Page 17 of Objection

Serenity

One Month Later

L ife had gone by in a blur for the past month.

Kaos won both of his cases and we’d started looking at buildings for my staffing company.

I still couldn’t believe he’d offered to not only buy me a building but help with whatever else I needed.

When I made the choice to come to Rose Valley Hills, I had hope that the perfect life for me would be started here.

Two years later, I was doing what I loved, dating an amazing man, and close to having my own business.

That thought had me reaching out to my sister again.

I’d called her when we made it back from Greece but she didn’t answer.

She texted me the next morning and told me she was working and we’d been playing phone tag ever since.

A part of me felt like she was intentionally avoiding my calls, but what I wanted to say to her couldn’t be said through text.

Before I could call her, I noticed a text from Kaos.

The Best: Couldn’t risk staying and not being able to pull myself away from you. There’s something for you at the door.

An excited squeal escaped me as I scurried to the front door.

Kaos had been a bit distant this past week and I wasn’t sure why.

My overthinking and anxiety had me thinking he was up to no good or changing his mind about me—about us.

I knew that was a me thing, so I didn’t want to bother him about it.

Plus, I felt a little spoiled. When I mentioned it to Nessa, she told me to tell him how I felt so I wouldn’t have to wonder what was going on.

I said I’d bring it up to him the next time we saw each other, but this random pop up was making me feel better already.

My eyes widened when I realized he’d gotten me something from Saks Fifth Avenue.

He was the only man I knew that would go to Saks and literally spend thousands of dollars on T-shirts.

Kaos had immaculate style. The only time he dressed down was over the weekend, and even then, he really knew how to put that shit on.

We were kind of the same with our style.

I’d wear a white tee with jeans, yet my heels, purse, and jewelry would be fancy or designer.

Being with Kaos hadn’t changed my style but it definitely elevated the brands I wore, and I loved that for me.

I carried everything inside and oozed with happiness and excitement after I opened one bag and box after the next.

Kaos had gotten me three bottles of perfume—Bond No.

9 Greenwich Village, Cassili by Parfums de Marly, and Baccarat Rouge 540.

My mouth literally salivated at the sight of the cherry blossom sequined mini dress by Oscar de la Renta.

It was absolutely stunning, and so were the heels and purse to match.

The last box had a platinum and natural diamond tennis bracelet with matching diamond studs.

I plopped down on the bench in front of my bed with watery eyes.

This man had easily spent almost sixty thousand dollars on me in one day, and he probably didn’t even give it a second thought.

Once I was sure I wouldn’t cry over his generosity, I called him.

“Princess,” he answered, with the wind blowing and music playing in the background.

“Babe,” I whined, causing him to chuckle.

“Do you like it all?”

“I absolutely love it. That dress is gorgeous.”

“Good. I want you to wear that tonight for our date.”

“I will. Thank you, baby.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Um . . . I feel kind of silly saying this now but . . . I was a little worried you were starting to get bored with me. You’ve been kind of distant this week and I was hoping it wasn’t because you’ve changed your mind about us.”

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“I felt spoiled and like I was overreacting. We saw each other at work but we talked less, and I haven’t seen you afterhours all week.”

“First, I want you to always come to me any time you have an issue—big or small. Overthinking has an easy fix . . . communication, validation, and clarity. With that being said, it wasn’t my intention to be distant this past week.

I thought it was just me, and since you didn’t say anything, I didn’t mention it.

That’s why I planned this date for us tonight because I was missing you more than I usually do after work.

” He chuckled. “I have been working more than usual this past week but that’s because of what I have planned for us this weekend and next week.

I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but I’ll say what happens tonight determines how the rest of our weekend will flow. ”

“Ooh. Okay. I’m excited.”

He laughed. “Just know I’ve been busy working on something special for you this weekend. I put a lot into this and came up with everything myself. I’m quite proud of myself actually.”

“Mhm, I bet. Well can I at least get a little hint?”

“Nope. Just know it will make my distance worth it.” My phone dinged, signaling I had a text. “That’s your itinerary for the rest of the day. Please make sure you follow it and don’t be late, Serenity.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Aight, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Okay, I can’t wait.”

We disconnected the call, and my excitement grew even more when I looked over the schedule he’d made out for me.

My nail appointment was in an hour, he had my hair appointment scheduled for an hour and a half after that, and the final thing on the list was getting my makeup done.

