Page 41

Bailey

C hile, where the hell does time go? One minute I was in a happy relationship with Titan then the next minute it’s been a week since we broke up.

He reached out to me every single day multiple times a day and left me messages that said he called just so he could hear my voice on my voicemail greeting.

He sent me screen shots of the transcripts of what he and his therapist discussed, since he was back to seeing him after our breakup.

He sent lunch every day to the office and dinner to my house.

Every day I was ready to work things out, but I wanted him to miss me.

So, after the fourth day I finally put my foot down and told him I needed space to think, and I couldn’t do that if he kept calling and you know what his ass did?

Gave me the space I fucking asked for. The audacity of him giving me what I wanted.

I rolled my eyes at my reflection in the mirror as I put on my makeup.

“He always gives me what I want, even if it will hurt him, he will give it to me. That’s what I love about him,” I said out loud as I damn near poked myself in the eye with my eyeliner.

I was getting ready to speak on the all-women’s panel at the Tech in Black convention.

I was supposed to go with Titan today but now that we were no longer together that was out the window now.

He was scheduled to speak tomorrow at the main event, and I was happy about that because that meant I wouldn’t see him today.

But I was sad too because I missed him so much.

When I finally poked myself in the eye, I knew it was time to refocus my thoughts and finish getting ready.

I was listening to Jazmine Sullivan “Pick up your feelings,” as I jumped around my room putting on my tight ass shapewear.

I wanted to look snatched when I sat on that stage today.

When I finally got my shapewear on, I picked up my phone to check the text that came through five minutes ago.

It was from Giada saying she would be here in thirty.

I smiled as I sent a quick reply that I would be ready.

When Giada found out I was going to be on the panel too she offered to have her driver pick me up.

Lord knows I didn’t want to deal with downtown parking when a big event was in town, so I happily accepted.

Since that day in the hospital her and I have gotten closer beyond a working relationship, I would even consider her a friend now.

I also met her identical twin cousins Kiara and Ciara.

My brother Anthony was even working with her now after I recommended him to be her security after she vaguely told me she got into a business dispute with her uncle.

I was starting to realize that there was definitely more to Giada than just being a nightclub owner and soon to be grocery store owner but that was none of my business. She was cool as hell and treated me with respect and for now that’s all that mattered.

E xactly thirty minutes later, Giada called me to let me know that her driver was downstairs.

Before I left out, I double checked my bag and made sure I had all the documents and passes I needed for entry today, then I slipped a pair of the shoes Titan gifted me into my large Birkin, which was also a gift from Titan.

Thinking about him made a wave of sadness hit me so strong it took my breath away.

I had to pause and breathe through it so I wouldn’t fall to the floor and start crying my eyes out like I’ve been doing all week.

When I felt ok, I walked out, locked my door, and hurried to the elevator.

When I got to the lobby, Fred was outside just cackling and key-keying with Giada and her cousin Kiara.

The only reason I knew it was Kiara because one of her left iris was black, and she always dressed like she was about to get on a motorcycle at a moment’s notice.

Like right now, she was wearing a tight V neck shirt under a black motorcycle jacket and black low rise leather pants and black boots.

But Giada looked like she was ready to either take over Wall Street or go to the club.

Her long hair was slicked back in a low ponytail that touched her ass, and she was wearing a black double breasted blazer dress, black lace tights, and a pair of black open toe Giuseppe stilettos.

Giada told me she was six feet without heels, so in her sky high heels she towered over Fred and her cousin, who was also tall.

She had to be at least six foot five right now.

“Kiara, we gone have to take our bikes out to that new motorcycle bar I heard about, Red Line. You heard of it?” I heard Fred ask.

“Of course I heard of it, I know the owner. Whenever you ready, I’m gone take you on a date,” Kiara said with a smile on her face. I don’t know exactly when the two of them got so close, but Fred definitely treated Kiara like she was another daughter.

“You got it, and Giada, you just like Bailey with those tall ass death traps you call shoes.” Fred tisked, “You better not fall. Otherwise, that fiancé of yours gone kill you if you hurt yourself while pregnant.”

“You damn right, Fred!” I laughed when I heard Devin yell out of the driver window of a black Bentley SUV. When they heard me laugh, they turned in my direction.

“Well damn, hoe, are you speaking at a panel or trying to get you a man?” Kiara said, looking me up and down as I turned around.

I was wearing the hell out of my navy-blue Dior bodycon dress and to give it a little pop, I was wearing red Dior peep toe platform stilettos that I made sure to pad the hell out of to relieve some of the pressure on my injured foot.

I had my hair slicked up into a bun to properly showcase my white gold accessories.

“Well, you know, I do what I can do,” I said when I turned back to face them.

“What you mean ‘get a man’? What happened to my boy Titan? I haven’t seen him.”

“Fred…you nosy,” I said, giving him a hug, “I’ll see you later,” I said as I slid in next to Giada after he opened the back door to her SUV. When he closed the door and waved bye to us, I heard Kiara’s loud motorcycle rev from behind us before she pulled off.

“I thought you had a driver?” I said as Devin pulled away from the curb.

“Girl Devin is the driver,” she said rolling her eyes, “He wasn’t gone let me leave without him because he wants to embarrass me when I speak today,” she said the last part loudly and Devin’s responding laugh let me know she was right.

W hen Devin pulled up in front of the venue the convention was being held in, I was surprised to see my brother Anthony standing there, looking handsome in a pair of gray slacks and a royal blue Polo shirt and white Alexander McQueen sneakers.

