Page 14

“Claire, please hold all of my calls and visits, if you don’t mind, please. My personal line will ring if it’s an emergency.”

Nodding that she understood, I continued past her desk to my office.

Business was booming at Boudreaux Enterprises, and while I worked remotely most of the time, I enjoyed being onsite.

Today was my first day back in over three weeks, so I knew there would be a lot of people in my face with unnecessary conversations.

I’d started my day with a phone call from Jordan, and I was too high in the clouds right now to have someone ruin my mood.

The knock on my office door before I even powered up my desktop let me know it would be short-lived.

“Where in the hell have you been?” Jules all but yelled as he stepped into my office, not waiting for me to give him permission to enter. I didn’t try to hide my aggravation as I rolled my eyes at him. “We have been trying to see you for weeks, Mimi.”

So much for having a good day.

Rolling my eyes, I answered dryly as I unpacked my bag while my computer loaded. “As if I don’t know that. I have been busy and taking some much-needed me time.”

“Is that right?” I snapped my head up as Rosier waltzed his ass into my office. “With whom?”

Heated, I picked up my phone and buzzed my office floor’s receptionist.

“Miss Boudreaux?”

“What part of ‘I didn’t want to be disturbed’ did you not understand?” I snarled as I eyed my brothers. Unfazed by my anger, they took seats in the sitting area and got comfortable. “That was for everybody.”

“Jules said, and I quote, “This is his shit, and unless I wanted to be dangling from the ceiling like a spider monkey, I would move the hell out of his way.”” I could hear the nervousness in her voice, and a small giggle slipped through my lips.

“I don’t know what that means, and I don’t want to find out, Miss Boudreaux. ”

“And Rosier?”

“Ma’am, his name is on my checks. One look from him, and I got the hell out of the way.”

Sighing because she was right, I let her know that it was fine. I placed the phone back on the receiver, folded my arms, and mugged them both. They had some nerve scaring the poor lady to death, knowing how everyone aimed to please so they wouldn’t lose their job—or worse, end up dead.

“This is our place of business, and I’m not obligated to speak on anything outside of that.” My eyes danced back and forth between them both. “If this isn’t work-related, will you please go?”

Hearing my voice crack caused their expressions to soften. With his eyes on me, Rosier stood from his seat and stepped my way. Pulling me from my desk chair and into his arms, I wrapped mine around him and cried silently.

“Nigga, I’m telling Mama on you. Got my sister in here crying and shit,” Jules stated with a hiss from behind us. “I’m telling you, Mimi… all you have to do is say the word, and I will have that nigga in a kennel with Elana.”

Snorting in an attempt to stop my laugh, I pulled away from my brother and wiped my eyes. Peering up at a stoic Rosier, I smirked at him. “Gabby is going to kill you about the mascara on your shirt.”

He groaned as he peered down at me. “Yeah, she is. Things may be easier for you if she did.”

With a heavy heart, I dropped my head momentarily before I brought my eyes back to his. At the end of the day, this is my big brother, and I would love him no matter what. However, I was, and still am, hurt by his choices for me.

“I’m sorry about what I said to you at Mama’s,” I apologized sincerely. “It doesn’t matter how I was feeling; I should’ve never let those words slip from my mouth. I love you with my entire heart, Rosier, and you’re the best big brother in the world.”

“Well, I’ll be damned!” Jules walked over to us and mushed the side of my head. “What the hell am I?”

“A pain in my ass.” I smirked, causing him to do the same. “But I love you just as much.”

“I love you, too, baby girl.” Jules pulled me into his arms, kissing my forehead. “You want to talk about what’s going on?”

Looking between the both of them, I made my way back to my desk as they retook their seats.

Like all the other offices in the building, I guaranteed that my office had the security defenses needed so that we could speak freely when warranted.

Yet, we rarely did as we attempted to keep Family business away from Boudreaux Enterprises.

Along with round-the-clock security checks, our computer’s firewall was consistently monitored hourly.

We spared no expense and only hired the best to assist me in making sure our information and conversations stayed protected.

“I understand what’s required of me… even if I don’t like it,” I started with my eyes on Rosier.

