Chapter 7
S evyn stood in front of her large stand-up mirror, her hands smoothing down the rich black velvet of her dress, the fabric hugging her curves in all the right places.
The light, natural makeup she wore enhanced her already striking features, her beauty effortlessly radiant.
She hadn’t wanted to go out tonight. She wanted to end her busy week curled up in bed, watching drama-filled TV, letting herself breathe after everything. But Harper had other plans.
In yet another attempt to get her out of her funk over Braxton, Harper had invited her to a masquerade birthday party, telling her it was for one of her homeboys she had grown up with.
She made sure to mention that the party would be filled with rich, powerful people, hoping that would sweeten the deal.
Sevyn wasn’t intimidated by that.
She had grown up attending galas, charity events, and exclusive gatherings with her family and Dorian, moving in elite circles her entire life. This wasn’t new to her.
But that didn’t mean she wanted to go.
Still, between Harper pressuring her and Dorian backing her up, she didn’t stand a chance at staying home.
Now, as she looked herself over in the mirror, a small smile tugged at her lips.
Even with a broken heart, she wasn’t blind—she looked good. Maybe being around other elegantly dressed people, good energy, and her best friends was exactly what she needed to finally push Braxton out of her system for good.
She wasn’t crying over him anymore, but she still thought about it—still had those quiet moments where the betrayal would creep back into her mind, uninvited.
She hadn’t told anyone in her family about the breakup, or about Braxton’s infidelity. Not because she was ashamed. Because she knew the chaos that would come with it.
Her father, Steven Love, had always admired Braxton. Too much, in her opinion. She knew it was because Braxton carried a sharp, respectable image, because on paper, he was perfect.
Sevyn knew how the conversation would go. He’d hurt Braxton. And that was something she didn’t want to deal with. So she stayed silent.
Dorian was the only person in her family who knew the truth— and that’s exactly how she intended to keep it.
At least for now. Until she figured out a way to break it to everyone without her world exploding into chaos.
Another reason she couldn’t fully move on from the situation was Braxton. His constant attempts to reach her, his relentless need to remind her of what he had done, only made it harder to let go.
She hadn’t seen him in weeks—not since the night she caught him—but that didn’t stop him from trying every tactic, every trick to get her attention. Flowers, texts, calls, voicemails. She ignored every single one, but he refused to give up.
She just hoped tonight would be a night of freedom. Freedom from work. Freedom from betrayal. Freedom from Braxton and Ariel.
Just a night to breathe.
A message dinged on her phone, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Dorian: We outside, hoe!
Sevyn chuckled to herself, shaking her head before grabbing her silver clutch.
She took one last glance in the mirror, running her fingers through her long, slick ponytail, freshly done earlier that day.
With a steady breath, she grabbed her phone and left her penthouse, heading downstairs where Harper and Dorian waited in the luxury black Escalade idling in front of her building.
Her black YSL heels clicked softly against the pavement as the driver stepped out, moving quickly to open the door for her.
"Thank you," she said smoothly, sliding inside. The second she sat down, Dorian’s voice rang out. "Damn… my bitch is pressure!"
Sevyn let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head as she buckled her seatbelt.
"Thanks, cousin. Both of you are stunning," she said, her gaze flicking to Harper, who looked damn near ethereal in her nude diamond dress.
They couldn’t deny one thing—they looked good as hell tonight.
The car filled with laughter and conversation as they drove through the city, the energy light, flowing. Sevyn felt relaxed for the first time in weeks, like maybe she could really enjoy herself tonight.
But then her phone rang. Her body stiffened as she pulled it out of her clutch. Her expression hardened instantly when she saw the name flash across the screen .
Ariel.
Her jaw clenched, and she felt her anger rise—but she stayed composed.
She hadn’t seen or heard from Ariel since that night, and honestly, she didn’t know what she would do to her if she ever saw her backstabbing ass again.
Without hesitation, she hit decline and tossed her phone back into her clutch, refusing to let it ruin her night.
She refocused on the conversation, pushing all thoughts of Braxton and Ariel out of her head as they pulled up to Hustle & Flow Casino, the glow of the neon lights illuminating the night.
Sevyn watched as a long line of elegantly dressed guests slowly entered the brightly lit casino, security meticulously patting everyone down before letting them inside.
