"You back again?" Rico sat beside me on the city bus for the ride to Disney Land.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

" I saw you get hooked up by Nipsey the other day"

I frowned not recognizing the name, I shrugged sitting back in the seat.

"Who?"

"The dude that helped you out with the racist white guy"

"Oh Ermias, what would him helping me out have to do with me not coming back?"

Rico sat forward with his eyes bucked out at me, I mugged him scooting over to put space between us.

"Oh shit you on a first name basis with this nigga, I'm proud of you"

"Not like that, he just gave me his business card with his name on it"

I was still holding on to the business card inside my fanny pack just waiting on the moment I could build up my courage and make the call to Ermias and possibly change my life.

"Again my question to you is why are you still on this bus? If you made that business connect why aren't you taking a chance to use it?"

"I have bills to catch up on and a child to take care of I can't take a chance trying to chase my dreams and possibly risk losing the little bit I still have"

For the first time I could see the seriousness on Rico's face, he wasn't joking around anymore.

"We have been riding this bus for years and I watch you time and time again undersell your art, you don't belong here"

"Then where do I belong? And why hasn't it happened for me after almost ten years working at it?" I folded my arms and raised my eyebrow at him.

"You belong at the top, your art shouldn't be advertised on some snooty ass white kids face when it should be hanging in some fancy ass museum overseas with the Picasso's"

This was the most nicest thing anyone had said about my work and oddly enough it had come from Rico. I blushed looking down at my raggedy sneakers with holes all through them.

"If you never take a chance with becoming great you'll never see the life you really want you and your son to live"

"I'm afraid that I'll fail and end up on the streets and lose my son trying to reach such a high goal"

"I won't let that that happen, you fall I'll catch you before you do" He bumped my shoulder with his " you my friend, I want better for you"

My eyesight blurred from the tears, his words touched me and at the same time I was hurting because my own mother couldn't give me those encouraging words.

"Thank you Rico" I sniffed holding back the tears " You aren't as bad as I thought you were"

"Damn you really hated my guts?"

"No just like a little gnat that keeps bugging"

He laughed making me laugh, the bus came to a slow halt in front of Disney Land. Rico grabbed his and my bag to get off the bus.

"I don't want to see you back here anymore, take that risk"

"Thank you" I grabbed my bag from him to get ready to set up.

"Don't be afraid to fall I got you just remember that"

I nodded smiling softly, pulling up my jeans I squatted down by my bag taking out the new supplies.

" Face paint five dollars custom paint ten dollars!"

" I see you still selling yourself short"

His voice was like no other, Ermias tall shadow hovered over me.

"I have bills, you sure do come here a lot" I got up turning to him " You work here or something?"

He laughed, even his laugh was perfect and did I mention the man was fucking fine?

"Me and my family got season passes I come here to relax"

"Wow, what a life" I kept setting up " I have to get to work"

"It's been two days and you ain't call me"

"I don't have a phone remember?" He put his hands in his jogger pockets.

"You got my business card you know the address, you can slide through"

"Okay I'll do that"

"How much you make in a day here usually?" I shrugged.

"On a good day 175"

He took a wad of cash from his pants pocket taking the rubber band off of it.

"Would you take a ride with me to my store to see the walls I wanted painted if I double that"

I didn't respond instead I start packing up my supplies, Rico head nodded in my direction.

"You foreal?"

"Like I said I have bills"

He reached down taking my duffle bag, frowning down at me.

"You carry this shit on your own everyday?"

"Yeah it's bad on my back too but I need my supplies"

Ermias pushed the button to his car a black Jaguar, what other kind of business was he into?

"You can get in I'm gonna put your bag in the trunk"

I hesitated for a second before getting inside, sinking into the plush seats with my eyes closed.

" You like it?"

"It's definitely an upgrade from the bus, I can't wait to get myself a hooptie" I smiled opening my eyes to see him staring at me "What?"

"Stop settling for less just because it's the easy route, the money and nice shit I acquired took years of work shit didn't come easy but I never lowered my value to appease people"

I nodded biting my bottom lip.

"You hungry or anything?" I shook my head too ashamed for him to know I hadn't been eating, unfortunately my stomach betrayed me by growling loudly at just the mention of food

"Uh yeah"

"You know what this whole time I never got your name?"

"Kierra" I replied

"Which one do you go by Ermias or Nipsey?"