He had yet to say anything, so I continued, shifting my eyes to Jules.

“I always hoped that this wouldn’t be the life I was destined to live.

I secretly hoped that even if it was, it would be with someone a little less of a dick like Chandler. ”

“What else did he do? He put his hands on you?” Rosier’s eyes darkened as he gazed at me, waiting for me to answer.

“I wish the fuck he would!” I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

“That would make things easier for me because we both know where I’m sending him.

” By no means did I think I was stronger than a man.

I will, however, have his mother crying over a closed casket, asking God why He took her son.

I sighed for what felt like the seventh time in the short ten minutes they’d been here.

“He doesn’t respect me, Rosier, and I don’t know if I can live like that.

I know love may not be in the cards, and I know men in his…

position have multiple women, but I should not feel so uneasy with this man. He is repulsive.”

Leaning back in his chair, Rosier nodded as he listened to me.

He knew firsthand from our father that the men in these families are allowed to have more than one woman.

Hell, even he would have open options had he ended up with Ariana.

His love for Gabby wouldn’t even allow him to sneeze around another woman.

That’s what I wanted for myself: real love.

“I’ll be honest with you, sis. As a man and the head of his family, Chandler can choose what he wants to do in his house and his marriage.

I have no say. Yes, you're my sister, and, of course, I want you to be in love and be happy. With this life, however, you know love and happiness is not the first priority for most.”

“I know,” I spoke somberly, and I placed my head in my hands. “I hate it. I hate this.”

“What he won’t do is play in your face,” Rosier continued.

“I know all about him being out in public and around other women. I don’t know if he’s doing it to spite me or if he doesn’t care.

Either way, we already had a conversation, and I’ve voiced my concerns.

If things don’t get better, let me know.

This marriage is to blend our families, but I’ll be damned if he intentionally tortures my sister in the process. ”

I never asked Rosier to have a talk with Chandler because I knew it wouldn’t change anything permanently.

After Jordan spent a few days at my home, I was able to really have someone attend to my concerns and frustrations.

Although my situation wasn’t ideal, being a brat about it wouldn’t change anything.

Being a Boudreaux is all about making sacrifices and overcoming the obstacles that come my way. This situation is no different.

“It’s fine, Rosier…” I waved to him as there was another knock on my door.

Hesitantly, Claire walked in with two dozen roses before she ran back out. Removing the card, I quickly scanned the weighted rectangle, thinking the flowers were from Chandler—I should have known better.

Remember that you’re the prize, Noemi. Any man blessed to be in the mere presence of you is winning in life. Enjoy your day, Bestie.

-Jordan

“That nigga sent you flowers?” Jules asked as he sat with his nose in the air. “They look nicer than the ones I buy Bridgette.”

“Because they’re not from Publix, nigga.” Rosier quipped as he shook his head. “From the look in her eyes, they’re not from Chandler, anyway. Right, sis?”

Dragging my eyes from the card, I found my brother’s trained on me.

Should I tell the truth… That I’d spent days in close proximity with another man?

“I’ve enjoyed this talk, but I have work to do,” I said instead as I placed the card in my desk drawer and stood. “Y’all need to get out. I’m behind on work, as is.”

Staring momentarily, they both stood and pulled me into their embrace before leaving.

As Rosier reached the door, he turned back to face me.

“I love you, Noemi, and I never wanted this for you. Make the best of it, though, baby sis, and if things get to the point where you can’t or won’t do it, tell me. ”

“But, Rosier… y’all have decided that this is necessary to bring our families together and remove whatever mess is happening between us and the Gourneau’s.”

“Fuck that nigga and his family!” he stated matter-of-factly with a slight annoyance in his tone. “I’m trying to do things the right way, and this may be it, but at the end of the day, you’re my sister, and despite how it may seem, I love you. I never want you hurt.”

“I know…” I gave him a soft smile before walking over to kiss his cheek. “I love you, too, brother.”

“Call me if you need me. If I don’t answer, it’s because Gabby beat my ass. Between the makeup on my shirt and lipstick on my cheek, you trying to get a nigga knocked off.” We laughed before I promised to call him later and returned to my desk to start my day again.