Theme Song: "Amazing Mr.F-Up" by T.I ft Victoria Monet
"Good evening everyone. Thank you for meeting me on such short notice. My name is Wi-."
"Winter Hancock, right?" A gorgeous tall slim muscular built board member interrupts her as he smiles extremely hard.
"Y-yes, I am. And I'm sorry you are?"
"Oh, Chairman Burges. Mickal Burges. I've been following your work as the first EVER female CFO and I have to say I'm highly impressed. You've made us a great deal of money, chér."
"Why thank you!" Winter smiles.
"No love, thank you! With you as CFO for almost 7 years and CEO of the New York location we have quadrupled in revenue and contract fulfillments. But most importantly repeat feeder and supplier contracts and arrangements." Nodding, Mickal winks.
"Well someone has definitely been doing their homework! But your wonderful assessment has actually brought me to the purpose of the meeting!" Launching into her pitch, Winter begins her bewitching presentation to the board.
Knowing that this crowd still believes in the older ways, she knows her work is cut out for her.
"Bones, I gotta leave." Laurent whispers to Troy.
"Why, Nola?"
"Cause I swear on my boys if that mafucka Burgess looks at Winter and licks his mouth or adjusts his shit in his chair one mo time, I'm finna hurt him."
"Bruh, calm down. You know he ain't finna get nowhere with lil mama. Just like Elliot. Just remember who was with her in their office, lil daddy. That's the difference between you and Blue. She doesn't feed into that flirtatious bullshit. You see she curbed that mafucka. Took his flirting and launched into her presentation to make her 'daddy' some mo money!" Snickering, Troy teases them.
"Fuck you, bruh!" Laughing lightly, Laurent nudges Troy.
"Nah, but straight up ye'aint eva gotta worry 'bout Blue. She stubborn, but she trill. And she a trill ass rider for you lil daddy. Remember that." Tapping Laurent's shoulder Troy listens to the rest of Winter's presentation.
As she concludes her speech she sees a lot of inquisitive faces around the table.
"Obviously, questions?!" She smiles sweetly as the hands shoot up.
Picking people she answers the questions with ease and grace. That is until she gets to an old wrinkly, disgruntled, fossil looking, creole, blue eyed vampire.
"Well ya a city slicka yaself? A yankee yes, girl?"
"Um, yes sir."
"And you said it's workin fine up there in the big city, yes?" He asks again, still in the same snide manner.
"Yes, sir."
"So what makes yuh think these lil lowly southern humans want to go to college?!" He spits.
"Sir, your name please?"
"I'm one of the founding clan members, back when Nolan Baptiste was Worshipful Master. Before his son our most revered Worshipful Master Laurent was even born."
"And your name, sir?" Even though her question is worded sweeter than sugar, it gains scattered snickers from the group.
"Are yuh diggin at me, girl?"
Swallowing her pride, Winter smiles.
"No, sir. I truly would like to address you by your name and about your concerns."
"It's Clan Elder Chairman Hoyt LaMeaussiex."
"Ok Elder LaMeaussiex, what did you want to be growing up?"
"What, girl?"
"Your biggest dream. What was it?"
"I don't know."
"Think, for me? Please? Dig deep and think." Waiting for him, Winter smiles at Laurent as he discreetly blows her kisses.
"I guess I wanted to be an educator. A teacher."
"And what did you end up being?"
"A judge. Went to law school."
"And I'm sure you were a fair judge. But who deterred you?"
"My paw. Told me teachin was fa females. No son of his was fixin to be no teacher."
"You see? You're a full blood and still someone curtailed your life dream. Shaped your life for you. Told you what you could and could not do. And you were left to assimilate and go to law school. That is what is happening to humans. Those old laws from over almost 20 years ago have kept them in bondage. Dependent on everyone. On vampires included. They need your permissions, donations, everything. It comes out of your pocket to build human schools, clinics, and housing. All because they don't have the funds of their own. But with education they can begin to gain wealth to be self-sufficient as people."
"And that can lead to overthrowin us!" Elder LaMeaussiex snarls.
