Page 21 of The Millionaire Mortician

A month had passed since Milan had returned from his trip to Trinidad.

It’s been a month since a new beginning as well.

After that talk, things had changed significantly.

We spoke more often during the day, even if it was a quick one-minute FaceTime call to check in.

We went out more and even just kicked it in the crib.

Milan even ghosted Maverick a few times, when he usually would hop up and choose him before me.

I wasn’t sure what had happened on his trip, but whatever it was, it greatly benefited our relationship. There were no more feelings of neglect. It was all love and attention.

While things were great between Milan and me, Fabian kept trying to see me.

As soon as Milan came back, I told Fabian it was best if we stopped seeing each other.

I explained I was wrong for stepping out on my relationship and took all the fault.

He wasn’t trying to hear any of that. The man just kept pursuing me.

It came to a point where I even had to block him from being able to book any appointments.

We just needed to forget anything had happened between us and go our separate ways.

I was sitting in my office when my phone rang. Picking it up, I saw it was my love.

“Hi, babyyy,” I sang as soon as I answered the FaceTime.

He smirked. “What’s good, ma? How’s your day going?” Milan asked in a smooth voice.

“Good, I can’t complain. How ‘bout you?”

“Shit’s good on my end.” He showed me him with his feet up on his desk, then turned the camera back on him. “I’m taking some me time.”

I encouraged Milan to take care of himself and his mental health. All the work he did and trying his best to keep me happy could’ve easily taken a toll on him. He had to take breaks and just give himself some time to relax and think about nothing or no one.

“Good. I’m so proud of you. Now get off the phone with me, close your eyes, and meditate a little.”

“Aight. I’ll holla at you later.”

“Kay, baby. I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

As soon as I hung up, there was a knock on my door.

“Come in!” I yelled.

In walked Talina with a smile on her face. She plopped down on the sofa I had in my office.

“Whew, it’s been a day already,” she started.

She had been at the salon since we opened that morning, swamped with appointments. That was the first time I saw her off her feet and taking a breather.

“Why are you all cheesy?” she pointed out and asked.

“Girl, what?” I quizzed.

“You’ve been glowing more than usual.” She eyed me. “How are things with you and Milan?”

“Great, actually. It’s been perfect in my eyes,” I stated confidently.

She smiled and nodded her head. “I love that for you. For both of y’all.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Just when Talina was about to say something else, there was another knock at the door.

“Yes?” I raised my voice so they could hear.

The door opened, and one of the receptionists stuck her head inside. “Your five o’clock appointment is here,” she informed me.

I glanced at my computer calendar and saw that a new client was coming in for a fade.

“Great, thanks. I’ll be right out,” I informed her.

Talina and I looked at each other and both sighed out loud in unison, standing to our feet and making our way out of the office. As I approached the front, my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach when I saw Fabian’s face.

What the fuck is he doing here?

“Here’s your client.” She pointed at Fabe.

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. “You’re my five o’clock?” I asked him.

He nodded with a devilish smirk. “Happy to see me?” he sarcastically asked.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned and told him to follow me. This was not the place or the time to make a scene or do anything that would lead anyone to assume the worst. So, I acted normally and took him in my chair.

“The usual?” I wanted to confirm.

“Facts. Do ya thing like you always did.”

Our eyes locked through the mirror. The way he looked at me sent shivers down my spine. I didn’t know if to be scared or what. Quickly shifting my gaze, I jumped right into doing his cut.

I focused on what I was doing in front of me, but there were times I felt super uneasy because he kept staring at me through the mirror.

Anytime I looked, he was all in my face.

When I turned him to face me so I could cut or line the front of his head, he literally stared me in my eyes.

It was the toughest haircut I ever had to do.

When I was finally finished, relief instantly washed over me, but I’d still be on edge until he left the salon.

Getting out of the chair, he took a step closer to me, but I stepped back. “Good lookin’, shorty.” Fabe grinned.

“You’re welcome.” I shot him a fake smile.

He then turned and walked toward the reception desk to make his payment. Talina and I looked at one another. She had uncertainty in her eyes. I didn’t tell her about what happened between Fabian and me. I told myself I was going to my grave with that one.

