Chapter 4 Mythic Grey
MYTHIC GREY
TWO WEEKS LATER, I was standing in the mirror, sliding on a tailored designer tee.
I was getting ready to check out this condo Aviana swore was perfect for me.
But to be real, I wasn’t all that eager to see the place.
What had me hyped was seeing her. Aviana had been on my mind a lot lately, and today was another excuse to be in her presence.
I reached over to my jewelry display stand, pulled out my gold chain, and slipped it around my neck. It was hot out, so I kept it simple with a white shirt, tailored jeans, and crisp, white sneakers. I grabbed my watch, slid it on my wrist, and gave myself one last look in the mirror.
As I left the bedroom and headed downstairs, I heard her voice before I even got to the steps. Lelani’s mother, Rachel, was downstairs, making my mood instantly change.
Rachel despised me. That woman had been a thorn in my side from the day I met her.
As soon as Lelani introduced me to her, Rachel saw through the front of me being merely a nightclub owner.
She saw me as a gangster and criminal, both of which wasn’t good enough for her daughter.
But the truth was she was just jealous. She was a bitter, older single woman who never had a man take care of her the way I took care of Lelani.
I made my way downstairs, hearing their voices get louder as I approached the living room.
Lelani was ruffling through her purse. Rachel was perched on the edge of the couch as if she were waiting on Lelani.
Rachel barely looked at me when I walked in. She gave me a quick, dismissive hello that dripped with her usual coldness.
I scoffed, shaking my head as I looked at her, then turned to Lelani. “I’m heading out. I’ll be back later.” I leaned down, pulling Lelani close and kissing her slowly.
Lelani smiled up at me, but Rachel shifted in her seat, clearly annoyed. That was the reaction I was looking for. I gave Lelani one more kiss, then straightened up and shot Rachel a quick glance before heading out the door.
AVIANA SCOTT
As I led Mythic through the lavish penthouse on 21st and Indiana, my heart raced with longing and anxiety. Being in this intimate space with him ignited a familiar ache in my core. But I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the tour.
“Check out this view, Mythic,” I said, eagerly gesturing toward the floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the sprawling cityscape below. “It’s one of the best views in the city.”
I was proud to show him this place. It was just like him—stylish, sleek, and dripping with swag.
Mythic stepped closer, his gaze lingering on me for a moment. He murmured, “Impressive,” before turning to take in the view.
I swallowed hard and cleared my throat, trying to speak around the lump of seduction Mythic had made form. “And the kitchen,” I continued, leading him toward the sleek, modern appliances. “It’s equipped with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.”
As I spoke, I could feel Mythic’s eyes on me. “I can think of a few ways to put this kitchen to good use.”
His teasing tone caused a flush to creep up my cheeks. I busied myself with pointing out the other features of the penthouse, desperate to keep my composure. But with each playful remark from Mythic, the tension between us exploded.
As we strolled through the penthouse, Mythic’s admiring gaze lingered on each impressive feature of both the condo and myself.
“This place is something else,” he remarked, looking around with genuine awe.
“Are you looking to move back to the city?”
He chuckled at my nosiness. “Nah. I just need a secure spot for when I don’t have the energy or time to drive to the burbs.”
I smiled, trying to ignore the fluttering in my chest at the sound of his voice. “So, this place would be perfect. It’s definitely one of the nicest in the area.”
But it was when we reached the master bedroom that Mythic’s eyes widened as he took in the expansive space. “Wow,” he breathed. “This bedroom is insane.”
I chuckled at his reaction, pleased at the sight of his genuine enthusiasm. “Yeah. It’s definitely a standout feature.”
As Mythic continued to explore the details of the penthouse, watching him sent a thrill flowing through me.
I turned to face him, my pulse pounding in my ears. “So, what do you think?” I asked, forcing myself to meet his gaze.
“I love it. Send me the paperwork as soon as you get back to the office.”
Grinning, I squealed. I was going to get a nice commission check from this lease. “I knew you would like this place.”
He studied me for a moment. His eyes lingered on me for longer than I could take. I swallowed hard as I felt myself blush.
“It’s perfect, Avi,” he said softly with his eyes still locked on me. “Just like you.”
My face flushed, and I defiantly smiled from ear to ear against my will. I couldn’t take his eyes on me, and I couldn’t breathe, so I spun on the heels of my gold sandals and led the way out of the bedroom.
“Avi.” His deep rumble caused my caramel skin to litter with goosebumps. Entering the kitchen, I felt his soft yet firm grip on my elbow. Swallowing hard, I reluctantly turned around. Still holding my elbow, he sat on a stool at the island. He then brought me between his large, long legs.
I can’t breathe.
“What’s wrong with you?” his deep roar asked sweetly.
I gulped, swallowing the lust bubbling over. “What makes you think that something is wrong?”
“You’re trying to smile, but it’s a sadness behind it.”
Sighing, my eyes drifted away. “I didn’t get the job I applied for.”
