Chasity placed their respective drinks in front of them and proceeded to take their orders. East was familiar with the place, so he requested his order then suggested for Joi after she indecisively rattled off a few things that “looked good”. Their orders came quickly and the two were left alone again. East didn’t say much throughout the meal. Most of his time was spent watching Joi enjoy her food while she struggled not to stare at him.
He encouraged her attraction to him but wasn’t a fan of the attraction brewing in him for Joi. It was peculiar and uncharted territory for East. He wouldn’t deny that he was physically enticed by Joi because it would be a lie. The swell in his jeans from the time he eased into the booth with her, and even at this moment, an hour later, was proof. But the desire to just be around her was what he was unsure about. East paid attention to her laugh, the way her eyes squinted. He could tell the exact angle of her lips when he said something she didn’t like, causingthem to bend into a scowl, or the way her cheeks puffed slightly when she blushed from his vulgar comments about how he would handle her if given the chance.I just need to fuck her and get it over with and out of my system.
East wasn’t sure why certain things about Joi stood out to him, but they did, and it made him anxious. He was never anxious where a woman was concerned, so when she eventually made the call to end their time, he didn’t argue.
“I think I’d better go. I only have an hour before my next appointment and I know traffic is going to be insane.”
Joi placed her hands over her stomach and exhaled a short sigh, allowing her shoulders to drop. She was stuffed and would much rather be taking a nap than spending two hours attaching her clients’ lashes.
“Where’s your shop?” East asked as he reached for the bill, which Chasity had left them about twenty minutes before after refilling drinks.
Joi got to it before he could, holding it close while she reached in her purse and whipped out three twenties.
“Buckhead.”
East grinned at the fact that she covered their lunch but wasn’t about to make her spend her money. The meal wasn’t shit to him. “Keep your money, I got it.”
Shaking her head while offering a sly grin, Joi held firmly to the tiny tray that held their bill and her money. “Nope, on me. Now, we’re even.”
East cocked his head to the side and squinted. “You think a fifteen-dollar burger levels you with a sixty K debt?”
Joi lifted one shoulder and confidently smiled. “Based on income levels, yes. What you make in comparison to what I make means that this…” She held up the bill. “…is the same as your sixty K.”
“Damn, shawty. How much do you think my net worth is?” He presented Joi with raised brows, knowing he was indeed set financially. His shops, investments, and side hustles put six figures in multiple accounts for him. Not to mention what was in his private safes, but East wasn’t flashy, so there was no way she would know how deep his pockets were. He would occasionally show his worth by a few timepieces or the cars he drove, but he generally stayed under the radar with flaunting his wealth. In the words of his new friend, “men were crazy”. It wasn’t likely that anyone would try East because they were well aware of the consequences that the challenge would bring, but it was still a possibility. East was always extremely private and money brought attention.
“You charged ten grand just to have a seat at the table. Throughout the night, I counted at least thirty people during the time that I was there. That’s three hundred K. I also know that not everyone was a winner, which means you made way more than the entry fee. My debt is paid, sir.” She winked at him, grabbed her purse, and eased out the booth.
East chuckled to himself as he removed his long body, stretching once he was on his feet.
“So, you have firsthand knowledge of my pockets, but I don’t know shit about yours. I’m not sure how comfortable I am with that. Can I get a copy of your financial statements? I can have my accountant reach out to you.”
Joi rolled her eyes as she led the way to the front of the restaurant, tossing her answer over her shoulder as they moved.
“Trust me, you would not be impressed.”
“I’m very impressed,” East sang from behind her as he watched her little round ass moving while she walked ahead of him. Thoughts of seeing it fully exposed while he glided in and out of her from behind plagued him until he was forced tofocus on something else. A small hand on his arm made his eyes narrow to slits within seconds.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Nae requested before her eyes moved to Joi, who was now by the door. “Alone.”
East looked down at her hand, which Nae quickly moved. Nobody touched East without permission. She learned that rule very early in her dealings with him. “About?”
“I… I just…” Nae fumbled over her words. She didn’t want Joi to witness her begging for time with a man who willingly handed it over to another woman. “When can we hook up?”
“I’ll call you.” Nae’s feelings were crushed while East didn’t seem bothered at all because it was all he offered her before turning to leave with Joi. She had watched the interaction annoyed but knew she didn’t have the right to be.This man is not mine in any shape, form, or fashion.
“Oh, okay. Just let me know,” Nae announced to East’s back as he pushed the door open, allowing Joi to leave first, which gave Joi a small feeling of vindication.
“I guess I’ll see you whenever,” Joi tossed out, still a little moved by his interaction with Nae.
“Tonight.”
“What?” Joi frowned at him, tenting her eyes from the sun, which was in her face and at East’s back.
“I’ma see you tonight. The shop closes at nine. I need to swing by my place to shower and change, so like ten, if that’s cool.”
“Like a date?”
East smirked at the label she placed on it just that fast. “I don’t date. I just want to kick it with you. See where your head is at.”
