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

CHAPTER 10.

Reese pulled up to the unknown address. Pumpkin sent her the Key highway address via text message, instructing her on what time she should arrive. She drove her Infinity into a parking lot leading towards a deserted, boarded up hair salon. Why here of all places? She looked around. No one was in the area and the place looked abandoned. Reese nervously cracked her knuckles as she waited. She was here to meet King. After Pumpkin made that drastic call, Pumpkin made a few phone calls of her own after telling her to drive towards Key Highway in 1 hour.  King was going to meet her there to give her something. She had no idea what that something was. Reese sat back in her leather seats as she placed the car in park. She was nervous as hell right now and felt extremely shaken to be meeting up with King alone. Reese felt like an insecure idiot the last time she was around him. She had no idea how to act around a man with so much power, and it clearly showed. She felt like a damn fool to think she could pass up to be a certified thief like Pumpkin. King called it like he seen it. She was a good girl and had always been.

Seconds later, an all-black Porsche truck pulled up next to her. The windows were tinted so dark she could not see who was all inside. The paint job had a shiny exterior. The truck was black on black with large black 24 inch rims. She wasn’t surprised to see how he was riding. Based upon what she was told about King, he had a variety of vehicles to choose from. The Porsche truck was one of many.

He rolled down the window enough for her to see his face. They locked dazes. Damn it. She chanted inside her head. Why does he have to be so goddamn fine???

Reese couldn’t deny the inevitable, he was one of the most handsome males she had ever seen in her entire lifetime. She was completely smitten the first time she laid eyes on him on his office but she would never admit it out loud. For a moment, Reese began to think about Pumpkin and how she ran down the rules the night after their first meeting. No shaking hands with King. No lusting over King. No visits at King’s office if Pumpkin wasn’t present. Anything that involved King was a no go. Pumpkin made that very clear the last time she saw her.

She glanced over. Reese couldn’t see much. He was dressed in a cream polo shirt with a gold chain hanging across his neck. "What’s up Reese?" He smiled at her. Her heart fluttered as soon as he opened his mouth to speak. She pulled herself together, trying not to look stupid again with her mouth hanging open. "Hello King." She spoke as calmly as possible attempting to breathe at a steady pace.

"Heard you got into a little bit of trouble with your roomie." He continued to smile at her as he slightly leaned out of his window. Reese nervously cracked a smile. "Looks like that huh? Pumpkin said you got something for me."

They made eye contact for a second as King played with the neatly trimmed edges of his mustache. Yeah I do." He answered her. "Park your car. Come hop in the truck with me."

Reese grew embarrassed as she remembered the sweats and tank top she still wore from this morning. "Park here? What if my car gets towed?" she came up with an excuse to stay in place.

"Don’t worry about that." He waved his hand. "I own this salon baby girl and I ain’t gonna tow your car."

Reese was surprised. She looked out the corner of her eye, glancing at the salon which was a 2 story glass building decorated in pink and purple drapes. . The salon was boarded up, but she could see the potential. The sign read Queen's Hair Salon. She was impressed and had no idea behind the scheming and plotting, King was a legit business man. "Wow. I had no idea." She nodded her head.

He smirked. ''You're gonna get in or what?"

They both grew silent staring at each other. Why is he staring at me like that??? She thought inside her head. Feels like he’s looking me deep inside my soul. I know I’m not hallucinating.  For a second, Reese felt something but at the same time felt like she was imagining things. This man was practically untouchable. There’s no way he’s checking for someone like me.

 Reese shut the car off and rolled up her windows. She didn’t know what to expect as she opened the car door preparing to get out. King kept his eyes locked on her as she stuck her foot out the car. His eyes examined her outfit falling down to her sweatpants and sneakers. She blushed, feeling insecure as she stood outside the car. 

"Come on." He instructed her again. She nodded her head, walking around the car towards the passenger side door. Her adrenaline rushed as she reached for the handle, swinging the door open so she could hop inside. His truck had a pleasant, manly aroma. His office smelled the exact same way. It enticed her. Drew her in.

 With ease, she lifted her foot up to pull herself into the truck. Sliding in to the passenger seat, she nervously reached over to shut the door, closing them both inside together. She looked over at him. He continued to stare at her, making her feel extremely timid as she bit her lip.
"So this is what you look like when you’re not all dressed up, huh?" He finally broke the silence.

 Reese nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah, it’s been a crazy morning." She spoke while looking down. She heard King lightly chuckle as he reached forward and placed the truck in drive. She was nervous. He slowly pulled off.

