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

manners. "Soooo." She dragged her words slowly. Reese was curious to know why she was invited up here. "What’s up?" She asked

Pumpkin leaned forward, preparing to talk business. She looked her eye to eye so she could know that this was a serious matter. "Well, I’m going to get straight to the point. I'm not the type to beat around the bush." She took another swig of her drink, sucking her teeth as the smooth tequila ran down her throat as she swallowed. She sat the glass back down on the table so she could continue. "I'm assuming you are here because you need a job right??" Pumpkin asked a question she already knew the answer to.

 Her brown complexion immediately turned a flush pink as Reese became nervous, staring at an object across the room obviously avoiding eye contact. "Uhhh...” she stammered. “Is it that obvious?" she asked

Pumpkin chuckled, her shyness amusing. "It’s obvious if you’re from around here. I've known Slik for a while. I know how he does business."

Reese shook her head, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "I really wanted to keep things private. I told him that."

Pumpkin shrugged her shoulder, wondering who this woman could possibly be hiding from. She had never seen her around these parts before, and if Pumpkin didn’t recognize her no one else here recognized her either. "That doesn’t matter. Nobody is judging you around here. I'm just curious and I want to know. How bad do you really need this job?" She raised an eyebrow, knowing the question was completely irrelevant, but she was curious.

Reese fidgeted with her fingernail still avoiding eye contact, which is something she had been doing since she sat down. That was a habit Pumpkin knew she had to work on breaking her out of. "Well." Reese hesitated, obviously afraid to answer. "I just need a job. I got bills that are past due and a roommate that’s tired of covering for me. I would do the damn dishes if he asked me."

Pumpkin nodded her. She’s desperate for money. She chanted inside her head. That’s a jackpot. "What about a car?" Pumpkin continued to interrogate, "Do you have one?"
Reese nodded her head while still fidgeting with her fingers. "Yeah,” her expression changed as she became frustrated. “That piece of shit breaks down on me every other week. I hate that car!"
"Hmmm." Pumpkin placed her finger on her chin, conducting a master plan inside her head. This was going to be a lot easier then she thought. Reese was beautiful from head to toe so her image didn’t need any altering. Some money in her pocket and a dependable car to drive would bait her in. Pumpkin looked her up and down, hoping she wasn’t moving too fast but she had an idea Reese would be perfect to take up under her wing. She could groom her and mold her into the perfect hustler. But that’s only if she was ready. 
"So." Pumpkin sat forward, prepared to get straight to business. "I want to hire you. I want you to work for me." 
Reese looked taken aback, finally making eye contact as she opened her mouth to speak. "Hire me???" She asked the question as if she were confused. "Hire me to do what? Why me? Am i even qualified?" she asked, 
Reese laughed, knowing the sudden offer took her by shock, but she didn’t have time to wait. Time was winding down and she needed an extra pair of hands. Pumpkin nodded her head, letting her know that she was serious. "If you’re not qualified, I can qualify you myself so that won’t be a problem. I know you need some extra money, and I promise you honey, working at Guilty, you gone forever be living paycheck to paycheck." Pumpkin didn’t hold back straightforwardness because she was telling the truth. This chump change is nothing compared to what she had to offer.
Reese smacked her lips not giving in as easy as she anticipated. "How is that?" She asked, digging for more information. Pumpkin leaned in even closer ready to sell a dream so worth buying there was no way Reese could pass it up. "The proof is in the pudding baby. Ask any other woman who’s ever worked for me. I take care of my employees by all means necessary."

Reese crossed her arms over her chest. She leaned back in her chair. "I heard that. I'm just confused on why you’re offering me a job right now. You don’t know anything about me. I'm a good girl. I don’t do drugs. I’m not a stripper, I don’t sell my body for money and I’m not here to do anything else promiscuous for money." She laid down the law. Pumpkin threw her head back humored by the fact Reese was mistaking her for a pimp. She was flattered, but her line of work was more complex than that. She couldn’t go into details right now. But Reese would find out sooner than later. "I'm not trying to trick you out if that’s what you think." Pumpkin smirked.
"Then what are you trying to do?" Reese asked. 
Pumpkin looked over her shoulder. The area was secluded but she couldn’t take any chances. Pumpkin had to keep very thing on the low until the time was right. "I just need an assistant." She lied, deciding to cross that bridge when she got to it. "To be honest, I think you would be a good fit for the job."
Reese rolled her eyes as she continued to resist. "I don’t know anything about being an assistant."

