Chapter 2

Ilooked through the mirror at my grandmother"s contorted face.

I turned around and looked at her. "What?"

"Is that the style now? That short jacket with your pants? Your whole ass is hanging out," Grandma said.

"Momma, what are you talking about? She has on pants. How is her ass hanging out?" Mommy replied.

"Shouldn"t the jacket come down lower and cover up her ass?" Grandma asked.

"No, Grandma, that"s how it"s supposed to be. It"s cropped," I explained.

"And you pay full price for half of a jacket?"

I shook my head and turned back to the mirror.

We were at my mother"s house trying on some new clothes she had sent over from the personal shopper.

It was rare that all three of us were in the same room at the same time. Usually, because my mother avoided my grandmother like she had a communicable disease, I spent time with them separately. Mommy and Grandma were opposite sides of the same coin. Both were driven, intelligent, determined, and focused, had an innate business savvy, and didn"t take anything off anyone. They both had a reputation in the board room and in the street of someone not to be messed with.

Mommy had a soft side. If she liked you, she liked you. She would go to war for you and didn"t mind getting bloody for her people.

Grandma"s soft side was overcooked. She didn"t like or trust anyone. People had to work hard to gain her trust, and even still, she would question their motives and actions. Grandma didn"t hug, kiss, dote on, congratulate or any other thing associated with a grandmother or mother. She did take care of business and provided for my mother, but she ruled with an iron fist. Mommy ruled with love and guidance.

"Are you just here to complain, or are you trying on the things she sent over for you," Mommy said to Grandma.

"First, I"m going to sit here and watch my granddaughter and then I might try on the clothes she sent over, or I might not. The good thing about either choice is that I"m going to do whatever the hell I want, Antonia," Grandma answered.

Mommy shook her head and replied, "You just can"t come here and have a pleasant visit, can you?"

"I could if the company was pleasant, but you"re not…"

"Grandma!" I said just before my mother was about to say something that would"ve sent them into an hours-long argument.

"Yes, Wilhelmina?" Grandma sweetly replied.

I didn"t know why she loved me so much, but I was happy she did.

"I have to attend a committee meeting this week about that land I want to purchase in the old Lariece Park neighborhood."

"A committee meeting? When did they institute that? Don"t nobody want to do nothing in that desolate part of town. Why do they care?" Grandma said.

"It"s a TIF district," Mommy answered.

"Ah," Grandma responded.

A TIF district was a run-down neighborhood that wasn"t attractive to businesses or homes. When the local government wanted to make the area nicer, they would make it a TIF district. This was handsome to companies because they could receive incentives such as reduced property taxes for a certain period, financial assistance for development or renovation projects, or other favorable financial terms. The companies moved in and paid taxes. With the taxes, the government continued to improve the area. It was a win/win.

"It"s good for me because I was already looking at the property before the TIF was established," I boasted.

"I"m sure the committee meeting is just a formality. Sable Falls is dying to bring that area back," Mommy said.

"That area has been run down for so long. When I was a little girl, we would go over there to the nickel theater and the soda shop. I grew up in the next neighborhood over, Davrie Slope. Lariece Park was one of the nicer areas for Black people. As Sable Falls expanded and grew, people started to move out of Lariece Park and Davrie Slope," Grandma explained.

"Well, the plan is to bring that area back, and I want to have my land already purchased and ready to go."

"What do you want to build there?" Grandma asked.

"I"m going to use the existing structure, which used to be a shoe factory and turn it into Rhythms Roots Pavilion. The Pavilion will combine cultural, entertainment, and recreational elements to provide an entertainment and family hub for the community; that"s what I wrote in the business plan. Essentially, I want to create an area that will have shops, museums, food and open air for the people in and out of the community to enjoy. I feel like if we truly are revitalizing it, then make it pop!"

"That"s smart, honey," Mommy said.

"That"s because she is smart. I guess it can skip a generation," Grandma said.

"Don"t do that, Grandma. You know Mommy has pushed our business further than you, Rory or Opal could"ve ever imagined. We are where we are because of her."

I"d let my mother and grandmother have their tiffs, but I never stood back and let them insult each other. I stood on their shoulders, and to insult them was to insult me. I didn"t like it.

Grandma rolled her eyes but didn"t respond.

"I think that suit looks great on you. You should get the waist tailored to fit better, but other than that, I love it. I think it's a keeper," Mommy said.

"If that"s the style, and you don"t mind paying for half a jacket for your ass to be all out, then it"s fine. It looks good on you," Grandma agreed.

* * *

Chanteand I walked together down the hall of the old city building, following the signs to the Lariece Park Committee meeting.

We walked into the room and found seats among the other people who were waiting for the meeting to begin.

"There are more people here than I thought would be here," I whispered to Chante.

"I agree. It"s good to see people are interested in the area," Chante said.

"Yeah, it is."

The room quieted as the committee members filed into it. I looked down at my notes when Chante nudged me.

I looked at Chante and saw her staring at something in the front of the room. When I followed her stare, I noticed a tall, bald, familiar, chiseled face…Aldaine.

"He"s on the committee?" I whispered to Chante.

"I didn"t see his name on the list," she whispered back.

"Good evening," a man seated in the center of the committee table said. "I am Joseph Mathias. We will call this meeting to order."

After he banged a small gavel on the table, he continued, "We would like to welcome Mr. Zec Aldaine, who has graciously filled the seat of Ms. Dune, who is bravely battling some health issues. We asked him at the last minute, and he agreed."

