Truth be told

I

When you come from the struggle– all you wish is to live lavishly, and not have worry about anything ever again. Truth be told not everything that glitter is gold.

It was like any other day. I was excited to go into work to present my new column to my boss for the magazine. I'm a writer for the entertainment section. I've worked for Black Mag Inc for almost a year now. I've done great work and im very well known around my job. I grabbed my car keys off my counter top in my small sized kitchen, and headed for my apartment door. I live in a small apartment in the hood. I had a decent paying job I could move into something better, if I didn't have so many bills. I settled for a smaller apartment until I got my bills under control, which unfortunately is taking longer than expected. I don't come from a wealthy family. I grew up in these run down streets of Omaha. I have two brothers Tj who's also known as Prince around the streets and Travis who is also known as Trav for short. My brothers got sucked into the thug lifestyle soon after our dad went to jail. These streets where I live and come from are not safe, especially for a young pretty thang like myself. My brothers are in the streets, but I never knew how they made their money. I use to ask them if they sold drugs, but they always denied it saying they work in the warehouse full time. I believed them when they said that.  I walked out my apartment and locked the door behind me. I saw some gang members sitting on the steps as I was walking down the stairs. I wasn't worried about them, because they treated me with respect and besides they knew my brothers.
"excuse me fellas" I said as I  approached them. They stood up and let me pass.
"You looking real good today Dai'Jah, you need stop fakin' and let a real nigga take you out for breakfast or something,"  I heard one of the guys say behind me as I walked down the last few steps. I didn't look back to acknowledge which ever dude was speaking to me "that's the thing I don't need a real nigga, bye have a nice day you guys," I said walking out of my apartment complex. I walked to the apartment parking lot and walked over to my 2006 ford 500 and unlocked my car and got in. I sat my purse and laptop in the passengers seat and started up my car. I backed out the parking space and headed for work. I usually ride in silence when heading to work. I like to have a clear mind to start my day off. This morning traffic was busy, I knew I wasn't going to have the time to stop and grab my morning coffee like I usually do. I ran my fingers through my silky smooth flat ironed hair. Looking at the run down part of town was depressing, I felt like belonged here on the nice side of town. As I was approaching my job, I noticed in the distance a big red sign that said "Pandoras Gentlemen Club" I don't know why that caught my eyes or even why I'm just now noticing this building a few blocks from downtown from my job. I got interrupted out of my thoughts as I heard someone honking there horn at me. I heard up and turned the corner and headed towards my jobs parking lot. I parked my car, turned off my car, grabbed my things out of the passenger seat ,and got out. I shut the door making sure I locked my car. I headed inside of the building and clocked in. I said hello the receptionist and head for my office. Once I was in my office i closed my office door and sat my things down. I grabbed my laptop and sat it on my desk. I opened it up and turned it on. I had few touching up to do on my column before I submitted it to my boss. As I was beginning to work on my column, I heard a knock on my office door.
"come in," I said as I stopped what I was doing waiting for whoever was on the other side of the door to come in.
"Hey, good morning Ms. Brown can I speak with you for a minute?"  My boss asked shutting my office door behind him as he walked in. I sat up straight and swallowed hard "yes you may," I said getting ready to get up.
"No have a seat Ms.Brown," my boss said while taking a seat in the dark brown plush leather chair sitting in front of my desk.
"okay, but I must say that my column is almost finished I just had to touch it up a bit," I said sounding nervous.
"That's fine Ms. Brown, I hate to be the bad guy here, but we are becoming tight on money the company is not doing so well, I'm sorry, but I have to lay you off," my said rubbing his pale white hands together.
"but–but I need this job Mr. Bryant, I have bills to pay. How am I going to pay my rent this month? Please don't lay me off please–I'm begging you Mr. Bryant," I said trying to pled with my boss.
"I understand your situation completely Ms.Brown-" before I let him finish, I interrupted him.
