Page 27 of Certified Pressure 2

Kashmere didn’t even blink. She just kept moving the salad around with her fork like my words didn’t matter, like I didn’t matter. That stung. I had just spent hours getting treated like a star, and she was gonna stand there and act like I was invisible?

I laughed to myself and stepped closer. “I’m just letting you know, sis. I’d hate for you to feel forgotten when you see us pulling up looking like a whole red carpet event tonight.”

That got her attention. Kashmere finally looked up, slow, her eyes narrowing before she smirked like she couldn’t care less.

“You done?” she asked, her voice calm but cutting.

Something about the way she said it made my skin prickle. “Oh, I ain’t even started,” I shot back. “I know it burns you up inside that he asked me out tonight and not you. I’m the one he wanted to be seen with, not you standing in the kitchen eating lettuce like a damn rabbit.”

Her jaw clenched, and before I could even prepare myself, Kashmere walked right up on me, standing chest to chest like she wanted me to swing. My heart jumped, but my pride wouldn’t let me back down.

“Say one more thing, bitch,” she said, her voice low.

I tilted my head and smiled, tilting my glass bracelet up so the diamonds caught the light. “One more thing? Alright… don’t wait up for us. Matter fact, find something else to do tonight because while you sitting here mad, I’ll be out there with him .”

Before I even finished my sentence, Kashmere splashed her drink right in my face.

Ice cold liquor ran down my skin, burning my eyes and dripping onto my dress.

I gasped, stepping back, but before I could even react, she scooped that whole salad bowl and tossed it over my head.

Dressing, lettuce, tomatoes—everything—covered my hair and dripped down my fresh outfit.

“You crazy bitch!” I screamed, trying to wipe my face, but she was already in my hair, pulling me so hard my neck snapped back.

My wig slipped and twisted while she yanked, and the sting made me see red.

I swung my hand to slap her, but she dodged and snatched harder, dragging me down like she had been waiting for this moment.

“Get off me!” I hollered, clawing at her arms. My nails caught her skin, and she cursed, but she didn’t let go. She had my wig halfway off, and the embarrassment made me fight harder.

Next thing I knew, security rushed in, two big men grabbing at both of us, trying to break us apart.

I was flailing, trying to get one good hit in, but Kashmere had me locked.

She wasn’t letting go of my hair for nothing.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, half from the pain and half from the rage of knowing she was ruining my whole night.

“Let go of me, hoe!” I shrieked.

The guards tried to wedge themselves between us, but Kashmere leaned over their shoulders, still gripping my wig with one hand and swinging with the other. “You should’ve minded your fuckin’ business, dizzy ass bitch!” she shouted. “You always gotta say something and now look at you! Dumb ass!”

Everything felt chaotic. My face was sticky with liquor and dressing, my wig was hanging half off my head, and my nails were scratched up from trying to fight her back. I couldn’t get close enough to land a punch, and it only made me scream louder.

Then I heard Pressure’s voice.

“What the fuck is this?”

He stormed into the kitchen, his face dark and eyes flicking from me to Kashmere. He moved straight to Kashmere, grabbing her arm. “Chill the fuck out! Let her go, now!”

Kashmere finally let my wig go, shoving me back like I wasn’t even worth the energy anymore. I stumbled, my heels slipping on the spilled dressing, but one of the guards caught me before I fell.

“That hoe started it!” Kashmere shouted, pointing at me. “If she would’ve went on about her day instead of running her mouth, I wouldn’t have had to snatch her ass up!”

“Shut the fuck up,” Pressure snapped. His tone was sharp, and for a second, the whole room went silent.

My chest was heaving, my makeup running down my face, and all I could do was glare at Kashmere like I wanted to kill her. I tried to push past the guard to get at her, but he held me back tight.

“Move! Let me get this bitch!” I screamed, tears stinging my eyes. “Bitch, you done fucked up my whole look! You jealous ass slut!”

Pressure cut his eyes at me. “Ka’mari, shut up and just go change!”

His words burned worse than the drink in my eyes. I wanted him to comfort me, to check Kashmere harder, to stand on my side in front of everybody. But instead, he brushed me off like I was just some extra drama he didn’t have time for.

I cursed under my breath and stormed out, the guard walking me down the hall so I wouldn’t double back and try to finish the fight. I was still yelling, cussing and promising myself Kashmere wasn’t gonna get away with this shit. By the time I reached my room, my chest was tight with anger.

I slammed the door behind me, rushing straight to the mirror. The reflection almost made me cry. My makeup was smeared, mascara streaking down my cheeks, my wig half twisted with salad still clinging to it. My dress was ruined and had stains everywhere.

We were supposed to leave in less than an hour, and here I was looking like the before picture in a makeover show.

I pressed my palms against the wall, leaning in close to the mirror, breathing heavy as my eyes welled up.

Kashmere had embarrassed me in front of everyone, and worst of all, she had done it before I even got the chance to step out with Pressure.

My night was supposed to be perfect, but now I didn’t even know if I could show my face.