Page 53 of Disrespectfully, Relic

“Umm, I’m not sure what she wants yet, but it’s on the house.”

“Girl, what?!” Kennedy screeched, unable to mask her indignation. “I know you did not let this nigga come bat his funny looking ass eyes at you and trick you out of a payment.”

Relic bit back his amusement. “So, my eyes are funny looking, Kennedy?”

“Weird looking as fuck, nigga. Pay that girl her money! Jennifer, I better not ever catch you doing that again, especially when he has money, and so does she.”

Jennifer’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she nodded while Relic removed a clipped stack of blue faces from his pocket since paying what he weighed was nothing to him. He licked a thumb, counting out ten bills to toss on her station before reclipping the rest to slip back into his pocket. Kennedy shot Jennifer anI told you sostare that was seeped in chiding because she should’ve known better at her big ass age.

“Make it as quick as you can, Jennifer. Kennedy, let’s have a talk in your office,” he requested, heading there before she could respond.

He retrieved his keys, locating the one for her office door and unlocked it, letting himself in as she entered behind him with her face screwed up.

“You have a key to my office?”

“Since it’s technically mine, as is every-fucking-thing in this salon. Yes. You got something you want to say to me?”

Kennedy shut the door and leaned against it with folded arms. “Nope.”

“Your attitude says otherwise, but if you say so. Come here. I need to show you something.”

Relic rounded her office desk and went to the wall mirrors aligned behind it as decor. Once he confirmed Kennedy was paying attention, he gripped the center mirror on both sides, lifting it from the nail holding it in place to reveal a small wall safe he’d gotten built in.

“No one knows this is here but us,” he told her, setting the mirror on the floor to lean against the wall before punching in the safe code. When it beeped, he tugged open the door, and she gawked at the stacks of cash nestled inside. “Zero, eight, one, five is the code. Emergency money is inside, but I’ll be adding more. Let me know before you take anything.”

He secured it shut after giving those instructions, putting everything back in its place while Kennedy leaned against her desk and observed his every move. Her body tensed when he sauntered in front of her, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe before he clasped both hands at her waist and hoisted her up onto her desk.

“I like this on you.” He tugged at the black and white pinstriped pantsuit jacket she’d turned into a mini dress. His inspection traveled downward to her black stockings and slingback pumps as he admitted, “I got your messages this morning.”

“I know you fucking did.”

“Then you should know why I didn’t respond. You’re the manager, right, big dog Kennedy? It’s your place to fix the kinks when shit goes wrong, not mine. I should be your last call. Expend all options before hitting me up, or I’ll assume that you aren’t capable of holding the titles I’ve given you.”

As much as Kennedy wanted to debate him, she couldn’t since he’d made valid points. It was on her to keep the salon afloat, and if she couldn’t, she wasn’t as prepared for the position as she’d convinced herself.

“Well, I got it done without you. Are you going to tell me, I did a good job?”

“I don’t hand out cookies for shit that should be done. You’re my partner, and that’s your job. Who gave you those?”

Kennedy frowned as he bounced to another topic while reaching past her. It wasn’t until she spotted the card in his hand that she realized he was referring to the bouquet Lomar had given her that she’d placed on her desk.

“Stop being so damn nosey!” she fussed, attempting to snatch it out of his hand. Relic raised it above her head and skimmed the note.

“Congrats, mama. Your future man, L,” he read with a chuckle before flinging the card aside. Relic slapped both hands on her thighs, giving each a rough squeeze as he smirked. “Does your future man know I turned that pussy every which way but loose? While he’s calling you mama, did you let that nigga know, I’m daddy, Kennedy?”

A cackle erupted from her before she could contain it. “You’re so damn cocky, Relic.”

“I’m assured.”

“You’re an asshole,” she quipped, making him chuckle. A smile spread on her face because he almost seemed normal when he allowed himself to do simple shit like that. “Before I forget, thank you.”

“For?”

“For allowing me to run the salon. For throwing my nephew a rope to climb out the streets before it sucked him in. For the chessboard,” she tacked on last, glancing at where she, Savvy, and Ryell had struggled to carry it to a corner of her office. Kennedy gave Relic a soft smile and lauded, “I love it. I appreciate it and everything else.”

“You aren’t going soft on me, are you, Kennedy?” His hand went to the side of her neck, grazing her scars as her gorgeous face scrunched up at his random question. She tossed her head, and he nodded. “Good. I can’t have you doing that ‘cause then I’ll have no use for you, which won’t end well. I rather have a use for you, baby.”

“Thanking you for doing things you didn’t have to do for us isn’t weak, Relic. But I guess showing no emotion makes more sense in that twisted head of yours ‘cause you rather I not point out that somewhere in there,” she pointed at his chest. “You have emotions, too.”

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