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  MAN OF THE YEAR

  A.WARD

  Copyright © 2016

  Published by Tiece Mickens Presents, LLC

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to the real locals are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents are entirely coincidental.

  Text TIECE to 22828 for Updates, Spoilers, Giveaways, Announcements, & Information on any New Releases.

  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost I want to thank God who is the head of my life. Without him my hands, heart, and mind wouldn’t be on one accord to produce literature that you all will read. I am blessed in that respect and give all glory and honor to him.

  Secondly, I want to thank Write House Publishing for taking me on. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented authors. With that being said shout out to Tiece. I have nothing but the upmost respect for her grind and the way she pushes her authors towards greatness. I hope I’m able to make you proud. Shout out to the big homie Cole Hart. This brother’s man to man conversation kept me grounded during the initial process and as if I was to take a saying out of his book we gone do this thing the Write way. I want to give a special shout out to my writing sisters Ivy Symone, Crazy Faith, and Tonii. Thank you ladies for allowing me into your sisterhood and being your 1st brother. There is truly never a dull moment when you all are around. I appreciate the advice you’ve given me so far and are blessed to have met you all. By the way if your reading this two of them hit #1 with their respective books so make sure you cop those as well (Why Should I Love You-Ivy, Champagne for The Pain-Tonii). And, Long As My Bestie’s Love Me, was also a Bestseller by Faith.

  Life wouldn’t be life without Ava Mann and Mrz. Mia. These two are arguably the funniest females I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Ava your vivid imagination is food for the brain without you we would be lost in a pile of words. Mrz. Mia you have been like a second mother to me since I signed here. I’m happy to be you’re Rooster. You have always had words of encouragement through whatever situation and for that I thank you.

  To Allie my heartbeat, my mini me, my arrogant gangster girl, I love you baby Sis. Growing up I never thought that we would be here. I am proud to be your brother, friend, and advisor when needed. Congratulations on your success through school so far. Just keep God close and he will direct your path.

  I also want to acknowledge my son and his mother (Tre and Yolanda). I apologize for all the nights I kept you guys up with my work. I took away a lot of family time working on my craft that I can’t get back. No matter what you two will be taken care of. I got ya. I want to thank my parents Lisa and Alfred for the days I left them high and dry when I was out doing whatever I wanted. I just want to say thank you all for sticking with me through any and everything. Although we had our good days and bad days I just want to say I love you both unconditionally. To my grandmother Omega I love you. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in life and without any conviction you’ve forgave me for each one. I’m working to be a better grandchild and I hope you notice the growth. I want to take time to say thank you to Mama Stacye. I am forever in debt to you. I thank you for helping me get out of my situation in Kentucky. Thank you. Tinky it’s a lot I can say about you, but that would take another book so I think I’ll save that for book #2. Just know there isn’t a moment that I can say I regret. Thank you for everything.

  R.I.P to my cousin Autumn, my grandmother Diane, and my blood brother Red. It’s not a day that goes by that you aren’t on my mind. I wish that each and every one of you were here to see the way that I’m defying the odds.

  Salute to all my brother and sisters. Allie, Bugg, Mr.Mac, Ric, Quincy, Chris, Ashley, Tony, Ciara, Lia, Justin, Aaron, Clee, Dawana, Thandiwae, Sasa, and Aven I pray that you all are blessed in whatever endeavor you decide to pursue.

  Shout out to Cleveland Avenue. “Blood in Blood out. Slatttt.” Not to many more words need to be spoken on that. Marco, Rud, Walt, Ralph, Ashley, Chastidy, Smoov I love ya’ll like my mama raised ya’ll in the same house. We had some good times together and I look forward to each of us reaching our goals so that we can continue that trend. R.I.P to the friends we’ve lost in the hood. Coming from where we’re from it’s a blessing to say that you’re still breathing so I’m forever blessed to say that we still here. Shout out to Suckerfree Lifestyle and everybody living one. Keep “Bleeding on Bleveland” I know I will. One love-Buddy

  I don’t have to much more to say but God bless those of you that will have the opportunity to read this book.

