The Little Black Book

Prologue: The Queen’s Boutique

We get deliveries every day. People, who want to get rid of their clutter, donate to the cause. The cause being...the Queen’s Boutique!!! A very popular high end consignment store. I was so exhausted that day and couldn’t wait to get off. I had 15 minutes until my shift ended and here comes the most annoying manager in the world...Queen Barbara.

Chapter 1: The Beautiful Bag

“Deena!!! Go through this last bin before you leave!!”

Aggravated and ready to go. I look at Barbara with a confused look and say, “Barbara, I only have 15 minutes left until my shift is over!!! Can’t someone else do it?!!”

“No!” Barbara looks at me annoyed and snidely replies, “you can do it!”

She then whips her hair, promptly turns and walks away as if she is the Queen of the castle.

With a long sigh I have no choice but to listen to her. I just keep telling myself, I need this job until my business takes off.

I begin going through the bin and my mind is fuming!!! This bin is full of junk!!! Ewww old dirty cloths, costume jewelry, bags!!! I begin to throw items in the garbage. “This stuff is crap!!!” I said out loud. I’m leaving when my shift ends. I don’t care!!!

My frustration stops when I see this beautiful bag. It was a beautiful soft leather cream color bag with perfect seams. In the center of the pocketbook was a diamond encrusted emblem. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. So I decide to take it. I thought to myself it was so cute and I was mad about still being there. Pay back is a bitch Barbara!! I said to myself with vigor and a thirst for revenge. Hahahaha... So when my shift ended I got in the car and threw the pocketbook in the trunk. I was in such a rush to leave I forgot to even look inside of the bag.

Some days and nights go by. Completely forgetting about the bag, I fell into my normal life when one night I was going out to party with my girls.

Chapter 2 Gurls Night

The door bell rings. I hear Renee letting herself in as usual. Renee comes with her usual great loud party mood spirit. Always ready to pregrame, she comes with her usual drinks and goodies. Renee yells, “Hey gurl lets get this party started!!!!.”

I instantly laugh and say, “Yesss I’m so ready for tonight. I need to get my mind off of him and everything for at least one night.”

“You need to get your mind off his ass every night!!” Renee replies. “Girl never mind him. He is living his best life with his best wife!!! Your too beautiful to still care. It’s been too long! He made his choice, now let’s drank!!”

Crushed and tired of the constant reminder to move on, I take the shot of Hennessy and continue to get ready.

“Where’s MiMi?” I ask realizing we are missing a friend.

“Running late as usual. She said she will meet us there.” Replies Renee.

I roll my eyes because I know she is only meeting us there because her man is probably talking her out of even going. I shrug it off and keep getting ready. Renee sees my outfit and looks impressed. “Damn gurl you killing it tonight. What kinda accessories are you wearing with dis assamble??!?”

Laughing at her broken English, I thought of the bag that I took from work. “I got the perfect bag!!! It’s in my car!”

“Good cause your driving!! I’m nice right now!” Renee says as she takes another pull of her joint. I laugh, roll my eyes and pull the joint. “gurl lets go!!!”

We’re off. “Renee! Go through that bag and put my wallet and stuff in it.” Renee goes through the bag. “Where did you get this? It’s cute but has some bull shit in it.”

“Like what?” I ask. “Ok a cross, some nasty old looking lip stick, a tiny bottle of clear water, a mirror and a little black book?!!!”

“Well a cross isn’t some bull shit!” I look at her in disdain. “What’s in the black book?” Renee opens the book with a look of confusion. “What does it say?” I ask.

“Well it has no title, no author. all the pages are blank except for the first page. It’s just a little black book.” Renee says.

“Ok so what does it say?” I ask in a slow and sarcastic way.

“It says, write...your wrongs...” Renee says this in an Erie way and then bursts out into laughter!!!

“Like I said Deena! This bag has some bull shit in it!!!...okay Minus the cross.” She then throws the book in the back seat as we arrive to the club.

Mimi surprisingly meets us here. We’re both surprised. “Hey guys over here!!! I had to catch an Uber here!” Mimi says

“What happened this time? Lemme guess he didn’t want you to borrow his car huh?!” Renee asked sarcastically.

“No I just didn’t want to be bothered with him so I didn’t even ask. Now let’s get this party started!” “Let’s go!!!” I said with excitement.

