Chapter 10
TEN
Kyori
When I stepped into Brielle’s office, I instantly felt her energy was off. We weren’t girlfriends or anything, but we were cool, so I decided to see what was up with her.
“The catalogs from Alania Revello. I marked everything I ordered just in case you wanted to see it. I wanted to buy everything she had.” I laughed, filling the chair in front of Brielle’s desk.
Alania Revello was an extremely talented new designer and she was Black so that really piqued my interest. Well, Black and Italian but she represented for women of color and I loved that and her work.
“I bet. I saw her at Fashion Week two years ago. It was her debut and my God; her pieces were amazing.”
“Well, we have some on the way, so get ready.”
She smiled then pushed out a huff of air. “You okay? You kinda look like you’re ready to commit a murder.”
Her eyes narrowed before they rolled hard. “I am. Treben.”
“Oh lord, what did he do?”
“This…” Her hand moved to her stomach before she held the other in the air. “And this.”
Lord, please don’t let this woman’s relationship be falling apart.
“Aren’t those good things? You seemed pretty happy before now.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “They are when they’re singular but put these two together and it’s a whole other bitch.
Word of advice, if and when you get there, do one or the other.
Not both at the same time. Having babies and planning a wedding is about to be the death of me.
This is moving too fast and the wedding planning is moving too slow.
” She pouted, rubbing her stomach with both hands now.
It was still tiny but noticeable which was odd.
“That did come out of nowhere.” I pointed to her stomach and she groaned.
“One of the not so great side effects of having twins. I’ll be double the size in half the time.
I’m exhausted all the time and my wedding planner is driving me crazy.
Treben is no help because he said I’m too picky and he refuses to make decisions I’ll end up hating.
I just want it over, all of this to be over. ”
“Sounds like a good problem to have.” I laughed at the thought.
She sucked her teeth. “You just wait until this is you. I promise you won’t feel the same.
” She released a dramatic sigh then smiled.
“But I guess you’re right. I’m happily annoyed and exhausted so I really shouldn’t complain, but I’m a brat so I am.
” She grinned and I laughed again, standing from my chair.
“If it’s working for you then roll with it.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“I’m gonna get back to it.”
“Okay, but since you’re here, I wanted to say thank you.
You’re doing an amazing job and I know the circumstances weren’t ideal but you’re really good at what you do.
” She poked her lip out. “I almost hate that I pushed you so hard to start your online store. I was completely wrong. Name or not, you are my competition. I guess I’ll have to pay more to keep you around as long as I can. ”
“I won’t stop you but I’ll be around for a little while longer. I want to be totally prepared when I step away.”
“Well shit, you’re there now in my opinion but I won’t argue.” She laughed, holding her stomach.
“Thank you. I’m gonna head out to grab lunch. I shouldn’t be long.”
“That’s fine. I probably won’t be here when you get back. I have to pack for LA.”
“LA?”
“Yes.” She pushed out a sigh and smiled. “Wedding venues. We have to do it now, so I’ll be gone for about two weeks but if you need anything just call.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine, and again, sounds like a horribly good problem to have.”
Brielle smiled widely and shrugged as I left her office. I was happy for her, and more importantly, glad I didn’t have to beat the brakes off my boss for lusting over my man. I would call it a win-win.
After stopping by my office to gather my things, I noticed I had a missed call from my old complex.
My lease was expiring next month and I had been meaning to get back to them but had been too busy to worry about it.
I was also procrastinating because I didn’t want to insert myself into Asim’s space permanently, even if he had been forcing the issue.
Things were moving fast, extremely fast, and as scary as that was, I knew he was who I wanted and a life with him was what I wanted.
A part of me just felt the need to hang onto whatever independence I could but it was time to stop avoiding the inevitable.
Once in my car, I dialed them back and after a brief hold an overly animated woman was on my line talking a little too loud.
“Ms. Spencer. I was looking at your lease here and wanted to see if you had made a decision about renewal for you and Ms…” she paused and I heard papers flipping before she spoke again, “Ms. Thomas.”
I know this muthafucker did not…
I almost slammed on my brakes in the middle of the road when I heard that name. “I think you’re mistaken. There is no Ms. Thomas on the lease. My name, Kyori Spencer should be the only name listed.”
