Two-hundred, eighty-five thousand dollars.

That’s the amount of the combined grants that were deposited into her account. Sabra sat and stared at the new line items in her bank account with a detached numbness. Amongst the five-figure grants sat a whopper. It made up the bulk of the awards at two-hundred thousand dollars. Who in the world had she impressed that much to give her a fortune like this? Never in her life had she ever possessed so much money.

The first call she’d made after a somewhat comfortable shower was to Doctor Hassenberg. Heeding Colson’s warning, Sabra was able to sidestep a few bait traps the woman set attempting to pry. There was a decidedly hunter-prey vibe to the woman’s approach. Knowing that she was a Dragoness helped Sabra to pick up on subtleties that had previously escaped her.

Doctor Hassenberg was extra nice and accommodating when it came to the grants, though. She confirmed the bank information was the same as before and surprised Sabra by announcing that Jon was initiating the direct transfer as they spoke.

After Doctor Hassenberg waited to make sure Sabra confirmed receipt, the woman put her off the phone promising to reach out again soon for possibly more alumni and donor-related events.

Her phone went dark from being idle only for Sabra to refresh and stare at the amount once more. What a difference a week made. No, make that less than a week, as Sabra counted five days from when she’d taken that call to speak to having a grand total of three hundred and ten thousand dollars from her association with Doctor Hassenberg.

Good manners kicked in as Sabra sought to find a way to send thank you notes. Doctor Hassenberg’s voice came back as a reminder of the anonymous condition of the awards. It was weird not knowing who had been instrumental in helping to change the trajectory of her life.

A quick list of paybacks, catchups, and necessary bills formed a line in her head for attention. Realizing that after satisfying her immediate debts there would be plenty of the grants left over, Sabra clapped her hands in excitement.

A sense of invincibility cloaked her in a new swagger. She could finally get her perfume company off the ground. The strange thing was that unlike folks who gave you two dollars and wanted an accounting for every penny, these grants were all anonymous and required nothing—no check-ins, updates, presentations, executive summaries, or status calls.

Doctor Hassenberg had stressed that the grants were given without restriction and that she was to use the money however she saw fit. The only warning the other woman gave was to make sure she consulted her accountant for tax purposes.

Her phone flashed Chloe’s face and number.

“Hey, Bitch! So, is you still crippled?” Chloe’s voice came through her speaker.

“Hey Chloe, and how many times do I have to ask you to stop calling me a Bitch?”

“Girl, please. You know it’s a term of endearment.”

“One that I don’t like or want.”

“Pff, well anyway, I was calling to check on you. We still don’t know where you are. Where do I need to come to lay eyes on you myself? Tilar acts like you’re fine and don’t need us to do anything, but I want to make sure I hear it from you. Girl, you good wherever you are? Cough two times if you’re being held hostage somewhere.”

Sabra couldn’t hold back the boisterous laughter that erupted. “No need to cough, I’m good. As for where? I’m still here in Atlanta in the area where Northside and Sandy Springs meet. And no, I don’t want you trying to come over here.”

“I’m getting my keys and coming for you as soon as I finish my next client session.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Yes, I will. You know my posse ride deep with that hacking shit. I can find your ass and be there within the hour if something pops off.”

Not understanding most of what her friend said, Sabra tried to smooth Chloe’s ruffled feathers.

“No need for all that. I’m fine.”

“Prove it.”

“How?”

“Jump on video so I can see you. Do it, or I’m coming with the entire team, and that includes Ambrosia’s new boo.” Chloe changed her voice to indicate her gossip mode, “He so fine I want to throw myself in the pool just to see if he’ll take a dive.”

“Why would you do that? Isn’t he gay?”

“Yeah, hell tomorrow, who knows? He looks a little sexually fluid-like if you ask me.”

“Fluid-like? That’s what you’re going to hang your defense on?

“Bitch, why not?”

“Because you’re all kinds of wrong.”

“Not if he wades in our side of the pool every now and then.”

Sabra couldn’t believe how Chloe’s mind worked sometimes.

“Don’t give me that sanctimonious tone and stop shaking your head. I know you’re doing it.”

Sabra realized that she was indeed shaking her head. Chloe railed on.

