“Your last relationship was mired in gossip, what with Keith coming out saying that you were a possessive control freak. What will this Hill say when the relationship sours? Will he come after your character? He’s a journalist for fuck’s sake; he can find a way to spin anything in his favor and make you look bad. Imagine how many endorsements you’ll lose because not one, buttwomen say you’re unhinged.”
As much as I love her bluntness, right now, I want Sya to shut the fuck up. I know it’s her job to make sure my image is squeaky clean—or as clean as it can be since I don’t really like working with some people—so the money keeps rolling in.
But Hill is nothing like my ex, Keith. Keith knew how I was, but it got to be too much for him when fame was within reach. Hill doesn’t want a leg up in the industry. He wants me for me. Hell, he bitched about me buying him an expensive car when Keith probably would have asked why I didn’t add some upgrades.
I appreciate all Sya as done for me, but I won’t allow her to talk about my little psycho this way when she doesn’t even know him. “He’s not like that and if you even imply he is again, you’ll be finding someone else to manage. Are we clear?”
We stare each other down for a few moments, the air between us thick with tension. I’m not willing to back down and Sya will never admit she’s wrong.
As a concession, she throws her hands up and says, “Fine. Tell me about this Hill. I know you said he was going with you to Australia, but I thought you just wanted to show off for a new boy toy. Didn’t know this was the start of a budding relationship.”
“I don’t have boy toys, Sya,” I say as I lean back against the seat. Then I tell her all about Hill.
The entire way to Mora’s charity luncheon for up-and-coming models, I gush about my little psycho, though I keepwhat really made me fall in love with him to myself. If I told Sya I saw him slit someone’s throat and it made my dick hard, she’d call the police on Hill, then have me committed.
When I finish speaking, she sighs and says, “Okay, fine. He doesn’t sound as if he wants you for your money. Be careful though. Not because he’s a normie,” she rushes to say, “but because you were really broken up after Keith and his bullshit. I didn’t like seeing you like that. You pay me for my company, but I’d like to think after all these years, we’re friends.”
“We are.”
“Even though you threatened to fire me,” she gives me a sidelong look.
“Hill will be in my life for the foreseeable future. I’d marry him tomorrow if I thought he’d say yes. I don’t want anyone talking shit about him, including you.”
She nods, her eyes softening. “I get it. I won’t step out of line again.”
We pull up to the luncheon, and I pull in a long breath, trying to steel myself for being asked to pose for pictures, give a speech, and sit around a boring function for three hours. “I think I may retire soon,” I say.
Sya looks at me quickly. “Way to drop a bomb on me. Where did that come from?”
I wave my hand at all the commotion going on outside. “All this. I’m getting old, Sy. Too old to pretend that all this shit moves me. It doesn’t. I hate all the fanfare, all the extra bullshit I have to do just to book shows. You have a bunch of contacts for some sponsors, which will be enough. I think one or two more years of photoshoots and runways and I’m out.”
Pulling out her phone, she goes back to typing furiously. “That gives me plenty of time to get you enough endorsements to keep the money flowing in for another ten, fifteen years. Youwon’t go broke if you stop working full time in the next two years.”
I won’t go broke if I stopped working tomorrow. I live way below my means and don’t spend extravagantly—except when it comes to my cars. If I’m smart about my spending, I’ll have money until the day I turn one hundred.
But if I retire, Sya’s level of comfort will go way down and she won’t like that.
Patting her gently on the thigh, I say, “If it makes you feel better, I’ll help you find someone else to manage. Then when you’re done chauffeuring me around, you’ll have another hopeless case.”
Sya pats my cheek. “You’re not hopeless, my dear. You’ve been a joy. But we still have a couple years left on this ride, so let’s not start saying our goodbyes yet.”
I hum, putting my hand on the door so we can get this road on the show.
“Menace,” Sya calls before I can open the door.
“Yeah?”
“Is Hill the reason you really want to quit? No shade, just wondering.”
A small smile tips up my lips when I think about all the things I want to do with Hill that I wouldn’t be able to if I were still working. I want to wake up one morning and take us to Guam to explore their wonderful beaches. I want to take him to the South and stuff him full of soul food. I want to take him to Niagara Falls on a whim. All those things are possible if I’m working, but I’d always have to make sure I was camera ready. No tans, no weight gain.
I want to be a normal person with Hill, to be able to live like I’m not a celebrity.
Hill hasn’t asked me to quit and I know he wouldn’t, even if he got fed up with my rigorous schedule and dieting, but I wantto give him a life that’s not in the spotlight. A life where he can leave his home or work without the world snapping pictures of him.
Looking at Sya, I say, “Yes and no. He’s shown me that I want to be a regular person one day. The older I get, the more I want it.”
She smiles at me. “Good luck with him, Menace. He sounds like a good man.”
