Chapter 1 #2
I rolled my eyes because I didn’t believe that she was bisexual.
Deja was just willing to make sacrifices to change her family’s position in the hierarchy.
Most parents in our world weren’t as liberal and understanding as my father.
Their children were pawns, each with a role to play in continuing their family’s legacy.
He’d always let it be known that I could do whatever the fuck I wanted to do with my life.
I didn’t have to take a role within the organization.
College, money to start a business, or anything else was on the table for my future.
My role within the organization was always optional.
That wasn’t the case for a lot of other people in our world.
“Listen, when y’all sit around and plan hetero arranged marriages, at least the women like dick.
That’s the difference. We both know Deja’s family would be catapulted to another stratosphere if we get married.
Plus, Deja being a widow and single mom makes her damaged goods in most families’ eyes.
I’m a lesbian, also damaged goods in their eyes. ”
“Who the fuck called you damaged goods?” My father’s fists instantly balled, and his eyes narrowed in on me.
“Chill out,” I laughed. “Nobody called me damaged goods. But I won’t pretend that’s not what they whisper behind my back.
The only reason they don’t want to say it is because of the way you disappeared your younger brother for calling me an abomination when you first announced I would eventually take over the business.
Nobody wants those problems. The reality is, Deja and I are two castoffs forming a bullshit union.
That’s why they are the only family willing to agree to such an arrangement. ”
“That’s how most arranged marriages work, Sneaux. The families need to gain something out of the union,” my father shrugged, passing me the bottle of water. “We just celebrated your twenty-seventh birthday. We only have three years before thirty, the deadline for marriage.”
“Three years is plenty of time to find a better candidate. In the meantime, maybe my thoughts about Deja will change. I don’t know. When you did a deep dive on Deja’s life prior to her family relocating to Sand Cranes, nowhere did you find an ex-girlfriend.”
My father emitted a deep exhale and leaned against the wall, one ankle crossed over the other, eyes tracing my face.
“If someone did a deep dive on you, they wouldn’t find an ex-girlfriend either.
Maybe she has commitment issues like you,” he shot back.
I cut my eyes at him and offered an unamused expression.
“It’s been nine years, Sneaux. If my people haven’t found Milani and Janice, they won’t be found.
Either they don’t want to be found, or something went awry.
I know that it’s hard, but you have to let go of the past and focus on the future,” he lectured me.
“I’m not holding onto the past,” I exhaled, climbing to my feet.
“Either way, you need to be married before your thirtieth birthday if you want to permanently claim that seat. I’ve bent a lot of rules for you, but that won’t be one of them.
You’re going to get married, then you and your wife need to do whatever lesbians do to have children so our name can live on,” he recited his only demand that I’d heard at least a million times.
We exited the gym and descended the stairs.
Deja stood near the last step with a black Chanel gift bag clasped tightly in her left hand and a box of treats from a bakery in the other.
When our eyes connected, she lit up and a wide smile spread across her face.
There was no denying that Deja was beautiful; her long, natural curls flowed past her shoulders, and the way her thighs spilled out of those denim shorts made me want to change my prior sentiments.
Deja’s makeup looked like it was professionally done, and that surprised me, because she’d been barefaced during our last few brief encounters.
“I’ll give you guys some privacy,” my father stated before exiting the house.
“Good morning. You got your makeup done today? What’s the special occasion? I didn’t take you for the type of woman to wear makeup. You always have that natural glow when I see you.”
“I was just stopping by to say happy belated birthday and bring you some cupcakes. Sorry I had to cancel brunch before you and your family left for your birthday trip. I overslept. You know Ariel was up with a stomach virus the night before,” she apologized, referring to her three year old daughter.
“Thank you,” I smiled, accepting the gift bag and cupcakes. “I would hug you, but you look like you’re dressed up for the day and I’m all sweaty.” I motioned towards my sweat-slick body, my sports bra, and Nike Pro biker shorts sticking to me.