"No. That's why the sponsorship is best. It creates trust between both groups. By vampires putting their trust in the human to pay for their education, the human will be grateful. Thus realizing that not all vampires are oppressors. Thus creating mutualistic trust and dependency." Winter explains expertly.
"That's actually not all that bad, chér." He gives a craggled smile.
"Wow!" Laurent whispers to Troy. "Chér?! And a smile?!"
"Blue a beast!" Troy whispers back and daps Laurent up.
"You wanna know a secret Elder LaMeaussiex?"
"Hoyt, please, darlin."
"Well my mom would never allow me to call my elders by their first name, so Mr.Hoyt." She laughs as he smiles and nods. "But, Mr.Hoyt, what do you think I am?"
"Lil lady?" Elder LaMeaussiex questions.
"Beautiful." Mickal smiles as he answers Winter's question, causing Winter blush.
"Thank you, but species wise, Mr.Hoyt."
"Bones!" Laurent snaps quietly to Troy about Mickal blatantly flirting with Winter.
"Chill, lil daddy. She ain't even stuntin him." Troy whispers back and shushes Laurent.
"Uh, a hybrid, I reckon." Elder LaMeaussiex responds.
"Nope! I'm a little human girl from New York."
"What?!" The room erupts.
"Yep. I wasn't allowed to go to college or anything. But I ALWAYS wanted to be a financial analyst. I just loved math, it came easy to me. But I wasn't able to. However, that handsome guy you know as your Worshipful Master, met me in the restaurant I worked at during a business meeting and gave me a chance."
"Laurent, is that true?" Elder LaMeaussiex addresses him, and a smiling Laurent nods. "Wow, lil lady! All of those brains, these accomplishments, turning this company into this lucrative nationwide behemoth you have and no college?!" The elder vampire gasps.
"Absolutely none! Literally taught myself. I started helping Mr.Baptiste balance books, check contract revenues, and learned along the way. So just imagine what I could really have learned going to college?! Plus just think if there is a 'Winter' of medicine, education, technology, or whatever, all that they can accomplish with a college degree! Plus all of those types of degrees can be used to protect the beings of the supernatural world. Ways to help you all."
"Chér, I have to admit I was highly suspect and apprehensive that yuh had an ulterior motive. But I see that yuh really just wanna help people. That come hell or high water yuh fixin to help people, no matta the species. And that's beautiful, darlin. I was born during the persecution of any supernatural and to see a little human willingly do so much for a vampire empire is so admirable; especially after what us vampires have done to y'all." Nodding at Winter, Elder LaMeaussiex wipes his tearing eyes.
Finally speaking of his kinds' persecution before their rise to power truly affects him, emotionally. Not all of them wanted to overpower or control humans, but when humans treated them as monsters it fueled a mutual hate and fear in both species. Walking over to him Winter gives him a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"You wanna know another secret, Mr.Hoyt?"
"Why sure, darlin."
"My whole family was slaughtered by newborn vampires and so was my best friend's family, at the same time." Hearing her admission, the entire conference room explodes into audible gasps. "But the universe is tricky. Both she and I are bound to high ranking full blood vampires. Both she and I have sons that are hybrids. And honestly Mr.Hoyt, working here I have met some of the most amazing beings. Not just vampires, but good beings here. Some that have literally risked their lives for my safety and the wellbeing of this company. But if I held a grudge about what was done to my family, I wouldn't be where I am today." Smiling bashfully as the entire room claps encouragingly for her, Winter can't contain her shyness.
"My Lilith, Winter! Whoever your chosen is, may just be the luckiest vampire ever created. I hope he realizes that, chér." Standing up, Elder LaMeaussiex kisses her cheek. "I wish my son had met yuh first because yuh surely are a prize, lil lady. And understand that, a prize, not a trophy. A prize is cherished and enjoyed, but a trophy is left alone only to be observed and put away in a protective case. Yuh be his prize, chér."
Wiping her own now weeping eyes, Winter smiles at the older vampire who is seemingly towering over her now that he is standing up.
