Page 28 of Obsessive Love

PYRITE

“Legacy has a stalker,” Xoey announced as she entered my office.

I looked up from my computer and nodded.

My allergies had been beating my ass for the last few days, and I scratched my throat.

Typically, I was good, but obviously, I was not this year.

I ran my hand over my face and then rubbed my eyes. “You knew?”

“Hood told me,” I replied. “You didn’t know?”

“No,” she said, and her face twisted as if the thought of not knowing what was happening with her friend hurt her feelings. “I found out last night when she called the police.”

“She called the police?” This was the first time I heard about it, and that shit didn’t sit right with me. She may have been his woman, but she was my friend and employee. Her need to call the police wasn’t necessary, and we would always protect her. “What happened?”

“Hood shot the locks off her door, and she called to snitch on his ass,” she laughed. I knew Xoey was upset because she was pacing my office. Xoey didn’t play about her friends; if she said y’all were locked in, then she would go above and beyond every damn time.

“Hood did what?” I couldn’t help but laugh. Most people thought that because he was a doctor that he was a calm, cool nigga, and boy, were they wrong. Hood earned his nickname for a reason. He had no sense and didn’t care who the fuck had something to say about it.

“He shot my friend's locks right off her damn door,” she giggled. “I love them together.” She stopped pacing, put her hands on her hips, and stared me down. “Is he going to hurt her? I know that’s your friend, but I need to know if he’s worth my friend’s time.

Because if he’s on some fuck shit, then he needs to walk away right now.

Legacy is too damn special to have him hurt her. ”

“Nah, he’s good,” I said, shaking my head. “He has been locked in on her for the last year, just waiting for the right moment.”

“Well, I guess a stalker is the right moment,” Xoey nodded. “Now, where the hell is my bestie?”

“With Zane and Yuri, designing her storefront.” I leaned back in my seat and waited for her to start with her shit. “What’s this, I heard about you having a girls’ night soon?”

“Who said that?” Her hand went to her imaginary pearls, and she smiled.

“Don’t worry about it; just know I have sources,” I answered. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk, and returned her smile. “Now, where do you think this girl’s night is happening and when?”

“Don’t worry, just know that bestie will be there.” She pointed at me and narrowed her eyes. “And you won’t be.”

“Yeah, alright,” I laughed and nodded. My computer flashed, and I turned to see Fable, Zane, and Yuri still talking at the storefront.

The way her body was tense told me that whatever they were talking about wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

I stood, grabbed my phone, and left my office without thinking.

“Where are you going?” Xoey said as she walked with me. I looked over at her to see that she was in go mode.

I chuckled and shook my head. “Just to check on Fable,” I said as we approached the elevator. “She didn’t look happy.”

“Something wrong?” she asked, and I shrugged. “Nigga, you look Hulked out, and you don’t even know if it's something wrong?”

“She didn’t look happy,” I repeated as we stepped onto the elevator. “That’s all I need to know for right now. When I see her, I’ll fix the problem.”

We rode the elevator silently, stepped off, and headed right to the storefront when we got to our floor.

“I don’t have another choice,” I heard Zane say as we approached them.

She stood with her hands in the pockets of her overalls.

I was used to dealing with tall women, and Zane was one of them.

She was tall, thin, and had little curves, but that didn’t detract from her beauty.

Her dark eyes went from Fable, whose face was twisted as if whatever Zane was saying didn’t sit right with her, to me, and she sighed.

“I already talked to Baby about it. He will work quickly, but that’s our only option. ”

“Shit,” Fable hissed and threw her hands up in frustration.

“What’s the problem?” I asked, coming to stand next to Fable. She shook her head, and my jaw clenched. I hated being lied to, but I hated that she didn’t trust me to fix the problem even more. “Itty Bitty, what is the problem?”

“We need four weeks to get everything she needs done,” Zane answered. I turned to look at her and lifted my brow. “I have to gut the entire front, rewire half the room, and then custom-fit the cabinets into the space with the appliances.”

“Okay,” I said, nodding. “So, what’s the problem?”

“She wants to do a soft opening for the girls' AAU tournament you’re hosting,” Zane replied, crossing her arms.

