Carl Weber Presents Full Figured 6: Plus Size Divas Read online

  I remained silent.

  “Six feet under. Besides you don’t know the half of it, so butt out, Nobia. Mind your own business. You are not Erika’s keeper.”

  “But that still doesn’t negate the fact that Brian chose her. Over you. She stole your boyfriend and you never even saw it coming,” I said as my final words as I walked out the door.

  That shut her down for the rest of the day. I failed to mention that Erika had also told me to always keep your enemies close when I asked her why she had hired Carla to begin with.

  Destiny’s Last Chance

  Chapter 11

  Mid-October blew in with brilliant shades of orange and browns. I had been working at Last Chance for over three months now. I liked the salon. I liked the women who came in and my coworkers. At work, I was happy and content.

  There was never a dull moment because the clients were entertaining all by themselves. People will say the darnedest things when they are relaxed, pampered, and have let their guard down. I always felt like a fly on the wall as they talked about their lives and careers. Even though I was only in my early twenties, sometimes I felt much older, like I was missing out on life.

  Thanks to Carla, I had gotten the opportunity to meet local celebrities, mostly basketball wives and reality stars. I still couldn’t believe I was standing next to Lil Scrappy a week ago when he dropped by to pick up his soon-to-be wife, Erica. I tried not to act star struck. Loretta brought in the children, teenagers, and more mature women who fit to her skill set. I was still trying to figure out exactly where I fit in. Mostly, I received walk-in clients and a few of my former clients who had followed me from my last salon, where my boyfriend, Ray, had gotten me fired with his foolishness.

  Loretta, with her elegance and class, reminded me of that actress from back in the day. I think her name was Diahann Carroll. My mama used to talk about her all the time. Carla reminded me of the celebrity LaLa a little bit. She was tall and light-skinned just like her, but Carla was off the chain. And Miss Erika, I simply adored her. I didn’t pay any attention to the gossip mill or what Carla had to say. Erika reminded me of an older version of Toccara Jones from America’s Next Top Model. She was always dressed to the tee and she had the flawless beauty of a model. That left me. If I had to place myself with a celebrity look-alike, I guess I’d say I was a young Meagan Good.

  As I was saying, Miss Erika was cool with me. She was one of the sweetest, kindest people I had ever met. Take the other evening when I was at the bus stop; anyone else would have kept going, but she stopped.

  “Destiny! Destiny!”

  I turned.

  “Hey, Miss Erika,” I said shyly.

  “What are you doing at the bus stop? Where’s your car?”

  “My boyfriend, Ray, has it and I couldn’t reach him on his cell. I live off a bus route, so it’s not a problem.”

  I saw her eyebrows arch up in disapproval, but she didn’t offer a comment. I knew she wasn’t fond of Ray. I had noticed how she reacted whenever he came into the salon.

  “Get in the car. I’ll drive you home, Destiny.”

  “I live all the way in Decatur. I can wait on the bus. I don’t want you to go out of your way.”

  “Destiny, get in the car. Honestly, I don’t mind. I don’t care if you live all the way in Kennesaw; I’m not driving off and leaving you out here waiting on a bus.”

  My heart melted. I wasn’t used to people doing nice things for me. My life hadn’t exactly been rainbows and roses. I opened the passenger door and slid in, thankful. Her car was so nice and I sank into the soft leather seat; it still had a new-car smell. I imagined myself driving a car just like it one day.

  “I don’t like you riding the bus late at night. You never know if strangers are watching you as you wait for it, or following you when you get off. Next time—hopefully there won’t be a next time—let me know. I’m happy to take you home, Destiny.”

  I remained silent.

  “Okay?” she asked, looking over at me.

  “Sure.”

  “Why does your boyfriend have your car anyway?” she asked, clearly annoyed.

  I lied. “His is in the shop and he had some important business to take care of today.”

  “Uh huh,” she replied. “I bet he did.”

  We drove a little farther in silence.

  “Oh, I just remembered. Reach into my dashboard and pull out that black jewelry bag.”

  I did as instructed and pulled out a satin black pouch.

