Page 30 of Deuce

“Alright ladies, listen up. This is Mr. Dillinger, the owner of this fine establishment, aka the head nigga in charge.”

They turned to look at me and smiles broke out on their faces. All but one, that is. My eyes landed on the one person Ididn’t expect to see. I’m the one person who she probably didn’t expect to see me either.

Salima Navarro.

A frown was present on her beautiful face. I smirked to myself. It seemed as though she couldn’t get away from me, and it wasn’t for lack of trying. I hadn’t seen her in two weeks, and I hadn’t tried to call her yet. I could imagine if she had given herself a headache, trying to screen calls, thinking that it was me.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” I said, stepping forward to address the crowd. “I hear some of you are having trouble.”

The guilty parties avoided my eyes.

“It’s okay. Customer service isn’t for everybody. However, I don’t play about my business. If you know you can’t handle high traffic, the door is right there. If you can’t handle taking and delivering orders with a smile, follow simple instructions, or think on your feet, again, the door is right there. You can walk out right now and there will be no hard feelings.”

The girls looked around at each other, but nobody moved.

“Since you’re all still standing here, I assume you need this job for whatever reason. I also assume you’ll be able to perform your duties as expected and explained by Ms. Wallace. I’m sure she was thorough. With that being said, I’ll be watching tonight. If any of you fuck up this opening, it will be your first and only night working here. Do I make myself clear?”

They all nodded.

“I have a thing about verbal responses. Again, do I make myself clear?”

“Yes,” went up around the crowd.

There was the sound of a single scoff, and I didn’t need to guess who it was. I walked over to Salima and stood toe to toe with her.

Fuck she smells good.

“Is there a problem, Ms. Navarro?”

She smirked. “Not at all,sir.”

“Then what’s with the scoffing while I’m talking.”

“Whatever do you mean? I simply had a tickle in my throat.”

That condescending tone did something to me. She was begging me to hem her ass up in a corner somewhere. I had something to tickle her throat.

“Leann.”

“Yes, Mr. Dillinger.”

“Make Ms. Navarro here my lead tonight. If these girls fuck up, it’s on her. Not only will they be out of a job, but so will she.”

The smirk dropped from her face.

“How is that fair!”

“The hands of one are the hands of all. I suggest you get all hands on deck tonight. A team is only as strong as its leader. Show me you aren’t weak.”

“Since you’re the owner, wouldn’t that make you the weakest?”

A few of the girls' eyes widened. A couple of the ones standing next to her side stepped in the other direction. I could see she was going to be the one to try me. I smirked as I spoke, my eyes never leaving hers.

“Ladies, the rest of you can go back to training. Ms. Navarro, follow me to my office.”

Low murmurs met my back as I walked away. I didn’t hear the sound of her feet behind me. I came to a stop but didn’t turn around.

“Salima, let’s go,” I said, my voice deep and full of authority.

---