Five minutes later, Baby Chris Arcus, was forcing his way through the crowd to get to Jada. Nesmith stood up.
“Ms. West.”
“Yes.”
“My name is Chris Arcus. I sincerely apologize for any misunderstanding there may have been.”
“No problem,” Jada said. “Not anymore, at least.”
“If you would please follow me, I’ll take you to Jackie.”
Jada stood up. “That would be splendid,” she said and looped her arm in his and he escorted her to Jackie’s office on the third level of Conversations with Nesmith walking a few paces behind them.
Jackie sat in her office waiting for Baby Chris to get there with Jada, and all the while she was wondering what Jada West could possibly want with her. She may have met Jada once or twice, but they have never had any conversation, much less business. Jackie was beyond curious about what this was all about.
When they arrived on the third level, Nesmith took a seat in a chair outside of the office, while Baby Chris knocked on the office door. “Come,” Jackie shouted and stood up as Baby Chris escorted Jada in.
“I have Jada West to see you,” he said and closed the door behind him.
“Please have a seat.”
“Thank you,” Jada said, and took a seat in the chair in front of Jackie’s desk.
“Can I get anything for you?” Jackie asked and she sat down behind her desk.
“No, thank you, I’m fine.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to talk with you about a problem that I have.”
“Tell me what I can do to help?” Jackie asked graciously and Jada explained the situation with Simone and Flip.
“Flip,” Jackie said, and you could hear the distain that she had for him in her voice. “That mutha fucka.”
“I just thought that it would be best handled on this level, before it escalated to violence.” Jada smiled. “And who wants or needs that?”
“Certainly not me. I have enough to deal with without that mutha fucka complicating shit.”
“Agreed.”
Jackie stood up and walked over to the bar. “Sure, I can’t get you something?”
“Well, since you are twisting my arm, I’ll have whatever you’re having.” Jada got up and joined Jackie at the bar.
“Got ya.” Jackie picked up a bottle of Hennessey X.O. and poured the drinks. “I have to be honest with you, Jada, sometimes it feels like no matter what I do, I can’t get respect and Flip is one of the people that I have the most problems with. It’s always something with him.”
“I understand. It hasn’t been easy for me either. Some of these men think that they are entitled to position and power just by virtue of them being men.” Jada shook her head. “Not in my world.”
“I know what you mean. Before I was Captain, my people used to come to me for help, guidance and counsel; which is why Black put me in this position. But the second he handed me the power, now it’s something entirely different.”
“Believe me, I understand.”
“I know that I am by no means Rain, but she doesn’t have these problems.”
“Trust and believe that I am certainly no Rain Robinson either. I believe it’s because Rain earned her respect before Mr. Black handed her power; where we are still trying to earn respect.”
“You’re exactly right. She definitely earned everybody’s respect. Nobody, and that included me, wanted to see Rain coming,” Jackie said and told Jada about the night that Rain showed up at her spot and threatened to blow her fuckin’ brains out. “If it hadn’t been for Travis, I believe Rain would have killed me that night.”