Page 6

CHAPTER 6

“ W here are you? I need a drink.” My sister, Averi, said when the call connected. She’d been on a cruise for the last week and was finally back in town.

“You don’t think you drank enough on the cruise, Averi?”

“Um, no.” She answered and I laughed. “Todd got on my nerves the entire time.” She scoffed. “I won’t ever go anywhere with him again.”

“He’s your boyfriend, sis.”

“Only when he’s around.”

“You are so horrible.” I laughed. “I have a meeting in thirty minutes, but maybe we can meet for food after that.”

“And drinks.”

“Yes, girl.” I laughed again. “And drinks.”

“Good. I need you to explain this cryptic ass ‘ I fucked up ’ message you sent me anyway.”

When Sin left my office, the first thing that I did was text my sister and tell her we needed to talk asap. She of course didn’t have service on the water, so she didn’t get it until she got back this afternoon, but I was busy by then preparing for the night and getting ready to meet my landlord.

“We’ll talk over food.”

“Avani, you know how impatient I am.” She whined. “Just tell me now.”

“I can’t sis.” I chuckled; low key glad that I was at my destination because the last thing I wanted to do was relive the time I spent with Sin. Especially without my toys.

“How long will the meeting be?”

“Quick I’m hoping.” I admitted. “He normally meets me across the street from the building but today we’re meeting at High Rollers.”

“The casino? Why?”

“I don’t know, Av.”

“Don’t call me Av like you weren’t Av first.”

“No one calls me that. It’s what everyone calls you.”

“I blame daddy.” She said and I laughed.

Our father was definitely the one that made the name stick for her. Both of my parents called me Ava instead which I hated equally as much as my sister hated her nickname.

“I agree.”

“Why can’t we just meet at High Rollers? I could go for some craps.”

“Because you always over do it.” I shook my head. “No, Averi.”

“I just told you how this nigga got on my nerves, Ava, and that’s how you’re going to be?”

“Afraid so, lil’ sis.” I giggled. “We can meet at Smoke Screen. You love their lollipop lambchops.”

“Don’t use food to butter me up.” She stated, then added, “that sounds so good though. Is an hour good?”

I nodded as if she could see me. “That’s fine.”

“Perfect. See you then.”

“Bye, sis.”

After hanging up with her, I turned my car off, climbed out then headed inside. High Rollers was nice. Gold accents that trimmed every surface—the railing, card tables, even the uniforms of the nicely dressed staff who were moving about when I entered. There were deep red velvet curtains that framed the private rooms on the sides, polished marble floors, a large Crystal chandelier in the center of the ceiling. Everything just screamed luxury when you walked in.

“Hi.” I smiled when I approached the massive white counter, also trimmed in gold. “I’m Avani Jade. I’m here to see…”

“Oop, I was told you were coming.” The woman said then stood, rounding the counter. “Follow me.” She lead the way down the hall to an elevator. We both waited in silence for it to arrive and when it did, I stepped on but she just reached in and hit the button for the highest floor. “The office for Mr. Sinclair will be directly across the hall from the elevator.” She said before stepping back.

Mr. Who?

I got ready to stop her to let her know that she must’ve had me mistaken, but the doors were already closing. I decided to just wait until I made it upstairs to see if they could direct me to the right place.

Once I arrived on the top floor and the doors of the elevator split, there was a foggy glass door with golden handles. I stepped off slowly, making my way across the hall, taking note of the golden name plate on it.

Kyriq Sinclair.

I glanced both ways to see if there were any more doors, only to realize that there weren’t, so I took a step closer and knocked on it. Seconds later it opened and a large physique filled the frame. He didn’t smile. His glare was almost intimidating, but I squared my shoulders and smiled confidently.

“I might be in the wrong place.” I began. “I’m here to see?—”

“Come in, Ms. Jade.” He stepped aside and waved me in.

My brows furrowed, but I slowly stepped in the room switching places with him as he pulled the door shut. I turned around expecting to see Gerald and to ask him what was going on, but got the shock of my life when I saw…

“Sin?” I questioned, narrowing my eyes. “What the hell is this? What are you doing here and where is Gerald?”

He sat back in his chair, shamelessly allowing his eyes to wash over me.

“Good to see you again, beautiful.”

My brows dipped in anger. “Sin, what the fuck?—”

“Now, is that a way to talk to the man that owns your secrets?” He smirked and my nostrils flared in even more anger. “Velvet Secrets that is,” he clarified. “The others are safe with me.”

“What are you talking about?” I snapped. “Where is Gerald?”

“Where Gerald is or isn’t, isn’t important,” he answered.

“What do you mean not important ?” I snapped. “I scheduled this meeting with him .”

“But you’re here with me now.” He smiled. “And after you sign this lease, you’ll be with me for… the time isn’t important.”

My eyes traveled to the document he’d pushed forward.

A lease?

What lease?

What the hell is going on?

Is he saying…

“You—What are you saying Sin?” I took a step closer to peek at the paper.

“I’m saying, baby girl, I own all of your secrets.” He smirked. “The ones you’ve built and the ones we created.”

Stunned.

I was completely stunned hearing the news. He owned my secrets?

Did that mean he knew…

“You knew who I was when you came into my club?” I glared at him. “You knew about this shit the whole time?!”

He nodded. “I did.”

“I asked you!” I spat. “I asked you what you wanted!”

“And I told—well, showed you what I wanted,” he replied. “Were my plans to come in there and find you ? No. But I did so plans changed.”

How could he be so nonchalant about this shit?

Things like this were why I prided myself on not mixing business with pleasure. I had no plans to ever see Sin again. I’d already let my team know that he couldn’t come back because what happened between us was just—I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it couldn’t happen again so I put precautions in place to make sure that didn’t happen, and now he owned the building?

“You did this on purpose.” I shouted, pointing to the paper.

“Did what on purpose?”

“Bought the building.” I snapped. “Or whatever you did to make this happen.”

“I acquired it.”

“You’re disgusting.” I hissed, turning to leave. I made it all the way to the door but paused with my hand on the handle when he started to speak.

“You can go, Avani, I’m not stopping you. Because you’ll carry me with you—in your skin, on your breath… in that quiet moment when no one’s watching. That’s where I’ll be.” I didn’t look back at him, but I did wait for what was next. “This won’t be the last time. You and I both know that.”

The End!!!

For now.

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