"Damn… your homeboy some top-notch nigga or something?" Dorian asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity, clearly intrigued by the exclusivity of the event.
Harper laughed lightly, unbothered by the crowd. "Something like that. He takes his birthdays very seriously, and people always come out."
Sevyn had been to plenty of high-end events, galas, private fundraisers, and luxury gatherings—but this was different.
This wasn’t just wealth. This wasn’t just status.
It was power. And danger. The streets and the elite blending together in a way that was already volatile.
The air itself felt charged, the mix of money and criminal influence making her stomach tighten.
She even recognized some politicians—men she had seen in suits at her father’s business meetings, shaking hands, pretending they weren’t just as dirty as the criminals they condemned.
"He owns this casino?" Dorian asked, even more intrigued as the driver came around to open their door.
Harper shrugged, smoothing down her gown. "No, my cousin does. They’re like brothers, so he’s hosting the party at his casino."
That one word—cousin—made Sevyn’s body tense.
Hassan.
His name wasn’t spoken, but she felt it anyway, heard it in her head, like an echo she couldn’t escape.
She hadn’t seen him since that day in her office—since he walked in, took up all her space, and left his presence imprinted on her body like a scar she couldn’t erase.
She had pushed him out of her mind long enough to get through the rest of her workday, but that was temporary.
Because when night came, when she was alone? He was all she could think about .
And that frustrated her more than anything.
Something about him—the danger, the detachment, the coldness— had her wanting to figure him out. Had her wanting to understand what other people seemed to misunderstand about him.
And that? That terrified her.
The driver helped them out one by one, their heels clicking against the pavement as they stepped onto the casino floor. The energy of Hustle & Flow was alive, luxurious, and intoxicating.
Walking hand in hand, they took in the grand scenery—crystal chandeliers, gold accents, and black marble floors reflecting the glow of the neon casino lights.
Sevyn nodded in approval, impressed by the elegance of the space and the crowd that filled it.
Everywhere she looked, people were draped in money, immersed in games of high-stakes poker, roulette, and blackjack. The entire place reeked of power, a blend of real money and street money, each person playing a role in an environment that could turn cutthroat in a second.
"Now, I ain’t new to rich people shit, but damn… this different," Dorian muttered, her eyes scanning the room, taking in the extravagance that was dripping from every detail.
Sevyn nodded in agreement.
Harper chuckled, shaking her head. "Girl, and the niggas who behind this bougie-ass party? Ain’t even the slightest bit bougie."
Sevyn already knew who she was talking about.
Before they could walk any further into the casino, a deep, confident voice sounded from behind them, stopping them in their tracks.
"What it do, Harper?" The voice was smooth, commanding, effortlessly pulling their attention as they turned around.
Roman.
Draped in a rich red three-piece suit, Roman approached them like he owned the entire damn room. His presence was heavy, his smile bright yet dangerous, his energy electrifying.
Harper’s face lit up as she turned toward him. "Hey, Roman! Happy Birthday!" she said excitedly before pulling him into a quick hug.
After he hugged Harper, his eyes immediately found Dorian. And she was already looking at him too. Like she was memorizing every part of him. Like she was checking him out unapologetically.
Roman’s gaze locked onto hers, and he did the same.
It was like a silent exchange, a mutual assessment, a moment where neither of them blinked.
"Roman, these are my girls—Sevyn and Dorian." Harper intro duced, and Roman finally broke the stare, shaking Sevyn’s hand first, flashing her a confident smirk before his focus snapped right back to Dorian.
This time, when he held out his hand, she took her time, slowly placing hers in his.
Sevyn smirked to herself because she could feel the energy between them.
Something was about to happen.
"Happy birthday," Dorian said smoothly, her voice soft, but carrying undeniable seductiveness.
She wasn’t a shy girl. She had always been bold, her confidence unapologetic. And even now, standing in front of one of the most ruthless men in Memphis, her energy didn’t waver.
If anything, she shined even brighter.
Roman’s smirk deepened, his grip still on her hand. "Thank you, beautiful."
"So you knew you were supposed to be on my arm, huh? Wearing my color and everything." Roman said smoothly, his eyes trailing over Dorian from head to toe like she was his favorite view.