“The tournament is in three weeks,” I said. I looked over at Fable and saw her face twisted as if annoyed. The fact that she didn’t know who the fuck she was dealing with meant that I needed to step up my game. If she wanted a soft opening, then that’s what the fuck she will have.

“Do a soft opening at the W’s event next month,” Xoey suggested as I thought about my options.

“That’s already on the books,” I said as I walked around the women to get a better look at the notebook on the countertop.

The design was just for the front, not the two I’d told her to use.

That would be fixed, too. I tapped the book to get Yuri’s attention and shook my head.

Fable’s back was to us, so she didn’t see me point to both fronts and then back at the design.

Yuri gave me a quick nod, indicating she understood what I was telling her.

“What’s already on the books?” Fable questioned as she turned around.

I closed the book and crossed my arms. She looked good as fuck, and it took everything in me not to snatch her ass up.

That feisty attitude that she always had, had my ass wanting to drown in her pussy.

I knew that shit was a front, and as sexy as it was, I was ready for her to soften up.

“I have you booked to work the W’s medical press release. ”

“What the hell is that?” Fable asked.

“It’s something new that the W is trying. They want to demonstrate that the W is larger than the players and highlight various in-house branches. The medical press release shows how we take care of our players. Most teams have a doctor, a physical therapist, and trainers.”

“What do you have?” Fable asked as if she knew that I wasn’t about to do the basic shit.

“A full staff, doctor, surgeon, physical therapist, therapist, and psychiatrist. On the second floor is a full medical wing.”

“Why?”

“Because each of my players deserves the best, not just on the physical level. I cared about the entire package. They don’t have to worry about shit medically when they come here, and that includes their families, too.”

“That’s amazing,” she said with a smile. “You’re amazing for that.”

“It’s nothing,” I said. Hearing her acknowledge her approval made me puff out my chest. “Now, get back to this. If they need time to work, give it to them. I have worked with them all and know how they get down.”

“Okay,” she agreed with a nod.

My phone buzzed, and I looked to see a calendar alert. “Your taste testing with Rhodes starts in five minutes.”

“Shit,” she said, looking around. “Alright, let me go meet with him.”

“How long do you need?” I asked Zane and Yuri once Fable was gone. “I know you said a month, but I want this done ASAP.”

“Unless you are going to shut down the arena for two weeks and give my team access, my timeframe still stands,” Zane laughed, shrugging.

I checked my calendar to see what I had scheduled at the arena and laughed. The following week was empty. “How about a week? Unlimited access; I’ll even bring in a team to do the demo tonight.”

Zane and Yuri started laughing, and I stared at them, waiting for an answer. They shared a look, then slowly stopped laughing. “Wait, you’re serious?” Zane asked, and I nodded. “You’d close down the arena for a week just for us to demo one storefront?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll close down the arena for a week so y’all can demo, renovate, and prepare for her opening.” I shrugged. “And it won't be just one front; she’s getting both fronts.”

“Fuck, Xoey was right,” Yuri said, finally speaking.

“About?”

“You’re in love with Fable,” she answered with a smile. “You kidnapped that girl and now are in love with her!”

“Can you do it or not?” I asked instead of confirming her statement.

“We can do it,” Zane said. “When do you want us to start?”

“I’ll email the staff tomorrow morning that they are out for a week starting Wednesday.”

“And what are you going to do for a week?” Yuri's brow lifted. “Because I know you are up to something.”

I laughed, put my phone back in my pocket, and said, “Show Fable what it’s like to have an obsessive love.” I turned and walked away. I had a week for her to fall in love with me like I was in love with her.

“I didn’t think I would be seeing you so soon,” Mama told Fable after letting us in the house. I kicked off my shoes, then bent and tapped Fable’s calf so she would lift her foot.

“You have lost your damn mind,” Fable said, stepping back. Her face twisted, and all I could do was chuckle. “You know I’m not letting you near me.”

“I don’t allow shoes in my house,” Mama said, not understanding why Fable acted the way she was.

I stood and stuffed my hands in my pockets.

I was going to let mama lecture her ass, even though she had no clue as to why Fable was giving me a hard time.

“He’s only trying to help you out of your shoes. ”

“I understand that and have no problem with that, but your son is not allowed near my ankle, and he knows that,” Fable said, bending to untie her shoes.