Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Cadence
night of the gala...
I was nervous as hell to go to this event tonight with Titan.
Yeah, we’ve been on a date and we’ve chilled at home, but now we would really be in the public eye.
That had me on edge because what if they could tell that this was all a ruse and cancel him.
I was freaking out and on the verge of texting him and telling him I’m sick.
“Bitch, could you calm down and be still,” Janae fussed.
“Nae, I can’t do this. What if those people see through the lie. Then what?”
“Then you tell them to suck ass and mind their business. Chill out, you’ll be fine. That man ain’t gone let nothing happen to you, so chill before I beat your ass.” She gave me a look as to say, try me and I bust out laughing.
There was a knock at my door, and Janae went to open it.
“Hey! I’m Ailani. Titan’s sister and assistant,” she announced as Janae let her in. We’ve talked a few times since he had given her my number, but this is the first time we’ve been around each other.
“Hey, I’m Nae. Cady’s best friend. Come on in her girl, before I have to strap this hoe down to finish her hair.” I heard Lani laugh as she came into the room with a dress bag.
“Hey, girl. I know you’re not in here stressing?” She asked as she laid the bag across my bed.
“She is,” Nae answered before I could.
“There’s no need. Me or our mama usually goes to these events with him, and they don’t say two words to us.
They’ll be too busy in his face to even notice you, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to look good,” she stated.
“I see Mara has been here and did your makeup. You look good, girl. I see why my brother is sniffing behind you.” She smirked.
“What?” I frowned.
“Oop,” Nae blurted.
“Nothing. Now be still so you can get your hair finished so we can try these dresses on.”
She went to the bed and unzipped the bag and pulled three black dresses out of the garment bag. When she held them up, they were all beautiful, but the simple strapless one stood out to me more. It was simple yet sexy.
“I like the strapless one,” I informed her.
“That was my choice too, and with them titties you got, it’ll look perfect on you,” she rushed out.
“Ooh, friend. That man might forget that y’all just playing after he sees you in that. Then you’ll have that thick thigh on display. Mhm... ain’t gone be no more playing after this,” Nae joked.
I rolled my eyes at her because she was doing too much.
She finally finished my hair, and it was time for me to get dressed.
I must admit that seeing myself in this dress made me smile and my heart flutter.
It fit me like a glove and the split went all the way up to my crotch, but you couldn’t see my coochie.
I made sure of it, plus I put on a solid black satin thong to be safe.
I was glad that the top had a built-in shelf bra to hold my girls up because my back was completely exposed.
I paired my ensemble with my teardrop white gold necklace, matching earrings and a thin silver bracelet.
I had a simple white gold diamond pave’ band on my right middle finger and switched out my gold anklets for my silver ones.
I chose a simple pair of black heels that had a braided pattern across the toe area and a thin black strap across my ankle.
By the time I was done, there was a knock on the door, and Nae went to open it. All of a sudden my nerves dropped into my ass, and I was starting to sweat.
“Girl, calm down. You’ll be fine. They have free liquor at these things so take advantage of it. Trust me, it helps.” I heard what Lani was saying, but it didn’t help.
“Girl, it’s some big fine ass nigga at the door that said Titan sent him up to get you,” Nae said when she came back into the room.
“Oh, that’s Graves. My brother’s bodyguard. Let me go see how he looks.” Lani got up and trekked downstairs to be nosy while Nae walked me to the door.
“Hey, Malik,” I greeted.
“’Sup, Cady,” he grinned. “You look nice,” he complimented.
“Thank you,” I simpered. “I’m ready.”
I followed behind Malik with Nae beside me.
When we reached the bottom, Malik helped me step down, and I saw Lani standing by the back passenger window.
When we got close, Malik opened it, and Titan stepped out.
I had to stop myself from drooling because this man looked every bit of delectable as he stood in front of me in his all-black tux that looked like it was made just to fit his body.
He had on a black shirt underneath that was unbutton and revealed a platinum Cuban Link chain.
His cologne smelled like it came straight from the gates of heaven, and his wild curls were well moisturized.
“Damn, Tink. You look good as fuck,” he complimented as he took my look in.
“Thank you,” I uttered. “You look nice as well,” I countered.
“Don’t lie to this nigga,” Lani joked.
He mushed his sister in the head. “You can’t be a hater all your life.” He turned back to me. “You ready?”
I nodded.
After telling Nae I’ll check in later, Titan helped me into the back of the SUV while he climbed in behind me and Malik got into the driver’s seat.
