Prologue #2
Truth was, I was mentally and physically exhausted.
I never claimed to be a virgin when we met, and prior to our relationship, I was living my best life.
I’m positive Montell was doing the same.
We ran into my ex, Kendall, at a party a few months prior, and Montell’s nosy ass asked how we knew each other.
I was honest about it because we’d likely run into Kendall again. The industry wasn’t but so big.
Ever since, Montell decided he suddenly wanted to attend every industry party I frequented and hung off my hip like a fucking newborn.
When we first met, Montell told me how much he despised the industry parties, and I went alone, which was fine.
I’d been attending events before I met Montell and would continue if we grew apart.
Plus, I used every opportunity to network, and it was easier to maneuver alone.
The red flag was raised high back then, but I was in love and decided to overlook it.
I showered and climbed into the bed to take a quick nap before it was time to take Montell to the airport.
Good riddance. I gave Montell the silent treatment the whole ride there.
When he got out of my car, I barely offered him a hand wave while he begged and pleaded for a conversation before he boarded his flight.
I had nothing to say. My auntie was missing, and the last thing I could give a fuck about was Montell’s insecurities.
By nine o’clock, I made it back to my building and parked in the garage.
I just wanted to sulk in my feelings while stuffing my face with the mountain of food I ordered on DoorDash.
My mouth was already salivating at the thought of the spinach dip, steak, and Oreo Brookie.
Easing into my assigned parking spot, I couldn’t help but notice that Q’s Ferrari and Jameera’s Benz were gone, but a black truck was parked in Q’s space.
I hoped Q was taking my threats seriously because I wasn’t playing with him.
My phone notified me that my food was approaching the front desk, and I excitedly hopped out of my Benz, ecstatic that we arrived at the same time.
My food would be the perfect temperature to eat my feelings away while I watched Waiting To Exhale.
Hitting the locks, I slipped the key fob back into my Chanel clutch.
When I looked up, the black truck that was parked in Q’s spot suddenly swerved in front of me.
I squinted, trying to see through the dark tint when the window came down, giving me an unobstructed view of the occupants.
My lips flattened, and my squint morphed into a menacing scowl.
I got along with everyone. In my line of work, I was constantly meeting and greeting new people, but the face staring back at me was punchable, and his mouth would help you earn a mugshot if you weren’t careful.
“Yo mouthy ass been looking for Anila?” Xain’s deep voice questioned.
“Yeah. Does your rude ass know where she is?” I sassed, placing my hands on my hips. I’m sure Xain was used to people cowering underneath his intense gaze, but it didn’t move me from our first spat when he tried to play me about being on a guest list for an event that I orchestrated.
“Get in, and I’ll take you to her,” Xain commanded.
“So, Vincent did force her to go wherever she is? Call her now so I can be sure. She only calls me, never returns my texts in a timely manner, and never answers when I call her, and that’s not like her.
Plus, she wouldn’t just take off and leave the store unattended as long as she said she would be out,” I demanded, folding my arms across my chest. Although I was wearing a brave face, I was terrified.
What type of people would kidnap a pregnant woman?
“You getting in or I gotta snatch you up?” Xain monotoned, completely ignoring my demand.
I squinted my eyes at Xain, and he hopped out of the truck, rounding the vehicle.
The tall strappy heels on my feet wouldn’t allow me to outrun him if I wanted to.
Although I hated to comply with this nigga, I begrudgingly slid into the front passenger seat with an apparent attitude when he opened the door for me.
“Thank you for not making this harder than it had to be.” Vincent’s voice from the backseat sent chills down my spine, and an involuntary gasp escaped me.
I spun around to give Vincent a piece of my mind, but quickly clamped my mouth shut when his dark eyes bore into me.
As long as I laid eyes on my auntie, I would go with the flow.
When I got into the truck with Xain and Vincent, I never expected the last twenty-four hours to go how they did.
I was coerced into the truck under false pretenses because the promise to take me to my auntie was a bold-face lie.
I was cooped up in a hotel with Xain’s smug ass.
Stepp was here for half of the day, then they switched.
At least Stepp fed me. I couldn’t say the same for Xain.
Whenever I got out of this shit, Q would never see me again.
