Chapter 15
“You serious?” Mayani asked me as we walked into the Versace store. I was currently at Somerset Mall, trying to find something for this impromptu trip. I couldn’t lie; I was nervous as hell, but excited nonetheless.
“I am,” I replied.
Paige smiled at me. “I love this for you, Arie. Explore something different; it won’t kill you, sis.”
I rolled my eyes at her. Her ass wanted me to fall in love so bad because she was in the love bubble.
“What if this shit doesn’t work out, P? I swear… I’m going to go to jail if this man hurts me. Daddy already pierced my shit by getting locked up and then telling me years later that he doesn’t want shit else to do with u?—”
“Arie, please stop,” Paige said, rolling her eyes. Mayani and Megan snickered.
“Whatever, you know I’m right. Anywho, I do like him, so that should tell you that I am open to exploring more with him.”
“Is it him or his dick?” Megan asked.
“Considering him and his dick are synonymous to me , I guess I don’t have a choice but to like him .
” I walked over to where the swimsuits were, finding a multi-colored, two-piece bikini.
I held it up, deciding on that one before moving on to find two more.
Messiah made his instructions clear. He wanted me in bikinis the whole vacation.
“Arie…” Paige called out to me. I looked over at her, and she had a serious look on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, now concerned.
“Nothing. I just want you to really enjoy yourself. You deserve good things to happen to you, and if you’re falling for Messiah, it’s okay. I pray he doesn’t fumble this and that you allow him to show you what love feels like.”
Mayani laughed. “This bitch ain’t falling in love. You wasting your breath. Chick been heartless since we met her ass ten years ago. What makes you think she’s going to change for this nigga?”
I could sense a little jealousy in Mayani’s tone.
Her ass needed to get over whatever little crush she had on me.
Although I found her extremely beautiful, I was not into women.
That one time was the first and only time, but apparently, Mayani was still holding on to the possibility of my consistent no’s turning into a yes.
I watched as Paige’s eyes squinted, and her lips turned up in a scowl.
“First off, I know we’re cool and shit, but you need to know your place.
You may be a part of the wedding, and I may even consider you a good associate, but at the end of the day, you still work for us.
Our personal lives don’t need your input, and you can kill that fantasy in your head about being with Arie.
It’s never going to happen, so cut it the fuck out. ”
How the fuck did she know about that?
I never told anyone about our little rendezvous, but when I looked at Megan and her eyes faltered, I knew she had to be the culprit.
“I-I wasn’t saying it like that, P. I was just pointing out what I’ve seen over the years,” Mayani replied, stuttering.
I knew she had to be shocked that Paige was talking to her like that.
Paige had never exerted her authority when dealing with them—I was always the enforcer.
Nevertheless, I knew how my sister could get when she was irritated, and it wasn’t a pretty sight to see.
Paige probably wanted this for me more than she wanted to say “I do,” and for Mayani to say I wasn’t going to try with Messiah triggered her annoyance.
“Yeah? Well, you’re stepping out of order. You two are dismissed. Go wait outside the store.” Without protest, they both walked away, and I looked at Paige and smirked.
“It’s not that serious, Paige,” I said, laughing now that it was just her and me.
“It’s just that serious. I don’t know why you would have sex with her, anyway. You don’t even like bitches.”
“I was just having a little fun. Mayani knows what it is.”
“Does she? That little jealousy drippin’ in her words says otherwise. But anyway, as I was saying, I love this for you. I want you to have fun. Did he say where he was taking you?”
“No. He just instructed that I bring three bikinis. That’s it.”
A gleeful smile spread across her face, and I shook my head.
“I can’t wait to hear all about it, Arie!” she all but screeched out.
I rolled my eyes and walked off. “Whatever.”
I never doubted Messiah’s status. I knew he had money; I just didn’t know how much of it until I was escorted to a private airstrip by a driver in a Bentley GT.
When my eyes landed on the private jet, I had to question just how much Messiah had in his bank account.
I let out a nervous breath as the luxury car came to a stop in front of the stairs.
I looked out of the window, seeing Messiah standing at the bottom of the stairs with his hands in the pockets of his slacks.
His dress shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and he was looking every bit of a sexy, corporate boss.
Two more men stood beside him wearing security uniforms.
He strolled over to the car just as the driver opened my door.
