Five in the morning and I was up already beginning my day, I found it easier to get around while everybody was still in bed, it was cool being the neighborhood celebrity but sometimes became overwhelming when I needed quiet time or to concentrate on my work.

With the team dinner tonight to welcome in Kierra, I needed to get a head start on inventory and restocking before we shut down to get ready.

"Good morning pops, you want me to get the coffee up and running?"

He nodded while counting up the register for the day, Kierra's big ass bag tripped me up.

"Pops, Kierra already here?"

"Yeah she said she wanted to get a head start" Great minds clearly thought alike, I went to the office to start up the pot of coffee.

Kierra sat Indian style in my computer chair with furrowed eyebrows biting her bottom lip while she sketched in a book.

"Good morning" Her head shot up.

"Good morning, I hope you don't mind I wanted to get this started immediately"

I already could see she had a good work ethic and didn't mind diving into her task without someone asking, I appreciated a hard worker.

"You straight, matter fact I'm going to get you a key if you ever need to come in when it's closed up" I stepped to the coffee pot " You drink coffee?"

"Yes and I definitely go for some right about now"

Kierra rubbed her eyes, I grabbed the remote to the television turning it to Martin for me to sit down and watch while I went through inventory.

"How long you been here?"

"I was outside the store around three until your dad got here at four and let me in"

I didn't like the idea of a female being out so early in the dark in this area, shit wasn't safe.

"Shit not safe around here and you a woman I don't like that you out here by yourself, anytime you come here before or after hours hit me up so I can come through or get security to sit out and keep an eye on you"

"I live in a worse area" Kierra mumbled under her breath.

"I get you independent and been on your own doing things but you ain't gotta do that no more with me and my team around we don't play about the women in our circle"

I saw her tore up sneakers on the floor and I couldn't have her out here looking like that when she was apart of my circle now we all ran in uniformity.

"What size shoe you wear? Small?"

Kierra laughed looking down at her tiny ass feet, she reached down looking in her sneakers.

"These are a size too small I can't remember the last time I purchased shoes for myself, I'm a size four"

I walked away from the coffee station going to a box of limited Puma sneakers grabbing a pair her size, holding them out to her.

"Try them on"

Kierra slid them on and stood up, she gave me a thumbs up and smile showing off her dimples. I picked up her old sneakers tossing them in the trash.

"Thank you, these make a huge difference"

I knew I had given her money but I wanted her to put that into paying off her bills and being comfortable wherever she was staying.

"You gonna be straight with getting an outfit for the dinner tonight?"

"What's the dress code?" I was curious to see how she would look dressed up outside of the jeans and t-shirt she always wore.

"Club shit"

I smirked, tonight was going to be a celebration. Kierra had took my advice and took a leap of faith and did that shit with only my word.

"I could find something, can't remember the last time I dressed up or even did my hair"

"Shit that you haven't done in a while you gonna start back up, this ain't all about you working this about giving you the life you want"

My pops came into the office room dropping a box by me and going to make his cup of coffee.

"Delivery for you" He replied without me asking, I knew what it was and I passed it off to Kierra.

"What's this?"

She asked staring down at the brown box.

"Open it up and see" I stood back watching anxiously waiting on her reaction to another gift.

"Ermias you didn't have to do this, oh my God"

"I got two, one for you and your son the world too crazy for ya'll not to have phones to at least keep in contact with one another"

Kierra smiled at the two iPhone XR in her hands, she was set now to work with not having to worry about what was going on with her son.

"I'm a hugger, could I hug you?"

I nodded closing the space between us taking her into my arms, shit felt like I had just connected two perfect puzzle pieces, this shit felt right.

"Today wasn't suppose to your official work day, I wanted you to be able to go out and get yourself ready for tonight"

Kierra stepped back folding her arms over her chest smirking.

"You think it's going to take all day for me to look good?"

"I mean-

"Asshole!" She laughed jabbing me lightly in the arm.

