“Unexpected invitation to your house early in the morning,” Stan drawled, a lopsided grin on his handsome round face. “Should we have worn our good underwear?”
Topaz chuckled, reaching out to pat both men’s cheeks. “Sorry to disappoint you both, but I won’t be seeing your underwear this morning. Come in,” she urged, lowering her gaze when they stepped past her. “I’m sure y’all know everyone.”
Horace and Stan stopped in the living room doorway, where they saw several business owners from their block.
“What the hell?”
Stan turned to ask. “Topaz, what the hell’s goin’ on here?”
“Sit down, guys,” she insisted, pushing them on into the room.
The group of entrepreneurs appeared to be among the toughest on the boulevard. They had openly refused to be intimidated by the unseen force that had closed so many other businesses.
“Now. Does anyone have any ideas about the identity of this mysterious buyer?” Topaz questioned, her eagerness dimming as the men in the room all shook their heads. “All right then, this is what I know. A real estate company by the name of Lockhurst Properties has been closing the sales. I’ve discovered that Lockhurst is actually purchasing these businesses on behalf of someone in shadow. This is our buyer and they’re going to great lengths to keep their identity a secret.”
Topaz’s enlightening presentation sparked a lively discussion among the group. Horace and Stan watched the heated talks with uneasy gazes. They waited until the group was embroiled in conversation for at least ten minutes, before pulling Topaz to a quiet area.
“Baby, do you think this is wise?” Horace asked when they were all closed off in the kitchen.
“Just how deeply have you involved yourself in this thing? Have you talked to these Lockhurst people in person?” Stan was asking.
“I haven’t talked to them yet.”
“Well, good.
“Keep it that way.”
Topaz’s eyes narrowed with knowing intensity. “Why?” she asked anyway.
Horace raised his hands. “Paz—”
“It’s just better this way.”
“Why?”
“We want to keep you safe.”
“Oh ... ” Topaz sighed, crossing her arms over the front of her V-neck T-shirt. “You wanna keep me safe. So I suppose that goes for everyone here and y’all are gonna tell everybody in the living room the same thing?”
Horace and Stan exchanged blank looks.
“Why would we do that?”
“Why wouldn’t you!” Topaz blasted Horace.
“Paz, we just don’t want you involved.”
“Why not? I got just as much to lose as the rest of you. Why don’t you want me interested in this?”
Stan shrugged. “We didn’t say you couldn’t be interested.”
“Well what are you saying?”
“All right, Topaz,” Horace said, snapping his hunter-green suspenders as he approached her, “the truth is, you’re the only female entrepreneur left and we intend to keep you safe.”
Topaz shook her head. “I knew it. I can’t believe you.”
“Well, believe it,” Horace snapped. “In fact, let’s see how the rest of the group feels about it.”
“Horace!” Topaz called when he stormed out of the kitchen with his partner at his heels.
“Stan!” she cried, racing out behind them.
In the living room, Horace was already asking for everyone’s attention.
“I think we should all thank Topaz for all the info she’s brought to us this morning. If it weren’t for her, we probably wouldn’t know half as much as we do about these bastards.”
Topaz gave a weak smile as she watched each man come to his feet in applause.
“But now I think it’s time we gave her a rest and handle these fools ourselves!” Horace went on, fixing the crowd with his most serious expression. “Let’s face it, y’all, these people don’t play fair. They fight dirty. I say we keep Ms. Emerson away from the rest of our meetings and we definitely agree never to meet here again for this reason!”
“Wait a minute!” Topaz bellowed, feeling sick inside when she noticed the group agreeing. “Now just hold it! In case y’all just forgot, I was the one who brought this thing together. You wouldn’t be sitting here to discuss anything if it weren’t for me!”
Unfortunately, each man had made up his mind. Topaz was powerless to do anything as they passed by—squeezing her hand or kissing her cheek on their way out the front door.
“I just want you people to know I’m not settlin’ in around here. I was just bored ... had nothing better to do.”
