Unshackled

Unreal

"So if you're interested, you can help me with managing the store," Chodie said as he and Ray walked back into the main storefront of Bongjour. "Most of the guys I have working here have their heads in the weed clouds most of the time, and it's been affecting my book-keeping something terrible. So if you can run things behind the scenes, a couple days a week, that would be a huge help." He gestured around the store. "Plus, this place is legal, so you don't have to worry about getting in trouble with the cops!"

"I'm in, Chodie, if you think I can handle it," Ray said with a smile.

"Hey, if I can do it with the amount of brain cells I've burned out over the years, I'm sure you'll be great."

"You're giving me a lot of credit for having more brain cells that's you, Chodie," she laughed.

"Eh," he said with a shrug. "Two or three more at least." They both laughed. "I'll put you on the payroll, and you can come in whenever you're free. I imagine they'll keep you pretty busy at Wu-Chang once you're there." 

Ray nodded. "I'm sure they will. But I can handle it. I'm back on my grind, Chodie."

"Well, good. May you be blessed with great wealth, and bless me too!" Chodie said, placing his palms together and bowing to Ray. She laughed and mimicked him. Her phone rang as she stood back up. It was April.

"Hey," Ray said as she picked up the phone, waving goodbye to Chodie as she left his store.

"Hey gorl, where did you head off to so early?"

"Early... I left at like one o'clock? In the afternoon?"

"It was a long night. I literally just woke up, so forgive me if I think it's still early," April laughed. Ray laughed with her friend, imagining April still in her bunny slippers.

"No worries gorl, I just couldn't sleep that much. So I decided to link up with Chodie to talk business. I actually think I'm going to come back to the apartment and take a nap before the Wu-Chang event."

"Good idea. I have a stylist crew here to do our makeup and hair for the party. But they'll do me first so you can rest for a bit."

"A stylist? I was just planning on doing my own hair and makeup."

"Mm- no, we're gonna go big tonight. I'm performing and you're my date, and we're gonna be the hottest GORLS at Wu-Chang. No objections," she commanded.

Ray laughed. "Yes ma'am. No objections. Alright I'll be right there."

Ray hung up and walked into the cubby, heading for the door to the condos. 

"Ray, hold up," a voice called out. She turned to see Mr K standing at the door of his apartment. She turned and walked up to the older man. 

"What's up, Mr K?"

He leaned against the doorframe. "I just wanted to check in on you after the business last night. How you doing?"

Ray thought about how she wanted to answer him. She didn't want to come off as not being able to handle the darker side of the gang life, but she had really been overwhelmed by how everything had gone down last night. Part of the reason she had gotten up so early was because she had been having nightmares. Ray didn't want to tell April about that, it seemed childish to her to be having nightmares at this point in her life. She also didn't want to talk about Tommy, and she was pretty sure Mr K had begun to put two and two together since last night. He didn't get his position as leader of CG without being an intelligent, observant person.  Her eyes were wary as she looked at him.

"I'm okay. I've never seen that aspect of the gang life... it was... intense, in person. I've never been involved before." Ray held one arm with the other in a defensive pose. "People... have told me about it. But I almost thought I'd never be involved."