“It’s okay,” Deja grabbed my right cheek and came in close enough to kiss my left cheek. I almost leaned back and told her to keep her lips to herself, but my father’s mention of my standoffish demeanor stifled my natural reaction. “How was Thailand?”
“It was nice. The culture, white sand beaches, and turquoise water, what’s not to love? You ever been?”
“No, never. It’s definitely in my future plans though,” she bubbled.
“How is Ariel?” I inquired, leading Deja outside.
“She’s much better now. Back in daycare, so I’m getting back to work. If you’re not busy Sunday, I’d like to take you out for a belated birthday brunch. We can have a redo?”
“I already have plans. Chilling at my lounge with my best friend tonight, and I’ll be staying in Oland for the weekend.”
“Oh, are you DJing tonight?”
“If I feel like it when I pull up. I can’t say for sure yet,” I answered, taking a seat on the wicker bench to the left of the door.
My late grandparents were on to something when they remodeled their home and added the veranda that stretched the length of the front of the house and wrapped around the sides.
It always helped me relax and put my mind at ease.
Even in their absence, I felt their presence.
The sun warmed me instantly, and the sound of construction in the distance was a common occurrence ever since they broke ground on Levi and Terrel’s future residences.
“I didn’t even think you were listening while I talked about my hobbies during our little meet and greet last month,” I admitted.
“Why would you say that?”
“You were standoffish. Then you flaked on me when we were supposed to link.”
“If I was being standoffish, I apologize. I don’t remember it that way though.
I also think that sometimes you’re so used to running around with Levi and Terrel that you don’t realize how cold and standoffish you can be.
You looked at me like I had shit on my face when my father first introduced me,” Deja vented.
I chuckled because I knew I probably shot Deja the nastiest look when she walked in. One minute her father was discussing the price for our men to transport his products in our trucks, and the next he called his daughter in, suggesting an alliance with my father.
“Where did these cupcakes come from?” Deja interrupted the brief silence with her random question.
“How am I supposed to know?” I quipped, shrugging my shoulders. The lime green box was void of any logo to tell me where the sweet treats came from.
“Clearly, you were the one who wasn’t listening. They are from the bakery that I own. I told you all about it when we discussed hobbies.”
“Damn, my bad,” I hit her with the yikes face. She pulled a card I couldn’t refute, so I remained silent, pondering over our previous interactions. Most of the women I dealt with knew what it was and played their role. Maybe my pops was right; I was a part of the problem between us.
“You told our fathers that I’m standoffish when it’s really you.
How about we start fresh? I can even come to your lounge tonight since you’ll be in my city.
This will give me a chance to see if your skill level matches what I hear about you around town.
My business partner Aniyah swears your lounge is her favorite spot when she is in the mood to hang out. ”
“Yeah, you can slide through.”
“Do you mind if I bring a plus one? My future sister-in-law is moving to town this weekend, and I already promised AC I’ll host her for the weekend because he won’t be around.”
“Ion mind. I’ll put y’all on the list if y’all are really going to pull up.”
“I’m going to come for real. My parents are picking Ariel up from school, so I won’t have any reason to flake on you,” Deja confirmed.
“I thought your brother’s fiancée called off the wedding? The last time I saw him, he was frantic about his thirtieth birthday being around the corner and still being unwed.”
“My family has always had contingency plans for the men,” she clarified.
“That’s what’s up. I just hope the marriage contract includes a subscription of Truvada for the duration of the marriage. Y’all only moved to the area a year ago, and he already fucked half the city,” I talked shit.
“Not my business. My focus is on seeing if we can build something,” Deja flirted, licking her bottom lip.
As much as I would’ve loved to delve into Deja’s world, it would take more than the show she was putting on this morning to convince me this new attitude wasn’t an act.
The obnoxious rumble of an approaching engine made both of our heads swivel towards the street.
Quinn’s sleek black Hellcat Redeye Challenger sped down the street.
I knew my mama was going to come curse her out as soon as she could make it down here.
