The Dopeman's Wife: Part I of the Dopeman Trilogy by JaQuavis Coleman Page B

could never be.
    She stood up and began to pace the room, talking to herself quietly, of course, so Zion wouldn’t overhear her. “That mu’fucka got to be out of his damn mind. I’m no man’s property! After this trip, I’m quitting his crazy ass.”
    Nautica stopped at the bed where Zion put the money, and a wave of nosiness came over her. She listened close, to make sure the shower was still running. She grabbed the bag and cracked it open. Her eyes lit up when she saw stacks and stacks of money. She knew he was getting money, but she didn’t know it was like that.
    Everything in her heart told her to take the money and make a run for it, but she knew Zion would come after her. That’s when she decided that she would rob him. Just not at that moment. She would kill him softly and rob him without him knowing it was her.
    Nautica’s oversized Dior shades covered her eyes, and the sound of her stilettos echoed through the mall as she turned every straight man’s head when she walked by in her hip-hugging Rocawear jeans, and Chanel scarf stylishly draped around her neck. Yeah, I’m a bad bitch. She smiled to herself.
    As she entered Bloomingdale’s, she felt her phone vibrating in her purse. She looked at her caller ID. It was Khia. “What’s up, K?”
    “Hey, girl. You okay? That nigga was foul as hell the other night,” Khia said. The last time she’d seen Nautica, she was too distraught for her to bring the fight up, but now, days removed from it, she wanted to know what went on.
    “I know. That’s exactly why I’m about to quit his ass. He crazy as hell.” Nautica said as she picked up a blouse.
    “Ain’t he? What happened after you two left the club?”
    “He got to apologizing and shit, talking about, he doesn’t act like that all the time. I don’t have time for his shit.”
    “I feel you, girl. Leave that clown-ass nigga alone. But, anyways, where you at? I stopped by your house earlier.”
    “Oh yeah, I came out to B-more with the nigga. He was all in my face, and trying to be all lovey-dovey and shit. The only reason I came out here is so I could use his ass and make him take me shopping.”
    “I heard that! Did you tell him about the baby?”
    “It’s no baby to tell him about, Khia. I got rid of it.” Khia didn’t know what to say, so she just left it alone.
    “What’s in Baltimore, anyway?”
    Nautica looked around to make sure no one was by her to overhear her conversation. “He came out here to cop from his connect.”
    “Word? He let you roll with him?”
    “Yeah, and the nigga brought so much dough up here with him. The nigga getting it! I got something for his ass, though.”
    Nautica was already putting a plan down in her mind. She was going to make him pay for putting his hands on her. She finished up her conversation with Khia and continued shopping.
    While shopping, Nautica noticed a man staring at her from afar. She looked him up and down. He definitely wasn’t her type. He was dressed nice, but his shaped-up curly ’fro and little shades weren’t up to par. Look at this square-ass nigga . She rolled her eyes and turned her back on him. She sifted through the designer blouses and held one up to her body to see the look. Before she knew it, the man had approached her, his shades propped on top of his head.
    “Excuse me, miss,” he said in a kind tone.
    Nautica, without even looking at the man, acknowledged him, “Yeah?”
    “I don’t mean to bother you, but I noticed your beauty and your style when you were walking through the mall and—”
    “Look, brotherman, I’m not trying to be mean or nothing, but you ain’t my type.” She cocked her hip to the side and rested her hand on it.
    The man took a step back and chuckled. “Look, ma, it ain’t that type of party,” he said with a heavy Baltimore accent. “Honestly, you’re not my type either. Especially with you wearing that Chanel scarf with a Louis Vuitton purse.” He looked her up and down and