The room clapped. Aldaine tipped his head. He licked those full lips and smiled. It irked me that he was so fine.

"Everyone on the agenda should have received a number that indicates where you are in the line. Please make sure all your paperwork has been filed with the committee secretary before you stand before us."

Joseph Mathias rambled off a few more instructions before they called the first person to the front.

I watched Aldaine smile and chat with all the people who had business with the committee. He was highly personable and seemed well-informed and prepared for each person. He listened and smiled. Every so often, licked those lips and every time he licked, I leaned in and watched. I fought not to pull my bottom lip between my teeth and make a noise. It irked me that I control my response, but I couldn"t stop watching him.

The clerk called out, "Number eight."

Chante and I stood and walked to the podium. I saw the moment Aldaine looked up and recognized me. He squinted his eyes before looking back down at the papers in front of him. A thought ran through my mind that he would be petty, but this was business, right? He wouldn"t do that.

"Ms. Couture, good evening," Joseph Mathias said. "Please tell us about the property and what you plan to do with it."

"Good evening, Committee Members. I would like to also introduce my colleague, Ms. Chante Jennings. She may jump in and answer questions if I need help. I am interested in the three acres located on Gertrude Avenue. I plan to build a cultural, entertainment, and recreational center named Rhythms Roots Pavilion. It will consist of interconnected buildings that house an art gallery, a theater for live performances, a Couture lounge and a cultural center. We will use the existing structure on the property as the anchor for the project."

All of the board members nodded their heads in agreement as they took notes.

"My goal is to offer something that"s not offered anywhere else in Sable Falls so that the residents in the area can enjoy it, but it will also bring in outside revenue, which will help the area"s overall economy."

I was in my bag. I knew I had the committee eating out the palm of my hand. I successfully answered several questions from two committee members.

"This sounds great," Joseph Mathias said. "Anyone have any other questions before we vote?"

I had it in the bag. I"d started making a mental checklist of what I needed to discuss with King Construction.

"Actually, I have a question or two," Zechariah said.

I squared my shoulders and waited for his question. I knew there wasn"t anything I couldn"t answer. This project was a go.

"What strategies will be employed to ensure the Pavilion remains financially sustainable in the long term, especially during economic downturns?" Zechariah asked.

"We plan to diversify our income sources beyond ticket sales for events. This includes leasing spaces for private events, such as conferences, weddings, and corporate gatherings, which can provide a steady income stream. Additionally, we"ll have retail spaces for local artisans and themed merchandise, a restaurant featuring local cuisine, and interactive workshops that visitors can attend for a fee. That"s one model we have considered. There are also dynamic pricing models and membership and loyalty programs."

Don"t play with me. I know my business.

As soon as I responded, Zechariah shot off another question, "How will the Pavilion collaborate with other local businesses and stakeholders to foster a supportive ecosystem?"

He didn"t ask anyone else these types of questions.

I answered, "We intend to partner with local businesses for our operational needs, including sourcing food and beverages from local suppliers for our restaurant, selling locally crafted goods in our retail spaces, and hiring local talent for entertainment and educational programs. These partnerships will help circulate economic benefits within the community and support local entrepreneurs."

"What environmentally sustainable practices will be incorporated into the construction and operation of the Pavilion? How does the project plan to minimize its carbon footprint and manage waste? How will the Pavilion impact local traffic, and what measures will be taken to mitigate any negative effects?"

He rattled off the list of questions like he"d been waiting all day to put me in the hot seat.

Before I could respond, Zechariah said, "You know what, Mr. Chairman, I don"t want to belabor this point. Is it possible for me to send my list of questions and concerns through the committee to Ms. Couture and have them answered before the next committee meeting?"

No, this nigga didn"t.

I kept my expression neutral while waiting for Mr. Mathias to respond to the request.

"Yes, Mr. Aldaine. That"s a great idea. If you give your questions to the clerk, she will ensure Ms. Couture receives them. Ms. Couture, thank you for your time today. We will send you the questions and will see you again at the next committee meeting next month."

I stood there stunned.

"We will get those answered and sent back to you. Thank you for your time," Chante said.

I shook myself from my deep thoughts of rage and revenge.

"Yes, thank you. I look forward to our next meeting."

I shot Aldaine a look. He sat back with a satisfied grin.

Once we were in the car, Chante said, "Go ahead and let it out."

"Can you believe that smug mutherfucker? He didn"t ask anyone else anything close to what he asked us. That was some petty bitch shit. How will the Pavilion team up with other local businesses and people involved to create a supportive environment? Is that what he asked?"

"Something like that," Chante responded.

"By all teaming up and kicking your smug, washed-up ass! How did we not know about him being on the committee, Chante?"

"They kept that information close to their chest. I"m sorry. We should"ve been better prepared," Chante responded.

"No, it"s not us. It"s Aldaine. He"s dick-hurt because I shook up his lil" meeting. That"s fine. If he wants to play, we can play."

"Bill, I know how you get when you"re mad. Please consider the fact that this development is important to you and to Couture Enterprises. We can"t lose it. Let"s just see what these questions are before you go nuclear, please," Chante admonished.

I sat back in my seat and looked out the window.

"Whatever."

I couldn"t believe he"d played me like that! That was the pettiest shit I"d experienced in a long time.

"Chante, you have to admit that shit was petty, right?"

Chante shrugged, "They were valid questions, Bill. We just have to be prepared for the next round."

"Whatever."