  “Never change the person you are to fit into the persona someone else wants you to be. Stay true to you.”-A.Ward

  CHAPTER 1

  She Ain’t My Girl, played in the background. I heard my phone going off on the cedar pine nightstand. I was lying here asleep in another man's bed. I rolled over to see who was calling me. However, in my attempt to reach my phone, I felt her move against my chest moaning.

  “Don’t you answer that?” It was 6:30 in the morning. I’d already over stayed my visit. I watched as the sun slowly crept through the satin curtains.

  “It’s time for me to go beautiful,” I said to her as I kissed her forehead. She wrapped her arms around my torso.

  “No, it’s not Papi. I don’t want you to leave.” I looked down at her petite Puerto Rican goddess physique and decided to lay there for a few more moments.

  “Babe, I’ve got to jet. It’s 6:45 am. Eb, you know your husband will be home soon. I’m not trying to be caught in his shit.”

  “I don’t care. Let him come. I don’t want him anyway. I want you!”

  I sighed deeply. “Listen Ebony I can’t stay here. It won’t be good for business. How would it look at the office if people find out I’m sleeping with my supervisor’s woman? I can’t afford to lose this job baby. I promised you soon…” She placed her finger over my lips in mid-sentence.

  “I know Demetrius. I know. You just make me happy and I feel so comfortable with you. He is so uptight. I always feel like I’m walking on eggshells around him.” I looked deep into Ebony's eyes as the sun reflected gently over her beautiful skin. I told her not to worry.

  “Look baby, I really have to go.”

  As I turned to leave she grabbed me by my pants. She placed her hand against my face. She kissed me intensely, yet so gently. I made my way down the stairs of their $200,000 home. I heard a car pull into the driveway and I thought what the hell?

  “Oh Shit.” I yelled! “E, your man is home baby girl.”

  “Relax,” She said firmly. “Go out the back. He never comes right in.”

  I made my way down the stairs again trying to be as quiet as possible. I snuck through the massive marble floored kitchen and realized that I didn't have my fucking shirt. It was sitting at the front door entrance. She had taken it off of me the night before as we kissed our way up the stairs before things got heated.

  “Shit.” I thought to myself. I ran into the living room and grabbed my shirt. I was in full panic mode as his keys jingled against the door. I sprinted back into the kitchen and crept quickly back down the hallway leading to the backdoor. I reached the back door and turned the knob as a dead silence overcame the house.

  “Baby,” her husband yelled in a low baritone voice. “Baby,” he yelled again. “I know you’re up. Get your ass down here.”

  I was trying my best to get out of this house. The damn door was bolted locked. What kind of shit was this? This was not the time for me to get locked in my bosses’ house
. It would be locked when I needed to get the fuck out there!

  “Damn.” I mumbled to myself as I heard him getting closer to the kitchen. She made her way downstairs. “What’s up baby?" She answered.

  “Get in here and cook me some damn breakfast. It’s been a long night and I didn’t get a break. Come over here and take care of daddy first.”

  She gave him a little smile and immediately responded as commanded. He opened the newspaper he picked up outside the house before he came in. I made my way back down the hallway trying to find another escape route. I slipped into the laundry room which sat diagonally from the kitchen and the stove where Ebony stood. I began waving my hands trying to get her attention as she spotted me. He began to ruffle his newspaper as he sat at the island of the kitchen. He caught a scent that he wasn’t familiar with.

  “Ebony did you smell that.” He asked.

  “What baby?” She replied.

  “It smelled sweet, yet it was clean at the same time. It smelled like cologne.” Her face said oh shit, yet she remained calm.

  “No baby. I don’t smell anything,” She said.

  He got up and walked over to her. He kissed her neck gently as she cooked. He looked her in the eyes as I sunk deeper into the laundry room.

