"Shred up papers ?" Charmaine said as if it was a joke.
"That's the only thing I need help with right now. Either you gonna do it or not."He said side eyeing her.

"Alright"she barley whispered.
Kain once again had that intimidating look. Quietly taking the box and the paper shredder to the other side of the room she got to work.

Kain kept an eye on her from a distance. He knew he was working with Griff wife and Griff was a snake. On the same note he could argue that Charmaine couldn't have actually wanted to be with a dickhead like him. When they met at the meeting he could see straight pass the bullshit.

" The paper with dates between March fifth and now keep them one's" he told her. She nodded her head looking for dates on the papers. Now that he gotten the help he needed he felt a little relived.

He grabbed his speaker plugging in phone to play music while they worked.

"The court has came to a verdict...Griff McKnight found not guilty. His whole family sighed in relief.

The cop walked him out the court room letting him out of his hand cuffs.
"All I'm saying is let it had been one of us black brothas' and we would have had twenty five years to life" a elderly black man said walking by.
"Must suck to be a negro "Griff laughed. His mother came out hugging Griff tightly followed by his father.

"Where's Charmaine? I miss her like crazy " Jessica bit the inside of her cheek not really wanting to snitch,but it was only right.

"S-she took ...Mal...Malerie? And left "
"What do you mean she took my daughter and left?" Griff said with mixed emotions.

"Son lets go home and talk "His father tried calming him down.

Charmaine looked up at the clock seeing she been in her shredding papers for two hours now. She was starting to get tired being as though she been up all day.

Kain on the other hand left about twenty minutes ago getting back just now from getting his dick wet.

He felt in a better spirit now.
"You still with that bastard?"
Charmaine looked up from what she was doing to him.
"Uh-un "

"So you wouldn't mind if I kill him?
Charmaine looked at him like he was out of his balls "i'm kidding...maybe"he chuckled.

"Can I go to the bathroom ?"
"Go ahead and take a small break. If you leave and don't come back ... Don't come back here begging for a job. "

Even though he gave her a break
She wasn't going to use it. She wanted to earn every single penny she could. Charmaine got up going into the adjoined restroom. She ran the faucet while she peed making sure Kain couldn't hear.

She washed her hands leaving the bathroom."No break ?"
"No"she shook her head.

"So baby girl up huh?" He said trying to spark up a conversation.
"Yeah... Thank you" she said
"Giving her a ride was the least I could do. You good though?"

"Yeah all is well now " Kain nodded his head .
"All these are done " she said holding loose cut pieces of shredded paper.

"Where is all the papers I told you to keep ?"
"I put them in that yellow folder" she said pointing to the one the desk. "

"Go empty that shit out and there is one more box "

She looked up locking eyes on each other for no longer that two seconds. Kain looked away,and so did Charmaine.

She got up opening the lid to the paper shedder and walked it to the garbage.

**********

" You can go home now " Charmaine nodded her head getting up.
He dug in his pocket pulling three hundred dollars out.

"Sometimes i'll pay you by the day...sometimes it will be by week. "Looking at Kain her mouth couldn't form words so awkwardly she grabbed her money walking out the door backwards. Until he was no longer in view. She looked at the bus schedule seeing she missed the bus not too long ago so she had no option but to walk.
"Weird ass" Kain shook his head.

Charmaine pushed her apartment door open seeing Malani sleep on Tiani chest while she laid back on the small mattress. Tiani didn't mind looking out for Charmaine at all. Growing up all through out their middle school and high school years Charmaine looked out for her. Tiani had an abusive father so at home things weren't always good. Charmaine would sneak her over,drop off plates at her house when she had no food.

Now the script is flipped Charmaine was the one in need. Tiani didn't mind at all looking out for her.

Charmaine walked to the kitchen sitting her purse down on the chipped island that was in the center of the kitchen. Tiani sat up hearing Charmaine.

"Hey,how was it ?"
"It was... Good "Charmaine smiled faintly. She reached in her pocket getting twenty dollars.

"Thanks "Charmaine said handing it to her. Tiani took it crumbling it up throwing at the back of Charmaine head

"Girl this is my neice. You don't have to pay me. Besides Char all the times you looked out for me... No way i'm taking money from you.

"You sur-"
"Yes." she got up giving Charmaine a hug.
"Char know I got you. After all you done for me I could never take anything from you. If you ever need anything and I mean anything
If I got it then it's yours"

"Thank you T "
"Welcome " Charmaine went back to her room to find a blanket. She found one ready to make a palate but she wanted to tell Tiani goodnight before she left. She walked down the hall to the living room seeing her passed out sleeping. She looked at lani who was now sleeping right under Tiani. She smiled to herself returning back up to her room.