At Her Best.

Four.

A shopping spree was desperately needed. After that bullshit with Deo, retail therapy was the best answer for my stresses. And I mean, stresses. It's been a couple of days, and I don't know if what I was asking Jamal Mason to do was too grand, but this motherfucker done ghosted on me. And that stunt right there led me back to square one. But it's not like that mattered, I've been thugging it out and making a way for the longest. I knew better than to depend on a man for anything. But Mason's timing was surely fucked up.

I had to get back at all of them. Stanley, Deo, Mason. And in that order too. Those clowns didn't know the type of bitch they were messing with. Stanley was the real problem, and he was the direction my wrath was going to first. I grew up in those neighborhoods he wanted to refurbish, and trust and believe he was going to get his. It was just so wrong of him, and somebody had to stop him. I knew it was a huge risk, and I had to be smart about it. Deo threatened me nicely, but who's to say it would be the same treatment again if I slipped up? Who's to say that Mason, Deo, and Stanley weren't working together? Hmm, that thought was disturbing but logical. After all, men weren't shit and the rich ones were all grimy as hell.

I shook my head, for I was beginning to get paranoid. I couldn't let these men get the best of me. Shifting my focus, I studied everything before me. The weather was nice, I was looking snatched, and most importantly, I was paid. I just needed Astra's ass to hurry up and come get me.

I sighed, getting irritated. Astra Romona Clark was running seriously late which was starting to damper my day. It's like you give someone one job and they fuck it up. Whatever bullshit excuse she was coming with better make sense, because I've had enough of people disrespecting me.

Glancing around my apartment, I smiled admiratively at the new decor I put in place. My home was just a gentle reminder of how far I've come and how much I needed to keep going. My place was without a doubt beautiful, for I only required the best. I remembered the days I could only dream about living in an apartment like this. Now look at me, achieving my goals piece by piece.

"Sis I am so sorry for being late!" Astra announced as she barged in. "I've been having the shittiest morning."

Astra dropped the spare key I gave her on my counter and plopped down on the nearest sofa. She looked extremely stressed, something had to be seriously wrong. I decided to be a good friend to her, and pour her a glass of Whisky as I prepared for whatever first world problem she had.

"Daddy's cutting me off next week!" Astra exasperated. "He's being for real this time, Raja. The asshole already started with my credit cards. I couldn't even get coffee this morning! Coffee, Raja!"

I held in my laugh as I handed Astra her drink. Yeah, this was a tremendous issue alright. Astra Romona Clark was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. The girl was what people considered to be the 'it' girl in our town. She had all the latest brands and cars, flinging them around aimlessly as if they weren't people's mortgages and college tuitions. Women wanted to be her, and she took pride in flashing her money everywhere, trying to prove that anything can be bought. Because of this, she's never had much real friends, and I knew she viewed me as someone she could count on. I had to remind myself that what Astra was complaining about was a real devastation in her eyes.

"Is he going broke?" I questioned as I sat next to her. "Because if he is that would make sense."

Astra rolled her eyes, and I felt like I was dealing with a spoilt child. She took a huge gulp of the drink I presented to her, and I supportively rubbed her back. I felt dumb doing this, but I had no idea how else to comfort this lost puppy.

"He's not going broke, Raja." Astra whined. "He's the owner of the most successful publishing company in the damn country. He will never be broke! He thinks I'm dead weight because I'm not an asset to the organization. He thinks I just spend ridiculously wildly with not a fuck to give. And he only thinks that because my older brother drilled that into his head. I've always hated the conniving bastard child of a brother! Can you believe that my father is even thinking of handing over his company and estates to this outside child if he dies or when he retires?! I'll be left with nothing. Nothing! And it's all because bastard brother went to college and knows the business more. Dickhead brother isn't even a true Clark! Why does he get to carry on my father's legacy? Life isn't fair!"

I raised an eyebrow, confused as to why Astra never told me about her half brother. She rarely talks about family, but it's a damn shame I had to find out about a potential client due to her irrational and demeaning outburst. Some friend she was.

"I don't know what to do!" Astra continued. "I mean, I have such a perfect life, and for it to be uprooted like this is such a disgrace. I now have to work for what I want Raja! Work! I've never had a job before. I don't even know what the fuck that is."

I sighed heavily, growing tired of Astra's complaints. Baby girl was surely getting a dose of reality, and I can honestly say I'm not mad at it. She's been waving her money in front of people's faces for the longest, so I saw this as her karma. That bitch doesn't miss anybody.

Astra gulped down the beverage I brought to her and handed it over to me, signaling for more. I hope she wasn't thinking of drinking up my good liquor for the rest of the day. As much as I empathized with her, that shit wasn't happening. As I refilled her glass, my mind circled back to the idea of pimping out the entitled Barbie. Now that wasn't the worst idea. I've been thinking about it for a while now, because I truly saw dollar signs looking at her entitled ass.

"Raja we need to talk about me getting into the prostitution game." Astra said as I returned to sit next to her. "I've come to my wits ends and I'm interested in finding out how this works. Give me the tea."

Well damn. I didn't even have to say shit. I smiled sweetly at Astra's words but in my head I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. My plan came together without me having to do any real work. Thank you Mr. Clark for cutting your daughter off. He's a real one for that.

Astra sat up straight on the sofa, looking absolutely defeated. I could tell she was indecisive about what she was saying, and I knew I had to dive in quick in order to keep her decision alive. I didn't want her back peddling on me, for this was an opportunity for us to all make money. I've always thought about opening up a high end prostitution business, for I had the mastery and the insight. And now with Astra getting on board, I could retire sooner rather than later.

"I'm down to tell you whatever you want to know." I answered smoothly. "Girl, you know I got your back."

"And I need you to keep on having it." Astra replied, now looking at me sternly. "I have an idea of how it all works, Raja. I know you have to get a cut somewhere. So with that being said, I need to know that I can fully trust you with this shit. I need to know you won't have me out here getting blindsided. I no longer have financial support, I'm officially on my own. But the least you can do is have my best interest at heart. Tell me everything I need to know."

Oh, I was on cloud nine. I pulled Astra into a tight embrace, which took her by complete surprise. Raja Ajade didn't do much affection, but this news was enough to pull me out of my comfort zone. This collaboration was going to be profitable as fuck.

"Well, first we start with shopping." I said. "You always gotta look your finest. Let's go out, and don't worry, it's on me. You have to spend money to make money. Come let me put that Raja touch on you."

"Really?!" Astra exclaimed.

I nodded, and the two of us walked arm in arm to Astra's vehicle. As Astra started up her car, I saw a genuine smile from her, which probably was the first smile she had for the day. I smiled just as happily, for I was really roping Astra into my prostitution ways. She was going to make us so much money, the thought of it was making my pussy tingle. Talk about a turn of events. My day had definitely gotten brighter. I might have been losing the battle with Stanley a bit, but trust and believe that I was winning the war in life. I never slacked, and when I did, I picked myself right back up again.