This Is A Test 10

This Is A Test- A Greenville Story

Still no editor, if you see a misspelling please point it out. Remember, English is my 2

nd

language, Bad English is my first. I hope you enjoy.

I know you won't get result for a pregnancy test for 8 to 10 days. I fudged it to advance the story.

I'm trying to pay attention but Barry just won't stop talking. He made his point 5 minutes ago after a 15 minute speech. Its late afternoon and its been a long day. Even though I'm the CEO, Barry as COO, he has much say as I do. That's the way our partnership works. We are looking to take over a company in a totally different industry. I felt we needed to diversify to stay relevant and profitable. We're not a tech company. We're not even one of those glamorous companies you see online. We are a trash company. Not just a trash company but the largest in the Southeast. We employee more than 1800 people. We also rent Port-a-Potties, construction fences, and several other items.

The company we were looking to takeover is a roofing company. The owner is looking to retire and his kids have no interest in running it. They were the third largest roofing company in the region. There is a good management team that is interested in staying and an even better reputation. He has someone in place that could run it after the sale whom we had vetted. Which was great since we had no experience in that sector.

Barry was against the plan. He felt it was too risky. He thought once we took over business would drop off. He had a whole list of reasons. Some were valid others not so much. Barry has been my partner for 25 years when we were just starting out at 23 years old. He was there with me before our first truck and working on the first truck we bought as a company. We saved every penny we could. If it wasn't for a great piece of luck meeting Carolyn Richards and fixing her flat tire, God knows where we would be. She put us in touch with her husband and they both gave us great advice on how to get the business started. We gifted them 5% of the business on Jason's 55

th

Birthday. They both serve on our Board of Directors with Jason as the Chairman.

Why did we get in the trash business. Its one of three things people will always need, food, housing and someone to get rid of the trash. Sure, the latest tech gadgets makes loads of fast money. The problem is how many tech companies goes bust and lose millions of investors money. There will always be a need for trash removal. Plus we didn't know anything except the trash business.

Barry and I grew the business to where it is today. We both had confidence in the idea. We busted our asses for 3 years. 3 days hustling business and 3 days picking up trash. Only taking Sundays off. We found our niche in the rich neighborhoods and small businesses. The rich people didn't want to be woken up at 6am by a trash truck. So we did mid afternoon pick ups. With small business we keep cost as close to the line as we could. If they needed an extra pick up or had an overflow container. We were flexible with pick up. After the first 3 years we added more services like cleaning the trash bins monthly. By then we had 4 trucks and were adding 3 more. We added Port-a-Potties and other rental items right as Greenville had a building boom.

We do business in not only North Carolina but South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. Allied Carolina Rubbish and now Allied Virginia Rubbish, Allied Georgia Rubbish, etc. From one truck to 350. Allied Carolina Sanitation with Allied Georgia Sanitation 100 port-a-potties to over 1500. 6 Vice Presidents reporting to us. Damn life is good.

We made some mistakes over time but used them as a chance to learn a lesson. Neither Barry or I had a formal business education so the learning curve was sharp. We tried to hire consultants over time. Didn't work because we both felt they were talking down to us. We leaned on Jason and our Board heavily. We had been approached by a couple of competitors who wanted to buy us out in the early years. We stuck to our guns and the belief we would be were we are today.

My son Julian, 25 and just out of College, and Barry's son Adam 28, his sister Yvette who is our CFO had confidence in the plan. I still remember when Yvette joined us in the business. The ink on her diploma wasn't even dry from Greenville Community College. She was so gung ho about making the business better. And she did. Putting processes in place to reduce waste and theft. She worked in different departments when she started and found that finance was her calling.

The boys are being groomed to take over the business when we retire in a couple of years. So we did what we usually do when we can't come to an agreement. We pulled out the Decision Coin. Since Barry and I are 50/50 partners, to break ties we have a coin we toss. It has worked many times in the past.

