Plea

Chapter 23

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Venus

One Week Later

“What the fuck!”

The distress in Carson’s voice had me howling with laughter.

When he asked me what would make me feel better about the Trevor situation, I told him watching Harry Potter.

For the past week, we’d been watching one movie a night at his home, and I had been loving every minute of it.

When we first started watching, it took him a minute to get into it.

By the time we made it to the third movie, he was invested.

There were quite a few parts of literary genius that blew my mind, and I did cry when a few characters died.

It didn’t matter how many times I watched, I reacted the same way to parts six through eight.

I didn’t know how Carson would react during the infamous Dumbledore scene, but him jumping up from his seat yelling was completely unexpected.

I tried to calm him down and get him to sit down but he was distraught.

It was even funnier because I knew as attached as he was that he’d go crazy when we made it to the finale.

Once he finally calmed down so we could finish the movie, he was so hurt he wanted to watch parts seven and eight tonight instead of waiting for tomorrow.

Of course I was okay with that, so we agreed to take a brief break to smoke and refresh our snacks before starting it up.

While he popped some popcorn, I checked my notifications. My mouth dropped when Mariah sent me pictures of what looked like a badly beaten Trevor. I called her immediately to find out what the hell had happened to him.

“Girl!” she all but yelled as soon as she answered the phone.

“What the hell happened?”

She breathed deeply, and I knew she was preparing to tell a long story.

“Okay, so apparently Trevor made it home from a work trip last night. He posted something about being glad to be back home and that he couldn’t wait to get back to work tomorrow, which was technically today.

So when he got to his office this morning, someone was there waiting for him.

They beat his ass, girl! I’m talking had the man so discombobulated, he was dizzy and wobbling when he finally did stand up.

Then the nigga hit him with a final punch that knocked him the fuck out. ”

“How do you know this? You didn’t see it happening, did you?”

“Okay, so don’t be mad.” She paused and I groaned.

“I was a little peeved about him trying to sue you, so I was going to have my YN beat his ass. We were waiting for him to get to the office, and when I saw the guy approach him, I started recording. I could tell by the guy’s demeanor that he wasn’t approaching Trevor on some friendly shit. ”

“Did you recognize him? What did he look like?”

“I didn’t see his face because he had on a mask. He was kind of light brown, tall, and slim but muscular. And he was strong as hell because those hits were landing loud and hard. You want me to send you the video?”

Her excitement made me chuckle as I shook my head.

“I’ll just take your word for it. And while I appreciate you wanting to take up for me, please don’t have nobody beat up on my behalf.

Rodricko is not the kind of man that I want or need hurting people on my behalf.

I knew he was crazy the minute he threatened to have that guy on a T-shirt in two weeks when he stepped on your foot at the carnival last fall. ”

Mariah cackled like that shit was the funniest thing in the world, but I was scared Rodricko really was going to shoot that man over an honest mistake.

She was still quite young at twenty-five and loved that toxic shit.

I, on the other hand, wanted something stable.

I used to love a man fighting for or over me until the last one was sentenced to fifteen years and left me alone.

Now, I wanted to know my man could protect me when needed, but I wanted one that was mature enough to not risk losing his freedom if he didn’t absolutely have to.

We talked a little while longer until Carson came back with popcorn, candy, and drinks.

I thanked her again for thinking of me and promised to meet up with her and Paisley this weekend for brunch.

The comfortable smile on Carson’s face reminded me that he’d been in a particularly good mood today.

He was always in a good mood but today had been different.

He kept gazing off and smiling while shaking his head, and now, I wondered if he had something to do with what happened to Trevor.

Feeling my eyes on him, he looked back at me as he set the tray in front of us. How his theater room was set up, it was built on a curve, and it had three rows of reclining leather seats.

“What?” he asked with a chuckle.

“What did you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Trevor was beat up today. You know anything about that?” Regardless of how quiet his laugh was as he opened the drinks, I saw the quaking of his shoulders. “Carson!”

“What!”

“Did you have that man beat up?”

“Technically no. I might have mentioned something and someone else suggested it and I agreed, but technically, I didn’t set it up.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I sat up in my seat. “Would you prefer I have someone else do it, or for me to handle it myself?”

“Neither.”

He sucked his teeth and scowled. “Nah, that wasn’t an option. He disrespected and violated you.”

“Babe…”

“He made you cry. You think I’m going to let a nigga make you cry and not punish him for it?”

I sighed and shook my head. “You sound just like my daddy.”

“Good.” He placed a quick kiss to my temple, then returned his attention to the tray. “I would have beat his ass myself, but that shit with Asia already had the board looking into our relationship because our stock took a plunge.”

“Oh yeah. I meant to ask you about that. Last we talked, you said they were slowly climbing again. Is that still the case?”

“Yeah, thankfully. The numbers are back to normal, but I didn’t want to risk him being able to finger me or anyone else at the firm. It’s clear he’s a bitch so I know he would’ve pressed charges.”

At this point, I couldn’t argue with that. I felt like I barely recognized Trevor these days. Yes, I called the wedding off, but not once did I think this would be how he responded.

“Well… thank you for sticking up for me and fighting for my honor, even if you weren’t the one doing it physically.”

“Always. I got you, and everybody that got me got you too.”

That made me blush. Standing, I wrapped my arms around him, and he wasted no time turning and taking me into his arms. The more his hands caressed my hips, waist, and ass, the softer I became against him.

I’d never felt like physical touch was my love language, but I loved having Carson’s hands on me.

Our lips connected, and not to my surprise, it wasn’t long before our centers connected.

The man had me face down, ass up, in the reclining theater seat. My moans were pouring as I fucked him back, but I lost my rhythm when he smacked my ass and said, “Damn, V. I wish you could see how good this ass look. How wet this pussy is. How she coating the fuck outta my dick. Mm.”

