Page 13

One Year & Some Months Later

One year ago, I walked away from the best weekend of my life.

I walked away with money that changed my future, memories that changed my body, and a name that still sat on the tip of my tongue whenever I let my mind wander too far.

But more than anything—I walked away a different woman.

Because, that weekend with Legend, I learned something.

I learned that I wasn’t just some ambitious dreamer hoping for a break.

I was powerful.

Capable. Deserving. And now? Now, I had everything I had worked my ass off for.

Starting my business wasn’t easy.

The money Legend gave me was a blessing but it wasn’t a shortcut.

I had to grind my ass off.

Shit, there were long nights, early mornings and sleepless weeks.

Hell, some nights I just cried. I dealt with manufacturers messing up orders, vendors not delivering on time, and marketing that didn’t hit the way I wanted it to. But I kept going because failure wasn’t a fucking option.

And now, a year later, Honey Luxe Beauty, was thriving.

My products were in demand.

I had secured partnerships, panded inventory, and even opened a physical location.

I had success and the money and not just enough to get by, enough to live.

I bought my dream home.

A modern four-bedroom house in the burbs with floor-to-ceiling windows and a kitchen that made me want to cook even though I still ordered takeout half the time.

I drove my dream car.

It was a fly ass black Porsche that I had picked up the second I hit my financial goal.

Life was good.

No, fuck that.

Life was great.

I had done actly what I set out to do.

I had built something of my own and the best part? I was different now. I carried myself with more confidence. Unapologetically. I spoke with certainty and moved with assurance. I owned my desires, my worth, and my space without shame. And I had Legend to thank for that.

I thought about him more often than I admitted not in a sad, longing way though.

I thought about the way his mouth teased my skin, the way he commanded my body like he had known it in another life.

I thought about his voice, his intense eyes, his handsome ass smirk, and his dick.

God, that dick.

No other man had been able to do what he did to me.

Since that weekend, I had dated some and slept around when I wanted but it was never like that.

Never that all-consuming, fuck up my head and steal my soul type of s.

And maybe it never would be again but fuck, I still missed it.

Missed him.

And sometimes, on nights when I sat in my luxury home, sipping pensive wine, I silently thanked him.

“Okay, boss bitch,”

Tyrae’s voice pierced through my thoughts as she came bouncing toward me with a smug grin on her face. My eyebrows furrowed as she set down a massive bouquet of flowers on the counter with a “Congratulations”

designed card attached. “Special delivery!”

The one-year anniversary of my business was a big deal. The store was packed with customers browsing, employees restocking and the energy buzzing with celebration. I was at the front, talking to a long-time customer when Tyrae barged in.

“Aww, friend, you didn’t have to…”

“Oh, these ain’t from me,”

she cut in. “These are from someone special.”

“Wait... who?”

“I don’t know! Open the damn card and find out.”

I shot her a playful glare before plucking the envelope from the bouquet. The second I opened it, my breath caught. The congratulations card wasn’t signed. No name. No clues. Just a short, simple message:

“I knew you would, baby.

But uh, one more weekend.

If you want it.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the card. Tyrae was watching me, suspicious, amused. “Who’s it from?”

she pried.

I lifted my gaze, a slow, knowing smile stretching across my lips. “No one you need to worry about.”

Tyrae narrowed her eyes. “Ohhh, this is from him, huh?”

I bit my lip, still staring at the invitation. “Maybe.”

“Girl, I swear, your life is a damn urban fiction book. A movie. Something!”

I chuckled but my heart was racing as my pussy throbbed.

Shit, my mind was already spinning.

I glanced at the flowers, the card and then out the large storefront window as my lips curved into a slow, wicked smirk.

I haled, feeling that familiar pull of temptation, the unsettling yet citing feeling of surrendering to Legend for another weekend.

Maybe. Just maybe.