Page 24 of Collateral Love

I didn’t want him less because he had women.

I wanted himdifferently.

And I hated myself just enough for knowing the difference.

“So,” he said, finally pulling out a chair and sitting across from me. “You ain’t come over here for small talk.”

“No,” I agreed. “I came to make you an offer.”

His mouth twitched. “That so?”

“Yes.”

I opened my notebook and laid it flat on the table.

“This,” I said, tapping the page, “isn’t a hustle. It’s a partnership.”

He leaned forward, forearms on the table now.

“Talk.”

“I don’t want to be one of your girls,” I said plainly. “And I don’t want to be an employee.”

“Good,” he replied. “I don’t mix business and pussy.”

That should’ve offended me, but surprisingly it didn’t.

“I want equity,” I continued. “Decision-making power and the anonymity that we discussed at the deli.”

“Are you sure about the anonymity?” he repeated.

“Yes. I don’t need visibility. I need access.”

“To what?” he asked.

I smiled.

“Distribution,” I said. “Your cover and clean routes.”

He studied me carefully now.

“You talking big,” he whistled.

“I’m talking prepared,” I corrected. “I already have runners lined up on my campus. They don’t know who I am. They don’t know you exist. They move product, thinking they’re doing favors for my friend, Miles.”

He leaned back slowly.

“And supply?” he asked.

“I have contacts,” I said. “Not yours. Mine.”

He stared at me, something like surprise flickered across his face.

“You’ve been sitting on this,” he said.

“Yes.”

“And you waited until now to say something.”