When A Woman Hustles, Danielle Martin [books to read in your 20s .TXT] 📗

her. Pumpkin would forever be in debt to him for that. But she hated the way their relationship developed over the years. As her hips spread and her chest grew, King did not look at her as a woman. He still seen that little girl he rescued from the streets. She couldn’t change that image no matter how hard she tried.
"Anyways..." King skipped off the subject as he picked up on her demeanor changing. "So what’s the deal with this woman Pumpkin? You know I’m real paranoid and I don’t trust people coming to my home where i lay my head."
Pumpkins eyes dropped to the floor, secretly disappointed but deciding they would revisit that conversation later. "King, I would never do anything to put you at risk or get you cased up. You know that." she whispered
King took another puff of his cigar, blowing puffs of smoke across the table as he continued to eye her. "I'm not saying I don’t trust you. I know you let your guard down easy." They made eye contact. "Let’s not forget about what happened to Trix."
Pumpkins mood shifted as the entire room stood still. She watched as the name slipped past his lips. Her heart stopped. The blood rushed to her head doing circles around her brain. She hated when he mentioned her name. King knew that very well. Pumpkin attempted to push the rush of memories into the back of her head, but she was failing drastically. Suddenly she could hear Trix's voice. 
"I don’t wanna talk about Trix." Pumpkin's tone grew cold as she stopped herself from reminiscing on the past. Pumpkin was hot headed and too arrogant for her own good. Certain things she hard to learn the hard way. After the night Trix was murdered in cold blood, she promised to never let her guard down again. With anyone. Chills traveled up her spine. Trix was so beautiful and full of life. She stood 5'8 with long natural wavy hair and hazel brown eyes. She was tall and slender with long legs and smooth caramel skin. She had looks that could kill. No one in Baltimore could figure out why someone would want to harm her so savagely. That night Pumpkin got that phone call, her entire life changed. She shut out the entire world and engaged in social conversing only if it involved money.
"Fine... We won’t talk about her." King arrogantly leaned back in his chair. He struck a nerve and he knew it. Pumpkin rolled her eyes. He knew more than anyone else that Trix was a sensitive subject. "Did you do inventory this week?" King asked finally switching the topic. "I know you've been real busy lately." He eyed her. She hated when he asked dumb questions. Regardless to how hectic her schedule was, she made sure to take the time to do King's book keeping each week. He had a financial obsession with keeping each and every receipt and also recording every dollar amount that makes its way into his bank account. She also monitored his stock investments and distributed funds to his monthly charity foundations. And to put the icing on the cake, she never missed a week which is why she hated to be questioned.  "Yep." she provided a bland answer. You will never find another woman to do the things I do for you. She chanted inside her head.
King smiled. Her heart weakened at the sight of his pearly white teeth. Dirty thoughts rushed through her mind a second time, but she shook them away as quickly as they appeared. Proving to King she was the woman for him was like beating a dead horse. It was pointless if he refused to give her a fair shot. She attempted to figure out the reason why this man was so irresistible. His demeanor was calm as he sat laid back behind his desk puffing on his cigar. Pumpkin never seen him worked up. Never seen him break a sweat or get his hands dirty. His plain t-shirt was neatly pressed, his matching gold ring and watch glistening under the dimly lit television. King wasn’t a flashy guy. Although he had millions in the bank, he preferred to dress simple.  He did not want to portray himself as a king pin nor did he want to make himself a target. King led a very private life. He was Baltimore’s main source to the street life and most these niggas who worshipped him never laid physical eyes on him. King was the man and many could not put a face to a name. Over the years, Pumpkin followed in his footsteps. He taught her everything she knew.
Interrupting her thoughts, Pumpkin heard the speaker phone sitting next to King’s desk buzz several times. Murda’s deep voice invaded the silence, spilling out of the speakers. "Ay yo King. Tell Pumpkin her girl is here." He spoke into the speaker.
Pumpkin glanced down at her watch, taking note that Reese showed up way earlier than expected. She reverted her attention back to King who had a dramatic expression plastered across his face. "Don’t look like that." She hissed at him. He raised his hands up in surrender, "I trust you Pumpkin. Just be careful. We don’t need another repeat of Trix." He leaned back in his chair. "I don’t need any more blood on my hands. For real."
Again her heart stopped. He’s doing this on purpose! She chanted inside her head. He’s trying to get a rise out of me! The memories began to flood her thoughts once again as King mentioned her name a second time. She couldn’t stop her mind from slipping into a deep reminisce. As the years went by, Pumpkin lived a very sheltered life. On a day to day basis, she struggled with the harsh reality of pretending things in her past didn’t happen. She wanted to make believe the skeletons in her closet were fictional. But they were not. Trix was a memory now. A memory she couldn’t escape….

