Page 39 of The Richest Gangstas in the Room
"Speaking of the streets," I said carefully. "Gizmo getting killed last night, just made shit so crazy out here. I know it’s gon get ugly.” The temperature around our table seemed to drop ten degrees. Sosa's face hardened, and Shaunie went very still, her eyes darting between us.
"Yea shit bout to go up," Sosa said flatly. "They gon find the muthafucka who pulled the trigger, you know news in the hood travels fast."
"Jamie's a mess," I continued. "His whole family is devastated. I was just at his mama's house earlier."
Sosa leaned back, his expression unreadable. "And?"
"And? Why you say it like that?” I snapped. “I thought you might care, considering you and Gizmo had business together sometimes."
"Honestly Big sis, Fuck Gizmo," Sosa said with such sudden venom that my mouth dropped open. "And fuck Jamie too."
"Sosa!" I glanced around, lowering my voice. "What the hell? His brother just died."
"And you crying over it like Gizmo was some saint," He shot back. "That nigga was a snake, Zu. Playing both sides, stepping on toes, thinking he was untouchable. The streets got their own way of handling shit."
"That's right," Shaunie chimed in, nodding like she was some kind of street philosopher. "These niggas think this game a joke until it ain't funny no more."
I stared at them both, disgusted by the hypocrisy. "That's rich coming from you, Ma. You acting like you some wise elder now when everybody know you used to be the most snaked out one out here.” Shaunie's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Watch your mouth, lil’ girl. Just 'cause I let you talk slick don't mean I won't check yo’ ass."
"You gon’ check me?" I laughed. "Please, not now or ever, will you ever check me. I’m not a kid anymore Shaunie."
"Man, Y’all chill the fuck out," Sosa cut in, his voice dropping to a quiet tone that was more effective than shouting. "What's done is done. Gizmo made his bed, but I want you to stay far away from whatever Jamie lame ass might be thinking about doing. That nigga ain't built for revenge, but I know grief makes people do stupid shit."
The truth of his words hit me hard. Jamie wasn't street-smart like Gizmo and Sosa. If he tried to avenge his brother, he'd likely end up dead too, leaving our son fatherless.
"Now," Sosa continued, "back to my offer. The starting salary is eighty thousand, plus bonuses. You'll have full creative control over the rebranding, hiring decisions, everything. I just provide the capital and connections."
I nearly choked on my drink again. "Eighty thousand? You serious?"
"Dead ass," Sosa replied. "I need someone I can trust, and who’s smart enough to make this muthafucka pop, and that's you, Zu."
I glanced at Shaunie, half-expecting her to undermine the moment with some smart ass remark. Instead, she was watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.
I turned back to Sosa, with my mind already made up. All my life, I'd been fighting to prove I was more than just another statistic, more than Shaunie Maddox daughter who might follow in her footsteps. I'd got my degree while pregnant, raised my son mostly alone, maintained a steady job that barely covered our expenses. I truly needed something more.
"When would I start?" I asked Sosa. His smile returned, wide and genuine.
"How's tomorrow sound? We'll close for renovations next week, reopen in a month under the new brand."
"I'd need to give notice at my current job," I said, already mentally drafting my resignation letter. "Two weeks, at least."
"Do what you gotta do," Sosa shrugged. "But the clock's ticking. I need this place transformed before the summer hit."
I nodded slowly, my mind already racing with ideas. A high-end lounge concept, maybe. Something that would stand out from the typical bottle-service clubs. Live music some nights. Food that wasn't an afterthought.
"I'll do it," I said finally, extending my hand across the table. "But I want everything in writing. Contract, benefits, everything."
"Look at you, all professional and shit. Don't worry, my lawyers already drew up the paperwork. You gon be good Big Sis.” My brother knew I would say yes before I did.
"That's my girl," Shaunie said, raising her glass. "Finally using that Maddox blood for something besides looking pretty and making bad decisions about men."
I bit my tongue instead of pointing out that "Maddox blood" was responsible for a lot of funerals in our neighborhood over the years. But some battles weren't worth fighting, especially when I was about to start a new chapter.
"One more thing," I said to Sosa, ignoring our mother completely. "This job can't interfere with JJ. I won't be here until 3 AM every night. I'm a mother first."
"We'll figure all that shit out," Sosa promised. "You can hire an assistant manager to handle the late shifts. I just need you to focus on the business side, building the brand."