"Thank you sir."
"Of course, darlin. So when we can get this program set up? I'm all in."
"Ahhh! Mr.Hoyt!" Jumping, Winter screams ecstatically. "I'm so sorry! I'm just so excited! Thank you a million times!"
"Of course, love. When change needs to be made for the true greater good like what yuh been doin? I'm all fa it." Smiling, he pats her cheek.
"So, as you all can see I am an example of what happens when a human is given a chance. So thank you, Mr.Baptiste for my chance 7 years ago."
"Of course, baybay."
Hearing Laurent slip up and call Winter 'baybay', Mickal's ears perk up.
"Uh, didn't you also give Soleil Bonton a chance too, Worshipful Master Baptiste?"
Sucking his teeth, Laurent nods in annoyance.
"Um, yes, Chairman Burges."
"Yeah, she's a human too, Ms.Winter. Yuh know her?"
Clearing her throat, Winter smiles politely.
"Of her, yes. Not personally, no."
"Yeah she, uh, works personally with Worshipful Master Baptiste. Did you know that?" Raising a falsely inquisitive eyebrow he smiles snidely.
"Yes, chairman Burges. Excuse my forwardness, but is there a point to mentioning her?" Refraining from glaring at him, Winter remains polite.
"Oh yes, sorry love. Just tryin to see what her bigger role is here in the company. Do yuh see her movin up or stayin where she's at? In her current position...directly under Worshipful Master Baptiste?" Mickal asks, stressing the word 'under'.
Looking at Laurent, Winter's heart shatters to know that his little 'secret' relationship isn't a secret at all.
"Well I was unaware that she was still here, but some people aren't the 'Winters' of the world. They prefer to be led, rather than lead themselves." Looking messy Mickal directly in his eyes, she smirks. "Just like not all vampires are the 'Laurent Baptistes' of the world. They too need to play their positions and be guided and led." Cocking her eyebrow she smiles smugly as his cocky smile drops from his face.
And it does so because he realizes she still thinks of him as less than Laurent, even after mentioning Laurent's other bitch. Turning her attention back to the rest of the board members, Winter concludes her presentation.
"But with that being said, not every human that fulfills a feeding contract will head to college. Just like not every vampire or other supernatural is meant to head a fortune five hundred company." She sassily reiterates in Mickal's direction. "We'll still be very selective and have interviews with candidates that apply for the college sponsorship. We will weed out all potential threats to both the humans and the vampires. As far as a coup goes, I gotcha back Mr.Hoyt!" Winking, she points at the older vampire.
"My girl!" He smiles.
"Alrighty everyone, that was long, intense, and so worth it! Thank you all for your support. I will have my team of sponsorship specialists begin training the team here, after we hire a New Orleans sponsorship staff." Smiling graciously at the applause, Winter collects her belongings.
"I swear 'fore Lilith I'm finna fuck Mickal up. He's a mafuckin bitch." Laurent hisses to Troy.
"Yeah, that fuckshit hurt Blue. You gotta fix that."
"I know." Standing up, Laurent waits for more of the room to clear out before approaching Winter. "Mama?"
"Uhn-uhn. Nope." Shaking her head, it frees the tears she was holding back since Mickal's comments.
"Baybay, please?"
"No. I'm not. I'm just not, Laurent." Pulling away from him, she heads to his office to grab the rest of her things.
Slowing her steps as she pushes his door open and finds his office occupied, Winter stares at the woman.
"Can I help you?" Responding in a sultry southern voice, she addresses Winter in a lackluster fashion.
"What are you doin in here?" Screwing her face up, Winter sizes up the toasted oat complexioned woman.
Her long black bangs brush against her lush eyelashes as she smiles smugly.
"I'm waiting for Laurent." The way she damn near moans Laurent's name has Winter homicidal.
"You mean Mr.Baptiste?"
"No, we're very close. He likes when I call him Laurent."
"Little girl...whew, God!" Shaking her head, Winter recenters herself. "You know what?! Fuck it, I don't care." Throwing up her hands, Winter continues collecting the remaining items.