Messiah leaned in, smiled at me, then crashed his lips into mine.
I tensed, then finally eased into it, allowing his tongue to explore my mouth.
I hated how butterflies swam around in my stomach and my groin stirred, while his skilled, explorative tongue made me dizzy.
As I was starting to enjoy it, he pulled back, thumb rubbing my cheek, and smiling eyes roaming over my face.
“Hi.”
“Hey.” I blushed slightly.
Weak ass .
“I’m glad you came,” his deep voice sounded, turning the butterflies into waves.
I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Aside from you struggling mentally to be with me, I also saw you battling with the idea of going away with me. I promise to make this trip one of clarity, openness, and transparency.”
“What if I just want to have fun and skip the transparency?”
“Then I would have to bid you adieu and take the trip on my own. I’d hate it, but I respect how you feel and promise not to force a connection if what I’m reading between us isn’t what it is.” He stepped back and extended his palm to me. “So what’s up, Juice? You rocking with me or no?”
I didn’t have to think too long before I placed my palm in his and stepped out of the car. Messiah leaned down and kissed my ear, causing me to close my eyes and my pussy to clench.
“Good girl, mamas.”
We headed toward the jet, and the security guards checked my bags and passport.
We moved up the stairs into the big, fancy-ass jet once cleared.
My eyes perused the jet, and the first thing I noticed was a bar that was stocked with what I was sure was top-shelf liquor and wine.
I could smell a delicious aroma of something southern permeating the air, and the plush seating looked big and comfortable.
I turned to Messiah. “Is this yours?”
“It is.”
“Wow. Just how much is your net worth?”
Messiah chuckled. “Why you tryna clock my funds, Juicy?”
“I need to see if I should fuck, marry, then kill your ass so I can get the life insurance policy.” I teased and yelped when he pinched my ass. The stewardess approached us with a smile on her face, holding a tray with two tumblers of gold liquid.
“Welcome, Mr. Crawford, and Mr. Crawford’s guest. I’m Dawnyel, and I’ll be accommodating you two for the duration of your beautiful trip to Nice.”
“Hello, Dawnyel. This is a good friend of mine, whom I’m hoping by the end of this trip, I’ll be calling her my girlfriend.”
I huffed. “That’s debatable.”
“Well, I hope this trip to Nice will give you the push you need,” Dawnyel spoke before giggling.
“Nice? Nice, France?” I asked, shocked.
“She sure isn’t speaking of a relative, baby.” Dawnyel giggled again as I rolled my eyes at him. “Thanks, D.”
She placed the tray on the table in front of the seats. “No problem, Mr. Crawford. If there is anything you all need, I’m only a call away.”
She walked off, and I felt myself being lifted into the air. I smiled, crashing my lips into his and tasting a hint of Brandy on his tongue.
“Mmm,” I moaned, feeling my nipples grow painfully erect. I pulled away first, looking into his eyes that were low and filled with desire. “I’ve never been to Nice. Thank you for inviting me.”
“It’s my pleasure, baby. I have a business meeting when we arrive, but as soon as it’s over, it’s just you and me.”
I smirked. “You better not fumble on this trip.”
“Never.”
He placed me in the seat and then sat next to me.
The stewardess brought our bags on while the flight attendant announced us for take-off.
As tough as I could be and how resistant I wanted to be to allowing this man to woo and court me, I knew I had to stop fighting this.
If I had to tell myself the truth, my father instilled in me to never allow a man to finesse me, but then he was sent to prison, and now he was telling us that he didn’t want to see us again.
He had finessed me. I may have been hesitant about men before, but his actions had handicapped me when it came to dealing with the opposite sex.
I always waited for the relationship to fail because I knew how cunning men could be to get the girl they wanted for the ‘meantime,’ then either cheat or leave her with her heart bleeding on the floor.
I didn’t want that for myself. Nonetheless, I was giving Messiah a chance to prove me wrong.
To prove to me that I could feel love.
The panoramic view from our penthouse suite was breathtaking.
I had never been to France, and just seeing a view so beautiful had me never wanting to return home.
During the layover in Rome, we explored the Pantheon, including Piazza Navona.
Now, I was viewing Nice from the floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping a glass of champagne while Messiah got ready for his business meeting.
The urge to call Sabrina and show her where I was tempted me, but I decided against it, knowing how dramatic she would be.