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“Do you think that matters when a majority of the timeIdon’t want to be a part of this family?” Frustration tightened into a knot in his chest.
“But you are. And we need you. You were quite effective during the celebrations. Everyone remarked upon it. You reminded me a lot of your father.”
He inhaled sharply. “I don’t want to talk about my father. But I do want to know why you need me to do this. Julian, with a pregnant Fiona by his side, would project a healthy and secure future for the monarchy—the exact image you’re trying to put forward. Why aren’t you using them?”
Lines of tension bracketed her mouth. “I take it you haven’t talked to your girlfriend today?”
“No.” He scowled at another reminder that it would be days before he’d have the pleasure.
But what did this have to do with Dani?
“Apparently, Fiona isn’t the only one expecting. That girl Duchess was involved with, Samantha Banks? She’s also claiming to be pregnant. By Julian.”
Chapter Six
From London to Dubai: Duchess Takes the World by Storm
People
“Here.” Tasha waited until Dani had stepped out of the massive black SUV before handing her the large iced vanilla coffee.
Dani accepted the drink from her assistant with a tired smile. “Thanks.”
She’d flown almost sixteen hours through eleven different time zones, performed her ass off—as usual—and flew another fourteen and a half hours to New York, all in the span of four days. Sure, she did it with first-class accommodations, and she was grateful, but—
A bitch was tired.
And she missed her man.
She didn’t have time for a layover in London though she’d seriously considered it. With exhaustion coming for her, all she’d wanted was to snuggle up against Jameson’s tall, solid frame, close her eyes, and forget about the outside world.
As soon as that thought entered her mind, she’d immediately sent it packing. She loved Jameson, but nothing could get in the way of this deal. She’d put in the years of hard work—always hustling and on the grind—and had kept going in the face of overwhelming doubt and skepticism.
Now Dani was about to reap the rewards. This was the meeting where Mela-Skin would ascend to the next level, finally granting her the control over her life that she’d always craved. So while a bitch was tired, and longing for her man, no one outside of her inner circle would ever know it. Certainly not by looking at her.
She was the epitome of business... Duchess style.
The bright pink corseted jumpsuit with matching heels popped against her dark skin. Her face was beat to perfection and her hair was slicked back into a low tight ponytail that fell to her waist. With a gray plaid print blazer draped over her bare shoulders, she hoped she projected the image of the rapper turned mogul she aspired to be. All her dreams were about to come true. She knew how to show up and show out.
Dani and Tasha glided through rotating glass doors and into the large steel and glass skyscraper that housed Genesis’s U.S. headquarters. The foyer was enormous, and echoes of heels and voices bounced off the marble floors. On the walls, large gold letters spelled out the luxury brand-name tenants, whose headquarters and retail spaces could be found within.
A tall Black woman wearing a classic navy suit with gold-tipped dreds brushing her shoulders waved from her position at the base of the massive three-story staircase.
“You look incredible,” Mela-Skin’s CEO Andrea Thompson said when she reached them.
“I hope so. I wanted to project the right image.” Dani shook her head. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening.”
“I knew it would. I never doubted you.”
“I appreciate that. I had the vision, but it was your business savvy and management that got us here. So, thank you.”
Andrea clasped Dani’s hand and squeezed. Dani tossed a smile to Tasha and then the three of them crossed the lobby like members of the Dora Milaje, ready to kick ass and take names.
And Dani didn’t plan on writing anything down, not with these two-inch stiletto nails!
The last time she’d been in this elevator she’d been extremely nervous. And while her stomach was still in knots, it wasn’t due to anxiety over their reaction to the Samantha Banks ordeal.
This time it was excitement.