He finally let me go, and my skin cried out for his touch. “Sorry to hear that.”
“They gave it to Mia.”
His face covered with sympathy for me. “Wow.”
“Most likely to cut costs. I’m happy for her, but it still stings. I really wanted it.”
He let go of my elbow. His hand softly slid down my arm and then held my hand tenderly. Giving it a slight squeeze, he said, “I know.”
I leaned into his comfort. “I feel so behind. I see everyone flourishing in their careers or entrepreneurship, and I want that for myself.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“Damar doesn’t want me to go back to school.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s ready for us to have a baby.” I blurted it out, hoping that it would stop him from looking at me with those eyes.
He swallowed hard but managed a loving smile. “But what do you want?”
“I want to go back to school.”
“Then do it. Damar will just have to fall in line.”
His authority made my brown skin tingle. I yearned for his embrace but knew that it was a place I would never return from, so I fought the urge.
Pulling into the parking lot of Dream Realty, my eyes narrowed. As they focused on the figures standing in front of the office, my heart started to pound violently. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of federal agents surrounding the building.
“Let me call you back, Jeremy,” I rushed.
“Okay,” he said before I hung up.
Without a second thought, I hurried out of my car and rushed inside.
But before I could step through the doors, my eyes widened in shock at the sight of more FBI agents escorting Mia out of the building with her hands cuffed behind her back.
I looked behind her through the glass walls. Other staff members and agents watched from the other side—appalled—from their desks and peering out of their office doorways.
“Mia!” I blurted as I rushed toward her. “What’s going on?”
An officer stuck out his arm, keeping distance between us. Her eyes met mine. Anger and accusation burned in her glare. “Really, Aviana?” she spat. “Are you that upset that I got the job instead of you?”
Shock rooted me to the spot that I was standing in. “What are you talking about? No!”
Mia’s expression was so hardened with conviction as she shook her head. “You lying ass bitch,” she seethed, her voice laced with betrayal as the cops led her away. “I trusted you!”
I blinked slowly, staring at her anger-fueled accusations with shock and disbelief.
As Mia was being led to a car, I walked inside the building in a daze of confusion and worry. The entire office was eerily quiet, like everyone was holding their breath. I stood there, frozen, watching through the window. Her head was low, but there was no real shame on her face.
Then I heard my name. “Aviana.”
I jumped a little, and my heart hammered wildly. Antonio was standing in the doorway of his office. I hadn’t even noticed him there. He had this serious look on his face, the kind that made my stomach drop.
“Come into the office,” he sternly told me.
My legs felt like lead as I walked past him into the office. I couldn’t lose this job. Though Damar had been splurging lately, we weren’t comfortable enough with his finances to trust that he could carry us. He still spent money frivolously, and the promotion business was too unpredictable.
Alfred was already sitting at the desk with an expression just as serious as Antonio’s.
“Sit down,” Antonio said, gesturing to the chair in front of the desk.
I sat, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. My palms were sweaty, and I didn’t know where to look. Antonio stayed standing, arms crossed over his chest, while Alfred leaned back in the chair watching me carefully.
“Did you know anything about what Mia was doing?” Antonio asked as his eyes narrowed.
I acted obliviously the best I could. “What was she doing?”
“Stealing money from the company,” Alfred answered.
“Really? How do you know this? You just promoted her.”
“We received an anonymous tip right after her promotion. We had our head of finance do some digging. He found many questionable transactions, so we contacted the authorities who quickly linked the stolen funds to Mia.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the heat rise in my chest. “I didn’t know. I swear, I had no idea.”
Alfred leaned forward slightly. “Are you sure about that, Aviana? Because you were pretty close to her.”
I tried to force down the lump in my throat, which was suddenly so dry. “Yes, she’s my best friend, but I didn’t know she was stealing anything. I don’t have anything to do with what Mia did. I’ve worked hard here. I love this job. I enjoy working with my clients. I can’t lose this.”
Alfred’s eyes softened a bit, but he still didn’t break his gaze. “You understand how serious this is, right? We need to be able to trust the people who work here.”
I nodded quickly. “I understand. I swear I had no idea what Mia was doing. This job has been a blessing to me, and I’d never do anything to risk that.”
Antonio and Alfred exchanged an unreadable look that made my heart race even more. They both stared at me for what felt like an eternity, like they were waiting for me to crack.
Finally, Antonio nodded toward the door. “Get back to work.”
His voice was still so tense that it sent chills down my spine. However, I was so relieved.
Yet, it was short-lived.
“But understand this,” Alfred added with his eyes locked on mine: “Mia is still under investigation. If anything comes up that connects you to what she was doing, you’ll be facing charges too. Do you understand?”
I nodded swiftly. “Yes. I understand.”
“Good,” Antonio clipped. “Now get back to work.”
I stood up with legs that were still shaky. I quickly made my way out of the office, hoping that Mia’s bullshit hadn’t rubbed off on me.