"Ok, sweetheart."
"Bitch, I left it alone. It would be in ya best interest to leave it alone too. I don't give a damn how you New Orleans chicks get shit poppin, but don't test me. I promise you, you got the right one on the wrong day. And I put that on my sons." Pointing at Soleil, Winter's anger and rage can literally be felt radiating throughout the room. It's almost as if it sends out a warning beacon because Laurent, Troy, and Mika come running through his office door.
"Blue, you straight?!"
"I will be once I get the fuck outta this state! I'm leavin...tonight!"
"What?! Blue the boys?!"
"Troy, unless y'all don't want a fuckin double homicide between this fuckin idiot-!" She points at Laurent, "And one of his many disrespectful bitches, I NEED to leave!"
"One of?! No baybay, his only." Soleil smiles smugly.
"Your stupid ass believes him?! You're dumber than you look, bitch! I was his fiance and babies' mother and wasn't his only! So have fun finding ya place in line, dumb bitch! Shit take mine, at least you'll really be in the front of the line."
"Mama, seriously?!"
"Bye, Laurent." Shaking her head in disgust, Winter attempts to leave.
"Winter! Stop! You know I'm not fuc-!"
"You lie so much I don't know shit! Nothing other than that you're a pathological liar!"
"Baybay, I've been with just you and the boys! Erryday, fa TWO months! Mama, just you!" Laurent reasons.
"You've secretly been around her everyday! Ands she hid or whatever so I didn't see her!" Pointing at him, Winter is livid.
"Oh honey, I wasn't hidin. Laurent sent me on errands around 4:30. I just finished. No need to hide from yuh or anybody el-."
Before she can even finish, Winter launches herself at Soleil and punches her in the face.
"Oh shit, Blue, NO!" Running over to them it literally takes both Troy and Laurent to pull Winter off of Soleil as Mika moves Soleil away from Winter.
"Bitch I will fuck you up!" Soleil screams as she tends to her bleeding nose that is dripping down her neon yellow and black blazer and dress.
"Winter?!" Laurent bellows before Winter reaches back and slaps him so hard across the face her hand turns as red as the hand print forming on his cheek.
"F-fuck you." She chokes out and pulls from Troy's hold.
Storming out, Winter is hurt, humiliated, and heartbroken.
"FUCK!" Laurent yells as his eyes flash white.
"Bruh, chill out! Chill out, lil daddy, please! They'ont need to see that!" Troy urges as it's still a little known fact that Laurent and Âme are one in the same.
Especially since here in the voodoo capital of New Orleans, Âme is highly worshipped and revered.
"Get y'all nosey asses back to work!" Troy hollers at the hoard of vampires gathered at the door and windows.
"Get the fuck out! Ya ass is fired! I swear to Lilith, Soleil if that stunt causes me to lose her?! I will personally drain you myself!" Watching the color flush from her face, Soleil stumbles to her feet and runs from Laurent's office.
"Bones, what the fuck am I finna do?! She tryna leave?!"
"Get ya ass home, now!"
"Aight!" Patting Troy's shoulder, Laurent dashes out of the building.
Speeding to the house, Winter finally makes it there.
"Hi momma!" The boys scream.
"Why yuh didn't pick us up?!" LJ asks and eyes her suspiciously.
Discretely wiping her tear laden eyes, Winter sniffles and plasters on a fake smile.
"I-I'm sorry, my honeys. Um, your dad needed me at work. Did Mimi get you?"
"Yes, but why was yuh cryin?" Touching her still falling tears, Nox frowns.
"Yeah, Mommy Winter Baptiste, who made yuh cry?! Tell us now!" LJ demands kissing her cheek and patting away her tears.
"Um. I just miss my mommy is all." Nodding, Winter smiles softly.
"Yuh're lyin, Thoth told me." Nox frumps his face.
"Ughh." Sighing deeply, Winter forgot that after the boys and their gods met Hathor and Jezebel, they can now communicate directly with them both.
