"take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't."

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔

"Isn't she beautiful?" I ogle her looks.

"Bad as fuck." Jabari stares in awe.

"Bro, have some respect, stop drooling." I slap Jabari's arm and he listens.

"A-hem!" Jasmine makes it a point to make us hear her clear her throat for the third time or so.

She stands in the way, interrupting the great view we had of my girl.

"They're still staring at the car?" Morgan appears to ask Jasmine.

JB and I nod, not taking our eyes off of my new car.

Chris, what are you driving these days, I mock Russell in my head.

Oh, a Tesla model three, actually, I answer myself also in my head.

All black like the Durgango I wouldn't miss since she sold. Precious had a good run, it's Tessie's turn. I don't think I'm going to stick with the name, but the point stands. I said I was going to get one, and two weeks later, I did.

No more quarantine. No more gas-guzzler.

It's no Pyro, Russ may have some qualms about it, but he'll have to cry somewhere else. I may not be Elon's biggest fan, but I don't have to be to be in love with this car.

"We get it, you spent a bunch of money, now can you help us unpack?" Jasmine does what she does best: nags.

Morgan made friends with a realtor she met online and started house hunting for The Flamers. Just a block from ours, was a townhouse for sale, only a bit older than our model, but still nice and within their price range.
Jabari landed this new job so he didn't hesitate to take it and make the move. I'm proud of them, I am.

"I can't believe you moved out here." I say to JB as I lean on his Range Rover and continue to stare at my new car.

"You say it like you're mad, man." He laughs.

"Of course not. I'm happy you're here, shit's been... rough."

"Wassup with that? Work?"

"Nah, work is good. Shit, it's great, actually."

"Ah. Morgan tweaking again?"

I don't say anything or even give a nonverbal yes or no.

"Two weeks is a long time to spend cooped up in the house with anyone," Jabari tells me. "I wouldn't have made it with Jasmine, for real."

"It's not even that-" I start to tell him but Jasmine steps out of the townhouse to scowl at us.

I just suck my teeth and pull JB into the U-Haul so we could look like we're unloading while still talking shit.

"Morgan said we can't have sex again if I don't use a condom."

Jabari backs up and looks stunned at the news. My reaction exactly.

"Wow." He gasps, stroking his chin hair.

"I know."

"Wow. I can't believe she's asking you to wrap it up." His tone suddenly shifts and I can hear the sarcasm.

I lift a box and grumble at JB, telling him to "fuck off."

"No, but why'd she say that?" He wonders.

I stop on the sidewalk to tell him, "We were watching Tiktoks the other night and she kept stopping on baby videos, like, 'isn't this so cute, babe, what if we have a baby?'"

Jabari stopped and shook his head. "Sheesh."

"So I told her we can wait on that and she got all mad saying if I don't want one then we need to use protection."

"Damn, bro, but it ain't that bad." He says with his hand on my shoulder. I shake it off.

"Imagine eating your favorite food everyday and then someone randomly one day takes it away and gives you fuckin', I don't know, Arby's."

Jabari starts to laugh. "I don't mind Arby's."

"I want better for you. I really do."

Jabari chuckles again, walking out of the truck with another box. "Jas never let me hit raw."

I gasp dramatically hearing the terrible news. "NEVER?!"

"Not ever. And she on birth control." He shakes his head and I feel so bad for my friend.

Of course I respect Morgan, our relationship is beyond sex, but it is a big part of it and I can't act like this isn't a huge blow.

"That's so unfortunate." I sympathize with him. "You should try it, she'll be a lot happier."

Jabari smacks his lips. "Man, her ass ain't ever happy unless she spending money."

I laugh at his burn. "Ouch. That's what marriage is like?"

"We only been married a month but she let herself go, for real. She don't keep her feet done no more, she be walking around burping and farting, bonnet always on in the house. Man, she only get cute to go out, other than that I get Madea."

I laugh out loud at his wild comment but Jabari just looks at me seriously. It makes it funnier that he's not joking and so mad.

"Damn, that's tough, man, I'm sorry. You helped me a lot, though, thanks."

"Helped you what?" JB asks once we near the steps.

