No More Trouble

By Angel Hunt

Atlanta-native Shawanda Royce owns her very own high-end nail salon. She even can count some big name celebrities on her client list. Despite being on the rise in Atlanta, because of the rough upbringing she'd had, dysfunctional should’ve been her middle name. Even though she was raised by a mother who never really showed her love, Shawanda turns out kind of okay.

She's worked hard for everything she's got—and her hard work is paying off—so she considers herself to be a boss-chick-in-the-making.

When she meets and begins dating a high-powered downtown attorney named RayQuan Coffer, she’s sure they’re gonna be Atlanta’s next 'it' couple. Shawanda's not really in love with RayQuan, but she’s willing to marry him to achieve her dreams of claiming fame and fortune.

Somewhere along the path, their tolerance for each other turns to love. But will their love be enough to keep them together when sin steps in the way?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Urban Christian Books
• Release date: Nov 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540193797

Book preview

DEDICATION

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God is the very first person I'd like to thank for giving me the inspiration and the drive to write this book. The next group of people I'd like to thank is my family, friends, and fans. I'm thanking you all for your support. It took all of you in order for this book to happen and for it to be successful.

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May the  Lord bless each and every one of you.

INTRODUCING THE STORY:

Atlanta-native Shawanda Royce owns her very own high-end nail salon. She even can count some big name celebrities on her client list. Despite being on the rise in Atlanta, because of the rough upbringing she'd had, dysfunctional should’ve been her middle name. Even though she was raised by a mother who never really showed her love, Shawanda turns out kind of okay.

She's worked hard for everything she's got—and her hard work is paying off—so she considers herself to be a boss-chick-in-the-making.

When she meets and begins dating a high-powered downtown attorney named RayQuan Coffer, she’s sure they’re gonna be Atlanta’s next 'it' couple. Shawanda's not really in love with RayQuan, but she’s willing to marry him to achieve her dreams of claiming fame and fortune.

Somewhere along the path, their tolerance for each other turns to love. But will their love be enough to keep them together when sin steps in the way?

CHAPTER ONE

No More Trouble

Shawanda Royce pushed the door open of the soul food restaurant and made her way over to the booth over in the corner. Shawanda and her girl, Janithia, were regulars there, so greeted some waitresses and other customers along the way.

Before she could even sit down, one of the waitresses—her name was Talesha—flashed Shawanda a smile. You getting your Monday regular, today, boo?

Janithia smiled right back. She nodded her head. Yeah. Shrimp and grits, Talesha...you know I don't like having nothing else on Mondays for my lunch. Your mama be slamming back there in that kitchen. Then she laughed. When my dollars get right, Imma have to see if she's willing to come over to my crib and be my personal chef.

With that being said, Shawanda slid into her regular booth, right across from her girl, Janithia.

Janithia looked at her best friend Shawanda and smiled. Shawanda you’re the luckiest chick in all of Southside Atlanta, boo. Look at you over there glowing and everything. Ray Ray sure be making you shine.

Shawanda couldn't help but agree. She did feel like the luckiest chick in Atlanta. She had a man who somewhat cared about her and she could tell he was down with her — well for the most part, she thought to herself. Despite him not being perfect, she could tell that no matter what, he’d have her back. At least with the things that matter to me the most.

Shawanda looked over at her bestie. They were sitting at a table in a soul food joint called Mae’s in the downtown section of the city. Janithia...girl, I’m so happy I met that boy. He treats me better than any man I ever been with and I can tell we’re going places together.

Grinning like a fool, Shawanda couldn't help but wish her best friend could find her a 'kinda-decent' man, too, just like she had. She was thinking the ‘kinda decent’ part because where Shawanda came from, if a man wasn’t hitting on his woman, wasn’t trying to have side chicks, and was holding down a good-paying job, then he was ‘kinda decent’. Shawanda’s man was all of those things.

Janithia shook her head. Is he taking you out tonight?

Shawanda smiled. Yeah, he's taking me out again tonight. It ain't gonna be at no club this time either. It's one of those nice, high-end restaurants right here downtown. From what I hear, dinner is about a hundred bones per plate.

