Prologue #4
He loved looking a woman dead in her eyes, straight into her soul.
Most women showed their true emotions through their eyes.
Orielle’s gaze was soft, but unreadable.
She’d learned over time to wrap her softness up with a shield, and Najee couldn’t tell if she was the type of intriguing beauty he wanted to get to know more about or leave her be.
“I see that. ‘Preciate y’all for supporting the brand,” he said, holding the door open for them.
“Of course.” Orielle smiled, pulling her hand away from Cheyla.
She was trying to force her to sit in the front passenger seat, but Orielle wasn’t feeling it.
The only thing she felt was all of the liquor she’d been sipping flowing through her veins.
Standing up after sitting down and drinking for a long period of time was dangerous.
Pair that with a fine, smelling good ass man and a vulnerable heart, and Orielle was doomed.
“So, y’all know each other?” Cheyla asked, sliding into the backseat.
“Yeah.”
“Not really.”
Orielle’s two-worded answer made Najee chuckle. “Damn. Like that?”
She chuckled as Zoey climbed in after Cheyla. “I didn’t mean it like that. Just saying it’s been a while. He’s my cousin Saleem’s best friend,” Orielle explained.
“Oh. So, you’re like family, then,” Zoey added.
Najee shook his head. “Yeah, to Saleem.”
Cheyla chuckled and whispered under her breath, “Oop. I heard that.”
Shaking her head, Orielle filled the last spot in the back before Najee closed the door. He didn’t expect her to sit up front with him, but he wouldn’t have minded it. Whatever fruity perfume or body oil she had on smelled edible, and her distance had him hating the space between them.
“Can we have a peaceful ride home?” Orielle asked as Najee rounded the vehicle.
“Peaceful as in?” Cheyla asked, smirking. “That man said he ain’t no kin of yours.”
Zoey snickered. “He is handsome.”
“And he’s not broke like that bum whose name we no longer mention.”
Smirking, Orielle rolled her eyes and leaned her head against the seat.
She didn’t know much about Najee, especially the status of his bank account, but what she did know was that he had always been a hustler and a charmer.
She vividly remembered him, Saleem, and a bunch of their homeboys making a name for themselves back in the day.
The hood they grew up in and the surrounding neighborhoods knew who they were.
It was rare for Orielle to be posted up with them on the block during the school year, considering they were years older than her, but she never missed a summer to kick it with them.
Being that she was Saleem’s cousin on his mama’s side, there had been a bit of drama amongst the adults that limited her visitations, but Orielle still kept in touch.
Then, like life always did, it moved on, and people grew apart.
Still, there was no love lost. Just time not spent together.
In the last few years, Orielle had gotten close with Saleem and his sisters again, but they hadn’t all hung out in a while.
Had they, Orielle would’ve been somewhat privy to the man driving them through the city.
While Cheyla and Zoey whispered lowly over the music about their plans for the rest of the night, Orielle stared straight ahead.
Every so often, she and Najee made eye contact through the rearview, and she saw his right cheek lift.
His side profile was just as handsome, and she couldn’t help but spark a conversation just to see the flex of his jaw.
“Would’ve never thought you’d be chauffeuring me around,” Orielle teased.
Smirking, Najee glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Me either, Ms. Superstar.”
“Not nearly.”
“Nah. Not yet, but I can see that for you,” Najee said.
Orielle’s brows dipped. She wanted to ask him what he meant by that but geared the conversation back toward him and his business.
“When did you start your car service?” she asked.
“A few years ago. Bought two cars from an auction, cleaned ‘em up, and went from there. I’m trying to expand more. I have a nice fleet under my belt. Nothin’ too major, but it’s mine.”
Najee was so humble with it, and Orielle wondered if he knew how attractive that was. A man bettering himself, regardless of where he came from, was a plus in her book. She was impressed.
Echelon Express was a small luxury car service for now.
Most people, especially those who had only heard of them in passing, had forgotten about them compared to other companies.
Not because they weren’t a reputable business, but because they were a small one for now.
Still, they had a loyal clientele. Najee just so happened to pick them up tonight because he sent his Uncle Ron, one of his main drivers, home early.
Requests had slowed down, and then Zoey’s popped up.
“That’s actually very major and something you should be more than proud of,” Orielle told him.