He smiled with that perfect ass smile.

" You the first person to pronounce my name right without my help so stick with that"

"It's a beautiful name, what country is it from?"

"Eritrea, my pops is from there"

It explained his looks, Ermias was handsome but he didn't look like any other man he was his own man.

"How long you been doing art?"

"Since I was a toddler but I started selling it when I got pregnant with my son"

"How old is he?"

"Nine going on twenty nine" I smiled just thinking about my baby who had ditched me to hang with my mom for spring break to give me more time to work for money.

"My daughter Emani his age"

My head shot up at the name, I smirked folding my arms.

"Beautiful chunky cheeks with nice thick eyebrows?"

"How you know my Mani Mon?"

"Apparently my son and your daughter are friends at school"

"Small world and I'm gonna get her ass she know she ain't suppose to have no boyfriend no offense to your son"

I raised my hands up.

"None taken they are just friends that's all, Kameron knows books come first"

"Sound likes you are raising a good guy"

With no male figure in his life I fought hard to play mother and father to Kameron.

"I'm trying" we pulled into a lot I was familiar with " I pass this place all the time"

"I own this strip but my main spot is The Marathon Clothing store right here"

"I can see the white wall from here"

It was huge and hopefully whatever he wanted done was an easy job.

"I just want something simple here but I got some art work I need done for clothing and my website, we can work out the price inside with my brother and pops"

I got out and was taken back by everyone in the parking lot and outside the stores showing Ermias love from dapping him to taking pictures.

" I gotta go handle some business y'all I'll be back" I jumped at the feeling of his hand touching the small of my back " You ready?"

"Yeah" I softly replied looking around the store impressed by the neatness and professionalism.

"Kierra this is my pops Dawit and my older brother Samiel they help me out with all my businesses"

I shook each of their hands, all the men towered over me making me feel like a little girl.

"All you guys are so tall"

They laughed together showing their facial similarities, Samiel was Mr. Dawit's twin where as Ermias had some common features but seemed to take from someone else possibly his mom.

"Kierra gonna be helping me out with painting this wall and doing some artwork for merch so I wanna talk numbers"

" Alright lets go to the office room"

Samiel lead us to the back with a small conference room, Ermias pulled a chair out for me.

"We got a slight budget for this and hopefully we can come to an agreement on how to pay you" This was my first real job meeting and first deal for my art, I felt important.

"I'm sure I will, I've never really done anything like this before"

I laughed nervously intimidated by all the men in the room placing their attention on me.

"So I was thinking for the wall just a simple store flagship and name, you cool with 1,500?"

I choked on my spit, Mr. Dawit grabbed me a bottle of water.

"Thank you and that price sounds fine"

"Don't hesitate to speak up if you want more I told you don't under sell yourself to satisfy other people"

"If you only want a flag and some words then 1,500 is more than enough"

He opened a MacBook typing into it, while I sipped on my water with shaky hands.

" I wanna put you on as a regular employee helping with making new clothing art and doing murals as a way to promote my businesses"

"I have a kid-

"I got you on that part he's welcome to come along with you since he's friends with Emani"

"He?" Mr. Dawit and Samiel said in unison with their eyebrows raised.

"Y'all chill out they just friends"

Ermias turned his attention back to me turning the computer my way.

"So your hourly wage would be 18.50 an hour with a fifteen grand advance upfront , you would be working some weeks forty plus hours so I'll provide healthcare benefits"

I scooted my chair back from the table putting hands over my face, I had been struggling for so long and for Ermias to walk in my life and just take me out of it was nothing but God himself.

Pops can you grab me some tissue?"

I felt my chair being pulled, I took my hands down sniffing. Ermias squatted down in front of me resting his strong hand on my thigh.

"I'm sorry I just didn't expect all of this"

I could finally make my son proud, take care of him even get Kameron his own bed and save for a car.

"It's more to come this just a small build up if you stick with me I'll take you places"

I stunned the both of us by throwing my arms around him for a tight hug, I had taken a chance like Ermias and Rico told me to and things turned around for me immediately.

"Let's get this paperwork filled out and get you some uniform" I took my arms from around him.

"How could I repay you for this?"

"Dinner with me would be cool"

Dinner? Like just food it was he asking me on a date?

"Just a welcome to the team dinner to discuss more of my plan"

Of course strictly business, keep it professional Kierra .

" Of course"