Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Amena
O ur last night in New York was a celebration of the guys making an impact with all the interviews before we headed back to California. Glasses clinked together around the table. According to Sarai, her company was looking good. It was one of the biggest public relations firms to have a twenty percent increase in brand awareness for their clients. Also, thanks to Sarai for tagging me in her posts, I had already lined up more clients, and my phone was ringing off the hook. The only downside was that more people were finding out about my past. After the last interview for “Morning Rise America” with Laikin, Mom called, saying how news stations were camped outside their home.
“For sure, give it up for Sarai and her team for blessing us with a kick ass stylist.” Sincere was the biggest flirt and jokester, never took anything serious, and getting under Laikin’s skin was his mission by bringing me up.
“Sincere, don’t make me kick your ass,” Laikin growled, gulping down his cognac.
Sarai giggled and I shook my head, ignoring him.
Twirling the pasta around my fork, I slipped the food into my mouth, feeling all the flavors sparkle against my tongue.
Dining in a five-star restaurant, while fans lined up outside waiting for pictures, reminded me of the life I could have if I stayed married to Virgil. I couldn’t lie to myself and say Laikin was just as high profile as Virgil. Even though we had history, some parts weren’t all bad. He’d been able to look out for me even when I tried to refuse his help.
Sarai drank the rest of her wine. “Amena, so many people are wanting your information. I can see you as the top stylist to the biggest celebrities.”
“Already got endorsement deals wanting me to sign once I get back to town. That means you’ll be needed ASAP, sis,” Sincere said, and Laikin toasted to his comment.
“Laikin, soon as we get back home, the announcement of your deal extension is happening. Are you prepared for even more eyes on your life as the face of Pierce Motors and the responsibilities of cutting out the bullshit with Callie?” Sarai asked.
The waitress brought her dessert, and I declined with a wave of my hand.
“Callie is not on my radar. As soon as we get back, I’m focused on my career.” Laikin sat forward, elbow on the table.
“Man, I’m ready to hit the club,” Sincere said, rubbing his hands together.
Laikin agreed, slapping hands with Sincere. “I’m down.” A few fans approached our table, and Laikin signed a few autographs.
Sarai peered at them both. “No.” Their dynamic was hilarious.
“Amena can come along as the chaperone.” Sincere’s mischievous grin gave away his thoughts.
The sheer idea of being around them both with women scrambling for attention was not appealing. “No way. I’m tired and need to check on my baby.”
“Come on, man, you have to celebrate, and Sarai will come out if you’re there.” Sincere tried to convince me to go.
“He is right about that,” Sarai responded.
My eyes widened in surprise.
“Right, Laikin?” Sincere asked.
Laikin shrugged. “She’s grown.”
I pushed my hair back over my shoulder and agreed to hang with them for a few more minutes, but if anything got out of hand, then I would immediately turn around and go back to the hotel.
Laikin signed an autograph for the rosy cheeked waitress and pulled out his wallet to pay.
“Dinner’s on the house, Mr. Laikin. The owner’s a big fan,” she said.
Everyone left a generous tip and stood. As I grabbed my purse, my phone lit up, and my brother's name scrolled across the screen.
“Hello.” As soon as I answered, a strong hand pressed against my lower back. I stiffened and turned to see Laikin behind me. Our eyes locked for a split second. His chivalry was still there as he held the door open, allowing me to walk out first into the hallway of the hotel.
“Kayne wanted to say goodnight before he goes to bed,” Brett said. I heard rustling through the phone at the same time flashes of light beamed in front of our faces.
“Laikin and Sincere over here!” Loud screams of fans distracted the mob of photographers. Sarai strolled to the black SUV. Instinctively on guard, like a pit bull in a ring, Laikin blocked anyone from touching me.
I scrambled behind Sarai, climbing in closer to the window. “Hi, baby boy.”
“Hi, Mommy.” Kayne yawned through the phone.
“Did you have a good day with your uncle Brett?”
Laikin swiped away on his cell phone with a brow raised and a crooked smile on his face.
“Yes, when are you coming home?”
“Tomorrow and we’ll have the entire day to spend doing whatever you like.”
“Yay! Can Laikin come?”
The torment of his presence every time Kayne wanted to hang with him was becoming too tempting. Hearing the loud scream of his name, Laikin gazed at me with a smirk.