The hard rule is Winner doesn't gloat and the loser doesn't sulk. Somehow a whole ceremony started when the kids got involved in the business, the Coin was put into this ornate box. One of the kids get it and parade it through the offices. Yvette had become the official coin tosser when she joined the company straight out of college. Heads came up so we went forward with the deal. It was the first part of becoming a national player. Allied Carolina Roofing was of course the name of the new company.

Julian was biting at the bit to grow the business. There was still time for him having only graduated 2 years prior from East Carolina, Go Pirates! He knew it would have to be smart and not reckless. He was going to move to Raleigh to work with Jackson Hale who was going to run the business as Executive Vice President. We planned for Adam to take over the trash side of the business, Mike Govens, our first employee has already taken over the construction rental side and now Julian for roofing. Yvette was the glue that held it all together. There's no better feeling than leaving a legacy for your children and family. The wives joked that we need more businesses for the other 5 kids coming up. My 3 and Barry's 2. We still had some time since the next oldest was only 18 and getting ready to enter Carolina AT&T, Aggie Pride!.

Going home I was eager to tell Roxanne the news. She stopped working when Julian was 5 and she had our second child Angel. She was followed by Curtis and Kera. She was bored when the kids got older and bought into a franchise 10 years ago, Moe's Southwest Grill and helping with charities. She said she wanted something that was hers. We actually did a business deal where I loaned her the start up funds with a payment plan. She's been very successful. She now has 5 Moe's and just bought into another company called Casapulla's that makes sub sandwiches.

I met Roxanne right out of high school. We were at a Kid n Play concert of all things. I seen her coming out of the hall and being Mr. Smooth I jokingly asked her if she was one of the background dancers. First thing she said was "Boy Please, you got to do better than that. Coming at me with that whack ass line" Her friends laughing and kept walking. She was what LL Cool J called an around the way girl. She wasn't fast but she looked like every other girl in the hood. Big hooped earrings, large fake gold chain and parachute pants. But now she was a challenge. So I pursued her for a while. I didn't have much at the time. When we did go out it was to the movies or for pizza. Had to take transit since I didn't have a car at the time.

Her mom liked me after a while when she finally figured out I wasn't a knucklehead. Bringing pizza for everyone didn't hurt either. Roxanne had 2 younger sisters and a brother. Things were tight since it was only her moms there. She and one sister had the same pops. The 2 other ones had different fathers. We dated for 3 years. I was still living at home. My mom liked her more than any other girlfriend I had. I had the job at the trash company and was making okay money. Enough to finally move out. Rox was staying with me pretty much 24/7 within the first 6 months. I guess she seen it as a way to get out of the house. She was working at Church's Chicken. Between the two of us we were doing pretty good. Nothing crazy. Enough for the bills, save some and go out once and a while. I told her what I was saving for. I took every extra shift I could. She would argue about buying a trash truck was stupid every now and then.

We had been together 4 years by now and one day had a huge argument that I can't even remember the reason. She stormed out and moved back in with her mother. Being stubborn I didn't chase after her. I let her be. I was thinking

'If you love something set it free, if it loves you it will return'

. Or something like that. I did love Rox, but I wasn't going to be a pussy and go running after her. My youthful stupidity got the best of me. I didn't know it would come back to bite me.

Her mother called me asking what the hell happened. I just said we had an argument and she left. She didn't believe it was "just an argument" for her to come running home. I had no other explanation. I told her she needs to ask Roxanne what happened. She told me she wouldn't say what happened, just that we argued.

Even her sister, Pinky, called a couple of times. Her brother came by the house wanting to fight me believing I had done something to his sister. I'm not going to fight some kid so I talked him off the ledge. Explained I didn't do anything. It was just a stupid argument that got out of hand.

We didn't see each other almost 2 months. I was busy with the business and didn't have time for bullshit. I saw her going into a hole in the wall bar with some dude as I drove by one time. I'm not going to say it didn't hurt because it did. Well, since she was moving on I would too. Except I was to busy to really look for someone.

