Chapter 33 Pressure Mensah
The Garden of Kings
My dressin’ room was packed and I was the nigga of the hour.
Everybody was laughin’, talkin’, and movin’ around, but all I could think about was the fact that in a few minutes, I was gon’ be a married man.
This time it wasn’t just any weddin’. It was the weddin’.
I was about to marry Pluto Monroe, my woman, my peace, my forever.
The tailor was fixin’ the last few details on my jacket, but I was already dripped out in all black from head to toe.
My suit looked like money. Custom silk blend, cut sharp against my skin, the fabric smooth every time I moved.
The diamonds on my cufflinks caught the light, and the black tie around my neck sat perfect.
My beard was shaped crisp, my line-up clean, and my waves was hittin’ so deep it looked like you could dive in.
Kay’Lo sat on the sofa in the corner with dark shades on and his legs stretched out like the nigga was on a music video set.
He had that grin on his face that said he was proud but too cool to say it out loud.
Renza was hypin’ everything up like always, crackin’ jokes and talkin’ loud.
“Boy, look at you,” he said, walkin’ around me.
“You look like a rich-ass villain. If I didn’t know you was gettin’ married, I’d think you was headin’ to rob a museum or some shit. ”
Blaqson laughed, then slapped me on the back hard enough to make me rock forward. “This nigga really about to get married, y’all! Pressure Mensah, the Trill Prince himself, about to hang his jersey up!”
“Man, chill out,” I said, smilin’. “Ain’t nobody hangin’ shit up. I’m just movin’ different now. My woman deserve that.”
Kay’Lo nodded, leanin’ forward with his elbows on his knees. “You sayin’ that like it’s a surprise. We knew you was gon’ marry her, bro. You been actin’ married since day one.”
“Facts,” Renza said, laughin’. “Pluto got this nigga wrapped up tighter than a Christmas gift. Nigga can’t even blink without thinkin’ about her.”
I shook my head, tryna play it cool, but they wasn’t lyin’.
Every time I thought about Pluto, I felt that warmth in my chest. She had me in a way nobody else ever did.
“Man, y’all talk too damn much,” I said, grabbin’ my watch off the counter.
“This my day. Let me enjoy it before y’all turn it into a roast.”
Kay’Lo smirked. “We just gettin’ started.”
Renza grinned. “Nah, for real, though. I’m proud of you, bro. You really did it. After all the bullshit, all the women, all the drama, you finally found the one that match your crazy.”
“Damn right,” Blaqson said. “She the only one that ever checked you without dyin’ tryin’.”
Everybody laughed, and I couldn’t help but laugh too. They wasn’t wrong. Pluto was the only woman who could talk to me wild and still have me apologizin’ five minutes later. She also knew how to calm the storm in me, and I loved her for that.
Then my pops stepped forward, lookin’ sharp in his tailored black suit. Kojo Mensah didn’t even have to speak to command a room. His presence said enough. When he looked at me, the room got quiet on its own. He reached for my tie, adjustin’ it like I was still his lil’ boy.
“I’m proud of you, son,” he said, his voice strong. “Today is not just about marriage. It’s about responsibility. You are no longer just my son. You are a husband and a father. You are the head of your own household now.”
I nodded, feelin’ that weight in his words. “I know, Pops. I’m ready for it.”
He gave me that look that always came right before some real talk.
“Marriage is not like business. You can’t walk away from it when it gets difficult.
There will be days when it feels heavy, when you and Pluto won’t see eye to eye, but that’s when you stand firm.
A king doesn’t abandon his crown because it feels heavy. ”
I nodded again, takin’ in everything he said. “I hear you.”
Pops rested his hand on my shoulder. “Be her strength when she’s weak. Be the peace when she’s in pain. Be the man your sons will one day want to become. You’ve already built an empire, but now it’s time to protect the heart of it.”
I felt that. I ain’t even say nothin’ for a minute. He had that way of speakin’ that always hit me deep. “Appreciate you, Pops. For real,” I said, my voice low.
He smiled, proud. “One more thing, son,” he said. “Stay faithful to her. A man with many women is lost, but a man who loves one woman deeply is rich in spirit. That’s where true wealth is found.”
The room got quiet again. I could feel Renza, Kay’Lo, and Blaqson all watchin’, but nobody said a word. I nodded slow. “I got you. Ain’t no woman on this earth that could make me risk what I got with Pluto. She the one, and she always gon’ be.”