What?! Girl you gotta be kidding me. A hundred dollars per plate? A hundred dollars per person? Ray Ray must be sitting on stacks of money. She rubbed her fingers together making it look like she was fanning a stack of cash. Then she said, I'm talking big bank, boo.

Shawanda shook her head. Yeah, you know I’m about my man making big dollars. That’s almost number one on my list. But a little part of me can’t help but think sometimes that money ain't everything, Janithia. Her eyes met her friend’s. You know what I mean?

Janithia didn’t say anything so Shawanda added on, Yeah I’m happy Ray Ray can buy me nice things, take me nice places. But more than anything, I'm just glad I got a man who treats me kind of okay. I got me a decent man in my corner now.

Shawanda pulled her eyebrows together deep in thought. She was thinking about her ex. His name was Ringo. Well that was his street name. His government name was Andrew Sawyer.

Janithia sighed. I guess you're right Shawanda. Ringo was sitting on stacks of cash until Red Dog and them started cutting into his profits. But he ain't never really do right by you. You were always having to worry about him running around with and sleeping with other chicks. I'm glad you cut that fool loose. Real glad.

Shawanda couldn't agree more with that. She was glad she'd called things off with Ringo, too. The man wasn't really going anywhere in life and he wasn't able to make her happy. Adding insult to injury, Ringo was kind of selfish. He'd had a tendency to always put his own needs first.

Shawanda shook her head. The fool even has a custom license tag plate that reads: Ringo #1. She frowned. That should've been my first sign to not even mess with him. Not to mention the warning I got from Janithia about how she didn't like him. My girl not liking him should've been a heads up.

Both of the ladies stood up from their table. They began throwing their trash away. Shawanda turned to Janithia and asked her, Are you coming in to work this afternoon, boo?

Janithia shook her head. Nope. I got me some business I need to be handling. But I'll be back in my booth tomorrow.

Shawanda smiled. This business that you talking about handling...it don't have nothing to do with Jarrod do it?

A secretive smile came on Janithia’s light brown face. You know how to read me like a book don't you, Shawanda?

Shawanda laughed. I only been knowing your behind for about ten years. Shawanda shook her head. Don't do nothing I wouldn't do, Janithia.

Janithia laughed too. Girl I'm about to do everything that your butt wouldn’t do and then some. Me and Jarrod, we about to get our freak on.

Shawanda was sure they were. She honestly couldn't wait for her date that evening because she was sure that her and Ray Ray we're going to get their freak on too.

Then she thought about her mama. She was sure that her mama wouldn’t approve of her being sexed by Ray Ray. That's because her mama, Kelly Royce, was all up in the church. Kelly called herself saved and on fire for Jesus.

Shawanda frowned. My mama say she saved, she thought to herself. But I know some things about her so-called saved behind. She shook her head. Ain't no saved person done none of the foulness that my mama done done. I know that to be the sho nuff truth.

Her mama was one of the main reasons that Shawanda made it a point to not show up too often in nobody's church. Yeah she believed in God and everything, but it was the so-called saints that she had a problem with, not God.

As she made her way back to the nail salon that she owned, she frowned. Then she smiled. She had just pulled into the parking spot that was reserved especially for her seeing that she was the owner of Ultimate Nailz.

Ultimate Nailzs was the thing that Shawanda was proudest about in her life. At twenty-five years old, she owned one of the most popular nail salons in the metro Atlanta area. She even had celebrities who popped up in her place from time to time.

The brand new Lexus that she had bought outright with her own money was the second thing she was proud about. At the moment she was living in an upscale apartment. But she was making plans and saving money to by herself a real house.

She wasn't thinking about purchasing no small used place either. She wanted a two-story, newly built home in an upscale suburb on the very edge of town.

Yeah, she thought to herself, Shawanda Marie Royce’s day is coming. I'm getting me a new house. A brand spanking new house. I already done saved twenty-eight thousand dollars towards my down payment. It only took me eight months to save that. In another eight months I should have the fifty grand that that real estate lady said I needed for my half a million dollar new pad.

She grinned to herself just thinking about her plans