Trix was her ride or die. Her Batman to her Robin. Growing up the only child, Pumpkin never got the chance to have a relationship with anyone. She didn’t have any siblings and never had a stable home to make any friends. She remembered the day King brought the pair together. It was a humid summer night the weekend after Pumpkins 18th birthday. They were sitting outside having a traditional bonfire celebrating her transition into womanhood. While sitting around the fire roasting hotdogs and marshmallows, a tall slender woman with long hair and hazel eyes unknowingly interrupted the private party. Uninvited.  Pumpkin remembered her tall frame standing in the doorway as she walked in. She sashayed across the yard walking around the fire to greet King. She wrapped him in a hug. Apparently her invitation was personal. Low and behold, this 5’7 beauty wasn’t the typical 5 star model chick you run into often. She was one of Baltimore’s most notorious jackers. King knew exactly what he was doing bringing the two together. He waited until Pumpkin turned 18 before he fully introduced her to the streets. Trix was her mentor. For a while, Pumpkin was hesitant to open up to her. She didn’t know how to have a relationship with another woman. Her mother was never there for her and never provided her with the social skills she needed to survive in life. Eventually, the pair became inseparable.  Partners in crime. They robbed together. Laughed together. Cried together. Trix was like her security blanket. They came to discover they both had the same interest and went through similar struggles in life. Trix showed her how to be successful in this business as a woman. For so long Pumpkin looked up to her. Her heart sunk into her stomach as she began to think about that night she received that phone call advising her that Trix had been shot and killed while sitting in her car in her driveway. Her entire world came crashing down finding out her best friend had been murdered in cold blood. Trix didn’t deserve to die and Pumpkin became angry each time she thought about the coward that killed her.

King noticed she was in deep thought. Pumpkin shook the images from her head. Now was not the time to reflect on the past. She knew bringing Reese here tonight was a big deal. Pumpkin hadn’t introduced anyone to king since Trix was murdered. She had grown accustomed to working alone. If there ever came a time where she needed an extra pair of hands, she would pull a random chick from the strip club, use her as a pawn, then toss her to the side after giving her enough hush money to get out of town. Reese was the first woman she considered recruiting. She was scarred from her past. For years, those scars held her back. Now, Pumpkin needed a sidekick again. Even if it wasn’t Trix…

Without saying another word, Pumpkin turned on her heels heading towards the door. She reached for the door handle, swinging the door open. She meditated to herself silently as she trotted down the hallway. I hope I’m making the right decision. Please, please, please let me be right.
She stepped back into the foyer. Reese and Murda standing in the lobby, his tall frame towering over her as she nervously stood beside him with her arms crossed in front of her. Pumpkins eyes immediately fell upon the sequin red dress Reese was wearing which had a split up the thigh, exposing her smooth brown skin and long slender legs. Her mouth dropped open. She wore a pair of 8 inch heels and a diamond choker with matching earrings. Her makeup was flawless giving her a natural bare look. Reese had retired the ponytail, wearing her natural long hair in curls, which were neatly pressed spilling over her shoulders  

"What the hell are you wearing girl?" Pumpkin was caught off guard and gave the first reaction that came to her mind. Reese nervously tucked her hair behind her ear while avoiding eye contact. "I'm sorry. I didn’t know how I was supposed to dress. You just told me to dress nice."
Pumpkin looked her up and down sizing her up. Her eyes then fell down upon her own outfit, examining the grey sneakers and yoga pants she threw on this morning. I know this chick is not trying to show me up.

"Is that a new dress?" She asked. She already knew the answer because had the exact same designer dress.. Reese nervously bit her lip as if her cover was blown, signaling that she was guilty. “Is it obvious??" she asked holding her arms out so she could be examined. Pumpkin shook her head. “I know Zuhair Murad when I see it.” She was no stranger to designer clothing and knew all about the $5000 dress Reese was wearing right now. Clearly, this chick was being stupid with her money already.

“I’m sorry.” Reese apologized. “I may have picked up a few things. I looked a mess the last time.”
Pumpkin smacked her lips, not buying the excuse. "Don’t matter. Ain’t nobody paying attention to how you look." She  snapped louder than she intended. She turned her back and began to trot across the hall back towards the way she came. "Come on follow me."
She heard Reese fall into step behind her, her heels clicking on the marble floors as they walked down the hallway. Pumpkin couldn’t help but roll her eyes as they passed the full length mirror before approaching the door, taking note that Reese stood 2 feet taller than her in heels. She was stunningly beautiful in her red dress but Pumpkin would never give her the benefit of the doubt. An uneasy feeling took over her as they approached his office door. I don’t want to bring her around King looking like