When A Woman Hustles - Danielle Martin (book suggestions .TXT) 📗
- Author: Danielle Martin
Book online «When A Woman Hustles - Danielle Martin (book suggestions .TXT) 📗». Author Danielle Martin
He pulled out. King stood over her, admiring her body. He smirked. "You mine Reese. And as long as you remain loyal to me, I'm yours.” She mustered up the strength to open her eyes and gaze at him. He was serious. And so was she. He climbed on the bed. Without saying another word, he collapsed next to her. Moments later they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.
Chapter 16
Chapter 16.
"Would you like a refill on your water Ms. Patricia?"
"No, I'm good. Thank you." Pumpkin politely smiled at the waitress who stood over her table holding a water pitcher. The waitress smiled back at her, stepping back from the dinner table allowing Pumpkin to continue looking over the menu. "No problem mam. Flag me down whenever you’re ready to order." Pumpkin nodded her head and smiled, watching as the young girl walked away towards the entrance of the restaurant. She sat on the outside patio deck at a table looking out over the Middle Branch Patapsco River. It was a nice day out but she wasn’t here for the food or for the view. She glanced at her watch. 5 until 2 pm. She knew Reese would be walking in that door any moment. Her timing may have gotten better, but that was the last thing on Pumpkins mind right now. She fidgeted with her fingernails, wondering what the outcome of this meeting would be. She asked for Reese to meet her here to discuss business, but there were other subjects she needed to touch up on as well, and she wasn’t leaving here until she got answers. Today is the day. Today is the day I’m going to find out. She was uneasy but ignored the feeling.
As if right on que, her eyes fell upon Reese who stood in the doorway of the restaurant. She looked to her left, then her right searching for Pumpkins table. She watched her from a distance. Reese hadn’t worn her hair down since the day Pumpkin met her, but today her long natural wavy hair spilt over her shoulders. She wore a cream tank top and blue denim jeans with a sweater thrown over her shoulders. Something about Reese looked different.
Pumpkin raised her hand flagging her down. They made eye contact as she finally located their table. Reese sashayed across the deck towards Pumpkin.
"Hello" she spoke briefly as she approached. Pumpkin did not respond verbally. Instead she nodded her head. Reese grabbed the chair, pulling it from underneath the table while sitting down. She nervously cleared her throat as she scooted her in chair closer. Pumpkin slightly sat back, crossing her arms across her chest as they both sat at the table in silence for a few moments.
“Soooo.” Reese asked. “What’s up?”
Pumpkin sucked her teeth, toying with her fingernails. It had been a long time coming and she was ready to get this over with. "Okay Reese. I'm going to get straight to the point. I don’t want to waste anymore of my time the same way I do not want to waste yours. I called you here today because I don’t think this is working out between you and I." she blurted it out. Silence spread across the table. Reese smacked her lips. She didn’t respond immediately. She was taken aback. Pumpkin continued. "I have enough money for you to get out of town if that’s what you want. I will pay for everything. Let's consider this a trial period."
Reese clenched her jaw. She sat forward. "I don’t understand Pumpkin. I have done everything that you have asked of me. What is it that’s not working out?"
Pumpkin lifted her water glass to her lips taking a sip. She refused to give a reaction. She decided prior to showing up to this meeting that she was going to keep her cool. After placing the glass back down on the table, she crossed her hands neatly in front of her. Reese stared her down waiting for an answer. Pumpkin smirked. She didn’t owe Reese an explanation. She was in the position to hire and fire whomever she pleased. She had her own personal reasons that she did not have to explain. "I just don’t think you’re a fit for the job. Honey, I’m doing you a favor, okay?”
Reese shook her head. She was upset. "That’s bullshit Pumpkin!” she snapped across the table. “I haven't done anything wrong."
Pumpkin looked over her shoulder, hoping this bitch wasn’t trying to make a scene. She turned back to Reese. "Why are you tripping? I told you I would pay for you to get out of town. I have more than enough money for you to take and run. So what’s the problem?"
"I don’t want your money!" she snapped loudly across the table a second time. Pumpkin narrowed her eyes. If this bitch doesn’t lower her voice, we are really going to have a serious problem.
Reese pointed her finger across the table. "This is about King and I know it."
Pumpkin’s heart race quickened at the mention of his name. She glared, feeling her blood rush to her head. Who does this bitch think she’s talking to??? Has she lost her fucking mind???
“What the fuck are you talking about?” She hissed at her. Reese had some nerve speaking on something she knew nothing about.
"You know what I’m talking about. This is about King and you know it. You’ve had this funky ass attitude ever since you found out about me staying the night at his condo."
Calm down Pumpkin, Calm down.
She bounced her knee up and down under the table as she held back her anger. Reese was beginning to push her buttons. She took a deep breath, attempting to keep her cool. She wasn’t going to allow her to bring her out of character.
“You’re out of your fucking mind.” Pumpkin brushed her off. “I don’t want King. I never wanted him!”
Reese rolled her eyes. She was calling her bluff. “What the hell ever Pumpkin. I know more than you think I know. Trust me.”
The table grew silent again. Pumpkin could feel herself slipping into another anxiety attack but she quickly shook it off. What does she know??? What has King told her??? Pumpkin couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She panicked. What if everything she had imagined was actually true? What if there really was something going on between King and Reese? Sweat trickled down her forehead as she pondered upon the thought. Pumpkin was terrified to see that happen. She would lose it.
"Listen bitch, you don’t know shit okay!?” Pumpkin pointed her finger across the table. She wanted to believe her own words, but she didn’t.
"Well I’m sorry but that’s what it looks like Pumpkin." Reese continued to badger. Pumpkin’s blood was boiling. Reese was hitting below the belt and she had no comeback. "I put my entire life on the line for you!” Reese continued with her sob story. “You can’t push me to the curb like this. It’s not right!"
Pumpkin rolled her eyes. Reese had never been this combative. Pumpkin wondered what it was toughened this girl up. Maybe she really wanted this job. Or maybe she wanted to stick around for something else… "So what’s your point, Reese? Because I’m not changing my mind. You’re done. And that’s it. "
Reese pressed her lips together, holding herself back from saying something they would both regret. Pumpkin was glad, because she had been prepared to hop across this table the moment she said something wrong.
They sat quiet once again. Pumpkin was hopeful Reese had finally taken the hint and was ready to stop resisting. “So…” Reese asked with her arms still across her chest. "Does King know about this???" she asked.
No he doesn’t. Pumpkin answered inside her head. She revisited the last conversation she had with King inside his truck. It did not go the way she expected. But that wasn’t going to stop her from taking control and firing Reese. She would deal with King when it was time.
"I don't have to run it by him. All I have to do is say the word, and then you’re done."
“Hmmmmm…” Reese caught her off guard. She tapped her fingers on the table. "I don’t think King is going to agree with you on this one."
Pumpkin glared. Reese was really testing her patience right now. Why is she talking like she knows something that I don’t???
Pumpkin knew King better than she knew anyone else, and there was no way he was going to choose Reese over her. It was impossible. "I don't give a rat's ass what you think Clareeseeeeee." she dramatically dragged her name. "I don’t trust you around King, and I don’t trust you period! THERE, I SAID IT!"
Reese sat back as she shook her head. She had stopped responding. Pumpkin hoped she would give it up already, there was no changing her mind. For the last time, they sat in silence. Pumpkin’s eyes dropped down to the set of car keys that sat in the middle of the table. Immature thoughts ran through
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