The next morning, I woke up to a quiet apartment. I cleaned the place from top to bottom. I washed my few clothing items, all except the black shirt. I didn’t want to wash out his smell. When I was done I folded them up, and placed them in my backpack… arranging things in a way that would make for easy travel. Now it was just time to play the waiting game. My whole future hung on what Shanice would say when she came in.
However, while I waited I decided to take advantage of a few luxuries I may not have for a while. I ran me a nice hot bath and soaked until my skin turned into a prune. Then I put on my pajama bottoms and my cami and settled on the couch to watch some TV. At around six o’clock Shanice flew into the apartment carrying something in a bag.
“Oh! My goodness! Why didn’t you answer the phone?” She asked breathing heavily as she grabbed my arm pulling me up off the couch. I frowned at her.
“Because it’s your phone, I don’t answer it.” She waved that away.
“We don’t have time, you have to change!” She was pushing me toward the bathroom door shoving the bag in my hand.
“Shanice, I’ll leave, you don’t have to throw me out like this.” She stopped and looked at me as if I had grown another head.
“What are you talking about? I’m not throwing you out. I’ve found a way to get Shugga’s a$$ back and get us some well needed cash.” Her eyes brighten and she clapped her hands together. “A lot of cash.” I raised one eyebrow at her.
“I’ll tell you about it on the way. Get changed.” She took the bag from me pulling out what looked like a maid’s uniform. I shook my head.
“No, I’m not dancing again.” She smiled.
“No, you’re not. Tonight, you’re going to be working with Shugga’s catering crew.” I frowned.
“She’s going to give me another job?” She shook her head.
“She’s not going to know, I’m going to get you in.” I scratched my wig.
“But how is that going to help me if she’s the one that pays.” Shanice eyes rounded.
“You’re not working tonight to get paid by Shugga. Tonight, you’re robbing the joint.” My mouth dropped open.
“Shugga’s Place?” She laughed.
“Not Shugga’s Place silly, The Beast place.” I shook my head and went to sit back on the couch.
“No!”
“What do you mean no?”
“You want me to go to his house in this maid’s costume and what, hold him up at gun point. I’ll be dead before I even say freeze.”
She was laughing again and I realized she was high as a kite. That’s why she was always so desperate for money. Her drug habit was expensive.
“You little silly fool, of course you’re not going to hold him up, but you will rob him. Before you say no, hear me out! Shugga sent all the dancers a group text calling for an emergency meeting. Gabriel’s right-hand man had just left booking the same group of girls from last night for a private event at Gabe’s Manhattan mansion.
“Where do I come in?” I asked dryly.
“Well, they also want Shugga to cater the event. So that means, Chef Tony will have to bring in a bunch of temps to help serve because Shugga don’t have that many wait staff on her crew. Since nobody ever pays attention to the wait staff… the way I see it, you can slip in there with the temps, and when the opportunity presents itself… you can slip away. Find ole’ boy’s room, grab a few of them watches, maybe some cuffs, an earring or two, and then slip out. Yo, we’ll be straight for a while!” I dropped my head in my hand.
Oh! God!
“Don’t you want to get back at Shugga for firing you?”
“But what if I get caught?” She waved her hand.
“Girl you ain’t gon’ get caught. We do licks like this all the time. Trust me, you gon’ be in and out. Nobody’s gon’ even notice. And he probably got so much jewelry that he won’t even notice a few pieces missing. Baby you got to learn how to hustle.”
“But, what… if… I… get caught?” She smiled pulling me back up off the couch.
“Yas, we gon’ be working those men so good, you ain’t gon’ get caught. Now hurry, go in there and get dressed.” She pushed me toward the bathroom. I went in and shut the door. For a moment I just stood in the middle of the floor with my head down. So close to tears I had a knot in my throat.
I just wanted to go home to peace and quiet; to my farm, and my berries and my kitchen. This city was killing me.
“Come on Yas, the bus heading out to the mansion is going to leave in an hour.” I dried my tears and took off my pajamas. The maid’s uniform was scandalous of course. The skirt was so short it barely covered my butt. And the button up grey shirt was very tight, causing my breast to bulge out the top threatening to spill out.
I didn’t say anything to Shanice when I left out the bathroom. I just walked straight to my bag and put my pajamas in them along with my ball-cap. I couldn’t wear it with this outfit.
My contacts were really starting to itch, drying out from all that crying I had been doing. I could have kicked myself. Thanks to Shugga firing me, I forgot to stop by the drug store and get more solution. Shanice frowned when I picked up my bag.
“Why don’t you leave that here?”
“No, I don’t feel—
She waved her hand cutting me off. “Forget it, bring it, we’re running out of time!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me out
