Before Bianca could say anything, Marvin answered, “If you want it and got the money, no doubt about it.”
Cynthia was getting excited about the possibility that she could be the best dressed at her cousin’s baby shower. She loved looking like big money even though she had small budget.
“No,” Bianca said, sauntering over to Cynthia while she checked her out. “What are you, about a size six? I can’t tell with your smock on.”
Cynthia looked down at herself and rubbed her hand down the front of the black plastic apron she was wearing. “Yeah, I’m wearing a six now.”
“And so am I,” Bianca said. “Which brings me to the deep discount of a hundred twenty-five for the pants and blouse, based on the fact that the outfit has been gently worn once. I’ve only had it on for about an hour. This is my first stop of the day since leaving my house.”
Cynthia looked over Bianca again, contemplating whether she wanted the outfit, but if Bianca was literally going to give her the clothes off her back . . .
“So, what you wanna do?” Marvin jumped in and asked. “You were damn near salivating over that outfit. For that little bit of change, bitch, you betta snatch that up quick, fast, and in a hurry. Before I do.” Marvin rolled his eyes and began organizing his polishes as he waited for his next client to arrive.
Cynthia dug into her pants pocket. “Shit, if you serious, I’m all for it.”
“I know one thing,” Frank interrupted. “Y’all gon’ stop all that damn cussing in this shop. Y’all need to be acting like ladies.” He pointed to one of the signs that hung on the shop walls. It requested that neither the stylists nor customers used foul language.
Both Marvin and Cynthia looked at Frank like he was crazy.
“What?” Frank shrugged. “I can cuss all I want. I own this muthafucka.”
There were chuckles throughout the beauty salon side of the shop. The barber side with the men couldn’t really hear what was going on, as they were all engaged in their own conversations and dick-measuring contests.
“Anyway, I need to get back to my office and finish taking caring of some things,” Frank said. “Y’all go ahead and handle y’all’s business. And call me, Bee.”
“All right, honey. You know I got you,” Bianca said as she gave Frank a hug. “I’ll connect with you in a few days.”
“Take care, sweetie. Be careful out there in those streets.” Frank kissed Bianca on the cheek and then went back into his office.
Bianca turned her attention back to Cynthia. “So, what’s up? You gon’ do this or not?”
With the money in hand that she’d pulled out of her pocket, Cynthia extended it to Bianca. “Here you go, girl, and I appreciate you.”
Bianca took the money, counted it, and dropped it down into her oversized tote bag that she’d also gotten at a five-finger discount. She knew the street code that one should never be her own client, but in her case, it paid off. Modeling the merchandise and using the merchandise were two different things, and modeling had definitely paid off in this instance.
In the middle of the floor where she stood, Bianca slipped off her shoes. She then unbuttoned her pants and slid out of them, revealing the lace full bottoms that matched her lacey bra.
“Oh, shit. This girl is crazy,” one of the patrons said in disbelief.
Bianca couldn’t care less what anybody had to say. She handed the pants to Cynthia. Next, Bianca took off the belt. “This is on the house. I didn’t even figure the cost of this in.” She handed it to Cynthia and then slipped out of the shirt, handing that to Cynthia as well.
“Well, thank you!” Cynthia managed to somehow get the words out.
“It was a pleasure doing business with you.” Bianca slipped back into her high-heeled patent leather pumps and strutted off, displaying her flat stomach and long legs, looking like a Victoria’s Secret angel. Every eye and mouth on the barber side was open wide.
“Damn, did you see that shit, man?” a couple of the men said to one another, while others high-fived, feeling like the luckiest men in the world.
“Did anybody record that shit?” was the final afterthought, followed by sighs of regret.
On the salon side, all eyes had been glued on Bianca as well, as one stylist said, “Damn, I wish I was her.”
And that was the story of Bianca’s life: Men wanted her, women wanted to be her, and she was none the wiser. She was just stuck in her own little world that consisted of her and Caesar.
As the door shut behind her, Marvin spoke up. “Now that’s a real hustler for you. When they sell the shit off the back, with no shame in it, you know she on her grind. Bad bitch all day long!”
CHAPTER 3
“Baby, where you at?” Bianca said into her cell phone.
After dropping Nique off at home, Bianca stopped off at the store to pick up a few things before heading home: a thank-you card, some votive candles, incense, and Caesar’s favorite candy, grape Mike and Ikes. After that, she zipped by the grocery store for a couple bottles of wine, roses, a meat and cheese tray, and a fruit tray.
“Hello to you, too,” Caesar replied. Caesar was a stickler for greetings and pleasantries before just diving straight into business. He said it showed a person that you cared somewhat about them and not just what you wanted from them at that moment.
“Oh, my bad.” Bianca blushed. She’d been with Caesar almost a year and a half, but he still gave her butterflies. “How are you, my love? How has your day been?”
“That’s more like it,” Caesar said.
It was still mind-boggling to her how just the sound of his voice had her
