Chapter 34 #2
Vega snorted out a laugh then walked over to his kitchen, tossing the papers on the counter before retrieving two beers from the refrigerator. Ace was already in the living room, so Vega joined him, handing off one.
“That’s your problem. Can’t nobody control me. Not even you.”
“Apparently but that’s not what I meant. I just didn’t want you doing anything dumb and going right back. Regardless of what you think, Vega. I do care about you.”
Vega nodded to agree but left it alone. “He send you here?”
“No, Paris did. She said I needed to get my shit together and fix things with you.” Ace chuckled at how his wife had been on his ass lately.
“Sis be on your ass.” It made Vega think about Nyelle. “I didn’t know we were in need of repair.” He lifted his beer, taking down half of it. It wasn’t his favorite thing but he occasionally indulged.
“It seems we are.”
“I’m cool with you, Ace, as long as you’re not trying to force shit with him. Lately that’s what you’ve been doing and I’m not with it. He must be dying or some shit because he’s trying so hard,” Vega mumbled the last part, but Ace heard him.
“No, he’s not dying. He is, however, getting older and dealing with a lot of regret. Mostly centered around you. Truthfully I should be the one having a hard time with it. He really isn’t trying to be up my ass, just yours.” Ace snorted a laugh then shook his head before looking at Vega.
“You can have him. Trust me. I don’t want him.”
“Vega—"
“Nah, don’t. I get it. He made mistakes but that’s on him. I swear I’m not being a bitch about it, but I am standing by my reasoning, and if I choose to let him in, then that’s on my terms, not his. You don’t get to fuck up someone’s life then rush them to forgive you. It don’t work like that.”
“Agreed. I told him the same thing and he’s going to back off. I hope you at least consider it. It would make things a lot easier for me.”
“Fuck you and your easy, this isn’t about you.” Vega smirked at his brother who laughed in return.
“You’re a man now. I definitely can’t deny that.”
“I’ve been a man, Ace. You just didn’t respect the man I was.”
“I won’t deny that, but I’m proud of you. Just know I love you, Vega. I know you have your issues with me as well, but I lived how I needed to in order to survive and keep my sanity. You might not understand it but it’s what I needed.”
Vega considered what his brother was saying. He knew Ace didn’t fit in this world. He was smart, but not built for this life. He needed to be in a corporate setting somewhere, not pushing dope.
“I’m not knocking you for how you live, Ace. It’s just not the same as I would have done. But regardless, we’re family, and I love you.”
Ace nodded, turning up his beer. That was all that needed to be discussed about the topic, so he left it alone.
“So the club’s opening soon. You ready?”
Vega smiled at the idea. “Hell yeah. Shit is dope as hell too. You coming?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there. Pop might come through too. He’s proud of you, Vega.”
“That’s cool. Long as he’s not trying to be up my ass. Money is money. I’ll take his like anyone else’s.”
Ace chuckled, knowing it wasn’t about that. Vega was softening to the idea of his father being around. Even if it was just to throw in his face that he was a man despite him, they had to start somewhere.
“What does your lady have to say about you opening a strip club? You’re gonna have to spend time there. How she feeling about that?”
“She hasn’t said much but we’ll see how it goes opening night. One thing for sure is she never has to worry about me disrespecting her, so I’m sure she’ll be straight.”
Ace chuckled at his brother. This was a new Vega, a businessman professing to be faithful to one woman. A woman he obviously cared about.
“I guess you have it all figured out. Looks like she’s your one.”
“Indeed, she is.”
Vega lifted his beer toward Ace who tapped it with his. “Congrats, baby brother. Be a better man than I was.”
“I plan on it.”
Both men were at peace. Ace was willing to accept Vega was his own man while Vega was willing to accept his brother could only be the person he knew how to be. As long as they both embraced that, then their bond would remain intact.
“So this is your little space. I see you.” Nyelle jumped at the deep voice that sounded from behind her.
She was half asleep because she was running late and had missed her morning dose of caffeine but smiled when she turned and laid eyes on Vega.
He was dressed differently than she was accustomed to, but the sleek black suit that covered his frame looked damn good on him.
Nyelle’s eyes fluttered at the same time the knots in her stomach took over.
“Hey, how did you get up here?” Vega moved into the tiny space of her cubicle, propping himself on the counter with one foot planted firmly on the floor. His hands were folded and positioned in his lap while he flashed Nyelle a mischievous charming smile.
