Page 15 of Zimyra

“I am. This woman down here got this office on lock. It’s the only apartment we own on the East Coast that has a move-out rate under five percent. The closest behind that is at eighteen percent. I have to know how this is being done, because it can’t be a coincidence.”

“Well, handle your business, bruh. I ain’t mad at you. How do you like it down there so far?”

“It’s different. I’ve been here for three days and I’m already ready to come home. But I can’t complain about this apartment. I’m on the top floor—feels like I’m in a penthouse.”

“It’s nice, huh?”

“It is—not nicer than my crib, but it’ll do in a pinch, especially compared to some of these properties down here.”

“I heard that.”

“My problem with this operation we’re running is actually getting to know this woman. She’s already on my bad side.”

“How so?”

“She told me I needed to fill out an application for the maintenance job.”

“An application? You didn’t tell her who you were?”

“No, and I don’t plan on it. I have to be completely undercover.”

“Well, if that’s the case, you have to follow the same rules as everyone else, then.”

“Right. The only thing is, I’m not good at following rules. I’m better at making and enforcing rules instead of following them.”

“You sound just like your pops.”

“He taught me well, but he didn’t teach me much of anything about women.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, he swooped in, swept my mother off her feet and that’s the extent of what I know about relationships.”

Murphy laughs. “Hold on, player…the biggest, baddest COO in Bridgeport that got all the ladies in an uproar knowsnothingabout relationships? You can’t make me believe that.”

“Okay, I know a little about marriage because I see how my stepdad treats my mother, but I don’t know about his past relationships. I don’t know what kind of man he was before he met her. He could’ve been taking all the women down.”

Murphy snickers. “You mean like you’re doing now?”

“Man, stay out of my business.”

“For real though…check this. Do you really think your sweet mother would wind up with a player?”

I shrug. “Don’t know. If he was a player, he could’ve changed for her. Think about it—do you evertrulyknow someone?”

“Hmm…I suppose not.”

“And what if Peter was that kind of man? Does that mean she was supposed to turn him down because of it?”

“Where are you going with this, Ax?”

“They’re just questions.”

“Yeah, but why now? You down there looking for a Southern Belle?”

“No, but this woman I’m going to be working with—she’s a real beauty. I’m already thinking of ways to avoid her.”

“Avoid her? She’s the manager there, isn’t she?”

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