Shy stepped behind Ellie and put her hands on her shoulders, forcing Ellie to look in the mirror.
“Now, look at yourself. You’re freaking gorgeous. Much prettier than that long neck, big foot, fatback baby mama of his.”
“But she’s not any of those things,” Ellie said, confused and frowning.
“You know what?” Shy said in frustration.“Fine, ho. Go out there and act like she’s better than you then.”
“Okay, okay, wait, hype me up again. You right. I’ma get it right this time. Fuck that bitch,” Ellie stated half-heartedly.
Shy shook her head because Ellie wasn’t giving the confidence she needed to give.
“Nah, say it with your chest, girl; put your whole titty in that shit. Fuck that bitch.”
Ellie nodded, feeling a little more brazen.
“Fuck that bitch!” She smiled and shook her head because no matter the circumstance, Shy always had a way to make her girls smile.
“That’s right. Fuck him and who?” Shy asked, waving her finger with attitude.
“Fuck him and his duck ass baby mama,” Ellie snapped.“Lying-ass nigga.”
Shy had gotten Ellie started.
“Let me get my shit together. He wants to play. Let’s play.” Ellie gave herself a once-over in the mirror, reaching inside the top of her dress to adjust her titties. She had been letting Loyal treat her like he was the prize.“Fuck all this sad shit. Nigga got me fucked up.”
Shy smiled and snatched open the door.
“That’s my bitch!” she cheered, whispering as they walked out of the bathroom.
Ellie walked back onto the main museum floor, and her resolve was dissolving by the second. He was so damn fine, and she was so jealous she almost couldn’t contain it.
She walked over to the bar for a little liquid courage.“Lychee martini, please, with a sugar rim,” she ordered.
“You mind if I squeeze in here?”
She smelled the gentleman behind her before he spoke. Whatever he wore was intoxicating, and she turned to take him in. He was the perfect distraction. He was a little light skin, but he had an edge to him that gave dominant energy. She moved her clutch from the space beside her and he eased in next to her.
“Thanks,” he said.“You’re lovely, by the way.”
It was such a gentle compliment that Ellie smiled genuinely. She blushed.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I’m Rich,” the man introduced.
“Elliot,” she returned.“So, do you work forLoyal?”
“With Loyal, on a few projects. I own a bank. We finance a lot of the projects Loyal does. We just broke ground on a 100-million-dollar apartment community in downtown Ann Arbor,”Rich informed.
“Wow, that’simpressive,” Ellie replied.
“We do alright,” Rich smiled.“What charity you playing for?”
“You know what? I am the wrong person to even indulge in this little game because I have no idea how to play any of this stuff. I don’tgamble, so...”
“That means you’llhave beginner’s luck then,” Rich proposed.“Let’s spin the block a little, and I’llteach you.”
The bartender delivered her drink, and she picked it up.“Why not?”
