CAMILLE
I stood in place for a while, letting my thoughts over-run me.
What the fuck just happened?
Not only did I feel disrespected, but i'd just gotten played.
Shaking my head, I pulled my bra over my head before collecting myself and leaving the room. I was beginning to question whether I was really cut out for this shit. Not the work in general, but being around August. There was an evident hostility ranging from him to myself, and it made it more than difficult to focus or get anything accomplished.
I honestly wanted things to go back to the way they'd been. I shook the thought away, because all of this mess was my fault in the first place, and I wasn't too stubborn to admit that.
By the time I'd made it up the large staircase, all I wanted to do was bathe and lay my ass down. Almost as soon as i'd entered my room, I began to undress, tossing my spandex and underwear, along with my sports bra, into the hamper.
Pulling my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head, I ignored the loose strands that framed my face, and began making my way to the bathroom in which was connected to my walk in closet. I bent down to adjust the water of the tub, before adding a few drops of bubble bath, sighing.
Upon my arival into the house, I'd been granted both the funds, and permission to decorate one of the many large rooms to my liking. I'd kept it pretty simple, though, settling for an all white interior. I didn't wanna get carried away....I didn't plan on staying for too long. The plan was to make enough to get both myself, and posssibly even my parents, back onto our feet. Despite the constant harrasment from both August and a few of the other females who occupied the house, I felt strangely secure. I was taken care of. Financially that is.
I was still an emotional wreck when it came to August. I don't know if it was the guilt, or just the love for him in general, but I constantly found myself just wanting to melt into his arms.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I realized that the tub was filled. I stepped into the inviting bubbles, letting both the warmth, and my thoughts, consume me. Almost as soon as my back touched the tub, literally less than fifteen seconds later, Gio barged through the bathroom, not bothering to knock.
I could've sworn i'd locked the door to my room. I shook my head and reached for my body wash, rolling my eyes.
"What do you wannnt?" I couldn't help but whine. I just wanted to relax and be alone.
She chuckled, ignoring my question. "Shit, well hello to you, too."
I sighed and tucked a strand of my damp hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little overwhelmed..."
Gio gave me a frown, leaning against the wall. "Already? It's barely been a full two days."
I explained the previous scene between August and I, feeling ashamed that it'd bothered me so heavily. When i'd finished, there was a moment of silence until Gio laughed. I rolled my eyes at her, running my pink loofa over my arms. When Gio finally ceased her laughing, she chuckled once more.
"He's just pissed, Camille. He wants to feel like he's in control. You know Ant...he can't stand to have shit outta order. Trust me, that nigga is thinking about you just as much as you thinkin of his scrawny ass."
AUGUST
"That shit was foul, nigga." Trim laughed befa passin the blunt he'd just lit.
I rejected it, wavin my hand, and he gave me a look of surprise befa shakin his head and takin a pull.
"Nigga you too gone. Jus' talk ta ha."
I stood up, dustin my pants off. "I ain't worried bout ha ass."
I got more vital shit ta be focused on besides some broad.
Trim and Black exchanged a glance. I rose my eyebrow. "Y'all mufuckas got somethin' you wanna share?"
Black sighed befa scratchin the side of his face. "Nah, man."
I turned to Trim. "You checked on dat Mexico connect?"
He nodded and dug through his pocket ta pull out a piece of paper. "Yeah, dem niggas on some real deal shit. I think you needa check it yaself."
I took the piece of paper out his hand and looked at it. I saw a lotta damn zeros, which is what I like to see. I nodded befa stuffin the paper into my own pocket.
"Aight, y'all niggas needa go do somethin' witcha life."
Black sucked his teeth. "Man, yo ass always interruptin my lunch break."
I chuckled at his joke and dapped up each of both him and Trim. "Nigga you know it ain't o such thang as a break in this house. Go make dat money."
I stood in place fa a while afta they left, just thinkin. Afta a minute I followed. I walked into the kitchen just as Gio was walkin out. She shoved me, makin me suck my teeth. "Man, what?"
She shook ha head at me. "Camille told me what you did."
I chuckled and went to grab an apple out the bowl that sat on the center bar. "So?"
I wiped it on my shirt befa bititn into it and lookin at ha.
"All i'm sayin is that bullyin her isn't gonna make yo feelings go away."
I stared at ha fa a minute befa bitin into my apple again.
"I want everybody in the conference room in five minutes."
I walked out the kitchen, ignorin what she'd said.
"Mhm. I know you heard me, Ant."
