Page 18 of Caden the CEO
“Don’t even worry about that. You did the right thing, and I’ma handle her myself. I’ll call her and tell her Dreya is staying with me indefinitely, and I dare her to come over here trying to act a fool. She ain’t too old for me to beat her tail.”
In desperate need of that laugh, and the help, Dru laughed as her grandmother pulled her in for a hug.
“Thanks, Granny. Call me if y’all need anything, or if she shows up. And I’ll stop by tomorrow and drop off some money after my shift tonight.”
Sucking her teeth, Marilyn gave her a dismissive wave of the hand. “Chile, don’t worry about no money. Now, if you want to put something in her pocket, you can, but I’ll take care of her. You just focus on yourself. It’s past time you have the chance to do that.”
Though Dru heard what her grandmother was saying, that was certainly easier said than done. “Yes, ma’am.” Dru agreed. “Bye, baby sis! I’ll check on you later.”
“Bye, Sister. Have a good day. I love you!”
“I love you too, kid.”
With a smile and lightness that Dru hadn’t felt in what felt like forever, she headed to her car, hopeful that things were finally about to turn around.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Dru grumbled. “This cannot be my life.”
She’d been trying to get her car to start for the last fifteen minutes, but it seemed impossible. No matter how many times she tried, it wouldn’t start. It didn’t help that it was dark, rainy, and forty-five minutes before her shift was set to start at the lounge. Mike was an asshole, and she knew he’d be on a power trip if she was late.
Pulling her phone out of the cupholder, she called the lounge and asked to speak with him.
“Yeah?” Mike answered with muffled music in the background.
“Hey, this is Dru. My car won’t start. I’ve been trying to order an Uber in between trying to get it to start, but no one is near my location because of the rain. I’m still going to come, even if I have to walk. I’m just going to be late.”
Mike sighed. “If you’re going to be late, you might as well not even come, Dru. I told you we had a packed crowd for tonight because we have two birthday groups.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. It’s not like I’m randomly calling out just because I don’t want to work. I literally can’t get my car to start.”
“That’s not my problem. Either get here on time, or don’t get here at all.”
He disconnected the call, and Dru had to keep herself from punching the window. The last thing she needed was to lose her second job. Her mind raced with options on who she could call that could potentially arrive in time enough to give her a ride to work. Only three people came to mind: Stevie, Vontae, and Caden.
Stevie was at work herself, she didn’t trust Vontae as much as she used to, and though she was sure Caden would come to her aid, she didn’t want to call him. They hadn’t talked since he’d paid her debt to Galloway, and that was already more than she could have asked or paid him back for. The last thing she wantedto do was feel like a burden on anyone else, but pride had no space in her car right now. She needed to get to work, no matter how she got there. Putting her pride aside, she dialed Caden’s number.
“Wassup, beautiful?” he answered, making her smile immediately.
“Hi. Are you busy?”
“I’m never too busy for you. Is everything okay?”
Sighing, Dru massaged her temple. “No. My car stopped, and I have like forty-five minutes to get to the lounge, or I’m going to be fired. I can’t lose this job too. I tried to get an Uber, but there are no drivers nearby. Can you please come give me a ride?”
“Of course. Send me your location.”
Relief immediately filled Dru at the sound of his words.
“Thank you so much, Caden. I’m about to send it right now.”
A few seconds passed before he said, “Got it. Let me put on some clothes, and I’ll be headed your way in less than five minutes.”
“Thank you.”
After disconnecting the call, Dru decided to text Dreya and check on her while she waited. It took Caden around thirty minutes to make it to her, and it was going to take every minute of the last fifteen minutes to make it to the lounge. Before she could get out and run to his car, Caden hopped out of the back seat with an umbrella. He walked over and held it over her head, then led her to the car.
“Thank you. So sorry for the inconvenience,” Dru said, sliding into the Rolls Royce.
“No apologies needed,” Caden replied before he shut the door and walked to the other side.