That familiar tingle shot down my spine as I pressed my hands into the wall.

“Babe,” I warned him. “Aah, shit, Carson.”

My left hand went to my breast and squeezed my nipple while the right stayed on the wall.

He arched my back deeper and angled me so that every stroke brushed against my spot.

It wasn’t long before I was whimpering and cumming against him.

And like the pussy bully he was, Carson stayed on that spot and didn’t let up until I was cumming and squirting on the seat.

I had to physically push him out of me, but since I didn’t technically say stop, all that did was buy me a few seconds of time.

His eyes were trained on me as he stroked his long, meaty, curved dick.

I plopped down in the dry seat next to me, trying to catch my breath, but that didn’t last long.

He used my ankles to gently yank me to the edge of the seat.

With his foot resting on it, he lowered himself slightly and dipped his dick back into me.

Quiet curses escaped me as I put my ankle on his shoulder.

He leaned forward and pressed my leg and his body against mine before filling me with the methodical strokes I’d quickly fallen in love with.

I was so tired I fell asleep at my desk this morning.

After our random sex session, we showered and watched the last two movies, which were long as hell.

We didn’t end up getting to sleep until after three, and I was at the salon by seven.

Once I checked everyone’s stations and made sure they were fully stocked, I updated our inventory file to make note of what I’d need to purchase the next time I went to the beauty supply store.

After that, I ordered more bundles from two of my vendors and did a clip-in install, then I went back to my office and crashed.

Had it not been for Audry waking me up to tell me Carson had lunch delivered for my staff, I would have been asleep still.

Even with me being as tired as I was, binging my favorite fantasy series was worth it.

Carson was in shambles when he found out the truth about Snape, and the final battle was just as epic to me as it was the first time I watched the movies.

He was impressed and admitted he’d been missing out like I knew he would.

When we were done watching, he took the official quiz, and it didn’t surprise me to find out he was a Slytherin just like me.

I believed we both had traits of all houses.

I felt like he leaned more into Gryffindor, and I leaned more into Hufflepuff, but I was proud to be a Slytherin because people hated on Hufflepuff for some reason.

Before we went to bed, he ended up buying the books so he could get the full effect, and we planned to visit the Harry Potter store in Chicago next month, which I was already excited about.

Just thinking about going on another trip with him made me smile.

I loved spending time with him period, but traveling with my man was a true love language.

“Uh, boss lady,” Britt said, rushing into my office.

“Yes?”

“They out here towing your Wagon.”

“What!” I yelled, leaping from my seat.

Rushing out of my office, I refused to believe someone was towing my car.

I knew Trevor wasn’t going to be paying any of my bills anymore, so I’d already planned to have all my accounts switched over.

Carson sent me his information to replace Trevor’s though I insisted that wasn’t necessary.

Even though I didn’t think there was a chance he’d throw what he did or gave me in my face like Trevor did, I was a little leery about letting another man take care of me financially.

Respectfully and lovingly, Carson made it clear that he didn’t give a fuck about that shit.

He told me he wouldn’t even feel comfortable having access to my presence, mind, heart, and body if he wasn’t paying my bills because that was the bare minimum amount of effort required in exchange.

When he put it like that, I agreed to letting him pay for whatever he wanted to pay for.

But when I switched out the accounts, I made sure none of them were due.

My car note didn’t have to be paid for another three weeks, so I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on.

“Aye!” I yelled as the man quickly hooked my car up. “What the hell are you doing?”

His head shook as he avoided my eyes. “Sorry, ma’am. The owner asked for this car to be towed to his residence.”

“What are you talking about? This is my car.”

“Trevor Bowens is listed as the owner, and he’s the one requesting the car.”

My body deflated from the sound of his words. Just when I thought this man couldn’t get any pettier. You’d think getting his ass beat would’ve given him something else to focus on, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.

“Fine,” I agreed with a dismissive wave of my hand.

I loved my G-Wagon, but it was a gift from Trevor, and if he wanted it back, I didn’t give a fuck.

I could buy my own. When I made it back inside the salon, of course all eyes were on me.

Clapping my hands, I told them, “Okay, people. Back to minding your own or somebody else’s business. Get the hell out of mine.”

I was irritated more than anything that he’d done that foul shit at my place of business knowing how important it was to me.

As soon as I made it to my office, I called Carson and was tickled over the fact that I was quickly becoming the kind of woman who called her man for literally everything.

My daddy used to be my first call for everything, but since we’d come back from our trip, Carson had easily taken on that role.

“Wassup, sunshine?”

“Are you busy, babe?”

“I’m never busy when it comes down to you.”

I smiled as I sat down. “Trevor just had my car towed.”

“Damn. I’m sorry, baby. I know how much you loved it.”

“It’s fine. I can buy another one. Plus, I really wanted that new drop top anyway.”

“How are you getting home? Do you want me to pick you up?”

“I was going to Uber or use a car service.”

“Nah. I’ll pick you up. Just call me around thirty minutes before you’re ready to leave.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. I planned on taking you to dinner tonight anyway. I’ll just get dressed before I pick you up, and I’ll take you home so you can change.”

“Okay, babe. I’ll see you later then.”

“See you later.”

After disconnecting the call, I relaxed in my seat.

I was sure Trevor was at his home or office swearing he’d gotten one over on me.

He probably was waiting for me to call and curse his ass out, but I wouldn’t.

As mad as I initially was, I decided not to sweat it.

I wouldn’t allow him to have that kind of power over me.

A car could be replaced unlike my sanity, and I refused to let this man and his petty shenanigans drive me crazy.