I kept walkin, not botherin ta turn around. "Fo' minutes, now."
She smacked ha lips at the fact that I was still avoidin what she'd said.
I made my way upstairs and ta my room so that I could change shirts. In the middle of takin my shirt off and diggin through my drawers, there was a knock on my door.
"What?"
Mallorie slightly opened the door, peeking ha head in. "I was just comin to tell you that Crystal won't be in the meetin."
I looked up, slightly annoyed. "And why the fuck not?"
She dropped ha shoulders and walked all the way in, closin the door. "Her mama's sick. The hospital just called her. She gotta fly out ta Miami."
I continued ta dig through my drawers till I found what I was lookin fa. I was understandin when it came ta family problems, but everybody knew dat when it came to missin meetings or functions, they had ta tell me personally, not get a nigga ta deliva the message ta me. I turned around, slippin the shirt ova my head.
Mallorie was eyein me. "Don't get yaself in no trouble."
She laughed at my joke and stood befa walkin up ta me and runnin ha hands down my chest until they reached my belt. "What if I want to?"
I sighed, slightly pushin ha away from me. "Not right now, aight?"
She pouted and wrapped ha arms around my neck. "I know you got a lot on your plate right now. Just let me make you feel better..."
I almost refused but instead, I sat down on the bed, lettin ha undo my belt. I looked down at ha while she unzipped my pants.
Fuck it.
CAMILLE
I made my way into the conference room behind a few of the other girls, already ready to go. I wasn't sure what the meeting was about, but Gio had rounded us all up, stating that we needed to be in the conference room within the next 3 or so minutes. I noticed that our names were positioned in each of the spaces at the long table. If I didn't know any better, I'd think we were apart of some large name corporate office. I glanced around, looking for my name. Literally every seat was occupied except for a few. No one was willing to test August when it came to his demands. If he said jump, trust there wouldn't be a pair of feet on the ground.
My eyes finally landed on Trinity, who was seated next to an empt chair, which I assumed to be mine. I made my way over to her, returning her small smile. I sat down, glancing around.
"I switched a few of the names around so we could sit next to each other."
I chuckled. "Thanks."
After a few seconds, every seat at the conference table was occupied, except for August's and one other. Gio, Black, Trim, and a couple of other members were seated near the head of the table.
Mallorie entered the room, and took her seat, smirking. A few seconds later, August entered the room after her. I looked away in disgust at the obvious fact that they'd been messing around. The instant moment that August took his seat at the head of the table, silence fell.
It was almost laughable at how much authority one man could hold.
"As all y'all know, we got a big event comin up soon."
A few murmurs travelled around the room until August gave a look of agitation. Silence quickly over took the room once again. After a minute, he continued.
"Unless one of y'all muthafuckas is directly spoken to, imma need y'all to shut the fuck up."
He sat a gun onto the table, folowing his hostil words. I don't know which was more disturbing, his indirect threat, or the fact that both his voice, and face, were as calm as ever.
When no one else said anything, he continued. "Now this shit comin up is important ta us. If I eat, y'all eat. We all in this shit togetha, so I ain't go do nothin to jeaopardize it, and I expect the same from y'all."
He paused, lookin around. "Wit' that bein said, the two girls that imma have workin mainstream is gon be Mallorie, and Camille. Y'all gon be the openin acts, so don't fuck up."
When I glanced up, all eyes were on me. It was then that i'd realized what he'd said.
Had I heard him correctly?
Apparently I had, because Trinity gently nudged me, shooting me a smile.
"The rest of y'all, imma need y'all to work behind the scenes. Sit down, talk ta a few niggas, have a few drinks. Blend in with tha crowd. Enjoy yaselves, and show dem a good time. We gon be actin as a hostin party, so y'all workin ta get our name out there."
Everything he'd began to say after that had completely flown over my head. To say I was confused was an understatement. Less than two hours ago, he was insulting me. Now I was workin as one of the opening acts at one of the most important events we were coming across? I glanced around and saw that people were beginning to exit the room. I hadn't even noticed that we'd been dismissed.
I was the last person, besides August, to leave. I attempted to brush past him without meeting his eye contact, but failed miserably when he grabbed my arm. I shook him off and looked up at him.
We stared at eachother for what seemed like forever until one of his street workers peeked his head into the room to ask him a question.
"Oh, shit, my bad Ant-"
I cut him off, shaking my head.
"No, it's all good....I was just leaving."
Before August could say anything, I was already making my way out of the room.
My mind was all over the place, and I was past confused.
Did we just share a moment?