Quinn’s car was barely in park before she hopped out and ran over to me with her laptop clasped in her hand.
She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it when she saw Deja seated next to me.
“I need to speak with you in private,” Quinn insisted.
Whatever Quinn wanted to discuss was urgent, hence her appearance on my family’s estate, while dressed in floral pajama pants and a tank top she slept in the night before.
Her hair was still concealed beneath the silk scarf on her head, clear signs that she hopped out of the bed and ran straight over here.
“I guess that’s her way of telling me to get the hell on,” Deja huffed, leaning over to peck my cheek again. “See you later on tonight at Flamingos.”
“Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it,” I nodded, happy that she was walking off.
“You might want to stop getting so cozy with Deja because you’ll never believe what I found this morning,” Quinn sputtered, plopping down on the seat next to me and pulling her laptop open.
“What?”
“I’m pretty sure I found her,” Quinn blurted, and I froze. “Snap out of it bitch. I’m for real,” she patted my chest, then plopped the laptop onto my lap.
Pictures from Oland International Airport’s security system stared back at me when I peered at the screen.
It couldn’t possibly be Milani. A few counties over, happy, healthy, and with a fucking phone pressed to her ear.
I scanned the looped video intently, noticing the red crocodile Birkin bag clasped in her left hand, the blue Miu Miu track jacket and skirt set with a red stripe on the sides that hugged her body, and the matching baseball cap.
It definitely looked like Milani, but her hair was cut into a cute shoulder length style, vastly different from the back length hair she usually sported.
My eyes narrowed, and I scanned the woman again.
Her frame was also thicker than I remembered.
The brief far off clip made it difficult to get a good look to be certain.
Someone bumped into the woman in question, sending her low baseball cap tumbling to the ground.
She bent over to retrieve it and pulled the oversized shades off for a moment to scratch her eyelid before sliding them back on.
Over the years, I’d imagined myself being gleeful with any sign of Milani.
Now that I had it, that was not the case.
My blood boiled, and my heart shattered again.
All the time, money, and energy I spent searching for Milani, only for her to be fine.
The nights I lay in my bed wondering if something nefarious happened to her, and the times I wondered if my father was lying to me about what happened that day, were all for nothing.
If that was her, I had a horse sized pill to swallow.
Milani was just fine, and although my number never changed, she never bothered to call or text.
Maybe I never meant shit to her like I thought I did.
Jumping to my feet, anger surged through me. I threw the laptop down, cracking it in half upon impact. Lifting my right foot, I brought my heel down again and again until the casing was the only thing left standing. Quinn wrapped her arms around me and pulled me away from the mangled device.
“Where is this woman? We can’t tell it’s her from the footage alone,” My chest heaved, and my vision blurred from frustration.
“I don’t know,” Quinn faltered, releasing her grip on me.
“The facial recognition system I created still has some kinks to work out because it no longer recognized her face once she put her glasses back on. I’m going to comb through the rest of the security footage, but so far, I don’t know where she went.
However, I’m sure it’s Milani. She even flew under her own name. ”
“Ain’t no way after all of these years she just pops up like ain’t shit happen,” I mumbled, falling back down onto the wicker bench.
“That’s what it’s looking like.”
“My bad about the computer. I’ll buy you a replacement. Just add it onto my next invoice,” I requested.
“Already ahead of you. I knew your crazy ass might pull some shit like that, so I brought the cheapest laptop I own. But even that one cost a bag,” Quinn complained.
“I said I got you,” I reiterated, standing to my feet again.
“I got some business to handle. I’m going to head straight to Oland when I get done and get dressed at my condo up there.
My parents are going to be questioning me about why I just spazzed out on the porch, and I want to keep the possible Milani sighting between us.
Plus, I’m not leaving Oland until we confirm that’s Milani, and if it is, where could I find her?
If she flew into that airport, she can’t be too far, so bring your computer shit and some clothes. We in the O with it.”
“I got you,” Quinn detailed, gathering a few pieces of her laptop.
“Bet.”