exception of our silent partner el stupido feeling like your absence suddenly grants him a voice.”
Penny laughed. “I’m sure he’s only trying to help. You should cut him some slack.”
“Oh, I’ll cut him all right. Don’t give me any ideas.” Maritza couldn’t hold her laughter in on that one.
“Girl, stop. Hey, listen, I’ve been thinking since I’ve been out here in Jersey. We should think about expanding and opening up an office in NYC. We need an East Coast presence for New Images by Keys and Morales.”
Maritza let the idea marinate for a half a second before deciding that she absolutely loved it. There were even more high-profile clients to get in New York and it was time for them to spread their wings and expand.
“We should look into it,” Maritza said, getting more excited by the minute.
“Yeah, I’m thinking I’ll start running the cost and risk factors when I get back. How did the meeting with Da Stunnas go today?”
“Oh, yeah! You reminded me why I called you. Terrill makes me sick. I prepared the perfect image package for Da Stunnas, and his A&R idiots are going to ruin everything I’m trying to accomplish. You know how I work. I know what’s best when it comes to these things. That’s why they pay me, you know…hold on, Penny.” Maritza clicked over.
“Maritza Morales.”
“Hi, Maritza. This is Andrew. Did I catch you at a bad time? I wanted to go over some of the plans you sent me.”
“No, this isn’t a bad time. I was just talking to my business partner. Hold on, let me tell her I’ll call her back.” She clicked back over to Penny. “I’ve got to take this call, chica. Listen, take as much time as you need in Jersey. I have things here. Just call your boy and remind him of the silent in silent partner. Smooches.”
“All right, later, chica.”
Maritza smiled when she clicked back over. Maybe it wasn’t going to be as hard as she thought to keep up appearances and make everyone think that she and Terrill still didn’t get along.
“You know I’m not there to protect you, so I don’t know why you’re getting Maritza started?”
Terrill chuckled at the way Penny answered the phone. He knew she had a special ringtone for him, Run DMC’s “Together Forever,” and between that and caller ID she always knew when he was calling.
“How did I know she would have called you complaining already? All I did was make a few tiny suggestions and she blew up. You would have thought I’d asked her for blood or her firstborn. I don’t know how you put up with her.” Terrill laughed again. Maritza had blown up at his suggestions and then he’d quelled her with more sweet lovemaking. “So when will you be back here? And should I start looking for a place for Carla in the wonderful condo area where I have my mother?”
“Ha, ha, ha. Please do not bring up my mother. I don’t know what is getting into that woman. Anyway, someone attacked her the other day—”
“Oh my God. Is she okay? Do you need me to come back out there?”
“No, I don’t need you to come back out here. But thanks for offering.” Penny paused and he could tell she was really shaken up. “Carla’s banged up pretty bad. But she’s out of the hospital now. Do you believe she won’t tell who did it to her? But Jason and I came up with the person we think is responsible. And my father thinks it’s the same person. Do you remember that lowlife she used to mess with, C-Money?”
“Okay, slow down, Penny. You have dropped too many things in one breath for me to just let go without at least a say what? But I’m going to start with the most shocking one. Jason? As in Jason Hightower? Y’all playing Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew over there?” Terrill started laughing again. If Jason and Penny were on speaking terms and trying to solve crimes, then maybe there was still hope for them. “Or is there something else you want to share?”
“Yes, Jason Hightower. He is a cop, you
Penny laughed. “I’m sure he’s only trying to help. You should cut him some slack.”
“Oh, I’ll cut him all right. Don’t give me any ideas.” Maritza couldn’t hold her laughter in on that one.
“Girl, stop. Hey, listen, I’ve been thinking since I’ve been out here in Jersey. We should think about expanding and opening up an office in NYC. We need an East Coast presence for New Images by Keys and Morales.”
Maritza let the idea marinate for a half a second before deciding that she absolutely loved it. There were even more high-profile clients to get in New York and it was time for them to spread their wings and expand.
“We should look into it,” Maritza said, getting more excited by the minute.
“Yeah, I’m thinking I’ll start running the cost and risk factors when I get back. How did the meeting with Da Stunnas go today?”
“Oh, yeah! You reminded me why I called you. Terrill makes me sick. I prepared the perfect image package for Da Stunnas, and his A&R idiots are going to ruin everything I’m trying to accomplish. You know how I work. I know what’s best when it comes to these things. That’s why they pay me, you know…hold on, Penny.” Maritza clicked over.
“Maritza Morales.”
“Hi, Maritza. This is Andrew. Did I catch you at a bad time? I wanted to go over some of the plans you sent me.”
“No, this isn’t a bad time. I was just talking to my business partner. Hold on, let me tell her I’ll call her back.” She clicked back over to Penny. “I’ve got to take this call, chica. Listen, take as much time as you need in Jersey. I have things here. Just call your boy and remind him of the silent in silent partner. Smooches.”
“All right, later, chica.”
Maritza smiled when she clicked back over. Maybe it wasn’t going to be as hard as she thought to keep up appearances and make everyone think that she and Terrill still didn’t get along.
“You know I’m not there to protect you, so I don’t know why you’re getting Maritza started?”
Terrill chuckled at the way Penny answered the phone. He knew she had a special ringtone for him, Run DMC’s “Together Forever,” and between that and caller ID she always knew when he was calling.
“How did I know she would have called you complaining already? All I did was make a few tiny suggestions and she blew up. You would have thought I’d asked her for blood or her firstborn. I don’t know how you put up with her.” Terrill laughed again. Maritza had blown up at his suggestions and then he’d quelled her with more sweet lovemaking. “So when will you be back here? And should I start looking for a place for Carla in the wonderful condo area where I have my mother?”
“Ha, ha, ha. Please do not bring up my mother. I don’t know what is getting into that woman. Anyway, someone attacked her the other day—”
“Oh my God. Is she okay? Do you need me to come back out there?”
“No, I don’t need you to come back out here. But thanks for offering.” Penny paused and he could tell she was really shaken up. “Carla’s banged up pretty bad. But she’s out of the hospital now. Do you believe she won’t tell who did it to her? But Jason and I came up with the person we think is responsible. And my father thinks it’s the same person. Do you remember that lowlife she used to mess with, C-Money?”
“Okay, slow down, Penny. You have dropped too many things in one breath for me to just let go without at least a say what? But I’m going to start with the most shocking one. Jason? As in Jason Hightower? Y’all playing Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew over there?” Terrill started laughing again. If Jason and Penny were on speaking terms and trying to solve crimes, then maybe there was still hope for them. “Or is there something else you want to share?”
“Yes, Jason Hightower. He is a cop, you
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