"It-. It was daddy?!" Nox asks, highly upset.
"Lennox, please tell Thoth to stop speaking with Hathor. This is grown up business."
"No, not hurtin my momma!" Nox's eyes flash a furious liquid gold; they're literally boiling bubbles of anger.
"Lennox, please?!"
"It was daddy's fault again for making my prettiful mommy cry and leave?!" LJ bellows as his eyes flash Anhur's platinum hued eyes that are swirling like dangerous tornadoes.
"Maw?!" Winter calls out for Marguerite.
"Yes chér?!" Running into the foyer, Marguerite stops dead in her tracks. "What is goin on?!" She yells as sand and wind whirl around the room as the floor trembles.
"The boys! They're really pissed because, ugh-! Because Laurent made me cry! I think they're tryna force shift! That-! That could kill them! They're too little!" Covering her eyes from the sand, Winter tries to reach the boys and bypass their gods.
"Laurent?! Lennox?! Stop! Mommy doesn't want you to hurt yourselves!"
"NO!" Their deepened thunderous voices echo.
"Jesus! Babies stop, please?!" Winter begs as Laurent comes rushing through the door.
"What the fuck?!" He yells as sand swirls everywhere.
"YOU! YOU HURT OUR MOTHER!" Pointing at him the boys speak in an eerie unison.
"You told them?!" He asks Winter.
"No! What is wrong with you?! They sensed it!" She snaps angrily. "Babies, please calm down! Mommy is ok! I promise!"
"SHOW US!"
"Ok! Ok! Ahlan wa sahlan, Hathor." Shifting to Hathor, she drops to her knees and engulfs the boys.
"Ana baman alan la tugaliq[I am safe now, don't worry.]" She kisses their cheeks gently.
"Hal 'ant wathq?[Are you sure?]" Thoth asks, through Nox, as he and Anhur stroke her cheeks.
"Med ya hubybi. 'Ana bi'amanin.[Yes, my loves. I am safe.]"
"Ok." Anhur speaks through LJ as he nods.
Stopping the wind and sand storm, Nox waves his hand and reabsorbs the sand. As Nox reabsorbs the sand, LJ opens his mouth and swallows down the gusting wind. Blinking their eyes back to their brown, they just hold onto Hathor.
"Don't ever do that again! You scared me and mommy! Boys you are too little to try and shift. Do you understand my mini honey dates?"
"Yes, mommy Hathor." They nod in agreement.
"Ok babies. I'm giving mommy control again, ok?"
"Yes, ma'am." They nod in unison.
Dismissing herself, Hathor gives Winter control.
"Oh my babies!" Hugging and kissing them, Winter sighs.
"Yuh promise yuh're ok, mommy?!" LJ kisses her.
"Yes, baby. I promise."
"Ok. And don't make my mommy cry again!" He points at his father.
"Laurent watch your mouth." Winter reprimands him softly.
"Nah, he's right. I'm sorry lil daddy. Ok?" Laurent apologizes to his boys.
"No, but I'll forgive yuh if momma does. Do yuh forgives him, mommy?" LJ rubs her cheek.
"Yeah, I 'gree wit LJ." Nox nods.
"Yes, boys. I forgive daddy, ok?"
"Ok." Kissing her, they run off.
Standing up, Winter realizes she can't leave early especially after what just happened. She can't risk the boys safety over her own hurt and disappointment.
"Winter?"
"No." Pulling from his grasp, she pushes him. "Get off me before I slap the shit outta you again!"
"Chér?!" Marguerite stares in surprised confusion at Winter.
"Ughh, leave me alone, Laurent. And Maw I'm really not wanting to snap at you over him so please, hhhh, please just give me a minute." Jogging up the stairs, Winter leaves the foyer.
"Nolan, what happened now, honey?!"
"Maw, it was an honest oversight. That's all."
"Was it involving another woman?"
"Yes, but not how you think."
________________________
Do you think Winter's reaction was warranted?
What do you think Laurent's reason is?
Thoughts?
❤A.J