“I’m positive,” she said.
Stassi nodded and then glanced back at Day who was absorbed in conversation with Demi.
“You say the word and we out,” Stassi said.
“Handle your business,” Charlie stated. “I won’t be the reason why you miss this opportunity. I’m good.”
Stassi gave her arm a squeeze of appreciation before making her way back through the crowd. Charlie could feel him staring and when their eyes met, she rolled hers away.
Bitch-ass nigga,she thought. She glanced his way once more but quickly retreated when she discovered he was still staring.Fine. Ass. Nigga.
She was grateful when he kept his distance, but his eyes never left her. Every time Charlie searched the room for him, he would already have her in his crosshair. It was like he was touching her. His eyes left a fingerprint behind. A grace to her neck. A kiss to her lips. Damn, a flick of her clit. How did he have this much power over her? Charlie was soaking wet as her heart stampeded, she was winded as an unbelievable anger and wanting filled her. God, how her body ached. She had only had him once but it had created an addiction. Clearly, she had done the same.
He didn’t even try to look away. One hand rested on the front of his slacks because she knew his dick was trying to pull him to her. Like a metal detector, it was screaming for her because Charlie felt it. Her pussy clenched and she had to force her eyes elsewhere. How could she resent and desire a man all at the same time? Demi needed to stop giving out good dick, if he only intended to do it once, because Charlie now wanted it again and again. He was surrounded by people. Artists on the label, other executives, women, his circle. So many important people around him, clamoring for his attention, and he gave them all a moment of his time, but those eyes always ended up back on her.
“You look real uncomfortable over here.”
Charlie turned her focus to the man who approached her. He handed her a champagne flute. Charlie took it but didn’t drink from it. She didn’t know him well enough to trust what might be in it.
“Just enjoying the vibe,” she answered.
“You are the vibe. It’s a lot of people in this room, but you’re the one,” he said.
She frowned and then laughter escaped her. “That is so terrible. Like, seriously, why do you niggas do shit like that? Tell obvious lies just to make conversation,” she said, shaking her head.
The man laughed and shook his head. “Damn, baby, you going hard on a nigga. I been trying to figure out how to start a conversation with you for 20 minutes and you ain’t making it easy. I’m embarrassed as fuck right now,” he said, snickering as he sipped the bubbly.
“I’m embarrassed for you,” she laughed. For the first time all night, she didn’t feel uptight. “All you have to do is say hi and maybe provide a name. I’m super simple.”
“Hi, I’m Sin,” he said, holding out a hand for her. “And you’re beautiful, and I apologize for the extra shit.”
Charlie placed a delicate hand in his and he caressed it with his thumb as they shook.
“I’m Charlie, it’s nice to meet you, Sin,” she replied. “See, wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Easiest shit I’ve ever done,” he answered, staring so hard that it made Charlie blush.
“Yo, nigga, take a walk.”
Charlie heard the lethal tone of voice as it came up behind her and she almost choked on the champagne she was sipping as she turned to him. Demi stood over her shoulder, so close to her body that she could feel his dick pressing into her ass as he placed a subtle hand to her hip.
“My bad, Demi. I ain’t know this was you. No disrespect, family,” the man said. “It’s all love.”
“More walking,” Demi said. He wasn’t with the conversation. He was like a dog with a bone — territorial as fuck.
Charlie spun on him. He had some nerve. He had all the nerve. The audacity of this man.
“Who do you think you are?” she asked.
“Nobody, Bird. I’m a nobody-ass nigga for handling you the way I did, and I know I got no right to be tripping on you, but I’m fucking tripping. You in here with your titties all out. Got these red fucking panties on,” he said, backing her against the bar and leaning to whisper in her ear. “Damn, Bird.”
Charlie shook her head in disgust.
“You gon’ make me kill something in here tonight,” he said. “Niggas eyes been on you all night, thinking about what it would be like to fuck you. That’s what you wanted with this outfit? For niggas to shoot they shot right in front of me? They can do that. They can shoot they shits with you, Bird, as long as they ready to shoot with me too, cuz I got all the shots, Bird. All the bullets in the world behind you. Out here being fucking fast, man.”
He had never been so irritated with a woman. His temple was throbbing, his pulse racing, with anger, in jealousy.
“Fast? Nigga, I’m grown,” she said, face twisted in irritation.
