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I sighed, appreciating an empty bladder while sauntering out of the ladies’ room and into the hallway. My buzz remained reasonable, and I looked forward to post-club drinks as I brushed off the lent apparently picked up from drying my hands in the restroom. I was feeling the new, gold one-hundred-twenty millimeterLouboutinsI paired with leather harem pants and a thin tank bodysuit revealing the sides of my breasts. The thirty-five-inch gold necklace with a triangular pendant either distracted or forced you to zero in on the contouring view of my chest.
The sounds of chatter ahead had my gaze ascending. Immediately, my steps halted.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!
Every ounce of irritation I had from earlier had suddenly returned in spades. I continued down the hallway in hopes of seeing Man. I’d cuss his ass completely out, not caring he’s now the official owner of this club. In fact, he should be my exact target for this in the first place.
“Excuse me,” someone had the nerve to call out when I brushed passed the crew gathered in the hall near the door. “We’re waiting in line.”
I had no idea who shared those useless words, but to them, my response was, “And you’ll continue to wait.”
I opened the door to the room they were waiting near. It was the same one the waiter asked me to go into when I was done with the restroom. But the lavish room had been empty but for two people I was sure were Raj’s crew.
“Is Man in here?” I asked.
When the two bulky men on either side of the room shooting to their feet shook their heads, another voice warned, “Don’t be rude, Ashira.”
That’s when my head whipped to find the bold face Iknewthose words had come from.
“Let me ask you a question. Have I ever introduced myself to you as Ashira?” I asked Ava, to which she rolled her eyes. “Couldn’t have because I didn’t introduce myself. My daughter’s father made the introduction. And I’m sure Ashira wasn’t the name he used because I don’t introduce myself to people like you as Ashira.”
Ava shook her head, rolling her eyes away. Her friends huffed and puffed, some even daring me with their eyes. I didn’t give a damn. The shit with this wormy bitch being too familiar and intertwined in my world had gnawed at me to the point of pain already.
She was here. Ava and her crew came tonight to see Ragee perform atClub Sin. My mood took a nose-dive the second I’d seen them inside the main room earlier. And yes, I would have been irritated seeing her anywhere on the planet, but the fact that she was here, entertaining guests—at the place Jas had once owned primarily but had still been in the family of his businesses—disturbed me to a degree of agony.
Admittedly, it was weird seeing her dressed so casually in anAsè Garbmonogrammed long-sleeved bodysuit with high-heeledSaint Laurentknee boots. The bodysuit was from the recent fall line, worn by the model during Fashion Week. I knew this because I’d worn my very own a few months ago and was sure little Miss Prolific Ava here knew as the images were all over social media.
Ughhhh!
She was like dust, just landing everywhere at all inconvenient times. I was generally an easy-going, upbeat, fun, and all-inclusive person for the sake of a good time. However, Ava Dallas, Jas’ right-hand man atPrism Built, was one person I damn near hated.I mean… What was the point of her existence in my life? She was a pest…a nuisance…an interloper!
She tried tucking in her lower, high-glossed lip, maintaining her composed demeanor. “Please don’t start. It’s all good.” Ava’s head swung softly, side to side, stating the fucking obvious. “We’re just waiting and all.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s not all good. You’re always just…around. Couldn’t you find another venue? You know my schedule. You know I’m off the road.”
Her friends, three in all, had reactions. Two sucked their teeth, and the other mumbled something I couldn’t make out beneath her breath. I’d never been so forward with Ava, but my emotions regarding her had never felt so imminent. I’d had enough!
Her brows met. “Another venue, Shi-Shi? Come on, aren’t we both adults? Man is family.”
Acid flushed my veins at that false familiarity. “Man is notyourfamily. You’re an employee. You get paid and bossed around, Ava, by his best friend. I’m sure your ‘do girl’ duties had extended to the place a time or two over the years. You shouldn’t play where you get paid.”
She scoffed but controlled her volume when countering, “I’m free to go anywhere I please. I’m not on the clock.”
“Are you not? I’ve received texts and emails from you at ungodly hours.” Then I dropped my head to the side. “Or do I only receive those when you’re in bed with him?”
When her eyes widened, and her chin pulled in, Ava still appeared unruffled. A smooth and antagonizing smile darkened her face seductively. “Don’t go there.”
Between that warning and the gasps and snickers of her party, I was officially livid. So, I shrugged. “I know. I get it. His pipe is amazing—one of the best I’ve had,” I lied. Jas had pathetically beenthebest I’d had, but I wouldn’t tell her that. Wouldn’t demonstrate how narrow my experiences had been…or nonexistent. “But even with a child by him, I’m not stuck with my mouth around his balls.”
“Shi-Shi!” I recognized Cecil’s ‘grandmommy’ cry.
I turned to see my friends approaching but was too far gone to care.
“You’re pathetic,” I continued directly in her face. “You know that? Don’t you have aBlakewooddegree? One of the most distinguished in the world, all just to work as a damn apprentice.” I scoffed. “Who the hell fromBSUbecomes an apprentice for a home-building firm? First joke!”
“Hey!” one of her friends interjected. My hand quickly shot up to cover her face from my peripheral.
Ava hushed her quiet. That shit infuriated me, too. Ava was no damn damsel in distress. She was no angel. The woman was calculating and long-suffering. I just didn’t get her end game.
