Page 7 of Finesse
“I’ll be on my best behavior, baby girl. I wouldn’t let any one or thing harm you.” He repeats with more assertion. He paused and looked like he wanted to say more but left me hanging. It would be something he’ll do for as long as I’ll know him.
It’ll be something that will quickly get old no matter how much he does it.
~~~~~~~
I know Cameron has money based on his car. He’s driving what I like the call ‘I’m a baller and you know it’ car – a BMW. This isn’t a typical BMW. Everything inside the interior is custom-made.
Brand-new orange leather seats to contrast to the midnight black exterior. A sound system that could only be described as a cross between concert and deafening. Initials – I’m assuming are his – are on the headrests of every seat.
This is not a rich man’s car; this is awealthy man’s vehicle.
Semantics aside, I’m relaxed as Ginuwine is blasted in my ears and Cameron is focused on the road. I live pretty far from the club, yet Cameron doesn’t mind the drive. It seems to relax him as if he needed a small getaway.
The music suddenly turned down and I look over at Cameron. His broad and muscular frame fit comfortably in the car. He had a swag that was cultivated by the streets, and not by inheritance. His cologne is fresh and spicy, setting off my scenes every time I breathe in.
This man knows he has it going on.
“What’s on your mind, baby girl?” His voice is deep and soothing.
I slightly shrug. “You don’t seem like the type to hang out with a bunch of black guys.”
Cameron slightly shrugs and a hand taps the steering wheel. “I’m sorry if I don’t speak with a blaccent and my AAVE isn’t up to speed.” He purred.
I shake my head. He would know the acronym stood for African-American Vernacular English, the politically correct term of sayingebonics. “I mean, your whole steelo…it doesn’t screamI regularly hang out with the brothers.”
Cameron has one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on his chin. “And what doesmy steeloscream, Ms. Taylor?”
My body sighed before I could. “I’m not sure yet. I’m still trying to figure you out.”
“You can ask me anything.” He shrugged. “I’m not shy about anything I do.”
Shy wasn’t the term I thought of, neither was discreet.Underhandedandshadyseemed more apt. “So, exactly what is it that you do? You were super vague back at the club.”
Cameron slightly shrugs as if what he does wasn’t a big deal. I will come to find out later that was a whole-ass lie. “I’m a businessman. I’m a partner or investor in many businesses.” He replied.
Just like the dozens of other IG “businesses.” “You’re pretty young to have all of that responsibility.” I noted.
“I knew the value of a dollar early,” he turned a corner, “my father made it clear not to expect an inheritance.”
“Poor rich boy,” I rolled my eyes. I’m almost positive his parents will leave him something in terms of a trust to go around the legalities. “Most people nowadays are lucky if they even have those problems.”
“More money, more problems.” He quotes B.I.G. “I know it sounds like a rich man’s problem, but everyone can relate to it in some form. You buy a new car, that’s another bill you have. You upgrade your furniture, you need to upkeep it. Any time you spend money to improve your lifestyle, you need to upkeep it in some form.”
“But I don’t think you’ll be filing for unemployment anytime soon.” My eyes glance over to him. He wore his confidence like a tailor-made suit. His whole persona screamed of swag. “So, you don’t have the same problems as a regular person.”
“So, I’m not a regular person?” He questions me as if I insulted him.
“Your car has custom made interior. This car is probably worth more money than I’ll make in a several years, working full-time. And let me guess? You paid this with cash, didn’t you?” I’m met with silence and I already knew my answer. “You have the world at the palm of your hands while many of us are struggling to get by. I’m trying hard to feel sympathy but I don’t. You don’t have to lay off employees if you don’t want to.”
“No one wants to lay off employees,” he corrected me, “no one goes into their business and is so excited about laying off a man who has a wife and children at home. If my businesses do well, everyone eats. If my businesses suffer, I have to make hard decisions and they’re not fun.”
The song on the stereo switched to “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and the irony wasn’t lost on me. “So, you’re a different kind of millionaire, then?”
Cameron chuckles and I feel the sensation all the way down to my yoni. “I’ll make sure everyone is fed and paid.” He glances over at me and winks. “I’ll take care of everyone close to me.”
My body shivered before I could react. This would’ve been the part where I would say something slick but the goofy girl who just found out the popular quarterback likes her came all the way out with my reaction:
I giggled.
