Playing With Fire & Ice

2

"I'm sorry for bringing him up and calling you a cold bitch." Jazzy finally said as I ate my pepporoni pizza. "I accept your apology and I'm sorry for yelling at you." I say to her as I smile one of my rare smiles.

"I accept your apology. But on to other subjects how is dad? Is his dementia worsening?" Jazzy says and I sigh nodding.

Even though I'm a business mogul, I live in a two bedroom apartment with my father. Ever since mom died five years back, his dementia has gotten worse. At first it would be he would forget where he placed the remote or his wallet. Now sometimes he doesn't even know who Jazzy and I are.

"How bad is it?" Jazzy asked. "He went driving to the store but he ended up at the park because he forgot where he was going. I had to suspend his liscense and give him a driver. I'm worried about him but the doctors are saying it'll only get worse. Sometimes he even wakes up in the middle of the night yelling mom's name." I sigh as I rub my forehead pushingy curls black.

"God. We have to do something." Jazzy says. "The doctors prescribed him medicines and I make sure he takes them. But I feel at any minute he could die." I say to Jazzy who nods. "I'm coming to visit later today. But lets get back you said you had a meeting." Jazzy said.

"Okay. And dad will be happy to see you he's been asking for you randomly lately." I chuckled as we stood up leaving the restaraunt. Getting back in my car, I drive back to my building.

"It was nice talking to you Effie. I love you big sis." Jazzy said as we got out my car. Walking over to me she hugged me and I hugged her back. "I love you too little sis." I say before I walk back up to my office. "Ms. Young, you're client is already in your office they arrived early. Oh and I got those reports on your desk." Stacy said as she grabbed her purse closing down her computer. "Thanks Stacy." I say to her as I go inside my office seeing Mr. Burgess a older client that is also in the realty bussiness with me.

"Mr. Burgess nice to see you." I said shaking his hand. "Ms. Young." He said smiling. "So what can I do for you?" I said taking a seat. "Well our team has sold 30% more homes than last quarter. But some of the workers have been having drama amongst themselves and its causing a hostile work environment for others."  Mr. Burgess said and I nodded. "Get them in my office in the next ten minutes I'll talk to them." I say to him firmly and he nods getting up walking out of my office. 

I groan as I stand up going to the window looking out on the traffic. Smoothing out my black pants suit, I sit back down at my desk my legs crossed as my hands clasped together.  

Mr.Buegess enters the room with three employess following him. "B-boss you wanted to see us." Jason stuttered slightly.

"Jason Wallace. Amber Refer. Tanya Blount. I hired you to do a job not to cause a hostile work environment. If your so incompetent that you can separate your peraonal life from business. I will gladly go find a realtors who can." I say coldly as they seem to shiver in fear. "Am I understood?" I say to them. "Yes ma'am. We'll keep them separate." They sayed.

"Good because if Burgess comes to me again with this problem you will be terminated effective immeadiately. Now get out of my office and continue with your day." I say to them turning away to my office. They seemed to scurry out the office followed by Mr. Burgess.

I grumble as I rub my temples. Continuing to check on the stock market I nod as my investment are growing. Deciding to quit the office for today, I go to check on my other businesses. I haven't check on them for the last 4 months but from my records they seem to be booming.

Getting in my car, I drive to a bar and grill called The Fog Lounge. Its my favorite business so far. I have trained chefs that serve great bar food at cheap prices. Getting out I see the usual line to get in. Walking to the door, the bouncer stops me. "Sorry lady you have to get in." He says. "I'm the lady that pays your salary move." I say to him amd he shivers moving out the way. Going directly to the managers office, I nod in approval at the pack bar and the dance floor full with moving bodies.

Stepping inside the office, the manager jump at first glaring before he sees me. "Ms. Young. We weren't expecting you today. Is everything alright?" He says and I nod. "Yes I just need to see the finances for the last 4 months." I say. "Of course." He said as he pulled up the finance reports. Taking his seat I saw him going to leave the office. "Stanford stay here." I said as I scanned the reports and business seems to be booming but something was off. The employess worked long shifts and where paid $12 a hour and most of them work for 9 hours our better. They aren't getting paid the full amount of money owed to them.

"Stanford come here." I said sitting back in the chair. Walking over to me I saw the nervous twitch in his body language. "Look at this screen. Whats the problem here?" I said. He looked at the screen. "No. I don't see a problem." He said.

"You are in charge of writing the checks. So why are the employees not making what that should be?" I say to him. "I-uh-I..." He stuttered. "Your fired." I said as I went down to the bar. Going behind the bar, I tap a random bartender on the shoulder. "Who has experience with managing around here?" I ask him and he starts thinking. "That'll be Cathy ma'am. She's serving drinks over there." He says to pointing to a older woman who was serving drinks. Walking over to her, I tap her on the shoulder pulling her to the side.

"Do you have experience managing?" I asked her. "Yes ma'am did you fire Stanford? He's been skimming money off the top." She said. "Yes I did Cathy. But I need to know if you'll be up to filling his shoes. Can you handle it?" I asked her blandly. "Yes ma'am but who will run the bar?" She asked. "I'll be holding a few interviews here tomorrow morning. I want you be there at 9 am sharp." I said and she nodded. "I won't let you down Ms. Young." She said and I nodded leaving the lounge before I get in my car.

Driving to my apartment that I share with dad I park my car along the curb before getting out going up to the apartment. Smelling steak and potatos, looking in the kitchen I see Jazzy cooking and dad humming to the tune playing on the radio.

"Hey dad." I say to him smiling. "Hey my strong girl." He said hugging me. "I'm going to go shower dad." I smiled at him. Passing the living room and going into my room, I grab a pajama set of a tank top with basketball short. I head to the bathroom, taking a quick shower I groan in frustration. What a day it's been.

Rinsing off the soap, I get out drying off before I get dressed combing my hair into a high bun. I put on my head scarf before joining my dad and sister in the kitchen.

"Effie there you are I thought the food was going to get cold." Jazzy joked and I smiled softly as dad looked at us with teary eyes. "Whats wrong dad?" I asked him as I grabbed his hand concerned.

"Melinda would be so proud of you girls. Jazzy you completing college and medical school to become a gereatric surgeon. And her little tiger being running so many business she would be so proud as I am." Dad said tearing up. "Aww dad." Jazzy said hugging him as I smiled fondly remembering my mother before pancreatic cancer took her.

She was so bold. She was strong as well. She didn't let no one do her wrong. Mom always told me to never let anyone get to me because once I react they win. I'm not sure how mom and dad ever worked but they did. She was so in control of herself and strong. Dad was reckless and impulsive somtimes so they balance each other out. They worked like to connect puzzle pieces.

She was everything I aspire to be.