Page 17 of Dom 3
Keondra side eyed her. “I see y’all are trying to team up on me today.”
I smirked. “We didn’t team up, love. We’re trying to help you get through a week without ending up on a group chat somewhere labeled ‘Dique’s baby mama caught at Publix in pajama pants.’ Speaking of, I hope you’re not telling the world about your connection to him. Don’t forget that cease and desist. You still have rules.”
She gasped, with her hand on her chest. “First off, you play too much! I haven’t been to Publix in pajamas in about a month. Second, my homegirls and family knows who my baby daddy is. I’m not a secret and neither is baby.”
“I’m serious.” I said, stepping closer. “You represent all of us now. When you step out, people don’t see Keondra the baby mama. They see the woman attached to a Royal. There’s rules to this. You walk like money, talk like you already cashed the check, and smile like you know something they don’t. That’s your power.”
Keondra twisted her lips. “So what, I’m supposed to walk like I got a secret to keep?”
I nodded, straight faced. “Exactly, let me see.”
She blinked, looking confused. “Wait, right now?”
“Yes, right now. Walk across this floor like your mortgage is due and the only person with the money is you.”
Liyah started clapping like she was at a runway show. “Come on girl, show us something!”
Keondra rolled her eyes but set her shoulders back and started strutting across marbled tiles. Her hips were doing way too much, and halfway through she tripped over her own house shoe, almost tumbling face first into the rack of shoes.
The whole room fell out laughing. I myself was doubled over with one hand on my stomach, and the other covering my mouth. I needed this laugh. Yes, Dique and Dom owed me big time. I had files to tend to and a cartel to lawfully protect yet, I was here. “Jesus, Keondra! You’re walking like you’re on parole, not payroll.”
Liyah was in tears. “Ma’am, this is the funniest part of my job.”
Keondra straightened up, trying not to laugh, herself, which only made it worse. “Y’all are childish. I was doin’ good ‘til that shoe was in the way.”
I sat down again, back with my game face on. “Baby, if a shoe can take you out, you aren’t ready for any press event no time soon. You’re supposed to glide around obstacles, not fall into them.”
“Okay, okay,” she said, laughing now. “I’m gonna try again but ya’ll better not laugh this time.”
I crossed my legs and leaned back like I was one of the judges onAmerica’s Next Top Model. “Go ahead then, impress me.”
She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and started walking again. This time it was a slower and smoother walk. She didn’t have that little bounce in it and she didn’t trip over anything. She gave me this little smirk like she knew she was killing it.
Liyah clapped. “Okay! That’s the one!”
I nodded, like a proud big sister muffling my grin. “That’s better, now you look like a woman who is playing her part. It’ll take time, but you’ll get there.”
Keondra covered her mouth, hollering while doing a little happy dance. “Oh my God, I finally got some kind of approval.”
“What? I’m telling the truth,” I said. “I always do and when you walk into a room from now on, I want people to wonder if you came to buy the building or shut it down. You understand?” I asked.
“Buy or shut down,” she repeated with a playful salute. “Got it, boss lady.”
Liyah slid a pair of nude heels across the floor toward her. “Try these on. These are the newest collection from YSL. I think they’ll look really cute on you.”
Keondra gave her a look. “Sounds like they gon’ hurt, just like I be hearin’ people talkin’ bout them Red Bottoms hurtin’ too.”
I absolutely agreed with that she was saying. “You better get used to that pain, sweetheart. Power hurts, and you can ask anybody in a position to have it.”
She gave me a long stare, then smiled, a real one this time. “You funny, Carmen. You talk slick, and you all bossed up and shit, but you real.”
I met her eyes through the mirror. “You can’t survive this world without being both. That’s what I’m trying to teach you. Learn to balance it… be soft enough to be loved, but solid enough not to need it. If you understand what I’m saying.”
The room went quiet for a second and even Liyah paused from what she was doing. Keondra’s expression softened as she nodded. “I like that. I needed to hear that.”
I faintly smiled at her and fixed the cuff of my sleeve. “Good, now go take that bonnet off before I have an allergic reaction toit. You can use it, but it isn’t meant to be worn for days on end, especially outside.”
She shrieked laughing again. “You petty!”
