4. Daylin
FOUR
daylin
BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED . . .
“Okay, we need to redo these tags because some of them, I can barely see, and I’ve noticed the wrong phone case size in a few of these bins, so I’m not the only one having a hard time reading them,” I expressed to Morgin.
It was a little after six p.m., and we were organizing everything to be sure there were no hiccups for the huge sale being held on the website tomorrow.
“Okay, I can get started on that one . . . now.” Morgin’s sentence trailed off at the sound of someone knocking on the metal door of the warehouse that I’d left cracked.
It wasn’t often that I opted to have that door open or even unlocked, but Morgin and I, along with a few staff members that were now gone, had been at it all evening, and the air conditioning hadn’t been enough—fresh air was necessary too.
“Can I help you?” I asked, voice filled with irritation, and I didn’t give a fuck how obvious it was as I approached a grinning Ayan.
“You can actually.” He adjusted his grip on the large bouquet of roses he was clutching. When I lifted my brows as if to ask what the hell he wanted, Ayan, seemingly caught off guard, said, “I wanted to apologize for how I acted the night of my party.”
“Oh, . . . okay, well thank you.” I nodded. “You didn’t have to get me roses though. You finding me and coming down here to apologize was enough. Is that all?”
I didn’t want to come off rude or dismissive, but I was hot, tired, still had a lot of work to do, and I still didn’t like Ayan’s ass, despite his nice gesture.
The way he grabbed on me still rubbed me the wrong way, and everyone knew an abusive man loved going on apology tours, so this grand gesture did nothing for me.
“No.” Ayan cleared his throat, darting his eyes to Morgin who was watching so closely that her ass had stopped working altogether. “I was hoping I could take you out on a date.”
I unintentionally let out a feigned chuckle, scratching my eyebrow in disbelief.
“Let me make sure I understand, Mr. Godfrey. You want to take me out on a date even though you have a whole family? Is that correct? And not a platonic date, I’m assuming, judging by the size of that floral arrangement.”
I didn’t feel the need to mention Shaun again, because if Ayan couldn’t care less about his own damn relationship, he sure as hell didn’t give a damn about mine.
“I have children and, of course, respect for my child’s mother, but it’s not like that between me and her.”
“Oh, so it would be no issue then if I contacted her and made sure it was cool for you to take me out, right?” I propped my right elbow up onto my left forearm as it hugged my midsection.
Nibbling on my polka dot designed almond-shaped nails, I waited.
“I didn’t think so. Please do not come back here, or I will call the police and file a report.
I don’t think that would look good on you or your career. ”
“When you realize how badly you fumbled, I will accept your apology. Can’t say I would fuck you though.” Ayan backed away, shaking his head at me in disapproval as I eyed him with disgust and shock. I’d never met a man like Ayan, and if I never did again, it would be too soon.
As soon as he left, I sacrificed my need for fresh air and shut the door, locking it promptly.
“Bitch, you are crazy.” Morgin finally made a sound, shaking her head as she put her attention back on the label printer.
Bitch could’ve printed fifty labels by now if she hadn’t been so nosy.
“I’m crazy? Yet a taken man just hunted me down, waltzed into my business, asked me on a date, then proceeds to tell me I lost my chance at some of his dick?” I ranted, switching back over to where we were working.
“Yes! I know you got your own money, but it’s nice to have a nigga with cake too! Fuck his girl. You don’t want him; you just want his moneeeyyy.” Morgin brushed the pad of her thumb against the pads of her four fingers to signal money.
“For one, I have Shaun, but even if I didn’t, I am not gonna be a side chick just for some money, especially when I have my own.
I may not be as rich as Ayan, but I’m very comfortable.
And at the end of the day, Morgin, I’d much rather have a humble, faithful, single man with a modest income than some pretentious, cocky, taken asshole that’s rich. ”
“Well if that pretentious, cocky, taken asshole approaches you again, give him my damn number.”
“What happened with Josias? I thought you liked him.” I ignored Morgin’s request. If Morgin wanted to be a side chick, she would have to get that position on her own because I would not be procuring it for her.
“Girl, he stopped texting back. Bitch ass nigga. So I’m on to the next,” Morgin answered, refusing to give me any eye contact, so I knew my assistant’s ego was bruised.
“That’s how you have to do it sometimes,” I replied, choosing not to acknowledge how bothered Morgin was.
