Page 21 of Bricked Up
Though Saadiq spotted a few familiar faces, there was no one who really stuck out that he thought would remember him, Truce, Jabari, or any of the other niggas in his circle at the time. Grabbing a stool, he nodded when the pretty, petite bartender signaled that she’d be right with him. He’d just retrieved his phone from his pocket after it alerted him to an incoming text when a woman exiting the VIP suite called his name. He turned around and followed the voice over to a gorgeous woman who strongly resembled a thicker, big-breasted version of actress Halle Berry in the movie Boomerang. She had the same cut, color, and everything. Saadiq immediately recognized her as one of the headliners from back in the day.
“Saadiq, is that you?! Hell yeah, it is. Gotdamn, Saadiq! How the fuck are you still fine as wine after all this time? What’s it been, about eight years or so?” Pamela Gates asked as she approached the end of the bar and slid onto the stool next to him. “Shit, I still wanna ride ya face wit’ ya sexy ass. You gon’ let me?!”
“Yo’ you wildin’,” Saadiq chuckled at the dramatic ass woman who used to get a lot of Jabari’s money. “I appreciate the compliment, though, Pam. You still the life of the party I see.”
“Shit,” Shrugging, she winked. “I’on know any other way to be. What you drinking on tonight, handsome?”
“Oh, you gon’ pour my drink? You serving niggas now on top of working that pole like you used to?” Saadiq asked as his lips curled up into a smirk.
“Yes, I am. And I’ll serve yo’ sexy ass anytime of the day or night,” She winked as he slipped behind the bar and headedstraight for the handwashing sink. “But to answer the other part of your question, I do a little serving when I’m needed. But I own the club now. I still dance from time to time, but only for private clients and on holidays.”
“Oh, straight up, Congratulations. That’s wassup. Well, in that case, let me get a D’USSE XO.”
“I got you. So what brings you back to The Horny Frog after all these years?” she asked as she poured his drink and slid it over to him. “Did your ignorant ass cousin tell you to come talk me into letting him return to my establishment?”
“Nah,” Saadiq’s brows raised in surprise. “I came to see if the twins that Jabari was crazy about still work here. Leah and Nina, I think. I need to see if they know anything about some drama between my woman and some chick who worked or still works at the bank with them. What did Jabari do to get banned?”
Pamela glanced at Saadiq skeptically as she studied him for a moment. “You really don’t know? Ya’ll don’t fuck wit’ each other no more?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t have asked, Pam. I’on ask questions for my health. I’on play wit’ folks time like that ‘cause I’on like mine played with,” He explained as he stroked his beard in contemplation. Saadiq could read people well, and he knew the minute she asked the first question that some shit popped off between them that went south quick as fuck. “Far as your other question, I feel like the way you asked me lets me know that you know something I don’t.”
“Mm,” Pamela chewed on her bottom lip as she rifled through her thoughts. “Maybe I do, grab your drink. Let’s go talk in my office.”
Saadiq followed her up the staircase, just as the DJ announced the next dancer, Debbie Cakes. The crowd of men and women went wild as a woman in red made her way onto the stage. Saadiq chuckled as Truce slipped from between the twowomen sitting on either side of him and made a beeline for the stage. Once they reached the second floor, they passed the VIP suites and kept walking until they rounded the corner of the long hallway and entered Pamela’s office. The interior looked more like a loft than an office. It was cozy, spacious, and smelled like fresh cherries. The masculine black and gray color combo wasn’t what he expected from a woman like her, but the various girlie decor still very much gave the space plenty of delicate, feminine vibes.
“So, tell me, Pam,” Saadiq took a seat in one of the gray chairs in front of her just as Pamela settled into the large throne-type chair behind her desk. “Why do I get the feeling that you know exactly why I’m here?”
“‘Cause I think I might,” She slid a glass coaster in front of him and sat back in her chair. “So listen up because I promise you, what you don’t know is gonna blow your fucking mind.” She was quick to warn.
“Well blow my shit then. Let’s hear it.”
“Around the end of last year, I banned Jabari because he was really aggressive with a few of the girls, and he threatened one of my newbies so bad she quit. He also stiffed one of my bottle girls on a bill.”
