It's Above Me Now.

14: Double The Pursuits

"You are trash my brother. Garbage. Filth." Dylan snickered. "How I beat you four times in a row? Just give up."

Sucking my teeth, I toss the game controller at Dylan's head which barely missed him. My brother and I have been playing NBA 2k for majority of the morning, and Dylan was kicking my ass severely. My brother returned earlier this morning, and I've been patiently waiting to tell him all about my plans regarding Ms. Grady and the orphanage we bought. After researching everything there was to know about Hanschell, I decided to call her late last night and set up a meeting. And sure enough, she's all on board for a discussion on the project.

"So what's up man?" Dylan asked, tossing his controller aside. "I could be sleep right now. Why are we up at 10am dressed in suits? Where we going?"

I handed Dylan some printouts I made about Hanschell's company. "We're going to a meeting with the woman who owns this agency. Ruben gave me some documents with establishments who do construction and refurbishing. I looked Ms. Grady up and she could be a possible fit for what we wanna do with the orphanage. What you think?"

Dylan examined the papers before him. "I think that you ain't really thinking. What exactly did you look up? Her ass and tits? Shawty fine as hell, but what makes you think she can actually handle a whole reconstruction of an orphanage? Come on man. We've got a lot riding on this. And why would you do all of this without checking in with me first? Ain't we in this together?"

I laughed lightly, hoping to ease the building tension. "Okay, calm down. Of course we're in this together. But you know Ruben's gonna expect me to do the heavy lifting. And Hanschell's beyond what you're seeing on the surface. Yeah, her looks caught my attention. But her work ethic, drive, and the actual outcomes of her projects kept me interested. Plus, I have this feeling that she's connected to Ruben somehow. I don't know yet. Bro, it's just a meeting. If we don't like what we hear, we can always leave and find another company."

Dylan scanned through the papers I gave him, reading intently. I really hope he was considering taking this meeting with me. Even though most of the responsibility was placed on me, I still perceived this venture as Dylan's and I's. He and I knew first hand the effects of not having opportunities, and not being able to access technological and educational advances. And this is exactly why this recreational center needed to be a success. I chopped it up with Lou about Hanschell before Dylan came back, and he was actually pushing the Grady meeting. Bud agreed, vouching for her work and calling my decision 'intelligent'. All I needed was for Dylan to get on board.

"Alright, fine. It can't hurt to have a listen." Dylan concluded, handing me back the printouts. "If everything on these papers are true, then we actually will be taking a step in the right direction."

I dapped my brother up and smirked. "Man, you know I'd never stir us on the wrong path. Watch and see, you won't regret this."

Dylan laughed aloud but I was dead serious. I had a strong feeling about this Hanschell meeting. My gut was telling me that she just might be the right choice. The duo was out dropping my parents and uncle at the airport, and I don't know if it was my eagerness to have this meeting but they were taking long as hell. The Mosses were going on yet another brief business trip, and I think they ought to chill with all the overseas visiting if they were going to have Bud and Lou out dillydallying.

"Have no fear, we've returned!" Bud announced, barging into the living room area almost fifteen minutes later. "Let's get going, Lou's already in the car."

Smiling gleefully, Dylan and I followed Bud to the Range Rover. The car ride was yet another informative lesson, because Bud and Lou took turns prepping us and giving us wise words for not only this upcoming venture but for the future endeavors to come. The duo was extremely clever, and I was forever grateful for their patience and time towards my brother and I. I was really starting to like these two.