“Um, I’m not sure, baby. Laikin has to work.”
Kayne responded, “Okay.”
“Listen, Mommy has to go. See you tomorrow. Be a good boy.” The impulse to reach out and smack the smirk off Laikin’s face rose.
Kayne replied, “Bye, Mommy.”
I tucked my phone away after setting it on do not disturb, ignoring the stare from Laikin while the car pulled off into traffic. Making our way to club didn’t take long. Sincere helped me out this time as the driver helped Sarai on the other side.
We walked in to loud cheers of Laikin and Sincere’s names. A loud beat of music passed through the club as the women did their best to get to them. Laikin held on tight to my hand, which I never asked him to take. I wanted to yank it away to not give the wrong impression, but he insisted on me being close to him like this was my first time in a club. I went out with my girls back home plenty of times. Laikin stopped to talk with another guy, while Sincere hugged a woman who could barely cover her breasts in the tube top she was wearing.
“We have a section for you, bro.” The owner motioned for us to follow him. Security created a space for us so we could get through the crowd from the bar to where we’d be sitting.
“In the house tonight is Sincere Pendleton, and our boy, Laikin Trenton, from the top league of drivers in the Formula One industry.” Removing my hand from Laikin’s, I took a seat. I grabbed the champagne bottle and glass, then poured a sip to calm my nerves after being in the public eye. If Winter could see me right now, she’d be ready to twerk and rock her hips in a celebration.
“Anything else you need, let me know, cuz,” the manager explained.
I eyed Laikin for staring at me. “What?” My senses throbbed with the strength, feel, and scent of him.
Laikin spread his legs wide, showcasing his thick penis, which could not be avoided under his black slacks. “Nothing.”
My back pressed against the seat. “Trip has gone well. Are you excited to get back on the track?”
Laikin gripped the bottle of Don Julio as the waitress placed more napkins on the table.
“Yeah, time to get back on to show folks who I am,” Laikin boasted, lighting a cigar.
I leaned in close to speak over the loud music. “Since when do you smoke cigars?”
“A lot about me you have missed, Amena.” Laikin sat back on the couch, head falling back as he looked up at the ceiling, blowing out smoke with an arm stretched behind me.
Sincere waved a few women into our section and I knew the night would get even crazier by the thirst in their eyes.
“I see.” Feeling more comfortable with our conversation, I turned to face him.
Laikin’s eyes pierced mine. “Kayne good?”
I was grateful that he liked to keep up with my baby’s shenanigans. “You heard him.” I chewed on my bottom lip, crossed my leg, and took another sip of my drink.
Laikin chuckled, finished off his drink. “He’s a good kid.”
“Thanks.”
A few more bottles came around, and we held each other’s eyes. At the sound of a whiny voice, we both faced forward. “Laikin.” Callie stood with a hand on her hip.
Laikin shook his head and blew out smoke. “Callie, what the fuck are you doing here?”
Callie acted like I did at sixteen trying to get Laikin’s attention. “No, the better question is why are you avoiding my calls?”
“Yo, Callie, my boy is not interested. He got a wife already.” Sincere winked at me, causing Laikin to laugh.
Callie frowned. “Who is this bitch?”
“Girl, the desperation is too much. Have some respect for yourself.” I scooted forward, reaching for the bottle of Ace and pouring another glass. Laikin snatched it out of my hands.
“Hey!” I snapped. The tingling effects of the contact spread through me like wildfire.
“You’ve had enough,” Laikin said, and me being me, I challenged him.
“You're not my daddy.”
Laikin licked his lips, stretched a hand out to grab my drink as I gulped it down, and had leaned in a few inches from my face when we both became drenched. Callie popped her hip to the side with a smirk.
Laikin started to get up, but I reached out a hand to stop him. If she got him worked up enough to get in a fight, she’d post it all over the socials, giving a full-on performance.
“No, there’s too many people around and you’ve had enough coverage on that lately.”
“ That ?! Bitch—” Callie’s words cut off when security yanked her up. She struggled to get loose and screamed, “Laikin! You bastard!” She extended a hand to slap him, but security stopped her quickly.
Protectively, he stood close and put his arm around my waist, being this close brought back memories of our time when we dated in high school. Glancing at the time on my phone, I decided it was time to leave. Sarai would throw a fit about Callie pouring alcohol on us and trying to fight Laikin after sneaking in here. It would just be more problems.