“Man, so that nigga was just in here on one, huh?!” Saadiq chuckled as he took a sip of his drink.
“Yeah, it was real bad. He really needs help with the drinking and excessive gambling. Maybe you could encourage him to go get some therapy or something.” She suggested solemnly.
Saadiq could tell from the softness in her tone that something had gone on between her and Jabari, romantically. And that while one part of her regretted it, a bigger part of her was trying to deny that she still had feelings for him. “That’s unfortunate. I love my cousin, and I’d usually go to bat for him any day of the week. But doing anything for Jabari ever againdepends on what you tell me next. Because from the look on your face, I can tell there's so much more you wanna say.”
Fidgeting with the ring on her index finger, Pamela cleared her throat and finally spilled. “So, against my better judgment, I fucked around and fell in love with Jabari. Hell, I still love him if I’m being honest. But some people you can’t be with, no matter how much you love them. Anyway, we started off just messing around, and the next thing I knew, we were in a full-blown relationship. But it was strongly suggested by the boss at the time to steer clear of dating the customers. So the plan was to keep shit private until I could finish paying for school.”
“A’ight,” Saadiq nodded as he reached for his glass again. “What did he do, screw you over? Threaten to expose you?” Saadiq wanted her to hurry up and get to the point. But a part of him was intrigued by the suspense of it all. Unfortunately, though, he had a feeling that she was about to confirm what had already crossed his mind when they were headed to her office.
“Kind of,” Pamela admitted, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “Back during the early days of us messing around, which was about four and a half years ago, Jabari came in here one night drunk off his ass and angry as fuck. It was so bad that I took a sick day and took him home. Because I was worried about him, I stayed with him until the next morning to find out what had him so upset. He said it was you. Which shocked the fuck outta me because of how close ya’ll were. Anyway, he just went off. Said he saw some chick first and that you took her from him. He said he was tired of living in your shadow and living with the fact that you kept taking shit that belonged to him. I asked him who the hell he was talking about, and he said some chick you were dating.”
“Pam,” Saadiq sat up and held a hand up to cut her off. “Is that nigga the reason–”
“Saadiq, let me finish,” She cut him off as she reached for the joint that was in the rolling tray on her desk, lit it, and took a long hit. “Jabari asked me to help set you up so the chick could think you cheated on her. I told him no, he broke up with me, and kicked me out. I’m close with the twins, but I never told them what happened. After that, I didn’t see him until a couple years later. He came in and apologized, and we picked up where we left off, and he never mentioned the shit again. By then, I’d gone part-time to finish school and get my business degrees. And I found out years later that he came up here on my off day to get the twins to help. But one of the new girls here who also worked at the bank with the twins was ear-hustling and told him she’d do whatever for the right price.”
Saadiq was growing more livid by the minute. His patience was shot. He’d finally gotten his answer and was ready to go beat the dog shit out of Jabari’s ass. While he was really ready for Pamela to wrap this shit up, he now had a question of his own. “You knew what I came here for when you saw me, didn’t you?”
She shook her head. “Not until you told me why you were here. I’m only telling you now because I think something happened to him that triggered his drinking, because he can’t cope. I broke up with him for good a while back, but I still care for him. I gave him more than a few chances before his behavior escalated to me having to break up with him and ban him. And I think even back then, his anger was displaced toward the people he loved because he couldn’t get whatever help he needed.”
“Or,” Saadiq began as he stood. “Maybe the nigga knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe he’s just showing his true colors and fully stepping into the shoes of the drunk he’s been trying to hide for years. The only thing that nigga can’t cope with is his ability to root for others for fear of thinking somebody is gon’ do better or shine brighter than him. He’s always been ajealous, spiteful son of a bitch, but I've always overlooked his shortcomings and never judged him. Until now.”
“But Saadiq, what if?—”
“Pam,” He sighed. “I’ve been where you are. Jabari has crossed or hurt damn near everyone in our family, but a nigga like me just thought that if I supported, uplifted, and kept him encouraged, he’d get his act together. Ya know, some folks need more help than others. But other times, folks need to crash and burn on their own. Hit rock bottom to appreciate those who were there for them during their storms. I appreciate you, but if I were you, I’d stay as far as fuck away from Jabari as possible.”