I think it’s fair to say we all needed that night out. We danced all night long and didn’t have a care in the world. For one night we let all of our problems go and just enjoyed ourselves. I’ve been so wrapped in my failures in business and love. The public embarrassment of losing thousands by trusting a shady person and putting them in charge cost me everything. Now I’m reduced to working this 9-5, and putting my dreams on hold. And then to watch someone I love be with someone else. The combination killed my spirit and my motivation. This night was so important. I just wanted to party it all away. I was not alone. Renee giving her all to her music with no success. and Mimi is miserable. Trying to stay with someone because her family and religion tell her to. We all needed this night. 3 girls looking for an escape I guess.

“Girl that was soooo much fun!!! We gotta do this more often!!!” Mimi says as she hops in the back seat of the car.

“Yea well next time you be the driver!” I jokingly replied.

“Yea, yea just be happy I kept my word this time sheesh!!” As she closed the door. As we drive off we reminisce on good 'ol days when we were young and in college. Life was just so much easier, fun, not so serious and disappointing all the time. As I got closer to Renee’s house, she looked at me and said, “I don’t feel like going home to my moms tonight. I’m staying with you.”

“Yea!!! That’s a good idea! Me too!!” MiMi chimes in.

Renee and I scoff in doubt.

“Yea right Mi Mi. Knock it off. You know damn well your going home. Your husband and family will kick your ass!” Renee says.

I look at Mi Mi in my rear view and say, “Look Mi Mi we just don’t want you to have any drama. I’m sure he has already called and texted like a million times.” Mi Mi looks down at her phone and sees 10 texts messages and 20 missed calls. She looks sad. Like she expected us to support her in this moment.

I know I shouldn’t do this. I don’t want to do this. but I know she needs this...

“Hey you only live once right? Let’s have an after party sleepover!!” Mi Mi looks up at the rear view mirror back at me. Smiled and yelled, “let’s go bitches!”

Chapter 3. The Sleepover

“Ok just turn your phone off at this point because he’s gonna track your location!” Renee demands Mi Mi.

“He probably already has.” I chimed in.

“Oh whatever! I told him I will be home in the morning. I’m with you guys so he is not in the dark! You know what I will turn this damn thing off!” Mi Mi throws her phone somewhere in the back seat for dramatics.

“Ok let’s go inside I want something to eat.” Renee insist.

Mi Mi bends down to pick up her phone and notices the little black book. She picks it up quizzically and opens it. “Write your wrongs? what the hell is this a therapy journal?”

“Some little black book Renee pulled out of this bag I got from my job.” Mi Mi picks up her phone and takes the book with her inside.

“Ok I need some PJ's so I can get comfortable.” Renee says looking at me while taking off her clothes. I go to my room and grab some t shirts and sweats and give them to both of them. “Ok who is hungry?” I ask.

Luckily I had some really good leftovers and we began to feast. We then lounge around and begin to drink and smoke

“So what wrong would you write?” Mi Mi asks me while taking a sip of her wine.

“I don’t even know where I would begin?”

“Well how about begin with money!!!” Renee interjects loudly as usual. “I mean think about it. You are working in this busted ass job. Not making anywhere near as much as you were making when you started your jewelry line. Forget love, forget little comforts, write the wrong with your business!! Make money!!”

Mi Mi grabs a pen off the counter and gives it to me. “Go ahead...write your wrong Deena!”

I began to feel pressured by them. This is stupid. What will writing this down do for me? I thought. “What would this accomplish? I ask?”

Before Mi Mi or Renee could even respond, they were interrupted by a loud knock on the door. “Deena!?...It’s me John. Is Mi Mi there with you?”

Everyone freezes and looks at each other startled. John aka Big John is a secret bully. He manipulates Mi Mi and uses her family's ways to control her. I look at Mi Mi and she puts her finger to her mouth, signaling us to be quiet. She then pulls us into my bedroom and whispers to me, “Tell him I’m not here! Say that I left already! Act like you were sleeping!” I look at her in discomfort. I don’t want to get in the middle of this drama, but I also know that Mi Mi doesn’t want to face him either. She looks at me so desperately. So I shake my head in agreement and then proceed to the door. I open the door and big John burst through.

“I know she is here Deena where is she!???!!!” “She is not here, she left a while ago! I’m sleeping, do you mind?!!” I look at him with pure annoyance. “How do you just bust in someone’s place like this?!!” “I know she is here Deena!! Mi Mi!!” He yells and then walks straight to my bedroom. I follow him. “Come on now John! Really!” He finds Mi Mi hugging Renee for life. “It’s time to go Mi Mi. Come on.” Being demanding as usual, John gestures his hand to her to come with him. The two then share an intense gaze at each other. At the same time Renee and I look at each other ready to have Mi Mi’s back if things go left.

