Page 20 of Body Language (Mind, Body, & Soul #2)

Niveah

I was halfway through touching up my lip gloss when the door flew open without a knock. I didn’t even need to look up to know it was trouble. The smell of too much perfume and not enough class gave it away.

Arlette strutted in, heels clicking like she was sending SOS signals to her insecurities. She tossed a bag onto the vanity in front of me, stacks of cash peeking out.

“There,” she said, flipping her hair. “That’s all I need from you today.”

I blinked slow, leaned back in my chair, and crossed my legs. “Excuse me?”

She smiled, but it was that tight, fake-ass smile. “I don’t need you for the finale tonight. I’ll call you if I need you again.”

For a split second, I just stared at her. My chest rose slow, my nails tapped the armrest, and I had to count to three in my head because the old me would’ve flipped the damn vanity table over and beat her ass.

Instead, I smiled.

“So let me get this straight. You’re so busy being jealous that your nigga — who, by the way, ain’t even your nigga — gave somebody else a little attention, that you decided to mess with my bag? Baby, your beef is with him, not me. Don’t get mad at me because your position is weak.”

Her jaw ticked. I leaned forward, grabbed the bag, and pushed it right back toward her.

“Here’s the thing, sweetheart,” I said, gloss shining under the lights. “I don’t need your money. I make my own. You can’t cut me out of a bag that already has my name on it. And just so we’re clear, I don’t wait for your calls. You wait for mine.”

Arlette smirked, leaning one manicured hand on the vanity. “That’s my man you’re running behind.”

I laughed so loud it echoed off the mirrors.

“Let me let you in on a secret. Play your part because here’s the thing, these niggas gone play theirs.

You keep putting your faith in a man, setting yourself up.

The minute he gets bored or sees another pretty face, he gone sprint toward it like it’s the finish line.

Don’t matter how good you look, how smart you are, or how well you ride — if he don’t give you a title, don’t you dare stress over him.

You get your bag, get your power, and keep it moving.

Stop acting like one nigga is the finish line when you’re the whole damn race. ”

I leaned back in my chair, crossed my legs, and gave her a slow once-over.

“Arlette, let’s be real. Instead of checking him, you’re bold enough to come for my bag? That’s some bitch shit.”

Her nostrils flared, but I kept going.

“See, the difference between me and you? I never had to give a man my pussy to get what I wanted. Not once. My mind and my mouth been cashing checks before I ever thought about spreading my legs. So, let me really fuck your head up. Kendrix has never even stuck his dick in me. Not once. So ask yourself why are you really pressed. Matter fact, ask yourself what I’m doing that has him moving different…

because maybe you can learn something. ”

I leaned forward, dropped my voice just enough to cut deeper.

“You don’t stop any bags of mine, sweetheart. I am the bag. Men throw money just to breathe the same air as me. You mad? Be mad at him. But don’t ever think you have the power to block my shine because I shine regardless.”

I smoothed my hair back, stood up slow, and looked her dead in the face.

“The money’s good here, but I can sit up and talk with a man and make better. I’ll be out your hair tonight.”

I let a smirk curl at the corner of my mouth.

“But do me a favor, Arlette. Let me know how much money you make without me when it’s all over.”

Her face cracked just a little. Not enough for her to admit I hit a nerve, but enough for me to see the truth. I reached for my purse, unbothered, when my phone buzzed against the vanity.

I glanced down. The name lit up the screen, and I smiled slow. My favorite man.

God really knew how to replace a loss with a blessing.

My Favorite Man: Landed in town for the weekend. Got a seat waiting for you at dinner. You free?

Arlette thought she could rattle me? Please. God doesn’t close doors on me without opening up a penthouse suite.

I grabbed my jacket , looked in the mirror one last time, and typed back a quick

Always free for you

I pushed through the back door, the night air kissing my skin like freedom itself.

“Niv!”

Kendrix’ had the type of voice that could make a weaker woman stop in her tracks. But I wasn’t weaker.

I turned just enough for him to see my smile then slowly lifted my middle finger. “Handle your business, Mr. Givelle.”

Ty was parked right where I knew she’d be, leaning on her steering wheel with that grin that always showed up when I did something bold. I climbed in, slamming the door behind me.

“You ready?” she cackled. “You really flipped that man off.”