  “I missed you.” I heard his voice vibrate across the room.

  “I missed you too daddy.” She said while trying to push him back over to the island table.

  “Come here?” He said to her.

  “Yes love?” She replied while making her way to the table. He began to kiss on her neck and worked his hand under the shirt she had on.

  “Stop baby. I can’t afford to get aroused. It’s that time of the month.” He let her go, took a deep breath, and sat back with a look of disgust on his face. The bitch is a pro. She can lie to a lawyer with a straight face and get away.

  “How much longer until my food is ready?” He asked furiously?

  “About twenty minute’s baby.” She responded.

  “Ok, I’m going to take a shower.” He got up from the table and began walking towards the hall. I dived deeper into the dark laundry room. It seemed as if my body was painted on the wall. He threw his funky ass clothes onto the laundry room floor then sniffed again.

  “Baby, are you sure you didn’t smell anything?”

  “No, I didn’t,” echoed throughout the house. He continued his walk up the stairs. Every inch of this nigga’s 6’6’ shadow followed him. She rushed to the laundry room and cut the lights on.

  “What are you still doing here?” She questioned emphatically?

  “What the fuck do you think I’m doing here? The back door is locked.”

  “Oh my God, did he see you?”

  “I don’t think so. Where are your keys? I have to go.”

  “They are upstairs in my purse.” She said cautiously. I motioned for her to go get them. “Ok, stay here.”

  “Ebony.” James yelled out from the bathroom. “Who the hell are you talking to?” He questioned?

  “Nobody baby, I’m on the phone with Stacy,” She responded. I could hear the creeks in the floor from where he was taking step after step upstairs.

  “You have to go Demetrius,” Ebony said to me nervously.

  “Nah, you think?” I heard Ebony as she made it up the stairs to the master bedroom. James met her at the top of the stairs.

  “I thought you were on the phone?” He said.

  “I was. She lost service going through the tunnel. Your food is ready baby.” He grabbed her arm and insistently tried again to get inside her pants.

  “Baby, now what did I tell you?” Ebony said pulling her arm away from his grasp.

  “Ok. Ok, I’ll leave you alone.” She rushed to get her purse and quickly tracked back down the stairs.

  “Baby, slow down.” He said. “You sure you don’t smell that? It’s stronger up here than it was down stairs.” James dropped his towel and walked into their bedroom. “What the hell is that smell?”

  “I don’t know baby. Maybe, some of your cologne spilled out somewhere.” She stated nervously.

  “Hell no! That isn’t any scent of mine. I know what I like to wear and that isn’t it.” James was the type of nigga who loved to wear brute and any other cheap shit. “That scent smelled foreign baby. You aren’t cheating on me are you?”

  “Baby no.” She walked over and kissed him. She then ran her fingers over his chocolate wash board abs and reassured him.

  “Ok, Ebony I trust you.” All the while I’m wishing she would hurry the hell up. I had to piss from all this drama and excitement. She finally made her way back down stairs.

  “You got the keys?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Good! Get me the fuck out of here.” I politely stated with a sarcastic grin on my face. As she made her way to the backdoor, James brought his big ass down the stairs.

  “Baby, where you going with nothing on?” He questioned as he stood naked in the kitchen?

  “I’m not going anywhere. I just wanted a little fresh air.” She responded calmly. He nodded in agreement and allowed her to continue doing what she was doing. She walked down the hallway that connected to the kitchen and back door then closed the laundry room’s door.

  “Baby, it was a long night. My new guy Demetrius called in sick on me. I had to work double duty and the line wouldn’t cooperate.” He continued to complain as she sat there listening. He finished his breakfast and got up to make his way towards the backdoor for some fresh air. He then got up to check on his dogs. He barked orders throughout the hall way as the dogs made their way to greet him.

