Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Amena
T he buzzing of my phone never stopped—not since the day Laikin posted us online with my hand on his naked chest. Something stirred up because they wouldn’t let me be in peace, and it made me wonder if people really did not have a life other than making comments about other people's relationships. A few times when Winter and I went out, or I had Kayne with me, photographers swarmed us, running up to us and wanting to know if my son was really Laikin’s. At first, I was pissed when they tried to spin it like I kept my child away from his birth father and was only looking for money. Then Sarai helped clean things up and had Laikin do a few interviews to shut the naysayers down. Virgil was the worst husband, but I would never deny Kayne was his son.
Today I had my client coming to do a fitting after a few weeks of delays. She’d been in and out of the state on business and other filming projects. The upcoming awards season was nearing so she had to be on point. My name would be heard throughout and would hopefully spark some more clients on my roster.
I shuffled a few pieces around on the rack and sauntered to the door, letting her inside.
“Hi, Marlowe. Was it hard to find my office”
“Not really. It’s close to downtown LA. Being high up makes it even better.” Marlowe removed her shades and opened her arms wide for a hug.
I moved to the side, motioning for her to come inside and take a seat. I already brought the rack of clothes to the middle of the room and lined up the ideas for pieces with the schedule of events on my iPad.
“These look amazing!” Marlowe expressed as her left hand fanned through the rack of designer outfits.
I took a deep breath, my heart racing. I had been wondering whether she would like what I had set out for her. “I have a few pieces for daytime and if you plan on going out at night.”
“For those days, I will probably have a few dinner parties. My agent planned a celebration dinner if I win, but we should never get our hopes up,” Marlowe joked.
Marlowe had become the biggest actress in the industry. A few people had named her the next Regina King. She’d taken on many diverse projects, from drama and action to comedy. Her latest TV miniseries on Starz had a lot of industry folks saying she would win an Emmy.
“Win or lose, a dinner sounds good.”
“I didn’t get a chance to ask if you can come with me—in case of a mishap.”
I threaded a hand through my hair, thought about going on a press tour with her, but already knew that with Kayne’s schedule and Laikin being busy we barely had time. Plus, I wouldn't want to put any distance between us when we just got back together.
“The offer sounds amazing, but being a single parent leaves me with little time.”
“Oh, yeah. How old is he again?”
“He’s three going on forty,” I laughed.
Marlowe cackled at my response. I took a skirt and blouse off the rack and held them up for her to try on in the dressing room.
A knock at my door got our attention. “Oh, that’s my friend. I invited her over. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No problem. Go ahead and try those on for me. I want to make sure the measurements work.” Without checking the peephole, I twisted the doorknob… and found an unexpected guest.
“Well, I hope your taste is better than what you wore to the gala.” Callie barged through, eyeing me with a calculated expression.
“What are you doing here?”
Callie planted her hands on her hips. “Marlowe is like a sister to me, and she asked for my opinion.” While Callie crossed her arms over her chest, Marlowe emerged from the dressing room with a wide smile. It faded as she stared from Callie to me.
Marlowe inquired, “Is something wrong?”
“Ugh, no. What do you think of the pants and shirt?” I tugged on a silk blouse, which hung off the shoulder. I hated to lose her as a client because of her friend hating me over a man. Marlowe turned left to right in front of the wall mirror, from behind me I heard a snarky tone. “What Callie? Think it’s too much?”
“My opinion is that you should find someone more experienced with a big name and do all dresses, show off your figure and let them see the sexy you.” Callie popped her lips.
“I don’t know. I want them to see me as a lead actress with talent, not as a Hollywood puppet.” Marlowe threw her hands up in the air.
“Wearing these cheap outfits won’t work,” Callie said with venom, pointing at the stack of clothes.
“Excuse me!” I snapped.
Marlowe stepped in between us. I tried to keep my cool and not stoop to Callie’s level—she seemed like the type that would call the police and blogs to play victim. “Hold up. Callie, do you two know each other?”
“She’s dating Laikin, my sloppy seconds.” Callie smirked.