“Any given night that I’m not on point with my hair and makeup, I got a lot of them low-key busters in the audience trying to get with me.”

“What happens when they find out you’re a natural-born female?”

“You’d be surprised. Most don’t care if it’s fish once they’re caught liking what I’m serving. That’s why I know all I got to do is slide up on old boy and see what he’s working with.”

“Ambrosia. Chloe, he’s working with Ambrosia! I don’t know about you sometimes. I’m having second thoughts about you coming anywhere near here.”

“Why? You know I’m a good girl.

“Except when it comes to your assistant.” Sabra’s need to rehabilitate Chloe shot forward like it always did.

“Stop trying to upgrade my natural talent for being messy. It ain’t worked yet.”

“You need to leave that man alone. He’s with the best assistant you’ve ever had.”

Chloe sucked her teeth in protest. Sabra dug low and hurtful to snap her friend out of her latest madcap plan that would only end in the drama Chloe must always crave.

Sabra let the harsh accusation rip in hopes of shaking some sense into Chloe. “You’re not acting like friendship material, and I take that to mean that if you do it to him, you’ll do it to me.”

Chloe must have brought the phone close. Her angered breathing filled the speaker.

“That’s not the same. Why would you go there and accuse me of ever trying something with your man?”

“Because you have zero loyalty to Ambrosia?”

“He’s not my best friend and most definitely not when he doesn’t show up for work running after that man. I can’t stand those folks who are so good at what they do that they try to hold you hostage with their antics.”

Sabra could say the same about Chloe but refrained. Chloe would never see how she was just like Ambrosia in talent and drama. Transference was a powerful thing.

Chloe was on a roll. “You see, I can get his ass that way. He fucks with my money, so I fucks with his man. Simple. Now stop trying to get off the subject. Switch over to video and let me see you.”

Sabra did. “See, I’m fine.”

“Show me around the room.”

“No.”

“No matter, from what I can tell you’re living high on the hog anyway.”

Sabra leaned back against the headboard of the bed. The angle of the phone tilted as she adjusted the pillows.

“Ooh, ritzy. That don’t look like no hospital room and I don’t know of any other hospitals around there. Where are you?”

“I’m at a private residence.”

“Damn—let me see those sheets again. That looks like a million-thread count.”

“Feels like it too,” Sabra admitted.

“Whose bed is that? That don’t look like no hospital bed, guest bed, or girly bed. Spill it,” her friend demanded. “Where the fuck are you?”

Sabra decided to come clean with Chloe about what had happened now that she had the strength and regained patience to deal with her friend. “After my fall Friday, I was taken to a private residence of the doctor I met at the event. He’s been taking care of me since then.”

“Who dat? I’m about to scope him out online.”

Sabra saw no use in trying to dissuade Chloe. She sighed. “His name is Doctor Colson Kelnar.”

She could hear tapping on the other end of the line.

“Is Colson with a C or a K?”

“You know, I don’t know?” Sabra had to answer truthfully. “Try it with a C.”

“Found him. Damn—he fine! Bitch, how in the hell did you manage to fall into this?”

“I didn’t try to do anything. Remember, it was one of those damned glitter balls you threw on the floor earlier that I tripped on.”

“So, wait, I’m confused. Was he at the event or your office?”

“He was at both, first the event, and then my office. He came to help me finish up the packing that you were supposed to do.”

“Nah, Bitch, I said I would come and keep you company. I was never signed up for packing.” Chloe answered a question from someone in the background before turning back to her to ask, “Does he look this good in person?”

Sabra couldn’t believe the question. “Chloe, I can’t see the picture you’re looking at. How am I supposed to know?”

“Well, does he look good to you?”

“Yes,” she said trying to hide the little giggle that escaped.

“Yassss, work him, baby! Damn, here I am all over social media trying to snag a boo, and all you did was fall your ass over a ball to land in the care of one fine-as-fuck doctor. I’m calling this the glam-up of the century. You did your thang, Miss Lady!”

Sabra took her friend off video and speaker lest Colson come back to hear Chloe’s antics.

“Would you stop making it sound so crass?”

“Stop with all that. I know you’re a freak in waiting. Let that man fool around and be good in bed, and I’ll wager my best Mac makeup palettes you get turnt all the way out. Bria, you’re one good dick away from coming into your own, darling.”