“I have a little pull and I guess the suit helped. They let me up when I mentioned your name and ol’ girl at the front directed me to your desk after she asked me to go half on her firstborn.
” Vega delivered a smug grin that had Nyelle rolling her eyes.
She believed every word he spoke because April was definitely vocal about the men she encouraged.
There had been a time when Nyelle had to check her about Reese.
Now she would gladly hand him over to April without a second thought.
“So, you’re flirting with my coworkers?” Nyelle turned her chair his way and leaned back, peering at Vega.
“If it gets me up here next to you, then hell yeah.” He flashed Nyelle another smile and she playfully rolled her eyes.
“Why are you here and what’s up with the suit?”
“I’m here because I wanted to see your pretty face and I had a meeting about some investments. One I hope you’ll sign on for.”
“Investments?” Nyelle frowned at the thought.
“Yeah, I looked at property today to build a house. It’s five acres, not far from my brother. I set up a meeting for you to come see it next week. If you like it, I’m gonna buy it and we’re gonna build a house on it.”
“Vega—"
“Relax, Pretty Ny. I’m not rushing anything. We have years before that will happen or be complete, but my goal is for us to live in it together. It’s an investment in us and one I’m willing to make. I just want you to be okay with it.”
Nyelle closed her eyes briefly and shook her head. “You’re a lot.”
“Yeah I am. In more ways than you know but I’m also a man who knows what he wants. That’s a future with you and Nick. I’m just laying the groundwork to prove to you that I’m serious.”
“I know you’re serious,” she groaned. “That’s the problem.”
“Problem or solution?”
“Both.”
“Come here.”
Nyelle looked around. She was ducked off in the corner but that didn’t mean she didn’t have eyes on her. The women in her office were grinning at Vega, which she wasn’t comfortable with but couldn’t do anything about. He was the type of man you admired.
“Nyelle.” Vega pulled her attention to him and she pushed out a sigh and stood, positioning herself between his legs. Vega wasted no time exploring her mouth with his tongue before pulling back and laughing under his breath. “You are dangerous.”
“So are you,” Nyelle mumbled, pushing a smile from Vega.
“My brother came to see me today. Paris was on his ass about us, so he reached out. She’s never going to let the divide get too deep. All I could think about is you.” Vega laughed at the thought. He could see Nyelle loving him the way Paris loved his brother.
“That’s good, right?” Nyelle was aware that they were close but things had been tense lately for a few reasons.
“Yeah, it is. We talked shit out and he handed me my life back. I’m sure it was a peace offering but no more parole so I can travel and move around like I need to.”
“Wait, you’re not supposed to leave the state, are you?” Miami.
“Nah, not legally, but I don’t do well with rules. Thanks to Ace, I don’t have to worry about it now, so I was thinking a quick weekend trip soon. You down?”
“I can’t take any more time off right now.”
“I know. We can do something quick. Leave on a Friday night and come back late Sunday. We’ll give it some time because I want it to just be us.
So, whenever your mom can keep Nick, and before you say no, I’m not pressed about him having to come with us to Miami, but I do want to get you away and have you all to myself. ”
Nyelle bit down on her lip and nodded. “Okay, but can I let you know when?”
“It’s all on you. I’m on your schedule.”
“So you say.”
“And you know I say what I mean, so it’s my word. I’ma head out though. I just wanted to see you and I’m not trying to get cursed out by you because these women are up in here planning what their kids with me will look like. That’s reserved for you, Pretty Ny.”
Nyelle blushed quickly and looked around to see that she and Vega were the center of attention, but eyes dropped and heads turned when she grilled them.
“Yeah, you do that before I lose my job.”
Amused, Vega pulled her closer and brushed his lips across hers before delivering another kiss. “I might need to stay then.”
“No you don’t.” Nyelle pointed to the front of the office. “Go.”
“Aight bet, but I’ll see you tonight.”
After one last kiss, Vega was on his way and Nyelle watched his sexy, confident stride as he moved through her office. The second he was gone, April was in her face.
“That’s your new man?”
“Yes. Say something disrespectful and I’m slapping your ass. I mean it.”
April rolled her eyes and walked off mumbling “I wish she would” but kept her voice low. Problems with Nyelle were something she didn’t want and April needed her job.
Nyelle pulled her phone out and shot Vega a quick text telling him that he was banned from her office then got back to work. All of a sudden she was prepared to get through her day so she could be home with her man. Life was good, really good, and only going to get better.