Page 240 of Invisible Bars

“My bad for interrupting,” he said, stepping in with both hands in his pockets. “I ain’t staying long. I just wanted to say thank you again for the job… for believing in me.”

I leaned back in my chair, nodding. “We gotta look out for one another. From what I hear, you’ve been doing good. You liking it so far?”

He grinned. “Hell yeah! This the most peace I done had in a long time. Honestly? I feel like this job came right on time. It got my focus right and my pockets too.”

I smirked. “Can’t beat that.”

Lil B hesitated, then chuckled like he was about to say something dumb—or important.

“And lowkey… I think I met my soulmate here.”

“Here? Already?”

“Yeah. She doesn’t work her, though. She works for FedEx. She was dropping something off.”

I leaned back, impressed. “Well, it looks like shit is starting to finally look up for you. Just don’t fumble her… or this job,” I advised.

“I won’t,” he promised, heading toward the door. “I’ll holla at you later, man.”

I nodded again, watching him leave.

I hired Lil B because he was loyal, hungry, and had potential—just needed somebody to see it. I saw it and took a risk on him. But I didn’t just give him a job; I gave him a lane, a way out, and a reason to grow. And in that same space, he might’ve found the person meant to grow with him.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

NAJI

“You good?” Imanio asked, standing beside me outside the front door of his parents’ sprawling estate.

I stayed quiet, staring at the brass handle, imagining all the worst-case scenarios lurking behind that ornate entrance.

“I… I don’t know why I’m nervous,” I finally admitted.

Imanio stepped closer, positioning himself in front of me, and gently tucked a loose curl behind my ear.

“You’re nervous because she’s the devil in Dior,” he remarked with a light smirk.

I chuckled lightly.

"But I got you, baby. I’ll always have your back,” he assured me with a warm smile, making me feel a little less overwhelmed as we prepared to face whatever awaited us inside.

I looked up at him, vulnerable, searching his eyes like they were the only thing steady in my world.

“W-what if I flip a table this time?” I whispered, half-joking—half not.

Right after the words left my mouth, my hand jolted gently, reaching up without warning to tug at the collar of Imanio’s shirt—twice. Not hard, but sharp and rhythmic, like I was trying to straighten something that wasn’t crooked.

“I hope she gets glitter in her eye shadow and can’t blink for a week! I definitely don’t!” I added hastily, eyes wide as I tried to reel it back.

Imanio let out a low chuckle, tilting his head with that smug, amused look that said he lived for moments like that.

“Are you really sure about that?” he asked, one brow raised. “Because that soundedrealspecific.”

“Just… kidding. Mostly.”

He laced his fingers through mine and leaned in, his voice low and warm. “We walk in as a team… we leave the same way.”

And with that, I stepped into the lion’s den in heels and lip gloss, praying my mouth didn’t get me exiled.