14. Major
“I knew if you agreed, everything would fall into place,” I told Dynastie.
“I’m glad I could help.”
“This wouldn’t be happening if you hadn’t agreed. We’re glad you changed your mind,” Brax said.
“I’m glad I did too, for a few reasons,” Dynastie replied.
“Do I need to leave the room?” Brax asked with raised brows.
“Nah. We’ll wait until you leave,” she told him.
We’d just had a video call with Jaton, the head of the film crew that Dynastie suggested I hire.
He had a team of six people, and although they were small and not well known, I liked what he had to say.
Plus, the idea of giving someone just getting started an opportunity like this seemed like the right thing to do.
“I appreciate that. So, I can tell by your responses and reactions that you like what Jaton is offering,” Brax said.
“I do.”
“I do, too, but we don’t want to be hasty and take the first offer. His team’s lack of experience concerns me, and I know once we talk to the rest of our team—”
“This is my shit. I’m the one paying for it, so I’m the only one who needs to approve it.”
“That’s true, but I think it would be wise to see what else is out there. The meeting with the other two companies is on the calendar for next week and the week after. Let’s meet with them and at least hear them out.”
“Brax, when did you reach out to them?” I asked.
“A couple of days after Dynastie agreed to do the memoir.”
“That was almost two weeks ago, and the meetings aren’t for another week or two. Was that the soonest they could meet with me?”
“I guess so.”
“Then they don’t want it. Cancel the meetings. I’m going with Jaton and his crew.”
Brax was my boy, but he’d been managing me along enough to know once my mind was made up, there was no sense in trying to change it. He nodded and jotted something down in his notebook.
“I’ll cancel the meetings. Have you decided on a photographer?”
I looked at Dynastie because she told me she had someone in mind.
“About the photographer . . . it’s me. About three years ago, I got tired of hiring photographers. Not only was it expensive, but syncing our schedules was a headache. So, I took a few photography classes, and the rest is history. I brought a portfolio of my work, if y’all want to see it.”
She pushed a large, black portfolio in front of me, which I hadn’t noticed on the table previously. I opened it and was immediately pleased. As I flipped through each page, I was increasingly impressed and recognized some of the photos from magazine articles and social media.
“I had no idea you were doing it like this, baby. I’ve seen some of these pictures in the media.”
“Yeah. Sometimes I sell the ones I don’t use.”
I pushed the portfolio across the table to Brax. Based on his expression, he was impressed as well.
“It looks like we have a photographer because I know he won’t even consider hiring someone else,” he said.
“Honestly, it’ll be easier for me this way. He’ll give me access that he won’t give to anyone else. I can capture more candid pics and have more liberty to choose the ones that will be used than a stranger.”
“Lovie, why does it sound like you’re planning to take advantage of your position?” I asked.
“Because I am. When is our official start date? I’m excited.”
“We need to get a contract to Jaton, and I’ll start looking for a house to rent for a few months for him and his team to stay. We’ll send you an updated contract to include your new duties. At the latest, we can start within the next week and a half to two weeks,” Braxton said.
“That works for me,” I said.
“Me too. That gives us some time to talk about the details, and I can create an outline with what you want included,” Dynastie responded.
We talked business for another hour before Brax left.
It was only noon, but I’d been up since four, trained for three hours, buried my face and dick in Dynastie’s pussy for an hour, had breakfast, and had a two-hour meeting.
I could use a nap, but I needed to pack for a trip I was leaving for in the morning.
“You want to take a nap with me?” I asked.
She laughed, then said, “Shouldn’t you pack for your trip?”
“I will. I’ll be gone for less than forty-eight hours. It won’t take me long to pack.”
“I can’t nap with you because I need to return some emails, and my therapist should be calling soon. Can I use your office?”
“As long as you come upstairs and lay with me when you finish.”
“I guess I can do that.”
“When did you start therapy again?”
“I wouldn’t say I started again, but I have a lot to unpack, so I made an appointment.”
“You good?”
“I’m fine, and I’ll be even better after my session.”
We shared a kiss, and I headed upstairs while she went to my office. Before I made it to the top, I heard her phone ring and paused.
“Hey, Dr. Simone,” she greeted.
“Hello, Dynastie. It’s been a while. How are you?” the woman said.
“Thankfully, I’m doing well, but a lot has happened in the past week, and I just need to talk to an objective party. You know I only have one friend, and she only recently learned about Major.”
“Major? Oh, a lot has happened. I’m glad I had an opening. What’s been going on?”
I probably should’ve taken my ass upstairs, but instead, I took a seat on the stairs and tuned in. I listened as she told the woman, who I assumed was her therapist, about our situation.
She shared everything we’d discussed, from beginning to end, and even though I’d lived it, it was hard to hear. She expressed that, even after everything I’d confessed, her heart and mind were moving at different speeds, and how badly she wanted them to be on one accord.
“It’s natural for you to second-guess your decision to move forward with Major. Even though you’ve forgiven him, you haven’t forgotten the pain his actions caused,” Dr. Simone said.
“Do you think we can make it work if the past is lingering in the back of my mind?”
“It’s called the past because that’s where it should be left.
If Major’s actions show that he’s a changed man, that he’s learned from his mistakes, and that he’s genuinely sorry for the hurt he caused, I believe it’s safe to trust your heart.
It’s okay to learn from the past, but never allow it to dictate your future. ”
“The fear of him hurting me again is real.”
“That’s fair, but from the moment you shared your story years ago, I knew there was more to it.
From then until this very moment, I’ve never felt Major’s intentions were to hurt you.
He wanted you to fulfill your dreams, and it was important for him not to get in the way of that.
He didn’t want to do to you what his father did to his mother.
Remember, he was young and didn’t know how to express himself as well as he probably does now. ”
I’d heard too much and should’ve gone upstairs, but the need to know what Dynastie was thinking kept me glued to the stairs.
“That’s true, and neither did I.”
“You both have learned from the past and have matured enough to understand how important communication is. I highly doubt either of you would allow a situation to get so far out of hand that you lose control.”
“Never again. As soon as I sense something is off, I have no problem speaking up.”
“That’s called growth, Dynastie. Now, I have a question for you.”
“Oh no. I hate this part.”
“I know, but it’s necessary. You’ve shared a lot today about what he confessed to you and how you responded. What did you confess to him?” Dr. Simone asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t think there’s anything he should know about your time apart?”
“Not at all.”
“Dynastie.”
Both women were silent for too damn long because I wanted to know what Dr. Simone was talking about.
“Dr. Simone, I’m not in the right headspace to talk about that right now.”
“You don’t need to talk about it with me, but I think you should tell Major.”
“But why? It’s not going to bring our baby back.”
Baby? Hold the fuck up!
“It won’t, but sharing with him will—”
“Dr. Simone, I have to go. I’m getting another call.”
“Dyna—”
Dr. Simone’s voice was cut off, and the silence that followed was loud. Everything in me wanted to bumrush Dynastie, take her phone, call her therapist back, and demand she tell me what I need to know.
Unfortunately, since I was listening to a conversation I wasn’t supposed to be privy to, I couldn’t do that. I had no idea how I would continue on with my day, let alone the rest of my life, not knowing the rest of the details.
I finally went to my bedroom, but the nap I wanted to take was long forgotten. I lay on my back with my hands behind my head, staring at the ceiling. Several scenarios went through my head as I tried to figure out how to bring up what I’d just heard.
None of them would work without her knowing I was listening. I had no choice but to hope and pray she would consider what her therapist said and tell me on her own. In the meantime, I had to do something to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t draw my own conclusion.