“You look fine, girl, stop it.”
“He’s sending a car for us. I can’t show up looking broke.”
“A car for us, Sibley? Stop playing!”
“I’m not,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “So, you see why I’m nervous?”
“No, actually I don’t. I’m Star struck, so I get why I’m nervous. But clearly, you know nothing about him. In your mind, he should be looked at as a regular man that is blessed to have the opportunity to be in your space. You’re gorgeous, you can dress, and clearly, he doesn’t care about your appearance considering you were in biker shorts or something when y’all met. Stop all of this and be my fun bestie today, please.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I smiled, giving myself a final once-over. I kept it clean and simple, not wanting to do too much.I wore a coral lace corset top beneath a mint tailored blazer, paired with distressed high-waisted denim shorts that showed just enough leg to make a statement. Coral lace-up heels wrapped around my ankles, while gold jewelry and a designer crossbody bag completed the look. It was polished, feminine, and hopefully appropriate enough for where we were going.. After all, he said dress comfortably, not for the Met Gala.
The black SUV was idling when we stepped outside. The driver stepped out smoothly, opening the back door for us. The leather seats were cool against my legs. The air inside was crisp and faintly scented with vanilla, which lowkey gave me a headache. Treasure had started filming.
“Okay y’all, so apparently we’re headed to a private location.” She whispered into her camera.
I leaned back, watching the city pass by. My reflection stared back at me in the tinted window. I didn’t look nervous, but I felt that way. Kier and I had a brief, chance encounter. We kicked it so hard at the nightclub, and he wasn’t on no disrespectful time. It was a vibe. And every moment since, he’d been on my mind, and I didn’t know why.
The drive to the location was about 35 minutes. It was certain parts of the city you just didn’t go in, and this expensive-ass suburb was one of them. So much so, I was in awe when we pulled up. The gates to the mansion rolled open slowly, revealing a wide stone driveway. The bass blared into my ears before the car even stopped. The driver walked us into the home and led us straight to the back that opened to the backyard, where the music got louder.
White umbrellas framed a massive pool that reflected the sun so brightly I had to squint. A drone flew overhead, dipping low over a row of models posed along the edge of the pool. Two girls were stretched out on floating loungers, showing glossy skin and wearing sunglasses. They may as well be naked, because I barely noticed they were wearing bikinis. And I realized quickly I wasn’t in my usual environment. I watched as a stylist knelt beside one, adjusting a strap while someone else misted her with a spray bottle to make her shimmer.
One of the guys from the shoot jumped into the pool, cannonball-style, without warning. The splash sent a sheet of water into the air, that reached the edge of the patio and splashed across my calves and the hem of my shorts. I gasped, stepping back instinctively.
Before I could even process it, Kier was in front of me. “My bad, are you alright?” He asked. It took a moment to realize his hand was firmly at my waist to keep me from slipping on the wet stone.
“I’m fine,” I said, smiling, trying not to look as startled as I felt. “Let me get out the way.” I laughed nervously.
He glanced down at my damp legs and shook his head, calling out to someone to grab towels. A young woman rushed over with a towel, and Kier handed it to me.
“My bad, beautiful. Shit gets out of hand pretty quickly around here,” he said quietly while his eyes scanned me to make sure I was actually okay.
“It’s okay, this looks fun.”
“It is mostly, but business too. You good though? I need to head back to the shoot, or else these niggas will get out of control. I just wanted to speak, since I noticed you walked in.”
“I’m good, handle your business.”
“Cool.” He stated, “Stay put, beautiful. I’ll be back.”
Kier disappeared back into the crowd, and I was still standing there thinking about the way his hand felt at my waist. He stalked through the set, adjusting pieces and giving orders. Two hours had passed, and I sat in the same spot I did when we first got here. Meanwhile, Treasure had done so many laps around the shoot that she ended up in it. Leave it to my girl to insert herself, and I ain’t mad at her. I watched Kier most of the time, definitely intrigued by his swag. He caught me staring and smirked before finishing his sentence and walking over.
Another burst of laughter rose from the water as the artist finally nailed his verse and the crew applauded. The music cut for a moment while someone yelledThat’s a wrapjust as Kier made it to me.
“Come walk with me,” he said, taking my hand. Kier guided me around the side of the house, away from the chaos. The stone gave way to a shaded terrace overlooking the valley. The air felt warmer there, and less humid from the pool. It was quieter, and I was grateful for the relief.
“Ms. Sibley,” he acknowledged me again.
“Mr. Producer,” I replied, smiling.
“You and your girls enjoy yourselves last night?”
“Yes, we had too much fun. I really appreciate you looking out for me.
“Too much fun, huh?” he laughed. “It was nothing.”
“It was everything. You’re a complete stranger, and you made sure—still are making sure—that my birthday is more than memorable. Thank you, Kier.”
“You’re welcome, it’s all good. But, if I’m being honest, there were a few times that you looked irritated or pissed off. I couldn’t tell if you were truly having fun or not.”
