Chapter 14 #2
“It’s okay,” Aurora said, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “I’m just glad you’re alive. I was so worried about you, Indie. I went to your condo looking for you, and Ish told me you were out of town, but I knew something was off.”
“Yeah, Ish was trying to cover for me,” I said. “He feels guilty as hell about all this.”
“He should,” Aurora said. “His ass got you into this mess.”
“I know,” I said. “But he’s my brother. I’d do it again if I had to.”
Aurora nodded, understanding in her eyes.
We sat in silence for a moment.
Then I said, “Look, I know this is all crazy. But I want to take you out today. Lunch, shopping, whatever you want. On Stone’s dime.”
I pulled out the thick bands of cash and Aurora’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
“Girl, how much is that?” she asked.
“A few thousand, I think,” I said with a shrug. “Stone gave it to me and told me to get whatever I need. But I don’t need shit. He already bought me a whole wardrobe. So, I want to spend it on you.”
Aurora looked at the money, then at me, then back at the money.
“Say less!” she said, jumping up from the couch. “Let me go get ready! We about to tear Rodeo Drive up!”
I laughed as she ran to her bedroom, already talking about all the shit she wanted to buy.
I finally felt like myself again. Like Indie. Not Stone’s captive. Not some kept woman. Just me. And it felt good.
***
Twenty minutes later, Aurora emerged from her bedroom looking absolutely stunning.
She wore a tight black dress that hugged her slim thick frame, paired with strappy heels and cute jewelry. Her hair was laid in long, sleek waves, and her makeup was beat to perfection.
“Okay, bitch, I’m ready,” she said, grabbing the Chanel bag I’d given her. “Let’s go spend this nigga money.”
We walked out of her apartment and when she saw Troy standing there, her eyebrows rose. “Who the fuck is this?” she asked.
“This is one of Stone’s men, he’s my bodyguard for the day,” I explained.
Aurora looked at me and said, “Bodyguard? Bitch, is you Whitney Houston?”
I cracked up, and we headed downstairs to the Escalade where Javion was waiting.
Aurora’s eyes went wide when she saw the blacked-out SUV and the man standing beside it. Javion opened the back door for us, and we slid into the backseat together.
As soon as the door closed, Aurora leaned over and whispered, “Girl, your guards are fine as hell! Especially the one with the fade!”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re a mess.”
“I’m just saying!” she whispered back. “If this is what being a kingpin’s girl looks like, sign me up!”
Javion got into the driver’s seat and glanced at us in the rearview mirror.
“Where to, ladies?” he asked.
“Somewhere expensive for lunch,” I said. “Then Rodeo Drive.”
“Yes ma’am,” Javion said, pulling out into traffic.
Aurora and I spent the drive catching up, talking about everything and nothing. She told me about what had been going on at the club, about the drama between some of the dancers, about Roman asking about me.
“I told him you had a family emergency,” Aurora said. “He seemed worried, but I think he bought it.”
“Good,” I said. “I don’t know if I’m ever going back to Velvet anyway. Stone owns the club, and he basically fired me.”
“He fired you?” Aurora asked, her eyebrows shooting up.
“Yeah,” I said. “Told me I don’t need to work anymore because he’s taking care of me and Ish.”
Aurora was quiet for a moment, processing that.
“So... what does that make you?” she asked carefully. “Like, are y’all together? Is he your man?”
“I don’t know what we are,” I admitted. “He says I belong to him. That I’m his. But we’ve never talked about being in a relationship or anything like that. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated is an understatement,” Aurora said. “But girl, if he’s taking care of you and Ish, buying you all this designer shit, and dicking you down right... I mean, that sounds like a man to me.”
I didn’t respond.
Because maybe she was right. Maybe Stone was my man, even if neither of us had said it out loud.
The thought made my stomach flip.
Javion pulled up to an upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills. It was the kind of place with valet parking and a dress code. The kind of place I never would’ve been able to afford before Stone.
Aurora and I walked into the restaurant, and it was instant. I could feel the stares, conversations slowing just enough to take us in as we passed.
The hostess seated us at a table near the window while Troy sat at the bar. We both ordered mimosas and started looking at the menu. Everything was expensive as hell, but I didn’t care. Stone’s money was paying for it.
“Get whatever you want,” I told Aurora. “Don’t even look at the prices.”
Aurora grinned. “Girl, you ain’t gotta tell me twice.”
We ordered appetizers, entrees, desserts—the whole nine. The food was incredible, and for a couple hours, we just enjoyed each other’s company.
