I am not happy one bit, but I am ready to get this thing going. I just need a little guidance. This is not where I want my life to end up at all but, here we are. I will just take this thing one day at a time. Tre promises to take care of me.

“I will call Donte now and have him send over a few people to starts today. Just wait baby. By the end of today you are going to be happy you made this decision. No more stress.” Tre says kissing me again.

I simply shake my head. I feel like this may take away from my finical stress but add in a whole new world of stress. I really hope not.

I say, “We will see baby.”

Tre gets up and calls Donte. I check on Mariah and my other staff. I let them know I have hired a few new people and they are ecstatic.

“No more slaving back here!” One of them says.

“When will they start?” Mariah inquires.

I reply, “They will be in expectantly sometime today. I must get them trained and going. Also, my fiancé Tre will be helping as well. He will train and look after the new hires.

“It’s about time. I am tired of dealing with all them anger customers.” Another employee states.

I also inform them, “You all will be receiving raises and bonuses for all of your arduous work and I appreciate you guys for sticking with me.”

I can see the joy in each and everyone’s eyes. They start to clap and thank me. I am grateful for my choice for this moment and this moment only. Mariah seems to be very happy as well. I am glad I finally am able to do something to thank them.

I know everyone on my team has their own families and lives going on. I don’t offer health care of any real benefits to them yet, but they are sticking with me anyways. I needed to do something for them for once.

I go back to the table when I see Tre hang up the phone. He looks satisfied, so I take a sit to find out what is going on.

“What did Donte say?”

Tre replies, “He has some people headed this way now. Apparently, you even know the man he has in mind for an assistant manager.”

“Wait who said anything about an assistant manager?” I ask confused.

“Well, Donte thought it would be best to separate our business as much as possible. We want to keep your employees from the product we will be moving. We are trying to avoid any possible conflicts.” He explains.

“Okay so why do you need a manager?”

“You think Mariah is going to be able to explain to my employees how to sell the drugs? Matter fact do you think she would want to?” He asks me.

I see where he is coming from so I reply, “Okay, who does Donte have in mind?”

“You know someone named Lonnie from high school?

“Yes, I remember Lonnie. Is that the future manager?” I think about the guy I want to school with that was the best chef in culinary back in high school. I wonder how he got involved with drug dealing.

“Yep. Donte said something about he was a great cook. We figure, he can actually help manage the place since he knows you and can cook very well,” he says.

“I suppose that makes sense.”

Tre and I continue to talk about how we want to run the operation. Not long after Donte, Lonnie, and six other guys enter the bakery.

“Wassup Boss,” one of the men said to Tre.

“What’s going on ya’ll? Have a seat so we can get this going,” Tre points to the other seats.

Whoever didn’t have a chair grabbed one from the tables nearby.

“So, what’s the plan Donte?” Tre asks Donte. It really throws me off because I thought Tre was the man in charge and that this was his idea. I don’t say anything though.

Donte starts, “So we will still have niggas on the streets making moves for now. But ya’ll…” he pointed to the new guys, “…will be in here making moves. I need everyone to keep they eyes on the door. We have to stay on the lookout for cops and shit. Everyone will get a uniform as well. Monica what do they need to wear?”

I say, “Well all employees dress in all black and black shoes. I have a dress code policy in the back. Let me go get it.” I run to the back where I have all my paperwork stored.

I collect all the paperwork I might need for the rest of this so-called meeting. I still don’t feel all the way comfortable but at least I can add my rules as well. I remind myself this is just a temporary fix. It’s like the compression bandage before the cast. In due time, everything will be back on track for me.

I ask Mariah, “Can you handle things while I handle a couple of things?”

“Yes, is everything okay?” she asks with alarm.

“Everything is alright. I am just getting the new guys trained so hopefully they can start in a bit. I may also need you to show Lonnie the ropes as well. He will be your assistant manager,” I voice.

“Already? It look me forever to get a manager roll, why not hire someone like Racheal who has been here for a while?” she question which really bothers me.

I don’t feel like I should have to explain myself to her, but I do anyways, “I allowed Tre to pick his own manager, but he will only be an assistant manager. This is a temporary thing anyways. After things start going well, there will be long be an assistant manager. I don’t want to get one of my long-term employees that title just to take it away.”

“Oh well I guess that makes sense. Okay, I don’t mine showing this Lonnie dud how we do things,” she says and starts walking back toward the register.

“Okay thanks Mariah, I will send him your way shortly.”

I march back to the table. I hope I didn’t miss much. I put the papers down on the tabletop and reclaim my seat.

“So, we were just discussing how we plan to sell out of here,” Tre says to me.

“Okay what is the plan?” I play catch up.

Tre responds, “So we will have my guys work the extra register. They will Take the order and each product has a different desert that come with it. For example, if you want weed, you would get a cup cake. The shit will be at the bottom of the cupcake wrapper under the treat, so no one can see it.”

“Exactly, and we will keep our cut and yours separate.” Donte chimes in.

“How we doing that?” Lonnie inquires.

“Good question,” I agree.

“We will set up our register where we have a side and Monica has a side. She has that computer stuff so ya’ll can keep track of what was sold for her on that register…” Donte begins.

“…then at the end of each day, Donte and I will count out cut and make sure it adds up with what is missing for out sells. Once that is done we will pay Monica her cut and provide her with your pay.” Tre continues where Donte left off.

“Okay. Okay. That sounds legit,” one of the men says rubbing his hands together.

“Monica, we need you to get the money to the same way your other employees get paid. The have to be on payroll and fill out an I-9 form,” Donte directs me.

“Okay I have them here.” I hand a package to each of them with all the information that will need as a new hire.

“Thanks.” Most of them say when they receive theirs.

“Cool. Next, I need ya’ll to know that if out shit comes up short in any way, we are chopping off body part,” Donte says, and it makes me feel uneasy.

“Look, if you are here it is because we trust ya’ll to be on your P’s and Q’s,” Tre says.

“We understand,” Lonnie speaks for everyone.

“So, when can we get them trained?” Donte looks at me.

I reply, “They can get trained today.”

“Okay say no more, let’s get started.” Tre and the other men rise.

We do proper introductions and the training begins. I have Mariah helping me, but I do not tell her the part about the drugs. If anything does go down I do not want it to be on my employees. If they do not know what’s going on than they cannot be caught in anything.