“You’re so nasty. I’ll let you get away with that since you didn’t call me a Bitch.”

“Bitch, please. You know you ready for the good D.” Chloe giggled and said bye to someone in the distance. When her attention returned, she asked, “So when you gone be recovered enough to sit and bounce?”

“Stop. That’s it.” Sabra couldn’t believe how embarrassed she was with Chloe’s line of questioning. “That’s none of your business. I wanted to touch base and let you know that I plan to make arrangements for my things to be picked up sometime this week.”

“Oh—so it’s that serious?” Chloe’s tone shifted.

“Uh—yeah—we plan on moving into a long-term relationship. He’s asked me to stay here with him.”

“I see.”

“It’s not like I’m moving too fast or anything. He’s been a complete gentleman and I—well—I love him.”

“You’re sure?” Chloe’s voice held restraint and a bit of skepticism. “Answer me this. Have you met his family? Does he treat his mother well? Do you know if he wants to have kids? Is he one of those wannabe ballers living off his home equity loan until he can snag a poor, desperate Builder Bob Bitch willing to come in and work like a dog to help him sustain his lifestyle?”

The barrage of questions Chloe launched was harsh but necessary if she was to be okay with her friend living with a new man.

“What in the world is a Builder Bob Bitch?”

“You know, one of those girls so desperate to have a man that she does everything. She don’t realize she’s his momma, landlord, roommate, financial sponsor, babysitter, and everything but his woman he fuck with until it’s too late. She’s so busy trying to be the perfect woman that she becomes the perfect fool. She’s holding his life down while he’s out wooing and screwing a Bitch smart enough to make his ass respect and turn up with receipts. Remember, always get the receipts. They prove he’s on the real hustle tip. A damn fool Builder Bob Bitch ain’t thought of receipt the first.”

Chloe was hotter than fish grease talking about this dreadful scenario. Sabra slid into her usual friendship role to diffuse the other woman’s frustration.

“Did something happen to set you off about this type of woman?”

“Not recently. I just get tired of women getting duped. I work around men all damn day and see how they try to run women. Straight, gay, fluid, or neutral, it don’t matter. There’s always that little something like a seed that they use to fuck with women’s minds. I don’t want that for you or any woman I know and care about. I want you to be a steady stallion like me, okay?”

“Okay, to whatever all that means. As for the whole Builder Bob Bitch? Let’s go with a BBB for ease of conversation. I’m not one, and I know this because you would be the first to tell me, right?”

“Why do you think I’m doing this survival survey with you now?”

Sabra’s sigh was louder than she’d meant for it to be.

“Don’t give me that tired ass sigh. I’m not letting no punk ass whore ball stiff my friend. What’s it gonna be, Bria? Walk me through the survey or get ready for a come by.”

Chloe’s adamant stance came out when she’d dug her heels in on something. The last thing Sabra wanted or needed was her friend showing up and making the news with over-the-top antics. Sabra allowed the necessity of Chloe’s proposed exercise to commence. She’d waste no time addressing each question.

“Chloe, I’m glad you’re still looking out for me. To answer your questions, let me see. Yes, I’ve met some members of his family. One of them being the most important and she likes me.”

“His mother?”

“No, his daughter.”

“What the fuck? He’s got a kid? Bitch, please tell me the baby momma isn’t still in the picture.”

Not willing to go into too much detail, Sabra hedged her words to give on the basic information. “No, she’s not. Now, let me finish. I don’t have all day to gab with you. You asked about his mother and kids? His mother is deceased, but he’s amazing with his daughter. So, there’s that. And as for his income? I don’t think there’s an equity loan within a country mile of here.”

“Um-hmm. All I know is that you better do some damn due diligence before falling all the way off the hill over him.” Chloe seemed to think of something else as she asked, “At least tell me he can lay down some good dick.”

“Girl bye, you go too far,” Sabra laughed seriously preparing to throw her friend off the phone. “I have to go.”

“Okay, fine then. You said you’ll come around this week?”

“Yeah, not sure if it’ll be one of Cole’s friends or me, but I’ll make sure you know who and when.”

