“Yo, Tender, whatcha doin’ wit all ya dough, besides buyin’ clothes?” she questioned.

“I’m savin’ it!” Tender quickly replied. “I’m tryin’ to have somethin’ ta show fa shakin’ my ass. I’m not doin’ dis shit fa nuttin’ … Maybe one day I’ll open up a beauty salon. You know how I like keepin’ my wig tight.”

“Umm, Uh! I hear ya,” she replied. “You startin’ ta sound more like Goldie e’ryday. Y’all bitches like what Biggie Smalls said on dat Ready to Die album, ‘Y’all got big plans, big plans …’”

Goldie smiled; she knew that Tender had not only heard her, but was listening and taking advice. There was nothing wrong with that. Goldie wanted to be sure that Tender didn’t become as financially dependent on Kat as she was.

“… Not to be in ya business, but you really should think about investing ya money. Dat’s what me and Goldie are doin’. We got our money in 401ks, money market accounts, tax shelters; our investments are diversified. We got our money making us more money. Dat’s betta than stashin’ ya money ’round da house or throwin’ it in da bank gettin’ low interest rates and payin’ mad taxes on it. Jus give it ta me, trust me, I’ll have you real decent in a few months.”

Goldie shot Tender a look that said, “Don’t do it!” But neither Tender nor Kat caught it. They were too busy talking.

Tender had always heard about the stock market. But she didn’t have the slightest idea on how it worked or how to invest in it. She’d heard stories from teachers at school, how a simple investment had made people rich. Kat seemed to know what she was talking about.

“Lemme check my stash, see what I’m workin’ wit. I’m gonna get back wit you on dat,” she said.

“Aiight.” Kat exclaimed. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on Tender’s money.

In the wee hours, the girls exited the club, stepping into the cool morning air. Among the last to leave, the trio walked less than half a block to Kat’s truck. The white Escalade stood out like diamond, sparkling under the city lights.

The steady sound of high-heel shoes meeting the concrete could be heard on the abandoned block. Kat, Goldie and Tender were alone on these streets, or so they thought. Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes were watching from the shadows. Jules lay low in a hooptie across the street, a few feet in back of the truck. As the trio walked past him, he ducked down. He heard the voices of Tender and Goldie loud and clear.