“Seven o’clock on the fucking dot! Every Wednesday, seven o’clock on the dot, damn it. What the fuck I got to do to get you on the same timeframe as me and all of the other people living in the Eastern Time zone?”

It was half past dinnertime and Essence had just sat down and joined the others for their weekly staff meeting. Dallas was so mad he had steam coming out of his ears, but Essence did not care. Essence felt that Dallas had far too many rules and stipulations in the house and no matter how he felt about it, she was going to do things her way.

“Shit, I’m here now,” snapped Essence as she placed her napkin across her lap, “I mean damn, I’m sure nothing you have to say is that fucking pressing any damn way.”

Despite the years of training, discipline, and abuse, Essence remained true to form. She spoke her mind and allowed whatever was on her mind to roll off it. Essence did not give a second thought whose feelings she hurt, or how she pissed them off. From her point of view, nobody besides her sisters' ever cared about her feelings. Dallas would argue with Essence all day every day if need be. Like father like daughter, the two never got along because they were both stubborn, bull headed and strong. Dallas appreciated her boldness and lack of fear. He realized that she was the chosen one. The one who could take over the business after his reign.

Even as the thought ran through his mind, Dallas had to be honest with himself about his reasoning for not having Shalonda and the other girls involved. If they witnessed the strength and fearlessness in Essence, they might get the courage to walk away from him, believing him to be weak.

“Girl, can the fucking attitude before I fine your ass. Shit, I got other things to do tonight and you done fucked up my entire schedule,” said an irritated Dallas.

“Dallas, if what you got to do is that pressing why in the hell wouldn’t you start this so called staff meeting without me? Seriously, why wouldn’t you?”

Dallas, Houston and Diamond all looked at Essence as if like she had just grown a second head right before their eyes. Chanel snickered and shook her head at her sister’s antics but failed to understand why everyone besides her was surprised, Essence always had a smart mouth loaded with a slick tongue. Essence did not mind offending people, especially Dallas. Diamond and Chanel would not dare speak to Dallas the way Essence had, but for different reasons.

Diamond’s personality did a total three sixty after their mother’s death, and ten years later, the fence she’s built around her seemed to have grown even higher. There was a door into Diamond’s world, but only her sisters knew where to find the key.

Chanel was a born optimistic and to her, the glass was always half-full. No matter what the situation, Chanel would smile, make light of the situation and move on as if she did not have a care in the world. Things in Chanel’s world worked for her because she never stressed on things she could not change.

Essence was dead smack in the middle of the two. Essence a guarded person and investigated everything in her path though she tried to live her life looking at the positive side of things. Essence demanded people to earn her trust; she never gave it up for free. Getting on her bad side was so not a good thing because if that one chance were blown, Essence would never offer another one. The worse sin in Essence’s eyes was to fuck with her sisters. She would gladly run through hell with a panty and bra set drenched in gasoline if it meant protecting her sisters.