Page 3 of He Snatched My Soul
Everyone at the table thought her sarcastic response was funny, but I didn’t.
“Naw, baby. It’s what the bitc-. The girls call me.”
“Oh. Well, I’m a lady. So that doesn’t apply to me, Jamian.”
Modesty snidely said my name, which I didn’t recall giving. Shorty must have heard about a nigga. That must be why she has been giving me the stank attitude. I’m well known around Melville as being a ladies man.
“Jamian, act like I raised you right and show some respect,” my mother chastised.
“Now that you two have joined us, let’s get back to what I wanted to discuss,” my father stated, turning the attention to him. “As you know, last year, I bought out Hollis Resort and Casino in Montego Bay. I’m changing the name to Armstrong Debauchery Resort and Casino. It’s going to be my third adult’s only resort. This one, though, is going to be geared towards the BDSM/swingers community.”
“Congrats, Pop. But what does that have to do with me?”I spoke up.
“I need you to fly out on Tuesday and set up the software for the computers, as well as be there for the pre-grand opening. You will also need to attend the official opening and represent the company.”
“I can handle setting up the computers. But, Pop, you know I don’t do those types of things. That means I have to be the host. I’m not feeling that. Why Ju can’t do it?” I shook my head because I knew he was going to push.
“Because I asked you. Your brother does enough. It’s time you grow up, Son, and pull your weight in the family business. I would go, but tomorrow is your mom and I's twenty-eight anniversary, and we are flying out to Dubai in the morning, so I’m not able to attend.”
Armstrong Enterprises is the family business he was speaking of. My father owns a bunch of shit including a few shipping companies, a software company, and two casinos. When he stepped down two years ago, he passed the business to my brother and me. While Julius handled all the meetings and deals, I ran the cyber security company, where I created various software and hardware systems. I love what I do. Yes, I might bullshit around, but I get the job done.
Computers were my thing, not that other shit he was talking about. I saw how many hours my brother put in, and I’m not with that. Julius loved that shit, though. That’s why my brother is twenty-eight with no social life. Probably ain’t even getting any pussy. I’ll be damned if I spend countless hours sitting behind a desk, crunching numbers all day. I’m twenty-six and enjoying my life. Fucked that!
“Pull my weight? Pop, I work hard at what I do. You know that.” I was offended.
“I’m not negating that fact. But you will be going and assisting Ms. Blackwood as we just discussed, and that’s final,” he spoke firmly. “She will guide you with putting the necessaryinformation into the computer system that will need to be set up for our guests, and everything else we would need to run the hotel and casino.”
“Since when do I need anyone to help me do my job? Naw. I don’t need a babysitter. I’m straight. Wouldn’t want Ms. Blackwood to break a nail.” My father was trippin’, for real, if he thought I needed this stuck-up bitch hovering over me like I’m a fucking kid.”
“Apparently, you do. Do I need to bring bottles and diapers? Because right now, you are acting like a big baby.” Modesty’s cute-ass smirked at me. The shit pissed me off because her feistiness turned me on and annoyed me at the same time. And I was shocked that she got slick out of the mouth in front of my parents.
“Modesty, would you like something to drink?” Ms. Paulette offered.
“Don’t give her no Henny. That seems to make the ladies do wild things. Ain’t that right shorty?” I smirked, and Modesty eyes widened.
“Jamian Armstrong!” my father yelled. “You watch your mouth. I raised you better than that. Now, like I said, my decision is final. You will be leaving the day after tomorrow with Ms. Blackwood.”
I kissed my teeth, stood from the table, and stormed out of the dining room. I headed for the backyard because, right now, I needed to smoke. My father is always trying to run my fucking life. Even as a teenager, he tried to control every fucking thing I did. He picked what high school I went to and my college choice. Yes, I gave my parents hell growing up. That’s what teenagers do. We smoked weed, cut school, and chased the females. So what? But I got my shit together. I graduated from college and worked for the family business as I was required. And I took myjob seriously. I’m great at what I do. Yet, my parents treated me like a fucking kid!
After rolling up a fat J-Bone, I inhaled the Dro and released a cloud of smoke in the air. I made sure to sit close to the pool house so my parents wouldn’t smell the weed and come out here bitching. I was sitting under the umbrella by the pool.
“You know Ma is going to have a fit if she finds out you’re smoking that shit,” Julius chuckled as he sat next to me on one of the lounge chairs.
“You want some?” I smirked, handing him the blunt. My brother didn’t smoke; I just wanted to fuck with him. Julius was a good ol’ boy. He didn’t fuck with drugs, nor did he drink. I wouldn’t call him a square; he just stayed on the straight and narrow.
“Man, don’t make me tap your jaw.”
I laughed, moving the J from out of his face.
“Why are you giving Dad so much pushback about this project?” Julius asked me.
“Because he doesn’t trust me. He never does. Why do I need that bitch’s help? I’m a grown-ass man. I’m not a kid who needs someone to hold my hand like I don’t know what I’m doing.” I shook my head.
“Come on, Jamian. How do you expect him to treat you like a grown man when you are out here living recklessly?”
I waved him off, taking a pull from my blunt.“Because I like to party, drink, and smoke my weed… that’s living recklessly? He just likes to bust my balls and control everything I do.”
“He only treats you that way because that’s how you are acting.”