She was going to come to me and do it after I showered, and I was glad he’d set up a home visit for that.

I felt crazy thinking he was switching up on me, and the whole time, he was putting together something special.

My response was triggered because of past relationships.

I’m glad I didn’t treat him any differently or take it to him in a negative way.

I now had something new to put on my list for the ways I felt loved—being with a man that maintained the same energy from day one.

One who kept doing what he did to get me .

. . to keep me. My spirit was soaring so high I didn’t want to call my sister and risk her ruining my mood, but since she was on my heart, I decided to call her still.

“Hello?” she answered, and I was so surprised she answered it took me a few seconds to respond.

“Oh, hey, Sis. What you doing?”

“Nothing, on break. I was just watching a TikTok video.”

That explained why she finally answered.

“Are you working at the restaurant or grocery store today?”

“Both, but I’m at the store right now.”

“Ma told me you weren’t going to school.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “I um . . . I just don’t really have the time, you know? Ma and Daddy take care of me so I feel obligated to help. I work a morning and evening shift, so I don’t really have time to go to school.”

“Taylor, I want you to hear exactly what I say. Don’t add to it, and don’t take away from it.”

“Okay,” she agreed quietly.

“You are their child. It’s their responsibility to take care of you.

You are not required to work for them in exchange—especially all day, every day.

I can understand if you wanted to do a part time shift but you can’t let them taking care of you be the reason you end up working like crazy for the rest of your life.

You’re not taking full advantage of your youth because you’re spending all your time working. ”

“Well who else was going to help them after you left?” she all but screamed. “You left them shorthanded, and I had to step up!”

“I left two years ago, boo. They could have easily found someone else to fill my position.”

“You know they only want family working for them.”

“That’s bull. They only want family working for them because it keeps them from having to pay more than they do.

Besides, they have other family members in Jasper Lane than their daughters.

Me leaving isn’t a good enough excuse for them to take advantage of you.

” She didn’t respond, and I took that as her listening to me, so I continued.

“Just tell me this, baby sis. Do you want to go to school . . . or not?”

“Of course I do, but . . . I see the way Daddy completely cut you off and . . . I don’t want that. What if he does me the same way if I decide to go to school?”

The fear in her voice made my eyes water.

Our father was loving, but I could admit it sometimes felt conditional.

Or like we had to earn hearing the words.

I believe that’s why my relationships had been how they were in the past. I would go above and beyond trying to earn a man’s love when it should have been the other way around.

A lot of the men in my past didn’t deserve the access I gave them to me.

I spent more time trying to prove I was worthy of a man’s love who wasn’t worthy of me.

And because they weren’t worthy of me, they could never love me the way I wanted to be loved.

“Daddy is . . . a hard nut to crack, but you can’t let your fear of disappointing him or not having his approval keep you from living the life you want to live.

We haven’t spoken in two years, and though I miss Daddy like crazy, I had to accept the fact that, if he wanted to talk to me, he would.

If it means more to his stubborn ass to ignore me because his feelings are hurt over me leaving, so be it.

He’ll get over it eventually, and if he doesn’t, it’s his loss.

I don’t regret leaving. I’m having the time of my life in The Hills. ”

“You are?” she asked quietly with hope coating her tone.

“I am, Sis. It’s amazing here. I love my job and I’ll have my own business soon.

I have a best friend and a few other ladies I hang with from time to time.

And then there’s Kaos. He’s . . . he’s genuinely the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I want you to meet him and come see my life here.

Maybe it’ll inspire you to live for yourself too and go to school. ”

“Okay, I’ll come visit. Can I stay with you?”

“Of course. Just let me know when you want to come.”

“Okay, yay. I can’t wait. Let me look over the schedule and see what I can do.”

“Alright, baby sis. Call me tomorrow or text me.”

“Will do. I love you, Serenity.”

My eyes watered. That was the first time she’d said that in two years. “I love you too.”

After ending the call, I sat with my feelings for a while before getting ready for my nail appointment.

All I could do was pray Taylor went to school and got her degree and did whatever else she wanted to do.

It upset me to hear that she hadn’t gone to college because she was worried about Daddy cutting her off like he’d done me.

That made me want to call him and give him a piece of my mind but it wouldn't matter. He was stubborn as hell and wouldn’t change his mind until he was absolutely ready to.