I know he’s the reason his Uncle Vincent gathered his hired guns and was waiting for me in my parking garage.
“I’m hungry,” I announced, stepping in front of the TV, blocking Xain’s view. That was probably the third time I told Xain this, and he couldn’t be bothered to fix the issue. He was too busy watching the basketball game.
“Man, move,” he roughly nudged me out of the way, but I didn’t care. My stomach was starting to touch my back! The smell of his cup noodles rotating in the microwave wasn’t appetizing, but they were definitely intensifying the hunger pains.
“I said I’m hungry!” I folded my arms across my chest and stepped back in front of the TV. “Just order me some room service. Where did you put the hotel phone? Or use your phone. I don’t care, I just need to eat. I have my period, and I’m starting to get a headache.”
“I brought more than enough cup noodles. You can have a cup or two,” he offered, shoving me to the side again. “Take the one out of the microwave since you’re so hungry. I can make another cup.”
“Xain, are you for real? I’m not eating cup noodles. Either whip out your phone to order me something off DoorDash or room service, or I’m going to start screaming. I don’t give a damn if I’m going to die of starvation anyways!”
“Go ‘head, scream,” Xain encouraged, standing on his feet to grab the duffle bag behind me. A pleasantly masculine combination of citrus and smoky wood smacked me in the face when Xain reached behind me, only making me hungrier. “You think I give a fuck? I said I bought cup noodles. This ain’t a fucking vacation. You’re here because you were sticking your nose in the wrong business.
I’ll slap this duct tape across yo fat ass mouth and those lil ass wrists so fucking fast, you’ll add being thirsty and immobile on top of being hungry around this bitch. ”
He tossed a roll of duct tape onto the table, and I swallowed hard.
We stood immobile, staring at each other for what felt like forever.
Xain was tall, dark-skinned, and built like he went to the gym daily.
I could even be honest and say he was fine.
Yet, Xain acted like a miserable nigga who didn’t get coochie on the regular.
“When will Stepp be back?” I questioned, indignation surging through me with each passing second.
“Ion fucking know. All I know is you better eat the cup noodles and shut the fuck up. You not about to pester me all fucking day.”
I went into the kitchen area and snatched the cup noodles out of the microwave. The small dining room table was a few feet away from Xain. I hoped he could feel my eyes shooting daggers at him with every angry bite I took of the noodles. They cured my hunger, but I wasn’t happy about it at all.
“See, the noodles doin’ you just right,” Xain laughed, not bothering to take his eyes off of the game.
“Xain, fuck you,” I spat, tossing the remaining noodle juice on him. His face and shirt were soaked.
He jolted from the sofa and snatched his shirt off to clean the side of his head. “The noodles doin’ you just right,” I cackled, but that quickly turned into a loud yelp.
Xain snatched me up by my right arm and shoved me towards the bedroom.
“Xain! Get…”
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The banging at the door startled both of us, and our eyes swiveled in that direction. “Xain! I know you’re not in a hotel room with another bitch! This how we playing it, Xain?”
Xain’s hand was over my mouth before I could yelp for help from whoever was looking for his deranged ass.
He hoisted me into the air and carried me towards the bedroom while the woman continued beating on the door, shouting between every few words.
The door beeped, and surprisingly it swung open.
We were greeted by a beautiful dark-skinned woman with a perfect silk press and a professional dress hugging her curvaceous body.
We all stood frozen for a few seconds until Xain broke the silence.
“Salena, let me explain. This is…” Xain started, but his words were cut short when the woman charged at us like a raging bull.
I tried to sidestep and let them handle whatever they had going on, but the rage I thought she was about to unleash on Xain went straight to me.
Salena mushed my face so hard that I fell against the back of the couch.
“Are you fucking my husband?” Salena interrogated, hovering over me like an animal stalking its prey.
“Nah, we in here playing badminton,” I taunted. “What other reason do consenting adults get hotel rooms?”
If she wanted the truth, she should’ve asked nicely. Hell, I even figured the lie would get Xain to leave with this dizzy bitch. It was clear that their relationship was on the rocks for his wife to pop up here on her lunch break, ready to show her ass.
Salena lunged forward, but Xain snatched me up to separate us. “Bae. She’s lying!”