The Preachers Daughter

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Zy'Air said it would be best if I didn't come with him to pick up Mel. Maybe he wanted to keep their spot a secret, I don't know. I just knew I was on edge I had a first hand experience with his bitch ass aunts and I personally don't care for them too tough. I would've put that lady on her ass had she continued to think it was okay to grab on me. There should be no reason why they treat him they way that they do just because of his father. It just doesn't make sense. But nothing has ever made sense when concerning Zy'Air.

Drew still isn't speaking with Zy'Air and definitely isn't too found of the fact that he's living with us again. I can't say I blame him. Drew is at that age where he just doesn't have the time to deal with someone being inconsistent. He's too busy focusing on what's going to happen to him after he graduates. I've asked him multiple times what his plans are and reassured him that if he wanted to go to college I would pay for it with no hesitation. He always would give me a shoulder shrug and say he hadn't put much thought into it.  He's in his last year so he needs to figure it out sooner rather than later.

Melody was utterly shocked once her and Zy'Air came back to the house. I had completely forgotten she was unaware of how wealthy I was. And their grandmother was barely making much so this was way out of Melody's element. Zy'Air always said he didn't want to raise anyone in this type of life because it doesn't teach them anything. But I've taught Drew more in this life than his mother and Zy'Air could've ever taught him and I plan on doing the same with melody.

With Melody now being nineteen I decided to give her a job at the boutique. I'd have to try to keep her blinded to the laundering of course, but I think she'd be a good fit. She's reliable and would bring in a lot of customers her age. Lord knows we need the profit. Especially since I've had the store closed down for some time now.

"Hey Zoy, there's some clothes back here in the dressing rooms. Do you want me to hang them back up?", Melody asked me.

I sighed. "No, I have to go through them and decide which ones I even want to put out for sale. I have to revamp the entire store".

"How come?"

I hesitated. "I just took a little break from the store."

"Are you involved in the streets like Ziggy is?"

I looked at Melody shocked.

"What are-"

"I lived with him for most of my life, remember? I know how he moved when he was out there and it looks like you're doing the same thing."

"Melody ... forgive me but I don't think that is any of your business."

Her face fell and sadness filled her eyes. "I'm not trying to get involved in your business, and I apologize if I intruded. I love Ziggy and I know he loves you. I just want you to always be around and make him happy."

I opened my mouth to attempt to cheer her up when the front door opened and a beeping sound went off through out the store letting me know someone was entering. I walked to the front to see who could be coming in when my open sign wasn't even on. I was surprised to see it was Zoie.

"Zoie? What are you doing here?", I asked her.

"Do I not work here anymore?", she said jokingly.

"Well ... after what happened-"

She held her hand up to stop me.

"As far as I'm concerned, you were just into some bad things. I'm sure since you're back in the store that you've gotten out of them. They didn't hurt me and I didn't tell my dad. All is forgiven."

I wasn't going to apologize to her ass anyway, but I'm grateful she didn't run her mouth considering I still don't know what's the deal between Donnie and that slob of a woman. Zoie looked around me at Melody. She looked her up and down in a way that I didn't have to look back at Melody to know she was offended by it.

"Zoy, who's this?", Zoie asked me.

"My name is Melody, her little sister", Melody answered before I could.

Zoie's look was nothing but venomous. "Are you going to be working at the store with us?"

"Don't know, it would depend on how long you plan on looking at me like that."

"Alright, that's enough", I said before things got too heated. "I'm not gonna have none of this in my store. I don't care if you two have to work on separate sides of the shop. 'Cause if you break some shit, I'm breaking my foot in both of your asses."

I looked from Melody to Zoie and back to Melody. Had I not been here they definitely would've went blow for blow.

"Do I make myself clear?", I asked them.

"Yup", they both said simultaneously.

"Good. Now, Zoie, I need you to clean up a little back. Mel, I need you to take these deposits to the bank."

They both followed my directions, eyeing each other as they passed by. I was just about to check the register to make sure the floating amount was still there when thr front door opened again, making me have to pull out a lot of energy to try and not roll my eyes. I put on a fake smile and got ready to greet them but my smile dropped when I saw the somewhat familiar face.

"Aren't you Zy'Air's father?", I asked.

He smiled and that's when I knew. Him and Zy'Air had similar smiles. Hell, they were damn near identical. I took a step back and gave him a once over. He was freshly shaven and his hair was curly just like Zy'Air. He wore some suit pants and some shoes that looked more expensive than I clearly had knowledge of. His shirt was crisp and tucked into his pants, the top two buttons undone showing me hints of a tattoo. He walked over to the counter and looked at me with similar eyes to the one's I once loved.

"According to him, I'm not his father. Isn't that right, young lady?"

"I ... well ... -"

"I heard from some folks that this was your shop. Thought I'd come by and introduce myself. My son seems to be a tad bit upset about my presence and took that opportunity away from me before."

He held out his hand for me to shake.

"My name is Levon. And you?"

I shook his hand slowly.

"Zoyanna", I said in a cut tone. I know if Zy'Air was here he wouldn't approve of this encounter. He smiled at me then started looking around.

"Everything looks uniquely made. Did you design them?", he asked me.

I eyed his every move. "Some of them, yes."

He nodded in approval. "I see you have talent. I like that quality in my distributors."

"Excuse me? I can't say I know what you mean by that."

He chuckled them came back to the counter.

"I know you don't know much about me, I didn't expect you to. See ... I've made the same stamp you're trying to make now. Once I heard of your bloodline I knew that YOU were the one to take my business to new heights."

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave!"

He chuckled again. "I'll leave. But when you're ready to get serious with this shit and push some real weight, call me. What you're doing right now is minuscule to what I can do for you."

He reached into his pocket and slid a card onto the table. With a smirk he turned and left out as smoothly as he entered. I thought about throwing the card away but then I thought about my mother. I know back in the day she wouldn't have hesitated to seize this opportunity. I tucked the card in my back pocket and went to the back to check on Zoie.