“Shit!” Torrence said gripping the arm rest of his chair, “Thatbitch!” It was rare when I saw my brother pissed off but when he heard Eva say that her current husband was Justin’s father he looked like he wanted to punch something. But when he saw me pass out, he stood up as if he was about to run and catch me and my eyes got misty. When the footage ended I turned the screen off as Torrence sat down, he started bouncing his leg and rubbing his fingers together, which I learned over the years that it was something he did when he felt stressed.
“What’s wrong Tore?” I asked standing up and coming over so I could sit in the chair next to him but before I sat down, he stood up again and hugged me. My family was an affectionate family, so I didn’t feel weird or surprised that my brother was hugging me tight. There was no such thing as toxic masculinity in the Browning household growing up.
“I’m so sorry Ty.” His voice sounded thick like he was trying not to cry.
“What? Why the hell are you sorry?” I said, backing up so I could look at his face.
“Did I miss something on the paperwork? How did I miss that Eva was married to Brandon when I ran his background? You wouldn’t have had the stroke if I did a better job?—”
“Wait, hold the fuck up. What younotabout to do is blame yourself for this shit, ok? I looked over the paperwork too after you did, and Eva’s name was nowhere on it. Also, Eva didn’t change her last name after she got married, probably so she could pull some shit like this. But you arenotto blame, you hear me?” I said, grabbing his face so he could see that I was serious and when I pulled him in for another hug I felt him relax.
“Tore, you’re one of the best lawyers I fuckin’ know and if you weren’t you know damn well I would have never hired yo’ ass.” After I kissed the side of his head and let him go, he laughed because he knew I was telling the truth. I loved each of my brothers and they were all smart, but I didn’t believe in hiring family just because they were family. I hired them because they were some of the best people in their fields.
“You right, I am the shit!” he said, and I felt proud because I loved when my brother talked his shit. There was nothing wrong with knowing you was the shit when you could easily back it up.
“Damn right you are, so now let’s work on getting me out of this bullshit,” I said, sitting behind my desk and pulling out all of the paperwork and correspondence I had with Brandon Moore. As much as this deal would have been good for our companies, there was no way inhellI was going to work with Eva’s ass.
What was that saying? “All money ain’t good money.”
“But fuck all that I want to share some good news with you,” I said leaning back in my chair. I felt myself smiling and my body relax with what I was about to say.
“Whatever it is must be good because you’re wearing your “I’m the king of the world” smile, I only see it when you close a lucrative business deal. What business have you bought?” Torrence said, looking at me skeptically.
“I'm going to ask Bailey to marry me.”
Torrence looked at me for a few seconds and blinked slowly as he sat down so he could take in what I just said. He was eerilyquiet as he studied me. Then he burst out laughing before he damn near leaped over my desk to give me a hug.
“I fuckin’ knew it!” He shouted in my ear. “I knew from how you looked at her that woman had your ass hooked!”
“So…you don’t think it’s too soon?”
“What? Of course I do, but shit when you know…you know right?” Torrence shrugged . “I’m just happy you allowed love to come back into your life.”
“Thanks Tore,” I said, feeling my happiness spread through my body. I know me and Bailey were in a weird space right now, but I know she’s the one for me. So, whatever I needed to do to make sure that our future was together and not apart, I was willing to do.
I just prayed she said yes.
Bailey
Chile,where the hell does time go? One minute I was in a happy relationship with Titan then the next minute it’s been a week since we broke up. He reached out to me every single day multiple times a day and left me messages that said he called just so he could hear my voice on my voicemail greeting. He sent me screen shots of the transcripts of what he and his therapist discussed, since he was back to seeing him after our breakup. He sent lunch every day to the office and dinner to my house. Every day I was ready to work things out, but I wanted him to miss me. So, after the fourth day I finally put my foot down and told him I needed space to think, and I couldn’t do that if he kept calling and you know what his ass did? Gave me the space I fucking asked for. Theaudacityof him giving me what I wanted. I rolled my eyes at my reflection in the mirror as I put on my makeup.
“He always gives me what I want, even if it will hurt him, he will give it to me. That’s what I love about him,” I said out loud as I damn near poked myself in the eye with my eyeliner. I was getting ready to speak on the all-women’s panel at theTech in Blackconvention. I was supposed to go with Titan today but now that we were no longer together that was out the window now. He was scheduled to speak tomorrow at the main event, and Iwas happy about that because that meant I wouldn’t see him today. But I was sad too because I missed him so much. When I finally poked myself in the eye, I knew it was time to refocus my thoughts and finish getting ready.
I was listening to Jazmine Sullivan “Pick up your feelings,” as I jumped around my room putting on my tight ass shapewear. I wanted to looksnatchedwhen I sat on that stage today. When I finally got my shapewear on, I picked up my phone to check the text that came through five minutes ago. It was from Giada saying she would be here in thirty. I smiled as I sent a quick reply that I would be ready. When Giada found out I was going to be on the panel too she offered to have her driver pick me up. Lord knows I didn’t want to deal with downtown parking when a big event was in town, so I happily accepted. Since that day in the hospital her and I have gotten closer beyond a working relationship, I would even consider her a friend now. I also met her identical twin cousins Kiara and Ciara. My brother Anthony was even working with her now after I recommended him to be her security after she vaguely told me she got into a business dispute with her uncle.
I was starting to realize that there was definitely more to Giada than just being a nightclub owner and soon to be grocery store owner but that was none of my business. She was cool as hell and treated me with respect and for now that’s all that mattered.
Exactly thirty minutes later, Giada called me to let me know that her driver was downstairs. Before I left out, I double checked my bag and made sure I had all the documents and passes I needed for entry today, then I slipped a pair of theshoes Titan gifted me into my large Birkin, which was also a gift from Titan. Thinking about him made a wave of sadness hit me so strong it took my breath away. I had to pause and breathe through it so I wouldn’t fall to the floor and start crying my eyes out like I’ve been doing all week. When I felt ok, I walked out, locked my door, and hurried to the elevator.
When I got to the lobby, Fred was outside just cackling and key-keying with Giada and her cousin Kiara. The only reason I knew it was Kiara because one of her left iris was black, and she always dressed like she was about to get on a motorcycle at a moment’s notice. Like right now, she was wearing a tight V neck shirt under a black motorcycle jacket and black low rise leather pants and black boots. But Giada looked like she was ready to either take over Wall Street or go to the club. Her long hair was slicked back in a low ponytail that touched her ass, and she was wearing a black double breasted blazer dress, black lace tights, and a pair of black open toe Giuseppe stilettos. Giada told me she was six feet without heels, so in her sky high heels she towered over Fred and her cousin, who was also tall. She had to be at least six foot five right now.
“Kiara, we gone have to take our bikes out to that new motorcycle bar I heard about,Red Line.You heard of it?” I heard Fred ask.
“Of course I heard of it, I know the owner. Whenever you ready, I’m gone take you on a date,” Kiara said with a smile on her face. I don’t know exactly when the two of them got so close, but Fred definitely treated Kiara like she was another daughter.
“You got it, and Giada, you just like Bailey with those tall ass death traps you call shoes.” Fred tisked, “You better not fall. Otherwise, that fiancé of yours gone kill you if you hurt yourself while pregnant.”
“You damn right, Fred!” I laughed when I heard Devin yell out of the driver window of a black Bentley SUV. When they heard me laugh, they turned in my direction.
