Lost In The Lie Of Us

Chapter One

Titan Samuels

“What, damn!” I barked into the phone. That muthafucka has been going off for the past ten minutes and you would think whoever was calling got a fucking clue that I was asleep.

“Titan, where are you?” Sasha, my manager snapped into the phone. I took it from my ear to look at the time, and it was almost noon.

“Man, Sash. What you yelling at a nigga this early for?”

“Titan, get up... wash your ass and get to this meeting. You better not be late either.” She didn’t even give me a chance to respond before she hung up in my face.

Throwing the phone beside me, I threw my legs over the side of the bed and stretched. I heard movement behind me and forgot ol’ girl was here.

“Aye.” I pushed her shoulder. “Aye!”

“Hmm?” She faked sleep.

“Get your ass up. You ain’t sleep.” I stood and started moving around the room. I looked at her, and she was just looking at me, so I started doing sign language.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Shit, I thought your ass couldn’t hear because you ain’t move.” I mugged her. “I need you to get your shit so you can go. I got shit to do,” I said for what better be the last time.

“I thought we could hang out,” she voiced.

I didn’t even bother to say anything to her. Without saying a word, I went into the living room of the suite. My boy Graves was wide awake and on his job.

“Aye, Graves,” I called out. “Make sure that bitch gets out of here. I gotta get my ass in the shower before Sasha calls barking at a nigga again.

When I went into the room, ol’ girl was coming out of the bathroom looking like yesterday.

I wasn’t worried about her doing shit because I made these hoes take a Plan B before I even stuck my dick in them and I always used my own condoms. Even after doing all that, I still pulled out when I got ready to nut and flushed my own condoms. I refused to have a bitch pin a baby on me.

I might fuck these hoes, but I won’t be stuck with these hoes.

“So, can I see you again?” she asked, all hopeful and shit.

“I’on know shorty,” was all I gave her before I went into the bathroom so I could piss and hop in the shower.

It didn’t take long to shower and dress since this room was paid for yearly, I kept a stash of clothes and shit here so I didn’t have to go all the way to my place if I was pressed for time. Once I was dressed and checked my appearance, I grabbed my keys and headed back up front.

“You ready, Boss?” Graves asked.

“What I tell you about that Boss shit? And yeah. I still have time to make it but let Sasha tell it... I’m still late.” We laughed because it was the truth. Sasha was a stickler for time.

I let Graves step out in front of me before we took the private elevator to the parking garage. Once I made it to my car, I turned to Graves before getting in.

“I’m good, nigga. Go get some rest. I’m going to this meeting and taking my ass home and going back to sleep.”

He nodded, and we both were on our way.

I jumped into my Hellcat and made my way across town to this stupid ass meeting, so I didn’t have to listen to Sasha’s fucking mouth.

She’s been with me since my Rookie year, so I trusted her with my life.

I met her in college, and she was my tutor for our marketing class.

Crazy thing is, I never tried her because she was always the homie.

When I got drafted, I brought her along as my manager, and we’ve been locked in since.

When I made it to Kinetiq’s headquarters, I still had fifteen minutes left, but Sasha was pacing the lobby like I was late.

“About damn time, Titan,” she fussed as soon as she saw me walk through the turnstile doors.

“Man, watch out, Sash. You act like a nigga late or some shit. I’m here so you can chill out.” I smirked just to piss her off.

“You gone make me beat your big goofy ass yet.” She rolled her eyes while scrolling her phone. “I guess this is the reason you’re late?” She shoved her phone in my face, and I had to back up so I could see because she literally had it up in my face.

“I could see if you backed your ass up.” I took the phone from her and saw that it was a picture of me and ol’ girl that I put out this morning. Fucking paparazzi made me sick, always lurking.

“Nah. I was sleeping. I made her leave so I could make this meeting on time so I wouldn’t have to hear your mouth, but that was an epic fucking fail.” I cut my eyes at her as we made our way up to the meeting room.

“Titan, you need to chill out with all these random ass hoes before you get yourself into some deep shit. Between your deals and scandals, we’re running around like chickens with our heads cut off,” she ranted.

“That was some country ass shit to say, Sash,” I laughed as we got off the elevator. “But I’m chilling. How the fuck they gone be mad at me for doing single nigga shit when I’m in fact a single nigga.” I frowned.