"You don't understand my situation at all, I need this job is what you don't understand," I felt a tear escape from my tear ducks. I was becoming lost just that quick.
"Look, submit me your last column and I'll make sure that this month rent will be paid, but I still have to lay you off the money is tight and we as a business is not doing well," I shooked my head and began emailing my boss my last column. I didn't pay my boss any mind as he excused his self out of my office. Once I sent off my column I began gathering my things. To think my day was going to be a good one turned out to be a bad one. Once I collected my things I walked out of my office. As I was exiting the building I noticed I was leaving and everyone was watching me. I felt ashamed and embarrassed. Once I got to the parking lot I opened up my trunk and placed my things in there. I looked up and that sign kept grabbing my attention again. As I looked at the building, I noticed a pretty young lady getting in a all black audi. She was slim, but thick in the right places she was dressed in a fine business dress. I assumed the dress had to be expensive because of the car she was driving. I wanted to be able to dress and be wealthy like her. I was stuck driving a 2006 ford 500 and wearing citi trend clothing. As I admired this girl from blocks away she turned in looked in my direction. I quickly rounded my car and got in. As I sat in my car began feeling lost, I needed someone to talk to. I started up my car and headed to my brother Tj house. I drove for ten minutes before arriving to Tj house. I loved coming to my brother house. He stayed in a nice single family house. The neighborhood wasn't as bad as my mines. The streets was more clean and the houses was decent looking. I parked my car in Tj driveway and got out. I let the warm fall breeze hit my my smooth caramel skin. I locked my doors and headed up the steps of Tj house. I knocked three times before Tj came answered the door. When the door swung open a strong aroma of marijuana hit my nostriles.
"What's up Dai," Tj said stepping aside letting me inside his house.
"hey Tj," I said walking through the foyer into the living room. I enjoyed going into my brothers house he decorated it nicely for a man. You could tell that this was a man house. The living room had dark brown wood floors, walls was off white, 70" inch plasma tv was mounted on the wall, below the tv sat a tv stand that had his play station 4 and DVD player and movies sat on, he had a nice light and dark brown plush sectional couch that was shaped like an L that sat nicely in the living room, he also had glass coffee table that sat in front of the couch, he also had a big large window that out looks his front yard, he had a nice tan shear curtain that hung over the window. The whole place was just simple, which I loved ! Tj was just that type of guy, simple.  I continued to admire my brothers manly, soothing, clean house as I plopped down on his plush sofa.
"What's up sis? Is something wrong?" My brother asked taking a seat on the other sofa next to the one I was sitting on.
I rolled my eyes "why just because I come over something got to be wrong?" I asked
"Because that's the only time you come over here, you don't just come over here just to chill with me," TJ said looking straight in the face with his soft light brown eyes. I honestly hated when he did that, because it's like he's looking into my soul; so I'm forced to say what's going on. I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily.
"What's up sis? What's going on?" TJ said asking with genuine concern.
"Tj I don't know what to do, I just lost my job!" I said beginning to break down in tears.
"Yo Dai'Jah what you mean you lost your job?" RJ asked in frustration.
I continued to cry while trying to explain the situation. " I...I....I went into work and my...my boss came into my office and told me he laying me off" I said stuttering a bit.
" what? Why is he laying you off? Your are one of the best Columnist they have!" Tj said getting more frustrated.
" he said the company is not doing well and they are tight on money" I said wiping my eyes.
" so what you going to do now sis?"
"I don't know TJ, I have bills to pay," I said sighing
"Naw you going woman the fuck up and get out here and find a job, you are very talented and beautiful"
"I don't know where to start though TJ," I said getting annoyed with my brother already.
"I understand your not in the best mood Dai, but you got to do something, you can't wait around for things to happen for you. What have you been thinking about or saw interesting and wanted to try lately?" TJ asked coming to sit next to me.
"Honestly there's this building that's been grabbing my attention all day," I said thinking back to that sign I saw.
" we'll go check it out sis"