Being together as long as we where people were passing me bits of information about Rox's activities, whether I wanted them to or not. She was dating this guy or that guy. They had even seen her with some old white dude. She was living her best life. She was friends with a couple of the girls in the office. Finally Joann, Barry's PA come knocking on my door.

"Have you talked to Roxanne lately?' she asked knowing the answer.

"No I haven't Jo Jo, Why should I?"

"Well, I know its not my business. But I like both of you. She's mad because you haven't tried to get her back."

"Wait, she's the one that walked out on me over a stupid argument. Why should I go running after her?"

"I know you're the boss so I hope this doesn't get me fired, Men are so stupid and I think you might be the king. Woman want to know a man will chase them. Even after dating or even being married for years. Women what to feel wanted, desired, not just needed. She wanted you to chase after her."

"And dating all those guys? What about that? I heard she even dated some old white guy'"

"She was trying to get your attention. Yet, no matter what she did you never responded. Her thing is she feels that you love this business more than you love her. She was testing you and to her, you failed. She only goes out with a guy once. That's it, besides going out with some of us once in a while. And she never talks to guys when we're out together."

"I'm not going to fire you for calling me stupid, a verbal warming maybe' I said with a smile. 'So the last couple of months was a test huh" She really took it to another level. It does give me something to think about. Thanks JoJo. You're a good friend and I appreciate you."

My thinking about it was cut short 3 days later. I had planned to call her Friday so we could sit down and talk. I got my first call from Roxanne since she left. When I answered the phone she was crying. "Darren, please help me, I need you to come get me please, oh God, please come get me" She was rambling.

I went into panic mode. I never heard her like this before or since. "Where are you I'm coning where are you?'

"I'm at the Rodeway Inn off Prior Rd. Room 109. Please hurry, he might come back" The Rodeway Inn is a place you go for a couple of hours or if you don't read the reviews. Its off the highway in a not so good area. Sits next to a strip club and Dirty D's, Captain D's to everyone else.

"Why are you at the Rodeway Inn? What's going on Rox?"

"He raped me Darren, that bastard drugged and raped me. Please I need you to come get me, please, it wasn't my fault" She just went on and on like that. Roxanne is a pretty strong woman. For her to beak down like this I knew it was serious. From what Joann had said she wasn't with anyone serious.

I was running out the office as we talked. I told her I was calling the police but she begged me not too. I got to the motel in 10 minutes. As I pulled up to the room some mook was banging at 109 and yelling to open the door. He looked to be between 20 and 24 years old with dreads. Jeans hanging off his skinny ass. I figured he had to be the guy Roxanne said raped her. I walked up and without any warning spun him around and proceeded to whoop his black ass. I just keep punching him in his face. I didn't stop until Roxanne yelled "Stop you're going to kill him," I looked up at her as I came back to myself. Whoever he was was out of it. My hand was bloody but not as bloody has his face.

Rox grabbed me in a hug so tight it took my breath away. A couple people had come out of their rooms to see what the excitement was. It must have been something because most people in that place would ignore yelling and screaming and just mind their own business. I told her we need to go before the police show up. I saw what I guess was the desk clerk and one of the maids coming down the walkway. We got in my car and headed to my house.

There was no talking between us until we got home. She just hugged herself, rocking and softly crying. A place she hadn't been to in 3 months. I guided her into the house from the garage. She clung onto me the whole time. I sat her on the couch and got her some water.

"I need to know what happened.' she gave me a pleading look but I reassured her. 'I'm not going to judge you Rox. You said he drugged and raped you. Who was the guy? Was he the one at the door?"

"Yeah, he name is Terrance, He's been hanging out with my brother Darius and some of his friends. We been out a couple of times so I thought he was harmless. He took me to Smokies BBQ. We were just talking. I never kissed him and lead him to think anything was going to happen. We ate and were leaving the restaurant when I started to feel dizzy. He lead me to his car. Next thing I remember was waking up in that room half naked. I could tell someone had fucked me. I didn't know who or where I was. I finally realized I was in the Rodeway because of the notepad on the night stand and freaked out. I didn't know what else to do so I called you. I didn't know who else to call. I was afraid whoever raped me would come back. I knew you would come."