“Sincere, we’re out.” Laikin held out a hand for me to take. Sincere bent over and whispered in the ear of one of the girls he was holding onto. She giggled.
“Right behind you, my boy.” Sincere slapped her ass, she leaned into him and tongued kissed him down.
“Sarai’s going to be pissed,” I murmured, walking behind the bodyguards, down the stairs, and out of the club. It felt like there were more fans than before, which meant Callie probably called them up to make scene as they hurled questions at us and demanded to know if I broke up their relationship.
* * *
The flight home was quiet for the most part, with me sleeping on and off. I got up early to get my place fixed up with all new furniture, and Winter came over to hang. “I’m mad at you.” Winter pouted, holding Kayne in her arms and tickling his stomach.
“Why?”
“You kept my godson away this long and I missed so many things.”
“You’re right, but I promise to make up for lost time.” I scrolled through my iPad, putting clothes together for Laikin and a few other clients who I had meetings with in the upcoming week. Since being back home, my schedule had gotten more and more complicated, so I ended up getting an assistant to help manage and book clients for me. Virgil tried to call me once, wanting to talk about us, but to me his priority should have been his son. As soon as I passed the phone to Kayne, he hung up.
“Start by telling me what’s up with Mr. Laikin.”
“We’re friends.”
Winter let Kayne go and he ran over to his toys in the corner of the living room. My entire condo was decorated in black, red, and gold trim from the drapes to the couch and tables. My baby’s room was decorated in his favorite toys of dinosaurs and wildlife. Winter crossed her legs and cupped her chin to watch me.
Winter had a unique quality of picking up on my bullshit. “Stop looking at me.”
“Nope.”
I rolled my eyes and put down my iPad to pull out the ingredients for the lunch I planned to make. “How are things at work?”
“Changing the subject won’t stop me from asking about dreamboat Lakin Trenton.”
A knock sounded, causing us both to turn toward the front door. I gestured for her to sit, and then went to answer it, with Kayne rushing in front of me and twisting the doorknob.
I clasped his shoulder, moved him to the side, and checked to see who it was. “Kayne, stand back.” With a fresh line up and muscular arms wedged in the black t-shirt, Laikin wore that familiar musky cologne that left me distracted whenever he had something to tell me. Kayne tried to get in front of me. Laikin stood with his hands in his pockets.
Kayne jumped up excitedly. “Laikin!”
“Kanye, my boy.” Laikin greeted him with a high five.
I peered down the hallway. It had to be a woman waiting on him if he looked this good. “What are you doing here?”
Since the almost-kiss, we hadn't talked beyond business dealings, and those were mostly through Sarai. She kept me updated on any gossip.
“I have some people coming down to visit the track before I race and thought Kayne would like to see the show,” Laikin explained.
“Can I, Mommy? Please? I want to go.” Kayne looked up at me with his lip poked out and hands clasped together begging.
I looked back at Winter behind me, and she pretended to be fanning herself. “Laikin, I have too much work to do.”
“She can go!” Winter blurted out.
A sigh escaped my lips as I rolled my eyes.
“Yay!” Kayne cheered.
My plans for lunch were getting derailed. “Wait a minute.” My brow hiked.
“I have a driver today and my folks will be there, plus Brett,” Laikin added, playing every trick in the book to get me to agree.
“Winter, do you want to come?”
Standing to her full height, she picked up her things. “No, I have errands to run.”
“Oh, now you have errands to run.” I threw my hands in the air dramatically.
“Stop pouting.” Winter pinched my cheek, bent down to hug Kayne, and sauntered out of my home, making gestures with her hand behind Laikin’s back.
“Mommy, come on. We have to go.” Kayne jumped up and down, then ran to grab his jacket and shoes. I had some things to clean up—along with the food I took out that needed to be put away.
“Give me a second.” I ambled away, leaving him in the hallway, and went into the kitchen to put away the vegetables, shrimp, and rice. I rushed into the bathroom to check my hair and clean my face, then remembered it wasn’t a date.
I swiped up my purse, keys, and cell, sliding my feet into my brand new boots. Laikin held both hands on Kayne’s shoulders as I locked my place up. The rejection from Kayne not letting me hold his hand made me feel a certain way.
“Since when can't I hold your hand?”
“Mom, I’m a big boy now.” Kayne planted his hand on his forehead in exasperation.
