Chapter 24
We pulled up to the landing strip late, and the jet was already waiting.
I had to stop Noa from turning around three times before we even left her damn house.
She was nervous about traveling. She didn’t say it out loud, but I saw it in her mannerisms. The way she kept rolling back and forth, trying to make sure she’d packed everything was a clear giveaway.
I got it. I was taking the girl who never left her house and flying her halfway across the country.
“You good?” I asked, pressing a kiss to her temple as we boarded the flight.
“Yes.” She nodded, releasing a deep breath.
She was scared, but she was going anyway to support me, and hell, that meant everything.
The driver opened my side and then quickly moved to Noa’s, her chair already ready.
By the time I stepped out, the staff was already approaching us.
One of them, a man in a blazer and a headset, stepped forward with a clipboard.
“Mr. Sills,” she said, smiling. “We’ve got the ramp prepared if your guest would prefer to board using her chair. We’re also available to assist directly if needed.”
I looked back at Noa, then turned to the man.
“Y’all handle the chair. I got her.” Before Noa could say anything, I ducked down and swept her into my arms.
“Quade!” She gasped, laughing as she gripped my shoulder. “Please! Oh my God!”
“You should have never let me up in you if you didn’t want to be my arm candy.” I smirked.
She shook her head, but the grin she tried to hide told me everything I needed to know.
This wasn’t about her not being able to walk on.
Noa was perfectly capable of getting up the ramp in her chair, but I enjoyed carrying her.
I liked her being close to me, and I liked that she let me take care of her when she didn’t have to.
I loved how her body fit against mine, like God grew her just for me.
I carried her up the stairs effortlessly with her smiling up at me like the happiest woman in the world.
“Welcome aboard.” The flight attendant greeted us as we stepped onboard. “We’ve got champagne and refreshments already out for you as soon as you’re settled.”
“Thank you.” I nodded and continued boarding. The second we crossed the threshold, I felt her breath catch.
“Oh my God…” I didn’t say anything, just held her and let her take it all in. “This is how the rich fly, huh?”
She looked up at me as she gawked at the cream leather seats and gold hardware on the jet.
It was nice and a clear sign that Eight24 was getting money.
I scanned the room. The low table in front of the sofa had two champagne flutes and a tray of snacks.
I’d made sure they knew to include those nasty ass thin mints Noa liked, too.
“You did not bring flowers on this plane,” Noa blurted in shock as we made our way down the aisle toward the large bouquet of soft yellow tulips I’d bought for her.
“I didn’t.” I shrugged, lowering her into the seat across from the flowers. “I had ’em delivered ahead. Told them my girl expects a bouquet a day.”
She shook her head, hiding her smile.
“I could have sacrificed travel day,” she said. “It’s not like I’m lacking any. At this rate, I’m gon’ mess around and have to start a garden.”
I grinned. “If you want a garden, I’ll make sure you get one.”
“I don’t even know how to maintain a garden, Quade.” She laughed.
“Then we’ll hire somebody to maintain it. Simple.”
Before she responded, one of the flight attendants stepped in, smiling. She handed Noa a glass of champagne with a strawberry slice floating at the top and passed me one, too.
“If either of you need a blanket, we have them warm and ready,” she said before walking off down the aisle.
“Oh my God,” she breathed out. “This is nice. I might never fly coach again.” Noa looked down at the champagne, then around the jet again, sinking deeper into the plush seat I’d just set her in.
I smiled, watching her take it all in. This wasn’t new to me.
I’d flown privately before. I had racks on racks to blow and people treating me like I was on top of the world.
“We’re cleared for takeoff. Please buckle up and enjoy the flight.” The captain’s voice came over the intercom, smooth and relaxed.
“Even the captain sounds fancy.” She sipped her champagne, and I leaned back beside Noa, her hand already finding mine.
Yeah. Maybe this time, fame would be different.
The sun hit differently out here, or maybe it just felt that way because Noa was sitting next to me looking fine as hell in a brown swimsuit slash dress situation.
Her short hair and the oversized sunglasses she wore had her looking like a 90s Nia Long.
She’d been in good health, though her mornings were a little slow.
She’d still been glowing all weekend, like she belonged out here for real.
“Do they do meetings like this often?” She looked around, taking in the beautiful scenery around us.
“They’re probably trying to impress me,” I said as my eyes darted around the house.