My pops gave me a proud nod and said, “Then go out there and marry your queen. Let the world see what legacy looks like.”
Right then, Blaqson clapped his hands together. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about! Let’s get this man married!”
Kay’Lo grinned. “You ready, King?”
I adjusted my cufflinks and looked in the mirror one last time. My reflection looked like power. Black on black, diamonds shinin’, and confidence sittin’ in my stance. “Yeah,” I said, smirkin’. “I’m ready.”
Renza clapped my back. “A’ight then. Let’s go put a ring on that woman before she change her mind.”
Everybody started laughin’, the mood light again, but inside, my heart felt full. All the wild shit I been through led to this moment. All the heartbreak, all the pain, all the lessons—the shit was worth it.
I walked toward the door with my crew behind me, feelin’ like a king about to claim his throne. Today wasn’t just a weddin’. It was history in the makin’. My name, my legacy... mt family.
I took a deep breath and smiled to myself. “Time to marry my queen.”
I was standin’ at the altar feelin’ like my heart was somewhere up in my throat.
I couldn’t even front like I wasn’t nervous.
A nigga done been through pressure that would break most men.
I done sat in rooms full of billionaires and bosses and made ‘em respect my name. I done carried whole empires on my back, but this right here hit different. This wasn’t business, this wasn’t power.
This was love. This was me about to marry the woman who changed my whole life without even tryin’.
The Garden of Kings looked like somethin’ out of a dream.
The chandeliers above us was made of gold and crystal, and the floor was polished marble that reflected every light in the room.
The flowers was everywhere, white roses and orchids wrapped around the railings, the altar, even the seats.
The smell was soft, clean and royal. People from every corner of Trill-Land had pulled up to witness this, dressed in black and gold like the ceremony was written by God himself.
Kay’Lo, Renza, and Blaqson stood beside me, lookin’ sharp as hell. Renza was grinnin’ like he was the one gettin’ married. Kay’Lo had his shades on, calm and cool as always, but I could see the pride in his face. Blaqson nodded at me and whispered, “This your day, King. Soak it in.”
I smirked, but my palms was sweatin’. I ran a hand over my beard just to keep myself from fidgetin’.
My black suit fit me like it was painted on.
Everything about me was tailored for this moment.
My watch, my earrings, my chain, all gleamin’.
But none of that meant nothin’ compared to what I was waitin’ on.
The music started playin’, soft but powerful, and the crowd got quiet.
Every head turned toward the back as Zurie came walkin’ down the aisle first. She held her lil’ basket full of rose petals, droppin’ them one by one like she been practicin’ for this all her life.
Her gold dress shimmered under the lights, and her curls bounced every time she moved.
She looked proud, like she knew how special this moment was.
Folks in the crowd smiled, whisperin’ about how beautiful she looked.
That was my lil’ girl, the one who came into our lives and made everything feel whole.
She looked like joy in motion, all grace and confidence as she floated toward the front.
When she reached the end of the aisle, she turned and waited, her hands folded in front of her while she watched what came next. I winked at her and she blushed, and blew me a kiss. Of course, I caught it and held it to my chest.
Everybody turned toward the doors at the back of the hall.
My heart started beatin’ harder, like it knew before I did that somethin’ special was about to happen.
The doors opened, and here came my lil’ man, my son, my twin, struttin’ his way down the aisle with a helper from the family holdin’ his hand.
The whole room went up with soft “awws.” I couldn’t stop smilin’ if I wanted to.
He had on the same exact tux as me, all black, with his lil’ loafers, his own mini diamond chain, and a tiny bracelet that matched mine.
His hair was cut just like mine too, them waves sittin’ tight, shaped up perfectly.
He looked just like me. The way he walked, the way he looked around at the people cheerin’ for him, even the lil’ bounce in his step. That was all me.
“Go ‘head, Prestyn,” I whispered under my breath.
When he made it to the front, he turned to the crowd like he knew he was the star of the show. Everybody laughed, and I could feel my heart swell up. I picked him up when he got close enough, and he gripped my chain, tryna chew on it like he always do.
“Lil’ man, you killin’ ‘em out here,” I said, kissin’ the top of his head before handin’ him off to Kay’Lo.
Then the music changed again, slow and soft, and the doors opened one more time.
That’s when I saw Pluto.