“Well, looking at what I have here in front of me, it says a co-applicant was added recently. It was a few months ago. Symphony Thomas.”
“That muthafucker.”
“Excuse me?” She sounded offended but I didn’t give a damn. He had me ten ways of fucked up.
“How is that possible? How can you add a co-applicant without my approval and I certainly did NOT approve of adding that bitch.”
“Oh, well uuhh, it says here that you did. I have your signature on the form. It was emailed at your request. Signed and resent to us on?—”
“You know what? Never mind. You’re not the problem but I certainly know who is.” I hung up and called my sister. Thank goodness she answered right away.
“Hey boo, I was just thinking about you…”
“Where are you?”
“Home, why?”
“You have the kids?”
“No, they’re at daycare. What’s wrong?”
“Meet me at my apartment, and if you don’t want me to go to jail, you better pray that bitch is not there. Hurry the hell up or I’m gonna kill her and the dirty ass dick she hopped on after I left it alone.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Did Asim cheat on you?”
“No, Mano. Do you know he found a way to add that bitch from the dealership to my lease and I bet the bitch is living there. All my shit is still in that apartment, Bre. I’m gonna beat her ass and his right after.”
“How? How was that even possible?”
“She has my information. I’m sure he had her call up there pretending to be me. Their stupid asses allowed them to do it all via email and I’m about to fuck her up.”
“Ah shit. Don’t do anything until I get there. I’m on my way.”
“Well you better drive fast because I am too.”
I hung up on my sister and almost threw my phone because I was so fucking pissed but dropped it in my lap instead.
If Mano wanted to move on? Cool… live your best life, homie—because I’m damn sure living mine—but if he had the bitch up in my apartment with all my shit he was dead ass wrong.
That was some low down hoe shit but I expected that from him.
That’s just who he was. I was sure he thought he had the right because he had been paying the rent at one point but he damn sure wasn’t now, I was.
So I would be beating her ass and his on sight.
By the time I reached my complex, Bre was pulling in. She hopped out of her car and rushed toward me because I barely got mine in park before I jumped out. When I reached my old apartment and tried my key, of course it didn’t work.
“This muthafucker!” I yelled, throwing my keys down the hall. But God must have been on my side because the hoe opened the door looking down at her phone, so she didn’t realize we were there until my fist landed with a mean ass left hook.
I rained blows down back to back and so quickly she had no defense.
All she could do was run to try and save herself but I caught a fistful of her hair and yanked her ass back.
I was happy as shit that it was real because she didn’t have a way to get free before I started beating her ass all over again.
“You better stop! I’m calling the cops! Your ass is going to jail! They’re gonna lock your hoodrat ass up!”
“Bitch you think I care? The second they do; I’ll make one phone call and be out. When I’m released, I’m coming for your ass again.” I went wild on her until I felt someone lift me completely off the ground. The only problem was that I caught a fistful of her hair, so she came with me.
“Ky, let her go,” he based, which had me looking over my shoulder to see Asim who had a hold on me. My eyes shot over to Bre before I released the hoe and she dropped to the floor, scurrying away and backing against the wall for safety.
“You called him?” I yelled at my sister and she shook her head, laughing.
“Hell yeah I did. I knew he was the only person who would be able to get your ass in check. As much as I wanted you to beat her ass, I also wasn’t trying to come visit you in jail. So I called Asim to make sure that didn’t happen.”
“She’s still going to jail.”
“Bitch fuck you. You’re the one who’s going to jail. You broke into my shit and I have proof.”
“I didn’t break in. I have a key. This is not your apartment anymore. It’s his.”
“Bitch you’re dumb. My name is on the lease. Not his, I’m sure he neglected to tell you that when he had you doing illegal shit to add your name.”
Symphony looked at me crazy like she was clueless.
“Dumb hoe, you didn’t even check, did you? He just told your simple ass what to do and you did it. Well guess what, you’re the one going to jail.”
“But he…I didn’t…” She shook her head, fumbling over her words.
Asim still had a hold on me but I was good. Her face was fucked up, so I was satisfied.
“You can let me go. I’m good on her but she’s about to get up out my shit.”
“Dumb ass hoe is even wearing my clothes. Where they do that at?” I shook my head, laughing angrily, but Asim didn’t let me go.
“He paid for them,” she shot back.