“Okay then, well…” Chloe’s tone had softened. “I’m happy for you. I knew everything would work itself out. When you finally get settled, we have to get together to catch up.”

“Sure thing. I want to thank you again for being there for me. Check your money app. I’m sending you a little something-something as thanks and to pay back your kindness. I don’t think I could have made it without you.”

“That’s damn right. I said what I said. I’m your best friend. Where Tilar was filling your head with her cuckoo talk, I was doing the real-world stuff to help.”

“Tilar helped in a major way too. Don’t get it twisted,” Sabra said, completing the money transfer to send her friend twenty-five hundred dollars.

“So, you say. I’m not going to argue the truth. I’m the one holding you down. Tilar’s been traipsing around doing what she does for those mysterious clients of hers. Says she won’t be back until next week. Bitch, I hope she doesn’t get caught up with no mafia or craziness. You know she never talks about her clients, like they’re part of a secret society or something.” Chloe stopped long enough to take a breath. “Bitch! I know you fucking lying! Bitch! Bria? Why you just sent me all this money? Girl, you and I both know you got to pay them lawyers. Take this back.”

“No, it’s all good,” Sabra let the laughter flow. It felt good to be the one helping for a change. “Use it to get you some more makeup. You deserve to treat yourself. I’m all right. Was able to get some major grants from that speech I gave.”

“Ooh, do they need any more speakers? I’m ready!”

“Haha, I’ll check and put in a good word if they do.”

“Yes, indeed! They better watch out cuz this Bitch came to slay, okay?”

The two fell into laughter. Sabra was the first to emerge from the temporary laugh fest.

“Okay, lady, I have to go.”

“Yeah, me too. Got a new client coming in. From how she sounded over the phone, it’s going to be a lengthy session. But before I go, I’ve got to ask one last time. Bria, do you love him? As long as you truly love him and aren’t being deluded by lust, I’ll be good with it.” Chloe fell silent and waited for a response.

Sabra didn’t brush off the serious concern from one of her closest friends on the planet. She moved from her head to her heart, did a check, and then back up to her head to make sure there was no hint of conflict. When Sabra was satisfied, she spoke.

“Chloe, on the memory of my mother’s scent I say that yes, I love this man and his daughter. I love him way past his looks or anything else that’s temporary, external, or socially expected. I love him like we’ve been together forever. I won’t try to act like I can put it into words that capture the truth, but I know that he’s the one person I’ve been looking to be with my entire life. Before you say it, I’m aware that there might be a bit of rose-colored glasses at work, but that’s it. I’m willing to put in the work to make this the best relationship I can—on the daily. So, one more ’gin,” she said using one of Chloe’s turns of phrases. “I love Cole more than a Bitch love full-sized samples.”

“Wow, all right, my Bitch! That’s love,” the other woman confessed. “I feel you. Go, do your thing and I’ll be over here in your entourage, hyping you up. Just don’t forget a Bitch when you get settled and set up.”

“I won’t. Remember, we’ll catch up as soon as I can get around without needing help. I promise.”

Sabra ended the call and was about to swing her legs to get out of the sumptuous bed when a voice said, “I love you more than full-sized free samples? I like that—I like that a lot.”

“What?”

Embarrassed at being overheard, her head whipped around to see the object of her bold proclamation coming through the bedroom door with his hands full.

Colson had a humongous fresh bouquet of flowers. She watched as he placed the vase on the side table and lowered his form down to sit on the edge of the bed closest to her.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you know—Dragon hearing and all.”

Her eyes locked on his full lips as he spoke. Just like that, her need and arousal had spiked to levels high enough to make her want to take a flying leap onto him. Without it registering, Sabra pulled her covering up and over her head, tossing it to some direction out of her line of sight.

His eyes tracked the garment to where it landed, and then back to her.

“So, it’s like that is it?” he asked similarly removing his shirt.

“Yes, I’m not playing around here.” Her voice had morphed into a throaty drawl. “I hope you’re ready for what’s going down.”

His eyes took in her naked body. Without saying a word, Colson stripped and climbed onto the bed.

Sabra’s eyes traveled to the last mystery she’d wanted to unveil and was happily pleased with the answer.

“Well, damn, this steady stallion might just have to see about that sit and bounce.”