I had no intention of fighting, but she was pushing me. “Sloopy seconds yet you stay under his comments trying to get back with him, even though he blocked you from calling because you’re acting like a stalker.”
Marlowe gasped and held a hand to her chest.
“Bitch, you’re lying!” Callie tried to reach around Marlowe with a balled fist to hit me.
Before it could connect, Marlowe shoved her back. “Are you seriously fighting over a man?” Marlowe spat.
Callie stood with her brows creased together. “You know Laikin and I have history.”
“Laikin Trenton...Laikin.” Marlowe’s eyes rose wide in recognition.
At that moment, I was calm, but my pulse pounded with uncertainty. “Look, Marlowe, if my personal life is going to be a problem, I can recommend you to someone else.”
“Please, if she has the same taste as you, we’ll pass.” In a condescending tone, Callie sighed.
Marlowe groaned and held a hand to her face.
“Girl, the delusion is real,” I chuckled.
“No one is delusional besides you. Making a man raise someone else’s child,” Callie said, dragging my son into her lies.
“Okay, Callie, you’re going too far now. Let me finish up here and call you later,” Marlowe directed.
“You’re taking her side?!” Callie barked.
“Marlowe—”
She held a hand up to stop me. “Callie, everybody knows Laikin has no interest in you. For you to even still go on about him when you both were just hookups for each other…” Marlowe spilled all her tea.
Callie’s mouth opened and closed. She swallowed hard and stomped out of my office, slamming the door. Marlowe scrunched her brows and tilted her head to the side. “I apologize for my friend.”
Taking another outfit from the rack, I passed it to her to put on. “No worries.” The tension between began to fade.
“So, you’re dating Laikin Trenton?”
Marlowe’s steely gaze bore into my face.
“Something like that.” I reached down to make notes on my iPad.
Marlowe pushed hair off her face. “The way you’re blushing lets me know it’s serious.”
Picking up my phone, I prepared to take photos of Marlowe to keep for consistency and to know what outfit worked for each interview. “He’s from my past.”
The door opened and Marlowe came out with the short sleeve dress. “I apologize again for Callie’s behavior. I really want to work with you, Amena. Your dating life has nothing to do with business.” Marlowe raised her hands up in the air, posing for the camera.
“Thanks. How does the dress feel? You comfortable?” I tugged on the end of the dress, reaching for a belt to go around her waist.
“Feels great, and with the gray heels and belt?” Marlowe gave me a thumbs up, after pointing at the shoes and belt.
“Perfect! Let’s try the rest on, and I will have them steam-cleaned and packed to be delivered.”
Marlowe grabbed the next skirt and shirt and went off to change. I had to make a reminder to keep my distance from her extended close friends before I really get on the blogs for bullshit.
* * *
The Beacon Lounge was lively tonight. I snapped my fingers and clapped my hands, listening to late nineties R coming right behind me. Laikin’s body trapped me , as his mouth possessed mine and trailed along my collarbone, down to my chest.
I was anxious to taste him, to take him into my mouth like last time. I was still amazed by his thickness. I gripped the base of his cock and turned him on his back, lowering my head. I made a fist around his thickness and began to lubricate with a mixture of my spit and precum at his tip.
Laikin’s arm was thrown over his eyes, and he tensed at the first touch, making his arousal ignite again.
I flattened my tongue under the sensitive tip.
“Baby,” he groaned, gazing at me.
I lingered on the tip for another few minutes, then moved my head up and down the hard length of his erection. His fingers knotted in my hair, working my head up and down at a pace he controlled.
“Shit.”
“Mmmm…” I forced my throat to open wide for him, taking him deeper.
“Damn, Amena. Baby, keep going.”
I popped him out of my mouth and licked both his balls while stroking his dick. He tightened his hand on my hair.
The warmth of his soft flesh was intoxicating. “I need my pussy, baby.”
“She’s wet for you.” My body tingled under his touch.
“Come up here and let me taste her.”
As I moved in to sixty-nine position on him, I licked up the pre-cum and took his long, curved dick in my mouth to suck him off, while he drank deep from my candid well of pleasure for the rest of night.