We laughed, talked shit, reminisced about high school and all the crazy shit we’d been through together.
It felt normal. It felt like home. And I realized how much I’d missed this. Missed her.
After lunch, we headed to Rodeo Drive.
Aurora’s eyes lit up as we walked down the street, looking at all the high-end stores: Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Dior.
“Where do you want to go first?” I asked.
“Everywhere,” Aurora said, her voice filled with excitement.
So that’s what we did.
We hit up store after store, and I bought Aurora whatever she wanted. Shoes, bags, clothes, jewelry. If she looked at it twice, I bought it.
Javion and Troy followed us from store to store, carrying our shopping bags like personal assistants. Aurora kept whispering to me about how fine they were, and I kept laughing at her thirsty ass.
By the time we were done, we had at least fifteen shopping bags between us.
I didn’t buy a single thing for myself. I didn’t need to. I had more than enough shit at the estate.
But watching Aurora’s face light up every time I handed over cash for something she wanted? That was worth it. It made this whole fucked-up situation feel easier for a little while, because my best friend was happy, and that made me happy.
When we got back to Aurora’s apartment, the sun was starting to set. Javion and Troy helped us carry all the shopping bags upstairs, and Aurora’s living room looked like a department store had exploded.
“Thank you so much, Indie,” Aurora said, pulling me into a tight hug. “This was the best day ever. I love you, bitch.”
“I love you too,” I said, hugging her back. “And I’m sorry again for disappearing on you.”
“It’s okay,” she said, pulling back to look at me. “Just promise me you’ll call me. Like, regularly. I need to know you’re okay.”
“I promise,” I said. “And I’m gonna ask Stone if you can come visit the estate. I want you to see where I’m living.”
“Girl, yes!” Aurora said, her eyes lighting up. “I want to see this mansion you’re talking about. And meet this fine ass kingpin who got you all dickmatized.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m just keeping it real,” she said with a grin.
We hugged one more time, and then I headed back downstairs to the SUV.
As Javion pulled away from Aurora’s building, I looked back and saw her standing in the window, waving.
I waved back, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.
***
The drive back to the estate felt shorter than the drive out.
Maybe because I was in a good mood. Maybe because I was actually looking forward to going back. To seeing Stone.
The thought made me pause.
When had I started looking forward to seeing him? When had I stopped thinking of the estate as a prison and started thinking of it as... home?
I pushed the thought away as we pulled through the gates.
Javion parked in front of the house and opened my door.
“Thank you,” I said as I stepped out. “Both of you. For today.”
“Anytime, Miss Indie,” Javion said with a nod.
I walked into the house and immediately went to check on Ish. He was in his room playing video games, and I sat on his bed for a few minutes, telling him about my day with Aurora.
“That’s dope,” he said, pausing his game. “I’m glad you got to see her. You seem happy.”
“I am,” I said, realizing it was true. “I am happy.”
After chatting with Ish for a bit longer, I headed to the master bedroom.
I was tired from the long day, and all I wanted was to relax.
I ran a bubble bath in the deep jacuzzi tub, adding some of the bath oils stocked nearby. Then I stripped out of my clothes and sank into the hot water, letting out a long sigh of relief. The bubbles surrounded me, the scent of lavender filling the air.
I closed my eyes and let myself relax completely. It had been weeks since I felt anything close to that kind of peace.
***
After my bath, I dried off and lotioned my entire body with some expensive-smelling body butter that left my skin soft and glowing.
I slipped into a black lace nightie that barely covered my ass, the material soft against my skin. One of the ones Stone had bought for me.
No underwear.
I climbed into bed and turned on the TV, flipping through until I found something to watch. I was halfway through the movie when I heard the door open and looked up to see Stone.
He was still dressed in the clothes he’d worn to handle business. Dark, expensive pieces fitted to perfection, a leather jacket thrown over a black tee that showed off every inch of his build. His jewelry flashed with each step, quiet but heavy. He looked fine as hell.
Our eyes met, and something passed between us. Something charged.
Stone walked over to the bed, his gaze intense and focused entirely on me. Then he leaned down and kissed me. It wasn’t rough or demanding like usual. It was passionate and deep, like he’d been thinking about me all day. When he pulled back, his dark eyes searched mine.
“You have fun with your friend?” he asked, his voice low.
“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “Thank you for letting me go. And for the money. I bought Aurora a bunch of shit.”
“Good,” Stone said. “That’s what it’s for.”
He straightened up and started walking toward the bathroom.