Mi Mi looks at us and says, “I’ll see you guys later ok. It’s late anyways.” She then let’s go Renee and walks toward John. Before she leaves she reaches to hug me and we embrace. She whispers, “make sure you write your wrong. Cause I wish I could right now.” I look at her and try not to cry as she closes the door.

“Damn I hate him!!” Renee cries as she lights her joint and pulls it. I sit down next to her on the couch and I take it from her. I take a pull while looking at the ceiling. I exhale and say, “Me too.” I then sit up and grab the little black book MiMi left on the coffee table. I pick up a pen. Look at the blank page. I take a deep breath and write....

I want to write my wrongs with my business. Make it successful again...

I close the book and look up at Renee. ”Ok miss it has been quite a night. I think it’s time to go to bed. I have work in the morning.” Renee is already half asleep on the couch. I give her a pillow and blanket and go to bed. Both of us had Mi Mi on our minds but too exhausted to deal with it. A battle for another day.

Chapter 4. Good ‘Ol Barbara

“Lock up Renee, I’m out!” Renee of course is knocked out on the couch and no where near ready to get up. She has a key so I go on with the day. Just another busy morning at work going through bins and dealing with Queen Barbara.

At work we have our usual weekly meeting with Queen Barbara. She loves these meetings. It gives her this sense of importance and the opportunity to admonish us all. My phone starts to buzz. Of course it’s while Barbara is barking orders at us like we're working for the White House. “People are coming in late...” I look down at my phone and see that it’s my account manager. I don’t answer. She’s probably gonna tell me she’s quitting. I don’t even know why she even tries anymore. I haven’t been able to pay her in months. As Barbara goes on and on about quality of service, my phone continues to go off. Now she is texting “Call me ASAP Deena!! It’s about the sales!” Ok wait a minute? I think with excitement. Barbara then begins to scold us even more, “This meeting is about how to do a better job at sorting these bins!! I’m not gonna tell you guys again...” I zone her out and sneak out the back.

I go to the bathroom and nervously call her back. “Hey Jenny how are you?” “Hi Deena I have some great news!!! A stylist convinced Lady GaGa to wear one of your pieces at a show at fashion week in Paris and now it’s trending!! You just sold $20,000 worth of inventory!!!! You need more jewelry!!!”

I jump and cheer instantly. Catching myself I try not scream!!! I couldn’t believe it. I only had a few pieces left after all my designs were stolen. “Ok let me leave my job and I will call you as soon as I get in my car!!! I can’t believe this. Omg Jenny!! We’re back in the game gurl! I’ll call you back!”

I jumped in the air with excitement. “Yes! Yesssss!!!” I shouted!! I run out of the bathroom and go to the lockers to get my things. I’m outa here!!

People begin to walk in and I realize that I missed the rest of the meeting. I figured this was a good time to leave to avoid seeing Queen Barbara. I put on my jacket, grab my purse and make my way out through the store. “Um excuse me Deena where are you going?” Dammit!!! I can’t believe she spotted me! I cringe and fix my face. I turn around and say, “I’m sorry Barbara. I have an emergency and I have to go.”

“Oh no sorry to hear that. I was looking for you because this lady wants to know if you saw an item of hers from a few nights ago.” What the hell. A few nights ago? Barbara knows damn well I wouldn’t remember something like that. “Um...Barbara I’m sure I wouldn’t be any help. I don’t remember all the items we go through here. Especially from a few days ago!” I glared at Barbara as I waited for her response. Oddly she seemed nervous. Not her usual tuff girl act. Where did it go after the meeting? I wondered.

“I know Deena...I just wanted to see if maybe you could help this woman.” She sounded scared when she said this. Now I think she wants to get away from this woman. “Ok, well where is she?” She is over there at the jewelry counter. Barbara replied. I look over and see this older woman who looks like she’s in her late 50’s. She was a slim woman with long black hair and black almond shaped eyes. Her eyes were deep and intense. Like you could drown in them. She stared at me with such intensity that I felt her presence from across the room. I couldn’t avoid her if I wanted to. It was too late. I was under her radar. I play it cool though. I approach her and warmly said, “ hi ma’am how can I help you?”

“Yes some days ago my maid dropped off some items to donate and...unfortunately...got some personal things of mine mixed up accidentally. I’m here to see if I can retrieve my pocketbook. I looked around the store and didn’t see it.”

“Oh Ma’am I’m sorry to hear that. Someone may have purchased it unfortunately. What does you bag look like?”

