Chapter 12

12

E njell

Nibbling my cheek, I fought back tears. I was exhausted and quite frankly tired of fighting back tears. This felt like the final straw. I'd drained my bank account that I had for emergencies, determined to work something out with my landlords. They were a middle-aged couple that had given Gino and me a hard time since we moved in, along with their racist neighbors. I knew it was because we were a young, black, successful couple, and it wasn't the first time I'd experienced profiling in an affluent neighborhood.

We were one of two couples in the neighborhood that were black. The rest of our neighbors were white, Indian, and Asian.

It was always small things that could easily be explained away—complaints about the lawn, calling the police when we had guests over because of the noise , conversations ending and being stared at whenever we'd walk outside. We were never late with the five thousand dollar rent payment, and I didn't want that to start just because Gino had left me. However, I couldn't deny the fact that I was struggling. I had five thousand dollars saved, and though I could use it all to pay the rent, I was hoping they'd allow me to pay half now and the other half in two weeks. That way, I could put the rest toward other bills.

If I had to, I'd get a loan or put my pride aside and ask my parents. I was praying it didn't have to come to that. I had two things in the works: signing a contract at a commercial kitchen and an interview for a bookkeeping position at a primary healthcare clinic. It wouldn't pay what I was used to, but they were offering a signing bonus, and that was what I was banking on.

I thought I had everything worked out—until the landlords told me I couldn't pay half now. Not only could I not pay half now, but they told me we were actually behind on rent.

Scratching my lace part, I sat up in my seat.

"There has to be a mistake. We've never been late with the rent."

"You're actually two months behind," Rakesh corrected.

"Gino handled the payments, so I was unaware."

"Be that as it may, with you being the only person on the lease now, it's your responsibility to make the balance current."

"Let me get this straight." The crisp bark of laughter that escaped me was not one of amusement as I crossed my legs. "You expect me to pay fifteen thousand dollars… by when?"

"Technically, today," Rakesh answered as his wife, Shakti, shifted in her seat and avoided my eyes. "We told Gino this when he changed the lease."

"Well seeing as he took his name off, I'm not sure why you didn't come directly to me," I said louder than I'd planned to. "You have no problem texting me about shit that doesn't matter… the flower bed and me keeping the trash on the street hours after it's been emptied. But you don't think you need to tell me my rent hasn't been paid in going on three months and that I need to have the money in now?" My tongue rolled over my teeth. "I guess not, seeing as if I don't have it paid this month, you can put me out. That's what you've wanted anyway."

"She has a point," Shakti said. "We thought Gino was communicating with you. Did the two of you break up?"

"Yes," I almost whispered, looking away from their prying eyes. "I wasn't working, and he left everything to me. I'm not sure why he wasn't paying the rent, but I need more time. If I can pay the full five thousand today, can I have some more time to get the other ten thousand? Or at least enough to get out of the lease without it effecting my credit?"

They talked amongst themselves briefly before Rakesh said, "We'll take the five thousand today, but you have to pay the balance regardless of if you break the lease or not. Otherwise, we will have to report it. We can give you thirty days to pay the remaining balance. If you want to break the lease after that, it will be an additional two months' rent."

"And that's on top of the first, second, and last months rent you already have?" He nodded. Scoffing, I stood. "I might as well just stay until my lease is up. I'll see what I can do. Thank you."

I took the second envelope from my purse and handed it to them, not even bothering to wait for the written receipt. They would email me a scanned copy of it anyway. By the time I made it to my car, I was shaking mad. I hadn't talked to Gino since Dejvi knocked him out, and I needed to know what the hell his deal was. As I swerved out of their driveway, I dialed his number and allowed the call to connect to the Bluetooth in my car.

"Wassup, Enjell?"

"You didn't think it was paramount that I know you were two months behind on the fucking rent, Gino?"

He released a hard sigh. "How'd you find out?"

"I went to set up a payment arrangement, and they told me I couldn't because we were already two months behind." Scoffing, I shook my head as my speed accelerated. "What the hell, Gino? Why weren't you paying the rent?"

"I needed to save for the move."

My head tilted and shoulders slouched. "So you lied? You told me you'd just found out about the move that's why you had sex with her and had to move so suddenly. How long did you know?"

"Enj—"

"How long!" I roared, smacking the steering wheel.

"Six months."

"And you were sleeping with her the whole time?"

"Yeah, that's why I stopped fucking you." He paused. "I started saving about three months ago. Stopped paying the rent two months ago. I planned to let you have access to the accounts to take care of things until you got a job, but shit is expensive out here, Enjell. I can afford this, but I can't afford to take care of you too."

"Wow," was all I could think of to say, because I was in such disbelief.

"Look… I know it was wrong not to pay the rent. I can at least pay the balance. Everything else, you'll need to handle yourself."

A part of me wanted to go off on his ass, but I was going to wait until the money hit my account. I may have wanted to handle this on my own, but I wasn't dumb. Besides, if anyone helped dig me out of this hole, it should have been the man who was shoveling the dirt on me.

"That's fine, Gino." I agreed, voice just as tired and jaded as I felt emotionally.

"Okay. I'll set up the direct deposit from my business account, and you'll have it probably the day after tomorrow since it's after three. It might go through tomorrow, but I doubt it."

"All right."

"I'm sor—"

I couldn't stomach his bullshit ass apology, so I disconnected the call. If he actually sent the back rent, that would be a huge weight off my shoulders. It wouldn't necessarily help me move forward, but it would keep me from being further behind. At this point, that was better than nothing.

The Next Evening

My interview was a success, but the sign on bonus wasn't a lump sum. The twelve thousand would be spread across my first year of employment as a one thousand dollar bonus a month. That wasn't bad, and I really wasn't in the position to turn down money, but I decided to chase my dream. Since Gino honored his word and sent the ten thousand for back rent plus an extra two thousand, I signed the contract with the commercial kitchen and bought a few things to make several meals for promotional purposes.

After about eight hours in the kitchen, I had almost fifty photos to post online. I sent them to my family, too, and let everyone know Enjell's Heavenly Plates was back open for business. For now, I was offering meal prep, daily plates for pickup, and family-sized meals. If that took off, I'd offer catering again and make myself available as a private chef. I didn't want to try and do too much too soon before I got used to working for myself again.

I couldn't lie and say it didn't feel good to be not only cooking for others but being my own boss. If I had to get back to work, this was a great way to do it. I still wasn't fond of the idea of relying on other people to make money, but the pride I felt in doing what I loved was a fair exchange. Once I was comfortable in the kitchen, I'd start making videos for YouTube and TikTok. Hopefully, things would take off after that.