  “It’s yours if you want it.”

  “What is it?” I asked curiously.

  “Look inside.”

  I pulled on the drawstring and inside were various pieces of costume jewelry, expensive costume jewelry. It contained everything from earrings, rings, to bracelets, chokers, and necklaces.

  “I was cleaning out my armoire and I thought you might like these pieces. If not, I’ll probably take them to a consignment shop.”

  “Yes, I do. Thank you,” I said, clutching the pouch near my chest. “There are such pretty pieces in here. You have such good taste, Miss Erika. I always admire how you dress at the salon and you come in sharp every day.”

  “Thank you. By the way, you are doing a great job at the salon. Several clients have complimented you, and Nobia, Loretta, and Carla adore you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Keep up the good work, Destiny. I knew I made a wise decision in hiring you.”

  “I love styling hair and I’d like to own my own shop someday. Like you. My mama always said I was a natural. I’ve been doing my own hair, my mama’s, and family members’ since I was twelve.”

  “Wow, you do have a natural ability. Let me know what I can do to help make your dream come true. I officially declare myself your mentor.”

  We laughed.

  “And I officially accept,” I said.

  “Good, and I’m very serious. How long have you and Ray been dating?”

  “About two years now,” I said, glancing in her direction after she abruptly changed the subject.

  “What does he do?”

  “Well, huh, right now he is in between jobs.”

  “I see. What does he do when he is working?”

  “Construction.”

  “You know, you remind me a lot of myself when I was your age. So, I’m going to give you a piece of advice. The same advice my mama gave me and it hasn’t failed me yet. Don’t ever let a man bring you down. You can do bad all by yourself. Do you understand?”

  I nodded and, for some reason, I wasn’t offended.

  “If he can’t be an asset, then you don’t need him.”

  We rode along in more silence, almost at the exit ramp for I20-E.

  “Are you getting enough walk-in clients?” Erika asked.

  “It could be better.”

  “It will come. You’ve only been with us a few months. I’m going to ask Carla to let you go with her, as an assistant, to some of her hair shows. We need to get you out there. Visibility is key. Remember you want your own salon one day.”

  I beamed. Erika looked over at me and winked.

  Right as we neared the exit ramp for the interstate, Erika said, “You know what? I’m starving and I don’t like to dine alone. Let’s go grab a bite to eat.”

  I hesitated. I knew I had less than five dollars to my name in my wallet and that had to get me through the next couple of days.

  “It’s on me. There’s a fabulous Asian restaurant that serves all-you-can-eat crab legs and I have a taste for some. I have to warn you, I go absolutely crazy eating them. You in?”

  “I’m in.”

  “They have these delicious mini eggrolls stuffed with shrimp that are to die for, and they have three or four different salads to choose from; I always have the Greek with feta cheese, cucumbers, and olives. Delicious.”

  I chuckled. “It sounds wonderful.”

  “Well, let’s go do some damage.”

  The British Are Coming. The British Are Com
ing.

  Chapter 12

  I was awakened in the wee morning hours with sweet kisses showered upon my sleepy face. At first I was confused and disoriented. I had no idea where I was or what was happening. Apparently, I had fallen asleep in the midst of watching Criminal Minds, one of my favorite shows on television. I enjoyed seeing that fine Derek Morgan, played by Shemar Moore, each and every week. Plus, I loved the quotes they started and ended the shows with. One of my favorites: “It was once said that love is giving someone the ability to destroy you, but trusting them not to.”

  And then, I saw him.

  “Hello, baby.”

  “Hello,” I whispered, enjoying the chocolate picture of delicious perfection before me. I couldn’t get enough of dark-skinned men; I thought they were the most beautiful creatures on earth.

  “You look gorgeous when you sleep. You know that?” he asked, crawling into bed beside me, completely nude. The slither of light that came through the venetian blinds from the outside street light cast him in a glowing silhouette. He looked like a god to me.

  As I propped myself up on a pillow, I was suddenly wide awake. Every pore in my body was suddenly yearning for his touch.