Reese couldn’t help but notice his beautiful brown eyes glistening underneath the sunset as she turned to him. "Where are we going?" She asked as he pulled out of the parking lot. 
He smirked at her before answering. "I got you an apartment on Mount Royal Avenue. Fully furnished and my boys are moving all your furniture in there right now as we speak. It won’t be ready till tomorrow though."
He paused to allow her to absorb what she just heard.

Her entire world stood still. Reese paused as she sat frozen in time. She didn’t move as she repeated those words inside her head. Apartment? Fully furnished? Mount Royal Avenue? The rich side of town???  She sat forward as she brought herself back to reality. She still had not become used to these sudden surprises and felt taken aback each time she was hit with something new. "Wh—Wh- What??" Reese stammered over words. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was no joke. 
"Pumpkin told me what happened.” He continued. “As long as you working for us, you ain’t got anything to worry about. We’re going to take care of you."
Her mouth still hung open. She was speechless. She slowly came to the realization that everything she and dreamed for was unfolding right before her eyes. This was real. She wasn’t dreaming no more. She closed her eyes. Meeting Pumpkin and King was the best thing that could have ever happened to her. She was so grateful. They saved her from a deep, dark depression and she owed everything to these two.

"Wow. I don’t know what to say." She wanted to question whether or not this was real life but she didn’t want to insult him. "Thank you King. Thank you so much." She gazed at him sincerely. Reese never knew people like King and Pumpkin even existed. They made so many things happen for her within an amount of days. There were too many perks associated with this lifestyle. She couldn’t give that up. 
"I told you, you ain’t got anything to worry about. Just make sure you obey and do everything I say, and then you will be good." He gave her a serious look as he pulled the truck onto the road, the smooth ride gliding down the street. Reese eyed him, wondering what he meant when he said obey. She didn’t dare resist, instead she nodded her head. They rode in silence for a few moments. Reese couldn’t help but look over at him, examining him out the corner of her eye. King sat slightly laid back with one hand on the steering wheel. He was so attractive and well put together, there was no way in hell this man was single. She secretly felt like a Queen B just riding in the car next to him. He looked over, catching her staring at him making herself feel awkward. He smirked, noticing her avoidance. "What’s on your mind?" He asked.
She shrugged her shoulders, afraid to say too much. "Nothing. Just wondering where we're going, that’s all."
He continued to drive as he used his free hand to massage his mustache. He glanced at her and then back at the road "We're going to my place. I got a condo in Inner Harbor. You're gonna stay there tonight until your apartment is ready."
She was surprised. Reese had no idea he had another condo but quite frankly it wasn’t a shocker.

"You're okay with me staying there?'' She asked. She began to think about Pumpkin. There’s no way in hell Pumpkin knows about this. Reese was really good at picking up on things, and Pumpkins entire attitude changes the moment she’s around King. Her demeanor gave off an obsessive vibe. The way she behaved after the meeting was more in a threatening manner versus a protective manner. She basically warned her to stay the hell away from King. Or else. She also told her all about how paranoid King was. He lived a very sheltered life and never let anyone get close to him.  Reese was still a stranger to him so she was completely surprised to discover he was willing to open up his doors for her. He smirked at her again. "I don’t do this often." He answered in a stern tone. She was curious now. She wanted to know where he was taking her and what she was about to walk in to. The night Pumpkin took her to the inner harbor was her first time visiting the area, and she was a little hesitant and nervous to return in fear that the man they robbed would notice her. Then again, she took note to the fact that his eyes were tied the entire time so there was no way he seen her.
They drove for 5 minutes in silence. Smooth jazz spilled out the speakers, which was impressive. She figured he was in to rap music or underground hip-hop, but each time the CD player switched, it was a Peter White, Boney James, or Kenny G track. He bobbed his head to the music as if the saxophone smoothed his soul. Reese laid back, enjoying the ride. She didn’t understand how she ended up here sitting next to one of the richest men in Baltimore. She didn’t see this shit coming and she was still trying to make sense of it all. 
After riding in silence, they pulled up in front of a large building. Reese looked up at her surroundings, peeking out the side of the window examining the 21 story condominium. She wasn’t surprised as he turned his vehicle to the right heading towards the building. The home she visited last time was large in square feet and very well landscaped, but the view at this condo was breathtaking. They pulled up directly to the valet, who smiled and waved as if he