“That’s not it, and you know it,” she started. “It’s the random women... the paternity cases... the assault allegations. It can tarnish your image.” She stopped right before we went into the room. “We’ve worked hard to get here... let’s not let these hoes get you off track,” she uttered.

Pulling her into a hug, I kissed the top of her head.

“I got you, Sash. Now let’s get in here and see what the fuck these muthafuckas talking about so I can take my ass home and get some rest. I’m tired as fuck.”

“I bet you are,” she mumbled.

When we walked into the room, Mr. Reynolds, the President of Kinetiq, was seated. When he saw me, he rose from his seat and extended his hand to me.

“Mr. Samuels. It’s an honor and pleasure for you to meet with us today,” he greeted.

Shaking his hand, I responded. “Titan is cool. Hopefully, it won’t be a waste of either of our time.” Sasha elbowed me, but she knew I didn’t give a fuck about none of that.

“I can assure you that it won’t,” Mr. Reynolds informed. “As a matter of fact... let’s get down to it.”

I took a seat while his team presented me with their presentation and offer.

They wanted me to be the face of Kinetiq in a five year, seven-figure deal.

Included in the deal would be an entire Grid Iron line that would showcase my own personalized cleats, gloves, and compression gear.

I couldn’t even front... this was a good look and too sweet of a deal to pass up.

By the time they finished, my mind was made up, but I wasn’t going to seem eager to sign shit before I had Mani to look at it.

“So, what do you think, Titan?” Mr. Reynolds asked.

“I think it sounds good, but I’ll need to go over everything with my lawyer. In the meantime, send everything over so we can get a better look at it,” I spoke.

“No problem. I’ll have my assistant send it right over,” he insisted.

“Cool. Are we done here?” I asked, already getting up.

“Yes... yes, we are. I’ll have everything sent over to you before the end of the day, and you can get back with us at your earliest convenience.”

I nodded as I stood and shook his hand. Once we were outside, Sasha turned to me.

“That went well... better than I expected, given the fact that you were a complete asshole,” she mentioned.

“You always think I’m being an asshole when I’m just being me,” I laughed.

“Because you are,” she countered.

“Yeah, whatever. I’m headed home. I need a nap.”

“Stay out of trouble, Titan.”

“I hear you,” was all I said before I got inside of my Hellcat and headed to my condo across town. I couldn’t wait to get home so I could get a few good hours of sleep before doing this shit all over again.

***

“Bubby, get your ugly ass up!”

So much for the good sleep.

Throwing the pillow over my head, I tried to drown out my sister’s annoying ass voice, but it was to no avail, because her little ass didn’t know when to stop.

“Get up, damn it!” she fussed.

Snatching the pillow off my head, I snapped my head in my sister Ailani’s direction. I wanted to pluck her little ass like a roach.

“Man, what the fuck, bro!” I groaned. “The fuck you want, man?”

I didn’t give her a chance to respond before I got up and went into the bathroom.

It felt like I hadn’t peed in days and I wasn’t thinking about Lani’s ass.

After I emptied my bladder, I washed my hands and face and made it back to my room where she was now sitting on the edge of my bed, flipping through channels.

I walked over to her and slapped the remote out her hand.

“The fuck you wake me up for, lil’ ugly ass boy?” I joked.

Slapping me back, she picked up the remote and continued scrolling.

“What hoe you been with last night?” she pried.

I scratched at my chin before I responded. “Shit, I’on know her name. All I know is her throat was deep as fuck.” I smirked.

“You’re disgusting.” She frowned. “You need to settle down and start having some kids and shit. I’m ready to be the fine auntie while I’m still young,” she sassed.

“Well, you already out of luck, because you’re ugly as fuck.” I took off running as I laughed. I knew her little ass was going to throw some shit at me.

We ended up in the kitchen, and I noticed Kendra had been here and prepped my food for the rest of the week.

“You let Kendra in?” I asked as I took the top off of the blackened salmon, garlic herb jasmine rice and roasted sweet potatoes.

“Yeah, I let that hoe in, and she wasn’t too happy to see me either.

” I saw my sister roll her eyes, and I laughed because she hated Kendra because she knew I fucked her and Kendra hated that I didn’t fuck on her when my sister was around.

I’d never entertain a hoe as long as my sister was in my presence.

“Why you hating, sis?” I laughed.

“Keep on and watch your dick fall out.”

“You need to stop saying shit like that.” I frowned.