Zonnique folded her arms lightly. “Foryourchild? More women than you think would consider it. But…”
Zonnique immediately started twisting a strand of hair around her finger nervously.
That alone pissed me off more.
“Five hundred thousand dollars,” she revealed in a low tone.
I blinked repeatedly. “Five… Five hundred thousand dollars?!”
I stared at her Zonnique like she had completely lost herdamnmind.
“The fuck is wrong with you?!” I roared.
On some real shit, it wasn’t even the amount that had me ready to go upside Zonnique’s head; it was the fuckin’ audacity.
“And you negotiated all this without me?! No paperwork?! No contract?! No approval?!”
“It was only a verbal agreement. I haven’t done a contract or anything yet. I was waiting to talk to you first before finalizing that part.”
I scoffed. “And youreallythought I’d bankroll a half-million-dollar hush arrangement becauseyoucame up with a plan in the middle of an anxiety attack?Do I look like a nonprofit organization for poor decision-making?”
Zonnique’s mouth twitched nervously. “Merge, you’re a billionaire. Five hundred thousand dollars isn’t exactly going to hurt you financially.”
“Stop counting my fuckin’ pockets, Zonnique,” I warned. “I don’t give a damn if I was richer than Bezos and God combined, or if I could buy the moon and lease out stars on the side. Who gave you the authority to start budgeting my life like you’re my accountant and my wife?”
“I just thought you’d understandeventually,so the amount wouldn’t matter.”
“No, youthoughtI’d be desperate enough to agree to anything because a baby was involved. So, tell me… how much of that five hundred thousand wereyouplanning to emotionally finesse out of her once the baby got here?”
“It’s not about the money for me, Merge. I don’t want any of it. I just want…you.”
I laughed. “Me? And the luxury attached to me, right? Let’s not romanticize this shit, Zonnique. You like the lifestyle, the status,lovethe dick, and the idea of standing beside somebody powerful. But if you thought all this was somehow gonna circle back into you still becoming Mrs. Belvior…” I shook my head slowly. “You played yourself, shawty.”
Zonnique shoulders sagged slightly.
My patience finally snapped.
I reached into my waistband, pulled out my gun again, and directed it at her.
Zonnique immediately stumbled backward with both hands raised, her eyes widening in panic.
“You know… I could kill you right now strictly off the principle of betrayal, and nobody around me would question the decision, right?”
Her breathing hitched sharply. “Merge, no! Please no!”
“I’m dead serious. See, that’s the difference between normal people and families like mine. Out there”—I gestured vaguely toward the city beyond the windows— “in the regular world, betrayal gets you blocked, unfollowed, and maybe cheated back on if somebody’s feeling extra toxic.”
I pointed toward the floor beneath us.
“But in my world? Betrayal gets treated like a disease, and diseases get cut out before they spread.”
I kept the gun trained on her while slowly stepping closer.
“Understand this, Zonnique… I’ve tortured muthafuckas for less disrespect than this.”
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
A cold, almost devilish laugh left me, as my finger rested calmly against the trigger.