Appreciating her words, he kept his eyes on her once they came to a red light. “‘Preciate that. I see you still doin’ music.”
“I’m doing a lil’ something. It’s more of a hobby than anything.”
“Still?” Najee questioned as if he expected her to be doing more. He peeped her slight frown and continued. “I ain’t mean it like that, but nothing about your voice, from what I can remember, is hobby-level.”
Orielle smiled, biting the corner of her lip. “Yeah. You used to always tell me that.”
It wasn’t those words verbatim, but they were close enough.
“And ain’t nothing changed. You on a few of that nigga Cash’s projects, right?”
“Mmhmm,” Orielle hummed, just as a classic song from Tamia came through the speakers.
She didn’t know if Najee’s phone was connected or if it was playing from a radio station, but Orielle hadn’t heard the song in years.
Though she wasn’t entirely in her feelings about Bobby having a baby on her, she didn’t front like the sting of his actions didn’t hurt.
She swayed to the lyrics as she and her girls sang.
When it got to the chorus, Orielle’s vocals flowed from her mouth so raw and soulful, every note felt like it was coming straight from her heart.
As if she were trying to melt the same hearts Tamia crooned about putting a move on.
Orielle’s poise and superb breath control were insane and had Najee tripping out in the driver’s seat.
He’d heard her sing when they were younger and on tracks, but hearing the unfiltered, raw version of her, even while tipsy, had him ready to pull over and park so that he could experience her without distractions.
He was damn near tempted to pull his phone out to record her so he could play it back and enjoy her by himself.
“Damn,” he mumbled, catching goosebumps and making a stank face.
Orielle was a beast. A humble one, but her friends hyped her up once the song ended.
“I know that’s fucking right,” Cheyla said, clapping her hands. “You better sang! You almost had me ready to cry in here.”
“I swear ,” ,” Zoey agreed. “You’re singing at my wedding.”
Grinning, Orielle agreed. “I’d love to. Just hide me away so no one knows it’s me.”
“Girl, please. You and this incognito mess gets on my nerves. The world needs to really know who you are. Stop playing.”
It wasn’t that she was playing. Orielle didn’t want to settle, and she didn’t feel like she was completely ready to enter the industry.
She had a few personal kinks, goals, and things she wanted to work on before committing to a label.
It was a tricky business, and she wasn’t into selling her soul. When it was her time... she’d know it.
“Yo,” Najee called out as he exited the highway. This was a rare moment, and he was grateful for the Saturday night traffic and the thirty-minute trip. “I knew you could sing, but gotdamn . You gon’ make me hold you hostage for the night and just ride around and let you sing to me.”
Orielle blushed. “Kidnapping a passenger would surely get you a negative review.”
“Shiiiit,” Najee dragged. “I’ll take it if it comes with you. That voice is flawless, RiRi. For real. Got a nigga heart feeling all weird.”
Cheyla and Zoey chuckled but felt the same way. They always did when she sang.
“We don’t have a problem with you kidnapping her. Just make sure she gets to her studio session in the morning,” Cheyla said.
“Yep. I’ma leave my review now. Five out of five stars. The best car service in the city, and he’s a sweet kidnapper,” Zoey said, typing on the app.
“Oh my gosh,” Orielle groaned, snatching her phone away. “Do not write that.”
Najee chuckled. “It’s all good. At least she’s honest.”
“Exactly,” Zoey said, grabbing her phone back.
They rode in a comfortable quiet for a moment, until Orielle leaned forward a little, resting her arms on the back of the passenger seat.
“So, what else is going on with you?”
If she was going to get kidnapped for the night, she needed a bit more information.
Najee chuckled. “You interviewing me now?”
“Maybe.”
“A’ight then,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “Ask me what you really want to ask me.”
Not all women were easy to read, but he could tell Orielle wanted to know more than how life had been treating him. She was interested.
“Are you in a relationship?” Orielle asked, straight up.
“I am.”
His answer didn’t surprise her. Najee kept a slew of women on his arm back in the day, so it was fitting for him to have a girlfriend.
“Oh, so what is your girlfriend going to think when you bring my friend home?” Cheyla said defensively.
“Who said anything about taking her to my crib?” Najee asked, chuckling. “You making up an entire plot now.”
“Right. We were going to ride around, but I think I’ll pass. I’m not the sneaky link, side bitch type,” Orielle said.