“He’s your driver too?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Yeah, only when I don’t feel like being bothered with other muthafuckas. I didn’t need anybody getting any ideas and leaking your address or some shit,” he stated honestly.
I never thought about someone possibly getting my address.
“You’re good, Tink. Ain’t nobody gone fuck with you,” he assured, and I nodded.
The gala was being held across town at The Regent, so it took us almost thirty minutes to get there. Once we arrived, Malik parked in front of the door, and I could see the people and the cameras lined up.
“Calm down,” Titan said as he squeezed my hand. “Just follow my lead and you’ll be okay. Aight?”
“Okay.” I nodded.
Malik opened the back door, and Titan got out first and the crowd was already going crazy, calling his name and snapping away.
He extended his hand and helped me out. When I was at my full height, he brushed a piece of hair out of my face before placing his hand on the small of my back and escorted me inside the building with Malik leading the way.
“Titan, is this your girlfriend?”
“Titan, can you tell us who the lady is?”
“Is she an escort?”
The reporters were firing off question after question, but when someone mentioned escort, he stalled in his tracks.
“Aye, who asked that dumb shit?” He snapped.
A short, blonde woman pointed at the guy next to her.
“Aye, check it. I’ain never paid for a bitch or for pussy but make that the last time you say some dumb shit like that out your mouth about that one. She’ll be the reason why you go back to writing Dear Abby letters in the local newspaper.”
The reporter nodded quickly, and Titan turned around and addressed me.
“You good?”
I nodded.
He seemed pleased with my answer and continued with Malik leading us inside of the building.
The event was being held in the ballroom, and everything was decorated so beautifully in black and gold. From the look of things, there was a lot of money in this room, and I felt out of place. The first server I saw with a tray of drinks, I grabbed one.
“I see Lani gave you some pointers,” he chuckled.
I simpered as I took a drink of my champagne.
I noticed his teammates, Miles and Ja’Kobe, were here, as well as Trey Waters of The Generals. We headed in their direction, and he introduced me to Mile’s wife and to Trey.
“Damn, Sam. How you let your girl outshine you,” Tatum joked.
“The same way Ava makes your ugly ass look good,” he joked before turning to me. “Bae, you remember these niggas, but unfortunately this is that nigga’s wife, Ava.” He pointed at Miles’ wife. I caught him calling me ‘bae’, but I was in character, so I didn’t let the initial shock show.
“Hey, I’m Cadence, but you can call me Cady,” I introduced myself.
“Nice to meet you, Cady. It’s nice to see this one finally settle down,” Ava countered and looked over at Titan and smirked.
“I guess he got tired of the trash.” I smirked.
He glanced at me and winked.
“I still can’t believe he finally got your ass. All that chasing he was doing,” Ja’Kobe chimed in.
“I’d worry about Neveah putting your ass in a full Nelson when she sees pictures of you in some fly shit and you didn’t bring her,” Titan laughed.
Ja’Kobe waved him off, and they continued another conversation. It was a few people here from Channel 8 and 4, along with Urban Spill and The Cannon Report. I knew eventually they would make their way over to Titan and question him about our relationship.
“You good, Tink?” he asked, pulling me close.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just never been to anything this extravagant before,” I admitted.
“Just be yourself... well, the calmer version of yourself, and you’ll be fine.” He chuckled before placing a kiss on my temple as a man approached us.
“Looking good, Sam,” the man greeted.
“’Preciate that, Coach,” he countered.
“Who do we have here?” He asked, looking at me.
“This is Cadence. Tink, this is my head coach, Coach Leon Briggs,” he introduced.
“Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand.
“You too young, lady. I must say, he did good and if you’re the reason for his recent behavior change, then you have all my respect.” He nodded.
“Come on, Coach. You act like I was such a bad nigga.” Titan feigned hurt.
“I’m just saying, son, but I’m proud of you, son,” he praised.
After he said a few more words to his coach, I turned and talked to Ava while the guys talked. She seemed nice enough to tolerate if I had to. I didn’t do well with females, that’s why Janae was my only friend.
I learned that she and Miles were high school sweethearts and had a six-year-old daughter, Mila (Mela). She showed me a few pictures on her phone, and she was adorable.
“She’s so cute,” I cooed.
“Mhm... just like her mama,” Ava praised.
We shared a laugh, and the guys came back over to be nosy.
“What y’all over laughing at?” Miles asked as he went to stand by his wife.