My phone rang, and when I looked down to see it was Shaun, I instructed Morgin to keep printing and strutted to my office.
“Hello?” I answered at the same time I shut the door for some privacy.
“Hey, baby. What you doing?”
“Working, remember? I told you I had to do a lot and probably wouldn’t get off until after ten p.m. because of the sale tomorrow,” I reminded him, rolling my eyes as I sat down. “Then I will have hundreds of orders to package up over the next few days or more.”
It may have seemed minor, but constantly having to repeat myself to Shaun had become aggravating. It was almost like he listened to nothing I said.
“Oh damn.” He whistled as if this were his first time hearing this shit.
“What’s up?” I expelled a heavy breath, not understanding why he was calling and now interfering with my work.
“I was thinking we could get away this weekend.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
I’d been slouching out of exhaustion, but now I was sitting up straight as I said, “I told you I was having a sale and would be boxing up orders all weekend. Do I be talking to myself, Shaun?”
“Nah, you don’t, baby, but I was thinking you could let them muthafuckas do it and ride out with me.”
“Them muthafuckas being my staff?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled.
“No. I need to be here to monitor everything in case anything goes awry.” I massaged my forehead, elbow resting on my desk. “Shaun, I think we maybe need to take a little break.”
“Break from what?”
“This. We’re on two different pages right now, and it’s been difficult to get on the same one.
You wanna get engaged soon and . . .” I was trying to find a nice way to say I couldn’t see myself accepting his proposal.
I hated being harsh, especially when in the grand scheme of things, Shaun was a good guy.
“Sorry.” Morgin waltzed in. “Jammed.” She held up the label printer, making me grunt.
“Baby, we—”
“We will talk later. I have to get back to work.”
“Aight, love you—”
I hung up and grabbed the printer from Morgin, trailing her back out to the main floor.
For the next few hours, we worked until it was going on nine p.m. By then I’d told Morgin to go on and that I would close up alone.
Her ass wasted no time taking me up on the offer.
I knew most likely Morgin would be in the streets tonight and wondered how she could work all damn day and still get all dolled up to be in some nigga’s face only an hour later.
I wouldn’t survive. The thought made me wonder what I would do after ending things with Shaun.
Finishing up a few tasks, I then made a checklist for the next day before shutting everything down. As I stepped out and began locking up the warehouse, I heard footsteps approach, making my head pop up from focusing on the lock of the door.
I spotted a very tall, well-built man approaching me in all black, and the sight of him alone choked me with terror. For a while, I couldn’t find the words to speak or even scream as my eyes widened in fright. When people spoke on being paralyzed with fear, this was what they meant.
“Daylin?” The deep voice seemed to shake the ground beneath my feet as I swallowed the huge lump in my throat.
“Um, who is asking—hey!” I screeched when the man snatched my fucking purse, dug my wallet out, and peered down at the ID that was visible through the clear frosted pocket, confirming I in fact was Daylin.
My heart rate sped up as I remembered I was in the far back of the lot where no one could see me. I could try my luck and run around the large ass man, but it was very likely that he’d grab me.
Shoving the contents of my purse back into it, he put the bag under his armpit, making it look miniature, and said, “Aight, I need you to come with me.”
“Where?” My voice shook like a lone leaf in a full winter breeze, making me hate how fearful I sounded. I knew that often criminals got off on the fear of their victims, so I tried to remain collected.
The man paused then chuckled so subtly it took a minute for me to pin down the sound he’d just let out.
“You’ll see when you get there. Anymore muthafuckin’ questions?” He got serious really quickly while remaining calm, and that scared me even more. He wasn’t irate or foaming at the mouth; he was placid as if he kidnapped people all the fucking time.
“Do you know me?” I asked, doing my best not to allow my voice to quiver again as I stared up at the extremely tall man. He was dark, in shape—something one could see even under the black hoodie he wore—and had menacing eyes that sent a chill so deep I could feel it in my bones.
The man shook his head, tongue gliding across his lips just before he blew out a frustrated breath.
“I don’t, baby girl, but don’t make shit hard for a nigga.
Come with me, and don’t make me chase you.
If I have to chase you, that’s gon’ piss me off, and I’m pissed the fuck off already as it is,” he replied cooly, and I was surprised I could hear him over the sound of my heart thundering in my chest.