Page 8 of Chrome

“Yes, I’m here to see Principal Sanders. My daughter is starting today, and he promised he would handle her this morning.”

“One second.” The receptionist stood and disappeared down a long hall. When she returned, she had a short, mixed man behind her. They both wore a smile as the gap between us was closed.

“Mrs. Jordan, welcome to Eastlake High. This must be Melanie Knowles.”

“Ms. Jordan, and yes, it is,” I corrected him. I was no longer a wife so the Mrs. could be dropped. “Is my baby going to be alright here?” I questioned.

“Of course. We have cameras throughout the building and resource officers as well. At eight-thirty every morning, every exit locks and there are no entry’s unless we receive a phone call. Parents are given a link for the students that need early dismissal, and we don’t release after two-thirty p.m. We’re pretty secure here.”

I finally returned the smile. I felt like Mel would do good here. She only had a month left so she could make it do what it do. I rubbed her back, and she shoved me off her. I was sure she was upset with me, but I really didn’t give a fuck. Before she knew it, she’d have her diploma and be off to NYU College of Arts & Science. That was the best program in my opinion for her painting career.

“That works for me. Melanie, baby, I have to go. Call me if you need me. Thank you, Mr. Sanders. Y’all have a good day.”

I stepped away from it, hoping my baby made the best of the next month here. Right now, I needed to rewire my brain and get into CEO mode. K Blades was the new kid on the block as well and all I wanted was the same success it had in Atlanta. I had many people speak on how my barbers there so I was hoping the ladies here could gain the same publicity.

Hopping in my ride, I backed out and headed downtown. I chose a location where I thought the consumer rate was good. With my brothers in the Heights, I figured they knew what was best. After all, it was them who convinced me to come this way in the first place. We had a love hate relationship, but it was mostly love.

Traffic was light as I cruised through the city. Eastlake was nice and slow. Atlanta was like a mini New York with the traffic and Los Angeles with the weather. I would tell people all the time Georgia was a different kind of down south. However, I was glad to be in a place where I could enjoy myself without fearing someone damaging my property and spirit.

K Blades was able to secure six female barbers including myself. We were gender neutral around these parts and didn’t turn anyone away. I was excited about this new journey. The downtown area didn’t allow me to park in the front of the building without running them quarters because it was for the public, so I parked in the back alley. The parking lot was small as it could be, but it was what I had to work with.

I owned a white Benz truck with my name written in the seats. This was a gift to myself for being the woman I was. I didn’t need anything or anyone to do a damn thing for me. I knew what being a boss looked like and I never let anyone belittle my accomplishments.

Grabbing my purse, I checked my surroundings before stepping out, and locking my doors. I sashayed across the lot and placed my key in the back door. Entering, the smell of jasmine and vanilla filled my nostrils. I smiled and hit the lights on the wall. I quickly dropped my things off in my office and entered the main area. I hit those lights as well and proceeded to open the shop. I didn’t even realize two of my employees from Atlanta were waiting on me.

Once I got the doors opened, they filed in. “Good morning, Kosha. Are you excited?” Daria asked with a smile on her face that stretched from ear to ear.

“That’s what I want to know. It’s your first day as a boss in the Lake. I know you feel nervous as hell.”

“I am nervous Sadie. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. This ain’t nothing like what we did in Atlanta. These girls don’tknow us, and we don’t know them so let’s try and be friendly please,” I said.

They moved up a month in advance with me covering their expenses as they got the shop together and promoted the business. I was proud of them and how far they came as well. When K Blades opened in Atlanta, they were the first to cop a booth and stayed the entire time without any drama. Them coming out here to make sure we maintained steady business was brave and nice of them. We were a lil’ family at K Blades so I expected nothing less.

“We will. As long as they don’t start nothing it won’t be nothing. Now, which booth is ours?” Daria asked.

“I put you and Sadie on that wall. The first two from the back. I put this girl named Amy in the first chair. I’m taking the rear one on this wall, Henny’s beside me, and Lauren’s beside her in the front. They should be here any minute now. From what they say, the fellas are ready to sit in the chairs, so we’ll see. Go grab a locker and shit in the breakroom.”

“Cool beans. We taking turns on the aux or what?” Sadie inquired pulling out her phone.

“Nah, I got 90’s R&B spinning on Pandora. I’ll change it throughout the day but for now, something mellow,” I responded.

“Aight, Well, let’s do this shit.”

I shook my head at Daria and finished double checking everyone’s station. Before I knew it, the rest of the girls came through and the men followed. The morning was going smoothly with clients flowing and good vibes. Nothing about the day could go wrong in my eyes. I sat in my chair watching my shop do what it did back in Georgia and my smile couldn’t be snatched. Out of all the late nights I put in to relocating, it was finally starting to seem worth it.

My emotions toward Houston hadn’t even settled yet and I was hoping they never did. I cut ties when I found out about his infidelity but hadn’t dropped a tear or felt anything since then. I was sure it was coming but for now I was coping the best way I knew how and that was throwing my all into my business.

“Boss lady, there’s something going on in the back alley. I think it’s Chrome and his crew!” Lauren shouted.

“Chrome? Oh, that nigga so fine with his young ass,” Amy chimed in. “I’m telling you all I need is one night with that nigga and I might be the head of BMG by the morning.”

“Who’s Chrome?” I questioned standing from my chair.

“How you move to the Lake and don’t know the nigga in charge of these streets?” Henny asked. “He took over Black Metal Gang from his fine ass daddy named Steel and uncle, Mercury. Him and his crew ain’t nothing like the old heads. They really be out here causing havoc.”

“I’m here to cut hair and live a quiet, drama free life. I’m not here to deal with that kind of shit.” I grabbed my phone and headed for the back door.

It was day fuckin’ one and still the morning might I add. I wasn’t about to deal with this kind of shit so early on. I was the new kid on the block no doubt but that didn’t mean you could bully me. If you let a muthafucka slide once, they’d think they could do it again. In Atlanta, the only way to clear shit was to call the cops. I wasn’t no police ass chick, but I worked too hard to let it catch a bad rep.

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