“Hell yeah,” I said, adjusting my jacket. “If Arlette wanna play petty and pull me off the finale, cool. Her dumbass doesn’t even realize that we are a package deal. ”

Before Ty could respond, Kendrix stormed up to the car, knocking on the window.

I rolled it down, leaning my elbow on the frame.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice sweet as poison.

“Where you going?” he demanded.

I tilted my head. “Didn’t I already tell you? My pleasure better not fuck up my business. But since you can’t keep your bitches in check, Arlette pulled me off the final set. So congratulations, you let your mess cost me money.”

His brows furrowed, like he didn’t know whether to get mad or apologize. That was my cue to keep pressing.

“You wanna know something, Kendrix?” I leaned forward so he could see the fire in my eyes. “The men I deal with would never let anything sabotage what I have going on. Not one. Because real men don’t create chaos between women. They control the room so that shit like that never can happen.”

I paused, letting that sink in before I continued giving him the cutthroat truth.

“You think that chaos between women is cute, Kendrix? It’s not.

It’s weak. It’s sloppy. Real men don’t let women crash out over them like it’s a contest. They shut the circus down before the clowns even touch the stage.

I don’t deal with men who let women crash out over them like they have the last dick on earth.

I fight too good for that. And I got kids to raise.

Jail ain’t on my vision board, Pretty Boy. ”

Ty snorted beside me, trying to hide her laugh. Kendrix just stood there, chest rising and falling heavy.

“Where are you going, Pretty?”

“On a date.”

The way his jaw ticked? Whew. It was like I slapped him without lifting a hand. “The fuck you not. You not going out with nobody but me.”

That’s when I smiled. The type of smile that said bless your delusional little heart.

I lifted my hand slow, pretending to study my finger.

“Hmmm… no ring here.” I tilted it back and forth like I was checking for diamonds in a bad light.

Then I pulled out my phone, scrolling fake fast. “Let’s see…

pictures of an engagement? Nope. A little video of you asking me to be your girlfriend?

Nada. Huh. Crazy. Must’ve missed that memo. ”

Ty damn near choked laughing in the driver’s seat. I smirked, sliding my phone back in my purse.

“Sorry, Kendrix,” I said, sweet and sharp. “You don’t own me. I do what I want.”

His lips parted like he was about to check me, but I wasn’t done.

“That’s the problem with men now,” I continued, voice rising.

“Y’all think just because you’re handsome and got some money that you’re automatically the only option.

News flash, baby. Your bitch in there losing her marbles over you while another man has a plate of grapes ready to feed me on a private island. Which one sounds insane to you?”

He licked his lips, smirking like he was tryna stay calm. “You really think I’m about to let you go out with some other nigga?”

I leaned forward, unbothered. “Aren’t you tired of me clocking your tea, Kendrix?

” I ran my tongue over my teeth, real slow.

“The fact you said ‘let you’ proves my point. You don’t let me do shit.

I choose. And right now, I’m choosing what’s best for me.

Not your ego. Not your mess. Me. Men like you think the world runs on your time.

You really believe we just supposed to sit pretty, quiet, and wait for you to decide when we deserve effort.

Like our lives are on pause until you ready to press play. ”

“Pretty—”

“Uh uh,” I cut him off, holding up my hand.

“Don’t ‘Pretty’ me like that nickname make you different.

You can puff your chest all you want. You want me to only go out with you?

Put a title on it. You want me to wait around while you handle your chaos?

Clean that shit up FIRST. You want me loyal?

Give me loyalty I can actually touch. Because what you not about to do is play king while I sit here acting like I ain’t the whole damn kingdom.

Right now, you’re just noise. And noise don’t pay bills. ”

Ty whistled low, shaking her head like she was watching a show.

He leaned both hands on the window frame, staring at me like he was two seconds from snatching me out the truck. “Come with me and I’ll figure all this out.”

I grinned. “Uhhh, how about…NO! I’ll never be the woman who puts her life on hold waiting for a man to figure out anything. Either claim me or stay the hell out my way. Because I promise you, there’s a line of men ready to give me everything you’re still debating and figuring out.”

His mouth opened like he had more to say, but I was done giving him the stage. I leaned back in my seat, grabbed Ty’s arm and smiled sweet enough to sting.

“Byeeeee, Kendrix,” I said. “Oh, I might call you tomorrow… depending on how my night goes.”

Ty burst out laughing as she pulled off, tires rolling over his pride nice and slow.