  “You are perfect. You know that. Absolutely perfect. I can’t find one damn thing wrong with you. And I’ve tried.”

  “Erika, thank you, but I’m by no means perfect,” he said in that smooth, sexy British accent. I could listen to him speak for days. His words caressed my ears and gave me eargasms.

  “Lovely,” he stated, releasing a breast from within the confines of my gown. My nipple instantly responded to his touch. I couldn’t pull my eyes off him. He was such a manly man.

  A deep, guttural moan escaped. “You make me so hot, Idris.”

  Pulling up my thin cotton gown and touching between my thighs, he asked, “Are you sure you aren’t boiling, my love?”

  I simply melted. I swooned over how it sounded when he called me “my love.”

  “You are probably right. I go from simmer to boil within milliseconds when I’m around you. All you have to do is glance in my direction and I’m wet.”

  “You’re sweet,” he seductively whispered, kissing along my neckline. I shivered. I trembled in anticipation when I felt the moist tip of his dick make contact with my rear end. He had exactly what I needed tonight and it was big, thick, and erect.

  “Tell me why you like me so much.” He placed a nipple in his warm mouth and gently sucked.

  “That’s easy, you’re sexy chocolate, have a confident swagger, you’re handsome and I quiver every time I hear that sexy accent, and you know how to put it down in the bedroom,” I said, barely able to get it all out.

  Idris smiled, pleased with my answer. Two fingers were inside now, working me to a slow frenzy.

  “What character do you want me to be tonight?”

  I didn’t even have to think about it. I wanted Stringer. I needed some “down and dirty, let me fuck you until you can’t walk in the morning. Let me fuck you so when you think about it, you’ll come again. Let me fuck you so good that just the mention of my name makes you wet.”

  “Stringer,” I said with a smile, like I was ordering a Super Size meal at McDonald’s. Coming in a close second would have been Monty James from Daddy’s Little Girls.

  Ten minutes in, literally, I was speaking in tongues.

  I’m About to Throw Some Bows

  Chapter 13

  Another Friday had rolled through like a spring rainstorm in Georgia. Suddenly, expected, but in the blink of an eye. Loretta, Carla, and I were working on clients’ hair and Nobia was putting the finishing touches on advertising flyers we planned to hand out at the local malls and shopping centers as we did once a month.

  Everyone was in a relatively good mood. I knew I couldn’t complain because business had been excellent recently and our clientele continued to steadily grow. I was blessed. I realized I owed a lot of the growth to my staff, their expertise, skills, and entertaining personalities. I enjoyed doing something I loved and it was an added bonus that Last Chance was all mine. It was liberating and I could only thank my dear departed Edward for listing me as a beneficiary on his life insurance policy.

  I could honestly say I eagerly arose for work each morning. Before Last Chance, I had done it all: retail manager, substitute teacher, marketing manager, and insurance claims adjuster. When I was younger, I had even worked briefly in an automotive repair shop. None of those jobs were as fulfilling as what I had now.

  “Where’s Destiny?” Carla asked. “When is she rolling up in here?”

  “Destiny called in to say she was running a little late, but she’ll be here,” I said. Carla and I had an unspoken truce that we would be civil to each other at least 90 percent of the time.

  “Her first client isn’t due for another hour,” Nobia volunteered.

  “By the way, baby girl did an excellent job assisting me at the hair show the other day,” Carla replied, taking tracks of strawberry-blond weave out of its plastic packaging. She was going to add highlights at her client’s request.

  I smiled like a proud mother. I may have even stuck my chest out a bit farther. “Destiny is working out well.”

  “She does good work, very conscientious for such a young woman,” Loretta added.

  Nobia came over, standing near my station. “Could y’all believe that Usher went on Oprah’s OWN and admitted he sometimes makes love to his own songs?”

  “I’ll ‘Dive’ with him any day.” Carla chuckled. “But can you say narcissism?”

  Laughter erupted.

  “Erika, did you hear that your boy DMX is coming out with a new CD?” Loretta asked, looking over at me.