“It was a ...” She begins to explain and I cannot believe it! omg she is describing the bag I took!! Do I tell her I have it? Or just say I have no idea? If I tell her then Queen Barbara will bust me for stealing? I mean who really cares but, why deal with the hassle now that I’ve got my business back? I probably won’t come back to this job anyway. So what’s the point? I’m ready to leave and this conversation is pointless considering there is no proof....“Ma’m unfortunately I haven’t seen that bag and I’m sorry I can’t help you.”

The woman pauses and then looks at me with disappointment in her eyes. With an intense gaze, she then leans in with fire in her eyes and touches my shoulder. “It’s ok darling...Remember it’s never too late to write your wrongs.”

Her words alarmed me and her touch chilled me to the bone as I pull back from her. I could feel my heart beat as the adrenaline rushed through my body. She didn’t say another word. Her eyes widened as she opened her mouth to smile, while side eyeing me all the way out the door. Man that was creepy. I thought. I was stuck for a moment in a deep stare when Queen Barbara came from behind and startled me.

“I’m so sorry!!!” Queen Barbara says apologetically. “The boss came down and said that lady wanted to talk to you specifically!!!” “I told him you wouldn’t know anything!!! I just wanted her to leave, she is scary!!” “Yea she seemed a little weird. Why me specifically? Who is she?” I wondered now in fear. “I don’t know her personally, but I know that the owner knows her from church. She is well connected, and has deep ties with the boss and his family. Did you know anything about what she wanted?”

“No!” I said in a panic. Knowing damn well I knew exactly what she wanted. I just don’t know what was so important about the bag or it’s contents to make this lady personally come here. Or even how she knows I have it. Then I remembered that I have $20,000 and it’s time to go!!! “Barbara I’m sorry, I really have to go!!” “Ok sweetie. See you tomorrow.”

Sweetie? I thought. All of a sudden she is as sweet as pie. What is it about this woman that has Queen Barbara so stirred up? As I walk out to my car I can’t stop thinking about this woman and what she wanted. But as I thought more about it I figured, hey maybe it’s her favorite bag? But if so wouldn’t her maid have known that? I get in the car and just drive.

I call Jenny but get her voice mail and approached a red light. “Hey Jenny it’s me!! Call me back I’m sooo excited right now!!” I look up in my rear view and notice a strange man staring back at me in a black SUV. I immediately look straight and ignore him. The light turns green and I hit the gas. I notice after a few blocks that he is still behind me. My heart starts racing as I increase my speed and hit the high way. I’m scared at this point, he is still behind me. “Hey Siri call Renee!!!!” I scream in fear!!!

The phone rings...

“Hey boo!!! Renee cheerfully answers!!” “Renee shut the hell up someone is following meeee!!!!” I scream at her as I weave through traffic. “Bitch call the police!!!” Renee yells. I then look up to see where he is and he has turned off the exit. Relieved...I exhale and begin to laugh loudly!!! “Gurrllll I was bugging!!! I’m sorry this weird lady scared me at work.” Renee begins to laugh at me and I tell her the good news. “I’m still at your house bring some food when you get home.”

Chapter 5. Lights Out

“I hope your in the mood for Chinese!” I bring two bags of food from my favorite Chinese food restaurant. “Yesss I’m starving!” Renee says as she jumps up to get a plate. “You know...you need a roommate Deena. I would be perfect.” Renee smiles as she eats her egg roll. “I’m too old for roommates but you can always crash here” I reply. The night goes on as we binge watch reality tv. “I don’t care I’m Team Porsha!!” Renee yells. “Whatever!” I yell back! Before the debate continued the lights simultaneously go off in the apartment. “What you don’t pay your bills around here? I told you, you need a roommate!!!” I look at her and roll my eyes. “Uh no, I always pay my bills. And no you can’t live with me. Come with me to the breakers in the basement.” Renee immediately shakes her head “Oh no I’m fine! I can’t live with you. So it’s not my job, I’m a guest!” Renee folds her arms and plops on the couch. I look at her in shock, “Really Renee, okay remember houseguest have to leave at some point.” I go to the kitchen and get a flash light out the drawer. In my mind I figured maybe there is just a power outage. I go downstairs and see the breakers near the laundry room. The breakers are all intact so it must be an outage in the neighborhood. “It must be an outage in the neighborhood!!” I yell. I grab some candles and make my way upstairs.

I instantly stop in shock as I enter the kitchen. I see Renee’s neck bleeding from being held at knife point by the man who was following me. I immediately drop the candles and flash light, completely frozen in absolute fear. As I hear the glass from the candles shattering, I can feel my legs become stuck to the ground. I am unable to lift them or move.

As I tremble in fear...I hear a familiar voice of a woman say, “Well hello darling...I see you found my little black book...”