Page 21 of Desperate Measures
I smoothed down the side of my dress as I walked to speak to every new potential client who walked in. Zahara was busy directing the few servers we had. Each guest was offered a glass of champagne. I had a beautiful wooden table set up that held a few charcuterie boards, offering guests an assortment of fruits, cheeses, crackers, and meats. I had just snagged a piece of cheese and popped it into my mouth when Zahara stood next to me.
“Bestie, girl, you snapped,” Zahara whispered in my ear as she looped her arm through mine.
I smiled, fighting back tears. “We snapped.” From the moment Jahsir placed the keys in my hand, Zahara had been with me every step of the way.
Across the room, I spotted Jahsir by the wall, watching me like I was the only thing in the room worth looking at. I was still on edge about the conversations we had about him being under the radar again. I urged him not to come today, but he refused, stating he wouldn’t miss this moment no matter who was checking for him. In order to support me and keep his cover, so to speak, he kept his distance from the crowd. He didn’t need to say anything; I felt him. His gaze was steady and never wavered, like he was proud of me but ready to take someone out if anything went sideways. That was Jahsir. His love was solid, silent, and always behind me.
And then there was Jemma, bouncing Scarlett on her hip in that little yellow dress. My baby girl clapped her hands together like she knew this moment was big. Like she was proud of her mama. I thought about Hadiya encouraging me to find myself and introduce Scarlett to who her mommy really was. And this was the version of me I wanted her to see, love, and remember. Happy, focused, and somewhat carefree. I glanced around at them once more and smiled. My circle was small and solid; I couldn’t ask for more.
I was about to greet one of the stylists from up the street when the door chimed. And my stomach dipped. Venus walked in like she was part of the ribbon-cutting committee. She wore a tight, plastic, red dress, five-inch heels, and held an oversized bouquet filled with white and pink roses. I didn’t know if I should smile and receive her gesture or immediately move to kicking her out. When I saw the local news crew trailing behind her with cameras already rolling, I knew it was the latter.
Zahara’s hand tensed on my arm, and I knew we were on the same page. Cameras and Jahsir were a big hell no.
“Congratulations, BFF!” Venus shouted. She clearly wasn’t reading the room. It was calm inside, but her voice carried after her obnoxious greeting. As if her loud ass outfit wasn’t enough, she used her greeting to be the center of attention.
“Venus… what, what are you doing?” I asked calmly. I smiled although my nerves were shot.
“BFF, this is a huge moment for you. Of course, I was going to show up.”
“With cameras, Venus? Have you lost your mind?”
“Yes! I called in every favor I knew. You deserve to be seen, BFF. I mean, this is your moment, babe. Take it in, girl!”
“Excuse me,” I addressed the small media entourage. “I truly thank you all for coming, but this is a private event. Please turn the cameras off and excuse yourselves.” One of the ladiesstepped aside and asked me for a business card. I quickly obliged, and before I could escort them out, I was pulled back into the Venus drama just by the sound of her voice.
“Oh my goodness, look at Ms. Scarlett, she is getting so big. Can I hold her?” Venus asked. She didn’t wait for my response. Instead, she handed me the flowers before I could protest. Surprisingly, Scarlett reached back for her as well. And Venus is lucky, because I was getting ready to knock her over the head with this big ass bouquet.
“You know Jah can’t be seen on camera,” Zahara hissed behind me.
Venus didn’t even blink. “Oh really? I didn’t know that was still a thing, since he was out at the club with you, Shad, and Crim a while ago. Didn’t know he was still in hiding? Ain’t that familiar.”
I could feel Jahsir’s energy shift from across the room. The tension built in his shoulders, and he was on guard ready to move.
“Venus,” I said softly, but firmly. “You should go, especially since Rashad isn’t here.”
“No, BFF, I came to support you, girl!”
“No, you came to prove a point.”
For a moment, her smile cracked just a flicker. Then the door chimedagain, and my heart dropped past my stomach and landed on the floor. I hadn’t seen or reached out to him in months. And now he was here…Que.
Clean-cut. Chain swinging. That same smirk I’d seen a thousand times when he wanted something. He stepped inside like he hadn’t missed all of Scarlett’s life. Like this moment belonged to him.
“Damn, Crim. You really did it,” he said, hands spread like he was blessing the room. “Proud of you, mama.” He leaned in, hugging me and wrapping his arm around my waist. I couldn’teven move. My hands still gripped the bouquet Venus dumped on me. Behind Que, the camera kept filming, and I realized I never completely escorted them out.
Looking over at Zahara, we came to a mental agreement. She moved to escort the camera crew out. Then she focused her attention on the guests, engaging them in the game for the giveaway.
“Let me hold her,” he said, stepping toward Venus and reaching for Scarlett as if it were owed.
Before I could speak, Jahsir was there, shoulder to shoulder with Que. Jahsir was careful not to cause a scene. I knew his first mind was to steal off Que; instead, he leaned in and firmly stated, “Ain’t none of that.” Jahsir spoke as I retrieved Scarlett from Venus, handing her to Ms. Jemma.
Que laughed like he didn’t hear the warning in his tone. “Who the hell are you talking to?”
“Who the fuck am I looking at?”
Scarlett whimpered in Jemma’s arms, her little face was scrunched up and covered by confusion as the tension unfolded around her.
“Bro, I don’t know how the issue started between us. I wanna bury all that. Right now, I’m tryna make things right all around.’