  “I heard and I’ll be one of the first to purchase it. I love me some DMX with that bald head and raspy voice. I’m his number one fan.”

  Loretta and her matronly client chuckled knowingly.

  “Erika, you never cease to surprise me. You can quote a biblical scripture on one hand and have a celebrity crush on a thug rapper on the other,” Nobia noted.

  “Back in the day, he was fine,” I said. “Evidently, you never saw the movie Belly.”

  “She craves that dark chocolate,” Carla said, looking at me like she was daring me to deny it. I didn’t know what was up with her lately. More than once, I had caught her staring at me, but at least we weren’t coming at each other with claws bared.

  “He could still do me,” Loretta’s client, a mature, gray-haired woman said, nonchalantly flipping through a hair magazine.

  We all broke into laughter.

  “X gonna give it to ya,” I chanted. “He gon’ give it to ya.”

  “No, thank you, I’ll pass, but if that fine-ass Michael Ealy ever walks through those doors, go ahead and call nine-one-one because I’m going to be arrested for multiple counts of rape,” Carla said, cracking up everyone as usual. “Every time I hear ‘Tonight (Best You Ever Had),’ I start having flashbacks from the Steve Harvey movie.”

  “Loretta, who is your celebrity crush? You are always so composed and subdued. Who makes you hot?” Nobia asked. “It has to be someone.”

  I swear Loretta blushed bright as a red, ripe beet.

  “I’d have to say the one and only Mr. Billy Dee Williams. Y’all wouldn’t know nothing about that.”

  “Whew, she took it wayyyyy back, straight old school with that one,” I said and we started snickering.

  “Billy Dee Williams? Mr. Colt 45 beer, Billy Dee Williams?” Carla’s client asked.

  “Billy Dee Williams, ‘You want my arm to fall off’ from Lady Sings the Blues.”

  “Okay, I don’t know about all that, but I’ll give it to him, he was sexy in Mahogany,” Carla said. “He and Diana Ross had great chemistry on screen.”

  About that time the front door opened and all eyes were averted in that direction. It was Destiny and she was a sight to behold. I instantly lost my laughter and it was replaced with outright anger.

  “Oh my God, wha
t happened?” Loretta asked, as we all saw the split lip and swollen puffy eye at the same time.

  “Oh, it’s nothing. Clumsy me. I tripped over my own feet and tumbled down the stairs at home,” she shared, staring at the floor the entire time she explained what supposedly happened.

  “Do you need us to take you to the hospital?” Carla asked, looking visibly shaken. “You look like you need medical attention, baby girl.”

  “No! No! I’m fine. I’ll be okay. I’m going to finish up a few scheduled clients and then leave early for the day.”

  I placed my client under the dryer and watched Destiny struggle to walk to her station, obviously in pain. I swiftly rushed over to get a closer look at the damage.

  “Destiny, who did this to you?” I asked a bit too loudly. Suddenly, all eyes were on us. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

  “What?” I asked, looking around. “You are all thinking it. I’m just saying it out loud for once. I’m sick of pretending we haven’t seen the bruises before today. This has to stop. Who did this? Ray?”

  “No, Miss Erika,” she whispered, averting her eyes again. “I told you, I slipped and fell.”

  I snapped. “Fell my ass. His fist fell against your face. Destiny, don’t let that motherfucker use your pretty face as a punching bag.”

  I realized I was making a spectacle of myself and clearly embarrassing Destiny, but I couldn’t help myself. There was something about men putting their hands on a woman that set me off. I had grown up watching my mom and aunts go through changes at the fists of weak-ass men. I decided that would never be me. Never. Ever.

  “You deserve so much better than Ray. He doesn’t value you or respect you.”

  “Miss Erika, please,” she called out weakly.

  “That sick motherfucker. Did he drop you off in your own damn car again today?”

  Destiny didn’t respond. I could feel she wanted to slink under the floor and disappear, but I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to. I had my mother’s temper.

  “You know he’s fucking some skank while you are in here working? I would bet my life on it. He couldn’t possibly love you and do this to you, Destiny,” I said, throwing my hands up.