Page 45

“Jordan, I was just?—”

“Noemi!” I yelled as I walked back over to my desk. Staring at her face on the screen, the fire in her eyes couldn’t be missed. “Answer me.”

“I admit… I was jealous when Irene stepped to us at your club. When we were leaving, I found her and another woman staring at us as we left.” She folded her arms across her chest and shrugged. “I pulled the images from your security system tofind out who they were. That’s when I found out how they were connected.”

“So you knew for weeks about Lew?”

Silence.

“You can’t hear now?” I clenched my jaw as I palmed my desk and leaned forward. “You’ve known all this time that my baby mama was connected to this nigga, and you said nothing?”

“How the fuck was I supposed to know that sneaky pussy-ass bitch was plotting on you? How the fuck was I to know you even had beef with anyone? Don’t blame me for some shit you should have seen and put together! Your ex popping up on the scene with a whole kid after five years should have been your first red flag!”

“You’re right.” I chuckled as I glanced back at the screen. A picture of Gia and her nigga smiling at the camera while my daughter clung onto her stuffed bear for dear life appeared on the screen, making my blood boil. “You can’t even manage the shit show in your own life… how the fuck do I expect you to help me with mine?”

“Aye, bruh!” Wild shouted, causing me to snap my eyes up at him. “The fuck wrong with you?”

Mugging him, I dragged my eyes back to the screen and saw sadness in Noemi’s. Despite the anger I was feeling about Gia, I felt like shit for what I said to her. I knew what she was dealing with, and I had no right to say that.

“Noemi, I’m?—”

“Don’t.” She held her hand up and stopped me. “My findings will be in your email soon.” She typed for a few seconds and brought her sad eyes back to mine. “If that will be all, I have to go and prepare for a date with myfiancé. My shit show doesn’t stop just because you’re just now discovering your own. At least I’m aware of what the fuck is crumbling down around me. Can you say the same?”

Not even two seconds later, the wall screen went black, and my iPhone made a subtle beep, letting me know she was gone. Snatching it up, I threw it against the wall right before there was a knock on my door. I never wanted to hurt Mimi or make her feel a certain way. In no way was any of this shit her fault, and I didn’t have the right to make her feel as if it was.

“You just wait until I leave this muthafuckin’ club.” Wild scowled at me as he made his way to open the door. “You hurt that girl’s damn feelings with your dumb ass.” Yanking the door open, a slow smirk formed on his face. “Speaking of dumb bitches…”

Irene frowned at him as she stepped past him and into my office. Seeing my iPhone shattered on the floor, she brought her eyes to me before scanning the room. Her eyes landed on Money, who folded his arms as she stepped in further. Confused, she began to speak until she peered up at the screen on the wall. Stuck like a deer in headlights, she began to shake in fear.

“What’s wrong, Irene?” I stuffed my hand into my slacks as I approached her. “See someone familiar?”

“I-I…” she stammered as she turned to face me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied as tears slid down her cheek. “I have to go and get the girls ready for tonight.”

“Say, Wild?” I called out to my brother without taking my eyes off her. Pulling my Glock from my waist, she took small steps backward, bumping into Money’s chest. “Go and tell Jerome he’s in charge of the floor tonight. Irene is clocking out early and has been relieved of her duties… indefinitely.” Placing my gun under her chin, I lifted it until her eyes were on mine.

“Mr. Mills, please,” she begged through her sobs. “I don’t want to die.”

The smell of urine caused me to glance down, and sure enough, this bitch was pissing all over my floor. That infuriatedme even more than when those niggas I killed bled out all over my office and hallway.

“Tell me what I want to know, Irene.” I sneered as I continued, “If I don’t like what you have to say, you’re going to regret the day you allowed your brother to talk you into waking a sleeping beast.”

“You look beautiful tonight, baby,”Chandler whispered into my ear as he kissed my cheek. All I did was give him a small smile in response. “Act like you want to be here tonight. After all, this is our engagement party.”

Accepting his awaiting hand, I took a deep breath as we stepped into the banquet hall. It’s been three weeks since I’ve come back from my vacation to Grove’s Isle, and true to hisword, we were having our engagement party. Looking around the room, I eyed all of our family, friends, and associates as they, in their finest attire, celebrated a union that I despised with every fiber of my being. The black-tie theme seemed fitting for the night, being as though it appeared everyone was dressed for my funeral.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the groom-to-be and his bride would like to thank you all for joining them here tonight.” The DJ turned down the soft jazz as we walked the center aisle. “Join me in celebrating the upcoming union of Chandler Pierre Gourneau and Noemi Renee Boudreaux.”

I smiled and waved at the guests as Chandler led the way to the middle of the dance floor. Along the way, I locked eyes with Rosier. Giving him a small wave, he winked as I prepared for my first dance of the night.

“Did I tell you how good you looked?” Chandler smirked as I wrapped my arms around his neck and swayed to the music. “I don’t think I could have picked a better dress.”

I could admit that he did well picking out the custom black ball gown for the evening. While the top was a form-fitting corset, the bottom flared in mermaid style. It was a bit dramatic for a simple party, but I looked damn good, so I didn’t complain. He looked handsome in his custom-made Versace tux, and he smelled even better. He had a clean shave, and he even had diamonds around his neck and wrist that he wouldn’t usually wear. He really wanted to put on a show with not only our outfits but the decorations as well. From what I’d heard, he planned the majority of this event with very little help from our families.

On theme with our outfits, the ballroom was nothing short of extravagant. The floor was a neutral tan, and our initials in a cursive black font danced around in a repeated pattern on the floor and walls. The room walls were a deep red with white draping curtains strategically placed around the space tohighlight the different areas that may interest the guest, such as the photo booth and multiple mini bars. A massive floral installation hung from the entire ceiling, with white and red roses and tan pampas grass being the star of the arrangement. Our guests were seated at round tables covered in cream satin cloths with centerpieces too large but extremely beautiful, casting light through water and diamond-like crystals. Fine china sat on gold-rimmed chargers, and gold eating utensils sat nearby for use. Spotlights throughout the space gave the rooms a nice glow, and the tedious details, such as our names being on the napkins, our faces on multiple framed portraits, and our favors being Dom Perignon champagne gift baskets, proved that money was spent. The room screamed wealth and romance, but I was nowhere near in love with this event or the man who planned it.

As the current song the quartet band played came to an end, everyone clapped as we were approached by Chandler’s mother and sister. Charlotte didn’t care that much for me, and I did nothing to hide that I didn’t give a fuck. Whenever I was around, she was rude and tried with all her power to piss me off. The lady hated my guts, and the gag was I didn’t like her ass either.

“Chandler, darling… you look magnificent tonight.” She beamed at her son before turning her sights to me, her smile slowly fading. “As do you, Noemi. This classy look fits you compared to how you usually dress.”