"That made me feel a lot better about my situation." I rub it in, flashing a grin at Jabari.

~~~

I walk into work and am hurt to see Cleo still not at her desk. It's been a while, I'm starting to be concerned. No sign of Sabrina, either. Yet, Shawn is still around. I'm not his biggest fan.

"Chris, there you are!" Speak of the devil.

"Oh, hey, Shawn. What's up?" I act fake just to be cordial.

Shawn Bowie pats my back. "Walk with me." he says through gritted teeth.

I fill with suspicion but act casual, stalking towards the elevators.

A pair of interns are waiting behind us in silence, hands full of coffee and paperwork.

The doors open and two new hires scatter upon seeing Bowie's cold face.

"After you." Shawn says politely.

I enter first and hold up the corner.

The interns try to step in and Shawn gives them a scowling look.

"You'll catch the next one. Thanks." Mr.Bowie let's them know and they actually get out.

I shake my head. Guess that's what you put up with when you're an intern. Shawn Bowie has power here, power that I want to one day have at this firm. In fact, I'm basically envious of him at this point.

We're finally let out and Shawn leads the way this time, showing me to his office.

It's a nice office, much nicer than mine. Of course it is, but I still hate the fact.

There's a portrait of himself and his daughter, Sabrina. One of them old money pictures where they sit in front of the fire place and you can't tell if they're a couple or father/daughter unless you know them. He adores her. Too much.

"How's Cleo?" I ask, earning a harsh stare.

Shawn fixes his tie in the reflection of the glass and clears his throat. "I wouldn't know." he says. I see.

My eyes gravitate back to the portrait. I just can't figure why they treat Cleo so bad?

"Beautiful, isn't she?" Shawn's question makes me snap my neck away from the artwork.

I wanted to say no, that's she's only average-looking and her personality makes her even worse, but how could I tell my boss that?

Instead, I stuff both hands into my pockets. "I have a girlfriend, sir."

"I didn't ask," Shawn says. "Sit, please."

"Respectfully, I have a lot of work to do. What's this about?"

"Working on Russ's dream house?" Shawn cackles.

I swallow, sitting back with my arms folded. "Uh, yeah."

"I see a lot of drive in you, Vaughn. I see will, determination, and an insatiable desire to be great. I know you want to be where I am, why wouldn't you? You're a man who wants to move up in the world. Stop me when I'm inaccurate, but you have a plan and live by it: step-by-step. Get the girl, a nice job, a place, a new car, and so on."

"What do you-"

"Greed, Christopher. It gets to the best of us, I should know. You should know."

It's silent as I ponder his words.

Shawn speaks again. "Tell me, how are you dealing with the stresses of this job?"

I say nothing.

Shawn chuckles. "You're not, are you? No. I admire your dedication. It wasn't easy to make the move here, I'm sure. How's the girlfriend taking it... doggystyle or missionary?"

I sit up, grip tightening on the arms of the chair.

"Was only joking, relax." Shawn stirs, smirking at me.

I stand, feeling uncomfortable now.

"Can I go now?" I ask, clenching my jaw.

Shawn bobs his head. "The reason I called you in here, Chris, is because there's a little investigation going on."

"So?"

"So I need you to go to bat for me. They're going to ask you questions, questions that need to match my answers."

"You want me to lie?" I realize what he's getting at and don't like it.

He offers me a cigar which I refuse, then walks to the window to take in the view again, and it's a nice one. One I want to one day have.

"You're only lying if you don't believe it. Look, I'm not saying go in and make me look like goddamn Ghandi, but tell them what I want to hear."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because you want to get to where I am, you'll have to do some things - things I say so I can get you there. I mean, you already fit right in, using what you have to get what you want." He chuckles, taking a seat.

"What's that mean?" I tense up, feeling myself get angry at his accusations.

Shawn alludes to the portrait again. "My daughter. The raise? I don't blame you."

I hang my head with all regret.

"You can go now. Make me proud." Shawn says, kicking his feet up with confidence or pride.

I head towards the door and hear my name called.

"Oh, and Chris," he says, "I'm sorry about Malcolm, by the way."