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“I didn’t believe Santiago either,” Mimi says miserably. “It wasn’t until his ex confessed that I had to face the fact I put the man I love, and who loves me and his baby to distraction, through hell over a damn lie Joi helped perpetuate.” Her breast heaves as she gets mad again just thinking about it.
“He’s gonna want to kick his own ass forever for doubting you.” Krie arches a sage brow. “Trust me. Make him buy you a Maybach as an apology gift. I got a whole new set of knives, some other toys, and a whole brand-new restaurant.” She winks.
We all laugh, and for a moment, I visualize myself like my cousins, happily married to a man who adores me, but for the life of me, I can’t see it right now. He was just trying to get rid of me this morning, and I still don’t know if he’s still in love with Natalie.
We chat more, and eventually Valentine and various other cousins join us, and we are all talking and laughing. Still, every time I see Mathias watching me, his eyes are hard as stone.
Eventually the men join us. “Thank you for postponing my internship until after the campaign, Misters Takeda.”
Krie’s husband and his more austere brother bow slightly to me.
“We think it will be more beneficial to have you work on behalf of Takeda in DC as a registered lobbyist, after training of course,” Kiyoshi says with cold calculation smooth as a hot knife through butter.
“There is only so much one senator can do,” Hishashi affirms. So they already have a path set for me within the company. “This will be an accelerated path, and we still must insist you attain your MBA, just as you were going to do working here at the headquarters, but we know this is the best way forward.”
Excitement infuses me at hearing how much confidence they have in me. “This sounds amazing.” Looking at Mathias, I add, “I have to talk about it with Mathias first, though.”
“I already told them it’s whatever you want,” he says in a calm enough voice that has my cousins smiling because they don’t know any better. Heck, I didn’t know any better a few years ago. I didn’t know the villain lurking beneath the surface.
“Wonderful.” I beam at him for their sake, my heart sinking. Will I be able to keep my job at Takeda in DC if he divorces me, setting me aside for perfect Nat? I’d have to come back here and ask for my original job back. Probably get Krie to help. I can’t even think about the humiliation I’d have to endure.
After hearing their conversation today, they’d probably be laughing their asses off thinking how they got me back for being such a nuisance, causing them so much trouble with my childish infatuation.
“Thank y’all for having us and giving me a chance to explain how I plan to help local business and the community. Sorry we can’t stay longer. We have to get an early start in the morning,” Mathias tells the group, ushering me out of the library.
When we reach his car, he opens the door. “Get in the fucking car, Nikki.” He sounds so wrathful, I hesitate. Just then I see Easy getting in Angel’s truck; she waves,byeto me.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” he says, stepping smoothly in front of me. “Get. In. Wife.”
“You so fucking dumb,” I whisper hatefully, sliding into the seat.
“True,” he says, then reaches to buckle me in. “For ever trusting your ass.”
He snaps the door closed and goes to his side of the car before pulling off without another word to me.
“Go take a shower.Get that motherfucker’s scent, who you kept letting touch you off your body.” His words boom in the darkness of the barn he converted into a sleek modern house. He decided to come to his house on the Shelby estate since we were so close to the Shelby -Love Library.
“What?” Confusion makes my voice high and thready. The light is dim but bright enough for me to make out the fury etched on his face. “Are you talking about Blay?” I barely remember him touching me, and there was nothing inappropriate about it.
Mathias’s face is a cold mask of rage. He looks about ready to snap.
“Six times,” he says, tilting his head to the side. “Then you touched him.” His jaw flexes like he’s grinding gravel. “Skinning and grinning in that motherfucker’s face like he hung the fucking moon. The fuck you think you were doing?” His voice is barely above a growl.
“All we talked about was you, Mathias. He is a big admirer of how you got the settlements from the polluters for Birmingham’s west side residents.” I hate the way my voice sounds pleading. I hate how dirty he’s making my interaction with the nicest person I’ve met on the campaign trail.
“I don’t give a fuck what he thinks. Why the fuck did you let him keep putting his hands on you?” Every word sounds like bomb. He’s become unhinged.
“What the fuck do you care, Thi?” I scream at him. “You’re divorcing me or annulling our marriage to be with Nat, the love of your fucking life.”
He stands stock-still.
“Yeah, I heard your little plan with your assistant campaign manager, or is she your side chick now?”
Brushing past him, I go to take the shower he’s demanding.
ChapterFifteen
Nikki
