Page 1 of Love At Close Range

1

Reiana (Ree-Ahn-Uh) Scott

“Boosie, hurry up so we can go!” I yelled up the stairs to my seven-year-old son, Rhyse (Reese). He knew summer camp started today, yet he still wanted to stay up all night on that game. Instead of making him go to bed, I did like I always did and made him feel the consequences of his actions. Now he was around here whining and dragging his feet.

“Maaaa, why do I have to go?” He whined as he trudged down the stairs. I stood at the bottom and tried my best to conceal my smirk, but he made it hard not to. His face was frowned up looking just like his stupid ass daddy. They had the same caramel colored skin, piercing brown eyes, thick eyebrows, and long eyelashes that most women, including myself, paid good money for. He was tall at seven, so he was already almost tall as me, since I only stood five-foot-six.

When he finally made it to the bottom of the stairs, he looked at me with that same frown like he could beat my ass.

“I suggest you fix that face and go grab something to eat so we can go. Next time, you’ll listen when I tell you to get off that game and take your little ass to bed,” I stifled my laugh because my baby was dead tired.

Huffing, he didn’t talk back, but I heard him mumble some shit under his breath, but he better be glad I didn’t hear it. Rhyse wasn’t bad, but he did have a nonchalant attitude and said the first thing that came to his mind. I would say he got the latter from the both of us, though.

After Rhyse got his snacks, we left through the small hallway that led to the garage and got into my truck. We stayed in a quiet suburb in Ashmere Park. It was quiet and out the way but still close enough to everything. I hadn’t always been able to live this good, but it didn’t take long for me to get my life together.

When I left Cannon Hills, I left everything behind. I didn’t talk to my mama because she was never really around unless it was convenient for her to be a mother. I had no siblings, but my cousin Mona was like a sister to me, so when I told her that I was moving, she packed up and came with me. Arbor Point is only two and a half hours from Cannon Hills, but it’s far enough for me not to want to look back. Especially after the heartbreak I experienced, that triggered my move.

I came to Arbor Point with no plan in mind, but I had to think of one fast. I was pregnant and needed to make a way for me and my child. His father expressed not wanting to have anything to do with me or him, so I had to do what I had to do. I was already in my last semester at Cannon Hills State University, so they had no problem with me doing my last semester online. I opted out of going to graduation because at the time I hated everything about the city… in a way I still do.

Once graduated, I already had my plans set in motion to start my business. RÉIA Facility Services started off with me, Mona, and my Jeep cleaning houses and office buildings. Now, it was a seven-figure company with multiple contracts and almost forty employees. I was proud of what I built, and it allowed me and Rhyse to live comfortably.

I pulled up to Rhyse’s summer camp and watched as he got out, attitude still evident.

“See you later, Boosie. I love you,” I called out as he got out the back seat.

“Love you too,” he mumbled as he got out and ambled inside. All I could do was shake my head and head to the office.

When I pulled up to my building, I parked in my designated spot and headed inside. As soon as I spoke to the receptionist, Tasha, my office manager, was emerging from her office and following me into mine. By the look on her face, I needed to grab my coffee.

“Morning, Tasha. What’s up? I see it all in your face.” Her face was contorted with worry lines, so I knew it was something serious. I just hope it wasn’t too serious that it couldn’t be fixed.

“Mrs. Gaines called this morning about the service from last night. She said that it looked like no one ever been there to clean the place.” She paused and looked down at her tablet before she finished. “She said the trash in the main conference room was still there. The doors were still filthy and smudged with fingerprints. The breakroom still had spilled coffee on the counter, and the executive floor did not look like they belonged to executives at all,” she rambled. I immediately got pissed because Mrs. Gaines represented the Kingswell Group, and they were one of my bigger, more prominent clients. I shook my head because I sent a new crew over there and that’s where I fucked up.

“I’ll call Mrs. Gaines and straighten this out. In the meantime, call the crew from last night and tell them that they’ll be on a three-day suspension so I can recoup from the mess they made last night. Then call Trina and let her know I need her and her crew to stop whatever they’re doing and head over to the Kingswell building and handle that for me. Let her know they’ll be compensated for the inconvenience.” Tasha nodded and let me know she would get right on it. When she left, I called Mrs. Gaines and apologized for the unprofessionalism of my crew. I explained everything, and she wasn’t as upset as I thought she was. She assured me that she didn’t fault me but instead wanted me to know how my staff was half-assing on the job. I thanked her for the leniency and offered her thirty percent off the next service, which she gladly accepted. By the time I was done with her, I was ready for somebody’s happy hour because that was a lot to handle and it wasn’t even noon yet.

After the dust settled from this morning, I started going over a few new contracts and checking which ones I would actually accept. I didn’t accept every job that came across my desk. If I did that, I’d never be home and Boosie wouldn’t have a present mother, and I wasn’t having that, especially when he had an ain’t shit daddy that didn’t care if he was dead or alive. Thinking about Rhyse’s father always put me in a bad mood because, as much as I loved that man, I couldn’t and wouldn’t let him play with my child.

While I was shaking the thoughts of Rhyse’s father out of my head, I got a text from my current boyfriend, Dorian. I met him about two years ago when I was at a function that Mona and her husband, Quentin, hosted. He was an associate of Quentin’s, and we hit it off. We exchanged numbers that night and were now two years in. I wouldn’t say I was in love with him, but I did care, and he was good with Rhyse, even though Rhyse acted as if he hated him most of the time.

Dorian: Hey Beautiful. You busy?

I blushed at his compliment before I responded.

Me: Not anymore. I had to rectify a mess my new crew made this morning, but I got it under control. How’s your day going?

Dorian had a real estate development company, and sometimes his days were hectic.

Dorian: Same ol’… same ol’. Contracts, deals… you know how it goes.

I nodded as if he could see me, because I indeed knew what he meant.

Dorian: You haven’t forgotten about our date tonight, have you? I told you I wanted some of your time when I got back from my business trip.

I didn’t forget, and I was actually looking forward to it since we haven’t had an actual date night in forever. He was usually over at my place, or I was at his. Tonight I didn’t mind being out on the town… hell, I deserved it.

Me: No, I didn’t forget, and I can’t wait.

Dorian: Me either baby. I missed you.