But I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised since he worked with Giada as her security.

Devin quickly hopped out and went to Giada’s side before the valet could open her door.

When valet opened my door and helped me I didn’t miss him biting his lip as he drank in my appearance.

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

Giada and Devin were talking with my brother for a few seconds and when I stepped on the curb he quickly came over to me and looped his arm with mine.

“You look amazing sis, you nervous about speaking?” He asked, opening the door for me and leading me into the packed lobby of the venue.

Now that I was close to him I narrowed my eyes when I noticed the bruises on his face.

I decided not to ask about them though because it wasn’t uncommon to see him with mysterious cuts and bruises on his body.

“No, I’m good. I’ve done panels like this before plenty of times,” I said shrugging. I did feel fine, and I made sure I got plenty of rest. We were heading to the auditorium we were having the panel in when Kiara finally caught up to us.

“Damn it was a bitch finding parking.” I heard her say from behind us and I felt my brother stiffen like he was electrocuted.

That was weird.

“You ok?”

“Never better,” he said quickly.

“Ohhhhhh I smell those roasted almonds I like!” Kiara sounded like a little kid, “I’ll see y’all in a minute,” she said before I saw her rushing past us in search of almonds.

I laughed at her eagerness but then I saw the way my brother looked like a lost puppy as he stared at her retreating figure and now my curiosity was peeked.

Do Anthony like Kiara? Like, like her like her? I was about to ask when he stopped in front of the door to where I needed to be.

“You got it from here right? I’ll be back,” he said and before I could respond he was off in the direction Kiara just went.

A n hour later, it was time to get the panel started.

I was backstage with Giada as the moderator was making introductions of some of the top businesswomen in the city.

I knew my name was coming up, so I did a quick makeup check.

As soon as I was done I heard my name. I walked onto the large stage waving, the bright lights damn near blinded me but I was thankful I couldn’t see the first few rows as I took my seat.

“Due to a last-minute cancellation, Yolanda Jones, the owner of Jonesing 4 More catering won’t be here tonight.

But don’t worry, we have a replacement. Please welcome to the stage Eva James, owner of MoJa Software !

” The moderator shouted. Hearing the name Eva made my heart spike, because I immediately thought of Titan’s ex-wife.

I didn’t know her last name now that they were divorced.

So, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves; Eva was a common name right?

What were the chances it was his ex-wife? On this panel?

“Fuck.” I muttered. It was Eva, Titan’s ex-wife.

I watched her prance her skinny ass across the stage, like she was a model in Paris for Fashion Week.

I tried to move as far as I could in my seat, without leaning too much onto the woman to my right.

I couldn’t hate on Eva, the bitch looked stunning in a hunter green knee length swing dress and flesh-colored heels.

Her chin-length bob looked like a silky curtain as it swished against her oval face.

When she noticed me, her smile looked like it got wider and sinister at the same time.

I didn’t like this bitch, and if I wasn’t a professional I would have drug her ass across this stage.

When she sat down she tucked her shiny hair behind her ear but when she crossed her legs the tip of her heel scratched my calf.

I was about to grab that heel off her foot and hit her with it when the moderator finally introduced Giada.

“And for the moment I’m sure you all have been waiting for, she’s an entrepreneur, philanthropist, angel investor, a board member on several non-profit organizations, and she just won Cincinnati’s most successful 30 Under 30 entrepreneur award.

Let’s hear it for our keynote speaker, Giada Morretti! ”

The deafening applause in the room was enough to quiet the thoughts in my mind as I focused on being present in the moment.

I clapped and smiled as Giada strutted out looking regal and about business.

She looked completely in her element as she stood in the middle of the stage taking in all attention as everyone gave her a standing ovation.

She exuded power and confidence as she folded her arms in front of her and gave a small nod of her head in gratitude to the room.

She wasn’t the warm and smiling Giada I’ve come to know and was just talking to when she picked me up, this was the guarded Giada I first met months ago at my company.

When the applause died down, I heard a deep voice shout.

“I love you, Giada! Please have my babies!” The crowd laughed and I had to cover my mouth to stop from snorting loudly as I recognized Devin’s voice coming from the front row.

When I looked down to shake my head at him I damn near choked on my spit when I saw the man next to him staring directly at me.

Dressed to perfection, also in a blue suit close to the shade of my dress.

Titan muthafuckin’ Browning.

What the hell was he doing here? I damn near screamed to myself.

This day was going to hell in a hand basket, and I wanted to leave the stage.

The only thing that kept me from running off was Giada.

When she turned around after receiving her standing ovation, she walked in my direction, and stood in front of Eva.

Without any explanation she bent down and stared at her.

“Move. Now.” Her voice was cold, and I wanted to laugh when Eva flinched.

Eva looked like she wanted to argue but the ice cold look in Giada’s eyes let her know that unlike me, Giada wouldn’t mind dragging her ass in public by her hair.

So, with only a little hesitation, Eva got her ass up and went to the seat that was supposed to be Giada’s.

When Giada sat down next to me I finally relaxed.

I reached over and subtly squeezed her hand as a silent thank you.

She returned the gesture, and we both focused on the moderator.

Well, at least I did because I was trying my hardest not to meet the eyes of the man whose gaze I could feel on me like a warm caress as my heart thundered in my chest knowing he was here.

Nope! I had to stay strong. I was not going to look at him.