By the time I got to work at 8:00 Monday morning, I was exhausted. One from grinding all week end with lack of sleep. And two, from Lauryn fucking the shitt outta me all night. She sucked me so dry I couldn’t even piss! Ishmeel was outside in the back talking on his cell. I knew it was important because he was speaking in Arabic. I sat on the edge of an empty case and waited for him to get off, before I walked up and handed him the Adidas bag with $74,000 in it.
“What’s this?” He asked as he accepted the bag.
“It’s $74,000 thousand. It’s your thirty - five even, plus thirty- nine thousand more. I’d like to get the same thing plus another half a key of coke if possible.”
“I see. Our agreement was for one month. It’s only been a week.”
“Yeah, I know but I want you to know I aint bullshitting. That’s why I’m paying for mine.”
“If I thought you were bullshitting Theodore, then you wouldn’t be standing here. Two things I live by, is that I always keep my word, and I never go back on a deal. Ever. So, you can pay me the thirty- five thousand, and pay me nine thousand for the half. The rest is still on consignment. Take the rest of the money back with you. I trust that you prospered well this week?”
I thought about the thirty- five bands I had at the Ross Road spot, and the thirty- two that Lauryn was holding. “Yes sir, I prospered well.”
“Good. Good. Come follow me I have something for you.” We walked to the front, where he reached into his desk and handed me a card. Theodore Banks. (Licensed Sales Consultant)
“What’s this for?”
“It’s your license to buy and sell cars.”
“So, you want me to sell cars now?” I was confused.
“No not really. But it also gives you a license to start a banking account. Get a safety deposit box first. No one can look in that. Then start your savings account. Start off with eight or nine thousand. Then put a few thousand into it every week.”
“What about the Feds?”
“What about them? This card says you’re a legitimate buyer and seller of vehicles. Just let me know when and how much you’re depositing each week so I can make sure the tax records are in order. The Feds can’t touch you. It’s the American way.” Ishmeel grinned from ear to ear. “Spread your money around. Tika says you’re a lady’s man, so leave some with this one, leave some with that one. Make them all feel as it’s all the money you have in this world. But never leave more money in any one place than you can afford to lose. There’s a drought right now up and down the east coast. Trust me I know. We are not affected by this. So, as they say, you can make it rain. Now, if there’s no more questions, clean cages 3, 9, and 11, wash the burgundy Suburban and then go get you some rest. You look like shit.”