I’d read in my research of Eight24 that Blue’s wife, Kay, had designed it.
Apparently, she was an architect, and she and Blue’s other business ventures included them designing properties and clubs together. It was how they’d met Ron.
“Is it working?” she asked as we both looked around the patio. The house was dope as hell. It was right on the beach, really modern, and really open. The part Noa was enjoying was how the patio spilled right into the sand.
“I ain’t gon’ lie… it is.”
“I feel like I’m on the set of MTV Cribs,” Noa whispered, biting into a strawberry from the platter of fruit the butler had set out for us as we waited for Blue and Dru to join us outside.
I chuckled low, watching her lips wrap around the strawberry slowly and deliberately.
Damn! If I didn’t want to be that strawberry right now.
“You tryna make me miss my meeting?” I asked, gazing at the juices coating her lips and dripping down her chin.
“What?” She smirked, wiping the corners of her mouth. “I’m just eating a strawberry. You need to keep your mind out of the gutta, Mr. Rap Legend. Keep your eyes on the prize.”
“My eyes been on the prize since the first day I walked into your house.” I leaned over, pressing my mouth close to her ear.
“Keep playing, and yo’ ass gon’ be pinned up in the bathroom somewhere.
” Her lips opened and closed as she giggled like she was down for getting dicked down in these people’s home.
“You—” Before she could finish her sentence, the glass doors slid open, and our hosts arrived.
Blue walked in first, dressed in all black with his wife on his arm.
His brother trailed behind him rocking a linen set.
He also had his wife tucked next to him.
A man in a tailored suit followed them carrying a black briefcase.
Everyone was smiling like this was just Sunday brunch and not a business meeting.
I appreciated the family vibes. It was refreshing.
I signed my last deal in a strip club surrounded by half-naked women, alcohol, and weed.
“Quae Lo, my man! We’re glad you could make it out.” Dru greeted me as I stood up to shake their hands. “How you liking LA?”
“You know Los Angelas is a vibe. Anytime I’m up here, it’s a good time,” I replied. “It’s been even better with my lady on my arm.” I glanced over at Noa. She was sporting a soft smile and confidence that said the billionaires who had just walked into the room did not intimidate her.
“That’s what we like to hear.” Dru smirked as the three of us dapped up. “I hope you showed her a good time.”
“Blue, your wife designed a beautiful home. This is nice. Got me feeling like I’m in a music video,” I said.
“That, she most definitely did.” Blue chuckled, smiling over at his wife. “This is my wife, Kay, and her twin sister, Dru’s wife, Marli.” He motioned toward the women who had come in with them. I’d read that these niggas had married twins, but seeing it in person was wild.
“Nice to meet you. This is my girl, Noa.”
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you all.” Noa waved.
“You're beautiful,” Kay said, already smiling like she was ready to pull Noa to the side and have girl talk.
“Drop-dead gorgeous,” Marli cosigned.
“Thank y’all so much. So are you two.” Noa glanced around. “Your home is really beautiful. I love this patio, and the art on the wall is gorgeous, very unique.” She rambled off. Noa had been talking about the paintings on the wall since the moment we’d walked in.
“Oh, thank you,” Kay replied. “We got most of these paintings from a black artist in Nigeria. Collecting paintings from black artists around the world is my newest hobby.”
Blue nodded. “As long as she’s not adding to her million-dollar shoe collection, she can have what she wants.”
Everybody laughed at that.
“Noa is a professional artist herself.” I threw it out there because I knew she wouldn’t.
“Wait, seriously?” Kay’s mouth dropped open.
“I paint, mostly oils. Sometimes I do landscapes and portraits.”
“She’s being modest. She’s dope. She’s done several galleries back home,” I cut in. Noa was being too humble when she needed to be popping her shit. Noa glanced up at me, cheeks turning pink, like I was embarrassing her.
“You have to show us your work,” Marli said.
“I have a few pieces on my socials.”
“Bae, you should show her the sunroom. She’ll probably love it,” Blue suggested.
“The sunroom?” Noa’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, it’s where I hang most of my pieces.”
Noa’s face lit up, and I could see her hesitation for half a second, her eyes bouncing toward me, probably worried about whether I needed her right by my side for the meeting.
“Go,” I reassured her. I was a grown man. I didn’t need her next to me holding my hand through a decision. Her being in the vicinity was enough.
“Well,… sure. I’d love to see it.”