Pumpkin rolled her eyes. This chick was giving too much lip to be as broke as she claimed to be.

"Look," Pumpkin sat forward, not in the mood to play games. "I'm giving you the opportunity of your life honey. What other options you got? Cleaning up after bitches and busting dirty tables for a living?"
Reese shot her a crazy look as if she were offended. She also leaned forward, challenging her. "Listen, I need money and I want to work!” she hissed across the table. “I'm not trying to be no damn assistant! My patience is non fucking existent. I've lost too many jobs working up under bossy ass women and I'm not with it" She huffed as she caught her breath. Obviously Pumpkin hit a weak spot.
She smirked as she examined Reese who suddenly became hyped up. She didn’t think she had it in her. "So are you declining my offer?" She asked. 
Reese leaned forward, picking up her drink and taking a large gulp as if she had was now overwhelmed. She placed the glass back down on the table before speaking. "I'm sure whatever you paying me is not any different from what Slik is offering me. $500 every 2 weeks to clean tables and listen to some good music sounds like some pretty okay money to me."
Pumpkin threw her head back, laughing at the insult. She covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself as Reese continued to stare her down without cracking a smile. "Girl you are too funny." Pumpkin continued to chuckle. Reese glared while crossing her arms across her chest. "What’s so funny?" She asked, obviously not getting the joke. Without responding, Pumpkin leaned forward and grabbed her pocketbook which was sitting beside the chair. Digging inside, she fished out a manila envelope that she kept tucked away for emergencies such as this. Pumpkin dipped her hand inside. Pulling it back out, she retrieved a stack of neatly pressed $100 dollar bills that she had wrapped tightly with a rubber band around it. Digging her hand deeper inside the envelope, she pulled out 2 additional stacks of cash. Pumpkin looked up and made eye contact with Reese, watching as her jaw unknowingly dropped open. She watched Pumpkin remove the rubber band wrapped around a stack of bills. Licking her thumb, she began to thumb through the bills, counting out each one as she went along. "Like I said," Pumpkin spoke in between counting money. "I take care of ALL of my employees. Slik won’t put money in your pocket like I can." After counting all $1500 dollars, Pumpkin leaned forward, slapping the money down on the table in front of Reese, whose mouth still hung open in shock. For a woman with so much lip, she didn’t have much to say now. 
"Are you joking?" She finally spoke, stammering over her words. "This can’t be for real."
Pumpkin smirked. This was the reaction she was hoping for. "Looks pretty real to me honey. And if you accept my offer, I'm paying you in advance. This money is all yours."
Reese looked down at the cash then back at Pumpkin as if she were hesitant. It was obvious she wasn’t used to being around this kind of money. Reese hadn’t seen nothing yet. There was a lot more in store.

"I hope this is not a joke." She persisted. 
Pumpkin rolled her eyes while leaning forward. She picked up the money and slapped it directly in the middle of her hand. "It’s not a joke girl." she drew back and watched as Reese's eyes stayed in a lock position on the stack of cash she was holding. "I can’t believe it." She spoke under her breath. 
Pumpkin stood to her feet, placing her purse strap on her shoulder. She retrieved a business card from her front pocket and handed it over. Reese accepted it, her hand lightly shaken as she took the card from her. "Call me tomorrow at 6. I'm going to pick you up, we're going to get to know each other and I’m going to explain the job to you." she explained. Reese nodded her head, no longer resisting. Pumpkin smiled and began to trot towards the stairs. "Well enjoy yourself honey." She spoke over her shoulder. "This VIP section is paid for the night so feel free to stay as long as you'd like. And don’t forget on your way out to let Slik know you accepted my job offer so he knows not to harass you when you leave." 
Reese nodded her head, still at a loss for words. She clutched the money to her chest almost as if her life depended on it. 
Pumpkin smiled at her one last time, said her goodbyes before she trotted down the steps. She was relieved that she had finally found a suitable young woman with the perfect image to come along for this ride. She contemplated on calling Mason for some celebration head, and then decided tomorrow the deed will be done. Tonight she needed as much rest as she could get it. Pumpkin took a deep breath, hoping this girl was ready. Tomorrow her newly found friend Reese was going to cross over to the dark side.

 

Chapter 5

Chapter 5.

"I've got to clean up what I messed upppppp. I'm starting my life over again. I've got to clean up what I messed uppppppp."
The Canton Spirituals CD flowed through the house as Reese bumped her head to the music, her hair pinned up in a messy bun as she flipped over the pancake in her frying pan. She