As soon as he stepped outside and the door closed behind him, I exhaled long and hard. I had been holding my breath the entire time, ready to check out. I needed some time to gather my thoughts and emotions, so I turned to head into my office.

Before I could make it to the door, I heard the front door buzz and someone pushing the door open hard.

When I turned around to see who it was, I saw Maverick looking like a crazed madman, storming my way.

In seconds, he was in front of me with a gun to my head, pushing my back against the office door.

“Go in,” he demanded.

I turned the knob, opened the door, and backed inside, never taking my eyes off of him and the gun. When we were inside, he shut the door behind him.

“Why the fuck did that nigga just leave here?” he asked with his jaw tight.

“Who?” I was confused.

“Don’t play stupid, Daija. That nigga, Frost.”

I was so lost, I honestly didn’t know who he was talking about.

“Mav, who the fuck are you talking about?”

“That big light skin nigga that literally just walked outta here, man.”

Fabian?

“That person who just left is Fabian, and he’s a client. I don’t know anyone named Frost, Maverick,” I snapped.

He eyed me for a moment, then hesitantly lowered his gun.

“I’ma let yo’ nigga deal with you,” he stated, then quickly left the office and the salon.

I felt tears falling as instantly. Talina rushed in, shutting the door right away. She didn’t even ask any questions. She just came and hugged me tightly. I was glad for that, because I was confused and didn’t have the answers to the questions she may have had.

What the hell is going on?

After everything transpired at the salon, I literally stayed locked in my office until everyone left. Talina was the only one to stay back, of course. I didn’t attempt to call Milan, nor did he call me. I was still oblivious to what was going on and the connection between Maverick and Fabian.

It was around ten o’clock at night when I gained the energy to get up and gather my things to leave. As we locked up, I kissed Talina goodnight and told her I’d call her if anything. We both walked to our vehicles, got in, and drove away.

On my way home, my mind was running wild. It was the first time that I wanted Milan to stay at work late, so by the time he came in, I was already asleep. I could’ve only imagined what I was about to walk into when I reached the house.

Not long after, I pulled up at home and saw both his whips outside, so I knew he had beaten me home.

I sat in the car for a moment, rubbing my temple to calm my nerves.

I don’t know why I felt that the longer I procrastinated going inside, the better things would be.

Once I shook that theory out of my mind, I told myself to just deal with whatever it was and get it over with.

Grabbing my things, I exited the truck, locked the doors, and made my way to the front of the house.

As I was climbing the steps, the house door opened with Milan standing there, shirtless, with only basketball shorts on.

I glanced at his face since I didn’t want to make eye contact, but I saw he was furious.

I walked past him into the house, then took off my sneakers. By the time he closed the door and locked it, he was on my ass. His hand wrapped around my neck and slammed me against the wall. The same wall he had me pinned against, ready to fuck my guts out, but that time, it was for another reason.

“Do you know I would kill you if you ever crossed me?” he asked in a low tone in my ear.

His grip on my neck tightened, making it hard to breathe. I started crying immediately.

“How the fuck do you know Frost?” he asked the same question Maverick did.

Obviously, by then, I knew the Frost person they spoke of was really Fabian.

“He-he, he’s a...” I tapped at his hand so he could loosen his grip for me to speak, and he did, just a little. “He’s a client,” I quickly answered.

“Client from where, Daija? Don’t fuck with me.”

“Someone referred him to me, and he’d been coming ever since. That’s it!”

He finally released his hold on me but never took those cold eyes off of me.

“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to catch my breath.

Milan stepped back and rubbed his neck. “Listen, Dai. There are things you don’t know and you don’t need to know.

But that nigga cannot be trusted, and his days as your client are over.

I better not hear or see him anywhere near your shit or you,” Milan ran down. “Do you hear me?” He raised his voice.

I nodded. “Yes,” I answered as tears streamed down my face.

Without uttering another word, Milan took off down the hall to his office.

There was no further explanation, nor even an apology.

He’d never put his hands on me before, nor did Maverick ever threaten my life.

Whatever they had against Fabian had to be serious.

I was just praying to God that things didn’t get out about him and me, because that would’ve been a whole different story, and not a happy ending one.