“Boy!”
Laikin and I both laughed at his dramatics of trying to be grown. Leaving the building, his driver stood off from the side of the passenger door, popping the unlock button to help us climb in, and I smiled at seeing a car seat in the back.
I whipped around to face him. “You have a car seat?”
He shrugged. “Brett was going to let me borrow his, but I figured it would be best since Kayne and I would be hanging out more. If that’s cool with you.”
Locking Kayne in the seat, I reached for my own seatbelt and nodded. “That’s cool.”
Laikin asked, “Kayne, you ready to get on the road?” Kayne held up both hands and pretended to steer a wheel, kicking his legs back and forth in glee. I reached over to tie his loose shoelace and wiped some of the donut stains from his cheek.
“Ready!” Kayne’s joy blasted around the car and held our attention.
The sound of his cell phone going off brought me out of my trance of enjoyment that we were the only three that mattered in this moment and back to reality of him being The Laikin Trenton. I could tell something annoyed him, but he agreed to whatever the caller wanted as he hung up.
His grin washed away. “See you tomorrow,” Laikin said, tossing his phone to the side.
For some reason, the look on his face mirrored the one I used to have with Virgil. “Trouble in paradise?”
Laikin raised the partition in the car for privacy. “My folks want Kayne to come over for dinner.”
My nose scrunched up in shock. “For dinner.”
“Same shock I had, but I told my mom to not get attached too soon. At the gala, you showed her pictures of your son, and all she’s talked about is her new grandson.” Laikin rubbed the top of Kayne’s head.
“But—”
He held up a hand to interrupt. “Either you want to hear my mom go on and on about why you left, or you can go to dinner and let her spend some time with him.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Fine.”
“Stop pouting.”
I leaned on the window. “I don’t pout.”
“Shit, you’re more spoiled than Kayne,” Laikin chuckled, picking up the other toy car and playing.
“Whatever, Laikin.”
Our driver cut across the lane to get into traffic. A few construction workers were lined up for breaks. A busy afternoon in Los Angeles meant upcoming events were happening around the city for Saturday.
“How is business going?”
“Very well, actually. My next client is Marlowe Shepard. Cyra, who’s married to her bodyguard hooked it up. When I got the call, I almost passed out because I thought I was being pranked.” I tittered thinking back to when Cyra’s publicist called me.
“She’s big time, congrats.”
“Thanks, for everything you’ve done.” The car pulled up to the stadium, and my mouth fell open at the wide billboard of Laikin near the entrance with his helmet in his hand.
“No need to thank me. Come on, little man. Time to ride.” Laikin unbuckled his seat belt and carried him out, putting him on the ground so he could walk, holding his hand and signing autographs with the other, not letting
go. I felt a little out of place in my distressed jeans and light green blouse with a few paint stains.
I honestly felt like the third wheel as I followed behind watching women fawn over my son, auditioning to be stepmother of the year.
Stepmother, Laikin is not available.
Shaking those thoughts from my head, I stayed behind when a few photographers snapped photos, and Laikin gestured to security to keep them back.
“We’re going to Malik’s office first, and then I can have security escort you to the garage and seats. I have to get changed,” Laikin said, leading us to the elevator for staff. Hearing my phone buzz, I lifted it up to see a text from Winter.
Winter: Having fun with Baby Daddy?
Me: He is not my baby daddy.
Winter: Might as well be since Virgil left the position open.
He can fill your tank, and I don’t mean on a car.
Me: Shut up girl.
Winter: You are running hot. He can cool you down.
Me: Why are you like this? He and I are friends.
Winter: Lay the pipe!
Me: I am not dealing with you since you left me.
Winter: Sorry bestie, you needed a family day.
Me: We are friends.
I was so distracted by replying to Winter that I bumped into Laikin and almost fell when the elevator got full. Before I could tumble, he wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me into him.
“Uh… my bad.” I tried to ignore his hard body and sexy scent.
“Relax,” Laikin whispered in my ear and the feel of his big hand squeezing my thigh sent a vibration to my pussy and I hoped no one could smell my arousal.
Kayne was completely in heaven after we stepped from the crowds and made it onto the main floor. I tucked my phone away, finally releasing my breath when Laikin loosened his grip. Not letting Kayne run off, I held on tight to his hand and let Laikin take the lead.