  “There go daddy’s money makers.” He said to the dogs. He had been breeding Pit Bulls since he was 15 years old. He had been turning a nice profit every time there was a litter. He started to smell that scent again. This time the dogs picked up on it and ran to the laundry room. They started scratching at the door. My first thought was, is this nigga about to open the door? I’m going have to fight his big ass. Fuck that idea. I thought. He was in the gym every day and I knew what he could do. I worked out with him a few times during the week. I’m a pretty in shape guy, but this dude was built like a statue and was quick as fuck. Fighting wasn’t an option. Just as soon as I thought about another idea I heard Ebony call out to him.

  “Come here daddy?” I heard her say seductively as she captured his attention. He followed her upstairs. She sent me a text message:

  Get the hell out of here before you get us caught.- Ebony

  I ran out of their house like Usain Bolt running the 100 meter dash. I quickly exhaled a sigh of relief as I stepped foot outside the house. It didn’t last long as I witnessed James monstrous dogs coming towards me.

  “Man fuck.” I mumbled. I took on my track stance again and tried to out run the barking dogs. I made it around the corner to where my car was parked. I tried to catch my breath as I started to pat my pockets in search of my keys.

  “Where in the fuck are my keys?” I pondered out loud to myself. I continued to pat the pockets on my jeans. Damn, I must have dropped my keys in the laundry room. I couldn’t risk going back so I called my friend Stretch to come scoop me up. I didn’t have to think twice because I knew he was on his way. I sent Ebony a text explaining what happened, but I received no reply.

  “Damn!” I yelled out while sitting on the hood of my car. I couldn’t help but to think how close this encounter was until my boy Stretch pulled up.

  It was 8:15 am and the neighbors were starting to wake up to get ready for work. White people were passing me by asking did I need any help. I just politely replied, “No, I’m just waiting on my ride.” In their eyes a black man in a white neighborhood is suspicious looking. It was about 8:45 am when Stretch finally pulled up blasting his music as loud as he possibly could.

  "Do you have to be ghetto everywhere u go?" I asked opening the door.

  “Yea, nigga.” He replied. “You’re the one that needs a ride not me. I’ll leave ya black ass right
here.” Stretch and I had been cool since middle school. He actually looked like a walking stick. He was about 6’5, dark brown complexion, and real slim. He played basketball in high school and still tried to relive his glory days.

  “So, what’s popping blood?” He asked.

  “Shit man just got into a fucked up situation and needed a ride.” I sat back and replied hesitantly.

  “Aye bruh open the ash tray and smoke your problems away.”

  This nigga should have been a Rasta the way he smoked. However, at this time it was just what the doctor ordered.

  “What’s popping with you my nigga?” I asked with a lung full of smoke.

  “Shit, nigga just coolin, bruh. You know how I play it.” He responded. “I was over there with Angela last night trying to get in where I fit in.”

  “How is she doing?” I asked.

  “Pass the blunt nigga.” He insisted. “She straight though.” He said as he inhaled the octane. “What the fuck you doing up here on the North side man? You know there isn’t shit but rich, white people, and stuck up ass black people. Don’t tell me you done found a white bitch?”

  “Nah, nah, nothing like that man. I just found a nice jump off out here. I come see her from time to time. She takes care of a nigga real proper and makes sure I’m alright.”

  “Yea, alright my nigga. See, if she got any friends. I have to stay away from them Westside hoes. I’m used to Tamara and that bitch I call my baby mama, but I’ve made that shit right again. So now every time I go see my lil man, I get to hear about the way Demetrius and Tamara use to be.” He said with a straight face.

  “Nigga just keep driving. I need to get to the house.” As we approached my apartment, I got a text from Ebony:

  I got your keys. Meet me downtown at one.-Ebony

  At that moment I realized that I couldn’t even get in my house. I look at Stretch. “Bruh, Fuck” I yelled! “I can’t even get in the fucking house.” He looked at me and started laughing. “Nigga, this shit ain’t funny!” I tell him to just leave me at the crib when he gets there. I texted Ebony