at the roses in the room, I knew I owed Graham an apology, along with everyone else. They didn’t deserve my disappearing act. They deserved an explanation.
“Let me hear it!” I said as I came out of the booth.
They both laughed as I flopped on the couch, and Noah started the playback. I closed my eyes and soaked up my love for a man I had no intention of getting attached to. I just hoped he could forgive me.
“So,what’s going to happen is Graham Taylor will be offered his job back, and Ross Stanton should be fired instead.”
Ross was sitting there quiet as a fucking church mouse. My mama was advocating for me with other investors and owners. Ross had no clue who I was connected to. She’d even gotten Noah on call, showing his support for me getting my job back. Aunt Sonya was here with us, along with Sharee, Exodus, and Shane. My dad, Uncle Shawn, and Uncle Corey were also here. They were all investors. Although Uncle Corey had his own private jet, he also invested in this airline. That man was loaded.
Uncle Corey was married to my dad’s sister, Aunt Erica, but he was also Nick’s dad. Nick was his son through his first wife who was now deceased. Since I’d been grown, Nick had told me that Uncle Corey was like,hell naw. I will beat yo’ ass if you start acting like him.I didn’t blame him. He didn’t need me rubbing off on Nick. I didn’t think Nick could be anybody otherthan who he was though. Even at ten years old, he was sick of my ass too.
“Missus Taylor, we had no idea that Graham had gotten fired.”
“I know. That’s why I asked for this meeting instead of taking things to court. That man doesn’t like Graham. I can think of a few reasons why,” she said, then stared right at him.
I swore Ross looked like he was about to shit a brick. He was red as fuck, too. I wanted to laugh, but I averted my gaze to one of the owners. All the owners were Black, but they hired diversely. They needed to do like the government and people in high positions were doing us. They were doing their best to completely disenfranchise us daily. If we were slaves again, they would be just fine with that.
“Can I say something?” Ross asked.
Everyone turned their attention to him. He cleared his throat, and his white ass looked to be sweating bullets. I wanted to laugh again, but I somehow kept it together.
“The negative light that Mister Taylor’s actions cast on the airlines deserved harsh actions.”
“You can stop right there, Mister Stanton. I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. You believe your actions were just. You’re fired, sir. The formal termination letter will be sent to your email and your mailing address. Have a great day,” another owner said.