"Nah I'm playing, I just don't want you to feel rushed and not like how you look"

"Well I appreciate the concern but before I was broke I knew how to fucking dress, I'll be fine just you wait and see"

"Oh I am anticipating tonight, trying to see how you gonna get down out in public and partying with the team" I went into my pockets getting out some cash " Here go get your hair done and your nails done or whatever ya'll ladies be doing to get all dressed up"

"You know this giving me money like you my man is gonna have to stop" I waved her off " I don't want anybody getting the wrong idea"

"Me giving you money , shit my money is my business fuck what other people think"

"Thank you and I'll see you tonight" She went to walk out but I grabbed her by the wrist lightly.

"You gonna need a ride tonight?"

"Actually I do"

"I'll have a car service come get you"

I let her go watching her walk away, that woman was fine as hell.

...................................................................

.

I greeted my team and friends coming inside the restaurant we had rented for the night before we hit the club up after, my eyes stayed at the entrance waiting for Kierra's arrival.

"If you look down in that fucking phone again, she coming Nip the driver called me ten minutes ago" Samiel patted me on the shoulder, I relaxed in the chair " You know how LA traffic is"

"Just making sure she good"

"When we start throwing dinner parties for new employees?" I sucked my teeth.

"She been through a lot I want her to feel welcomed and appreciated"

On cue the front door swung open and Kierra strutted her way through in an bright white jumpsuit with her hair down her back, I was stuck in my chair staring at her search the room for me.

"I ain't expect you to go off like this" I complimented her letting her walk into my arms for a hug.

"You look nice too"

I let her sit at the head of the table along side me and pops, I waited on everybody to get seated and situated before I started talking.

"We here to welcome in a new employee, she's gonna be helping with designing new art work for the clothing and store" I signaled for her to join me " Everybody this is Kierra"

"Hey" She waved shyly, I put my arm over her shoulder.

"Ya'll see the shots in front of you, let's throw one back for the new member of our team"

I grabbed a shot glass filled with Patron passing it to Kierra and taking my own.

"All Money In" I shouted out.

"No Money Out"

The team said in unison before drinking their shots, Kierra took hers to the head cringing and clutching her chest.

" Don't be punking out on me"

"Please I'm never a punk just haven't drank in a while" I refilled her shot glass, she instantly took it back smiling with her eyes closed showing off her dimples.

"You hungry?"

"Starving, I was in the hair salon and nail salon for forever"

My pops stood up with his camera phone.

"Could I get a picture of you two?"

I looked to Kierra for permission, she shook her head up and down, I tossed my arm over her shoulder, I took a peak over her to see her ass sitting right in the outfit.

"Ermias" My pops chastised me for my actions, I chuckled shrugging.

We took the picture before sitting down to eat before we left for the car.

"You wanna ride with me to the club?"

"If you don't mind"

Kierra began talking with the team and she was really fitting in with them well, especially my security guard J-Roc once they found out they were from the same area.

"What's next?" I turned to my pops confused by his question.

"What you mean?"

"You are attracted to her now what's your next move?'

Damn was that shit that obvious, I needed to chill out and just stick to the business.

"Nothing just keep it professional with her that's it"

"If you say so son" He laughed patting my shoulder.

Dinner went smoothly and the team was lit from all the shots we had taken during dinner, Kierra stumbled out the restaurant with me.

"This is the most fun I had in such a long time"

The smile seemed to be permanently etched on her face, I helped her into the Mercedes Sprinter.

"I'm glad you having fun but we ain't done yet"

She looked down in her phone texting away.

"Sorry I'm checking on Kameron"

I was respected the way she put her son first even before herself.

"You straight, everything good with him?"

"Oh yeah he's just telling me what all he did today before he went to bed" Kierra put her phone up in her clutch " He wants to see how you look, could you send me the picture your dad took?"

"Yeah"

Ermias:

"We look good"

I kept quiet not wanting to say too much because of the liquor in my system, I couldn't fuck up our business with this.

"Yeah" I detached myself not wanting her to get the wrong idea.

"You okay? seems like your mood changed really fast"

"I don't want you to think I'm doing this because I want you in some unprofessional way, you beautiful and all but this strictly business for me"

Her face fell but she replaced it with a poker face.

"No of course, I didn't think it was anything else but business sorry for giving you the idea I wanted something else"

I felt fucked up for shutting her down but we was only three days in knowing each other and I was her boss I didn't need shit to get messy.

" Glad we on the same page"

"Yeah"

Now she was detached emotionally, I sighed looking down in my phone at the picture of us.

We looked good as fuck together.