Page 18 of Loving a Libra (BLP Signs of Love #7)

“Block him.”

“I planned to after?—”

“Block him now. He knows everything he needs to know from you. Anything else will come from me.”

“I just?—”

“Devyn!” I didn’t mean to shout, but her hesitance to do as I asked was pissing me off. “You wanted to piss him off and you did. His messages are disrespectful as fuck, and I’m not gon’ sit back and let him keep sending you that disrespectful shit. Block him!”

“Okay! I’m blocking him now. You didn’t have to raise your voice.”

After a tense night of her sleeping on the edge of the bed with her back to me, I woke her up with my face buried between her thighs. She came three times before I came up for air, and lost the attitude she had the night before.

When she checked her Flikstagram this morning, she had several messages from Maurice. He started with pleasantries, but they didn’t last long. Each message was more disrespectful than the one before, and before long, he began making threats.

“C’mere.” I didn’t wait for her to come to me and pulled her into my arms. “I’m sorry for yelling, but you’re hardheaded as hell. I’m your man, your fiancé, and your soon-to-be husband. The fuck I look like letting any nigga talk to you like that, let alone make threats.”

“You’re right, baby. My nosiness got the best of me, and I can’t lie. I’m enjoying witnessing him crash out.”

“You’ll have to find another form of entertainment because that ain’t it. I have a meeting with my lawyer this morning, but first, I need to stop by ERL to pick up some paperwork. Are you doing anything today?”

“Me, Ginae, and Mama Kia are going wedding dress shopping. I hope I can find something off the rack that will camouflage my stomach.”

She only wore her panties and bra, and her hand went over her stomach as she looked in the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.

Devyn didn’t work out religiously, but the little she did, in addition to her work as a nurse, kept her fairly fit.

Although she didn’t have defined abdominal muscles, her stomach was flat.

Over the past week, we’d noticed a tiny little bump forming, and she acted as if it was the size of a watermelon. I could barely tell the difference in her stomach, but her ass and breasts were definitely fuller than ever.

“I’m sure you will, baby. I’ll send you some money to cover the cost.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“Blah, blah, blah. I know I don’t have to do anything.”

I went to the guest room to get some cash that I hadn’t had time to take to the bank from my duffel bag. After pulling out a stack, I returned the duffel bag to the closet and went back to our bedroom.

“Where’d you get all that money?”

“Don’t worry about all that. This should cover what you need. If it doesn’t, let me know.”

I kissed her forehead, then her lips, before telling her I loved her and leaving our bedroom. A few minutes later, I was headed toward ERL . Not long before I arrived at my destination, the nineties R&B I was listening to was interrupted by a phone call from my father.

“Wassup, Pops?”

“Nothing. I was calling to check on you and see where your head is.”

“I’m good. Is everything okay with you and Ma?”

“We’re fine, but when I told your mother about our conversation last night, she brought up a few good points.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“I don’t want to get into all that right now, but she told me to check with you to make sure you haven’t changed your mind after a good night’s rest.”

“Pops, I know I was pissed off last night, but I’ve been contemplating this for a while. Honestly, before everything with Devyn.”

“Your mother thought you were letting your emotions guide your decisions. I told her I disagreed. You’ve always made wise business and financial decisions, even in your younger years.”

“Maybe if I talk to her, she’ll be more convinced. If she’s not ready to retire, I could focus solely on my business venture?—”

“Nah, Son. Early retirement sounds great. Let’s make it happen.”

“All right, Pops. I just pulled up at ERL . I need to grab some documents before I meet with my lawyer.”

“Hold on. I do have one more question.”

“I’m listening.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk to Maurice before moving forward? He may not be ready to run the business without you.”

“Excuse my language for a minute, Pops. Maurice is a bitch. He always has been, and he always will be. There was a time when I didn’t let his character bother me, as long as we were getting money and it didn’t affect our business, I didn’t give a shit.

Our partnerships have been lucrative over the years, and ERL has been the most lucrative of them all.

But frankly, Pops, . . . fuck that nigga! ”

There was a long moment of silence before my father responded.

“Well said and understood, Son. I’ll talk to you later. Love ya.”

“Same here.”

We ended the call, and I felt like some of the weight I’d been carrying for years had been lifted from my shoulders. Once I was no longer part owner of ERL , and I could focus on my new endeavor and lighten my parents’ load at the hardware store, I’d feel even lighter.

ERL didn’t open until four o’clock, and since it was before noon, I wasn’t expecting anyone to be in the building.

Instead of parking in my spot in the back, I parked in the front and headed to the main entrance.

For security purposes, we had a gate and several locks installed.

After unlocking each of them, I entered and locked only a few behind me.

I began to question why I didn’t hear the security alarm upon entering, but I had my answer before I could think too deeply about it. The groans and moans, along with the clapping of skin, could be heard very clearly.

I followed the sounds, and I was only a little surprised to find Maurice, with a woman bent over one of the chairs while he pounded her from behind. What was even crazier was that both of their asses were completely fucking naked.

“Your condo is empty as fuck, but you chose to do this here?”

They were both startled by my voice, but only she tried to move to cover herself. When she did, Maurice held her in place.

“I pay to be in both places, nigga, so what’s the problem?”

I noticed the woman was doing her best to avoid looking at me. Her embarrassment was understandable, but it was more than that. The longer I looked at her, the more familiar she became.

“The fuck you still—” Maurice began.

“Pasha?”

Finally, Maurice released the woman, and she began rushing around for her clothes.

One would’ve thought Maurice would do the same, but this nigga pulled the chair they were using back and sat his naked ass on it.

I shook my head in disgust and returned my attention to the woman I’d taken out on several dates a while back.

“Pasha, you remember my boy Tariq, don’t you?”

“Umm, oh yeah. Hey, Tariq. It’s umm, it’s been a minute.” She refused to look me in the eyes.

“Yeah, it has. Looks like congratulations are in order.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Thanks.”

“No need to get dressed. I just came to pick up something. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

I left them to do whatever they chose and headed to my office. Before I unlocked the door, Maurice was approaching me and, thankfully, at least wearing underwear.

“I was gon’ tell you,” he said.

“Tell me what?”

“About Pasha.”

“Didn’t you already tell me about her?”

“I didn’t tell you she was the woman having my baby. I?—”

“Bruh, you can keep your explanation. I don’t give a fuck about you or that woman.”

I entered my office, unlocked my file cabinet, found the folder I needed, and locked my cabinet back.

“Don’t tell me you mad?” he asked as I breezed past him after locking my office door.

“You got time for a quick meeting this afternoon?”

“Yeah. Wassup?”

“Is three good?”

“That works. You cool about Pasha, though?”

“Didn’t I just tell you I don’t give a fuck?”

I retraced my steps back to the front of the building, bypassing the pitstop I’d made minutes before, and left. Not bothering to lock up, I hopped in my car and headed to my lawyer’s office, feeling lighter by the minute.