Page 2 of Kisses Behind the Spotlight

“I’mma see what I can find out. But your aunt going missing has nothing to do with me, my family, or anything like that.”

“I beg to differ, so I’m out.” I chucked the deuces before strutting out of his office.

“Khaleesi!” Q called, running behind me.

“I don’t want to hear it,” I belted, heading straight for the door.

Rushing down the hallway, I slipped into my own apartment before he could catch up with me. When I made it to my bedroom, Montell was in our closet, packing for his flight.

“Damn, I jumped in the shower, and you ran off?” Montell stated once I entered the room.

“I went to talk to Q real quick.”

“You walked down the hall to talk to Q? What was so important that you couldn’t talk to him about it on the phone?” Montell interrogated, in an accusatory tone.

I rolled my eyes and pulled my shirt over my head. “Montell, I work for Q.”

“Yeah, you work for him. Dropped all of your other clients to focus on him,” he tossed out.

“I dropped all of my other clients because Q increased my salary and job responsibilities. I’m working smarter, not harder, and to be honest, I’m not liking the energy you’re throwing out there. It’s like ever since you found out I had sex with another man in the industry before we even met, you can’t let it go. I don’t bring up, nor do I care who you were dealing with before me. Montell, if this is what it’s going to be every time you get in your feelings, then this is going to be the end of the road for us. I don’t have time to be dealing with no insecure ass nigga.”

“And you think I got time to be wifing a hoe?” Montell spat, flinging the handful of clothes into the suitcase near his feet.

My eyes seared into Montell, but my mouth remained silent. A low chuckle escaped me as I kicked my pants off. “Fuck, baby, I’m sorry.” Montell darted out of the closet, shoulders slumped.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t baby me. The only reason I’m not clawing your fucking eyes out for calling me a hoe is because I’m exhausted and you’re about to leave.” I pushed Montell away and gathered my clothes to toss in the hamper. “I’m glad you’re going to visit your family for the week. We need some time apart.”

Truth was, I was mentally and physically exhausted. I never claimed to be a virgin when we met, and prior to our relationship, I was living my best life. I’m positive Montell was doing the same. We ran into my ex, Kendall, at a party a few months prior, and Montell’s nosy ass asked how we knew each other. I was honest about it because we’d likely run into Kendall again. The industry wasn’t but so big.

Ever since, Montell decided he suddenly wanted to attend every industry party I frequented and hung off my hip like a fucking newborn. When we first met, Montell told me how much he despised the industry parties, and I went alone, which was fine. I’d been attending events before I met Montell and would continue if we grew apart. Plus, I used every opportunity to network, and it was easier to maneuver alone. The red flag was raised high back then, but I was in love and decided to overlook it.

I showered and climbed into the bed to take a quick nap before it was time to take Montell to the airport. Good riddance. I gave Montell the silent treatment the whole ride there. When he got out of my car, I barely offered him a hand wave while he begged and pleaded for a conversation before he boarded his flight. I had nothing to say. My auntie was missing, and the last thing I could give a fuck about was Montell’s insecurities.

By nine o’clock, I made it back to my building and parked in the garage. I just wanted to sulk in my feelings while stuffing my face with the mountain of food I ordered on DoorDash. My mouth was already salivating at the thought of the spinach dip, steak, and Oreo Brookie. Easing into my assigned parking spot, I couldn’t help but notice that Q’s Ferrari and Jameera’s Benz were gone, but a black truck was parked in Q’s space. I hoped Q was taking my threats seriously because I wasn’t playing with him.

My phone notified me that my food was approaching the front desk, and I excitedly hopped out of my Benz, ecstatic that we arrived at the same time. My food would be the perfect temperature to eat my feelings away while I watched Waiting To Exhale. Hitting the locks, I slipped the key fob back into my Chanel clutch. When I looked up, the black truck that was parked in Q’s spot suddenly swerved in front of me. I squinted, trying to see through the dark tint when the window came down, giving me an unobstructed view of the occupants. My lips flattened, and my squint morphed into a menacing scowl. I got along with everyone. In my line of work, I was constantly meeting and greeting new people, but the face staring back at me was punchable, and his mouth would help you earn a mugshot if you weren’t careful.

“Yo mouthy ass been looking for Anila?” Xain’s deep voice questioned.

“Yeah. Does your rude ass know where she is?” I sassed, placing my hands on my hips. I’m sure Xain was used to people cowering underneath his intense gaze, but it didn’t move me from our first spat when he tried to play me about being on a guest list for an event that I orchestrated.

“Get in, and I’ll take you to her,” Xain commanded.

“So, Vincent did force her to go wherever she is? Call her now so I can be sure. She only calls me, never returns my texts in a timely manner, and never answers when I call her, and that’s not like her. Plus, she wouldn’t just take off and leave the store unattended as long as she said she would be out,” I demanded, folding my arms across my chest. Although I was wearing a brave face, I was terrified. What type of people would kidnap a pregnant woman?

“You getting in or I gotta snatch you up?” Xain monotoned, completely ignoring my demand.

I squinted my eyes at Xain, and he hopped out of the truck, rounding the vehicle. The tall strappy heels on my feet wouldn’t allow me to outrun him if I wanted to. Although I hated to comply with this nigga, I begrudgingly slid into the front passenger seat with an apparent attitude when he opened the door for me.

“Thank you for not making this harder than it had to be.” Vincent’s voice from the backseat sent chills down my spine, and an involuntary gasp escaped me. I spun around to give Vincent a piece of my mind, but quickly clamped my mouth shut when his dark eyes bore into me. As long as I laid eyes on my auntie, I would go with the flow.

When I got into the truck with Xain and Vincent, I never expected the last twenty-four hours to go how they did. I was coerced into the truck under false pretenses because the promise to take me to my auntie was a bold-face lie. I was cooped up in a hotel with Xain’s smug ass. Stepp was here for half of the day, then they switched. At least Stepp fed me. I couldn’t say the same for Xain. Whenever I got out of this shit, Q would never see me again. I know he’s the reason his Uncle Vincent gathered his hired guns and was waiting for me in my parking garage.

“I’m hungry,” I announced, stepping in front of the TV, blocking Xain’s view. That was probably the third time I told Xain this, and he couldn’t be bothered to fix the issue. He was too busy watching the basketball game.

“Man, move,” he roughly nudged me out of the way, but I didn’t care. My stomach was starting to touch my back! The smell of his cup noodles rotating in the microwave wasn’t appetizing, but they were definitely intensifying the hunger pains.

“I said I’m hungry!” I folded my arms across my chest and stepped back in front of the TV. “Just order me some room service. Where did you put the hotel phone? Or use your phone. I don’t care, I just need to eat. I have my period, and I’m starting to get a headache.”