"So you're telling me you never had sex with this guy before?"

"No, never. I haven't been with anyone since I left."

"We need to call the police and get you to a hospital. If he's done this to you he's probably done it to someone else. And you need to get checked out."

She looked panic, "I don't want to go to the hospital. Everyone will find out what happened."

"Rox, this is more important than being embarrassed. He could have given you something. You need to find out if he did. I know its upsetting. But you might even help someone else in the long run."

She finally relented and I took her to Greenville Memorial. Since it was a rape they had to notify the police. Being young and Black I was suspect number one. One of the nurses thought she was covering for me. I was questioned by the police while waiting for her to be treated. Being part of the 60% of Black males who have had some type of interaction with law enforcement I figured it was best to call my attorney.

While we waited I wasn't allowed to be with Roxanne so I called her mother. She was understandably upset when I explained what happened and why she was in the hospital. It took her 20 minutes to get to the ER.

The police were a little taken aback when one of the cities most preeminent attorney's walked in and shook my hand. Tom Pohl had written our incorporation papers when we first started and handled all our business since then. Having the named attorney from Spencer, Pohl and Harris representing a young Black guy was something they couldn't understand. Questioning lasted 20 minutes. I showed them the phone call from the motel. I had my PA verify I was at the office and had ran out after receiving the phone call.

The only time things got a little hairy is when they contacted the motel and the desk clerk told them about me beating the guy and leaving him unconscious on the sidewalk. I explained he was the guy who raped Roxanne. And when I got to the motel he was banging on the door. He was bought in by ambulance the same day of the rape. He was still in the hospital when he was arrested and handcuffed to the bed.

Rox was in the hospital for 3 days. They did the rape kit and ran all the necessary test to make sure she didn't catch anything. Her mother and I were there everyday with her. The second day a new doctor came in, He looked somber but than again they usually look that way. He said he needed to speak with her and asked if she wanted privacy. She told him he could say anything around us. I don't think anyone was prepared for what was coming.

"Ms James, we run the usual test in this type of incident. One test we run is for pregnancy. From the sample we took yesterday shows you are pregnant."

No one said anything for a moment. Roxanne's mom was the first to say something. "Are you sure doctor? Can it be a mistake?"

"We run the test twice just to be sure. It's not something we want to be wrong about. I understand how upsetting this may be. I've arranged for a counselor to come by later today?"

Roxanne looked at me and broke out in racking sobs. Her mother went to hold her looking at me also.

I just stood there trying to take it all in. She's pregnant by her rapist. I mean we had been together in three months so it couldn't be mine. Haven't even talked since this happened. Three months ago I would have been my life we would be together forever. And than she wanted to test my love. What the fuck. They say men are stupid. She's been dating different guys the whole time we've been apart. She said she hasn't had sex but can I believe her? How do I know if she got knocked by the rapist. It could have been anyone for all I know.

What seemed like hours was only minutes. I looked at Roxanne and her mom, "I have to go, I need some air. I'll be back." and left the room to both of them yelling to me not to leave. The air in the room was to heavy to breath. I stumbled down the hallway to the elevators. For what seemed like an interminable amount of time the doors finally opened holding an elderly couple. The wife stepped closer to the husband as he put his arm around her. You get used to things like that as a young Black man. And I couldn't blame them this time. I know I didn't entirely look together.

I finally made it to my car. I just sat and actually cried like a little bitch. Even though we hadn't been together for a long time, I always thought we would eventually get back together. Not only get back together but married 2 or 3 kids. Watching them grow and be able to offer them things we could never dream of. Having one of them take over the business so I could retire and travel the world.

An older lady walked by saw me crying and knocked on the window asking if I was okay. Rolling down my window I told her I got some bad news but would be alright in a minute. Figured its a common sight for people to cry in a hospital parking lot.